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

On today’s episode, Matt talks with Pate McMichael, a journalist and professor at the University of Arizona, about his book, "Operation Chrysler: Stolen Valor Behind Enemy Lines in World War II”. They explore the gripping true story of Operation Chrysler, an OSS mission deep inside Nazi-occupied Italy, and the decades-long investigation into the murder of its commanding officer, Major William Holohan. Through meticulous research and riveting storytelling, Pate’s book unravels layers of deception, intrigue, espionage, and betrayal that will leave you questioning the very nature of valor and honor in times of war.Get a copy of Operation Chrysler here: https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Chrysler-Stolen-Behind-During/dp/B086G11XSK.Find out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures” https://mattfulton.net/Additionally, don't miss out on our new show, "Extra Shot," available exclusively on the Secrets & Spies Patreon page. Subscribe now to gain access to this thrilling content and delve deeper into the world of espionage and intrigue. www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Connect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesFACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspiesINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesSupport Secrets and Spies:  * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg* Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies* You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=uCheck out Chris’s short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

On this special episode of Espresso (Vodka) Martini, join Chris, and Matt as they delve into the recent dramatic events in Russia. Like the rest of the world, they were taken aback when Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenaries orchestrated an armed convoy headed towards Moscow, seemingly attempting a coup. In this episode, Chris & Matt strive to shed light on what is known so far.If you enjoyed this podcast please support us by becoming a Patreon subscriber and get access to our exclusive show “Extra Shot”.  You can subscribe to the Secrets & Spies Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesLinks to articles discussed in Espresso Martini “Band of Brothers: The Wagner Group and the Russian State” by Centre of Strategic Studies https://www.csis.org/blogs/post-soviet-post/band-brothers-wagner-group-and-russian-stateProfessor Phillips O’Brien: “Substack weekend update 34”https://phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/weekend-update-34?sd=pfPutin Caught In His Own Trap By Anne Applebaum for The Atlantichttps://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/06/putin-caught-in-his-own-trap/674524/Find out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures” https://mattfulton.net/Check out Chris’s short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Support Secrets and Spies:  * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg* Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies* You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=uConnect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesFACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspiesINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesSecrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

On this episode of Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt look at Former President Trump being accused of illegally retaining classified documents, new evidence suggesting Russian forces are responsible for destroying the Kakhvoka dam, and information on a Chinese spy base in Cuba.On Extra Shot, they look at the German intelligence service seeing more aggressive Russian intelligence efforts, Russian assassins targeting a defector in Miami, and a Cold War traitor deep in the Australian intelligence services finally being unmasked.You can access “Extra Shot” by subscribing to the Secrets & Spies Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesSurfshark offerGet an exclusive Surfshark deal! Enter promo code SECRETS for an extra 3 months free at https://surfshark.deals/SECRETSLinks to articles discussed in Espresso Martini & Extra Shot:What Trump indictment tells us about US security risksBy Gordon Corerahttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65878149Chinese Nationals at Mar-a-Lago Raise Questions About Classified DocumentsBy Ewan Palmerhttps://www.newsweek.com/maralago-classified-documents-chinese-nationals-trump-1805890Why the Evidence Suggests Russia Blew Up the Kakhovka DamNew York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/06/16/world/europe/ukraine-kakhovka-dam-collapse.htmlChina to Build Station That Could Spy on U.S from Cuba, Officials SayBy Karoun Demirjian and Edward Wong (Dated 8th June)https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/us/politics/china-spy-cuba-station.htmlGermany sees 'more aggressive' Russian spy activityBy Ben Knight for DW Onlinehttps://www.dw.com/en/germany-sees-more-aggressive-russian-spy-activity/a-65970734Russia Sought to Kill Defector in FloridaBy Ronen Bergman, Adam Goldman and Julian E. Barneshttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/19/us/politics/russia-spy-assassination.htmlThe TraitorBy Sally Neighbour and Margot O’Neill for ABC news Australia https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-19/russia-spy-mole-in-asio-sold-cold-war-intelligence-four-corners/102469652Find out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures” https://mattfulton.net/Check out Chris’s short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Support Secrets and Spies:  * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg* Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies* You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=uConnect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesFACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspiesINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesSecrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

On this episode of Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt look at the death of the Russian spy who was deep in the FBI, Robert Hanssen.Later in the episode, they are joined by Chemical, Biological and Radiological expert Dan Kaszeta who the UK Government Blacklisting has blacklisted for being critical of the government on Twitter. Dan discusses what that experience has been like and what he has since discovered.And lastly, they look at the destruction of the Kakhovka dam and discuss who may be responsible.On Extra Shot (Patreon Exclusive show)Chris & Matt look at the sinking of a boat in Italy with Mossad and Italian intelligence officers aboard. Was it foul play or an accident?Dan joins us to discuss his thoughts on the recent poisonings of Kremlin critics in Berlin & Prague. He also gives us some good cheese recommendations. The final story Chris & Matt look at whether Vladimir Putin was involved with Red Army Faction terrorists during his time in Germany in the 1980s.You can access “Extra Shot” by subscribing to the Secrets & Spies Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesSurfshark offerGet an exclusive Surfshark deal! Enter promo code SECRETS for an extra 3 months free at https://surfshark.deals/SECRETSLinks to articles discussed in Espresso Martini Robert Hanssen's deathhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65820220Kakhovka damhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/06/world/russia-ukraine-newsArticles discussed in Extra Shot Mossad boat party deaths in Italyhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/world/europe/spy-deaths-boat-italy.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=curPutin and his alleged connections to the Red Army Factionhttps://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/were-vladimir-putin-s-years-in-germany-less-thrilling-than-the-stories-a-178de140-b799-472d-83bc-5e3b1adf65b2With Dan, we discussBlacklisted by the UK governmenthttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65675247Kremlin Critics believe they were victims of poisoningshttps://www.agents.media/a-former-us-ambassador-two-journalists-writing-about-russia-and-an-activist-experienced-symptoms-of-poisoning-and-surveillance-two-cases-are-investigated-by-the-fbi/Find out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures” https://mattfulton.net/Check out Chris’s short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Support Secrets and Spies:  * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg* Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies* You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=uConnect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesFACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspiesINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesSecrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

Today, Chris is joined by Aki J. Peritz, a former CIA officer and author. They dive into the gripping story of the liquid bomb plot and the monumental counterterrorism investigation launched to thwart it. Aki's captivating book, "Disruption," provides an insider's perspective on the plot and sheds light on how it was successfully foiled. Join them as they uncover the secrets behind this high-stakes operation and unravel the reasons behind the stringent restrictions on carrying liquids in hand luggage aboard planes.Get a copy of “Disruption” here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/disruption-inside-the-largest-counterterrorism-investigation-in-history-aki-j-peritz/16580363?ean=9781640123809Additionally, don't miss out on our new show, "Extra Shot," available exclusively on the Secrets & Spies Patreon page. Subscribe now to delve deeper into espionage and intrigue. www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesFor more information about the Secrets & Spies, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Connect with us on social media. TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesFACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspiesINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesSupport Secrets and Spies:  * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg* Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies* You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=uCheck out Chris’s short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

On this episode of Espresso Martini Chris and Matt take a look at Bakhmut means for Putin and Russia, the UK Government Blacklisting chemical weapons export Dan Kaszeta for being critical of the government on Twitter. They also take another look at the Turkish Presidential elections and accusations of Russian interference.Also the new Patreon exclusive show “Extra Shot” launches. You can access it by subscribing to the Secrets & Spies Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesLinks to articles discussed: Putin & Bakhmuthttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/23/putin-is-toast-with-or-without-bakhmut/Dan Kaszeta blacklisted by UK Govhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65675247Turkeyhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/12/turkish-opposition-accuses-russia-of-election-interference-days-before-vote Find out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures.” https://mattfulton.net/Check out Chris’s short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Support Secrets and Spies:  * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg* Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies* You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=uConnect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesFACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspiesINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesSecrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

We are launching an extra show that will be a Patreon exclusive and it will follow immediately after each Espresso Martini. The new show is called “Extra Shot” and it will give us an opportunity to talk about stories we didn’t cover but we really wanted to. Also, we may talk about any stories or bits of history that are on our mind at the moment and in time we plan to get on the odd guest and hopefully even some listeners. So to get access to Extra Shot you will need to go to www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesYou will need to pick a subscription level, and depending on which level you select, you will get a complimentary Secrets & Spies coffee cup or set of coasters. So, we hope that sounds good value to you, you will be directly supporting this podcast, and if it becomes popular, we will be open to expanding and making more content exclusively for you.So to get access to Extra Shot you will need to go to www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

On this episode of Espresso Martini, Chris, Matt and Oliver the cat discuss a little more Jack Teixeira the man arrested over Pentagon files leak. Then we will look at a former FBI Special Agent arrested for his role in the January 6th attack. Then we look at an interesting spy story involving a retired Iranian government member accused of being a spy for MI6. In the last section of the show, we discuss some of the new information on the Nord Stream pipeline attack and look ahead at the Presidential elections in Turkey this weekend.Links to articles discussed:War, Weapons and Conspiracy Theories: Inside Airman Teixeira’s Online Worldhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/us/politics/jack-teixeira-leaks-discord-messages.htmlEx-FBI agent who feds say urged Jan. 6, rioters to kill police worked terrorism task forcehttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/ex-fbi-agent-feds-say-urged-jan-6-rioters-kill-police-worked-terrorism-rcna82775Iranian Insider and British Spy: How a Double Life Ended on the Gallowshttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/world/middleeast/british-spy-execution-iran.htmlNord Stream: Report puts Russian Navy ships near the pipeline blast sitehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65461401Yes, Erdogan’s Rule Might Actually End This Weekendhttps://foreignpolicy.com/2023/05/09/turkey-election-erdogan-kilicdaroglu-akp-nation-alliance/Cold Front Podcast mentioned by Chris about the new Nord Stream information:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-6-the-explosion-sites/id1683166185?i=1000611529149Find out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures” https://mattfulton.net/Check out Chris’s short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Support Secrets and Spies:  * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg* Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies* You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=uConnect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesFACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspiesINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesSecrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

On this episode of Espresso Martini we discuss the recent Pentagon leaks, a Russian pro-war blogger who is not actually Russian, business men taking money from Chinese spies and Spy Ships off the coast of Scotland. Links to articles discussed:Who is Jack Teixeira, the man arrested over Pentagon files leak?By Peter Beaumont reporting for The Guardian Newspaperhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/13/who-is-jack-teixeira-the-man-arrested-over-pentagon-files-leakWhat the leaked Pentagon documents reveal - key takeawaysBy Paul Adams, Jean Mackenzie and Antoinette Radford reporting for the BBChttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65238951Pentagon Leaks: Russian Su-27 Nearly Shot Down British Rivet Joint Last YearBy David Cenciotti reporting for The Aviationisthttps://theaviationist.com/2023/04/11/russian-su-27-nearly-shot-down-british-rivet-joint-last-year/Social-Media Account Overseen by Former Navy Noncommissioned Officer Helped Spread SecretsBy Yaroslav Trofimov for the Wall Street Journalhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/social-media-account-overseen-by-former-navy-noncommissioned-officer-helped-spread-secrets-a4b5643bAustralian businessman allegedly given envelopes of cash from Chinese spies for informationBy Australian Associated Press for the Guardian Newspaperhttps://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/17/australia-businessman-alexander-csergo-allegedly-given-envelopes-of-cash-from-chinese-spies-for-informationUkraine war: The Russian ships accused of North Sea sabotageBy Gordon Corera for the BBCUkraine war: The Russian ships accused of North Sea sabotage - BBC NewsMoray Firth: Russian spy ship 'probed wind farm for sabotage plans'By Jody Harrison for the Herald of Scotlandhttps://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/23467879.moray-firth-russian-spy-ship-probed-windfarm-sabotage-plans/Link to interview with Todd Leventhal about Cold War “Active Measures” https://pod.fo/e/14fa0For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Connect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesFACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspiesINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesSupport Secrets and Spies:  * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg* Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies* You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=uFind out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures” https://mattfulton.net/Check out Chris’s short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

On todays podcast Chris is joined by Eldad Ben Aharon who is a researcher of Israeli intelligence and geopolitical history. We discuss the challenges of researching intelligence history in Israel and the importance of first person interviews with intelligence community members.You can connect with Eldad on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/EldadBenAharonYou can read the following papers by Eldad via the links below Interview with Efraim Halevy https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02684527.2022.2095600 'Doing Oral History with the Israeli Elite': https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00940798.2019.1702467 (free ungated access to the content).  Research project bout Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: https://www.hsfk.de/en/publications/publication-search/publication/between-geopolitics-and-identitiy-struggle-why-israel-took-sides-with-azerbaijan-in-the-nagorno-karabakh-conflict You can read more from Eldad via his website here: https://hsfk.academia.edu/EldadBenAharonFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Connect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesFACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspiesINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesSupport Secrets and Spies:  * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg* Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies* You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=uFind out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures” https://mattfulton.net/Check out Chris’s short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/