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SpyCast

SpyCast
CIA
Russia
Espionage
China
FBI
National Security
Counterintelligence
Ukraine
Cybersecurity
World War II
NATO
Cold War
Iran
Artificial Intelligence
Intelligence Community
United States
Afghanistan
James Bond
Egypt
President's Daily Brief

SpyCast, the official podcast of the International Spy Museum, is a journey into the shadows of international espionage. Each week, host Sasha Ingber brings you the latest insights and intriguing tales from spies, secret agents, and covert communicators, with a focus on how this secret world reaches us all in our everyday lives. Tune in to discover the critical role intelligence has played through... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes747Founded20 years ago
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Latest Episodes

"If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone." This is the end of the announcement Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight David Eisenhower had prepared in June 1944 in case the D-Day landings failed. He never had to deliver it, b... more

Karen Schaefer retired from the CIA in 2019, after 26 years of service. She started out in Latin America and ended with a stint at the FBI. In between, she earned numerous intelligence awards and held key positions that spanned operational, superviso... more

YouTube

In 1947, a new civilian intelligence agency was established: the CIA. But a series of intelligence failures undermined its credibility. The White House and Congress were up in arms, and a new mission was formed- to recruit Ivy League professors with ... more

YouTube

It’s 1864, and against the backdrop of the US Civil War- a war the Confederacy is losing- a group of spies and saboteurs have set up a base in Montreal, Canada. Today we would call this a sanctuary or a safe haven. Canada would become home to several... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Peter Grace
Political scientist, author of The Intelligence Intellectuals
The Intelligence Intellectuals (author)
Episode: From Ivory Tower to Iron Curtain: The Academics Who Reshaped the CIA
Tim Wendel
Author and historian, discusses Rebel Falls and Civil War espionage
Author (Rebel Falls)
Episode: The Civil War Spies and Saboteurs Across the Canadian Border
Tony Shaffer
Former military intelligence officer, author and analyst
Center for Advanced Defense Studies (CADS) / former DoD/CIA liaison
Episode: How Far the US Went to Rescue Hostage Bowe Bergdahl
Paul Friedland
Author, co-author of the book on Lothar Witzke
Witzke book authors (with Robert Hornick)
Episode: From the Kaiser to the Führer: Inside the World of Lothar Witzke
Robert Hornick
Author, co-author of the book on Lothar Witzke
Witzke book authors (with Paul Friedland)
Episode: From the Kaiser to the Führer: Inside the World of Lothar Witzke
Stephen Harding
Journalist and veteran, author of GI. G-Men (GI. G-Men)
Author and Journalist
Episode: The Hunt for American Turncoats in World War II Europe
Michael Weiss
Investigative journalist; collaborated with 60 Minutes and The Insider on Havana Syndrome reporting
The Insider; 60 Minutes
Episode: The Story Isn't Over: Inside Havana Syndrome and the CIA’s Response
Palmer Luckey
Founder of Anduril Industries, defense tech innovator
Anduril Industries
Episode: Palmer Luckey on the Next Generation of Intelligence
Tim Bouverie
British historian, author of Allies at War
Tim Bouverie (Author)
Episode: Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin: Lies, Spies, and Hitler

Host

Sasha Ingber
Host of SpyCast; leads interviews with guests across intelligence and history topics

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 2.5k ratings
  • Interesting But Not Brilliant

    Interesting topics but Sasha Ingber should learn to properly pronounce some names. Richard Sorge’s name is pronounced with a hard g. Also, does Palmer Luckey really think the past tense of drag is drug? Home schooling, eh?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    VampireDugout
    Canada18 days ago
  • Embarrassing how far it has fallen

    This was the real deal under previous hosts, especially Dr. Hammond - now it’s kinda embarrassing for the Spy Museum. Clearly no one really knows what they are doing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JoeFalcon11
    United States3 months ago
  • Mike

    I enjoy all of your stories! Thank you !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fred436798
    United States4 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Great guests and amazing host. The conversations each week are unparalleled. My favorite era of this podcast so far.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BohemianFrank
    United States5 months ago
  • Podcast has changed for the worse, miss old format and hosts

    This podcast was a favorite of mine, led by Dr. Andrew Hammond, now it seems more softball and less focused on in-depth history. Disappointed in the changes…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tolga M
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive feedback highlights engaging storytelling and high-quality insights from guests.
Critiques note bias or a shift in depth with certain episodes and hosts.
Some listeners miss previous hosts and deeper dives, expressing concern about current interview style.
Listeners praise guests and questions when the format remains focused on history and intelligence.
Overall, episodes are seen as informative with compelling historical context.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#119
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#146
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#189
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#132
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#76
New Zealand/History
Apple Podcasts
#80
Philippines/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Ivory Tower to Iron Curtain: The Academics Who Reshaped the CIA
Q: Did the Cuban Missile Crisis reveal flaws in their approach, and how did they respond?
Yes, they acknowledged incomplete information and the risk of basing conclusions on partial data; the response was greater humility and a commitment to updating assessments as new information arrived, reinforcing the value of transparent limitations in their models.
From Ivory Tower to Iron Curtain: The Academics Who Reshaped the CIA
Q: What were the key concepts Millikan, Kent, and Langer introduced, and how did they change CIA analysis?
Millikan introduced the inventory of ignorance to map knowledge gaps; Kent developed the pyramid approach to build from broad data to a solid conclusion; Langer provided leadership and a disciplined, European-diplomacy lens that helped institutionalize these methods within the Office of National Estimates.
From Ivory Tower to Iron Curtain: The Academics Who Reshaped the CIA
Q: How did the idea of bringing Ivy League academics into the CIA come about, and what problem were they intended to solve?
The leadership wanted to replace a fragile narrative with rigorous, long-range forecasting by people who could think methodically about complex security futures, in contrast to ad hoc analyses that failed to anticipate major shifts.
The Civil War Spies and Saboteurs Across the Canadian Border
Q: How did these episodes influence later cultural memory and Canadian-U.S. relations?
The border actions left a lasting impression on how Germans—er, Canadians and Americans—viewed cross-border threats, highlighting the border as a volatile theater of war and contributing to ongoing dialogue about security and memory along the Great Lakes and Canada-U.S. frontier.
The Civil War Spies and Saboteurs Across the Canadian Border
Q: What does this episode reveal about cross-border espionage and political warfare during the Civil War?
It reveals a murky, debated space where espionage, sabotage, and political aims intersected; commanders questioned whether actions constituted terrorism, political warfare, or conventional military ops, while border neutralities and Canadian sympathy added layers of complexity to decisions and outcomes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About SpyCast

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How many episodes of SpyCast are there?

SpyCast launched 20 years ago and published 747 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact SpyCast?

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What guests have appeared on SpyCast?

Recent guests on SpyCast include:

1. Peter Grace
2. Tim Wendel
3. Tony Shaffer
4. Paul Friedland
5. Robert Hornick
6. Stephen Harding
7. Michael Weiss
8. Palmer Luckey

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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