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

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

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

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True CrimeDocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for True Spies: Espionage

Latest Episodes

It's the summer of 2006, and former DEA Agent Jeffrey James Higgins is your guide to an audacious HUMINT operation against an Afghan narco-terrorist. But in a lawless part of the world, the life of a lawman is a dangerous one - and success is always... more

It's 1993, and Russia is tearing itself apart. A violent coup is threatening to derail Boris Yeltsin's fragile post-Soviet government. Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Deputy Chief of Station for the CIA in Moscow, is caught in the crossfire.

To get out alive, ... more

True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins ex-CIA officer and Russia expert Sean Wiswesser to go deep on the strategy, ideology and political goals of the Russian intelligence community.

From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. ... more

Content Warning: This episode contains references to torture and mutilation.

In the second season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the shadowy side of the world's Espionage capitals.

In Beijing, we'll learn about t... more

Key Facts

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

Recent Guests

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen
Former CIA official; Deputy Chief of the CIA's Moscow Station during the 1993 crisis
Central Intelligence Agency
Episode: True Spies Classic: New Russia, New Rules | CIA
Sean Wiswesser
Former CIA officer, author of Tradecraft, Tactics and Dirty Tricks
Naval Institute Press
Episode: True Spies Debrief: Sean Wiswesser on Russian Intelligence Strategy
Steve Chow
Investigative reporter focusing on China and the Uyghur issue
CTV (Canadian television)
Episode: Brief Histories: Spy Cities - Beijing
Charity Wright
Cyber threat intelligence analyst
Independent cybersecurity analyst/publications
Episode: Brief Histories: Spy Cities - Beijing
Bryan Stern
CEO and chairman of Grable Rescue, founder of Grey Bull Rescue
Grey Bull Rescue
Episode: Red Rag to a Grey Bull | Private Sector
Sue Dobson
White South African journalist turned undercover ANC agent
African National Congress (ANC) - undercover operative
Episode: True Spies Classic: White Traitor | ANC
Miles Johnson
Reporter for the Financial Times and author of Chasing Shadows
Financial Times
Episode: True Spies Debrief: Miles Johnson on Intelligence and Organised Crime
Julian Fisher
Author of Think Like A Spy, Master the Nine Secret Skills of Influence and Leadership; intelligence practitioner with decades of private and public sector experience
Author; former private and public sector intelligence practitioner
Episode: All Very Freddie | Private Security
Sean Wissweser
Former senior operations officer, CIA
CIA
Episode: Brief Histories: Spy Cities - Moscow

Host

Rhiannon Neads
Host of True Spies

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 5.7k ratings
  • Fictional conversations

    Of imagined meetigs and rumored motivations conveyrd by voice actors.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Bandboxxer
    United States3 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 States3 months ago
  • Great material

    Spoiled by the narrator's breathless delivery

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Bandboxxer
    United States5 months ago
  • Typical

    Is it any surprise that these British presenters gloss over the many failings of MI5? 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 States7 months ago
  • Great!

    An excellent podcast! Not stories in and of themselves fascinating, but I have also learned so much about important points in history. Well worth the listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SMO80
    Canada7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise production quality and host voices.
Mixed feedback on pacing and perceived bias in certain episodes.
Many find the content genuinely informative and engaging.
Some listeners dislike ads and paywalls.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#245
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#127
United Kingdom/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#176
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#105
Israel/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#110
Singapore/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#147
Spain/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
True Spies Debrief: Robert Hannigan on Work at Bletchley Park
Q: So why would you say that so many neurodiverse candidates ended up working there?
It was about getting the best people for the job regardless of personal eccentricities; they set tests based on puzzle-solving abilities without focusing on conformity.
True Spies Debrief: Robert Hannigan on Work at Bletchley Park
Q: What sort of aptitude are you referring to?
I discovered that actually everyone loves puzzles, which suggests a general aptitude for puzzle-solving work common in intelligence.
True Spies Debrief: Robert Hannigan on Work at Bletchley Park
Q: Can you tell me about that and why you chose to write the book when you did?
The book was inspired by a lack of optimism during the pandemic; I wanted to explore how previous generations solved problems, especially in intelligence.
The Importance of Being Ernest | Historical
Q: What were the tactics employed by the British spies in the United States during this period?
The British spies, particularly through the British Security Coordination, engaged in media manipulation, creating false public sentiments and conducting election interference to promote their agenda of American involvement in the war.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

A tight focus on real-world espionage, intelligence operations, and crime investigation, with historians, former officers, journalists, and analysts sharing insider perspectives. Episodes blend archival lore, field reporting, and high-stakes case studies—from Cold War intrigue and covert operations to modern cyber-enabled surveillance and private security challenges—often anchored by host-led interviews that unpack ethics, risk, and tradecraft. The show tends to highlight governance, global power dynamics, and the human dimensions of secrecy, making complex topics approachable for listeners who enjoy thorough context and narrative storytelling. A notable strength is its wide geographic scope and the mix of public-history analysis with conte... 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. SPYCRAFT 101
3. The Spy Who
4. Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs
5. Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

How many episodes of True Spies: Espionage are there?

True Spies: Espionage launched 6 years ago and published 395 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. Rolf Mowatt-Larssen
2. Sean Wiswesser
3. Steve Chow
4. Charity Wright
5. Bryan Stern
6. Sue Dobson
7. Miles Johnson
8. Julian Fisher

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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