Rephonic
Artwork for SpyCast

SpyCast

SpyCast
Egypt
James Bond
Espionage
Arab Spring
FBI
Counterintelligence
Cybersecurity
Islamist Militants
Israeli Intelligence
Robert Hanssen
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
Six-Day War
China
Ian Fleming
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Victoria
Secret Intelligence
Arab World
Ashraf Marwan
No Time To Die

SpyCast, the official podcast of the International Spy Museum, is a journey into the shadows of international espionage. Each week, host Sasha Ingber brings you the latest insights and intriguing tales from spies, secret agents, and covert communicators, with a focus on how this secret world reaches us all in our everyday lives. Tune in to discover the critical role intelligence has played through... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes724Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for SpyCast

Latest Episodes

At the CIA headquarters in Langley, you will find Kryptos, a large curved copper panel that holds the letters to four encrypted messages. The first three messages- K1, K2, and K3- were solved in the nineties, but K4 continued to mystify cryptographer... more

Bob Wallace was appointed Deputy Director of the CIA’s Office of Technical Service in 1995 and became its director three years later. In other words, he was the CIA’s “Q.” The storied office dealt in microdots and secret writing, creating innovations... more

YouTube

The CIA’s book club, known by the codename QRHELPFUL, was a secret 35-year program born of the fear that communism would dominate the globe. About 10 million books were smuggled into the Soviet Union during the Cold War, transported by trucks and yac... more

For decades, California-based engineer Chi Mak quietly stole secrets on war-fighting technologies. He and his family members shared the intelligence with spies in China, giving Beijing astounding insights they hadn’t earned. Former FBI Special Agent ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Charlie English
Author of 'The CIA Book Club'
Author
Episode: Inside the CIA’s Book Club Designed to Bring Down Communism
Larry Devlin
Former CIA Station Chief in the Congo
CIA
Episode: From the SpyCast Vault: The Lumumba Plot and The Station Chief's Story
Stuart Reid
Author and speaker on intelligence and espionage
Episode: From the SpyCast Vault: The Lumumba Plot and The Station Chief's Story
Jessica Brandt
Former Director of the Foreign Malign Influence Center
Episode: Opening the Foreign Influence Toolkit
Keith Melton
Historian and advisor to the US intelligence community
International Spy Museum
Episode: From the SpyCast Vault: An Assassination in Mexico
Keith Bulfin
Former banker who became embroiled with drug cartels
Episode: To Catch a Drug Cartel
Ed Bogan
Former CIA Chief of Operations for the Pakistan-Afghanistan Department
CIA
Episode: Retracing the Hunt for Bin Laden
Ralph Mariani
Former senior operations officer at the CIA
Episode: An Assassination in Athens and a CIA Officer’s Legacy
Jeffrey Higgins
Former DEA Special Agent involved in the capture of Reza Olangian
Episode: Catching an Iranian-American Missile Broker

Host

Sasha Ingber
Host bringing unique insights and interviews related to espionage, often focusing on historical perspectives and personal experiences in the field.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 2.4k ratings
  • Podcast has changed for the worse, miss old format and hosts

    This podcast was a favorite of mine, led by Dr. Andrew Hammond, now it seems more softball and less focused on in-depth history. Disappointed in the changes…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tolga M
    United Statesa month ago
  • Very good podcast

    It was neat on all the parts that I listened to about how we got the enigma machine from a German sub then I listen to the next few and really liked it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fun time to listen
    United States2 months ago
  • Quality has Deteriorated

    I don’t know why Dr. Hammond left or by what qualifications or criteria Ms. Ingber was chosen but unfortunately it was a misstep that has caused this show to “jump the shark” big time. It’s not half the show it once was and many of its competitors are now better options in this space. A great shame.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    HashiruOtoko
    United States2 months ago
  • Ziggy

    I think this is a very interesting informative podcast. Love to listen to it. Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Matuszk
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Used to be…

    …the best intelligence related show, now a copy-paste stock political blurb. How sad.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tom__London
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience feedback includes concerns about changes in hosting and questioning approaches, with some expressing a preference for in-depth historical analysis.
Listeners appreciate the variety of guests and topics, citing engaging storytelling and informative discussions.
The content is often described as fascinating, with several reviews praising the podcast for being both informative and entertaining.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#144
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#128
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#156
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#95
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#224
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#243
France/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inside the CIA’s Book Club Designed to Bring Down Communism
Q: Can you talk about Miroslav Hoetsky's contribution to the book club?
Miroslav Hoetsky was crucial in supporting Polish dissidents by providing them with printing resources and working closely with the CIA to distribute banned literature.
Inside the CIA’s Book Club Designed to Bring Down Communism
Q: What was the significance of sending books into Poland?
Poland became a key target for the book program, as it had a more liberal government and a tradition of underground printing, making it a more receptive audience for Western literature.
Inside the CIA’s Book Club Designed to Bring Down Communism
Q: How did the idea for this book club begin?
The idea grew out of the fear of communism after World War II; the CIA was looking for various methods to combat the spread of communism, leading to the creation of the book program.
The Hunt for China’s Spy Family
Q: What is the broader takeaway regarding U.S. responses to espionage from foreign entities like China?
The espionage problem is growing, with countless attempts at stealing information, and there needs to be a more robust deterrent through prosecution.
The Hunt for China’s Spy Family
Q: How did the prosecutor's office react during the prosecution of the case?
The prosecutors were under pressure to settle quickly due to fears of losing, leading to plea deals for some family members, which the FBI objected to.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About SpyCast

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

Exploring the intricate and often secretive world of international espionage, this podcast dives into fascinating stories and insights from former spies, intelligence experts, and authors. With episodes centered on historical events and contemporary issues, listeners gain access to discussions about espionage tactics, famous cases, and the moral implications of intelligence work. The host skillfully uncovers how intelligence efforts shape political landscapes and impact everyday life, ensuring a captivating mix that appeals to history buffs, political enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the espionage domain. The focus on storytelling enhances the learning experience, making complex topics accessible and engaging.

Where can I find podcast stats for SpyCast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for SpyCast. 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 SpyCast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does SpyCast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for SpyCast, 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 SpyCast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for SpyCast, 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 SpyCast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers SpyCast 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.

How many episodes of SpyCast are there?

SpyCast launched 19 years ago and published 724 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 SpyCast?

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 SpyCast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for SpyCast 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 SpyCast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of SpyCast. 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 SpyCast?

Recent guests on SpyCast include:

1. Charlie English
2. Larry Devlin
3. Stuart Reid
4. Jessica Brandt
5. Keith Melton
6. Keith Bulfin
7. Ed Bogan
8. Ralph Mariani

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days