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Artwork for The Spy Who

The Spy Who

Audible
MI5
MI6
Al-Qaeda
Sergei Skripal
Ukraine
Espionage
Terrorism
Bellingcat
Elliot Higgins
Sergei Cristo
Vladimir Putin
Carlton Club
Brexit
Russian Intelligence
Conservative Party
Information Warfare
Cambridge University
Life At Sea
Bosnia
Russia

These are stories you were never meant to hear. The invisible but vital work of the world’s intelligence services: secret operatives playing to very different rules. The Spy Who, hosted by Indira Varma and Raza Jaffrey, takes you deep inside that shadow world to meet spies who risked everything in the national interest – or, sometimes, their own.

Listen to The Spy Who ad-free on Wondery+ in the Wo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes101Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Spy Who

Latest Episodes

It’s the 1970s. The Vietnam War, Watergate and the oil crisis are stoking turmoil in America. And in southern California two middle-class rebels are about to strike back at ‘The Man’ by selling CIA spy satellite secrets to the USSR.

See Privacy Poli... more

Long before FBI informant David Rupert set foot in Ireland, a hidden web of espionage was already embedded in the North. In this episode, investigative journalist and author Cara McGoogan looks beyond the headlines to examine the depth of British inv... more

With the Real IRA accelerating its bombing campaign, FBI-MI5 spy David Rupert is under pressure and about to make a possibly fatal mistake.

See Privacy Policy at art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at art19.com/privacy#do... more

As the Real IRA moves to derail Northern Ireland’s fragile peace with bombs, MI5 asks spy trucker David Rupert to get close to its ringleader Michael McKevitt.

See Privacy Policy at art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Cara McGoogan
Author and journalist who investigates British scandals.
Episode: The Spy Who Jailed the Omagh Bomb Plotter | Inside Britain's Vast Espionage Network | 4
Natalie Cochran
Pharmacist involved in a Ponzi scheme and deceived many including her husband
Episode: Listen now: Scamfluencers | The Pharmacist Femme Fatale
Justin Hawkins
Musician and former frontman of the band The Darkness
The Darkness
Episode: Listen Now: How Do You Cope?
Elliot Higgins
Founder of Bellingcat, investigative journalist specializing in open-source intelligence.
Bellingcat
Episode: The Spy Who Putin Poisoned | Uncovering The Truth With Bellingcat | 5
Frank Close
Author of 'Trinity, The Treachery and Pursuit of the Most Dangerous Spy in History'
Episode: The Spy Who Started the Cold War | The Most Dangerous In History? | 5
Aimen Dean
Former MI6 spy inside Al-Qaeda and author of 'Nine Lives'
Episode: The Spy Who Betrayed Bin Laden | Aimen Dean talks about his time as MI6's Top Spy Inside Al-Qaeda | 5
Rick Stroud
Author of Lonely Courage, The True Story of the SOE Heroines Who Fought to Free Nazi Occupied France
Episode: The Spy Who Wouldn't Lie | The Unsung Heroines Of WW2 | 5
Andrew Lownie
Author of 'Stalin's Englishman'.
Episode: The Spy Who Saved MI5 | How the Cambridge Five Changed MI5 | 5
Andrew Lycett
Biographer of Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond
Episode: The Spy Who Inspired 007 | The other James Bonds | 5

Host

Indira Varma
Co-host and prominent narrator known for acclaimed performances, deepening the storytelling experience with a theatrical approach.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2k ratings
  • Great

    I love this podcast, it’s amazing but what is up with all the encores??? I feel you haven’t even done that much and I have to wait months between new seasons? I already listened to it all, some of it twice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jogden123
    United States14 days ago
  • The Spy Who

    Nice little story, the narrator needs to work on pronunciation though.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Ned Tallywhacker
    United Kingdom21 days ago
  • Love them

    I love listening to these, some really good story’s. I hope one day all the presenters or two of them do a story together, female voice with female characters male with male. Keep up the good work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vanessa3
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • riveting stuff!

    I am glad to have such vocal talent present these stories, which swing from electrifying to emotional, almost sentimental. They involve you in the character. Perhaps a little repetitive or slow-ish some episodes, but SO many to pick from. I would like to see them cover Krystyna Skarbek, daring Croix de Guerre winner, a woman with nerves of steel.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    deniedagain
    United Statesa month ago
  • good

    i like the dialog and it’s rly well written and people but stop repeating the stories

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    💋🐆🌺
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some feedback indicates dissatisfaction with advertisement placements during episodes, causing frustration among listeners who prefer uninterrupted narratives.
Listeners appreciate the gripping storytelling and historical insights about espionage, often praising the engaging style of narration and production quality.
Overall, listeners express a strong interest in the content and anticipate future episodes, reflecting loyalty and consistency in viewership.
There is a positive reception towards the exploration of lesser-known figures and stories, suggesting that audiences value unique and thorough historical accounts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#39
United States/History
Spotify
#30
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#197
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#19
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/History
Spotify
#34
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Spy Who Jailed the Omagh Bomb Plotter | Inside Britain's Vast Espionage Network | 4
Q: So how do you deal with the consequences of all that?
It's hard to say for sure how he dealt with it, especially considering the violent actions he was involved in.
The Spy Who Jailed the Omagh Bomb Plotter | Inside Britain's Vast Espionage Network | 4
Q: Can you tell us about Operation Konova? What were the findings?
Stakeknife was found to have been involved in 14 murders and 15 abductions, and MI5 was aware of Stakeknife's actions but considered it acceptable.
The Spy Who Putin Poisoned | Uncovering The Truth With Bellingcat | 5
Q: Was there ever a moment where you were worried for your team?
We certainly have the attention of the Russian state in their public statements.
The Spy Who Putin Poisoned | Uncovering The Truth With Bellingcat | 5
Q: Do you think the Skripal poisoning can be seen as an act of war?
There are multiple incidents where Russian spies haven't just spied, they've blown stuff up and, you know, they've killed people.
The Spy Who Started the Cold War | The Most Dangerous In History? | 5
Q: Why do you think so many great minds were happy to join this project, considering that its key focus was an enormously destructive atomic weapon?
Many scientists saw their work as a necessary response to the enormity of the threat posed by Nazi Germany during the war, balancing ethical considerations with the urgency of their mission.

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 The Spy Who

What is The Spy Who about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast presents captivating narratives centered on the secret and often perilous lives of spies and their intricacies within the intelligence community. Through diverse themes, it explores historical stories of espionage, highlighting lesser-known figures alongside well-known spies and their profound impacts on international affairs. Episodes delve into gripping accounts of betrayal, infiltration, and the high stakes involved in intelligence work, providing listeners with a nuanced perspective on events that shape our world, often overshadowed by mainstream historical narratives.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Spy Who?

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

How many listeners does The Spy Who get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Spy Who, 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 The Spy Who have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Spy Who 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 The Spy Who?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Spy Who:

1. British Scandal
2. Legacy
3. True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics
4. American Scandal
5. Against The Odds

How many episodes of The Spy Who are there?

The Spy Who launched 2 years ago and published 101 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 The Spy Who?

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 The Spy Who?

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

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Spy Who?

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What guests have appeared on The Spy Who?

Recent guests on The Spy Who include:

1. Cara McGoogan
2. Natalie Cochran
3. Justin Hawkins
4. Elliot Higgins
5. Frank Close
6. Aimen Dean
7. Rick Stroud
8. Andrew Lownie

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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