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Artwork for SPYCRAFT 101

SPYCRAFT 101

Justin Black
Cold War
Espionage
CIA
World War II
British Intelligence
FBI
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes268Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for SPYCRAFT 101

Latest Episodes

Today, Justin talks with Gene Coyle. Gene graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a Bachelor's degree in 1973, followed by a Master's degree in 1974. He then joined the Central Intelligence Agency, where he served for 30 years, includin... more

Today Justin sits down with Robert Mazur. Robert is a world-renowned authority on money laundering techniques. He spent 27 years working as a US federal agent, including five years undercover, followed by 17 years in the private sector working as an ... more

Today, Justin talks woth Nicholas Reynolds. Nick has had a very enviable career. After graduating from Oxford University in the 1970s, he served in the US Marine Corps as an infantry officer and later as a historian. He retired from the reserves as a... more

Today Justin sits down with Kevin Riehle. Kevin earned his Bachelor's degree in Russian and Political Science at Brigham Young University, his Master's degree in Strategic Intelligence at the Joint Military Intelligence College, and his PhD in War St... more

Key Facts

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

Recent Guests

Robert Mazur
Former US federal agent, undercover money launderer, author of The Infiltrator
Former IRS/Customs agent turned consultant and author
Episode: 263. Infiltrating the Cartels with Robert Mazur
Nicholas Reynolds
Author of Ortiz's War
Author, Ortiz's War
Episode: 262. France's Secret Weapon Against the Nazis with Nicholas Reynolds
Kevin Riehle
Author of Soviet Defectors, Revelations of Renegade Intelligence Officers, 1924 to 1954
Author, Historian
Episode: 261. Inside the Minds of Soviet Defectors with Kevin Riehle
Michael Lebowitz
Former National Security Division prosecutor; author of Second Wave
Diversion Books (publisher) / US Department of Justice
Episode: 260. Al Qaeda's Second Wave Plot: A Deep Dive into Post-9/11 Investigations with Michael Lebowitz
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

Host

Justin
Host with a focus on espionage history and tradecraft storytelling

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 838 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 States3 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 States4 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 States8 months ago
  • Underrated

    10 ⭐ worthy

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bandboxxer
    United States8 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 States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently knowledgeable and the conversations are well-researched.
Audio/production quality is generally strong, with some occasional critiques of pacing or host tone.
Listeners praise the host's interviewing depth and the show's access to unique insiders.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#188
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#232
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#225
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#53
Ukraine/History
Apple Podcasts
#98
Japan/History
Apple Podcasts
#109
Denmark/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

263. Infiltrating the Cartels with Robert Mazur
Q: What led you to switch agencies at one point in your career?
He explains a need to escape IRS bureaucracy and join Customs while on a joint task force, enabling more agile surveillance and longer undercover timelines.
263. Infiltrating the Cartels with Robert Mazur
Q: So can you tell me about your path into federal service? Did you start with IRS and then move to Customs later on?
He describes an accidental entry into federal work through an IRS Intelligence summer job, progressing into IRS Criminal Investigation, and later moving to Customs for more rapid escalation in undercover work.
263. Infiltrating the Cartels with Robert Mazur
Q: But first, let me ask you this. Are you an amateur military historian like me? Has this podcast rekindled your interest in Eastern Europe and the Cold War?
Mazur uses that as a light opening to connect with the host, while steering the conversation toward his undercover work and money laundering history rather than history trivia.
262. France's Secret Weapon Against the Nazis with Nicholas Reynolds
Q: What time period and settings did Ortiz's career span, and how did that shape his path?
Ortiz's career spans the 1930s through the end of World War II, moving from the French Foreign Legion to North Africa and Europe, and finally into OSS and SOE work behind enemy lines, illustrating a career shaped by rapid shifts in theaters and organizations.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About SPYCRAFT 101

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

The show sits at the intersection of espionage history, covert operations, and counterintelligence, frequently featuring former agents, historians, and private-sector security experts. Episodes center on real-world cases, archival investigations, and high-profile investigations, with a steady emphasis on interagency dynamics, ethics, and the evolution of tradecraft. Notable strengths include deep-dive interviews with unique insiders, careful archival context, and a knack for connecting historical events to modern security, privacy, and information warfare themes. A standout trait is the ability to translate arcane intelligence history into accessible storytelling, making it appealing to both enthusiasts and industry professionals seeking ac... more

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SPYCRAFT 101 launched 5 years ago and published 268 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. Robert Mazur
2. Nicholas Reynolds
3. Kevin Riehle
4. Michael Lebowitz
5. William Gage
6. John Ware
7. Michael Pullara
8. Michael Walsh

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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