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

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.

Episodes

True Spies Debrief: Terry Stiastny on Britain's WW2 Propaganda Machine

March 10, 2026 • 37 mins
Terry Stiastny, award winning author and journalist, takes on a deep dive into the world of the British wartime propaganda machine. The ragtag group convened with one shared purpose: to create and distribute "believable lies" that would undermine the enemy morale at a vital time in history. The British propaganda vehicle known as the Political Warfare Executive used a network of radio stations to broadcast fake news across Europ...
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Brief Histories: Spy Cities - London

March 5, 2026 • 26 mins
In a new season of Brief Histories, True Spies producer Joe Foley is your guide to the shadowy side of the world's Espionage capitals. In London, we'll delve into early-modern counter-terrorism, an influence campaign at the birth of a new nation, elite associations and dirty money. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...
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Cold SNAP | CIA

March 3, 2026 • 46 mins
High in the Himalayan mountains, a team of climbers are attempting to plant a device that will give them eyes on a growing threat. But they'll leave behind more than they bargained for. In this shocking episode, Investigative reporter Jeffrey Gettleman is your guide to a tale of high altitude and higher stakes in the 1960s - and one that still resounds in the present. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle productio...
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True Spies Classic: Sister Spies | WW2

February 24, 2026 • 44 mins
In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby meets Pat and Jean Owtram, two British sisters who played crucial roles as Allied codebreakers during World War 2. Bound by the Official Secrets Act, neither sister knew that the other was a spy until decades later. In their 90s, they reveal their hidden hands in planning D-Day, aiding the Resistance, and cracking the Enigma code. Tune in to True Spies to hear their story. Fro...
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True Spies Debrief: Robert Hannigan on Work at Bletchley Park

February 17, 2026 • 32 mins
Robert Hannigan is the former director of the British Government Communications Headquarters or GCHQ, and the author of the recent book, Counterintelligence: What the Secret World Can Teach Us About Problem Solving and Creativity. In this Debrief, Robert joins Morgan Childs to explore how the WW2 codebreakers at Britain's Bletchley Park pioneered better ways of working. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle prod...
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The Importance of Being Ernest | Historical

February 10, 2026 • 66 mins
In the heart of New York City, a secret campaign of influence and espionage aimed to bring America in to a generational conflict. It was helped along by a man who, to this day, is all but invisible. Author and investigative journalist Thomas Maier reveals the half-forgotten history of Ernest Cuneo - the White House fixer who facilitated British espionage in the U.S.A in the lead-up to World War Two and beyond. From SPYSCAPE, the ...
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True Spies Classic: The Boiling Frog | CIA

February 2, 2026 • 39 mins
At the peak of his career, Jack Devine was one of the world's top spymasters. But everybody starts somewhere. In this classic, follow Vanessa Kirby as she recounts the tale of Jack Devine's first overseas assignment, in Chile. It's 1971, and the CIA is determined to undermine the country's socialist government. But as a military coup plot begins to gather steam, he's about to learn an important lesson - be careful what you wis...
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True Spies Debrief: Gordon Corera on Vasili Mitrokhin

January 27, 2026 • 43 mins
Gordon Corera, veteran security journalist and co-host of The Rest is Classified, joins Morgan Childs to discuss the central figure in his latest book - Vasili Mitrokhin. Mitrokhin was a KGB archivist who defected to the West in 1992, bringing with him a trove of Russian secrets. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Gordon Corera is the author of ...
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The Melville Collective | FBI

January 20, 2026 • 51 mins
During the turbulent 1960s, New York City faced the most destructive wave of domestic terror since the Anarchist bombings of the early 20th century. In True Spies' 300th week, author, military intelligence professional and academic Dr. David Viola tells the story of the Melville Collective - a far-Left cell who became the focus of a joint operation by the FBI and NYPD after a spree of high-profile attacks on the Big Apple and beyo...
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Tradecraft, Part 11

January 13, 2026 • 32 mins
The tools in a spy's arsenal are more varied than you might think. But they all come under one name: Tradecraft. In our eleventh round of insights from the world of espionage, Rhiannon Neads looks back on Medieval spymasters, high-octane extractions, and the undercover heroes of WW2. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Alex Burnard. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more...
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Tradecraft, Part 10

January 6, 2026 • 35 mins
The tools in a spy's arsenal are more varied than you might think. But they all come under one name: Tradecraft. In our tenth round of insights from the world of espionage, Rhiannon Neads looks back on gadget masters, Cold War tunnel-digging and the art of the Mobile Debrief. From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Alex Burnard. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about yo...
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True Spies Classic: The Real Sopranos | FBI

December 30, 2025 • 36 mins
FBI agent Giovanni Rocco grew up playing in the back yards of New Jersey's criminal class. As an adult, he went undercover to take them down. In this classic episode of True Spies, Vanessa Kirby follows Giovanni's descent into the violent world that inspired HBO's hit series, The Sopranos. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Leo Hornak. Music by Nick Ryan. Lea...
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True Spies Debrief: Anthony Vinci on the Fourth Intelligence Revolution

December 23, 2025 • 53 mins
Anthony Vinci is a former DIA case officer who went on to serve at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency before entering the private sector. His new book, The Fourth Intelligence Revolution, bridges the divide between the intelligence community and the tech world. Anthony spoke with True Spies producer Morgan Childs about why this new era puts intelligence in the hands of everyday people, and about what individuals and gover...
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The Wireless Operator, Part Two: The Derber Method | Historical

December 16, 2025 • 47 mins
When Dr David Tuch started investigating his family tree, he found much more than he bargained for. A distant cousin. A sailor. A man who led a life of adventure - and changed the world of crime forever. In Part One of this True Spies story, you'll meet him too - and discover the first steps on a dark, dangerous and fascinating journey. Dr. David Tuch is the author of The Wireless Operator: The Untold Story of the British Sailor ...
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True Spies - Brief Histories: Double Agents

December 11, 2025 • 28 mins
From ancient Babylon to the darkest depths of the Cold War, Double Agents have fascinated us for centuries. In Brief Histories, the monthly special from True Spies, series producer Joe Foley is your guide to this secret world - alongside a treasure-trove of stories and expert knowledge from our archive. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Learn more about you...
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The Wireless Operator, Part One: The Trouble With Hyman | Historical

December 9, 2025 • 53 mins
When Dr David Tuch started investigating his family tree, he found much more than he bargained for. A distant cousin. A sailor. A man who led a life of adventure - and changed the world of crime forever. In Part One of this True Spies story, you'll meet him too - and discover the first steps on a dark, dangerous and fascinating journey. Dr. David Tuch is the author of The Wireless Operator: The Untold Story of the British Sailo...
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True Spies Classic: The Money Spy | FSB

December 2, 2025 • 33 mins
How do you flee your country and join the other side? In this classic episode of True Spies, a former Russian intelligence agent gives Vanessa Kirby a rare masterclass in international tradecraft. Janosh Neumann fled Moscow armed only with his wits, a suitcase and the names of Russia's most influential money launderers, to begin a dangerous journey to the other side of the world. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzl...
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True Spies Debriefs: Dr Amy Zegart on Entertainment, Policy and AI

November 25, 2025 • 37 mins
Dr Amy Zegart works to bridge the divide between the worlds of policy and tech. In this Debrief, True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins Dr. Zegart To hear her thoughts on spy entertainment, espionage in the age of AI, and the future of American intelligence policy. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Dr. Zegart is a senior fellow at the Hoov...
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The Drunk in Department V | KGB

November 18, 2025 • 46 mins
Author and filmmaker Richard Kerbaj tells the story of Oleg Lyalin - the hard-living, womanising KGB officer whose defection changed the course of the Cold War, and shaped the future of intelligence agencies on both sides of the Atlantic. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Max Bower. Richard Kerbaj is the author of The Defector: The untold story of the KGB agen...
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True Spies - Brief Histories: Spychology

November 13, 2025 • 29 mins
From the writing of Sun Tzu to the modern era, spies and spymasters have had insights into the mind that most of us don't. Now it's time to put espionage itself on the analysts' couch. In Brief Histories, the new monthly special from True Spies, series producer Joe Foley is your guide to this secret world - alongside a treasure-trove of stories and expert knowledge from our archive. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets and skills. ...
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