True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins author and Financial Times reporter Miles Johnson for a debrief on the international intelligence community's relationship to organised criminal groups. Miles' investigative journalism has unearthed frightening findings about the connections – and crimes – made possible by our globalized world. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Miles Johnson is the author of Chasing Shado...
May 12, 2026•38 min•Season 1Ep. 316
Ever wondered how NOT to plan a coup? In the first ever telling of this story, Private Security professional Julian Fisher can teach you. It all comes down to forward planning, keen situational awareness - and a little bit of Frederick Forsyth. True Spies joins Julian as he travels to West Africa - and finds himself in a very sticky situation. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Julian Fisher is the author of Think L...
May 05, 2026•38 min•Season 1Ep. 315
In the second season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the shadowy side of the world's Espionage capitals. In Moscow, we'll discover the origins of Russia's intelligence culture, go underground with the CIA"s Moscow Station, and hear a first-hand account from an FSB defector. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley.
Apr 30, 2026•31 min
In the early 1950s, Iran elected a forward-thinking new leader. But where previous regimes had played ball with British and American oil companies in the country, Mohammed Mossadegh refused. In response, Western intelligence services mounted a deadly coup. In this classic episode of True Spies, Sophia Di Martino and historian Ervand Abrahamian unpick the shocking downfall of Iran's last democratic leader. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley...
Apr 28, 2026•52 min•Season 1Ep. 314
Writer Aaron Tracy joins Morgan Childs to discuss the complexities and controversies around Roald Dahl - a man whose reputation as a children's author leads many to overlook his previous life as a wartime spy for the British Security Coordination in America, and much more besides. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Aaron Tracy is the creator of The Secret World of Roald Dahl, a podcast documentary for iHeartRadi...
Apr 21, 2026•41 min•Season 1Ep. 313
Content Warning: This episode contains sex references. Author Robert Verkaik unpicks the complex and fascinating relationship between two giants of the 20th Century - author and screenwriter Graham Greene, and Soviet super-spy, Kim Philby. When World War Two threw the two men together as MI6 spies, a strange yet enduring friendship blossomed. But how far did their loyalty to each-other go? From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Jo...
Apr 14, 2026•54 min•Season 1Ep. 312
Ryan Hillsberg can be whoever you want him to be. As a CIA case officer, he recruited assets for the Agency by transforming himself into their ideal companion - a confidante par excellence. But maintaining a degree of professional detachment isn't always easy, as you'll discover in this classic episode of True Spies. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 07, 2026•41 min•Season 1Ep. 311
a new season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the shadowy side of the world's Espionage capitals. In New York, we'll visit the Revolutionary Culper Spy Ring, learn about the intelligence contributions of the Big Apples 'Blue Bloods' and learn about the city's radical history. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 02, 2026•30 min
Former CIA officer Christina Hillsberg is the author of Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA. In this conversation with True Spies producer Morgan Childs, Christina reflects on the lesser-known women who helped to build and reform the Agency, as well as discussing her own experience at Langley. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Mar 31, 2026•42 min•Season 1Ep. 310
Christine Kuehn grew up believing that she was part of an ordinary, patriotic American family. But in 1994, a surprising letter revealed a darker side to her ancestry; a story that began in Nazi Germany. Christine and her husband, Mark Schiponi, spent 30 years unraveling the truth - an emotional journey that brought her face to face with one of the most famous and tragic disasters in American history. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Pr...
Mar 24, 2026•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 309
A single spy can change the course of history - for better, or for worse. In this Classic episode of True Spies, you'll meet one of them - Takeo Yoshikawa. Stationed in Honolulu, Yoshikawa's intelligence was used by the Japanese to launch a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The massacre brought the USA in to WW2, and ultimately led to Japan's crushing defeat. He shares his unsettling story with Vanessa Kirby. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Takeo Yoshik...
Mar 17, 2026•49 min•Season 1Ep. 308
Terry Stiastny, award winning author and journalist, takes on a deep dive into the world of the British wartime propaganda machine. The ragtag group convened with one shared purpose: to create and distribute "believable lies" that would undermine the enemy morale at a vital time in history. The British propaganda vehicle known as the Political Warfare Executive used a network of radio stations to broadcast fake news across Europe. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. ...
Mar 10, 2026•37 min•Season 1Ep. 307
In a new season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the shadowy side of the world's Espionage capitals. In London, we'll delve into early-modern counter-terrorism, an influence campaign at the birth of a new nation, elite associations and dirty money. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Mar 05, 2026•27 min
High in the Himalayan mountains, a team of climbers are attempting to plant a device that will give them eyes on a growing threat. But they'll leave behind more than they bargained for. In this shocking episode, Investigative reporter Jeffrey Gettleman is your guide to a tale of high altitude and higher stakes in the 1960s - and one that still resounds in the present. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Presented wit...
Mar 03, 2026•47 min•Season 1Ep. 306
In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby meets Pat and Jean Owtram, two British sisters who played crucial roles as Allied codebreakers during World War 2. Bound by the Official Secrets Act, neither sister knew that the other was a spy until decades later. In their 90s, they reveal their hidden hands in planning D-Day, aiding the Resistance, and cracking the Enigma code. Tune in to True Spies to hear their story. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle product...
Feb 24, 2026•44 min•Season 1Ep. 305
Robert Hannigan is the former director of the British Government Communications Headquarters or GCHQ, and the author of the recent book, Counterintelligence: What the Secret World Can Teach Us About Problem Solving and Creativity. In this Debrief, Robert joins Morgan Childs to explore how the WW2 codebreakers at Britain's Bletchley Park pioneered better ways of working. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Learn m...
Feb 17, 2026•33 min•Season 1Ep. 304
In the heart of New York City, a secret campaign of influence and espionage aimed to bring America in to a generational conflict. It was helped along by a man who, to this day, is all but invisible. Author and investigative journalist Thomas Maier reveals the half-forgotten history of Ernest Cuneo - the White House fixer who facilitated British espionage in the U.S.A in the lead-up to World War Two and beyond. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe ...
Feb 10, 2026•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 304
At the peak of his career, Jack Devine was one of the world's top spymasters. But everybody starts somewhere. In this classic, follow Vanessa Kirby as she recounts the tale of Jack Devine's first overseas assignment, in Chile. It's 1971, and the CIA is determined to undermine the country's socialist government. But as a military coup plot begins to gather steam, he's about to learn an important lesson - be careful what you wish for. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production...
Feb 03, 2026•39 min•Season 1Ep. 302
Gordon Corera, veteran security journalist and co-host of The Rest is Classified, joins Morgan Childs to discuss the central figure in his latest book - Vasili Mitrokhin. Mitrokhin was a KGB archivist who defected to the West in 1992, bringing with him a trove of Russian secrets. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Gordon Corera is the author of The Spy in the Archive: How One Man Tried to Kill the KGB. Learn mor...
Jan 27, 2026•44 min•Season 1Ep. 301
During the turbulent 1960s, New York City faced the most destructive wave of domestic terror since the Anarchist bombings of the early 20th century. In True Spies' 300th week, author, military intelligence professional and academic Dr. David Viola tells the story of the Melville Collective - a far-Left cell who became the focus of a joint operation by the FBI and NYPD after a spree of high-profile attacks on the Big Apple and beyond. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle productio...
Jan 20, 2026•51 min•Season 1Ep. 300
The tools in a spy's arsenal are more varied than you might think. But they all come under one name: Tradecraft. In our eleventh round of insights from the world of espionage, Rhiannon Neads looks back on Medieval spymasters, high-octane extractions, and the undercover heroes of WW2. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Alex Burnard. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jan 13, 2026•33 min•Season 1Ep. 299
The tools in a spy's arsenal are more varied than you might think. But they all come under one name: Tradecraft. In our tenth round of insights from the world of espionage, Rhiannon Neads looks back on gadget masters, Cold War tunnel-digging and the art of the Mobile Debrief. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Alex Burnard. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jan 06, 2026•36 min•Season 1Ep. 298
FBI agent Giovanni Rocco grew up playing in the back yards of New Jersey's criminal class. As an adult, he went undercover to take them down. In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby follows Giovanni's descent into the violent world that inspired HBO's hit series, The Sopranos. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Leo Hornak. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 30, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 297
Anthony Vinci is a former DIA case officer who went on to serve at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency before entering the private sector. His new book, The Fourth Intelligence Revolution, bridges the divide between the intelligence community and the tech world. Anthony spoke with True Spies producer Morgan Childs about why this new era puts intelligence in the hands of everyday people, and about what individuals and governments can do to prepare. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cu...
Dec 23, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 296
When Dr David Tuch started investigating his family tree, he found much more than he bargained for. A distant cousin. A sailor. A man who led a life of adventure - and changed the world of crime forever. In Part One of this True Spies story, you'll meet him too - and discover the first steps on a dark, dangerous and fascinating journey. Dr. David Tuch is the author of The Wireless Operator: The Untold Story of the British Sailor Who Invented the Modern Drug Trade. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secr...
Dec 16, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 295
From ancient Babylon to the darkest depths of the Cold War, Double Agents have fascinated us for centuries. In Brief Histories, the monthly special from True Spies, series producer Joe Foley is your guide to this secret world - alongside a treasure-trove of stories and expert knowledge from our archive. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 11, 2025•29 min
When Dr David Tuch started investigating his family tree, he found much more than he bargained for. A distant cousin. A sailor. A man who led a life of adventure - and changed the world of crime forever. In Part One of this True Spies story, you'll meet him too - and discover the first steps on a dark, dangerous and fascinating journey. Dr. David Tuch is the author of The Wireless Operator: The Untold Story of the British Sailor Who Invented the Modern Drug Trade. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secr...
Dec 09, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 294
How do you flee your country and join the other side? In this classic episode of True Spies, a former Russian intelligence agent gives Vanessa Kirby a rare masterclass in international tradecraft. Janosh Neumann fled Moscow armed only with his wits, a suitcase and the names of Russia's most influential money launderers, to begin a dangerous journey to the other side of the world. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Joe Foley....
Dec 02, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 293
Dr Amy Zegart works to bridge the divide between the worlds of policy and tech. In this Debrief, True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins Dr. Zegart To hear her thoughts on spy entertainment, espionage in the age of AI, and the future of American intelligence policy. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Dr. Zegart is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, a professor of political science by courtesy at Stanford...
Nov 25, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 292
Author and filmmaker Richard Kerbaj tells the story of Oleg Lyalin - the hard-living, womanising KGB officer whose defection changed the course of the Cold War, and shaped the future of intelligence agencies on both sides of the Atlantic. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Max Bower. Richard Kerbaj is the author of The Defector: The untold story of the KGB agent who saved MI5 and changed the Cold War. Learn more about your ad ...
Nov 18, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 291
