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True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

SPYSCAPE

History, Documentary, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.73K Ratings

Overview

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.com A Cup & Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Music: Nick Ryan.

332 Episodes

True Spies Debrief: Sean Wiswesser on Russian Intelligence Strategy

True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins ex-CIA officer and Russia expert Sean Wiswesser to go deep on the strategy, ideology and political goals of the Russian intelligence community. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Sean Wiswesser is the author of Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin's Secret War.

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2026

Brief Histories: Spy Cities - Beijing

Content Warning: This episode contains references to torture and mutilation. In the second season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the shadowy side of the world's Espionage capitals. In Beijing, we'll learn about the Eunuch who became the most powerful man in China, a brazen Cold War deception, bold investigative journalism and the heartbreaking tale of a captured CIA officer behind the Bamboo Curtain. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Producer: Albert Genower.

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2026

Red Rag to a Grey Bull | Private Sector

Bryan Stern and his team at Grey Bull are specialists in exfiltrating Americans from highly volatile contexts. In this episode, we follow Bryan into the heart of the conflict in Ukraine, where he'll need to rely on his wits to rescue a young man from the heat of battle. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Frank Palmer.

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2026

True Spies Classic: White Traitor | ANC

To her colleagues, South African journalist Sue Dobson appeared to be a pro-Apartheid conservative. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact, she was a trained paramilitary and secret agent, infiltrating the government's propaganda wing on behalf of the African National Congress. In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby relates an incredible story of bravery in the face of bigotry. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Produced by Leo Hornak. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2026

True Spies Debrief: Miles Johnson on Intelligence and Organised Crime

True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins author and Financial Times reporter Miles Johnson for a debrief on the international intelligence community's relationship to organised criminal groups. Miles' investigative journalism has unearthed frightening findings about the connections – and crimes – made possible by our globalized world. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Miles Johnson is the author of Chasing Shadows: A True Story of Drugs, War and the Secret world of International Crime.

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2026

All Very Freddie | Private Security

Ever wondered how NOT to plan a coup? In the first ever telling of this story, Private Security professional Julian Fisher can teach you. It all comes down to forward planning, keen situational awareness - and a little bit of Frederick Forsyth. True Spies joins Julian as he travels to West Africa - and finds himself in a very sticky situation. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Julian Fisher is the author of Think Like A Spy: Master the Nine Secret Skills of Influence and Leadership.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2026

Brief Histories: Spy Cities - Moscow

In the second season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the shadowy side of the world's Espionage capitals. In Moscow, we'll discover the origins of Russia's intelligence culture, go underground with the CIA"s Moscow Station, and hear a first-hand account from an FSB defector. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2026

True Spies Classic: Operation Ajax | CIA & MI6

In the early 1950s, Iran elected a forward-thinking new leader. But where previous regimes had played ball with British and American oil companies in the country, Mohammed Mossadegh refused. In response, Western intelligence services mounted a deadly coup. In this classic episode of True Spies, Sophia Di Martino and historian Ervand Abrahamian unpick the shocking downfall of Iran's last democratic leader. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2026

True Spies Debrief - Aaron Tracy on the Secret World of Roald Dahl

Writer Aaron Tracy joins Morgan Childs to discuss the complexities and controversies around Roald Dahl - a man whose reputation as a children's author leads many to overlook his previous life as a wartime spy for the British Security Coordination in America, and much more besides. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Aaron Tracy is the creator of The Secret World of Roald Dahl, a podcast documentary for iHeartRadio.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2026

Writer and Traitor | MI6

Content Warning: This episode contains sex references. Author Robert Verkaik unpicks the complex and fascinating relationship between two giants of the 20th Century - author and screenwriter Graham Greene, and Soviet super-spy, Kim Philby. When World War Two threw the two men together as MI6 spies, a strange yet enduring friendship blossomed. But how far did their loyalty to each-other go? From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Robert Verkaik is the author of The Writer and the Traitor: Graham Greene, Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal.

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2026

True Spies Classic: You Me, Same Same | CIA

Ryan Hillsberg can be whoever you want him to be. As a CIA case officer, he recruited assets for the Agency by transforming himself into their ideal companion - a confidante par excellence. But maintaining a degree of professional detachment isn't always easy, as you'll discover in this classic episode of True Spies. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production.

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2026

Brief Histories: Spy Cities - New York

a new season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the shadowy side of the world's Espionage capitals. In New York, we'll visit the Revolutionary Culper Spy Ring, learn about the intelligence contributions of the Big Apples 'Blue Bloods' and learn about the city's radical history. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2026

True Spies Debrief - Christina Hillsberg on the Women of the CIA

Former CIA officer Christina Hillsberg is the author of Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA. In this conversation with True Spies producer Morgan Childs, Christina reflects on the lesser-known women who helped to build and reform the Agency, as well as discussing her own experience at Langley. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs.

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2026

The Family Affair | WW2

Christine Kuehn grew up believing that she was part of an ordinary, patriotic American family. But in 1994, a surprising letter revealed a darker side to her ancestry; a story that began in Nazi Germany. Christine and her husband, Mark Schiponi, spent 30 years unraveling the truth - an emotional journey that brought her face to face with one of the most famous and tragic disasters in American history. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Frank Palmer.

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2026

True Spies Classic: The Mouse at Pearl Harbor | WW2

A single spy can change the course of history - for better, or for worse. In this Classic episode of True Spies, you'll meet one of them - Takeo Yoshikawa. Stationed in Honolulu, Yoshikawa's intelligence was used by the Japanese to launch a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The massacre brought the USA in to WW2, and ultimately led to Japan's crushing defeat. He shares his unsettling story with Vanessa Kirby. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Takeo Yoshikawa is voiced by Eiji Mihara. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Morgan Childs. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2026

True Spies Debrief: Terry Stiastny on Britain's WW2 Propaganda Machine

Terry Stiastny, award winning author and journalist, takes on a deep dive into the world of the British wartime propaganda machine. The ragtag group convened with one shared purpose: to create and distribute "believable lies" that would undermine the enemy morale at a vital time in history. The British propaganda vehicle known as the Political Warfare Executive used a network of radio stations to broadcast fake news across Europe. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs.

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2026

Brief Histories: Spy Cities - London

In a new season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the shadowy side of the world's Espionage capitals. In London, we'll delve into early-modern counter-terrorism, an influence campaign at the birth of a new nation, elite associations and dirty money. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2026

Cold SNAP | CIA

High in the Himalayan mountains, a team of climbers are attempting to plant a device that will give them eyes on a growing threat. But they'll leave behind more than they bargained for. In this shocking episode, Investigative reporter Jeffrey Gettleman is your guide to a tale of high altitude and higher stakes in the 1960s - and one that still resounds in the present. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Presented with thanks to the Jeffrey Gettleman and the New York Times for their original reporting.

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2026

True Spies Classic: Sister Spies | WW2

In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby meets Pat and Jean Owtram, two British sisters who played crucial roles as Allied codebreakers during World War 2. Bound by the Official Secrets Act, neither sister knew that the other was a spy until decades later. In their 90s, they reveal their hidden hands in planning D-Day, aiding the Resistance, and cracking the Enigma code. Tune in to True Spies to hear their story. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Mariana Des Forges. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2026

True Spies Debrief: Robert Hannigan on Work at Bletchley Park

Robert Hannigan is the former director of the British Government Communications Headquarters or GCHQ, and the author of the recent book, Counterintelligence: What the Secret World Can Teach Us About Problem Solving and Creativity. In this Debrief, Robert joins Morgan Childs to explore how the WW2 codebreakers at Britain's Bletchley Park pioneered better ways of working. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs.

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2026

The Importance of Being Ernest | Historical

In the heart of New York City, a secret campaign of influence and espionage aimed to bring America in to a generational conflict. It was helped along by a man who, to this day, is all but invisible. Author and investigative journalist Thomas Maier reveals the half-forgotten history of Ernest Cuneo - the White House fixer who facilitated British espionage in the U.S.A in the lead-up to World War Two and beyond. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Thomas Maier is the author of The Invisible Spy: Churchill's Rockefeller Center Spy Ring and America’s First Secret Agent of World War II

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2026

True Spies Classic: The Boiling Frog | CIA

At the peak of his career, Jack Devine was one of the world's top spymasters. But everybody starts somewhere. In this classic, follow Vanessa Kirby as she recounts the tale of Jack Devine's first overseas assignment, in Chile. It's 1971, and the CIA is determined to undermine the country's socialist government. But as a military coup plot begins to gather steam, he's about to learn an important lesson - be careful what you wish for. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2026

True Spies Debrief: Gordon Corera on Vasili Mitrokhin

Gordon Corera, veteran security journalist and co-host of The Rest is Classified, joins Morgan Childs to discuss the central figure in his latest book - Vasili Mitrokhin. Mitrokhin was a KGB archivist who defected to the West in 1992, bringing with him a trove of Russian secrets. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Gordon Corera is the author of The Spy in the Archive: How One Man Tried to Kill the KGB.

Transcribed - Published: 27 January 2026

The Melville Collective | FBI

During the turbulent 1960s, New York City faced the most destructive wave of domestic terror since the Anarchist bombings of the early 20th century. In True Spies' 300th week, author, military intelligence professional and academic Dr. David Viola tells the story of the Melville Collective - a far-Left cell who became the focus of a joint operation by the FBI and NYPD after a spree of high-profile attacks on the Big Apple and beyond. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2026

Tradecraft, Part 11

The tools in a spy's arsenal are more varied than you might think. But they all come under one name: Tradecraft. In our eleventh round of insights from the world of espionage, Rhiannon Neads looks back on Medieval spymasters, high-octane extractions, and the undercover heroes of WW2. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Alex Burnard. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2026

Tradecraft, Part 10

The tools in a spy's arsenal are more varied than you might think. But they all come under one name: Tradecraft. In our tenth round of insights from the world of espionage, Rhiannon Neads looks back on gadget masters, Cold War tunnel-digging and the art of the Mobile Debrief. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Alex Burnard. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2026

True Spies Classic: The Real Sopranos | FBI

FBI agent Giovanni Rocco grew up playing in the back yards of New Jersey's criminal class. As an adult, he went undercover to take them down. In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby follows Giovanni's descent into the violent world that inspired HBO's hit series, The Sopranos. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Leo Hornak. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2025

True Spies Debrief: Anthony Vinci on the Fourth Intelligence Revolution

Anthony Vinci is a former DIA case officer who went on to serve at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency before entering the private sector. His new book, The Fourth Intelligence Revolution, bridges the divide between the intelligence community and the tech world. Anthony spoke with True Spies producer Morgan Childs about why this new era puts intelligence in the hands of everyday people, and about what individuals and governments can do to prepare. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs.

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2025

The Wireless Operator, Part Two: The Derber Method | Historical

When Dr David Tuch started investigating his family tree, he found much more than he bargained for. A distant cousin. A sailor. A man who led a life of adventure - and changed the world of crime forever. In Part One of this True Spies story, you'll meet him too - and discover the first steps on a dark, dangerous and fascinating journey. Dr. David Tuch is the author of The Wireless Operator: The Untold Story of the British Sailor Who Invented the Modern Drug Trade. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2025

True Spies - Brief Histories: Double Agents

From ancient Babylon to the darkest depths of the Cold War, Double Agents have fascinated us for centuries. In Brief Histories, the monthly special from True Spies, series producer Joe Foley is your guide to this secret world - alongside a treasure-trove of stories and expert knowledge from our archive. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2025

The Wireless Operator, Part One: The Trouble With Hyman | Historical

When Dr David Tuch started investigating his family tree, he found much more than he bargained for. A distant cousin. A sailor. A man who led a life of adventure - and changed the world of crime forever. In Part One of this True Spies story, you'll meet him too - and discover the first steps on a dark, dangerous and fascinating journey. Dr. David Tuch is the author of The Wireless Operator: The Untold Story of the British Sailor Who Invented the Modern Drug Trade. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2025

True Spies Classic: The Money Spy | FSB

How do you flee your country and join the other side? In this classic episode of True Spies, a former Russian intelligence agent gives Vanessa Kirby a rare masterclass in international tradecraft. Janosh Neumann fled Moscow armed only with his wits, a suitcase and the names of Russia's most influential money launderers, to begin a dangerous journey to the other side of the world. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Joe Foley. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

True Spies Debriefs: Dr Amy Zegart on Entertainment, Policy and AI

Dr Amy Zegart works to bridge the divide between the worlds of policy and tech. In this Debrief, True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins Dr. Zegart To hear her thoughts on spy entertainment, espionage in the age of AI, and the future of American intelligence policy. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Dr. Zegart is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, a professor of political science by courtesy at Stanford University and the author of Spies, Lies and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence.

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2025

The Drunk in Department V | KGB

Author and filmmaker Richard Kerbaj tells the story of Oleg Lyalin - the hard-living, womanising KGB officer whose defection changed the course of the Cold War, and shaped the future of intelligence agencies on both sides of the Atlantic. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Max Bower. Richard Kerbaj is the author of The Defector: The untold story of the KGB agent who saved MI5 and changed the Cold War.

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2025

True Spies - Brief Histories: Spychology

From the writing of Sun Tzu to the modern era, spies and spymasters have had insights into the mind that most of us don't. Now it's time to put espionage itself on the analysts' couch. In Brief Histories, the new monthly special from True Spies, series producer Joe Foley is your guide to this secret world - alongside a treasure-trove of stories and expert knowledge from our archive. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2025

True Spies Classic: The Limping Lady | WW2

In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby goes behind enemy lines with Virginia Hall, one of the bravest Allied heroines of WWII. As part of ‘Churchill's Secret Army’, Virginia was sent into occupied France to organize resistance efforts and disrupt Nazi plans ‘by any means necessary’.  From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. Featuring Sarah Megan Thomas as Virginia Hall. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Joe Foley. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2025

True Spies Debriefs: David McCloskey On His Life After Espionage

True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins former CIA analyst, author and podcast host David McCloskey for a deep dive into his post-Agency career, and what he's learned along the way. David McCloskey's latest novel, The Persian, is out now. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2025

The Many Lives of Agent Zo | WW2

Author Clare Mulley has built her formidable reputation on finding the remarkable stories that have been left out of the history books. This is one of them - the remarkable, heartstopping story of Elzbieta Zawacka, AKA Agent Zo, legend of the Polish resistance. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Frank Palmer.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2025

True Spies - Brief Histories: Counterintelligence

From the lagoon of Venice to revolutionary Russia, counterintelligence has always been an important aspect of statecraft. In Brief Histories, the new monthly special from True Spies, series producer Joe Foley is your guide to this secret world - alongside a treasure-trove of stories and expert knowledge from our archive. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2025

True Spies Classic: The Spy In The Cornfield | FBI

In the golden cornfields of rural Iowa, mysterious men are stealing seeds. Corn is big business - and the secret of growing good corn is priceless intellectual property. But is this a simple case of corporate theft, or foreign espionage in a vital strategic battle between nations? Vanessa Kirby joins Special Agent Mark Betten, FBI, on his mission to find out. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Tim Mansel. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 20 October 2025

True Spies Debriefs: Brett Janis on Economic Intelligence

This time on the Debrief, Morgan Childs joins former CIA economic analyst Brett Janis to discuss the Agency's role in monitoring global financial trends, Ukraine, and the future of the USA's place at the heart of the world economy. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs.

Transcribed - Published: 13 October 2025

Chasing Chi, Part Two: One Man's Trash... | FBI

By 2004, FBI Special Agent Jim Gaylord has seen a lot of counterintelligence operations go right. But he's also seen plenty go wrong, especially when it comes to the People's Republic of China. But now, he has a chance to take down one of China's most prolific collectors of US military tech - and he's determined to take it. In Part Two, Jim's team makes a breakthrough - and the net begins to close around Chi Mak. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. James E. Gaylord is the author of Chasing Chi: The FBI's Groundbreaking Pursuit of China's Most Prolific Spy Family. Available for pre-order now.

Transcribed - Published: 6 October 2025

True Spies - Brief Histories: Women in Espionage

NEW from True Spies: Brief Histories. From 7th Century China to Nazi-occupied France, discover a selection of stories from the long history of female spies. In Brief Histories, the new monthly special from True Spies, series producer Joe Foley is your guide to this secret world - alongside a treasure-trove of expert knowledge from our archive. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2025

Chasing Chi, Part One: The Engineer | FBI

By 2004, FBI Special Agent Jim Gaylord has seen a lot of counterintelligence operations go right. But he's also seen plenty go wrong, especially when it comes to the People's Republic of China. But now, he has a chance to take down one of China's most prolific collectors of US military tech - and he's determined to take it. In Part One, Jim sets out to take down Chi Mak - an engineer with access to top secret Naval technology. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. James E. Gaylord is the author of Chasing Chi: The FBI's Groundbreaking Pursuit of China's Most Prolific Spy Family. Available for pre-order now.

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2025

True Spies Classic: Blood on the Waterside | MI5

In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby meets a spy who infiltrated the political wing of the Irish Republican movement. Willie Carlin risked his life in Derry, Northern Ireland, on a daily basis to provide the UK with intelligence. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Joe Foley. Music by Nick Ryan

Transcribed - Published: 23 September 2025

The Secret Policeman | MI6

Lawyer and intelligence historian David Burke reveals a shadowy chapter in the story of Anglo-Irish relations in the 20th century. Irish police intelligence analyst Patrick Crinnion was a man of rare intelligence. He had also been groomed from a young age to spy for the United Kingdom. When the Troubles in Northern Ireland broke out, he was feeding information on the IRA to Westminster. But the IRA had its own, highly effective spymaster. In time, both men would pay a heavy price for their part in an old and dangerous game. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 16 September 2025

True Spies Debriefs - Andy Greenberg on Sandworm

WIRED journalist Andy Greenberg has spent years reporting from the murky world of hackers, spies, and cyber warriors. His 2019 book Sandworm tells the true story of the Kremlin-backed cyber criminals that became one of the most destructive hacking groups in history. This week, True Spies producer Morgan Childs sits down with Andy to talk about the Sandworm group - and what their campaigns reveal about the future of warfare itself. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs.

Transcribed - Published: 9 September 2025

True Spies - Brief Histories: Tradecraft

NEW from True Spies: Brief Histories. From Egyptian codebreaking, to USB sticks with the power to cripple nuclear facilities, this week hear the long evolution of tradecraft. In Brief Histories, the new monthly special from True Spies, series producer Joe Foley is your guide to the evolution of this secret world - alongside a treasure-trove of expert knowledge from our archive. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley.

Transcribed - Published: 4 September 2025

True Spies Classic: The Sociopathic Spy | CIA

Jim Lawler is one of the CIA's most successful recruiters of foreign spies. But even he had to start somewhere. In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby joins Jim on his first foreign posting. His mission? To enlist a crucial intelligence asset for the USA. To do it, he'll stop at nothing to manipulate, subvert, and seduce his target. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Joe Foley. Music by Nick Ryan.

Transcribed - Published: 2 September 2025

True Spies Debriefs: John Taylor on the Psychology of Spies

John Taylor is an author, lecturer and advisor on handling human sources of secret intelligence. He joins True Spies producer Morgan Childs to discuss the psychology of those who play the espionage game - agent and handler alike. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. John Taylor is a senior Research Fellow at Kings College London and the author of The Psychology of Spies and Spying.

Transcribed - Published: 26 August 2025

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