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The Live Drop

Mark Valley
Military History
Espionage
Cold War
Fenian Raids
CIA
Cuban Revolution
Cambridge Five
Fidel Castro
Terrorism
Cybercrime
Border Security
Immigration
Confederation Of Canada
Irish Nationalism
Canadian Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
Che Guevara
Wagner Group
The Ratcatcher
Cold War Berlin

Venture into the elusive world of intelligence collection and espionage to spot, assess and debrief: spies, handlers, catchers, analysts, cut-outs, dangles, diplomats, security experts and the storytellers who bring them all to life. Check your electronics and subscribe, do a thorough surveillance detection route, secure your Live Drop location, and after a mad-minute introduction, listen in on co... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes75Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Live Drop

Latest Episodes

In this interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with a Cold War expert--Shawnna Morris--about her fascinating book on the Cambridge Five spy ring. We talked about how her book has been received both in the UK and the US, and she shared some insight... more

This episode of The Live Drop, I talk with James Stejskal — a former U.S. Army Special Forces operator from Detachment “A” in Cold War Berlin who later worked in intelligence before turning to history and fiction. He’s the author of Special Forces Be... more

Episode 73 – The Invisible Spy: Ernest Cuneo and the Secret Machinations of American Power

This episode visits the untold life of Ernest Cuneo—a professional football player turned journalist, turned presidential fixer, turned invisible architect of... more

Author John Lechner talks about his powerful new book, Death Is Our Business, a definitive investigation into Russia’s notorious private military company, the Wagner Group. With firsthand accounts, OSINT research, and a historian’s depth, Lechner tra... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Shawnna Morris
Author of The Cambridge Spy Ring
Episode: Shawnna Morris and the Glamorous Cambridge Five
James Stejskal
Former US Army Special Forces operator, author of several books including The Ratcatcher and The Snake Eater Chronicles
Episode: James Stejskal: Author, Soldier, Snake-eater, Spy
John Lechner
Journalist and author of 'Death Is Our Business'
Episode: John Lechner Unveils The Wagner Group
Kit Turner
Former intelligence officer and historical fiction author
Episode: Kit Turner & A Ragtag Group of Rebels Hit The Shores of Revolutionary Cuba
Chris Petty
Retired brigadier general and creator of Battle Digest.
Battle Digest
Episode: Digesting Military History with Chris Petty
Eric O'Neill
Leading cyber security expert, former FBI operative, attorney, founder of the Georgetown Group and NeXasure AI.
Episode: Spycatcher Eric O'Neill Plies his Trade on Cybercrime
Thomas Maier
Author of 'Mafia Spies' and former investigative reporter
Episode: Mafia Spies from Page to Screen with Thomas Maier
Phil Gurski
Author, renowned Canadian intelligence professional and speaker
Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting
Episode: The Fenian Raids and a Friendly Border Threat Analysis with Phil Gurski

Host

Mark Valley
Mark Valley is a knowledgeable host experienced in presenting topics within the realm of intelligence and espionage. He engages viewers in dynamic discussions with various experts.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 88 ratings
  • Spy favorite

    Marc is doing such a great job Interviewing guests from all areas of the spy genre. Always makes my day when I see new content is available.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jimmy-K2000
    Switzerland4 years ago
  • Engaging interview, lively and great listen

    I’m new to this podcast but just listened to the Damascus Station episode and the entire time was caught up the detailed and wide ranging knowledge from both Mark Valley and the author as they spoke.

    This podcast was relaxed but also found the razor thin balance of high intellectual discussion with enough current events commentary to engage listeners who may not have nerd knowledge of spycraft or spy thrillers. I personally really get into how political authors and intelligence professionals s... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    puggle5786
    United States4 years ago
  • Great spy stuff; skip the snide political quips

    There’s lots of excellent behind-the-scenes information on trade craft & the practical aspects of intelligence work. The guests are experts in their fields & the host does his homework , asking well-crafted questions which allow the guests to shine. The only downside is the host’s distracting habit of inserting references to his own political views into the interviews. The host doesn’t like Trump; I get it. I also don’t care. I’m tuning into the podcast because of a shared interest with the host... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    TravelSprout
    United States5 years ago
  • Informative and interesting

    First and only podcast I've ever fully listened to! There is a nice variety of guests, which keeps things very interesting. There is never a dull moment in the conversations, as there is always something new to learn. It's especially nice when the host contributes to the conversation, using parts of his own life to show that he can relate to what the guest is saying. I am looking forward to more episodes, which should be just as interesting as the previous ones!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LorrainePezz
    United States5 years ago
  • Always fascinating and informing

    I’ve been listening since the first episode and very much enjoy the conversations.

    Well worth listening and taking some time to really hear these conversations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cat Connor
    New Zealand5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The host's questions cultivate deep conversations, allowing guests to shine, although some listeners find his political comments distracting.
The podcast features engaging interviews with knowledgeable guests across the spy genre.
The variety of guests keeps the discussions interesting and informative, bringing unique perspectives on espionage and military history.
Listeners appreciate the balance of high intellectual discussions with relevant current events commentary.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kit Turner & A Ragtag Group of Rebels Hit The Shores of Revolutionary Cuba
Q: If you were advising Bautista, what would you have told him in hindsight?
Bautista was making a lot of mistakes. He was guilty of many abuses and he had a secret police unit making people disappear and had a horrible reputation.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Live Drop

What is The Live Drop about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content primarily revolves around intelligence, espionage, and historical events surrounding these themes. The discussions feature guests from a variety of backgrounds, including former military operatives, authors, and journalists, providing unique insights into espionage activities and geopolitical situations. Conversations often touch on complex narratives such as the moral implications of espionage, historical perspectives on intelligence operations, and the evolution of mercenary tactics. This approach offers listeners a rich exploration of the intricacies of covert operations while connecting them to current events, making the series compelling for those interested in both past and present intelligence matters.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Live Drop?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Live Drop. 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 The Live Drop and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Live Drop get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Live Drop?

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How many subscribers and views does The Live Drop have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Live Drop 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.

How many episodes of The Live Drop are there?

The Live Drop launched 7 years ago and published 75 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 The Live Drop?

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 The Live Drop?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Live Drop from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Live Drop?

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What guests have appeared on The Live Drop?

Recent guests on The Live Drop include:

1. Shawnna Morris
2. James Stejskal
3. John Lechner
4. Kit Turner
5. Chris Petty
6. Eric O'Neill
7. Thomas Maier
8. Phil Gurski

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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