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SpyTalk lives at the intersection of intelligence operations, foreign policy, homeland security, and military strategy. Hosted by veteran national security journalist Jeff Stein, the podcast features exclusives by SpyTalk’s roster of longtime reporters, news and profiles of US and foreign spymasters, and interviews with policymakers and expert authors. There’s nothing quite like it—a place for exp... more

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Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for SpyTalk

Latest Episodes

Ace investigative reporter Carol Leonnig talks about her latest scoop and new book on Trump’s DoJ, “Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America's Justice Department.”

Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:

twitter.com/SpyTalker

Follow Karen ... more

Investigative reporter Ron Kessler and retired former senior CIA officer John Sipher on the GOP plan to give Tulsi Gabbard control of  neutralizing spies and terrorists.

John Sipher

www.thecipherbrief.com/

Risking a National Security Disast... more

Top Democrat Sen. Jack Reed calls Trump threats “off the wall...”

Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:

twitter.com/SpyTalker

Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter

x.com/KarenGreenberg3

Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:

twitter.com/is... more

Intelligence historians James Risen and Peter Kornbluh on Trump policies and Cold War excesses.

More from James Risen

www.theguardian.com/profile/james-risen

More from Peter Kornbluh

www.democracynow.org/2025/11/7/gunboat_diplomacy more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Ron Kessler
Prolific author on FBI and CIA
Episode: Sidelining the FBI's Spy Hunters
John Sipher
Retired Senior CIA Officer
Episode: Sidelining the FBI's Spy Hunters
Jack Reed
Senator from Rhode Island and top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee
U.S. Senate
Episode: Pushing Back on Lawless Venezuela Strikes
Jim Risen
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former reporter at the New York Times.
Author and journalist
Episode: Has Trump Authorized Assassinations?
Doug Farah
Expert on Latin America and transnational crime
Former correspondent at The Washington Post and Newsweek; contributor to the Pentagon on Venezuelan war scenarios
Episode: What’s the Covert Action Plan for Venezuela?
Gina Bennett
Veteran CIA analyst known for identifying Osama bin Laden as a threat to U.S. national security.
Former CIA Analyst
Episode: The CIA's Contrarian
Ken Vogel
Investigative reporter for The New York Times and author of 'Devil's Advocates'
The New York Times
Episode: The Shadow World of Foreign Policy Lobbyists
Jake Tapper
CNN news host and author, known for tough interviews and fact checking
CNN
Episode: Jake Tapper’s Terror Case Detective Yarn
David McCloskey
Author and former CIA analyst
Episode: David McCloskey Strikes Again

Hosts

Jeff Stein
Host of Spy Talk, a veteran national security journalist with a strong background in intelligence reporting and analysis.
Michael Isikoff
Co-host of Spy Talk and a renowned investigative journalist with a focus on law enforcement and national security.
Karen Greenberg
Co-host of Spy Talk, recognized for her expertise on national security law and her role in discussing contemporary intelligence matters.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 289 ratings
  • Establishment drivel

    The host and the majority of guests are shills, to the bone, for the establishment intelligence point of view with very little objective analysis or reality. If that is what you are looking for then, you have found it. Enjoy.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MikeJeezy
    United States4 months ago
  • Edward Snowden

    If the host of a podcast on intelligence cannot recall Edward Snowden’s name while talking to a former CIA officer perhaps he should retire. The fact that you did not even try to edit out the blank memory moment tells me this is not a very tight ship operation.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nora Gregor
    United States5 months ago
  • I’ll be on lookout for podcast where interviewers actually allow Steve Cash to speak

    Please keep at it Steve. Non-steady staters feel the threat too and want to hear what you have to say.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Fan of Gov Charlie Baker
    United States7 months ago
  • Love Spytalk!

    Entertaining as well as educational.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @fatarae
    United States10 months ago
  • Spy

    No objective podcast about the "fake drones"? But let's just worry about DJT. Sorry, forgot he is the biggest threat

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    drkbstr
    South Africaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Enlightening discussions featuring expert guests provide valuable insights into intelligence and national security.
Overall, many appreciate the depth and quality of content provided, alongside the excellent host dynamics.
Some listeners express concern about overt political biases and a perceived lack of objectivity.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Pushing Back on Lawless Venezuela Strikes
Q: What is your understanding of what the goal here is? From Trump's comments, it appears it's regime change. What is the goal? Is it an invasion?
Senator Reed suggests there is no clear goal from the administration, pointing to a lack of strategic planning and ambiguity in actions.
Pushing Back on Lawless Venezuela Strikes
Q: What do you think about this call by a number of your fellow military and intelligence veterans in Congress, all Democrats urging service members not to follow illegal orders?
Senator Reed emphasizes that military personnel must prioritize the Constitution and adhere to laws of war, refusing to follow illegal orders.
The CIA's Contrarian
Q: How do you see the Wagner Group right now?
Bennett expresses concern that the Wagner Group is not easy to crush and emphasizes the mistakes made by leaders like Putin due to their hubris.
The CIA's Contrarian
Q: Do you believe those values that you've just described, the allegiance to the Constitution, caring about the whole country are shared by the people now at the highest levels in the intelligence community?
Bennett argues that the system is robust and the culture of serving the Constitution remains strong despite changes at the highest levels.
The CIA's Contrarian
Q: What are the threats that you see that perhaps we're not paying enough attention to?
Bennett highlights that there are always imminent threats which society often overlooks, with a particular focus on the resurgence of political violence and misogyny.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About SpyTalk

What is SpyTalk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content centers on intelligence operations, foreign policy, and national security, frequently featuring discussions around military strategies and homeland security issues. Listeners can expect in-depth interviews with seasoned journalists, intelligence experts, and policymakers, often focusing on current events and the implications of various governmental actions. The show offers a distinctive blend of insider perspectives, investigative journalism, and critical analysis, making it a unique platform for those interested in the complexities surrounding national security matters, particularly in regard to the U.S.'s relationships with foreign governments and its own military policies.

Where can I find podcast stats for SpyTalk?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for SpyTalk. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to SpyTalk and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does SpyTalk get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for SpyTalk, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for SpyTalk?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for SpyTalk, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does SpyTalk have?

To see how many followers or subscribers SpyTalk has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to SpyTalk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with SpyTalk:

1. SpyCast
2. Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs
3. NatSec Matters
4. SPYCRAFT 101
5. War on the Rocks

How many episodes of SpyTalk are there?

SpyTalk launched 5 years ago and published 187 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact SpyTalk?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for SpyTalk?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for SpyTalk from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for SpyTalk?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of SpyTalk. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on SpyTalk?

Recent guests on SpyTalk include:

1. Ron Kessler
2. John Sipher
3. Jack Reed
4. Jim Risen
5. Doug Farah
6. Gina Bennett
7. Ken Vogel
8. Jake Tapper

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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