True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

True Spies takes you inside the world's greatest espionage and detective operations. Our hosts Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Sophia Di Martino, Daisy Ridley and Rhiannon Neads talk to the real spies behind the missions. What do they know? What are their skills? And what would you do in their position? We explore and investigate real life thrillers, mysteries and crimes - stories that prove truth is stranger than fiction! These stories cover lies, murder, theft, sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. You’ll meet experts from the top intelligence agencies including FBI, CIA, MI5, MI6 (SIS), KGB, GRU, Mossad and many others. You’ll discover characters who spied because of money, ideology, coercion or just plain old ego. And, if you’d like to dig deeper into the world of secrets, and test your own secret intelligence skills, head over to spyscape.com for articles, games, experiences, puzzles and videos. For episodes first and ad-free, subscribe to Spyscape+ at: plus.Spyscape.com A Cup & Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Music: Nick Ryan.

Last refreshed: June 27th, 2026 at 12:41 PM

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Episodes

True Spies Debrief: Ralf Little and David Eldridge on Staging Le Carré

True Spies producer Joe Foley speaks to Ralf Little and David Eldridge - the star and writer of the stage version of John Le Carré's The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, currently touring the UK. They talk about bringing Le Carre’s world to life, the resonance of this story in the 21st century, and a meeting with the legendary author himself. Morgan Childs will return for the next Debrief. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe ...

Jun 23, 2026•37 min

An Extremely Violent Year | DEA

It's the summer of 2006, and former DEA Agent Jeffrey James Higgins is your guide to an audacious HUMINT operation against an Afghan narco-terrorist. But in a lawless part of the world, the life of a lawman is a dangerous one - and success is always tempered by tragedy. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Jun 16, 2026•43 min•Season 1Ep. 321

True Spies Classic: New Russia, New Rules | CIA

It's 1993, and Russia is tearing itself apart. A violent coup is threatening to derail Boris Yeltsin's fragile post-Soviet government. Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Deputy Chief of Station for the CIA in Moscow, is caught in the crossfire. To get out alive, he'll need to lean on an unlikely new ally - Russian Intelligence. In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby tells his story. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby. Produced by Joe Fol...

Jun 09, 2026•41 min•Season 1Ep. 320

True Spies Debrief: Sean Wiswesser on Russian Intelligence Strategy

True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins ex-CIA officer and Russia expert Sean Wiswesser to go deep on the strategy, ideology and political goals of the Russian intelligence community. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Sean Wiswesser is the author of Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin's Secret War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Jun 02, 2026•48 min•Season 1Ep. 319

Brief Histories: Spy Cities - Beijing

Content Warning: This episode contains references to torture and mutilation. 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 Beijing, we'll learn about the Eunuch who became the most powerful man in China, a brazen Cold War deception, bold investigative journalism and the heartbreaking tale of a captured CIA officer behind the Bamboo Curtain. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuz...

May 27, 2026•36 min

Red Rag to a Grey Bull | Private Sector

Bryan Stern and his team at Grey Bull are specialists in exfiltrating Americans from highly volatile contexts. In this episode, we follow Bryan into the heart of the conflict in Ukraine, where he'll need to rely on his wits to rescue a young man from the heat of battle. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Frank Palmer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

May 26, 2026•53 min

True Spies Classic: White Traitor | ANC

To her colleagues, South African journalist Sue Dobson appeared to be a pro-Apartheid conservative. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact, she was a trained paramilitary and secret agent, infiltrating the government's propaganda wing on behalf of the African National Congress. In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby relates an incredible story of bravery in the face of bigotry. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma...

May 19, 2026•53 min•Season 1Ep. 317

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