In this special episode, Matt welcomes back Phillip Smyth just days after his last appearance to analyze another major development in the Middle East: the assassination of Hezbollah’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, in a targeted Israeli airstrike. Nasrallah’s death has sent shockwaves across Lebanon, Iran, and the wider network of Iran-backed militias, raising pressing questions about Hezbollah’s future and its role in regional power dynamics. Phillip returns to help unpack the key players...
Oct 03, 2024•2 hr 45 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode, Phillip Smyth, the guru for all things related to Iranian proxy groups, returns to chat with Matt about the exploding pagers and radios that maimed thousands of Hezbollah members last week and the following wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting the group’s long-range missile and drone forces. They discuss the implications for Hezbollah’s communication networks and command structure and the broader impact these events will have on the regional war that’s now consumed the Middle...
Sep 28, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Hello, everyone. As Chris and Matt are working on new interviews this week, we are sharing a preview of our Extra Shot episode from September 13th. On this episode we look at the weaponisation of disgust, a peek inside a US Far-Right militia and a globally integrated ISIS. Articles discussed in the show: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-stochastic-terrorism-uses-disgust-to-incite-violence/ https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-secret-ap3-militia-american-patriots-three-percent ...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In the Season 9 premiere of the Secrets & Spies podcast, hosts Chris Carr and Matt Fulton reveal exciting new plans for the show, including a transition to video. They dive into breaking stories, starting with the shocking failed ISIS attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna—exposing the growing threat of teenage online radicalization. The episode also covers the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France for failing to regulate harmful content, and the DOJ’s exposure of ties between...
Sep 13, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode (originally aired January 20th, 2024), Matt speaks with aerospace historian Peter Merlin, whose new book, DREAMLAND: THE SECRET HISTORY OF AREA 51, is the first authoritative, scholarly history ever published on the infamous top-secret base deep in the Nevada desert. This isn’t a book about UFOs or conspiracy theories but instead offers a sweeping, comprehensive study of the real Area 51, where for 70 years the US Air Force has developed and tested classified military aircraft...
Sep 07, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Matt are enjoying a late-summer break. Please enjoy this episode of Extra Shot, our bonus show for Patreon subscribers, originally aired May 11th, 2024. Secrets and Spies will return for season 9 with a new Espresso Martini on September 14th. Take our anonymous listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MSRSSSP Reporting discussed in the episode "Asio boss says privacy ‘not absolute’ as he urges social media companies to do more on extremism" by Josh Butler | The Guardian : h...
Aug 31, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hello, everyone. We just wanted to say a huge thank you for your support during season 8. We will be starting Season 9 on the 14th of September. Before we start the new season, we wanted to hear from you about your thoughts on the podcast and if there is anything you would like us to do. Please take part in our anonymous listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MSRSSSP Thank you for taking the time to participate in our survey and for all your support over the year. Connect with us o...
Aug 28, 2024•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join us on today’s podcast as we sit down with author and investigative journalist Tim Tate to chat about his fascinating new book, To Catch A Spy. Tim takes us behind the scenes of the SpyCatcher affair, where the Thatcher government of the 1980s tried to silence MI5 whistleblower Peter Wright. It’s a gripping tale of cover-ups, deception, and its impact on MI5 today. So, grab your favourite drink, get comfortable, and enjoy this intriguing conversation with Tim! To find out more about Tim and ...
Aug 23, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we’re joined by Florian Flade, an investigative journalist for Germany’s public broadcaster ARD, based in Berlin. Florian takes us inside the gripping true story of two Russian sleeper spies who lived undercover in Germany for years, posing as an ordinary family. Drawing parallels to the fictional world of The Americans, this real-life espionage tale reveals the extraordinary lengths to which Russia will go to spy on foreign nations. Join us as Florian shares insights from his i...
Aug 17, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode, Washington Post national security reporter and friend of the show, Shane Harris, joins Matt to discuss last week's historic prisoner exchange between the US and Russia, securing the release of several prominent journalists and pro-democracy activists. Shane dives into his reporting on the swap, detailing months of delicate negotiations, who the Russians got in return, and touches on the complicated question of whether these exchanges incentivize autocrats like Putin to take h...
Aug 10, 2024•44 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s special episode, Phillip Smyth, a leading expert on Iranian-backed militias, returns to dissect the latest wave of conflict in the Middle East. Recent escalations have claimed the lives of a dozen Israeli civilians and two senior leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. Retaliation from Iran and its allies is expected at any moment, leaving the region once again on the brink of a potentially more widespread and unrestrained war. Phillip sheds light on who these two men were and what their deat...
Aug 06, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s podcast, we are joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, historian, and journalist Anne Applebaum. In this episode, we discuss Anne’s latest book, Autocracy Inc., which examines how and why autocracies try to undermine democracy. We also consider what can be done to better protect ourselves from anti-democratic propaganda. Find out more about “Autocracy Inc” here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725302/autocracy-inc-by-anne-applebaum Connect with Anne and find out more about ...
Aug 03, 2024•42 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast Today, we will look at a Russian operative who was arrested in France, details on the failed assassination of Donald Trump, and a little at President Biden stepping out of the 2024 Presidential race. On Extra Shot we will be looking at a developing spy case in Australia, Tech Broligarch’s courting Trump, influences driving extreme misogyny and a former US analyst accused of spying for South Korea To get access to Extra Shot you’ll need to become a Patreon subscriber. You can do that by clicking ...
Jul 27, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s special episode, Matt is joined again by Jacob Ware, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations focusing on domestic and international terrorism. Jacob helps make sense of last weekend’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump, placing it in the larger context of political violence in the United States and the ongoing threat to the presidential election. Read Jacob’s coverage of the Trump assassination attempt and preventing violence in the 2024 election: https://www.cfr.org/...
Jul 17, 2024•36 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast On today's episode, we will examine who’s who in the new Labour-led UK government, a report on the UK’s armed services, the French elections, and a recently discovered Russian covert information campaign. On Extra Shot, our Patreon only show we will look at NATO’s 75th anniversary, terrorists returning to Afghanistan, a Chinese spy base in Cuba and GPS under attack. To get access to Extra Shot you’ll need to become a Patreon subscriber. You can do that by clicking this link here: https://www.pat...
Jul 13, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode, Chris speaks with author and journalist Mark Hollingsworth about his book Agents of Influence, which looks at how the KGB attempted to subvert Western democracies during the Cold War and how its replacement agency, the FSB, attempts to do the same now. Check out Mark’s website for information about him, his book and his other work: https://markhollingsworth.co.uk/ And get a copy of “Agents of Influence” here: https://markhollingsworth.co.uk/agents_of_influence/ Support Secret...
Jul 05, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode, Matt speaks to former senior CIA officers and now co-founders of Spycraft Entertainment, John Sipher and Jerry O’Shea, to discuss their podcast, Mission Implausible. In their careers with the clandestine service, John and Jerry, in a sense, created conspiracies, convincing terrorists and hostile foreign governments to believe things that were not true. Now, they’re looking into past and present conspiracy theories to assess what’s real and what isn’t and explore why so many a...
Jun 28, 2024•47 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode, Matt is joined by terrorism experts Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware to discuss their book, "God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America.” Both are fellows at the Council on Foreign Relations and teach at Georgetown University. Their book examines the far-right’s long embrace of political violence as a tactic, its proliferation through social media, and provides a range of policy advice to counter this movement and extremism in democratic societies. Purchase God, Guns...
Jun 21, 2024•55 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s show, we are going to look at reports about private messages from the leader of Hamas, criticisms of Europe’s outdated approach to China, a former CIA officer and FBI linguist pleading guilty to spying for China, and a potential plot from ISIS-K foiled in the US. Then we will move to our Patreon only show “Extra Shot” we will look at Europe on high alert to Russian sabotage, Russian backed online efforts to disrupt the Olympics, a Fugitive sheriff from Florida who has a new career as ...
Jun 15, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast Hi all, we hope you are well. Sadly, due to work commitments on Chris's side, there will be no show this weekend. We will return next weekend. Support Secrets and Spies: Become a “Friend of the podcast” on Patreon from £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secrets...
Jun 08, 2024•25 sec•Transcript available on Metacast On todays podcast I am joined be retired detective and author Steven Keogh. Steven investigated murders at Scotland Yard for 12 years, and he joins us to discuss his excellent book “Murder Investigation Team” which gives readers an insight into how British murder investigations are run and what it is like to be a part of a murder investigation. Check out Steven’s website to find out more about Steven, his book and his online course for crime writers: https://stevekeogh.com/ Support Secrets and S...
Jun 01, 2024•58 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s show, we are going to look at the death of the Iranian President, Israel & Iran espionage comparisons, and we finish by looking at secret Hamas files that expose a mass surveillance campaign in Gaza. Then we will move to our Patreon only show “Extra Shot” we will look at reports of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not taking the work of its intelligence agency CSIS seriously. We also look at Chinese research advances in brain-computer interfaces, then we look at the FBI cutt...
May 25, 2024•58 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode, Matt is once again joined by Phillip Smyth, one of the leading researchers of Iranian-backed militia groups, to discuss the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and several other senior officials in a helicopter crash last weekend. They unpack what this unexpected development means for Iran domestically, the regime’s web of proxy forces, and the wider Middle East. Phillip’s work for The Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/phillip...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s podcast, I am joined by two guests, Dr. Chris Gilbert and Dr. Eric Haseltine, and we discuss Havana Syndrome from a technological and medical perspective. Dr Chris Gilbert is an Integrative and Holistic Medicine physician who has interviewed victims of these so-called Anomalous Health incidents, otherwise known as Havana Syndrome. Dr Haseltine is a neuroscientist and author who worked as the NSA's research director before becoming the director of science and technology for the US inte...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast On today's show, we are going to look at a failed plot to kill President Zelensky, fears of Russian sabotage in Europe, spy plots being foiled in Germany, and awkward talks between the US and China about Volt Typhoon, one of China’s hacking operations against the west. Then we will move to our Patreon only show “Extra Shot” and we will look at privacy concerns in the age of AI, then we will turn our attention to the plot to discredit democracy, Putin propagandists in Russia left dismayed as the ...
May 10, 2024•59 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast Chris is joined by historian and author Bill Mills on today's podcast. They discuss Bill’s research into German sabotage and espionage operations in the United States during World War One and how that led to Bill’s new book “Agent of the Iron Cross.” To find out more about “Agent of the Iron Cross” and to get a copy, visit the publisher's website here: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538182079/Agent-of-the-Iron-Cross-The-Race-to-Capture-German-Saboteur-Assassin-Lothar-Witzke-during-World-War-I Suppo...
May 06, 2024•47 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s podcast, Chris is joined by former MI6 Officer turned best-selling author Charles Beaumont. They discuss the real-life inspiration behind Charle’s debut spy novel, “A Spy Alone”, and a little bit about his career in MI6. Charles also shares his literary influences, his approach to writing fiction and some tips if you are thinking of a career in intelligence. Please note that in this episode we have disguised Charles’s voice. To find out more about “A Spy Alone” and to get a copy visit...
May 04, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s episode, Matt welcomes back Phillip Smyth, one of the leading researchers of Iranian-backed militia groups in the Middle East. This time, they discuss last month’s exchange of missiles, drones, and airstrikes between Israel and Iran. Phillip helps unpack what triggered this latest cycle of violence, gauge Iran’s intent behind an unprecedented attack against Israel itself, and look ahead at how it may impact the war in Gaza and the wider conflict throughout the region. Phillip’s work f...
May 01, 2024•2 hr 31 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Hi all, due to essential maintenance works at London HQ, there won't be an Espresso Martini or Extra Shot this weekend. We are very sorry about this. We will have a new podcast out next weekend, so please stay tuned. We hope you all have an excellent weekend and we will catch you on the next episode. All the best Chris & Matt
Apr 25, 2024•31 sec•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s podcast, Chris is joined by national security Lawyer Mark S. Zaid. They discuss the legal case for the victims of the Anomalous Health Incidents, more popularly known as Havana Syndrome. Mark discusses the US government's denial and how that affects his clients, who have had their lives disrupted by these alleged attacks. You can find out more about Mark and his work here: https://markzaid.com/ You can follow Mark on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MarkSZaidEsq If you feel politicia...
Apr 22, 2024•55 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast 
