S9 Ep40: God’s Banker and the Vatican’s Cold War Secrets with Nicolo Majnoni

This week, Matt speaks with Nicolo Majnoni, host of Shadow Kingdom, a gripping new investigative podcast from Crooked Media and Campside Media. The first season explores the mysterious June 1982 death of Roberto Calvi—known as “God’s Banker”—and his ties to the Vatican, organized crime, and secret societies at the height of Italy’s Cold War turmoil. They unpack Calvi’s downfall, the shadowy institutions behind it, and what this story reveals about how power operates in the dark. They also discuss the Vatican’s covert influence, how conspiracies blur into history, and what it means to tell stories when the truth remains elusive.

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Listen to Shadow Kingdom: God’s Banker: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/shadow-kingdom/

Find more about Nicolo: https://www.nicolomajnoni.com

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Music by Andrew R. Bird
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Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.