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Artwork for The Spy Who

The Spy Who

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

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, Raza Jaffrey and Emilia Fox, takes you deep inside that shadow world to meet spies who risked everything in the national interest – or, sometimes, their own.

Audible subscribers can listen to all e... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes135Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Spy Who

Latest Episodes

Ali Soufan is a rookie FBI agent convinced that an almost unknown terror group called al-Qaeda, and its leader Osama Bin Laden, are a threat to America. When the naval destroyer USS Cole is attacked by suicide bombers, he knows it’s al-Qaeda. But now... more

As we say goodbye to our series on Ursula Kuczynski (‘Agent Sonya’), we also say goodbye to a singular and formidable agent, who navigated the high-wire act of balancing life as a spy for the Soviet Union...and motherhood. And so, who better to talk ... more

With the Nazis in retreat, the U.S. hopes to get spies on the ground in Berlin before the Soviets take the city. But Ursula Kuczynski has different plans. She’s going to co-opt the American mission to give Stalin an edge in the coming Cold War betwee... more

With her operation in Japanese-occupied Manchuria now over, Ursula Kuczynski is awaiting fresh orders from Moscow. But the Centre’s new instructions are about to break her heart.

See Privacy Policy at art19.com/privacy and California Privacy... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kayla Parcells
Co-founder and COO of Creators Inc.
Creators Inc.
Episode: Listen Now: OnlyFantasy
Cara McGoogan
Author and journalist who investigates British scandals.
Episode: The Spy Who Jailed the Omagh Bomb Plotter | Inside Britain's Vast Espionage Network | 4
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

Hosts

Indira Varma
Host of The Spy Who with deep narrative guidance and a focus on character-driven storytelling.
Raza Jaffrey
Host of The Spy Who; brings investigative perspective and historical-context framing.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • Addicted

    I’m addicted to The Spy Who! I spend too much time in my car to and from work and school, thank goodness for this podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jbwood123
    United States15 days ago
  • Froggy spread Froggy

    This is Froggy🐸 spread him to other podcasts. He likes to travel.🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DOGEGAMERMAN!!!
    United States16 days ago
  • The Spy Who

    Love this podcast, you learn many things and it is not boring at all.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    N.M 🤸‍♀️
    New Zealanda month ago
  • Interesting Spy Stories

    Interesting stories performed very well. However, there is a definite “Anti-American” bias intertwined into many of the stories.

    Audible
    4
    Pop Review
    United States2 months ago
  • Disappointed with Audible

    It was one of my favorite shows until Audible took over now episodes in the middle are only available to subscribers. Absolutely ridiculous

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Cactus608
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some frustration exists when episodes rely on a single narrator, making it harder to track who is speaking.
Listeners praise the show's engaging storytelling and strong production quality.
Many enjoy the combination of history and espionage with moral nuance.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#42
United States/History
Spotify
#26
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#25
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#30
Canada/History
Spotify
#32
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#29
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Spy Who Jailed the Omagh Bomb Plotter | Inside Britain's Vast Espionage Network | 4
Q: So how do you deal with the consequences of all that?
It's hard to say for sure how he dealt with it, especially considering the violent actions he was involved in.
The Spy Who Jailed the Omagh Bomb Plotter | Inside Britain's Vast Espionage Network | 4
Q: Can you tell us about Operation Konova? What were the findings?
Stakeknife was found to have been involved in 14 murders and 15 abductions, and MI5 was aware of Stakeknife's actions but considered it acceptable.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Spy Who

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

Listeners can expect cinematic, historically grounded espionage storytelling that blends deep archival work with provocative moral questions. Episodes frequently center on real-world intelligence operations, notable spies, and the broader political consequences of covert actions, often featuring conversations with investigators, authors, and experts. A standout aspect is the duo-host dynamic, with one host guiding the narrative while the other challenges assumptions, creating a distinctive rhythm that blends drama with rigorous research. The show tends to explore less-covered angles of famous episodes, taking listeners from Cold War intrigue to mid-20th century operations, all delivered with strong production and clear storytelling that app... more

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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. American Scandal
3. True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics
4. Legacy
5. American History Tellers

How many episodes of The Spy Who are there?

The Spy Who launched 3 years ago and published 135 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. Kayla Parcells
2. Cara McGoogan
3. Natalie Cochran
4. Justin Hawkins
5. Elliot Higgins
6. Frank Close
7. Aimen Dean
8. Rick Stroud

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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