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True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

SPYSCAPE
CIA
World War II
Espionage
Cold War
KGB
FBI
Al-Qaeda
Soviet Union
MI6
Nazi Germany
Russia
War On Terror
MI5
Counterintelligence
Ukraine
Kim Philby
Spanish Civil War
D-Day
Osama Bin Laden
Terrorism

True Spies takes you inside the world's greatest espionage and detective operations. Our hosts Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Sophia Di Martino, Daisy Ridley and Rhiannon Neads talk to the real spies behind the missions. What do they know? What are their skills? And what would you do in their position? We explore and investigate real life thrillers, mysteries and crimes - stories that prove truth i... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes427Founded7 years ago
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True CrimeDocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for True Spies: Espionage

Latest Episodes

Journalist Charlie English is the author of The CIA Book Club - the story of how a courageous group of underground printers and publishers broke the iron grip of censorship on Cold War Poland.

In this episode of True Spies, Charlie is your guide to ... more

In the third season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the fringes of spycraft's secret world.

In this Brief History of Assassination, we'll uncover the world's oldest whodunnit, meet the real Order of Assassins, and ... more

In this classic episode of True Spies, Sophia Di Martino and author Damian Lewis tell the story of triple-threat superstar Josephine Baker, who weaponized her unstoppable charisma in the service of the French resistance during WW2.

Armed only with ... more

Content Warning: This episode contains references to violence and contains an extended discussion around mental health.

Journalist Ayman Oghanna has reported from the heart of some of the worlds' deadliest conflicts. He's also fought his own battles... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Charlie English
Journalist, author of The CIA Book Club and former head of international news at The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: The CIA Book Club | CIA
Damian Lewis
Acclaimed author who provides expert context and leads the investigative narrative
Episode: True Spies Classic: The Josephine Baker Effect | Deuxieme Bureau
Ayman Oghanna
Freelance journalist and photographer who has reported from war zones
Episode: True Spies Debrief: Ayman Oghanna on Mental Health, China, And The Spy Next Door
Guy Walters
Author, historian, journalist
Author of Stealing Hitler's Rocket
Episode: Stealing Hitler's Rocket | WW2
Julia Ebner
Researcher focusing on far-right extremism, radicalization, and terrorism
Independent researcher, author of Going Dark
Episode: True Spies Classic: Undercover With The Nipsters | Investigation
Stuart A. Reid
Historian and author of The Lumumba Plot
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Killing Lumumba | CIA
Frank Close
Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford; author involved in researching Fuchs' story
University of Oxford
Episode: True Spies Classic: The Klaus Fuchs Effect | WW2
James R. Chiles
Author of Inviting Disaster; expert on disasters and near misses
Author, Inviting Disaster; Smithsonian Magazine contributor
Episode: True Spies Debrief: Jim Chiles on Project Doorstop
Katie Sanders
Journalist and co-author of Ortiz's War
HarperCollins ( Ortiz's War co-author)
Episode: Ortiz's War | OSS

Host

Rhiannon Neads
Host of True Spies

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 5.7k ratings
  • Repeats

    Going downhill. I’ve been a keen listener since the beginning and I loved the early episodes, but the podcast just seems to be repeats or old episodes rehashed as new ones nowadays.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    cesera42
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Doug

    Excellent podcast, Doug is a very good storyteller and an honest character. His relaying of tales in Afghanistan was so interesting, im looking forward to reading his book. Cheers, Lulu

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rowan blackadder
    New Zealand4 months ago
  • Typical

    Is it any surprise that these British presenters gloss over the many failings of MI5/6 or the British government? There are plenty of stories of shady dealings, yet they never seem to focus on any of those and instead they are always portrayed as the ethically superior superhero characters on the side in every story they make an appearance in (laughable).

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Original_Owl
    United States4 months ago
  • Fictional conversations

    Of imagined meetigs and rumored motivations conveyrd by voice actors.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Bandboxxer
    United States7 months ago
  • Great, but…

    This is a great podcast, but there’s WAY too much paywall if you want to have a good experience with it.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    personofsmartositt
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates expert guests and historical depth
Fans praise high-quality storytelling and production values
Some listeners feel episodes recycle older content and rely on ads

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#123
United Kingdom/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#237
Australia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#32
Israel/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#80
Indonesia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#85
Saudi Arabia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#107
Belgium/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

True Spies Debrief: Ayman Oghanna on Mental Health, China, And The Spy Next Door
Q: How did mental health intersect with your reporting in conflict zones?
I became open about bipolar disorder, learned psychoeducation with the help of a psychiatrist, and found that understanding the disorder helped me navigate the highs and lows of field reporting, ultimately shaping how I approach stories rather than letting the illness define me.
True Spies Debrief: Stephan Talty on The American School of Spies
Q: Stephen, how did you come across this story and what drew you to it?
I was drawn by the human drama—the way dedicated archaeologists and scholars became unlikely spies, risking everything to save Greece's ancient treasures and, in doing so, preserve a sense of national and cultural identity.
True Spies Classic: Hunting The Wolverine | CIA
Q: What motivated his move to Afghanistan and his decision to learn Pashto?
He desired to operate in the most challenging environments, saw language mastery as a force multiplier, and believed it would keep him alive while enabling deeper undercover work.
True Spies Classic: Hunting The Wolverine | CIA
Q: Why did Douglas choose to become this warzone case officer?
He describes the 9/11 attacks as a pivotal moment that reshaped his ambitions, pushing him toward a life of high-stakes national service and covert operations.
True Spies Debrief: Sean Wiswesser on Russian Intelligence Strategy
Q: Why take on this project now after retirement?
Sean Wiswesser explains the book aims to share knowledge about the Russian services in an accessible way, leveraging his decades of experience and careful CIA clearance to ensure content is non-classified while providing practical insights for students and policymakers.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About True Spies: Espionage

What is True Spies: Espionage about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently explores real-world espionage, covert operations, and investigative storytelling through expert interviews and historical deep-dives. Across episodes, listeners encounter high-stakes missions, Cold War intrigue, wartime intelligence, and modern security challenges, often grounded in meticulous archival research and vivid first-hand accounts. The show balances technical analysis with human storytelling, spotlighting ethical questions, decision-making under pressure, and the evolving role of intelligence in public life. A standout characteristic is bringing diverse, high-profile guests—ranging from former operatives and journalists to historians and authors—into thoughtful conversations that illuminate how secrets sh... more

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Which podcasts are similar to True Spies: Espionage?

These podcasts share a similar audience with True Spies: Espionage:

1. SpyCast
2. Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs
3. SPYCRAFT 101
4. The Spy Who
5. Cold War Conversations

How many episodes of True Spies: Espionage are there?

True Spies: Espionage launched 7 years ago and published 427 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 True Spies: Espionage?

Recent guests on True Spies: Espionage include:

1. Charlie English
2. Damian Lewis
3. Ayman Oghanna
4. Guy Walters
5. Julia Ebner
6. Stuart A. Reid
7. Frank Close
8. James R. Chiles

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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