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 17, 2020 • 47min
Blackbird | USAF
Former USAF pilot Colonel Buz Carpenter shares thrilling details of a secret mission in the SR-71 'Blackbird' spy plane over the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border. The podcast explores the intense training, strategic impact, and precise surveillance techniques used during the mission to prevent a potential war. The narrative unfolds with comedic tension, high-stakes aerial operations, and the critical role of intelligence analysis in crisis prevention. Learn about the declassification and legacy of the legendary SR-71 Blackbird aircraft.
Aug 10, 2020 • 1h
N Is For Novichok | Investigation
Vanessa Kirby gets Christo Grozev, a modern Sherlock Holmes, to share the secrets of how he solved one of the most notorious assassination attempts of the 21st century - the poisoning of retired Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal, hospitalised by a mysterious nerve agent on British soil. Would YOU have the skills to do the same? From SPYSCAPE, the global HQ of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Tim Mansel. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 3, 2020 • 49min
The Man From The Getty | Detective
Vanessa Kirby and Charles Hill share the inside story of an iconic art theft. Hill went undercover to retrieve ‘The Scream' by Edvard Munch after it was stolen from Norway’s National Gallery. Posing as a buyer for the Getty Museum, Charles drew the dangerous thieves out of the shadows. What would YOU do? From SPYSCAPE, the global HQ of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Joe Foley. Music by Nick Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 27, 2020 • 45min
The Spy Who Said No | GCHQ
Katherine Gun, a former intelligence analyst, bravely leaked a secret memo exposing a U.S. plan to manipulate support for the Iraq War. Journalist Martin Bright joined her in this pivotal moment of history. They discuss the moral dilemmas of whistleblowing and face the repercussions that followed. Gun reflects on the personal turmoil of revealing classified truths, while Bright sheds light on the challenges within journalism during this crisis. Their courageous actions sparked important conversations about accountability in government.
Jul 20, 2020 • 58min
The Survivor | WW2 ] Spy Sisters
Hayley Atwell meets Marthe Cohn, the brave 100-year-old French spy who stole Nazi secrets during WWII. Disguised as a German nurse, Marthe fed top-secret information to the Resistance from behind enemy lines, right under the nose of the deadly SS. What would YOU do? From SPYSCAPE, the headquarters of all things spy. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Mariana Des Forges. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 13, 2020 • 47min
The Billion Dollar Spy | CIA
`Hayley Atwell tells the story of Adolph Tolkachev, one of the CIA's most prolific Russian assets, with his handler David Rolph. David's task was to keep this priceless information flowing, but first he had to make sure the KGB weren't onto him. What would YOU do? From SPYSCAPE, the headquarters of all things spy. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Louise Clarke-Rowbotham. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 6, 2020 • 50min
The Purple Bathrobe | FBI
Hayley Atwell tells the story of the capture of the Mexican druglord El Chapo, with former FBI undercover agent Michael McGowan. To trap this murderous gangster, Michael had to convince him that he was in the same business. What would YOU do? From SPYSCAPE, the headquarters of all things spy. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Mariana Des Forges. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2020 • 53min
Undercover Jihadi | CSIS
Hayley Atwell relates the story of Mubin Shaikh, an Islamist extremist who became a spy for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Undercover as a member of the terrorist group that would be known as the Toronto 18, Mubin was told that his cover would be blown. What would YOU do? From SPYSCAPE, the headquarters of all things spy. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Louise Clarke-Rowbotham. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2020 • 46min
Shadow Games | Special Forces Berlin
Hayley Atwell and former Special Forces Berlin operative James Stejskal reveal the secrets of their covert unit stationed in West Berlin during the Cold War, tackling the Tehran Hostage Crisis and espionage challenges. Explore their infiltration of the German population, navigating relationships in espionage, Cold War threats, planning a high-stakes rescue mission in Tehran, and reflections on their shadowy past.
Jun 15, 2020 • 46min
True Narcos | DEA
Hayley Atwell shares the story of capturing Pablo Escobar with DEA agents in Colombia. Topics include the dangers faced by the agents, espionage tactics used, the role of informants, a high-stakes encounter mistaken for an assassination attempt, the pursuit and arrest of Escobar, and reflections on his impact on drug trafficking.
