

SpyCast
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 16, 2024 • 1h 9min
“The Foundations of American Intelligence in WWI” – with Mark Stout
Mark Stout, former intelligence analyst and SPY Historian, discusses the foundations of American intelligence in WWI. Topics include early American intelligence agencies, codebreaking, the American Protective League, and WWI's impact on culture and politics. They challenge historical narratives and reflect on the significance of studying 'forgotten wars'.

Apr 9, 2024 • 1h 7min
“The Director-General of NZ Security Intelligence Service” – with Andrew Hampton
SummaryAndrew Hampton joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence in New Zealand. Andrew is the Director General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
The New Zealand Intelligence Community
How geography effects national security
The lasting impact of the Christchurch Mosque attacks
New Zealand’s relationship with China
Reflections
The power of community organization
The nuanced nature of global politics
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“I think for a long time there was a view that our geographical isolation protected us from a range of national security threats. But unfortunately, in the current world, geostrategic competition is playing out in our region. Going back to my old role, you’re only one click away from a cyber-attack … This and misinformation and violent extremism are permeating the whole world. ” – Andrew Hampton.Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)
Australian National Day Special: Intelligence Down Under with John Blaxland (2024)
SPY CHIEFS: Director-General of Security Mike Burgess - ASIO, Australia & America (2022)
Keeping Secrets/Disclosing Secrets with Spy Chief turned DG of Australia’s National Archives David Fricker (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
What Is The Five Eyes Alliance? K. Haan, Forbes [Short Article]
A Brief History of New Zealand, Live and Work New Zealand (2022) [Short article]
Why Isn't New Zealand a Part of Australia? History Matters, YouTube (2020) [3 min. video]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
Voyagers: The Settlement of the Pacific, Nicholas Thomas (Basic Books, 2021)
Pacific Century: The Emergence of Modern Pacific Asia, Mark Borthwick (Routledge, 2013)
The Penguin History of New Zealand, Michael King (Penguin Books, 2003)
Primary Sources
He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand (1835)
Te Tiriti o Waitangi — the Treaty of Waitangi (1840)
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service Act (1969)
Intelligence and Security Committee Act (1996)
Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act (1996)
Government Communications Security Bureau Act (2003)
Intelligence and Security Act (2017)
*Wildcard Resource*
The Women’s Suffrage Petition - Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine
In 1893, this document gave all women in New Zealand the right to vote in general elections – Making New Zealand the first country in the world to enact universal women’s suffrage!
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Apr 2, 2024 • 1h 10min
“I Helped Solve the Final Zodiac Killer Cipher” – with David Oranchak
SummaryDavid Oranchak (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his work helping to solve the 340 Zodiac cipher. Dave is a software developer and avid puzzle solver. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
The difference between codes and ciphers
The cryptological methods used by the Zodiac killer
The history of cryptography and its importance to intelligence
How Dave and his team cracked the 340 Cipher
Reflections
Persistence and dedication
Average citizens as avid participants
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“It felt like we had gotten a brand new letter from the Zodiac Killer. You know, the case had been dormant for so long … We started to see the message coming through, it was like he was back to life so to speak, he was talking to us again after so many years of not saying anything. So that was kind of eerie to kind of hear the voice of a serial killer.” – David Oranchak.Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
My Father the Navajo Code-Talker with Laura Tohe (2023)
Venice’s Secret Service with Ioanna Iordanou (2023)
El Chapo, the Sinaloa Cartel & Intelligence with Trial Reporter Noah Hurowitz (2022)
CYBER AUGUST: “So, You Want to Be a Codebreaker?” with Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh (2021)
*Beginner Resources*
A brief history of cryptography: Sending secret messages throughout time, J. Schneider, IBM (2024) [Short article]
What is the Difference Between a Code and a Cipher? Mysterious Writings (2018) [Short Article]
Infamous Killers: The Zodiac Killer, A&E, YouTube (2017) [5 min. video]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for the Nation's Most Elusive Serial Killer, R. Graysmith (Berkley, 2007)
The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography, S. Singh (Anchor, 2000)
The Codebreakers: The Comprehensive History of Secret Communication from Ancient Times to the Internet, D. Kahn (Scribner, 1996)
Primary Sources
The Zodiac Killer FBI Case File (1969)
San Francisco Zodiac Letter (1969)
San Francisco Suspect Sketches (1969)
Zodiac’s 408 Cipher (1969)
Zodiac’s 340 Cipher (1969)
The Beale Papers (1885)
The Dorabella Cipher (1897)
Voynich Manuscript (ca. 1401-1599)
*Wildcard Resource*If you’re an amateur codebreaker and you feel inspired by this episode, try your hand at cryptanalysis with this FBI-created dot code. Erin tried, but could not begin to crack it – She’ll stick to podcasting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 26, 2024 • 1h 3min
“Bond After Fleming, the Continuation of an Icon” – with Mark Edlitz
Mark Edlitz, an author and pop culture expert, discusses the evolution of James Bond in literature after Ian Fleming's death. Topics include the original Fleming novels, intellectual property rights, the relationship between the Bond books and movies, and the malleability of iconic characters like Bond.

Mar 19, 2024 • 1h 5min
“The Skinny on American Intelligence & the Law” – with D.C. “Super Lawyer” Mark Zaid
SummaryMark Zaid (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss American intelligence and the law. You’ve heard of a “lawyer to the stars,” Mark is the “lawyer to the spies”What You’ll LearnIntelligence
The quirks of being a lawyer in this space
How the Espionage Act works in practice
The trial of the Rosenbergs
The origins of FOIA and its purpose
The Legal foundations underpinning espionage and intelligence
Reflections
Challenging authority
The delicate balance of secrecy
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“I still love working every day, 30 years later, because there's still something new. As much as I fight for declassification and transparency, I will at times also see information and learn of events where I go, “Oh, I get it. Yeah, that stuff cannot be known. That's incredible what we did. That's pretty wild.” – Mark Zaid.Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
Agent of Betrayal, FBI Spy Robert Hanssen with CBS’ Major Garrett and Friends (2023)
David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023)
Havana Syndrome – A Panel featuring Nicky Woolf, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Mark Zaid (2023)
How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023)
*Beginner Resources*
What Is a Whistleblower? Protections, Law, Importance, and Example, W. Kenton, Investopedia (2022) [Short article]
What is a Lawyer? American Bar Association (2019) [Short article]
Legal System Basics, CrashCourse, YouTube (2015) [8 min. video]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
State of Silence: The Espionage Act and the Rise of America's Secrecy Regime, S. Lebovic (Basic Books, 2023)
Ethel Rosenberg, A. Sebba (Griffin, 2022)
Spies on Trial: True Tales of Espionage in the Courtroom, C. C. Kuhne (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019)
Primary Sources
A Letter from Aldrich Ames on Polygraph Testing (2000)
Whistle Blower Protection Act (1989)
DoD Polygraph Program (1984)
National Security Decision Directive 84 (1983)
Inspector General Act (1978)
Freedom of Information Act (1966)
Administrative Procedure Act (1946)
Espionage Act (1917)
*Wildcard Resource*
John Adams, a 2008 HBO Mini-Series chronicling the Founding Father’s role in early America
John Adams, much like Mark, was a lawyer dedicated to the right to representation. Adams, ever dedicated to the honor of his profession, was the only attorney who agreed to defend the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. You can read the whole trial here.
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Mar 12, 2024 • 1h 5min
Telling Americans About China (and Intelligence) – with Sara Castro
SummaryDr. Sara Castro (LinkedIn, Bio) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the history of US-China diplomacy. Sara is an Associate Professor of History at the United States Air Force Academy. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
The Dixie Mission
The history of US-China relations dating back to the Opium Wars
China’s involvement with the OSS during WWII
How Mao Zedong & Chiang Kai-shek built modern China
Reflections
Understanding and empathy
Knowledge is power
And much, much more …Resources SURFACE SKIM*Spotlight Resource*
Mission to Mao: US Intelligence in China during World War II, Sara B. Castro, (Georgetown University Press, 2024) *SpyCasts*
Making Sense of China, Taiwan, & America Pacific Intelligence with Bonny Lin (2023)
China’s Corporate Spy War with CNBC’s Eamon Javers (2023)
Trafficking Data: The Digital Struggle with China with Aynne Kokas (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
Beyond the Balloon: The Complicated History Behind US-China Relations, Voice of America, YouTube (2023) [8 min. video]
China’s Overlooked Role in World War II, C. Klein, The History Channel (2022) [Short article]
Secret Agents, Secret Armies: The Short Happy Life of the OSS, The National World War II Museum (2020) [Short article]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
Spies and Lies: How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World, A. Joske (Hardie Grant, 2022)
The Hundred-Year Marathon: China's Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower, M. Pillsbury (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2016)
Forgotten Ally: China's World War II, 1937–1945, R. Mitter (Mariner Books, 2013)
Primary Sources
Dixie Mission Remembered in Beijing (2004)
U.S.-PRC Political Negotiations, 1967-1984 (1985)
CIA Intelligence Report: Mao’s “Cultural Revolution” (1967)
War Report: Office of Strategic Services: Operations in the Field (1949)
Madame Chiang Kai-Shek Address to the U.S. House of Representatives (1943)
Treaty Of Tianjin (1858)
Treaty Of Wangxia (1844)
*Wildcard Resource*
After the signing of the SACO Treaty in 1942, Chinese spymaster Dai Li took command of the US-China intelligence cooperation during World War II.
Six decades later in 2005, Nickelodeon premiered the now immensely popular American anime series Avatar: The Last Airbender. In the series, the elite secret police agency of fictional capital city Ba Sing Se are appropriately named, The Dai Li.
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Mar 5, 2024 • 1h 5min
The James Bond Collector - with Mike VanBlaricum
SummaryMike VanBlaricum (X; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his journey as a James Bond fanatic and collector. Mike is the President of the Ian Fleming Foundation.What You’ll LearnIntelligence
How Mike became an obsessive James Bond collector with 10,000 artifacts
Mike’s favorite Bond cars, movies, and books
How From Russia with Love was one of John F Kennedy’s favorite books
Mike’s tips on the best place to start if you want to read the Bond novels
Reflections
The passion of a collector
Pop culture influencing the “real” world
And much, much more …Quotes of the Week“I've always been fascinated about the study of creativity. And so, between wanting to understand spy craft and that whole human side as well as creativity, creativity like Fleming – How one person can change popular culture, you know, ultimately, something that came out of his mind can change popular culture is just fascinating to me.” – Mike VanBlaricumResourcesSURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 1 of 2 (2023)
70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 2 of 2 (2023)
CIA Officers Turned Authors with David McCloskey and James Stejskal (2022)
My Life Looking at Spies and the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
How to Watch All the James Bond 007 Movies in Order, P. Saperstein, Variety (2023) [Short article]
Bond In Motion Exhibition at the International Spy Museum! International Spy Museum (2024) [2 min. video]
Ian Fleming Life Timeline, Ian Fleming Publications (n.d.) [Timeline]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming + James Bond, B. Macintyre (Bloomsbury USA, 2008)
Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films, J. Chapman (I.B. Tauris, 2008)
Ian Fleming, A. Lycett (St. Martin’s Press, 1995)
Primary Sources
FBI Targeted a Fictional Spy (1980)
E. Germany Brands 007 As ‘Fascist’ (1965)
Memorandum For the Record from Marshall S. Carter (1964)
Our Spy-Boss Who Loved Bond by Allen Dulles (1964)
A Spy’s Spy, a Knight vs. Dragon – That Was the Image of James Bond (1964)
*Wildcard Resource*Who’s The Deadliest Bond? Pierce Brosnan – And by a high margin! Brosnan’s 007 had an average of 27 kills per movie. His runner-up, Roger Moore, clocked in an average of 16.6. o Read the stats by movie here. License to Kill indeed... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 27, 2024 • 1h 1min
A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 2 with Dr. Ursula Wilder
Discover how psychology intersects with intelligence as Dr. Ursula Wilder shares insights on leadership, personality assessments during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the use of psychoanalytic theory in espionage. Explore historical examples of leadership analysis, reflections on human nature throughout history, and the fascinating relationship dynamics between world leaders like Charles De Gaulle and Winston Churchill.

Feb 20, 2024 • 1h 5min
A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 1 with Dr. Ursula Wilder
A CIA psychologist discusses psychology's role in intelligence and national security, leadership personality assessments during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the intersection of psychoanalytic theory and espionage, the significance of historical understanding in human nature, and the repetition of history in leadership analysis.

Feb 13, 2024 • 1h 11min
CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta
SummaryLeon Panetta (Panetta Institute) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his lifetime of American public service. Secretary Panetta was the 2023 recipient of SPY’s William H. Webster Award. What You’ll LearnIntelligence
Directing the Central Intelligence Agency
Intelligence & the Abbottabad Raid
Working within the Clinton Administration
A life’s dedication to the safety of the American public
Reflections
The power of patience and the ability to listen
Handing immense pressure and responsibility
And much, much more …Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*
My Life in American Intelligence with Barry Zulauf (2023)
David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023)
Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023)
The 75th Anniversary of the CIA with former Director Robert Gates (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
What Does the Secretary of Defense Do? MasterClass (2022) [Short article]
How did the US find and kill Osama bin Laden? 60 Minutes Australia, YouTube (2018) [4 min. video]
Leon E. Panetta, Panetta Institute for Public Policy (n.d.) [Short biography]
DEEPER DIVEBooks
The Spymasters: How the CIA Directors Shape History and the Future, C. Whipple (Scribner, 2021)
The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency, C. Whipple (Crown, 2018)
Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace, L. Panetta & J. Newton (Penguin Books, 2014)
SECDEF: The Nearly Impossible Job of Secretary of Defense, C. A. Stevenson (Potomac Books, 2007)
Primary Sources
Statement on Syria before the Senate Armed Services Committee (2012)
Nomination of Hon. Leon E. Panetta to be Secretary of Defense (2011)
Statement to Employees by CIA Director Leon Panetta on the Death of Usama Bin Ladin (2011)
Nomination of Leon Panetta to be Director, Central Intelligence Agency (2009)
Memorandum for Leon Panetta on POTUS’ Time Investment (1996)
Letter from Brown to Panetta Regarding Fiscal Year 1994-1997 (1993)
Letter to the Honorable Leon E. Panetta from George Bush (1977)
*Wildcard Resource*
Secretary Panetta now lives on a lovely vineyard in sunny California. Speaking of wine and spies, check out Vint Hill Winery in Warrenton, Virginia.
In 1942 the US Army set up top-secret SIGINT operations at the now-vineyard after the farm’s owner, a Ham Radio enthusiast, set up a wire on the roof of the barn that could reach signals from Berlin. The farm was the site of The Signal Corps cryptographic school, which famously intercepted messages from Hiroshi Oshima in 1943.
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