Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs

On this episode I am joined by former CIA analyst turned author David McCloskey. David has written a fantastic new spy novel called Damascus Station”. I have to be honest David’s book is brilliant and sits in my favourite spy novels of all time. On this episode David and I take a look at the situation in Syria, and look at how those real life elements informed his writing.  And we ask the burning...

On this episode we are joined by Bradley W. Hart and Ron Drabkin, who have both been researching the life of Fredrick Rutland. Fredrick Rutland was a British war hero who was nicknamed “Rutland From Jutland” and it is alleged that he may have been a spy for the Japanese intelligence services in the build-up to World War Two.   You can read Bradley and Ron’s paper on Fredrick Jutland here: https://...

On this episode we are joined by Dr Precious. Chatterje-Doody and we discuss her book which she co-authored with Dr Ilya Yablokov called “Russia Today and Conspiracy Theory: People, Power and Politics of RT”  The book is available with a 20% discount here (Use the code SOC21) : https://www.routledge.com/Russia-Today-and-Conspiracy-Theories-People-Power-and-Politics/Yablokov-Chatterje-Doody/p/book/...

On this episode we are joined by Toby Harnden and we discuss his new book “First Casualty” that takes a look at the first CIA team that went into Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks. The book also focuses on CIA officer Mike Spann who was tragically killed on that operation and became the first American casualty in the Afghan War. You can get a copy of the book here: https://tobyharnden.com/first-c...

On this episode we are joined by Dr Helen Fry and we discuss her fantastic new book “Spymaster” that takes a look at the life and work of MI6 officer Thomas Kendrick You can get a copy of the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spymaster-Man-Who-Saved-MI6/dp/0300255950/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=helen+fry+spymaster&qid=1633709106&sr=8-1 You can find out more about Helen’s work on her...

On this episode we are joined by author Mark Simmons and we discuss his book “Ian Fleming’s War” You can get a copy of the book here: https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/ian-fleming-s-war/9780750993265/ Our film “The Dry Cleaner” has been released! Check out the trailer here: youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4 And you can buy the film here: www.drycleanercast.co.uk/watchthefilm Music  Music on this po...

On this episode we are joined by author Tom Parker and we reflect on the legacy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Tom has written a fantastic in-depth book called “Avoiding the Terrorist Trap”.   You can get a copy of the book here: https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/p995 You can follow Tom on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/tdgparker Our film “The Dry Cleaner” has been released!...

We are joined by counterterrorism analyst Angie Gad and we reflect on the legacy of 9/11. You can connect with Angie on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Angieslyst   Our film “The Dry Cleaner” has been released! Check out the trailer here: youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4 And you can buy the film here: www.drycleanercast.co.uk/watchthefilm Music  Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird...

On this brief podcast, I just wanted to take a moment to share my memories of 9/11 in London 20 years ago.  I also wanted to give you a quick update about the podcast. We will have two 9/11 specials over the following week.  The podcast will then take a break over October and return on Friday 5th November and continue once a month, with the odd extra episode if time allows. I just want to say if a...

License to Parent On today’s podcast we are joined by former CIA officer Christina Hillsberg, who has written a fantastic book about how she and her husband Ryan have used their CIA training to raise resourceful and self-sufficient children.   Christina’s book is great as it gives a real snap shot of how CIA officers think and gives practical examples of how they use that training in their day to...

On this episode we are joined Dr Ayesha Ray who is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kings College in Pennsylvania. We discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the media and online reaction to the fall of Kabul.  We also take a look at the wider geo-political consequences of the Taliban take over of Afghanistan and we discuss why Pakistan supports them. It’s quite a packed episode! You c...

On this episode of Secrets & Spies, we are joined by former CIA officer and Peabody Award-winning investigative journalist Frank Snepp. Frank was a CIA officer who served in the Vietnam war and he was there at the fall of Saigon, so in light of the recent events in Afghanistan we take a look at the similarity and differences between the fall of Saigon and Kabul. We also discuss the intelligenc...

On this episode of Secrets & Spies, we are joined by Rolf Mowatt-Larssen.  Rolf is a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Centre, prior to that appointment he was the Director of Intelligence & Counter Intelligence at the US Department of Energy. Before that he served in the CIA for 23 years as an intelligence officer. On this podcast we discuss future intelligence threats s...

On today’s podcast we are joined by Ben West and we take a look at money laundering, its connection to organised crime and an FBI sting operation called “Trojan Shield”   Ben is a Senior Global Security Analyst with Stratfor, a RANE company. You can read Ben's two articles on money laundering here: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/basics-money-laundering-how-criminal-organizations-move-illic...

On 28th June 2016 I recorded my first interview for the podcast. Back then the podcast was called “The Dry Cleanercast” named after my film “The Dry Cleaner” and now the podcast is “Secrets & Spies” I have decided to re-air the first episode with a little behind the scenes story about the recording of that first interview. You can find out more about Meredith Tax and her two books “The Double...

On this episode of “Secrets and Spies”, we are joined by author and former intelligence officer Anthony Wells We discuss Anthony’s excellent book “Between Five Eyes”, which takes a detailed look at UK-US intelligence through a personal lens based on working uniquely for UK intelligence as a British citizen and US intelligence as a US citizen. You can find out more the book here: https://www.casema...

On this episode of “Secrets and Spies”, we are re- joined by author Tim Tate We discuss his latest book “The Spy Who Was Left Out In The Cold” which takes a look at Polish intelligence officer Michal Goleniewski who became one of the West’s most effective Cold War spies.  Michal has largely been written out of western intelligence history.  Join us on the podcast to find out why. You can find out...

On this episode of “Secrets and Spies”, we are joined by author Henry Hemming We discuss his book “Our Man in New York” which takes a look at the history of the secretive BSC and its mysterious spymaster William Stephenson. Henry and I discuss the myth and facts of BSC’s operations in the US prior to America joining the fight in World War 2 You can find out more about Henry and his book here:
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On today’s podcast we are joined by Ben West and we take a look at economic espionage past, present and future.  Ben is a Senior Global Security Analyst with Stratfor, a RANE company.  You can read Ben's reports here: Understanding Economic Espionage: The Future Understanding Economic Espionage: The Present Understanding Economic Espionage: The Past Our film “The Dry Cleaner” has been released! Ch...

“Hitler’s American Friends”  On this of “Secrets and Spies”, we are joined by author Bradley W. Hart We discuss his book “Hitler’s American Friends” which takes a look at the history of Nazi sympathisers in America before and during World War Two.  You can get a copy of Bradley’s book here:
 https://t.co/HcyUt8s6mB ?amp=1 And you can connect with Bradley on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/DrBHar...

On this special COVID-19 episode of “Secrets and Spies”, we are joined by author and expert Dan Kaszeta We discuss what is known about COVID-19, we take a look at the vaccines now available and we tackle some of the myths and conspiracy theories that have grown online since the pandemic began. Dan is a Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) security specialist. He previously served...

On this episode of “Secrets and Spies”, we are joined by author Tom Parker Tom has written a fantastic in-depth book called “Avoiding the Terrorist Trap”.  Tom and I discuss his research into the history of terrorism and we look at what he calls “The Terrorist Trap”, that governments frequently fall into when fighting terrorism.  You can get  a copy  of “Avoiding the Terrorist Trap”  here: https:/...

On this episode of “Secrets and Spies”, we are joined by author and journalist David Neiwert. We discuss President Trumps Legacy, the rise of the far-right during his time in office, the events of 6th January and what they mean for the future as President-Elect Joe Biden is sworn into office. David is the author of a fantastic book called "Alt America: The Rise of the Alt-Right in the Age of...

On today’s episode, I am joined by Tracy Walder. We discuss her career from the CIA, the FBI and as a teacher today inspiring the next generation.  Find out more about Tracy here: https://www.tracywalder.com/ You can get a copy of Tracy’s book here: https://www.tracywalder.com/preorder-book-retailers You can connect with her on Twitter here:  https://twitter.com/tracy_walder Music on this podcast...

On today’s episode, I am joined by author Timothy Phillips.   We discuss his book “The Secret Twenties” which takes a look at espionage in 1920’s Britain. You can get a copy of Timothy's book here: https://granta.com/contributor/timothy-phillips/   You can connect with him on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/tsjphillips and Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/curtainandwall   Music on this...