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SPYCRAFT 101

Justin Black
Cold War
Espionage
CIA
World War II
FBI
British Intelligence
Vietnam War
MI6
Soviet Union
World War I
KGB
China
Miami
American Civil War
Communism
Counterintelligence
The Troubles
Operation Just Cause
October Surprise
Irregular Warfare

Welcome to your clandestine classroom.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes264Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryGovernment

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Artwork for SPYCRAFT 101

Latest Episodes

Today, Justin is joined by Michael Lebowitz. Michael served as a paratrooper in the Army's 101st Airborne Division and later as a judge advocate in the US Army Reserve, currently at the rank of lieutenant colonel. As a civilian, he's worked as a tria... more

Today Justin sits down with William Gage. Bill graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a Bachelor's Degree in History and received his Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. He worked for more than 11 years as a speci... more

This week's guest is John Ware. John is an award-winning investigative journalist with over four decades experience reporting on security, intelligence, and public accountability. He's a former BBC Panorama correspondent who has led major investigati... more

This week, Justin revisits episode 61 with trial lawyer Michael Pullara. Michael is a practicing trial lawyer from Texas who has spent more than 40 years representing an incredibly wide variety of clients. In the courtroom, he squared off against Ita... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

William Gage
Former Secret Service agent; counterfeiting investigator
United States Secret Service
Episode: 259. Superbills: The Secret Service's Global Counterfeiting Odyssey with William Gage
John Ware
award-winning investigative journalist
BBC; author of Neither Confirm Nor Deny
Episode: 258. Lawless Agent Running: Britains Biggest Informants in Northern Ireland with John Ware
Michael Pullara
Attorney and author who led the investigation into Freddie Woodruff's death
Independent investigator / Attorney
Episode: 257. [ARCHIVE] Solving the Murder of a CIA Case Officer with Michael Pullara
Michael Walsh
Lieutenant Commander, Navy SEAL; author of SEAL, From Vietnam's Phoenix Program to Central America's Drug Wars
United States Navy
Episode: 256. The Operational Life of a SEAL from Vietnam to Central America with Michael Walsh
Charles Finfrock
Former CIA case officer, Tesla insider-threat program lead, founder of Vigilance
Vigilance / Tesla / CIA
Episode: 255. CIA Case Officer to Tesla's Security Innovator with Charles Finfrock
Greg Barnhisel
Professor of English, Duquesne University; author of Code Name Puritan
Duquesne University
Episode: 254. Code Name Puritan: The Legacy of Norman Holmes Pearson with Dr. Greg Barnhisel
Josh Ireland
Author and historian
Penguin Random House (publisher of The Death of Trotsky)
Episode: 253. The Plot Against Trotsky with Josh Ireland
Sam McKnight
Founder and director of Khthon; graduate student at University of St. Andrews
Khthon
Episode: 252. Unearthing War Crimes and Mass Graves Through Geospatial Intelligence with Sam McKnight
Niccolò Petrelli
Research scholar at the Center for International and Strategic Studies, Luiss Rome
Luiss Rome
Episode: 251. Unveiling Gladio: Cold War Secrets and Italian Intelligence with Niccolò Petrelli

Host

Justin
Host of the Spycraft 101 podcast; long-running central figure in interviews and episode hosting.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 835 ratings
  • Justin seems distracted and doesn't know when to simply listen

    I've listened to several episodes and Justin often offers these superficial, annoying responses that suggest he isn't paying close attention (because he's queuing up his next remark) and doesn't appreciate that sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all. For instance, in his interview with Sam McKnight about detecting mass graves using satellite data, Sam remarks that he is profoundly effected by his work and Justin basically says something like, "Yeah, the world is a bad place but I'm su... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    DatingShame
    United States2 months ago
  • Great experience as guest and listener!

    Justin is a very professional podcast host and he cares about his guests. He did an excellent job and I was honored on to be on the show and am avid listener too! Good support too from Jesse as his producer and editor!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wissers73
    United States3 months ago
  • 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 States7 months ago
  • Underrated

    10 ⭐ worthy

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bandboxxer
    United States7 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 States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the depth, variety of guests, and educational value.
Some critique pacing and host delivery in a few episodes, but overall strong feedback.
Many highlight high production quality and engaging storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#244
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#174
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#236
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#125
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#215
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#127
Philippines/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

256. The Operational Life of a SEAL from Vietnam to Central America with Michael Walsh
Q: What was your experience with the Phoenix Program and how did it shape your outlook on intelligence work?
The Phoenix Program was a structured effort to map and influence local governance chains, from families to provinces, which taught me the importance of organizing intelligence in a way that could actually be acted on, rather than indiscriminate fighting. The program taught me to bring people in alive when possible and to focus on actionable intelligence rather than blind violence.
252. Unearthing War Crimes and Mass Graves Through Geospatial Intelligence with Sam McKnight
Q: How does your team decide which sites to investigate and how long can a typical project take?
It depends on the tip, the transliteration of names, and how quickly a site is locatable; some projects are quick if the militaries are predictable, others can take a long time if they hinge on difficult-to-find local details.
248. The Secrets of British Black Propaganda with Rory Cormac
Q: How did the IRD measure success or impact, given how hard it is to quantify propaganda outcomes?
They struggled with metrics and often defaulted to pragmatic, surface-level indicators like newspaper uptake. They used analogies like fertilizer saying you can't always quantify the effect, but you have to assume it helps. Over time, financial and political pressures pushed for more tangible metrics, even as the core outcomes remained difficult to prove directly.
248. The Secrets of British Black Propaganda with Rory Cormac
Q: What motivated you to write about these 8,000 declassified files and the shadowy world of black propaganda?
I stumbled upon a wealth of material in the declassified files, and instead of a single academic article, material kept piling up with outrageous stories and fascinating characters. It offered a unique opportunity to tell the human story of the people who actually did this work, not just the top leaders, and to reveal the breadth and nuance of how these operations were conceived and executed.
247. Captured by Russians in Ukraine with Kirillo Alexandrov
Q: What first drew you to Ukraine in 2018, and what was your experience like before the invasion changed everything?
I moved there for family and a change of scenery, and I had no immediate quarrel with Russia; my awareness of geopolitics grew over time as tensions escalated.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About SPYCRAFT 101

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

This show centers on espionage history, intelligence operations, and covert action, mixing deep historical case studies with contemporary tradecraft and security analysis. Across episodes, listeners encounter a wide range of guests—from former intelligence officers and military veterans to historians and cybersecurity experts—who share firsthand experiences, archival insights, and thoughtful commentary on how espionage, propaganda, and statecraft shape world events. The tone tends to be narrative and educational, with a strong emphasis on understanding complex tradecraft, ethical considerations, and the human dimension behind covert operations. Noteworthy is the consistent ability to surface under-the-radar historical episodes, high-profile... more

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SPYCRAFT 101 launched 5 years ago and published 264 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. William Gage
2. John Ware
3. Michael Pullara
4. Michael Walsh
5. Charles Finfrock
6. Greg Barnhisel
7. Josh Ireland
8. Sam McKnight

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