A Scottish hairdresser, a wannabe actor-slash-stunt pilot, and a Nazi spy ring spanning both sides of the Atlantic. Three different shows? No. One True Spies special. In this two-part story, intelligence historian Andrew Jeffrey joins Sophia Di Martino to tell a story that has to be heard to be believed. In the 1930s, a resurgent Germany was determined to steal Allied secrets to gain an advantage in the coming war. Through a series of improbable twists, turns, and intelligence coups, MI5 and the...
Jul 03, 2023•51 min•Ep 167•Transcript available on Metacast In the late 1980s, change is in the air in Eastern Europe. For a young journalist like Mark Baker, Czechoslovakia is an interesting place to be. But Mark has attracted some unwanted attention - a fact that he'll only discover several decades later. Sophia Di Martino joins Mark to travel through the True Spies looking-glass, and discover what it's like to become the target of a recruitment effort by an intelligence agency - whether you know it or not. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And...
Jun 26, 2023•45 min•Ep 166•Transcript available on Metacast In 1970, Captain James Bradley had a daydream - a daydream that inspired one of the most audacious aquatic espionage missions of all time. Operation Ivy Bells gave the USA unprecedented access to Soviet undersea communications cables, and hastened the end of the nuclear stand-off between the two nations. Sophia Di Martino joins journalists Christopher Drew and Sherry Sontag for a thrilling and often claustrophobic tale of covert submarine warfare. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nu...
Jun 19, 2023•49 min•Ep 165•Transcript available on Metacast When two CIA officers were captured in an ambush on Chinese territory, it seemed as though their story was over. In fact, their ordeal had only just begun. Two decades later, their fates still hung in the balance between the power-players of Beijing and Washington. Professor John Delury, a historian of China and US-China affairs, joins Sophia Di Martino to discuss one of the great forgotten stories of the Cold War. A tale of resilience, complex political gamesmanship, and the transforming power ...
Jun 12, 2023•54 min•Ep 164•Transcript available on Metacast As a student in the early 1970s, espionage was never on the cards for Howard Kaplan. But when he was given the opportunity to smuggle documents out of Soviet Russia for the Israeli government, he could hardly turn down the adventure. Sophia Di Martino joins Howard - now an author of spy novels - to tell a story of close calls, covert tradecraft and undercover cabbies in the Cold War. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Produc...
Jun 05, 2023•49 min•Ep 163•Transcript available on Metacast In the aftermath of WW2, war criminals scatter to the four winds. Using international escape routes known as 'Ratlines', scores of Nazis begin new lives in South America. Among them is one of the Holocaust's chief architects - Adolf Eichmann. In Part Two of this two-part story, Sophia Di Martino explores the origins of an audacious Mossad operation in 1960s Argentina. Told by a cast of experts and descendants of central figures inside the mission, this is the story of how Eichmann was finally br...
May 29, 2023•52 min•Ep 162•Transcript available on Metacast In the aftermath of WW2, war criminals scatter to the four winds. Using international escape routes known as 'Ratlines', scores of Nazis begin new lives in South America. Among them is one of the Holocaust's chief architects - Adolf Eichmann. In Part One of this two-part story, Sophia Di Martino explores the origins of an audacious Mossad operation in 1960s Argentina. Told by a cast of experts and descendants of central figures inside the mission, this is the story of how Eichmann was finally br...
May 22, 2023•48 min•Ep 161•Transcript available on Metacast As a World War rages, humanity stands on the precipice of a new era in warfare. The atomic age is dawning - and Earth's great powers are determined to secure their place in it. In these episodes of True Spies, Sophia Di Martino meets the spies who shared nuclear secrets that still influence global geopolitics today. In Part 2, Professor Paul Broda tells the story of his stepfather, Alan Nunn May - an English physicist who became a spy of conscience. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And ...
May 15, 2023•50 min•Ep 160•Transcript available on Metacast As a World War rages, humanity stands on the precipice of a new era in warfare. The atomic age is dawning - and Earth's great powers are determined to secure their place in it. In these episodes of True Spies, Sophia Di Martino meets the spies who shared nuclear secrets that still influence global geopolitics today. In Part 1, Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics at Oxford University, Frank Close, tells the story of the scientist who helped Soviet Russia build the bomb - Klaus Fuchs. From S...
May 08, 2023•50 min•Ep 159•Transcript available on Metacast Meet one of the most notorious double agents in the history of US intelligence - a spy so effective that she was able to operate with impunity for 17 years. Until her arrest in 2001, Ana Belén Montes used her position at the Defence Intelligence Agency to funnel classified documents to Cuba. Sophia Di Martino and FBI Special Agent Pete Lapp follow the trail of breadcrumbs that led to her downfall. In Part Two, Pete and his partner use old-fashioned detective work to turn up a killer piece of evi...
May 01, 2023•47 min•Ep 158•Transcript available on Metacast Meet one of the most notorious double agents in the history of US intelligence - a spy so effective that she was able to operate with impunity for 17 years. Until her arrest in 2001, Ana Belén Montes used her position at the Defence Intelligence Agency to funnel classified documents to Cuba. Sophia Di Martino and FBI Special Agent Pete Lapp follow the trail of breadcrumbs that led to her downfall. In Part One, Ana's subtle genius for espionage sees her rise through the ranks of the US government...
Apr 24, 2023•39 min•Ep 157•Transcript available on Metacast It's March, 1971. 15 months have passed since the murder of Black Panthers leader Fred Hampton by the Chicago PD. But Hampton's killing is part of a concerted effort by the J Edgar Hoover's FBI to put down protest movements in the USA. Soon, the world will know the truth - all thanks to an intrepid gang of activist burglars and a trove of explosive secret files. Join Sophia Di Martino and journalist Betty Medsger for the final episode exploring a shameful chapter in FBI history - COINTELPRO. Fro...
Apr 17, 2023•49 min•Ep 156•Transcript available on Metacast It's 1969, and the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party is led by 21-year-old Fred Hampton. Hampton is beloved by his supporters, and hated beyond measure by J Edgar Hoover, the head of the FBI. Hoover is determined to stamp out this potential 'Black Messiah' - and he'll stop at nothing to do so. Join Sophia Di Martino and Civil Rights lawyer Jeffrey Haas for the first instalment in a 2-part exploration of a shameful chapter in FBI history - COINTELPRO. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets....
Apr 10, 2023•42 min•Ep 155•Transcript available on Metacast The idealism of youth is a powerful thing. But when you're part of a movement, can you ever be sure of who's really pulling the strings? In the 1950s and 60s, a hidden hand is manipulating members of the National Student Association. But a change is going to come - and someone is bound to blow the whistle. Sophia Di Martino joins Professor Hugh Wilford to uncover the CIA's controversial involvement in student activism in the 20th century. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle prod...
Apr 03, 2023•44 min•Ep 154•Transcript available on Metacast When by-the-book rookie Pamela Robinson is partnered with maverick undercover cop Kevin Barnum, neither is sure of the other. But as the duo work a hair-raising undercover operation against a Hells Angels drug network, they find that they have more in common than a love of justice. In Part 2, Kevin and Pamela become unlikely pillars of the drug-dealing community. But the higher they rise, the further they have to fall. Sophia Di Martino narrates the gripping conclusion to a story of tradecraft, ...
Mar 27, 2023•41 min•Ep 153•Transcript available on Metacast When by-the-book rookie Pamela Robinson is partnered with maverick undercover cop Kevin Barnum, neither is sure of the other. But as the duo work a hair-raising undercover operation against a Hells Angels drug network, they find that they have more in common than a love of justice. In Part 1, Sophia Di Martino follows Kevin and Pamela as they adapt to life as 'husband and wife' drug dealers in Ontario, learning to work together under the constant threat of discovery - or worse. From SPYSCAPE, th...
Mar 20, 2023•36 min•Ep 152•Transcript available on Metacast Tamer Elnoury is a patriotic American, a proud Muslim, and a highly-effective undercover agent. As part of the FBI's elite counter-terrorism taskforce, he's made a living out of fooling some of the worlds most dangerous radicals. In Part 2, the plot thickens as Tamer becomes embroiled in a deadly plot to derail a passenger train. But that's just the tip of the iceberg - Tunisian scientist and radical Islamist Chiheb Esseghaier reveals that an even greater threat is lurking on American soil. The ...
Mar 13, 2023•52 min•Ep 151•Transcript available on Metacast Tamer Elnoury is a patriotic American, a proud Muslim, and a highly-effective undercover agent. As part of the FBI's elite counter-terrorism taskforce, he's made a living out of fooling some of the worlds most dangerous radicals. In Part 1, Tamer goes undercover to meet with a Tunisian scientist whom the FBI suspects of holding extremist views. But in his world, there's no such thing as simple meet-and-greet. When things start to go sideways, Tamer has to think fast to stay on course. Sophia Di ...
Mar 06, 2023•41 min•Ep 150•Transcript available on Metacast Celebrities, by definition, live life out in the open. Spies, on the other hand, are happiest in the shadows. But rules are made to be broken. In this True Spies trilogy, Sophia Di Martino tells the stories of three spies whose fame and fortune were no obstacle to their espionage. Whether they used their notoriety to their advantage, or operated in spite of it, these glamorous part-time spooks had a hand in the clandestine history of the 20th century. In the third and final instalment of Celebri...
Feb 27, 2023•52 min•Ep 149•Transcript available on Metacast Spyscape Studios has launched The Razumov Files, an audacious audio reimagining of Joseph Conrad’s classic spy thriller Under Western Eyes starring Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey, Brave New World) and Maryam D'Abo (The Living Daylights). Approaching the events leading to the 1917 Russian Revolution like a present-day investigative podcast, The Razumov Files radically reinvents spy fiction for podcast fans. Episode 1 is available now, wherever you get your podcasts. The remaining five episo...
Feb 22, 2023•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Celebrities, by definition, live life out in the open. Spies, on the other hand, are happiest in the shadows. But rules are made to be broken. In this True Spies trilogy, Sophia Di Martino tells the stories of three spies whose fame and fortune were no obstacle to their espionage. Whether they used their notoriety to their advantage, or operated in spite of it, these glamorous part-time spooks had a hand in the clandestine history of the 20th century. In Part Two, Hollywood heart-throb Sterling ...
Feb 20, 2023•46 min•Ep 148•Transcript available on Metacast Celebrities, by definition, live life out in the open. Spies, on the other hand, are happiest in the shadows. But rules are made to be broken. In this True Spies trilogy, Sophia Di Martino tells the stories of three spies whose fame and fortune were no obstacle to their espionage. Whether they used their notoriety to their advantage, or operated in spite of it, these glamorous part-time spooks had a hand in the clandestine history of the 20th century. In Part One, we'll follow author, The Third ...
Feb 13, 2023•39 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast In the late 1970s, the Mossad launched one of history's most audacious missions: Operation Brothers. Their goal? To rescue thousands of Ethiopian Jews facing violence, and bring them safely to Israel. In this deep three-part retelling of the very first True Spies story, Sophia Di Martino meets Mossad operatives Daniel Limor, Rubi Viterbo and Gad Shimron, who worked undercover to lead the covert evacuations. We also hear from Takele Mekonen, one of the thousands of Jews saved during the operation...
Feb 06, 2023•57 min•Ep 146•Transcript available on Metacast In the late 1970s, the Mossad launched one of history's most audacious missions: Operation Brothers. Their goal? To rescue thousands of Ethiopian Jews facing violence, and bring them safely to Israel. In this deep three-part retelling of the very first True Spies story, Sophia Di Martino meets Mossad operatives Daniel Limor, Rubi Viterbo and Gad Shimron, who worked undercover to lead the covert evacuations. We also hear from Takele Mekonen, one of the thousands of Jews saved during the operation...
Jan 30, 2023•50 min•Ep 145•Transcript available on Metacast In the late 1970s, the Mossad launched one of history's most audacious missions: Operation Brothers. Their goal? To rescue thousands of Ethiopian Jews facing violence, and bring them safely to Israel. In this deep three-part retelling of the very first True Spies story, Sophia Di Martino meets Mossad operatives Daniel Limor, Rubi Viterbo and Gad Shimron, who worked undercover to lead the covert evacuations. We also hear from Takele Mekonen, one of the thousands of Jews saved during the operation...
Jan 23, 2023•49 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast In the early 1990s, the collapse of Yugoslavia sparked a brutal series of conflicts in Eastern Europe. At first, the USA pursued a policy of non-intervention - officially. Unofficially? That's where H.K Roy comes in. Sophia Di Martino joins H.K as he keeps tabs on the warzone for the CIA. In Part 2, things heat up for H.K on the war-torn streets of Sarajevo, where trust is in short supply. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. ...
Jan 16, 2023•39 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast In the early 1990s, the collapse of Yugoslavia sparked a brutal series of conflicts in Eastern Europe. At first, the USA pursued a policy of non-intervention - officially. Unofficially? That's where H.K Roy comes in. Sophia Di Martino joins H.K as he monitors the warzone for the CIA. In Part 1, H.K makes the leap from plying his tradecraft in a quiet corner of the continent to becoming a spy-cum-war-reporter, brushing against danger at every turn. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nu...
Jan 09, 2023•38 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast The tools in a spy's arsenal are more varied than you might think. But they all come under one name: Tradecraft. In our sixth round of insights from the world of espionage, Sophia Di Martino learns how to spy in a warzone, meets undercover journalists in Putin's Russia and investigates a CIA mole in our annual digest of the series so far. Could YOU master the craft? From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Produced by Alex Burnard. M...
Jan 02, 2023•42 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast The tools in a spy's arsenal are more varied than you might think. But they all come under one name: Tradecraft. In our fifth round of insights from the world of espionage, Sophia Di Martino encounters a dictator on the run, an undercover Hells Angel, a mole in the NSA and more in our annual digest of the series so far. Could YOU master the craft? From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Produced by Alex Burnard. Music by Nick Ryan. ...
Dec 23, 2022•42 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast In the skies over Cairo, an unlit military transport plane makes a wary descent in to the city's international airport. Under cover of darkness, it's loaded with a precious consignment - an artefact that the USA has gone to great lengths to procure. Not a cursed relic, or a crystal skull - but a cutting-edge Russian fighter jet. In Part Two, CIA Officer Jim Fees' daughter, Paula, and aviation expert Steve Davies guide Sophia di Martino through the final stages of a daring desert heist - and expl...
Dec 19, 2022•41 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast 
