Shows
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastWeapons in Space: The Strategic Defense Initiative Summary:Dr. Aaron Bateman is an assistant professor of history and international affairs at George Washington University. Prior to graduate school, he served as a US Air Force intelligence officer. In this episode, he discusses his book Weapons in Space: Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative (MIT Press, 2024).What You'll Learn:What the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) actually was and how it fit within the broader legal and political landscape governing military activities in space.Vulnerabilities in Cold War communication systems and the development of layered global networks...2025-05-2038 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastThe Illegals Summary:Shaun Walker, The Guardian’s central and eastern Europe correspondent, discusses his latest book, The Illegals: Russia’s Most Audacious Spies and their century-long mission to infiltrate the West. The Illegals is out in the US today and will be available in the UK on April 17.What You'll Learn:The enduring nature of the illegals program, from the Bolsheviks through to the modern dayThe history and psychology of people living under false identitiesHow “Virtual Illegals” carry forward the legacy of human intelligenceAnd much, much more...Mus...2025-04-1544 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastSpies in the Vatican: Part II Summary:Dr. David Alvarez, professor at Saint Mary's College of California, discusses his adventures researching in the Vatican Secret Archive, and delves into one of his books Spies in the Vatican: Espionage and Intrigue from Napoleon to the Holocaust.What You'll Learn:The Catholic Church, the Vatican and the SovietsNazi Germany's Operations against Vatican City“Vessel” and "Dusty": Virgilio Scattolini, the fabricator who provided false intelligence on the Vatican to the OSSAnd much, much more...Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Glimmering by Dan Phillipson 2025-03-0353 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastSpies in the Vatican: Part I Summary:Dr. David Alvarez, professor at Saint Mary's College of California, discusses his adventures researching in the Vatican Secret Archive, and delves into one of his books Spies in the Vatican: Espionage and Intrigue from Napoleon to the Holocaust. Stay tuned for Part II of this discussion, which will be available a week from today. What You'll Learn:How-to guide to navigating the Vatican Secret Archive, known today as the Vatican Apostolic Archive Evolving Role of Intelligence for the Papacy from the beginning of the 19th Century to World War IIWhat makes...2025-02-2458 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastThe 39 Women of SOE Section F Summary:Dr. Kate Vigurs, historian and author of Mission France (2021) and Mission Europe (2025), is a research fellow at the University of Warwick and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. In this episode, she discusses the history of the 39 women who served in the Special Operations Executive's F Section.What You'll Learn:Approaches and Methods of writing about the SOE, including sources such as interviews of Pearl Witherington and Yvonne Baseden (as well as Bob Maloubier)The Process of Recruitment and Extensive Training of SOE agentsThe rise and fall of the PROSPER circuit and...2025-01-2845 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastUS-Italian Intelligence Cooperation and Operation Gladio Summary:Dr. Niccolò Petrelli, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Studies at the University of Roma Tre and author of numerous works on international security, counterinsurgency, and war, discusses US-Italian intelligence cooperation during the Cold War, covert operations, and the evolution of Operation Gladio.What You'll Learn:Evolution of the Asymmetric Relationship between US and Italian Intelligence AgenciesJames Jesus Angleton's role in Italo-American relationsNetwork "Los Angeles"And much, much more...Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Dangerous Science by Apex Music 2025-01-0140 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastIran's Ministry of Intelligence Summary:Steven R. Ward, a retired CIA intelligence analyst who specializes in Iran and the Middle East and is currently working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff History and Research Office, talks about his recently published book Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence: A Concise History.What You'll Learn:The Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s origins and operationsThe role of Politics, Ideology and the Judiciary MOIS’s international and domestic activities And much, much more... Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Momentum by Iros Young 2024-12-171h 15
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastThe Russian FSB Summary:Dr. Kevin P. Riehle, a lecturer in Intelligence and Security Studies at Brunel University London and a professional with over thirty years of experience in the U.S. national security sector, discusses his latest book, The Russian FSB: A Concise History of the Federal Security Service.What You'll Learn:Methods and challenges of researching the Russian FSBThe pre-Soviet, Soviet-era and post-Soviet influences on the FSB The President's relationship with the FSB and the possibility of a non-chekist futureAnd much, much more...Music Credit...2024-11-3044 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastWomen in Intelligence Summary:Bestselling author and historian Dr Helen Fry talks about her book, Women in Intelligence: The Hidden History of Two World Wars.What You'll Learn:Recruitment of women in WWI and WWIIDiverse roles of Women in Intelligence and Double agents like Olga GrayThe image of women within intelligence institutions versus the public at largeAnd much, much more...Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Labyrinth of Secrets by Vocalista 2024-11-2231 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastSecret Societies, Resistance and Political Intrigue in Istanbul Under Allied Occupation SummaryDr Evren Altinkas, Adjunct Professor in the Department of History at the University of Guelph, talks about his article Istanbul Under Allied Occupation: Venues Of Resistance and future work on intelligence.What You'll LearnSurveillance and Intrigue in IstanbulCovert Activities of Secret Societies like the Committee of Union and ProgressKarakol Organization, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (codenamed 'Noah') and the establishment of the modern Turkish RepublicAnd much, much more...Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Undercurrents by Tobias Voigt 2024-11-1345 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastThe President's Kill List Summary:Professor Luca Trenta discusses his book, The President’s Kill List: Assassination and US Foreign Policy since 1945, reflecting on the US government’s involvement in the assassination of foreign leaders and officials from the early Cold War to the present.What You'll Learn:Direct and Indirect Methods of Assassination Origins and Motivations behind the Ban on Assassination Evolution of Presidential and Congressional Legal Interpretations and Justifications And much, much more... Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Strange Things by Luminbird2024-10-1139 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastWatching The Watchers Summary:Dr Henry Thomson, Associate Professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University, discusses his new book Watching the Watchers: Communist Elites, the Secret Police and Social Order in Cold War Europe.What You'll Learn:Elite cohesion, coercive capacity and social order in Authoritarian RegimesStalinism and Post-Stalinist TransitionsComparative Case Study: Poland and East Germany and the applicability of Thomson's theory beyond Central and Eastern Europe And much, much more...Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Enigma by Benjamin Botkin 2024-10-0445 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastBeyond States and Spies Summary:Dr Lewis Sage-Passant, adjunct professor teaching intelligence at Sciences Po Paris and founder of Encyclopedia Geopolitica as well as the thrilling podcast “How to Get on a Watchlist," discusses his new book Beyond States and Spies: The Security Intelligence Services of the Private Sector.What You'll Learn:Key debates and trends in Private Sector Intelligence and 'Traditional' State Intelligence'Origins' of Private Sector Intel: from the British East India Company to the Pinkertons and Lloyd's of LondonEthical Considerations and the future of Private Sector IntelAnd much, much more......2024-09-2756 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastSpycraft from Elizabeth I to the Restoration Summary:Professor Nadine Akkerman and Dr Pete Langman discuss some of their latest archival finds in their book Spycraft: Tricks and Tools of the Dangerous Trade from Elizabeth I to the Restoration.What You'll Learn:Key Methods of Espionage and Counterespionage in Early modern EuropeSignificance of Invisible ActorsCiphers and codes and recipes for making and revealing invisible inkAnd much, much more...Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Silhouettes by Adam Tell 2024-09-2032 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastSpying in South Asia Summary:Dr Paul McGarr, lecturer in Intelligence Studies at King’s College London, discusses his new book Spying in South Asia: Britain, the United States and India’s Secret Cold War.What You'll Learn:The history of the Cold War from the Perspective of the Global South and how this recalibrates our traditional conception of ideology and powerBritish, American and Soviet Competition and Influence in IndiaA blend of Facts, Fiction and DUCKINT...And much, much more...Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Eyes Closed by Tobi...2024-09-1259 min
Eye Spy: The Intelligence History PodcastThe Spy and The State Summary:Dr Jeff Rogg, Senior Research Fellow at the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, discusses his upcoming book The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence.What You'll learn:Evolution of Civil-Intelligence RelationsTrends in Domestic Intelligence from the Revolutionary WarOrigins of the 'Deep State' NarrativeAnd much, much more...Music Credit: Secret Room by Luminbird & Internal Investigation by Benjamin Botkin 2024-09-0630 min