Rephonic
Artwork for State Secrets

State Secrets

The Cipher Brief
Iran
CIA
Hamas
Russia
Israel
Havana Syndrome
Counterterrorism
Ukraine
Middle East Conflict
United States
Hezbollah
National Security
Russian Intelligence Unit 29155
China
Directed Energy Weapons
U.S. Foreign Policy
Middle East
60 Minutes
Walter Reed's Traumatic Brain Injury Center
Espionage

State Secrets is a weekly interview podcast featuring Cipher Brief experts and national security leaders.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for State Secrets

Latest Episodes

What does "peace through strength" mean in 2025—when AI, drones and great-power rivalry are reshaping the battlefield? In this episode of State Secrets, Cipher Brief CEO Suzanne Kelly sits down with David Trulio, President & CEO of the Reagan Foundat... more

In this episode of State Secrets, Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly talks with retired four-star Gen. Stan McChrystal, who served as Commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and is author of the new book, On Character: Choices Th... more

Former NSA senior executive Mike Driscoll joins Cipher Brief's Brad Christian to dissect how America - and its allies - win or lose in the cognitive domain. From post-9/11 SIGINT dominance and its pitfalls to today's OSINT revolution powered by AI, D... more

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys joins Cipher Brief CEO Suzanne Kelly in Washington with a blunt warning: Western military restraint is encouraging, not deterring, the Kremlin. Budrys explains why Lithuania is raising defense spending to ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

NatSec Matters
NatSec MattersBeacon Global Strategies LLC
SpyTalk
SpyTalkSpyTalk, Jeff Stein
SpyCast
SpyCastSpyCast
Irregular Warfare Podcast
Irregular Warfare PodcastIrregular Warfare Initiative

Recent Guests

Stan McChrystal
Retired General and author of On Character, Choices That Define a Life
McChrystal Group
Episode: Getting Candid with Gen. Stan McChrystal (Ret.) on Character and Controversy
Mike Driscoll
Former NSA senior executive and expert in asymmetric warfare
Cipher Brief
Episode: Information Warfare The New Frontline
Kęstutis Budrys
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
Republic of Lithuania
Episode: Lithuania's Foreign Minister: 'Western Restraint Invites Russian Aggression
David Petraeus
Former CIA Director and US Army General
Episode: Drones, Deterrence, and Overplaying Putin's Hand: with Gen. David Petraeus
Renee Novakoff
Former Deputy Director of Intelligence for Sensitive Activities and Special Programs at the Office of the Secretary of Defense with over 40 years in the U.S. defense and intelligence community.
U.S. Department of Defense
Episode: The Secret U.S. Counter-Narcotics Mission
Sheetal Patel
Former CIA Senior Officer and Assistant Director of CIA's Transnational and Technology Mission Center
CIA
Episode: Inside Emerging Threats: Former CIA Leader Sheetal Patel on Drones, Tech, and America's Adversaries
Mark Kelton
Former Senior Executive at the CIA and expert with Cipher Brief
Cipher Brief
Episode: Does the CIA Have a Trust Problem?
Susan Miller
Retired CIA Assistant Director for the China Mission Center
CIA
Episode: Mission CIA: Mapping Beijing's Path to War
Rob Dannenberg
Co-author of 'A Spy Walked Into A Bar'
Episode: A Practitioner's Guide to Cocktail Tradecraft

Host

Suzanne Kelly
CEO and host, Suzanne Kelly, leads discussions with experts in national security, providing informed perspectives on critical global issues.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 119 ratings
  • Propaganda

    Military Industrial Complex has-beens are trending as guests with agendas to advocate for dated strategies, acquisitions or other bad ideas.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ranger WWB
    United Statesa year ago
  • Ed Bogan

    The interview of Ed Bogan is excellent!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Unisaw
    United Statesa year ago
  • Eager listener

    I love tuning in to this podcast. Very informative, while remaining interesting. Nice work! :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jacsta1234
    Australia3 years ago
  • Steve Blank EXCEPTIONAL

    That interview with Steve Blank was exceptional ”at scale!”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GeneM68
    United States3 years ago
  • Lame

    These people act like they are still talking with their lingo using buds.. it’s boring and not useful to anyone except people wanting to stroke themselves with people who they fashion as important or relevant… go back to Panera and have the Mac and cheese..

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    chipsotoole1
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the informative content and insights from distinguished guests, highlighting the podcast's value for those interested in security and intelligence matters.
Positive feedback frequently emphasizes the exceptional quality and depth of interviews, acknowledging the expertise assembled for each episode.
Some critiques note that certain guests may represent dated perspectives, while others find the discussions relevant and engaging.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#174
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#244
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#197
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#240
Italy/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#63
Philippines/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#84
Argentina/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister: 'Western Restraint Invites Russian Aggression
Q: What does a ceasefire in Ukraine mean for the Baltics?
It means that Lithuania will continue supporting Ukraine and bolster its own military presence at the borders.
Getting Candid with Gen. Stan McChrystal (Ret.) on Character and Controversy
Q: How do you think history will judge Stan McChrystal's character 100 years from now?
He believes history might judge him based on his intentions and impact, but acknowledges that he was part of efforts that many deemed inevitable failures, like Afghanistan.
Getting Candid with Gen. Stan McChrystal (Ret.) on Character and Controversy
Q: How are you thinking about character in environments like the one that we're in today?
McChrystal responds that today's political environment is highly partisan, making the concept of character feel charged and binary; he emphasizes the importance of understanding what character truly is before passing judgment.
White House Director: We Need a 'Kill Web' for Modern Warfare
Q: How do you see the future from a technology and AI standpoint?
AI will have fundamental changes, particularly in how we engage foreign audiences, with an emphasis on using AI to enhance human capabilities.
White House Director: We Need a 'Kill Web' for Modern Warfare
Q: What does success look like for you in this role? And how do you measure it?
Success is measured by behavior change in target audiences, and in order to achieve that, clear objectives need to be defined.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About State Secrets

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

This weekly interview series features in-depth discussions with experts in national security and intelligence, focusing on the complexities of contemporary geopolitical issues. Topics span a wide range of critical areas including drone warfare, counter-narcotics efforts, and cybersecurity threats posed by emerging technologies. The content uniquely blends insights from high-ranking military officials and former intelligence officers, providing listeners with a critical understanding of global security dynamics and intricate military strategies. Noteworthy episodes have highlighted the evolving roles of artificial intelligence and the implications of tensions with nations such as China and Russia, making it a valuable resource for anyone int... more

Where can I find podcast stats for State Secrets?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for State Secrets. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to State Secrets and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does State Secrets get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for State Secrets, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for State Secrets?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for State Secrets, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does State Secrets have?

To see how many followers or subscribers State Secrets has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to State Secrets?

These podcasts share a similar audience with State Secrets:

1. NatSec Matters
2. SpyTalk
3. SpyCast
4. War on the Rocks
5. Irregular Warfare Podcast

How many episodes of State Secrets are there?

State Secrets launched 9 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact State Secrets?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for State Secrets?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for State Secrets from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for State Secrets?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of State Secrets. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on State Secrets?

Recent guests on State Secrets include:

1. Stan McChrystal
2. Mike Driscoll
3. Kęstutis Budrys
4. David Petraeus
5. Renee Novakoff
6. Sheetal Patel
7. Mark Kelton
8. Susan Miller

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days