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The Rest Is Classified

Goalhanger
CIA
Bashar Al-Assad
Iran
Syria
Taliban
Al-Qaeda
1953 Iranian Coup
MI6
Qala-I-Jangi
Espionage
Lebanon
Mohammad Mosaddegh
The Shah Of Iran
Afghanistan
Rafiq Hariri
Central Bank Of Bangladesh
North Korea
Cybercrime
Oil Nationalization
Cold War

Enter the secretive world of spies, espionage, and covert operations. Hosted by former CIA analyst turned spy novelist, David McCloskey, and veteran security correspondent, Gordon Corera, this podcast unravels real-life spy stories, intelligence secrets, and the hidden power struggles shaping global events. From Cold War espionage to modern-day intelligence agencies like the CIA, MI6, and Mossad, ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes151Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Rest Is Classified

Latest Episodes

In the years following 9/11, the US launched the War on Terror to root out the most dangerous Al Qaeda operatives across the Middle East. Their determination to avenge those who lost their lives in the 2001 attacks was unrelenting, and they were will... more

On 30 December 2009, an Al Qaeda terrorist detonated a bomb inside a CIA station in Afghanistan. This is the story of how a quiet doctor from Jordan became responsible for one of the deadliest days in CIA history.

Listen as David and Gordon chart th... more

In 2017, former CIA officer Kevin Mallory was drowning in debt when a message landed in his LinkedIn inbox. A Chinese “headhunter” said he had consulting work. Mallory - fluent in Mandarin, seasoned in intelligence, and once trusted with some of Amer... more

Earlier this month, MI5 issued a stark warning to Westminster: a “covert and calculated” Chinese espionage campaign was targeting parliament - and doing so at an industrial scale. Not with trench-coats and dead drops, but with something far more mund... more

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Recent Guests

Mark Galeotti
Leading expert on Russian organized crime and the Russian security services
Independent Analyst
Episode: The Rise Of Putin: Joining The KGB
Anthony Scaramucci
Former White House Communications Director and political commentator
The Rest Is Politics
Episode: Did The CIA Kill JFK?
Kent Walker
President of Global Affairs at Alphabet
Alphabet
Episode: EXCLUSIVE: Google's President of Global Affairs on AI, Cyber Attacks and Silicon Valley
Raymond Asquith
MI6 head of station in Moscow during the Gordievsky exfiltration
MI6
Episode: EXCLUSIVE: The Spy Who Smuggled Gordievsky Out of Russia
Joachim Rønneberg
A Norwegian resistance hero who led the sabotage of a heavy water plant during World War II.
Norwegian Independent Company
Episode: 72. Destroying the Nazi Nuclear Program: Bombing Norway (Ep 1)
Eliza Manningham-Buller
Former head of MI5
Episode: Former Head of MI5: 7/7, Putin, and Al-Qaeda (Eliza Manningham-Buller)
Edward Snowden
Former NSA contractor who leaked classified information on government surveillance
Episode: 45. The Leak That Changed The World: America Exposed (Ep 3)
Brett Carr
Honorary director of research at the Freud Museum and a Freud scholar
Freud Museum
Episode: Introducing... Legacy

Hosts

David McCloskey
Former CIA analyst turned spy novelist, he brings expertise in intelligence operations and storytelling to the show.
Gordon Corera
Veteran security correspondent with deep insights into intelligence matters, he enhances the discussion with journalistic rigor.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 3.6k ratings
  • Annoyingly presentation style

    Verbal ticks like saying ‘right’ after every assertion, and vying with one another for speed of speaking, whilst often speaking over one another and laughing at each others’ inane asides, makes the whole thing annoyingly difficult to extract the undoubtably interesting subject matter from. Slow down and have as much respect for the listener as you clearly have for each other Gordon and David.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Moany TonyG
    Poland23 days ago
  • Good, the verbal tics are distracting

    The British host: “kind of, kind of, kind of…”

    The American host: “kinda, kinda, kinda…”

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    FatTête
    United Kingdom25 days ago
  • Mid

    The british guy makes me not like the podcast. He thinks everything is funny and needs a joke. If Scott did the podcast solo it’d be a solid 5 stars.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jayboy 1115
    United Statesa month ago
  • Perfect balance

    Lovely podcast , lively and fun yet very documented

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Margot49170
    Francea month ago
  • Love this pod-to a point

    I like this podcast a lot. The hosts have credentials and the episodes seem well-researched and presented. But my problem is the paywall. I understand the need for ads but then there’s an interesting interview with the Mooch about the Mob and JFK. There’s a 10 minute tease and then you have to pay $7 a month. I like a lot of podcasts but I can’t afford to be in the golden tier in any of them. I suppose that’s capitalism. I’ll keep listening and talking to people about what I hear and I vs defini... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RobMajor
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the in-depth research and well-explained narratives that bring historical espionage to life.
Hosts provide an engaging blend of humor and serious analysis, making complex topics accessible and entertaining.
Some criticism arises regarding occasional biases in the hosts' perspectives, particularly relating to U.S. intelligence operations.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Did The Mafia Kill JFK?
Q: Why was Bobby Kennedy so vociferously anti-mob despite the Mafia's support during his campaign?
Robert Kennedy took his role seriously and aimed to root out corruption, even against the interests of the Mafia that had previously supported the Kennedy family, leading to a complex relationship.
EXCLUSIVE: Google's President of Global Affairs on AI, Cyber Attacks and Silicon Valley
Q: The decision to go public, was that a kind of difficult decision?
Yes, at the time, very few companies publicly acknowledged being hacked, but we felt it was essential to inform others who were affected.
EXCLUSIVE: Google's President of Global Affairs on AI, Cyber Attacks and Silicon Valley
Q: Kent, you started in Google back in 2006?
Yes, I was there when the Aurora cyber attack happened and we had a round-the-clock focus on managing the crisis.
65. Terror Strikes London: The Forgotten Attack (Ep 4)
Q: What was the public and MI5's reaction to the July 21st attack?
MI5 felt a significant amount of pressure and believed another attack was imminent amidst fears of being unable to cope with the unfolding situation.
65. Terror Strikes London: The Forgotten Attack (Ep 4)
Q: What follows in the aftermath of the attempted bombings?
The police conduct a manhunt to capture the bombers, using communications data and clues from the scene.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About The Rest Is Classified

What is The Rest Is Classified about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content predominantly navigates the complex realms of espionage, intelligence agencies, and covert operations, blending rich historical contexts with contemporary narratives. Episodes feature in-depth analyses of infamous figures, such as Yevgeny Prigozhin, exploring themes ranging from the nuances of Russian military engagements to the intricate machinations of U.S. foreign policy during critical events like the Bay of Pigs and the Kennedy assassination. The engaging hosts bring a unique perspective, revealing the intertwining of personal stories with broader political undercurrents, appealing especially to those intrigued by spy craft, political intrigue, and historical events that have shaped modern society. The combination of humor ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Rest Is Classified?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Rest Is Classified:

1. The Rest Is Politics
2. The Rest Is Politics: US
3. The Rest Is Politics: Leading
4. The Rest Is History
5. Empire

How many episodes of The Rest Is Classified are there?

The Rest Is Classified launched a year ago and published 151 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Rest Is Classified?

Recent guests on The Rest Is Classified include:

1. Mark Galeotti
2. Anthony Scaramucci
3. Kent Walker
4. Raymond Asquith
5. Joachim Rønneberg
6. Eliza Manningham-Buller
7. Edward Snowden
8. Brett Carr

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