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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes750Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
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Latest Episodes

Since its emergence in 2014, the Wagner Group operated as the Kremlin's shadow army, deploying mercenaries across Africa and the Middle East. It gave Vladimir Putin plausible deniability, expanding Moscow's geopolitical influence by propping up leade... more

The FBI won’t discuss exactly how Chinese spy Xu Yanjun came to the attention of special agents. Xu was handling a GE Aviation engineer in Ohio who specialized in composite fan-blade technology. That engineer, David Zheng, had been approached by an o... more

YouTube

Now that drug cartels can be labeled foreign terrorist organizations, how do you dismantle one? As part of his 26 years at the Drug Enforcement Administration, retired Special Agent Chris Feistl was on a team that brought the demise of the Cali Carte... more

YouTube

"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

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

Chris Feistl
Retired special agent, DEA; involved in Cali Cartel operations
Drug Enforcement Administration
Episode: The Flip That Broke the Cali Cartel
David Haig
Screenwriter for Pressure
Pressure project
Episode: The Weather Report that Changed History
Anthony Maras
Co-writer and director of Pressure
Pressure film
Episode: The Weather Report that Changed History
Karen Schaefer
Former CIA officer with roles across Latin America, Iraq, Iran Operations, and the NSC
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) / National Security Council (NSC)
Episode: From Cartels to Terrorists, the CIA, FBI, and White House: The Vast Career of Karen Schaefer
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

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
  • The new host is more polished but I miss Andrew.

    The new host is more polished but I miss Andrew.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    DWLNO60
    Canada15 days ago
  • 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
    Canadaa month 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 States5 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 States6 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
#115
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#122
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#212
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#115
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#163
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#17
Finland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Flip That Broke the Cali Cartel
Q: Tell me more about him.
Salcedo was the head of Cali Cartel security, trained military veteran with English skills and connections to British mercenaries, who provided crucial intelligence and facilitated the undercover effort, ultimately agreeing to meet multiple times and help target Miguel Rodriguez.
From Cartels to Terrorists, the CIA, FBI, and White House: The Vast Career of Karen Schaefer
Q: What did you learn from reviewing covert-action programs at the NSC, and how did it shape your view of oversight?
Covert-action programs require extensive oversight and periodic reevaluation, with each administration having the opportunity to refine or end programs that no longer align with policy goals, highlighting the balance between security and accountability.
From Cartels to Terrorists, the CIA, FBI, and White House: The Vast Career of Karen Schaefer
Q: What stands out about your work with McChrystal and the Zarqawi operation?
The collaboration across units and the realization that a single raid can lead to a network-wide effort, and that experienced, often young women colleagues played critical roles in the takedown—emphasizing interagency teamwork.
From Cartels to Terrorists, the CIA, FBI, and White House: The Vast Career of Karen Schaefer
Q: What was it like being one of the only women in some of your first postings, and how did you cope with the unique challenges?
I faced scrutiny and skepticism, but it pushed me to hone my craft, stay well prepared, and prove that I could perform at the highest level despite the gender expectations of the time.
From Cartels to Terrorists, the CIA, FBI, and White House: The Vast Career of Karen Schaefer
Q: Can you describe the early decades of your life and how growing up overseas influenced your career in intelligence?
Growing up in Latin America and being surrounded by a community of American expats, plus the influence of a CIA father, instilled a global outlook and an understanding of how intelligence work can be woven into everyday life, even from a young age.

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 subscribers and views does SpyCast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers SpyCast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of SpyCast are there?

SpyCast launched 20 years ago and published 750 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. Chris Feistl
2. David Haig
3. Anthony Maras
4. Karen Schaefer
5. Peter Grace
6. Tim Wendel
7. Tony Shaffer
8. Paul Friedland

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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