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

On today's podcast, we are joined by former CIA officer and investigative journalist Frank Snepp. Frank recently published an article titled "Stop Kvetching About Biden’s Afghan “Screw-Ups” – Kudos Are Owed”. You can read it here: https://franksneppexclusives.com/?p=519This is a detailed episode where I take a back seat and let Frank explain what he found. In the last section of the podcast, we discuss the broader context of the evacuation and what it is like to play god in an evacuation, having to decide who can leave and who has to stay.It’s a deep episode, so pour yourself your favourite drink, sit back, and I hope you find it informative. Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  * 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/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4

We are joined by Matthew Orr, a Eurasian analyst at RANE, Risk Assistance Network & Exchange in this episode.We discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine and what to expect as winter settles in. We also look at Putin’s political motivations for the war and speculate on his future and what a Russia without Putin may look like. You can find out more about RANE here: https://www.ranenetwork.com/And you can also read a few of Matthew’s reports in the links below:https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/drivers-and-potential-threats-deepening-russia-turkey-tieshttps://worldview.stratfor.com/article/what-ukraines-victory-kharkiv-means-russias-warhttps://worldview.stratfor.com/article/bracing-protracted-war-ukraine-part-1-time-kyivs-sidehttps://worldview.stratfor.com/article/bracing-protracted-war-ukraine-part-2-time-russias-sideMusic on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  * 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/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4

In this episode, we are joined by Nick Lowles from Hope Not Hate.  Hope Not Hate is the real organisation behind ITV’s The Walk-In.Nick joins us to discuss the work of Hope Not Hate, and he gives us an overview of the far-right in Britain today. We also discuss a Far Right plot by the terrorist group National Action to murder Labour MP, Rosie Cooper. That plot was foiled by a National Action member who objected to violence and became an informant for Hope Not Hate. The plot to murder Rosie Cooper has now been turned into an excellent ITV television drama called “The Walk-In.”Find out more about Hope Not Hate here: https://hopenothate.org.uk/You can connect with Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lowles_nickWatch "The Walk-In" on ITV player here: https://www.itv.com/hub/the-walk-in/2a7556a0005Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  * 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/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4

In this episode, we are joined again by Dr Taras Kuzio, discussing the latest developments on Russia’s war against Ukraine. Taras Kuzio is a professor of political science at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy and the author of Russian Nationalism and the Russian-Ukrainian War (2022) and Fascism and Genocide: Russia’s War Against Ukrainians (2023). You can connect with him on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TarasKuzioMusic on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  * 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/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4

We have a brand new show on Secrets & Spies! Welcome to episode one of Espresso Martini.Once a month, Chris Carr & Matt Fulton will pick out stories that catch their eye about espionage, terrorism, geopolitics and pretty much anything that relates to the themes of the podcast.In episode one, we look at the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the beginning of September. According to "C", the head of MI6, Britain's foreign intelligence service, Queen Elizabeth was the longest serving reader of intelligence briefs.  We then look at a Russian Spy in Italy who tried to get close to service NATO members. We also take a look at Russia's latest citizen, Edward Snowden, who was a former employee of the CIA & NSA. Other topics discussed in the podcast are the nuclear threat from Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine, Luxury Nuclear bunkers and the world's most famous spy, James Bond, celebrating 60 years on screen. Topics and links to articles discussed:Her Majesty's Secret Service becomes His Majesty’s Secret Service. Her Majesty the Queen dies after a 75-year reign. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/yorkshire-post/20220909/281547999727062Russian Spy at NATO: Socialite, Widow, Jeweller, Spy: How a GRU Agent Charmed Her Way Into NATO Circles in Italy https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/08/25/socialite-widow-jeweller-spy-how-a-gru-agent-charmed-her-way-into-nato-circles-in-italy/Snowden becomes a Russian citizen.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63036991Ronald Pelton, a convicted spy for the Soviets, dies aged 80https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/09/16/ronald-pelton-nsa-spy-dead/The CIA turns 75! As part of the CIA’s 75 birthday celebrations, they opened up its refurbished museum to journalists:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63023876Writing tips about uncertainty from a former CIA officer who worked on the Presidential Daily Briefhttps://medium.com/@aaronbman/writing-tips-from-the-pdb-conveying-uncertainty-ccf9769ee031The growing nuclear threat posed by Putin https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/09/26/putin-nuclear-threat-bluff-us-biden-response/Apocalypse hacking; Luxury nuclear bunkers for rich people https://www.cnet.com/science/features/inside-the-survival-condo-nuclear-bunker-protecting-the-ultrarich-hacking-the-apocalypse/James Bond 60thhttps://variety.com/2022/film/global/james-bond-007-barbara-broccoli-michael-g-wilson-1235378239/The Walk InIn the UK on ITV, a new 5 part terrorist drama based on a true story called “The Walk In.” https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week40/walkJack Ryan returns in December https://collider.com/jack-ryan-season-3-release-date-john-krasinski-prime-video/?utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_campaign=Echobox-CL&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1PT1ROgJb4mB08l1qb-LMH3IFFCHhCWzOyTWOsIpORjnQBFkum7wAh8sA#Echobox=1664374912The Old Man on Disney plus in the UKhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt5645432/Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird). You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  * 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/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4

On today's podcast, I am joined by Dr Anthony Wells, and we discuss his latest book, “Crossroads in Time: Philby & Angleton A Story of Treachery”, which looks at the relationship between Kim Philby and James Jesus Angleton. The book also takes a look at if Angleton, whilst at the CIA, could have done more to prevent the assassination of President John F Kennedy in 1963.You can get a copy of “Crossroads in Time” here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crossroads-Time-Philby-Angleton-Treachery-ebook/dp/B09Y7R55SG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1EB2LGU13Z5ET&keywords=CROSSROADS+IN+TIME&qid=1663851282&s=digital-text&sprefix=crossroads+in+time%2Cdigital-text%2C52&sr=1-2And you can read more of Anthony’s writing here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anthony-Wells/e/B08DMYF75P?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_shareMusic on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird). You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  * 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/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4

On today's podcast, Liam Duffy from the Counter Extremism Project. In this episode, we discuss Liam’s report on Western Foreign Fighters and the Yazidi Genocide.You can read Liam’s report here: https://www.counterextremism.com/press/cep-report-launch-western-foreign-fighters-and-yazidi-genocideAnd you can read more of his writing here: https://unherd.com/author/liam-duffy/Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  * 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/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4

On our 100th podcast, we are joined by best-selling novelist Meg Gardiner, and we discuss “Heat 2”, which she co-authored with legendary film director Michael Mann.Heat 2 is available here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/heat-2-michael-mannmeg-gardiner?variant=40050976129058You can find out more about Meg at her website: http://meggardiner.com/You can follow Meg on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MegGardiner1You can follow Michale Mann on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MichaelMannMusic on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukThis episode was edited by Rob Daniel For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  * 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/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4

We are joined by former CIA analyst Susan Ouellette on today's podcast. We discuss her novel “The Wayward Assassin”, and we talk about how the Chechen war influenced her book.You can find out more about Susan at her website below: https://www.susanouellette.com/Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukThis episode was edited by Rob Daniel For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  * 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/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4

On today's podcast, we are joined by Michael Frost Beckner. Michael was the writer of my favourite spy film “Spy Game”. He joins us to discuss the making of that film and we also look at his TV show “The Agency” which was the first TV show to get access to the CIA headquarters and it had direct assistance from the CIA on certain stories and episodes.You can find out more about Michael at the following links below: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0065847/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelFBeckner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelfrostbeckner/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelFrostBecknerAuthor/ Website: http://www.michaelfrostbeckner.com/ Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirdukThis episode was edited by Rob Daniel For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:  Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB... 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/609...  Connect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies  Check out our 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_KFTJenrz4