

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs
Secrets & Spies
Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts. Tune in for balanced, critical perspectives that will expand your understanding of our uncertain world, deciphering the most enigmatic professions, ideologies, and organizations that shape the global landscape.
Subscribe to Secrets and Spies today on all major podcast streaming platforms.
Our Hosts
Host Chris Carr, driven by a teenage encounter with former KGB officer Oleg Gordievsky, brings a unique authenticity to the podcast. His deep-seated fascination with espionage is evident in his highly acclaimed short spy film The Dry Cleaner, available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. Currently developing feature film and television scripts inspired by the podcast's themes, Chris aims to create realistic and compelling spy dramas.
Joining him is Matt Fulton, a novelist and screenwriter who draws inspiration from masters of the spy genre like John Le Carré, Tom Clancy, and Graham Greene. Author of the Active Measures series of globe-trotting geopolitical thrillers, Matt brings his decades of extensive research and narrative prowess to the podcast, offering listeners a front-row seat to the thrilling world of covert operations.
Subscribe to Secrets and Spies today on all major podcast streaming platforms.
Our Hosts
Host Chris Carr, driven by a teenage encounter with former KGB officer Oleg Gordievsky, brings a unique authenticity to the podcast. His deep-seated fascination with espionage is evident in his highly acclaimed short spy film The Dry Cleaner, available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. Currently developing feature film and television scripts inspired by the podcast's themes, Chris aims to create realistic and compelling spy dramas.
Joining him is Matt Fulton, a novelist and screenwriter who draws inspiration from masters of the spy genre like John Le Carré, Tom Clancy, and Graham Greene. Author of the Active Measures series of globe-trotting geopolitical thrillers, Matt brings his decades of extensive research and narrative prowess to the podcast, offering listeners a front-row seat to the thrilling world of covert operations.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 7, 2018 • 1h 15min
S2: Need To Know - Salisbury Poisoning With Jeremy Duns
NEED TO KNOW: SALISBURY POISONING WITH JEREMY DUNSThe world is turning into a plot line from a Cold War novel, so we thought that it may be a good idea to chat with a Cold War novelist to try and make sense of it all. So on today’s episode of “Need to Know” we are joined by author Jeremy Duns, who has written a number of Cold War based novels as well as books on contemporary issues such as the coverage of the Edward Snowden revelations back in 2013.On this episode will have a look at a few stories that have caught our eye from the Salisbury poisoning and the reaction to it. For show notes and links to what we discuss please visit our website: www.drycleanercast.co.uk
SUPPORT THE SHOWPATREONhttps://www.patreon.com/DryCleanerCast
CONNECT WITH USTWITTERhttps://twitter.com/DryCleanerCast
FACEBOOKFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/drycleanercast/

Mar 31, 2018 • 43min
S2: Need To Know - Salisbury Poisoning And Austin Parcel Bombings With Fred Burton
NEED TO KNOW: SALISBURY POISONING WITH FRED BURTONOn Sunday 4th March, 2018, a former Russian Intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found on a bench in a catatonic state in the town of Salisbury. It has subsequently been found that the pair were poisoned.On this episode of "Need to Know" we are joined by former State Department Counterterrorism Agent and Author Fred Burton. We discuss the Salisbury poisoning, how professional assassins operate, and we ask who else could have been a target? We also have a look at the recent Austin Parcel Bombing case in Austin Texas.Fred was the deputy chief of the Counterterrorism devision for the State Departments, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). He is currently the vice president of Stratfor, a strategic intelligence and analysis firm tracking global security and international affairs. Fred is also the author of a number of fantastic books, we discuss "Chasing Shadows" and "Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Officer".

Mar 30, 2018 • 33min
S2: Need To Know Salisbuy Poisoning, British & Russian Submarines With Iain Ballantyne
NEED TO KNOW: SALISBURY POISONING WITH IAIN BALLANTYNEOn Sunday 4th March, 2018, a former Russian Intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found on a bench in a catatonic state in the town of Salisbury. It has subsequently been found that the pair were poisoned.On this episode of "Need to Know" we are joined by Author Iain Ballantyne. We discuss how our submarine forces used to be a deterrent to hostile Russian military activity and how defence cuts have made us weaker in the eyes of the Kremlin.

Mar 24, 2018 • 21min
S2: Need To Know - Sergei Skripal And The Salisbury Poisoning With Edward Lucas
On Sunday 4th March, 2018, a former Russian Intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found on a bench in a catatonic state in the town of Salisbury. It has subsequently been found that the pair were poisoned.On this episode of "Need to Know" we are joined by Author and Journalist Edward Lucas. We discuss the poisoning, its context and why Russia is the main suspect in this assassination attempt that happened in broad daylight on the streets of Great Britain. You can find out more about Edward Lucas and connect with him via his website: http://www.edwardlucas.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edwardlucas
If you like the work we are doing on the podcast, please become a Patreon subscriber by going to: https://www.patreon.com/DryCleanerCast
You can connect with us onTwitter: https://twitter.com/DryCleanerCast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drycleanercast/

Feb 22, 2018 • 55min
S2: Fred Burton, the DSS And Pre 9/11 Counter Terrorism
On this months podcast we are joined by Fred Burton. Fred was the deputy chief of the Counterterrorism devision for the State Departments, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). He is currently the vice president of Stratfor, a strategic intelligence and analysis firm tracking global security and international affairs.Fred is also the author of a number of fantastic books, we discuss "Chasing Shadows" and "Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Officer".On this episode we discuss Fred's career at the DSS, the terrorist scene pre 9/11 and a cold case that stayed with him after retiring from the DSS.If you like what we are doing please support the show by becoming a subscriber. Go to www.patreon.com/drycleanercast
For more information visit our website: www.drycleanercast.co.ukConnect with us on Twitter @DryCleanerCast

Jan 19, 2018 • 1h 5min
S2: Todd Leventhal - Cold War Russian Active Measures
On this month’s podcast, we are joined by Todd Leventhal who was the State Departments sole counter-misinformation officer in the last years of the Cold War from 1987 through until 2010. We discuss Russian Cold War era "Active Measures"If you enjoy the show please visit our website: www.drycleanercast.co.uk

Dec 15, 2017 • 1h 4min
S2: The Rage - The vicious circle of Islamist and Far-Right extremism
On Episode 15 we interview author Julia Ebner who has written a fantastic book called “The Rage” that looks at the relationship between Islamist extremists and the Western Far Right.If you like the work we are doing please support this podcast by becoming a Patreon subscriber today by going to www.patreon.com/drycleanercast
You can join in the discussion by connecting with us on Twitter. Go to: www.twitter.com/drycleanercast
For more information about the podcast and to listen to past episodes please visit our website: www.drycleanercast.co.uk
Thanks for listeningAll the bestChris

Nov 24, 2017 • 34min
S2: The Battle For British Islam
On this months podcast, we are joined by journalist and author Tony McMahon. We discuss his book "The Battle for British Islam" which he co-authored with Sara Khan.For more information about the work Sara and Tony do please visit: https://wewillinspire.com/
If you like the work we are doing please support this podcast by becoming a Patreon subscriber today by going to www.patreon.com/drycleanercast
You can join in the discussion by connecting with us on Twitter. Go to: www.twitter.com/drycleanercast
For more information about the podcast and to listen to past episodes please visit our website: www.drycleanercast.co.uk
Thanks for listeningAll the bestChris

Oct 16, 2017 • 1h 21min
S2: Discussing Moscow Gold, The Soviet Union & the British left
It's the 100th Anniversary of the Bolshevik "October Revolution", so this month we have recorded a special on the complex relationship between the Soviet Union and the British Left.We are joined by authors Paul Anderson & Kevin Davey to discuss their book "Moscow Gold". You can purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EX9FBGC/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
If you like what we are doing please support the show by connecting with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drycleanercast
This show is independently made, please support us by becoming a subscriber at Patreon by going to www.patreon.com/DryCleanerCast

Oct 6, 2017 • 1h 24min
S2: Need To Know- Episode Two - North Korea, Parsons Green, Barcelona Attack And More-
On this episode we will be looking at events that took place between July and September 2017.Anthony Ruggiero from the Foundation for Defence of Democracies joins us to discuss North Korea for the first half.Then we are joined by former Counter Terrorism Detective and Author, David Videcette, to discuss the Barcelona attacks and the failed Parson's Green tube bombing.If you enjoyed the show please support us by becoming a subscriber on Patreon by going to www.patreon.com/drycleanercast


