A country's intelligence service is there to seek out information and protect us from our adversaries, but what about spying on allies? Do our friends spy on us, and if so why? What is Australia's record when it comes to betraying the trust of an ally? And what is going on with ASIO's email? Take a good, long look at the people close to you this week! Produced by DM Podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
This week we look at how someone becomes a spy. While recruitment into a modern intelligence organisation is fairly mundane these days, there used to be some very unique ways of going about it. And being recruited to act as an agent is even more complicated and extreme. So what is the difference between an agent and an intelligence officer? How is a potential agent approached? Why are academics and students such attractive targets? And what is the last thing you would think could be used as invi...
For a moment there the world thought Russia was plunging into civil war and Putin's long reign was coming to a close. And just 24 hours later Prigozhin, the mutineer and owner/leader of the brutal Wagner Group, had called off the coup and absconded to Belarus. This week, to help us pull apart what happened and what it means for Putin, Russia and Ukraine, we are joined by Walkley Award winning journalist and former ABC Moscow correspondent Monica Attard. Is Putin on the ropes or is he stronger? H...
It has long been believed that the KGB had a mole in ASIO and that suspicion was confirmed last week when the ABC’s 4Corners revealed the identity of the spy. Who was the mole and how did he avoid detection for so long? What does it say about Australia’s premier espionage hunters? What does it mean for the people who worked along side a traitor, not knowing their every move was being orchestrated to fail? And how did David take the news? Join us for a very personal episode this week. Produced by...
The US is through the looking glass with former president Trump indicted and arraigned on multiple federal felony counts of espionage, conspiracy and obstruction. So what did Trump actually do? How likely is a conviction? And did Mar-a-Lago have the most confidential selection of bathroom reading ever? Make sure you have an extra roll of loo paper this week! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
With the recent destruction of the Nova Kharkovka Dam in Ukraine we take a look at the latest situation in the ongoing conflict. Who was the likely culprit? What more can we expect from the burgeoning Ukrainian ounter-offensive? And when and why did it become a war crime to bomb a dam? Expect it to get wet underfoot this weel! Produced by DM Podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we take a peek at one lonely spying whale on the hunt for some friendship and a Mossad birthday party gone horribly wrong, before diving deep into the current situation with the astounding leaks throughout the intelligence community. When is it a leak and when is it a whistle being blown? What measures can we take to stem the flow? And what is Michelle's problem with dolphins? Careful who you swim with this week! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
This week we conclude our interview with former Australian diplomat Jeremy Dicker with a good hard look at the state of Australia’s foreign affairs. Where do we rate as a diplomatic power? What were the findings of the latest review into DFAT and what needs to change? And how has the rise of the internet made diplomatic relations more complicated? Put on your fishnets and dance like there’s no tomorrow with this ep! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Michelle is on the mend so this week we're bringing in a guest. Former Australian diplomat Jeremy Dicker joins us to give us a view of what life is like as a player on the international stage. What is expected of an Australian diplomat? What is it like to find yourself rubbing shoulders with the world's most powerful political players? And why would you go to a Trump rally in Vegas? And we unpack Joe Biden rainchecking his four-way date with Albo and the QUAD in Sydney. In diplomacy, true love r...
Our apologies but Michelle has a nasty head cold and David’s irrational fear of nasal blockage meant he wouldn’t stay in the studio after a particularly explosive sneeze. So we have to rerun an old ep, and what could be better than the tale of of an out-of-luck ASIO tech getting stuck in a roof? Enjoy and we’ll be back to normal service next week. Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Three different stories from three different parts of the world allow a very candid look at the modern intelligence world and how it operates. First the execution of an Iranian hardliner accused of being an agent of the UK; then the seemingly oafish drone attack on the Kremlin; and finally ASIO's legal hot water over luring an ex-US Marine pilot back to Australia for arms dealing. It all gives us a glimpse at the machinations of the intelligence community, the global politics it serves, and the ...
The Defence Strategic Review is the biggest examination of Australia's capability to wage war in nearly 30 years, and the findings have had chins wagging. So what is the state of Australia's Defence Force? Who are the big winners and losers, and what changes can our fighting men and women expect to see? And what has David's fascination with pocket knives got to do with it? Lock and load for this weeks ep! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Just as we were taking a well-earned and all-too-brief break, the intelligence community was rocked by two spy dramas: First, a US Airman dumped a trove of Top Secret documents on Discord; while in Australia a businessman was arrested and charged under our Foreign Interference laws for cooperating with suspected Chinese spies. So who are these guys? What would posses a 21 year old intelligence clerk to dump classified documents into an online chatroom (and why would he have access to that sort o...
Is artificial intelligence having an effect on... intelligence? With the power to reshape how information is gathered and analysed, is this the end of the classic Cold War spy and the rise of a Computer Overlord? Are we facing an all-conquering Cybercrat like Skynet? Or a compu-nerd that reads to much and wants to be a creative writer like ChatGPT? And will our HUMINT assets let it happen? What ever the answer, one place there is no intelligence - artificial, informational or otherwise - is righ...
Michelle and David are taking a sneaky break over the Easter weekend so this week we invite you to enjoy once again friend of the pod Neil Fergus as he regales us with tales of working on the Olympics. With the Commonwealth Games due to start in rural Victoria in 2026 and Brisbekistan hosting the big show in 2032, now might be just the time to remind ourselves what is involved in running a global sports carnival. Produced by DM Podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
While James Bond and his fictional spy ilk are often armed with a plethora of astounding gadgets, it seems the modern spy has to make do with more mundane devices. The internet is increasingly the battle space with the computer and mobile phone the weapons of choice, but everything from apps to appliances to cargo cranes are evolving into the tools of the spy trade. And can you really trust your router? The device you're using to listen to this ep is probably betraying you right now! Produced by...
With the turbulent waters of the AUKUS announcement settling, we take a look at what some are saying is a glowing future. Has Australia breached the nuclear non-proliferation treaty? Can we expect the neighbours to get some nuclear equipment of their own? And what are we going to do with all that radioactive waste these boats generate? Probably not the last look at a national security issue with an as yet indeterminant half-life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
With a $368 billion price tag, a delivery timeline that stretches across decades and an ex-PM going feral about it, everyone is talking about Albo's AUKUS announcement. So what are we getting for the price tag? Do we really need it? And what exactly is a Shelby Cobra? An issue so big that this is just the first part! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Throughout history women have played an enormous part in the intelligence world, and yet this contribution has been repeatedly overlooked and women’s advancement as spies systemically quashed. Why has this happened? Do women make effective spies? What was the problem with David’s love life in his 20s? And how white can Michelle’s knuckles turn? Be prepared to embrace the sisterhood this ep! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Valdimir Putin’s “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine was only meant to last for a couple of days, two weeks tops… and yet, one year on, it still rages. And so, to look at how Putin got it so wrong and Zelenskyy got it so right, we are joined by Fulbright scholar, security expert and friend of the podcast Misha Zelinsky (no relation). How has the situation changed? What can we expect next? And just how long does Putin have before taking a long step out a tall window? Keep your food taster clo...
Fresh from Senate Estimates ASIO Chief Mike Burgess doubled down last week with the ASIO Annual Threat Assessment. Terrorism is waning, espionage is rising, a "hive" of spies was uncovered and Australia's spooks working harder than ever before. We take a little study tour of what ASIO is up to, along with an brief look at Sleepy Joe's train ride to Ukraine and the unhinged rhetoric coming from Vladimir Putin's pep rallies. This podcast is so busy it's feels like a hand-to-hand combat! See omnyst...
ASIO Chief Mike Burgess made a flying visit to Senate Estimates last week but despite the brevity, he had a lot to say. This week we unpack it, from the increase in religious extremism, to the placement of Chinese cameras in government buildings and a possible Chinese police station in Sydney strong-arming the local diaspora. Oh and yeah, there’s more balloons floating around, but curiously not here. Never a dull moment when dealing with spooks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...
The world was confused, bemused and downright confounded when a giant balloon was spotted soaring over the continental US on a path that took it across the country (and over a number of military installations) before it was brought down with a sidewinder missile. Turns out this isn't new as balloons have had a proud history of use by military and intelligence organisations around the world. So was it a weather balloon as the Chinese claim, or an intelligence platform as the US believe? What adva...
Last ep we looked at the right wing "SovCit" phenomenon in Australia. This ep we conclude our interview with the Oz's Jack the Insider and look at what we can do about it. Are our security and police organisations up to the challenge? How did the anti-vax movement become embroiled in the rise of right wing radicalisation? And what can we do to help turn down the heat? Be prepared to apologise to that crazy relative who keeps posting articles by Pete Evans! For partnership enquiries please contac...
We're back for 2023, bigger and better than ever. With 2022 ending with the tragic shooting at Wieambilla, what better topic to delve into than the growing rise of right wing radicalism and the SovCit movement in Australia? With a topic this big we've decided to bring in an expert: Oz journalist and charming gadabout Jack the Insider. So why is right wing radicalisation on the rise? Who or what is turning up the heat on Australia's cookers? And what can we and our intelligence services do about ...
In this last summer bite-size we have a look at what we might be talking about this year. Ukraine (definitely), Indonesia (very likely), Taiwan (for sure), North Korea (what would we joke about without Kim Jong Un?), the US (Trump is still hanging around like a fart in a lift), the rise of the right wing here at home (sadly, this isn’t going away either) but did you have China V. India on your bingo card? Yep, it looks like we’ll have lots to talk about! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Throughout history, cities across the globe have been the nexus of intelligence activity - Berlin, London, Moscow, Beirut: each with their unique rules and idiosyncrasies. And now there is a new hub for international skulduggery: Dubai. Yes, the plucky little emirate is fast becoming the place where dark deals and deeds are done. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Just when you thought things were calming down this Xmas, Germany and Peru became hotbeds of intrigue when coups to overthrow the government were exposed, both for very different reasons. Who were the plotters? What did they hope to achieve? And is this a taste of what’s to come in 2023? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to 2023! Before we get back into the nitty gritty of the global intelligence community, it’s time for everyone to feast their eyes on the cornucopia of spy fiction available on any number of streaming platforms. From Prime Video’s 3rd season of Jack Ryan, to Britbox’s treatment of the Philby affair in Spy Among Friends to the rollicking star-studded comedy of Burn After Reading on Netflix, there’s plenty of action to be savoured. And if anyone asks, tell them you’re doing homework. Enjoy...
As we move into the Christmas season, we've got some bite-size eps to tide you over until next year. This week we have a quick look at the controversial prisoner exchange between the US and Russia where WNBA star Britney Griner was swapped for notorious arms dealer, the "Lord of War" himself, Viktor Bout. How did it all come about, why are so many Republicans up in arms about it, and does this mean we can expect more strategic arrests in the future? Lights out in 10, inmates! See omnystudio.com/...
