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SPYCRAFT 101

Justin Black
Vietnam War
Cold War
Espionage
World War II
Communism
CIA
Cambridge Five
Phạm Xuân Ẩn
British Intelligence
Soviet Espionage
Noel Field
Cameron Ortiz
Vietnam
Time Magazine
MI6
Augusto Pinochet
French Resistance
Washington D.C.
Chile
Orlando Letelier

Welcome to your clandestine classroom.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes243Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for SPYCRAFT 101

Latest Episodes

Today Justin sits down with Allie Mellen (@hackerxbella). Allie is a leading industry analyst who advises global 2000 organizations on cybersecurity policy and practice with a focus on detecting and responding to nation state attacks. Previously she ... more

This week continues our tribute to Lee Gossett with his second Spycraft 101 episode. Not only did he appear on the podcast twice, but he and Justin were regularly in contact via email from 2021 and on. He was an avid listener to the podcast and on ma... more

This week, Spycraft 101 returns to the archives to say goodbye to one of our earliest guests. Lee Gossett got his start as a smoke jumper with the US Forest Service in the late 1950s and later served with Air America and Continental Air Services duri... more

This week Justin sits down with Shane Osborn. Shane is a veteran of the US Navy and a graduate of the University of Nebraska Lincoln. From 2007 until 2011, he served as the treasurer for the State of Nebraska. He's also the founder of the Nebraska So... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Lee Gossett
Former Air America pilot, CIA liaison, UAV program participant
Self/various agencies (Air America, CIA)
Episode: 238. [ARCHIVE] An International CIA Pilot with Lee Gossett
Shane Osborn
Veteran of the U.S. Navy and author of 'Born to Fly'
Episode: 236. Imprisoned in China: The Hainan Island Incident with Shane Osborn
Paula May
Former Chief of Police and law enforcement professional with over 35 years of experience
North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police
Episode: 234. The Swedish "Assassin" and the Killer Cop with Paula May
Lisa Story
Author and public relations professional, niece of Walter Reca
Episode: 232. My Uncle D.B. Cooper with Lisa Story
Dr. Brian J. Ellison
Author and expert in naval intelligence and human affairs
Episode: 229. In the Shadows: US Naval Intelligence in the Indo-Pacific with Dr. Brian J. Ellison
Mike Yeagley
Chief Strategy Officer for CodeHort.ID
CodeHort.ID
Episode: 228. Data, Privacy, and Power: How Commercial Information Became the Next Frontier of Global Intelligence with Mike Yeagley
Ana Margarita Martinez
A Cuban exile and author whose life became intertwined with espionage due to her marriage to Juan Pablo Roque, a Cuban spy.
Episode: 227. My Husband the Cuban Spy with Ana Margarita Martinez
Sam Farran
Former Marine and author of The Tightening Dark, An American Hostage in Yemen
Episode: 223. A Former Marine Held Hostage in Yemen with Sam Farran
Trevor Barnes
Journalist specializing in national security issues.
London Standard Newspaper
Episode: 222. Russian Sabotage: Inside The Wagner Trial with Trevor Barnes

Host

Justin Black
Host of the Spycraft 101 Podcast, focusing on intelligence, espionage, history, and national security.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 800 ratings
  • Worth it

    So good. I don’t usually listen to stuff like this but this has caught my heart. I have like a million downloaded episodes. I’m a spy now.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Warchild09
    United States2 months ago
  • Underrated

    10 ⭐ worthy

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bandboxxer
    United States2 months ago
  • Hidden history

    Great conversations with people who were on the inside or close to those who were involved in intelligence work. Interesting variety of guests and topics as well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vegas Story
    United States2 months ago
  • Five Stars

    Love this podcast so much. He gets so many excellent guests and is very interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PortlandAppRev
    United States3 months ago
  • Fascinating.

    The thing I love about this podcast… we live in a very polarized world, with a lot of black and white opinions. Justin’s interviews and topics are a phenomenal reminder that the world is a lot more “gray” than we assume it to be. A fascinating lesson for those interested in espionage history and thinking critically about the world that we live in.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dtotheweed
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticisms mention issues with sound quality or the interview style of the host.
There are positive remarks about the engaging storytelling and unique personal anecdotes shared by guests.
Feedback highlights the educational nature of the content, underscoring the depth of analysis on complex topics.
Listeners appreciate the variety of guests and historical insight provided in each episode.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#223
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#212
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#122
Japan/History
Apple Podcasts
#209
Israel/History
Apple Podcasts
#217
Saudi Arabia/History
Apple Podcasts
#219
Sweden/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

238. [ARCHIVE] An International CIA Pilot with Lee Gossett
Q: What is a typical night operation like in Mogadishu with the Schweitzer motorized glider?
The mission involved night takeoffs with night vision, FLIR, silent operation to observe and document targets, and direct video downlinks to embassies for real-time intelligence collection.
238. [ARCHIVE] An International CIA Pilot with Lee Gossett
Q: What were the main regions of focus in the 1980s and 1990s?
The focus shifted to Central America, especially El Salvador, with photo missions and support for embassy activities; later, he worked in the UAV programs on the West Coast before returning to South America and Colombia.
238. [ARCHIVE] An International CIA Pilot with Lee Gossett
Q: So, how did the smoke jumper program become a funnel into these covert operations?
Gossett explains that former smoke jumpers and special forces were recruited in the early 1960s to act as cargo droppers and air freight specialists in Laos, with a number of their friends joining the program and the CIA orchestrating the outreach.
237. [ARCHIVE] From Forest Fires to CIA Resuppliers with Lee Gossett
Q: How did you segue from Smoke Jumping into your later career with Air America and the CIA?
After hearing about risks and opportunities from friends in Air America, I decided to join despite the dangers involved.
237. [ARCHIVE] From Forest Fires to CIA Resuppliers with Lee Gossett
Q: What was it that drew you to Smoke Jumping?
I was intrigued by a couple of Smoke Jumpers I met at the airport, which inspired me to learn more about it and pursue the career.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About SPYCRAFT 101

What is SPYCRAFT 101 about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on espionage and intelligence operations, the content covers a diverse range of historical and contemporary topics related to spying, covert actions, and the intricate world of national security. Episodes often feature former intelligence officials, law enforcement professionals, and experts, providing in-depth discussions about their experiences, insights into operations, and the moral complexities surrounding espionage. Unique perspectives from guests reveal personal stories that enhance the understanding of intelligence work and its implications for politics and society, making it a compelling listen for those interested in history, military affairs, and real-life spy narratives. Each episode tends to balance educational content ... more

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How many episodes of SPYCRAFT 101 are there?

SPYCRAFT 101 launched 5 years ago and published 243 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on SPYCRAFT 101?

Recent guests on SPYCRAFT 101 include:

1. Lee Gossett
2. Shane Osborn
3. Paula May
4. Lisa Story
5. Dr. Brian J. Ellison
6. Mike Yeagley
7. Ana Margarita Martinez
8. Sam Farran

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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