
SpyCast
SpyCast, the official podcast of the International Spy Museum, is a journey into the shadows of international espionage. Each week, host Sasha Ingber brings you the latest insights and intriguing tales from spies, secret agents, and covert communicators, with a focus on how this secret world reaches us all in our everyday lives. Tune in to discover the critical role intelligence has played throughout history and today. Brought to you from Airwave, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum. The Spy Museum does not endorse, approve, or support the opinions stated by guest speakers. Statements made by speakers do not represent the position or opinion of the International Spy Museum.
Latest episodes

Sep 10, 2024 • 1h 16min
The Spycatcher Affair & MI5: The Scandal that Shook Britain with Tim Tate
SummaryTim Tate (Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the Spycatcher Affair. Tim is a best-selling author and award-winning filmmaker. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
Peter Wright: His background and motives
The contents of Spycatcher including the exposure of alleged soviet moles
The UK’s efforts to keep their secrets secret
The lasting effects of the Spycatcher Affair
Reflections
Personal secrecy vs. public security
Censorship and free speech
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week"[Wright] found truly acres of paperwork from old files which had been disregarded and hadn't been properly followed up on and leads that hadn't been properly followed. And when he pulled at them, those threads of evidence, and when he chased it down, what he found, as often as not, was genuine reason to suspect that the penetration, the widespread penetration, was real and serious.” – Tim Tate.Resources SURFACE SKIM*Spotlight Resource*
To Catch a Spy: How the Spycatcher Affair brought MI5 in from the Cold, Tim Tate (Icon Books, 2024)*SpyCasts*
The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023)
St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023)
The Information Battlespace – Foreign Denial and Deception with Bill Parquette (2022)
Dealing with Russia – A Conversation with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022)
DEEPER DIVEBooks
To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence, J. Olson (Georgetown University Press, 2021)
Traitors Among Us: Inside the Spy Catcher's World, S. A. Herrington (Harvest Books, 2000)
The Spycatcher Affair, C. Pincher (St. Martin’s Press, 1988)
Spycatcher, P. Wright (Heinemann, 1987)
Primary Sources
Peter Wright Case (Part 1) (1987)
Peter Wright Case (Part 2) (1987)
Retired Spy Claims Cover Up in British Service (1984)
The Hollis Affair (1981)
The “Zinoviev” Letter Investigation (1924)
The Zimmermann Telegram (1917)
*Wildcard Resource*
Areopagitica (1644) by John Milton
Illegally published in the UK in protest to the Licensing Order of 1643, this polemic has since become one of the most influential documents defending the right to free speech and free publication.
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Sep 3, 2024 • 1h 11min
The Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate with Rachel Noble
Rachel Noble, the first woman to lead the Australian Signals Directorate, shares her groundbreaking journey in a male-dominated intelligence landscape. She delves into the significance and missions of the ASD, revealing captivating insights about the Pine Gap facility. Noble discusses the evolution of Australia's signals intelligence, highlighting the role of women during WWII. She emphasizes the importance of diversity in leadership and maintaining work-life balance, all while staying true to her personal identity. An inspiring look at resilience and teamwork in national security!

Aug 27, 2024 • 1h 12min
Lethal Action - Understanding Poison with Neil Bradbury
SummaryNeil Bradbury (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the deadly history of poison and espionage. Neil is an author and biochemist. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
How different poisons affect the human body
The usage of poisons as a covert assassination method
The deaths of defectors Alexander Litvinenko and Georgi Markov
The Soviet Union’s Lab X and the production and research of poisons on the state level
Reflections
The double edge of creativity
The necessity for research and experimentation
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“In order to counteract lots of the poisons, you have to know how they work, and you have to be able to develop your own. So, yes, undoubtedly, Western governments are just as actively involved in creating these chemicals and also the antidotes to them.” – Dr. Neil Bradbury. Resources SURFACE SKIM*Spotlight Resource*
A Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them, Neil Bradbury (St. Martin’s Press, 2022) *SpyCasts*
The Murder of an IRA Spy with Henry Hemming (2024)
I Helped Solve the Final Zodiac Killer Cipher with David Oranchak (2024)
The North Korean Defector with Former DPRK Agent Kim, Hyun Woo (2023)
Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023)
DEEPER DIVEBooks
Poison: The History of Potions, Powders and Murderous Practitioners, B. Hubbard (Welbeck Publishing, 2020)
Poison: A History: An Account of the Deadly Art and its Most Infamous Practitioners, J. Davis (Chartwell Books, 2018)
The KGB's Poison Factory: From Lenin to Litvinenko, B. Volodarsky (Zenith Press, 2010)
Primary Sources
Press Release on the Poisoning of Alexei Navalny (2020)
Update on the Use of Nerve Agent in Salisbury, UK (2018)
The Litvinenko Inquiry (2016)
Situation Report on Piesteritz (1953)
Analysis of Madame Lefarge’s Arsenic Trial (1840)
*Wildcard Resource*
This week’s companion song can only be Waterloo Sunset (1967) by The Kinks.
Heralded as one of the most beautiful songs of the swingin’ sixties, “Waterloo Sunset” is appropriately incorporated into the title of Neil’s chapter on the assassination of Georgi Markov, which took place on London’s Waterloo Bridge.
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Aug 20, 2024 • 1h 2min
The JFK Assassination – a Debate with Jefferson Morley and Mark Zaid (Part 2)
SummaryJefferson Morley and Mark Zaid join Andrew in a debate over the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Mark and Jeff are longtime friends and colleagues with very different viewpoints of what truly happened on November 22nd, 1963. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
The lasting questions surrounding the Kennedy assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald’s intelligence connections
The Warren Commission and the JFK Assassination Records
The strangest theories Mark and Jeff have heard, and the most plausible explanations of who killed President Kennedy
Reflections
Public distrust and the search for truth
Reactions and responses to tragedy
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week ”That's why I think they probably have something to hide. Because it doesn't make sense otherwise … If they had access to that kind of straightforward story, we would get that.” – Jefferson Morley.Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
The Skinny on American Intelligence & the Law with D.C. “Super Lawyer” Mark Zaid (2024)
Rise of Devils: The Origins of Modern Terrorism with James Crossland (2024)
Havana Syndrome – A Panel featuring Nicky Woolf, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Mark Zaid (2023)
The Past 75 Years with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Lee Harvey Oswald, Britannica (2024) [Short biography]
JFK Files: What we're learning from newly released Kennedy assassination records, CBS News, YouTube (2022) [6 min. video]
Kennedy Assassination Timeline, The Sixth Floor Museum (n.d.) [Timeline of events]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
The Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government, D. Talbot (Harper Perennial, 2016)
JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters, J. W. Douglass (Touchstone, 2010)
Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA, J. Morley (University Press of Kansas, 2008)
Primary Sources
President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act (1992)
Select Committee on Assassinations Report (1978)
Warren Commission Report (1964)
LBJ Address to Congress (1963)
Interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald (1963)
JFK Autopsy Report (1963)
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection
*Wildcard Resource*Test how you would do in Kennedy’s shoes by playing 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 – A two-player board game that tests your quick-thinking strategy and conflict resolution skills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 13, 2024 • 1h 15min
The JFK Assassination – a Debate with Jefferson Morley and Mark Zaid (Part 1)
SummaryJefferson Morley and Mark Zaid join Andrew in a debate over the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Mark and Jeff are longtime friends and colleagues with very different viewpoints of what truly happened on November 22nd, 1963. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
The lasting questions surrounding the Kennedy assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald’s intelligence connections
The Warren Commission and the JFK Assassination Records
The strangest theories Mark and Jeff have heard, and the most plausible explanations of who killed President Kennedy
Reflections
Public distrust and the search for truth
Reactions and responses to tragedy
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week ”That's why I think they probably have something to hide. Because it doesn't make sense otherwise … If they had access to that kind of straightforward story, we would get that.” – Jefferson Morley.Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
The Skinny on American Intelligence & the Law with D.C. “Super Lawyer” Mark Zaid (2024)
Rise of Devils: The Origins of Modern Terrorism with James Crossland (2024)
Havana Syndrome – A Panel featuring Nicky Woolf, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Mark Zaid (2023)
The Past 75 Years with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Lee Harvey Oswald, Britannica (2024) [Short biography]
JFK Files: What we're learning from newly released Kennedy assassination records, CBS News, YouTube (2022) [6 min. video]
Kennedy Assassination Timeline, The Sixth Floor Museum (n.d.) [Timeline of events]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
The Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government, D. Talbot (Harper Perennial, 2016)
JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters, J. W. Douglass (Touchstone, 2010)
Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA, J. Morley (University Press of Kansas, 2008)
Primary Sources
President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act (1992)
Select Committee on Assassinations Report (1978)
Warren Commission Report (1964)
LBJ Address to Congress (1963)
Interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald (1963)
JFK Autopsy Report (1963)
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection
*Wildcard Resource*Test how you would do in Kennedy’s shoes by playing 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 – A two-player board game that tests your quick-thinking strategy and conflict resolution skills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 6, 2024 • 1h 8min
The Murder of an IRA Spy with Henry Hemming
SummaryHenry Hemming (X, Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the case of Frank Hegarty, a British spy operating within the IRA. Henry is a bestselling espionage author. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
Espionage and the role of MI5 within the Troubles
The story of Frank Hegarty, a British spy working in Derry
Freddie Scappaticci, or Stakeknife, and Operation Kenova
The moral implications of spying
Reflections
Sacrifice, risk, and trust
The nuances of conflict
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“This is where it becomes, morally, much more complex. What’s difficult … is that most of the handlers who were faced with these decisions didn't have adequate training. They didn't know what the law said. They didn't know exactly what the limits were to what they could and could not do … And suddenly, as we're beginning to find out, mistakes were made.” – Henry Hemming. Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
Irish Garda Intelligence Chief with Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn (2023)
Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023)
The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Why is Ireland Divided? History Matters, YouTube (2022) [3 min. video]
What You Need to Know About The Troubles, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article]
A Brief History of Ireland, T. Lambert, Local Histories (n.d.) [Short article]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
Stakeknife's Dirty War: The Inside Story of Scappaticci, the IRA’s Nutting Squad, and the British Spooks who Ran the War, R. O’Rawe (Merrion Press, 2023)
The Intelligence War against the IRA, T. Leahy (Cambridge University Press, 2020)
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, P. Radden Keefe (Anchor, 2020)
Primary Sources
Operation Kenova Interim Report (2024)
Report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry (2010)
The Good Friday Agreement (1998)
The Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985)
IRA Green Book (1977)
Guerrilla Warfare Handbook for IRA Volunteers (1956)
*Wildcard Resource*
Much of the events mentioned in this week’s episode take place in Derry, or Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Check out one of Erin’s favorite TV shows, Derry Girls – It tells the story of a young group of friends growing up in Derry during the Troubles. The town loved the show so much, they erected a mural to immortalize the five fictional friends that represented so many of their own upbringings in Derry.
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Jul 30, 2024 • 1h 18min
Reporting Intelligence - with Warren Strobel and Brett Forrest of the Wall Street Journal
SummaryBrett Forrest and Warren Strobel join Andrew to discuss reporting intelligence. Brett and Warren are national security reporters for The Wall Street Journal. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
The intelligence learning curve
Stories from the front lines of modern conflicts and critical moments
The unique challenges that come with reporting on intelligence, and ...
The risks, including being a target of espionage
Reflections
Privacy and protection
The power, and danger, of sharing information
And much, much more …Episode NotesThis week on SpyCast, Andrew was joined in the studio by Brett Forrest and Warren Strobel, intelligence correspondents at the Wall Street Journal. As SpyCast listeners will know, issues of intelligence and espionage are constantly going on all around us – But how does the public stay in the know and up to date on the latest cases and news from around the world? Well, that's where these two come in. Quotes of the Week“It's about knocking on every possible door that you can imagine, that you can come up with, that you can dig up. And, all you're hoping for is one of those doors to open. You know, you knock on a hundred doors, you get 99 doors to open. You just want that one door to open because that's where the information is. That's where the source is. So, I don't know if I would call that luck, I would call that persistence.” - Brett ForrestResources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
Zelensky, Ukraine, and Intelligence with Simon Shuster (2024)
China’s Corporate Spy War with CNBC’s Eamon Javers (2023)
My Life Looking at Spies & the Media with Paul Lashmar (2021)
The Women of NatSec Journalism – 6 Leading Journalists (2017)
*Beginner Resources*
A Brief History of Journalism in America, M. A. McIntosh, Brewminate (2022) [Short article]
A History of The Wall Street Journal, G. Hughes, Historic Newspapers (2021) [Short article]
What Is Journalism and Why Does it Matter? CTRL-F, YouTube (2018) [3 min. Video]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
Spies, Spin and the Fourth Estate, P. Lashmar (EUP, 2021)
Spies and the Media in Britain, R. Norton-Taylor (IBT, 2018)
Spinning Intelligence, R. Dover and M. Goodman (CUP, 2009)
Articles
How Cuba Recruits Spies to Penetrate Inner Circles of the U.S. Government, B. Forrest & W. Strobel, The Wall Street Journal (2024)
Reporters who covered U.S. invasion of Iraq reflect on impact of war, N. Schifrin & Z. Warsi, PBS News (2023)
Russian Spy or Ukrainian Hero? The Strange Death of Denys Kiryeyev, B. Forrest, The Wall Street Journal (2023)
In Ukraine, New Reports of War Crimes Emerge as Russians Retreat From Kyiv Area, B. Forrest, The Wall Street Journal (2022)
Questioning the Case for War, C. A. Preble, CATO Institute (2018)
CIA Intercepts Underpin Assessment Saudi Crown Prince Targeted Khashoggi, W. Strobel, The Wall Street Journal (2018)
Video
Lost Son with Brett Forrest, International Spy Museum, YouTube (2023)
Ukrainians in Bucha reflect on horrors and brutality suffered at hands of Russian forces, PBS News (2023)
Primary Sources
It is time to do everything to make the war crimes of the Russian military the last manifestation of this evil on earth - address by the President of Ukraine (2022)
UN Report on the Killing of Civilians in Ukraine (2022)
McClatchy (Knight Ridder) Iraq Intelligence Archive (2001-2007)
Reporting the War (2005)
*Wildcard Resource*
Shock and Awe (2017)
Starring James Marsden as Warren Strobel!
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Jul 23, 2024 • 1h 13min
Leading United States Central Command - with General Frank McKenzie
SummaryGeneral Frank McKenzie (Biography, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his new book, The Melting Point. General McKenzie was the 14th commander of the United States Central Command. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
Combatant commands and their purpose
Leading CENTCOM, Central Command
The role of intelligence in military leadership
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan
Reflections
Learning from the lessons of history
The importance and impact of leadership
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“What that leads you to is really, intelligence. It paints that picture and it describes the operational environment within which you can operate. So here's the risk. If you're an aggressive commander … There's a temptation to lean on intelligence to tell you what you want to hear, shape the information … In the back of your mind, you need to recognize, you can't go into it with what I would call confirmation bias.” – General Frank McKenzie.Resources SURFACE SKIM*Spotlight Resource*
The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century, Kenneth F. McKenzie (Naval Institute Press, 2024)*SpyCasts*
CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)
David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023)
Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023)
Irregular Warfare & Intelligence with IWC Director Dennis Walters (2023)
*Beginner Resources*
CENTCOM, Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024) [Encyclopedia entry]
Why the Middle East is so important to the US, BBC World Service, YouTube (2024) [10 min. video]
Combatant Commands, U.S. Department of Defense (n.d.) [Brief overviews of the 11 Unified Combatant Commands]
DEEPER DIVEPrimary Sources
Retirement Ceremony Honors CENTCOM Commander (2022)
U.S. Central Command Statement on the Realignment of the State of Israel (2021)
Memorandum Re: January 2020 Airstrike in Iraq Against Qassem Soleimani (2020)
Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan (2020)
Remarks by President Trump on the Death of ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (2019)
Goldwater-Nichols Act (1986)
*Wildcard Resource*
Letter from Abraham Lincoln to Ulysses S. Grant (1863)
In this famous letter, Lincoln congratulates Major General Grant on his leadership during the Siege of Vicksburg, a critical success for the Union army. Perhaps not often done by a president, Lincoln here admits his strategy was wrong, and praises the intellect and military prowess of Grant.
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Jul 16, 2024 • 1h 30min
The Future of NATO with Leon Panetta and Expert Panel
SummaryAn expert panel of world leaders gathered at the International Spy Museum to discuss the importance of NATO today and in the future. Panelists included former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, among others. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
Threats facing Baltic countries, including Russia
The importance of NATO support for Ukraine
Maintaining stability during political turmoil
NATO’s growth and where it still needs to evolve in the 21st century
Reflections
The power of global partnerships
The impact of honest leadership
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“In the old days, NATO was kind of a place where everybody did their talking points and then left. But for the first time in a very long time, NATO is more than just a forum. It is a security alliance that is very important to protecting world peace.” – Leon Panetta.Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
Zelensky, Ukraine & Intelligence with Simon Shuster (2024)
CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)
Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023)
NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence & Security with David Cattler (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Why are the Baltic states strategically important for NATO? A. Sytas, Reuters (2023) [Short article]
Ukraine conflict: Simple visual guide to the Russian invasion, BBC (2022) [Short article]
The Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact | History, YouTube (2017) [3 min. video]
DEEPER DIVEPrimary Sources
Statement by the North Atlantic Council on recent Russian hybrid activities (2024)
Joint letter to DoD for Urgent Ukraine Aid (2024)
Address by the President to Ukrainians at the end of the first day of Russia's attacks (2022)
Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the situation at the Poland-Belarus border (2021)
Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Estonia (2003)
Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Latvia (2003)
Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Lithuania (2003)
The North Atlantic Treaty (1949)
*Wildcard Resource*
Our international panelists in this week’s episode hail from the beautiful countries of Latvia, Estonia, and Croatia. To learn more about the history and culture of these countries, take virtual tours of their national museums or libraries here:
Hrvatski povijesni muzej, Croatian History Museum
Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka, National Library of Latvia
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Estonian National Museum
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Jul 9, 2024 • 1h 10min
Cybersecurity in The White House – with Camille Stewart Gloster
SummaryCamille Stewart Gloster (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss her career in cyber. Camille was the first Deputy National Cyber Director for Technology & Ecosystem for the White House. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
The intersections between technology and law
The origins of the cyber threat
The importance of cyber education
Building a diverse cyber workforce
Reflections
Challenging narratives and norms
Strategic education
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“Another part of the problem is having a conversation where people understand that they do a lot of this work every day. Honing those skills and being intentional about them and then applying them to a career means a transition from a hobby to something more concrete. And that narrative piece of making cybersecurity not seem so overwhelming is a big part of the work as well.” – Camille Stewart Gloster. Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
Indian Intelligence & Cyber – A Conversation with Sameer Patil, ORF Mumbai (2023)
Espionage and the Metaverse with Cathy Hackl (2023)
The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran (Part 1 of 2) (2022)
The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran (Part 2 of 2) (2022)
Trafficking Data: The Digital Struggle with China with Aynne Kokas (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
What is Cybersecurity? CISA (2021) [Short article]
What is Cyber? Marketing Business Network, YouTube (2019) [2 min. video]
Why Is Cybersecurity Important? CompTIA (n.d.) [Short article]
DEEPER DIVEPrimary Sources
2024 Report on the Cybersecurity Posture of the United States (2024)
National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy: Initial Stages of Implementation (2024)
Executive Order on Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern (2024)
National Cybersecurity Strategy (2023)
National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (2023)
National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy (2023)
CHIPS Act (2022)
Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity (2021)
*Wildcard Resource*Test your cybersecurity awareness with this #BeCyberSmart crossword from the Center for Development of Security Excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices