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

True Spies Debriefs: Tim Tate on the Spycatcher Scandal

Nov 26, 2024

Tim Tate, a best-selling author and acclaimed documentary filmmaker, shares his fascinating insights on the high-stakes world of espionage. He unravels the connections between KGB mole Mikhail Golianevesky and MI5's Peter Wright. Besides illuminating the repercussions of Tate's 'Spycatcher' work, he candidly reveals his own brush with being labeled a national security threat. The discussion also touches on the transparency battles faced by journalists during the turbulent Thatcher era and the ethical dilemmas within intelligence agencies.

56:09

Episode guests

Tim Tate

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Tim Tate discusses the intricate relationship between KGB mole Mikhail Golenevsky and MI5 spy catcher Peter Wright, revealing significant impacts on British intelligence during the Cold War.

The podcast highlights the legal battles surrounding the publication of Wright's memoir, 'Spycatcher', showcasing the tension between governmental secrecy and the public's demand for transparency in intelligence operations.

Deep dives

Overview of The Agency Series

The new Showtime original series, The Agency, is a political thriller that features a covert CIA agent named Martian, portrayed by Michael Fassbender. Martian is forced to leave behind his undercover life to return to London Station, where he rekindles a romance with a former love. This love complicates his mission, as he must navigate a dangerous world filled with international intrigue and espionage. The series, consisting of ten episodes, includes a notable cast featuring Geoffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Richard Gere.

Intro

3min

Espionage and the Spycatcher Dilemma

10min

Revelations of Espionage: The Thatcher Era and MI5's Secrets

4min

Secrets of Cold War Espionage

14min

The Deception of Intelligence: Navigating Counterintelligence and Fake Defectors

4min

Secrets, Access, and Accountability in Intelligence

14min

Challenges and Narrative in Old School Journalism

3min

Hear from Tim Tate, best-selling author, award-winning documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist, as he dives into a scandal born deep in the heart of the British Intelligence Service.

Time untangles the connections between KGB mole Mikhail Golenevsky and MI5 spy catcher Peter Wright. And recalls how in the process of writing his 19th book, he learned he was himself considered a threat to national security, for delving too deep...

From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more