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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
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 monthlyEpisodes59Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooksHistory

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Latest Episodes

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

The Cambridge Five are surrounded by myth. It was time for a new sober and revealing history of the most deadly spy ring ever. Paul Burke talks to Antonia Senior about her new thrilling account of Burgess, Maclean, Philby, Blunt & Cairncross:

STALIN... more

Adrian Munsey, director/writer of Spymasters a new documentary series for Sky Arts talks to Paul Burke about the intersection between history and its representation in film and fiction. The documentary features contributions from Christopher Andrews... more

What if one of the founders of the English novel was also a spy?

In this episode of Spymasters, host Paul Burke speaks with historian Marc Mierowski about the extraordinary secret career of Daniel Defoe.

Today Defoe is remembered as the author of R... 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

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
Writer and journalist discussing Stalin's Apostles
Episode: Stalin's Apostles: The Cambridge Five and the Making of the Soviet Empire Pt.2
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

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

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Interpreter's Secret Andrew Rosenheim
Q: How does the book balance contemporary relevance with classic spy tropes?
It uses modern surveillance and digital themes while retaining the suspenseful, chase-driven structure of classics like The 39 Steps, ensuring the stakes feel current without losing the traditional cat-and-mouse dynamic.
The Interpreter's Secret Andrew Rosenheim
Q: What inspired the premise around interpreters and coded conversations?
The idea grew from real-world moments, such as a high-profile meeting where the interpreter's notes ended up in strange hands, prompting a speculative exploration of what such an asset could reveal and how it could be misused.
The Interpreter's Secret Andrew Rosenheim
Q: How would you introduce The Interpreter's Secret to readers?
It begins with the interpreter Weaver, who works for the State Department, being drawn into a meeting that he cannot fully understand, and the plot follows his attempts to decipher the hidden meaning while being hunted by both sides.
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.

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 59 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. Andrew Rosenheim
2. Daria Santini
3. Michael Idov
4. Piers Blofeld
5. Antonia Senior
6. Adrian Munsey
7. James Wolff
8. Alex Preston

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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