True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics
SPYSCAPE
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 19, 2025 • 51min
The Great Illegals, Part 2: The Ambassador | NKVD
In this two-part True Spies story, author and journalist Shaun Walker unmasks the greatest generation of Russian spies - the Great Illegals.
In Part Two, Shaun tells the story of Iosif Grigulevich - the Lithuanian Illegal who rose to the upper echelons of Italy's diplomatic community.
From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Frank Palmer.
Shaun Walker is the Central and Eastern Europe correspondent for The Guardian newspaper. He is the author of The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 13, 2025 • 23min
True Spies - Brief Histories: Information Warfare
Dive into the fascinating world of information warfare, where disinformation and propaganda intertwine with public perception. Discover how ancient Roman strategies still echo in today’s media landscape, shaping narratives for political power. Learn about key figures and events that evolved the art of misinformation from the printing press to modern digital tactics. Plus, uncover the chilling history of propaganda in interwar Germany and how AI now complicates the fight against false narratives.
Aug 12, 2025 • 58min
The Great Illegals, Part One: The Whistler | NKVD
In this two-part True Spies story, author and journalist Shaun Walker unmasks the greatest generation of Russian spies - the Great Illegals.
In Part One, Shaun tells the story of Nikolai Khokhlov - the music-hall 'whistler' turned deep-cover spy in Nazi-occupied Belarus.
From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Frank Palmer.
Shaun Walker is the Central and Eastern Europe correspondent for The Guardian newspaper. He is the author of The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 5, 2025 • 46min
True Spies Classic: Exit Strategy | CIA
In this classic episode of True Spies, CIA analyst Sarah Carlson drops Vanessa Kirby into the pressure-cooker of post-revolutionary Libya.
In 2011, the Arab Spring swept Colonel Gaddafi from office, leaving a deadly power vacuum. Three years later, civil war engulfed the nation. Under a hail of rocket fire, Sarah had to figure out a way to extract 150 American personnel from the carnage.
From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Claire Crofton. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 1, 2025 • 3min
Introducing... True Spies: Brief Histories
The history of espionage is long and shrouded in mystery...
Hear it chronicled in True Spies: Brief Histories, the new monthly episodes of True Spies.
From the intricacies of Ancient Roman tradecraft and Medieval propaganda, all the way to the surveillance systems of the twenty-first century, you’ll discover the hidden figures, secret dealings and daring special ops that brought us to where we are today.
Get episodes a week early, and ad-free with Spyscape+ plus.spyscape.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29, 2025 • 39min
True Spies Debriefs: Seth Thévoz on Espionage in London's Clubland
True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins researcher and author Seth Thévoz to discuss the origins of London's elite gentlemen's clubs - and the movers, shakers and spies who have called them a home-from-home.
From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs.
Seth Thévoz is the author of London Clubland: A Companion for the Curious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 22, 2025 • 1h 2min
The Baltic Baron | MI6
Tim Willasey-Wilsey, an author and former British Foreign Office official, shares the fascinating tale of Wilhelm Von De Ropp, a spy who infiltrated Hitler's circle to provide vital intelligence to MI6. He discusses the espionage tactics used during the rise of the Nazis and the political intrigue surrounding the Zinoviev letter that rocked British politics. The conversation highlights crucial missteps by the Nazis and the significant role of intelligence in shaping the outcome of WWII. Willasey-Wilsey's insights bring history's covert operations to life.
Jul 15, 2025 • 37min
True Spies Classic: I Was Never Here | CSIS
Join Andrew Kirsch, a Special Operations officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, as he shares exhilarating tales from the field. He reveals the hidden dynamics of home-grown terrorism in suburban Toronto, driven by his response to global threats like 9/11. The conversation dives into the intense, time-sensitive nature of covert operations, highlighting the challenges of exacting surveillances and the unexpected humor that lightens high-pressure situations. Andrew’s insights reflect the quiet yet crucial role of domestic intelligence in maintaining community safety.
Jul 8, 2025 • 43min
True Spies Debriefs: Douglas Waller on Frank Wisner
Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide.
True Spies producer Morgan Childs sits down with author and journalist Douglas Waller to discuss the complex and controversial legacy at the heart of his latest book, The Determined Spy: The Turbulent Life and Times of CIA Pioneer Frank Wisner.
From SPYSCAPE, the home 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
Jul 1, 2025 • 34min
Cover of Darkness | CSIS
Neil Bisson, a former operative with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and current director of the Global Intelligence Knowledge Network, shares his insights into the world of human intelligence gathering. He dives deep into how Canada’s intelligence operations function, especially in post-9/11 scenarios. The conversation highlights the art of blending in during covert operations and the challenges of navigating dangerous environments. Bisson also discusses Canada's evolving role in global intelligence, veering from American dependencies towards independent capabilities.
