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SpyMasters

Paul Burke
Espionage
World War II
CIA
Russia
Cold War
Soviet Union
KGB
FSB
Donald Trump
U-Boats
Mossad
China
Crime
Spy Fiction
Battle Of Atlantic
Putin
Nazi Germany
Mark Ellis
Frank Merlin
Enigma

Writer and critic Paul Burke interviews all the best writers on espionage. Each episode will bring you fascinating stories on spies, covert action and more - delving in to fact and fiction, past and present.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes62Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryArtsBooks

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Latest Episodes

Charles Cumming talks to Paul Burke about his new novel Icarus 17, latest in the Box 88 series, The Day of the Jackal, A Spy by Nature, Thomas Kell, Geopolitics in the novel, post-Cold War spy fiction dip, touring Eastern Europe before The Wall fell,... more

Johan Wennström talks to Paul Burke about The Stay Behinds: Sweden's Cold War Guardians.

The Stay Behinds: Packed with first-hand accounts and previously classified government documents, this book reveals the secrets of Sweden's resistance network, ... more

Former FBI Director JAMES COMEY talks to Paul Burke about his novel RED VERDICT, The FBI, being a socially adept introvert, Russian operations in America, the inspiration for Nora and Benny and The Kansas City Massacre.

RED VERDICT THE MURDER OF THE... more

Andrew Rosenheim talks about his contemporary spy thriller The Interpreter's Secret, AI in publishing, kindle, literary games on the page, cat and mouse chases.

The Interpreter's Secret: in Stockholm for a G20 summit, the interpreter Thomas Weaver i... more

Daria Santini talks to Spymasters about her biography of Edith Tudor Hart, A Woman Called Edith, the Cambridge Five, Arnold Deutsch, photography, working class lives, communism and spying.

Edith Tudor Hart has long evaded biographers. A Jewish-Aust... more

Michael Idov talks to Spymasters about his new novel THE CORMORANT HUNT, screenwriting, The Collaborators, Doug Lyman, geopolitics and the spy novel and walking back the cat.

THE CORMORANT HUNT: Disheartened CIA officer Ari Falk, now hiding in the R... more

Piers Blofeld talks to Spymasters about his new book on Anthony Blunt, MASTER OF LIES, the greatest traitor, working for Churchill and Stalin, Operation Market Garden, a not-confession confession, enjoying the limelight of discovery.

MASTER OF LIES:... more

STALIN'S APOSTLES: The Cambridge Five and the making of the Soviet Empire, Part 2. From MacLean and Burgess' defection to today, research, new sources,

The Cambridge Five are surrounded by myth. It was time for a new sober and revealing history of t... more

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Recent Guests

Johan Wennström
Author of The Stay Behinds: Sweden's Cold War Guardians
Swedish Defence University
Episode: Sweden's Cold War Guardians with Johan Wennström
James Comey
Former director of the FBI and author of Red Verdict
Author, Former FBI Director
Episode: Red Verdict by James Comey
Andrew Rosenheim
Author of The Interpreter's Secret; former publishing executive
No Exit Press (publisher)
Episode: The Interpreter's Secret Andrew Rosenheim
Daria Santini
Author of A Woman Named Edith; former lecturer at Oxford University
Author/Scholar
Episode: A Woman Called Edith by Daria Santini
Michael Idov
Screenwriter and director; author of The Collaborators and The Cormorant Hunt
Self (author)
Episode: The Cormorant Hunt by Michael Idov
Piers Blofeld
Author of Master Of Lies, biography of Anthony Blunt
Author, Master Of Lies
Episode: Master of Lies: How Anthony Blunt's Treachery Changed Our World
Antonia Senior
Author of Stalin's Apostles
Author and Journalist
Episode: STALIN'S APOSTLES: The Cambridge Five and the making of the Soviet Empire
Adrian Munsey
Director and creator of the SpyMasters documentary on Sky Arts
Sky Arts / SpyMasters
Episode: Spymasters Documentary - Sky Arts, Director Adrian Munsey
James Wolff
Former British intelligence officer and author
Episode: Spies and Other Gods: James Wolff on British intelligence, secrecy, and the “soul” of spying

Hosts

Paul Burke
Host of SpyMasters (and related history podcasts) with extensive involvement in SpyMasters.
Antonia Senior
Host of SpyMasters with a focus on espionage history and book-length investigations.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sweden's Cold War Guardians with Johan Wennström
Q: What has changed in public perception of the Stay Behinds since the book's publication?
Ordinary Swedes and security elites alike have shown gratitude for uncovering forgotten history, with operatives increasingly rehabilitated as patriots rather than rogue actors, and testimonies continuing to emerge from those involved.
Sweden's Cold War Guardians with Johan Wennström
Q: How did Sweden legalize or regulate this secret network without parliamentary authorization?
A series of letters of authorization issued by the prime minister in 1949 and an official decision in 1955 legalized the movement in a double sense—legally through government action and practically through strict adherence to international law and financial auditing.
Sweden's Cold War Guardians with Johan Wennström
Q: Can you explain who the Stay Behinds were and why they existed in Sweden?
They were a civilian resistance network, formed to operate in the event of a Soviet invasion, built on a small governing board and a tightly compartmentalized regional structure to provide a last line of defense while adhering to international law and ensuring national control.
Red Verdict by James Comey
Q: How do you handle portraying the courtroom in a realistic way without making it tedious?
I focus on pacing, use natural dialogue, and cut unnecessary procedural minutiae while keeping the essential truth of how investigations and trials unfold.
Red Verdict by James Comey
Q: What makes Nora Carleton a compelling protagonist?
She embodies tenacity and integrity, balancing tough professional duties with family responsibilities, and she often faces moral gray areas that require careful judgment rather than bravado.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About SpyMasters

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

Espionage writers, historians, and former intelligence officials dominate discussions, with interviews spanning Cold War networks, modern covert operations, and the craft of spy fiction. Episodes frequently center on biographies, historical events, and literary perspectives, blending rigorous research with behind-the-scenes storytelling. A hallmark is connecting real-world geopolitics to fiction, from Cambridge Five saga analyses to contemporary thrillers, often featuring book launches, archival revelations, and discussions on ethics, media influence, and national security. Listeners likely include history buffs, espionage fiction fans, and professionals in publishing or media who enjoy expert context, archival detail, and nuanced takes on ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to SpyMasters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with SpyMasters:

1. The Rest Is Classified
2. Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs
3. The Rest Is History
4. Empire: World History
5. Dan Snow's History Hit

How many episodes of SpyMasters are there?

SpyMasters launched 3 years ago and published 62 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 SpyMasters?

Recent guests on SpyMasters include:

1. Johan Wennström
2. James Comey
3. Andrew Rosenheim
4. Daria Santini
5. Michael Idov
6. Piers Blofeld
7. Antonia Senior
8. Adrian Munsey

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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