

I Spy
Foreign Policy
Spies don’t talk—it’s the cardinal rule of the business. But on Foreign Policy’s podcast I Spy, we get them to open up. We hear from the operations people: the spies who steal secrets, kill adversaries, and turn agents into double agents. Each episode features one spy telling one dramatic story.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 29, 2024 • 33min
After Hotel Rwanda, Part 4: The Homecoming
As pressure on the Rwandan government mounts, Paul signs a pardon request, expressing some contrition and agreeing to refrain from political activities if he's released. But, back at home, he finds it difficult to honor the pledge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 21, 2024 • 35min
After Hotel Rwanda, Part 3: The Campaign
A Rwandan court convicts Paul Rusesabagina on terrorism charges and sentences him to 25 years in prison. As he comes to terms with the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars, a team of lawyers, negotiators, and advocates works up a strategy to win his release. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 21, 2024 • 28min
After Hotel Rwanda, Part 2: The Backstory
Tensions between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda began long before the 1994 genocide—a vestige of Belgian colonial rule in the country. On this episode, we trace the events leading up to the mass killing—and how they affected Paul and his wife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 10, 2024 • 30min
After Hotel Rwanda, Part 1: The Trap
Human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina embarks on a journey that turns out to be a trap set by the Rwandan government, showcasing the complexities of activism, political discord, and personal sacrifice. The podcast delves into his courageous life as a genocide hero and dissident advocate, leading to his harrowing ordeal of being kidnapped, betrayed, and tortured amid accusations of funding terrorism activities.

May 6, 2024 • 5min
Introducing: After Hotel Rwanda
A remarkable new podcast called After Hotel Rwanda tells the story of Paul Rusesabagina, a national hero turned dissident, who was lured back to Rwanda and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Learn about the political complexities and historical atrocities in Rwanda through the lens of a family's resilience and determination.

Jun 28, 2022 • 34min
The Skeptic
Long before Joe Weisberg created the award-winning television show The Americans, he served in the CIA. His brief period in the agency informed story lines in the show and helped shape Weisberg's views on espionage. Eventually, he came to believe that spying does more harm than good in the world.Brought to you by: betterhelp.com/ispy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 21, 2022 • 29min
The Investigator
The Secret Service is known for its VIP protection unit but it also investigates international crimes, including hacking cases. On this episode, we feature a Secret Service agent who helped nab one of the biggest hackers in the world, Roman Seleznev. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 14, 2022 • 34min
The Handler
Michele Rigby Assad joined the CIA just weeks after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and spent much of the next decade working undercover in the Middle East.In 2007, she helped investigate an ambush in Iraq that killed an American woman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 7, 2022 • 35min
The Spycatcher Part 2
This is part two of Eric O'Neill's story. O'Neill was an FBI agent who went undercover to catch a suspected spy in the bureau: Robert Hanssen. If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, go to https://foreignpolicy.com/ispynewsletter/. Each week we'll send you bonus content you won't find anywhere else, including photos, illustrations, and expanded show notes—for free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 31, 2022 • 32min
The Spycatcher
On this episode, FBI agent Eric O'Neill goes undercover to catch a suspected spy in the bureau: Robert Hanssen. O'Neill is just 26 at the time. Hanssen turns out to be one of the most damaging spies in U.S. history. This is part one of a two-part story. If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, go to https://foreignpolicy.com/ispynewsletter/.Each week we'll send you bonus content you won't find anywhere else, including photos, illustrations, and expanded show notes—for free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices