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Artwork for The Spy Who

The Spy Who

Wondery
MI5
MI6
Al-Qaeda
Sergei Skripal
Ukraine
Espionage
Terrorism
Bellingcat
Elliot Higgins
Russian Intelligence
Vladimir Putin
Information Warfare
Cambridge University
Conservative Party
Sergei Cristo
Carlton Club
Brexit
Life At Sea
Bosnia
Russia

These are stories you were never meant to hear. The invisible but vital work of the world’s intelligence services: secret operatives playing to very different rules. The Spy Who, hosted by Indira Varma and Raza Jaffrey, takes you deep inside that shadow world to meet spies who risked everything in the national interest – or, sometimes, their own.

Listen to The Spy Who ad-free on Wondery+ in the Wo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes98Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Spy Who

Latest Episodes

How did the Soviet Union infiltrate so many of Britain’s institutions? Investigative journalist Tim Tate dives into the dark underbelly of British-Soviet relations—uncovering a world where the Kremlin’s influence had already seeped into the heart of ... more

Oleg Gordievsky's back in Moscow and the KGB are tracking his every move, waiting for him to slip up. He’s got just one option left: MI6’s harebrained plan to smuggle him out of the USSR. And if it goes wrong he’s a dead man.

Have you got a spy stor... more

When a new job turns Oleg Gordievsky into MI6’s top spy in the KGB, the West is shocked to learn that Soviet nuclear paranoia isn’t just for show.

Have you got a spy story you would like us to tell? Email your ideas to thespywho@wondery.com

See Pri... more

On May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys were brutally murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. The tiny local police department launches an investigation but finds little physical evidence to lead them to a suspect. Eventually, outside pressure pushes them ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Natalie Cochran
Pharmacist involved in a Ponzi scheme and deceived many including her husband
Episode: Listen now: Scamfluencers | The Pharmacist Femme Fatale
Justin Hawkins
Musician and former frontman of the band The Darkness
The Darkness
Episode: Listen Now: How Do You Cope?
Elliot Higgins
Founder of Bellingcat, investigative journalist specializing in open-source intelligence.
Bellingcat
Episode: The Spy Who Putin Poisoned | Uncovering The Truth With Bellingcat | 5
Frank Close
Author of 'Trinity, The Treachery and Pursuit of the Most Dangerous Spy in History'
Episode: The Spy Who Started the Cold War | The Most Dangerous In History? | 5
Aimen Dean
Former MI6 spy inside Al-Qaeda and author of 'Nine Lives'
Episode: The Spy Who Betrayed Bin Laden | Aimen Dean talks about his time as MI6's Top Spy Inside Al-Qaeda | 5
Rick Stroud
Author of Lonely Courage, The True Story of the SOE Heroines Who Fought to Free Nazi Occupied France
Episode: The Spy Who Wouldn't Lie | The Unsung Heroines Of WW2 | 5
Andrew Lownie
Author of 'Stalin's Englishman'.
Episode: The Spy Who Saved MI5 | How the Cambridge Five Changed MI5 | 5
Andrew Lycett
Biographer of Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond
Episode: The Spy Who Inspired 007 | The other James Bonds | 5

Host

Indira Varma
Co-host and prominent narrator known for acclaimed performances, deepening the storytelling experience with a theatrical approach.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • Slow moving

    It’s good - loads of interesting information. But it’s a little slow moving with irrelevant details.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    5762097632
    United Statesa month ago
  • Anna Montes

    As a proud American of Cuban heritage, I am disappointed with the almost idolizing/victimizing tone you presented around Anna Montes.🤮You also failed to provide context about what Castro was doing to his own people and why communism is bad and should never be accepted as a solution in the West. This is especially important in these political times. The West does not understand the poverty and destruction that communism inevitably always brings. You are not encouraging it but you are also not do... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Original_Owl
    United States2 months ago
  • Season 19 (Ana Belen Monte)

    I listened to this season on Montes who spied on the US for Cuba, after having listened to the Real Dictators season on Fidel Castro. It was helpful to have known more about Castro and what he had done to Cuba during his control of that country.

    Thanks for this story of Montes and the information about Misty (new spy satellite system)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    USA Mknitter
    United States2 months ago
  • Big fan of the show

    Anyone who's excited by history, war-time stories, or intelligence should check out this podcast. They've covered a wide range of conflicts and countries and taught me about famous spies as well as lesser known women and figures people just don't talk much about. I especially enjoyed the series on the rescuing of Ethiopian Jews and applaud their ability to tell a fascinating and unpolarizing story involving Israel.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FurAn'Bunnies
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent Spy Podcast

    This is one of the best spy podcasts I’ve listened to, and, without naming names, there are a few in circulation. Keep ‘em coming; the episodes are fascinating!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zeegha
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some feedback indicates dissatisfaction with advertisement placements during episodes, causing frustration among listeners who prefer uninterrupted narratives.
Listeners appreciate the gripping storytelling and historical insights about espionage, often praising the engaging style of narration and production quality.
Overall, listeners express a strong interest in the content and anticipate future episodes, reflecting loyalty and consistency in viewership.
There is a positive reception towards the exploration of lesser-known figures and stories, suggesting that audiences value unique and thorough historical accounts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#29
United States/History
Spotify
#26
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#179
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#22
Canada/History
Spotify
#27
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Spy Who Putin Poisoned | Uncovering The Truth With Bellingcat | 5
Q: Was there ever a moment where you were worried for your team?
We certainly have the attention of the Russian state in their public statements.
The Spy Who Putin Poisoned | Uncovering The Truth With Bellingcat | 5
Q: Do you think the Skripal poisoning can be seen as an act of war?
There are multiple incidents where Russian spies haven't just spied, they've blown stuff up and, you know, they've killed people.
The Spy Who Started the Cold War | The Most Dangerous In History? | 5
Q: Why do you think so many great minds were happy to join this project, considering that its key focus was an enormously destructive atomic weapon?
Many scientists saw their work as a necessary response to the enormity of the threat posed by Nazi Germany during the war, balancing ethical considerations with the urgency of their mission.
The Spy Who Started the Cold War | The Most Dangerous In History? | 5
Q: What do you feel made Fuchs so dangerous?
Fuchs was regarded as the most dangerous spy by a US Congressional Enquiry in the 1950s due to his significant espionage activities, especially because he was spreading information during a time when the US and USSR had become adversaries post-war.
The Spy Who Betrayed Bin Laden | Aimen Dean talks about his time as MI6's Top Spy Inside Al-Qaeda | 5
Q: What does it feel like being betrayed by the people you served?
The moment my heart sank when I realized I was outed as a spy was devastating.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About The Spy Who

What is The Spy Who about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast presents captivating narratives centered on the secret and often perilous lives of spies and their intricacies within the intelligence community. Through diverse themes, it explores historical stories of espionage, highlighting lesser-known figures alongside well-known spies and their profound impacts on international affairs. Episodes delve into gripping accounts of betrayal, infiltration, and the high stakes involved in intelligence work, providing listeners with a nuanced perspective on events that shape our world, often overshadowed by mainstream historical narratives.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Spy Who?

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

How many listeners does The Spy Who get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Spy Who?

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How many subscribers and views does The Spy Who have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Spy Who 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 The Spy Who?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Spy Who:

1. British Scandal
2. Legacy
3. True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics
4. The Rest Is Classified
5. American Scandal

How many episodes of The Spy Who are there?

The Spy Who launched 2 years ago and published 98 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 Spy Who?

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 Spy Who?

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

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What guests have appeared on The Spy Who?

Recent guests on The Spy Who include:

1. Natalie Cochran
2. Justin Hawkins
3. Elliot Higgins
4. Frank Close
5. Aimen Dean
6. Rick Stroud
7. Andrew Lownie
8. Andrew Lycett

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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