36 Best Spy Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

Spies don't talk—it's the cardinal rule of the business. But on Foreign Policy's podcast I Spy, we get them to open up. We hear from the operations people: the spies who steal secrets, kill adversaries, and turn agents into double agents. Each episode features one spy telling one dramatic story. more

Season 2 is the unbelievable but true story of the greatest spy of World War II. The Nazis don't know her name, but they want this woman dead. A mysterious agent is strategically dismantling their violent grasp on France and not only leading her own resistance factions but inspiring others. The Gestapo sends their devious double-agent, the priest Robert Alesh, to hunt down The Limping Lady before she threatens their entire push for Western Europe. But Virginia Hall was tougher and more resilient than they ever expected. Season 1 was a Top 10 hit with millions of listeners, making it one of the Top 20 new podcasts of 2021. Bestselling author and journalist Stephan Talty returns with Season 2 of Good Assassins: the dramatic story of a different kind of spy. Written by CD Carpenter ('American Hostage') and produced by the award-winning team at Diversion Audio. more

Join ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou on a very personal deep dive into what makes a spy tick. One of the most famous spies in the whole world, John - a spy with a conscience - blew the whistle on the CIA's torture program after the war on terror and spent 23 months in federal prison for it. As John explains, no spy is ever an 'ex-spy'. Why is that so? Listen to the podcast and you'll understand why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Former acting Director of the CIA Michael Morell speaks with top leaders of the U.S. intelligence community as they reflect on their life, career and the critical roles they play in shaping national security policies. As a central figure in the most significant U.S. counter-terror efforts of the past two decades and a former CIA intelligence analyst, Morell is uniquely skilled at taking industry leading knowledge to make connections that provide deep insight into complex security events helping decode intelligence officials' key priorities and providing perspectives on how to achieve national security objectives. Morell is the author of 'The Great War of Our Time' and a vivid account of the Central Intelligence Agency, a life in secrets, and a war in the shadows. more

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.comA Cup & Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Music: Nick Ryan. more

SpyCast, the official podcast of the International Spy Museum, is a journey into the shadows of international espionage. Each week, host Sasha Ingber brings you the latest insights and intriguing tales from spies, secret agents, and covert communicators, with a focus on how this secret world reaches us all in our everyday lives. Tune in to discover the critical role intelligence has played throughout history and today. Brought to you from Airwave, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum. The Spy Museum does not endorse, approve, or support the opinions stated by guest speakers. Statements made by speakers do not represent the position or opinion of the International Spy Museum. more

Enter the secretive world of spies, espionage, and covert operations. Hosted by former CIA analyst turned spy novelist, David McCloskey, and veteran security correspondent, Gordon Corera, this podcast unravels real-life spy stories, intelligence secrets, and the hidden power struggles shaping global events. From Cold War espionage to modern-day intelligence agencies like the CIA, MI6, and Mossad, explore the world of double agents, classified missions, and the shadowy figures who operate in them. Whether you're a true crime addict, a thriller fan, or fascinated by spy stories, this is the show for you. more

Imagine you were a fly on the wall at a dinner between the mafia, the CIA, and the KGB. That's where this unprecedented story begins. A journey through the dark world of Russian intelligence where, for the first time, a professed 'sex spy' tells her story. All of it. Host Neil Strauss (Rolling Stone, The New York Times) brings listeners into the dangerous world of sexpionage, where enemies of the State are not the only victims. So too are the spies themselves, brainwashed to believe that their bodies belong to Russia and meticulously trained to become 'the perfect weapons.' Who is Aliia Roza? From the creators of the hit podcast series To Live and Die in LA, this is To Die For. more

You know Roald Dahl as the writer who thought up Willy Wonka, Matilda, and the BFG. But did you know he was also a spy? 'The Secret World of Roald Dahl' is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. How did this secret agent and struggling screenwriter wind up as the most successful children's author ever? And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids? A dark, twisty, fascinating true story from creator and host Aaron Tracy. more

These are stories you were never meant to hear. The invisible but vital work of the world's intelligence services: secret operatives playing to very different rules. The Spy Who, hosted by Indira Varma, Raza Jaffrey and Emilia Fox, takes you deep inside that shadow world to meet spies who risked everything in the national interest or, sometimes, their own. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of The Spy Who ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. more

Hosted by former covert CIA intelligence officers Andrew Bustamante and Jihi Bustamante, the EverydaySpy Podcast gives you practical, powerful spy skills and insights you can use everyday. From parenthood fixes to career shortcuts, business hacks to geopolitical insights, this pod is for you if you are looking for frank, honest, and hilariously relatable truth from two real-world field operatives who have done and seen things they can't talk about (and will never forget). more

American companies are being infiltrated—not by hackers breaking in, but by workers. Thousands of North Korean operatives are applying to jobs across the U.S.—and getting them. They are embedding themselves at Fortune 500 companies. Government agencies. Critical infrastructure. Even the firms tasked with stopping this threat. To Catch a Thief: North Korea On Our Payroll is a first-of-its-kind audio documentary exposing this global labor pipeline—one that is quietly funneling hundreds of millions of dollars a year back to the regime, and its nuclear weapons program. Host Nicole Perlroth, bestselling author and former lead cybersecurity and digital espionage reporter for The New York Times , takes listeners inside this hidden network—from a rare, inside look at a North Korean IT worker on the job, to interviews with defectors who escaped it, to knocking on the doors of Americans hosting 'laptop farms' on North Korea's behalf. Along the way, the series reveals how this playbook is creating a hiring freeze for American workers, in a challenging job market. And how it has metastasized—adopted by cybercriminal groups and fraud networks around the world—blurring the line between nation-state espionage and organized crime. To Catch a Thief is co-produced by Nicole Perlroth and Rubrik in partnership with Pod People. To Catch a Thief was written and produced by Nicole Perlroth, along with Khrista Rypl, T. J. Raphael, Rebecca Chaisson and Sam Gebauer. Additional thanks to Allie Pinel, Fendall Fulton, Krissy Clark, Cai Lee, Eunice Park and Aimee Machado. Editing and Sound Design by Erica Huang. Art direction and design by Ben Long, Gareth Strange and Sarah Burley at the John & Jane Agency, and support from John Leestma. more

Welcome to your clandestine classroom.

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. Tune in for balanced, critical perspectives that will expand your understanding of our uncertain world, deciphering the most enigmatic professions, ideologies, and organizations that shape the global landscape. Subscribe to Secrets and Spies today on all major podcast streaming platforms. Our Hosts Host Chris Carr, driven by a teenage encounter with former KGB officer Oleg Gordievsky, brings a unique authenticity to the podcast. His deep-seated fascination with espionage is evident in his highly acclaimed short spy film The Dry Cleaner, available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. Currently developing feature film and television scripts inspired by the podcast's themes, Chris aims to create realistic and compelling spy dramas. Joining him is Matt Fulton, a novelist and screenwriter who draws inspiration from masters of the spy genre like John Le Carré, Tom Clancy, and Graham Greene. Author of the Active Measures series of globe-trotting geopolitical thrillers, Matt brings his decades of extensive research and narrative prowess to the podcast, offering listeners a front-row seat to the thrilling world of covert operations. more

The story of the world's most secret agents...the backups. For the first time in his career, Special Agent Chet Phillips has discovered that he can choose NOT to accept a mission! That means there's no choice but to send in the 'B Team': A nervous pencil pusher promoted to the field, a computer hacker working off her sentence, a fading former sitcom star and a recently reassigned White House intern. A full cast comedy audio adventure with a new episode debuting each month! more

SpyTalk lives at the intersection of intelligence operations, foreign policy, homeland security, and military strategy. Hosted by veteran national security journalists Jeff Stein, Michael Isikoff and Karen J. Greenberg, the podcast features exclusives by SpyTalk's roster of longtime reporters, news and profiles of US and foreign spymasters, and interviews with policymakers and expert authors. There's nothing quite like it—a place for experts and laypersons alike, who enjoy national security scoops and insights by SpyTalk's subject matter experts. For more SpyTalk go to: https://www.spytalk.co/ more

Black, Man, Spy Podcast is a highly informative and often irreverent conversation on geopolitics and national security by New York Times bestselling author, former MSNBC contributor and US Navy intelligence veteran Malcolm Nance.  It provides a dramatically different angle on the week's news and events from a spy world insider and media commentator.  Every week he engages in interesting interviews with politicians, journalists, academics, experts and entertainers with a heavy dose of espionage history and world culture as well as the details of the World's Best Spy Bars!  You can listen on your favorite Podcast app, Substack and Youtube.    more

Spybrary is a podcast for fans of spy books, spy tv and spy movies since 2017. We bring you author interviews and reader discussions on our favorite spy books and novels. more

A weekly film podcast decoding classic spy cinema. Hosted by Agent Scott & Cam the Provocateur.Featuring the likes of James Bond, Jason Bourne, Derek Flint, Austin Powers, Johnny English, George Smiley and Harry Palmer, plus all your favourite secret agent franchises including Mission: Impossible, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Kingsman, Spy Kids and many more...Which films will make the prestigious N.O.C. List, and cement their place in the canon of all-time cloak and dagger greats? Subscribe today and don't get left out in the cold as your intrepid agents track down cinema's very best spy adventures! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

The Live Drop is a HUMINT experiment — long-form conversations with intelligence professionals, diplomats, historians, authors, and analysts from around the world who think seriously about information collection, espionage, geopolitics, and national security. Hosted by former Army officer and actor Mark Valley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

In 1955 young army major Robbie Mills dies, disembarking a submarine docked at Torbay Harbour in Devon. His superiors say he was drinking and slipped from the gangplank in inclement weather. His widow, Josephine, has no reason to disbelieve them. But within weeks a man knocks on her door. He introduces himself as Captain John Cottell, and he tells Josephine that Robbie's death was no accident, and Robbie was a spy. It's a meeting that will change Josephine's life forever. Now journalists Eugene Henderson and Andy Clark help Josephine's daughter Nicky solve a mystery that has spanned five decades. Who was John Cottell? And what really happened to her father? Episode's out weekly from Tuesday 20th January. For more true crime that you'll be obsessed with head to AlwaysTrueCrime.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Stories from the most powerful women you've never heard of. Eighty years ago, Eloise Page joined the OSS, trailblazing a path for what ultimately became the United States Intelligence Community. She rose the ranks from secretary to case officer, defying the norms of her time, and eventually became the first female Chief of Station at CIA. Along the way, Eloise earned the code name 'Iron Butterfly.' These are the women who have shaped our world, and whose influence continues to ripple through time, space, and generations. more

World War II was fought on battlefields all over the globe. But it was also fought in the shadows—in covert operations that didn't make the headlines, both at home and overseas.The National WWII Museum presents Secret WWII: Spies & Special Ops, a new podcast series exploring wartime tales of espionage and intrigue. Hosted by Museum Senior Historian Bradley W. Hart, PhD, tune in to hear from expert historians and listen to the stories of the people who were there to uncover the secret World War II. more

Delving into the exploits of daring spies, covert operations, assassinations, hackings, secret organizations, and more...Co-hosted by Omri Rose, who grew up undercover thanks to his co-host and father, a retired former spymaster.Stay tuned for BONUS EPISODES and Season 3 announcements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Cracking the Code of Spy Movies podcast - your premiere source for decoding spy movies from classisc to James Bond and current! Your field operatives Dan and Tom dig deep and analyze key scenes, uncover key connections, present detailed reviews, interview cast and crew, host special guests so that you discover something new in every episode and enhance your viewing experience of any spy movie covered. Discover something new in every episode! 'If you're a spy movie fan, you're going to really enjoy these. The hosts make it fun and offer some fascinating trivia about the movies we all love.' - Apple listener Social: Follow them on • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpyMovieNavigator • X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SpyNavigator • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spymovienavigator/ more

Step into the shadow realm of spies, secrets, and subterfuge with the True Life Spy Stories Podcast. Join Philip Thompson as he meticulously deconstructs real-life espionage stories bringing history's most intriguing spies and covert operations to life. Philip delivers compelling narratives that blend historical accuracy with engaging storytelling. Whether you're a history buff, a spy fiction enthusiast, or simply curious about the hidden forces shaping world events, this podcast offers a fascinating glimpse into the secret real world of espionage. more

If you wish to know what it's really like to make the life and death decisions portrayed in the movies by James Bond or on TV by Homeland's, Cary Matherson, then Black Spy Podcast is the show for you. If you're interested in the clandestine world of secret intelligence, espionage, counter-terrorism and national security, then this definitely your must listen Podcast! Every week, along with a different successful or famous guest who's always been interested in the secret services, ex officer, Carlton King, will guide you through this enthralling and exhilarating world, which he inhabited for nearly 30 years. You'll be surprised what you learn. more

Welcome to 'Spy Craft,' the podcast that delves into the gripping world of espionage. Join us as we uncover life-and-death spy stories, dissect covert operations, and explore the news and events that made them possible. Each episode offers a thrilling journey into the clandestine activities of spies, revealing the secrets, strategies, and stakes behind some of the most daring missions in history. Tune in for an exciting look at the shadowy world of espionage and the operatives who risk everything. more

Gabby refuses to behave like an expendable asset. That refusal is what makes her invaluable - and dangerous. She operates in the shadows of modern Europe. She is Agent Blackhawk. She drives a red Aston Martin Vanquish. And she's coming to your screen. New podcast episode every Monday. more

Membership is informal. Discretion is not.In this on-location series, Angus Blair and David Ludlow take you inside the real rooms where espionage history was made — the corner tables, hotel suites, smoky clubs and quiet side streets where spies exchanged envelopes and empires quietly shifted.These are not fictional thrillers. These are the real stories of charming traitors, elegant double agents and the cities that made them.New city. New spy. Same bad behaviour.Meet us in the lobby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Meet The Spy-Fi Guys, Christian and Zach. Spy-Fi is short for Spy Fiction, but we cover spy fact, spy fiction, and everything in between. Join us every episode as we analyze our favorite moments and then take you behind the scenes for the stories behind the celluloid. more

Writer and critic Paul Burke interviews all the best writers on espionage. Each episode will bring you fascinating stories on spies, covert action and more - delving in to fact and fiction, past and present. more

Conversations about all things national security in Canada and globally hosted by three retired Canadian intelligence practitioners with almost a century of experience in SIGINT, HUMINT and other forms of intelligence. more

Welcome to covert actions and national security podcast. Welcome to covert and national security podcast. A podcast where we discuss a spectrum of activities concerning covert operations, intelligence, counterintelligence, unconventional warfare, assassination issues, espionage spy craft technology and more. Enter the operational world with Dr. Carlos more

Superfan of James Bond?, Man From U.N.C.L.E.? Mission Impossible? So are we! Which is why we have formed the CIC...a podcast dedicated to Spy Movies and Secret Agent Pop Culture. Hosted by Ben Eslinger and Jason Greenberg. more

Welcome to the Global Intelligence Knowledge Network Podcast, where real-world intelligence expertise meets insightful analysis. Join your host, Neil Bisson, a former Intelligence Officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, for a weekly deep dive into the world of espionage, national security, foreign interference, terrorism, and all matters spy and intelligence related. With over 25 years of experience in intelligence and law enforcement, both domestically and internationally, Neil Bisson brings a unique perspective to the table. From hunting spies and terrorists to recruiting and managing human sources, he's seen it all. Each episode, Neil Bisson, Director of Global Intelligence Knowledge Network as he provides a comprehensive summary of the most intriguing international intelligence stories, dissecting the hottest media topics with professional analysis and insider knowledge. Whether you're a seasoned intelligence professional or simply fascinated by the world of spies, this podcast is your go-to source for accurate, insightful, and engaging content. Tune in weekly to stay informed, enlightened, and entertained. Don't miss out on the latest from the frontlines of global intelligence. Subscribe now to the Global Intelligence Knowledge Network Podcast on Buzzsprout and never miss an episode. Stay sharp, stay informed, and stay ahead of the curve with the Global Intelligence Knowledge Network Podcast. more