True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics
True Spies takes you inside the world's greatest espionage and detective operations. Our hosts Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Sophia Di Martino, Daisy Ridley and Rhiannon Neads talk to the real spies behind the missions. What do they know? What are their skills? And what would you do in their position? We explore and investigate real life thrillers, mysteries and crimes - stories that prove truth is stranger than fiction! These stories cover lies, murder, theft, sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. You’ll meet experts from the top intelligence agencies including FBI, CIA, MI5, MI6 (SIS), KGB, GRU, Mossad and many others. You’ll discover characters who spied because of money, ideology, coercion or just plain old ego. And, if you’d like to dig deeper into the world of secrets, and test your own secret intelligence skills, head over to spyscape.com for articles, games, experiences, puzzles and videos.For episodes first and ad-free, subscribe to Spyscape+ at: plus.Spyscape.comA Cup & Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Music: Nick Ryan.
Latest episodes
May 20, 2025 • 32min
True Spies Debriefs: Alexis Papahelas on Greece, Journalism and the CIA
Veteran Greek journalist Alexis Papahelas tells Morgan Childs about the CIA's role in aiding Greece's military junta, which ruled between 1967 and 1974.
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
May 13, 2025 • 53min
Four Shots in the Night, Part 2: The Spymaster's Dilemma | Northern Ireland
Author Henry Hemming tells the twisting tale of two very different British spies operating in Northern Ireland during the 30-year conflict known as The Troubles.
In Part 2, Frank Hegarty and Freddie Scappaticci are drawn ever deeper into the violent world of the Provisional IRA - and soon, there'll be no turning back.
From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Frank Palmer.
Henry Hemming is the author of Four Shots in the Night: A True Story of Espionage, Murder and Justice in Northern Ireland (Quercus Publishing, 2024) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6, 2025 • 59min
Four Shots in the Night, Part 1: The Man From Derry | Northern Ireland
Author Henry Hemming tells the twisting tale of two very different British spies operating in Northern Ireland during the 30-year conflict known as The Troubles.In Part 1, family man Frank Hegarty and menacing IRA enforcer Freddie Scappaticci begin down a dark path together - one that ends in the dark, deep in the Irish borderlands.From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Frank Palmer.Henry Hemming is the author of Four Shots in the Night: A True Story of Espionage, Murder and Justice in Northern Ireland (Quercus Publishing, 2024) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 29, 2025 • 52min
True Spies Classic: The Ace of Spies | Historical
Who was Britain's Ace of Spies? The truth is, nobody really knows. But the name he used was Sidney Reilly - and nobody did it better.In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby follows Sidney on his dark and bloody path through the early 20th century, reckoning with oil barons, personal pride, and the rise of Communism. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Sidney Reilly is voiced by Thomas Delacourt. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Produced by Leo Hornak. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22, 2025 • 41min
True Spies Debriefs: Prof. Hanna Diamond on Josephine Baker
Celebrity, campaigner, national treasure... spy. This year, Josephine Baker's memoirs have been made available in English for the first time. The University of Cardiff's Prof. Hanna Diamond tells Morgan Childs more about the extraordinary life of a showbiz spy in wartime France.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
Apr 15, 2025 • 1h 5min
Britain's Agent | Historical
Professor James Crossland of Liverpool John Moores University uncovers the extraordinary life of a British diplomat-cum-spy in Bolshevik Russia - Robert Bruce Lockhart. A tale of doomed love, assassination, failed coups and bad reputations.From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Frank Palmer.James Crossland is the author of Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce Lockhart" (Elliot & Thompson, 2024) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8, 2025 • 54min
True Spies Classic: Her Majesty's Secret Service | Historical
In this historic True Spies Classic, Protestant England faces an existential threat from Catholic Spain. Queen Elizabeth calls on Sir Francis Walsingham, the Royal spymaster, to undermine the Spanish war effort. Vanessa Kirby tells a story of loyalty, fear, and the terrible lengths to which a good spy will go to protect Queen and Country.From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Sir Francis Walsingham is voiced by Linus Roache. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Justin Trefgarne. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1, 2025 • 50min
True Spies Debriefs: Dr. Jenny Benham on Medieval Spycraft
Historian Dr. Jenny Benham joins Morgan Childs to explore the murky world of medieval espionage. You'll learn about the real 'little birds' who inspired Game of Thrones' Master of Whisperers, and the exiles, slaves and captives who parlayed information for security in a time before formalised intelligence agencies.Dr. Jenny Benham is Reader in Medieval History and the Co-director of the Centre for Medieval Studies at Cardiff University.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
Mar 25, 2025 • 57min
The Misadventures of Martha Dodd, Part 2: The Left Behind | KGB
Content Warning: This episode contains adult themes throughout.When defense journalist Brendan McNally stumbled across a long-forgotten name in 1990s Prague, he had no idea of the remarkable story he would uncover.It belongs to Martha Dodd: ambassador's daughter, mistress to Nazi officials, and Stalinist spy. In the second episode of this two-part True Spies special, Martha returns to the USA, and waits to be activated. But she might be waiting a while.From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 18, 2025 • 42min
The Misadventures of Martha Dodd, Part 1: The Pink Lady | KGB
Content Warning: This episode contains adult themes throughout.When defense journalist Brendan McNally stumbled across a long-forgotten name in 1990s Prague, he had no idea of the remarkable story he would uncover.It belongs to Martha Dodd: ambassador's daughter, mistress to Nazi officials, and Stalinist spy. In the first episode of this two-part True Spies special, Brendan traces Martha's journey from Chicago socialite to the toast of Berlin society - and the great loves that guided the course of her life.From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
