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SpyCast

SpyCast
Egypt
James Bond
Espionage
Arab Spring
British Monarchy
FBI
Counterintelligence
Cybersecurity
Israeli Intelligence
Islamist Militants
Robert Hanssen
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
Six-Day War
China
Ian Fleming
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Victoria
Secret Intelligence
Ashraf Marwan
Arab World

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes726Founded19 years ago
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Latest Episodes

John le Carré, born David Cornwell in 1931, was a British novelist renowned for his morally complex spy fiction. Writing under a pen name gave him the freedom to publish while he worked in both MI5 and MI6, but after the breakthrough success of The S... more

From August to December 2016, then Marine Special Operations Officer Ivan Ingraham lived on an assault ship off the coast of Sirte, a city in northern Libya that lies between Tripoli and Benghazi. It was the hometown of Muammar Gaddafi, who invested ... more

YouTube

At the CIA headquarters in Langley, you will find Kryptos, a large curved copper panel that holds the letters to four encrypted messages. The first three messages- K1, K2, and K3- were solved in the nineties, but K4 continued to mystify cryptographer... more

YouTube

Bob Wallace was appointed Deputy Director of the CIA’s Office of Technical Service in 1995 and became its director three years later. In other words, he was the CIA’s “Q.” The storied office dealt in microdots and secret writing, creating innovations... 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

Ivan Ingraham
Retired Lieutenant Colonel and Marine Special Operations Officer
Episode: Inside Operation Odyssey Lightning in Libya
Bobby Livingston
Auctioneer who sold Jim Sanborn's private archive.
Episode: Auctioning Off the Key to Kryptos
Charlie English
Author of 'The CIA Book Club'
Author
Episode: Inside the CIA’s Book Club Designed to Bring Down Communism
Larry Devlin
Former CIA Station Chief in the Congo
CIA
Episode: From the SpyCast Vault: The Lumumba Plot and The Station Chief's Story
Stuart Reid
Author and speaker on intelligence and espionage
Episode: From the SpyCast Vault: The Lumumba Plot and The Station Chief's Story
Jessica Brandt
Former Director of the Foreign Malign Influence Center
Episode: Opening the Foreign Influence Toolkit
Keith Melton
Historian and advisor to the US intelligence community
International Spy Museum
Episode: From the SpyCast Vault: An Assassination in Mexico
Keith Bulfin
Former banker who became embroiled with drug cartels
Episode: To Catch a Drug Cartel
Ed Bogan
Former CIA Chief of Operations for the Pakistan-Afghanistan Department
CIA
Episode: Retracing the Hunt for Bin Laden

Host

Sasha Ingber
Host bringing unique insights and interviews related to espionage, often focusing on historical perspectives and personal experiences in the field.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 2.4k ratings
  • 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 States2 months ago
  • Very good podcast

    It was neat on all the parts that I listened to about how we got the enigma machine from a German sub then I listen to the next few and really liked it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fun time to listen
    United States3 months ago
  • Quality has Deteriorated

    I don’t know why Dr. Hammond left or by what qualifications or criteria Ms. Ingber was chosen but unfortunately it was a misstep that has caused this show to “jump the shark” big time. It’s not half the show it once was and many of its competitors are now better options in this space. A great shame.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    HashiruOtoko
    United States3 months ago
  • Ziggy

    I think this is a very interesting informative podcast. Love to listen to it. Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Matuszk
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Used to be…

    …the best intelligence related show, now a copy-paste stock political blurb. How sad.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tom__London
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience feedback includes concerns about changes in hosting and questioning approaches, with some expressing a preference for in-depth historical analysis.
Listeners appreciate the variety of guests and topics, citing engaging storytelling and informative discussions.
The content is often described as fascinating, with several reviews praising the podcast for being both informative and entertaining.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#178
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#170
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#159
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#43
Philippines/History
Apple Podcasts
#47
India/History
Apple Podcasts
#70
South Africa/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Auctioning Off the Key to Kryptos
Q: Can you explain what happened when Sanborn was contacted by two men who believed that they had the plain text to K4?
First off, they didn't unencrypt anything. They went to the Smithsonian, found clues, and were able to reassemble the original plain text.
Auctioning Off the Key to Kryptos
Q: So to get started, how much did you know about Kryptos before you started this process?
I didn't know anything about Kryptos and I had to learn pretty fast.
Inside the CIA’s Book Club Designed to Bring Down Communism
Q: Can you talk about Miroslav Hoetsky's contribution to the book club?
Miroslav Hoetsky was crucial in supporting Polish dissidents by providing them with printing resources and working closely with the CIA to distribute banned literature.
Inside the CIA’s Book Club Designed to Bring Down Communism
Q: What was the significance of sending books into Poland?
Poland became a key target for the book program, as it had a more liberal government and a tradition of underground printing, making it a more receptive audience for Western literature.
Inside the CIA’s Book Club Designed to Bring Down Communism
Q: How did the idea for this book club begin?
The idea grew out of the fear of communism after World War II; the CIA was looking for various methods to combat the spread of communism, leading to the creation of the book program.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About SpyCast

What is SpyCast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the intricate and often secretive world of international espionage, this podcast dives into fascinating stories and insights from former spies, intelligence experts, and authors. With episodes centered on historical events and contemporary issues, listeners gain access to discussions about espionage tactics, famous cases, and the moral implications of intelligence work. The host skillfully uncovers how intelligence efforts shape political landscapes and impact everyday life, ensuring a captivating mix that appeals to history buffs, political enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the espionage domain. The focus on storytelling enhances the learning experience, making complex topics accessible and engaging.

Where can I find podcast stats for SpyCast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for SpyCast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to SpyCast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does SpyCast get?

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What are the audience demographics for 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 19 years ago and published 726 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for SpyCast?

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for SpyCast?

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What guests have appeared on SpyCast?

Recent guests on SpyCast include:

1. Ivan Ingraham
2. Bobby Livingston
3. Charlie English
4. Larry Devlin
5. Stuart Reid
6. Jessica Brandt
7. Keith Melton
8. Keith Bulfin

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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