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SpyMasters

Paul Burke
Espionage
World War II
CIA
Russia
Soviet Union
Cold War
KGB
FSB
Donald Trump
U-Boats
Mossad
China
Crime
Spy Fiction
Battle Of Atlantic
Putin
Mark Ellis
Frank Merlin
Nazi Germany
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 monthlyEpisodes58Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsHistoryBooks

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Latest Episodes

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

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
Alex Preston
Prize-winning author and acclaimed journalist
Episode: A Stranger in Corfu: MI6, Betrayal, and the Island Where Spies Disappear, with Alex Preston
David McCloskey
Top spy writer and former CIA analyst
Episode: From CIA to Spy Novelist: The Israel–Iran Shadow War Behind The Persian | David McCloskey
Filip Kovacevic
An academic focused on intelligence narratives and the KGB.
Substack writer
Episode: KGB Literati: How Soviet Spy Fiction Shaped the Secret State

Hosts

Paul Burke
Host of Spy Masters; editor and writer associated with Aspects of Crime and related history podcasts
Antonia Senior
Host of SpyMasters; writer and journalist focusing on espionage history

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#213
Denmark/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Master of Lies: How Anthony Blunt's Treachery Changed Our World
Q: Did you kind of think that you would publish a book?
Yes, indeed. I mean, you could argue that my entire career has been the career of a man too lazy to write his own books and I endlessly try to get other people to write them for me, until I was forced to do it myself, so yes, it was very much on the cards.
The Spy Who Shaped Britain: Daniel Defoe and the Secret Politics of Union
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about that, please, Marc?
Marc explains how his work sits at the intersection of the history of ideas and literary history, and how Defoe's life and espionage activity illuminate the broader political dynamics of the Union.
STALIN'S APOSTLES: The Cambridge Five and the making of the Soviet Empire
Q: Well, so that's today. Obviously you want people to buy the book. What else?
Antonia explains the aims of the book, discusses the myth-busting focus, and outlines how the narrative shifts from a glamorized story to a more nuanced examination of recruitment, loyalty, and the human cost of espionage.
The Poet's Game: writing a bestselling spy thriller, with Paul Vidich
Q: Why is Alex Matthews positioned as an outsider from the CIA?
I like the ambivalence of characters who are not fully committed to a mission or institution, which adds psychological depth and unpredictability to their actions.
The Poet's Game: writing a bestselling spy thriller, with Paul Vidich
Q: What made you want to set your novel in 2018?
I was deeply concerned about the world in 2021, particularly the political environment and events surrounding the Trump administration, which inspired the novel's contemporary setting.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About SpyMasters

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

Intense, well-researched discussions centered on espionage, intelligence history, and the intersection of fact and fiction. Episodes frequently explore historic spy networks, wartime and Cold War intrigue, and the broader storytelling of espionage through interviews with authors, historians, journalists, and documentary filmmakers. A standout feature is how guests bring archival material, research depth, and narrative insight to complex geopolitics, ethics, and the human side of spying. The show shines when it blends rigorous history with contemporary relevance, from novel memoirs to documentary projects and literary takes on espionage.

Listeners likely include history and literature buffs, researchers, and professionals in media and acade... more

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How many episodes of SpyMasters are there?

SpyMasters launched 2 years ago and published 58 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. Daria Santini
2. Michael Idov
3. Piers Blofeld
4. Antonia Senior
5. Adrian Munsey
6. James Wolff
7. Alex Preston
8. David McCloskey

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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