34 Best Counter Terrorism Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

An ex-Al Qaeda jihadi turned MI6 spy and a former monk turned filmmaker, have been embedded at the heart of conflicts in the Middle East. Together Aimen Dean and Thomas Small unpack the realities of war, fundamentalism and their global implications through first-hand experience. more

Whether its terrorists, anarchists, cyber criminals or nation states, America has a target on its back. WTOP National Security Correspondent J.J. Green investigates the threats facing the U.S., the people behind them, the agencies fighting them and their impact on Americans. more

The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) is a think-and-do tank based in The Hague, Netherlands. We provide research, policy advice, training and other solutions to support better counter-terrorism policies and practices worldwide. We also contribute to the scientific and public debates in the fields of counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism, notably through our publications and events. more

The war against Islamic Jihadism is defining generations. It was our father's war, it's our war, and will most likely be our children's war. The FDD' s Long War Journal team has been researching and reporting for over two decades on the jihadists fueling this terror. 'Generation Jihad' features LWJ Editor Bill Roggio as he diagnoses the black and white motivations behind the world's most notorious terrorists, reports on their expanding malign activities, and offers prescriptions for confronting the multi-generational menace that is Islamic Jihadism. more

A national security and foreign policy podcast from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).

A weekly podcast from AlertsUSA, Inc summarizing content from the Homeland Security Alert Service for Mobile Devices. more

The Irregular Warfare Podcast explores an important component of war throughout history. Small wars, drone strikes, special operations forces, counterterrorism, proxies—this podcast covers the full range of topics related to irregular war and features in-depth conversations with guests from the military, academia, and the policy community. The podcast is a collaboration between the Modern War Institute at West Point and Princeton University's Empirical Studies of Conflict Project. more

In the wake of 9/11, anthrax-laced letters unleashed a new wave of terror across the nation. But who was behind the attacks — and why has America nearly forgotten this story?As government buildings shut down and law enforcement scrambled to track the perpetrator, the FBI launched one of the largest and most complex investigations in its history. Untangling a web of scientific evidence and false leads, the case took unexpected turns with lasting consequences.From Wolf Entertainment, USG Audio, Dig Studios and CBC, this eight-part series grants unprecedented access to declassified materials and firsthand accounts, revealing how the anthrax attacks reshaped America—and the hidden impact that still lingers today. more

ברוכות וברוכים הבאים ל'משדרים ביטחון' - הפודקאסט של המכון למחקרי ביטחון לאומי . בכל שבוע תשב העיתונאית עמנואל אלבז-פלפס לשיחה אקטואלית עם חוקרי המכון על רבדים שונים של המתרחש בתחום הביטחוני ומחוצה לו, בישראל, במזרח התיכון ובכפר הגלובלי. בנוסף, מדי שבוע נשדר את 'משדרים [אקסטרה] ביטחון' רצועה נוספת למיטיבי לכת, במסגרתה ידונו חוקרות וחוקרי המכון על הנושאים החשובים בתחומי הביטחון הלאומי שאינם נמצאים במרכז השיח. ברשימת האזנה זו תוכלו למצוא גם את כל הפרקים של 'פודקאסטרטגי' הפודקאסט הקודם של המכון למחקרי ביטחון לאומי. more

An unauthorized podcast series peeking behind the curtain at the vast machinery and briar patch politics of fighting terrorism and insurgency and everything in between. I'm a 'COINtra' and not a 'COINdinista', the latter are the vast army of apparatchiks and apologists who fire the engines of Irregular Warfare (IW) planet-wide. We're the skeptics and doubters of all things IW and special operations. And we are a tiny sliver of the IW community. I have noticed a jarring gap in this part of the discussion and intend on filling the breach.Substack: Chasing Ghosts: An Irregular Warfare PodcastSmedley D. Butler Fellow for Military Affairs at the Libertarian InstituteChasing Ghosts Podcast on YouTubeI am an Amazon Affiliate.You can contact me at ****@pm.me more

What do a military expert and a yoga master possibly share in common? When it comes to Israel and the October 7th War, more than you might imagine. And it all starts with shared values.Co-hosts Andrew Fox and Shana Meyerson believe that Israel has a right to defend itself in this just war on terror, and they stand absolutely committed to fighting Jew Hatred and protecting Western Civilization, both now and into the future. Perhaps the unlikeliest of duos, veteran paratrooper Andrew Fox and yogi podcaster Shana Meyerson chat weekly from the UK and LA about important developments in the Middle East, antisemitism, and anything else that comes to mind...ANDREW FOX is a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. He served for 16 years in the British Army, leaving the Parachute Regiment with the rank of Major. He completed 3 tours in Afghanistan including one attached to US Army Special Forces, as well as further tours of Bosnia, Northern Ireland and the Middle East. He was a senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, teaching in the War Studies and Behavioural Science departments. In the last year he has visited Gaza twice as well as Hezbollah tunnels in Lebanon. Andrew is a regular Middle East commentator on GB News, TalkTV and LBC radio, and has been published in The Spectator, The Sun, The Daily Telegraph, New York Post and The Tablet, amongst others. YOU CAN FIND ANDREW FOX AT:SUBSTACK: https://mrandrewfox.substack.com X: https://x.com/Mr_Andrew_FoxWEBSITE: https://www.andrewfox.onlineYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@UCLyYcICOUgGsCo_StP7W0LA SHANA MEYERSON is a Los Angeles-based yoga influencer and the world-renowned creator of YOGAthletica and mini yogis yoga for kids. She has been teaching yoga since 2002, but has been an advocate for Israel and the Jewish people even longer than that. A member of the elite World Jewish Congress Jewish Diplomatic Corps, the Israel Bonds National Women's Board, and AIPAC, Israel and Judaism are the cornerstones of her life. After the atrocities of October 7, Shana put her professional career on hold in order to advocate full-time for the Jewish People and the Jewish State. In July 2024, she launched The Yoga of War Podcast, where she has had the distinct honor and pleasure of having provocative, inspiring, educational, and important conversations with many of the world's most prominent pro-Israel voices…and it has been the honor of a lifetime.YOU CAN FIND SHANA MEYERSON AT:YOGA OF WAR PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDs6xiWr6E4&list=PLEk7dn2pk4QXmLMnBCB80yQXIIcBDYsi0INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yogathletica/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/YOGAthletica/X: https://x.com/ShanaMeyerson#israel #israelpodcast #israelwar #israelhamaswar #gazawar more

Totally Terrorism is a Pool Re Podcast - the UK's leading terrorism reinsurer. Each month the Pool Re threat analysis team speaks with a leading expert from the terrorism and counter-terrorism field about the threat posed by terrorism. Experts featured on the podcast include academics, policy makers, and practitioners amongst others, all with a distinct assessment or perspective of terrorism threat. The podcast will cover a range of topics including but not limited to: terrorist groups, terrorist ideologies, targeting trends, tactics and methodologies, radicalisation and de-radicalisation, threat analysis and awareness, and much more. For regular insightful terrorism threat and risk information including a reminder for each episode of this podcast, as well as other Pool Re updates, please sign up to receive our emails at https://www.poolre.co.uk/signup/ . Please also subscribe to receive notifications from your preferred podcast streaming platform every time we upload a new episode. more

Jihadi-Terrorism and Insurgency, Militancy and Violent Extremism in Central-South Asia, Middle East and Africa. ajmals.substack.com more

On NCITE Insights, we interview leading experts in psychology, criminology, political science, and more to make sense of today's headlines as they relate to terrorism. NCITE Insights is produced by the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center, based at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). more

Unpicking extremism and counter extremism - one conversation at a time. This new Counter Extremism Project podcast series is presented by Ian Acheson - professor, author, former prison governor, criminal justice system leader, and counterterrorism expert - and Edmund Fitton-Brown - former UK ambassador to Yemen and coordinator of UN sanctions and threat assessment. more

The Threat podcast will analyze and discuss the most pressing, yet not always so visible, threats to global security and the movements and ideologies that fuel extremism and terrorism. We'll take listeners to the frontlines of these battles, both at home and abroad, and we'll talk with the key players in law enforcement, intelligence, diplomacy, and academia who are working to counter these threats. more

Everywhere you look these days terrorism and violent extremism dominate the headlines. Whether you follow what is happening in Afghanistan or Iraq, or in the West writ large, we are inundated with news of attacks by groups and individuals fighting for a 'cause'.In a world of multiple voices and opinions it can be very hard to know where to turn. One choice is to look to those who actually worked in counterterrorism in the national security world. In these half-hour podcasts 30-year Canadian intelligence veteran Phil Gurski is joined by a fascinating array of individuals with something meaningful to say about these issues as they provide insight into what they mean and what we need to do about them. more

Fighting Terror brings together counter-terrorism experts and practitioners from Europe, the United States, and beyond to address different approaches to combat terrorism in our society. Our frank discussions cover the lifecycle of terrorism from propaganda and recruitment, to financing, action and failure. This series is brought to you by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) and hosted by Lucinda Creighton, Senior Advisor to CEP in Europe and a former European Affairs Minister. CEP is a non-profit organisation that has been working to combat the flow of terrorist as well as extremist propaganda and finances globally. more

The Counterterrorism Group's (CTG) Threat Intelligence Podcast opens the door to the realm of geopolitics and international security. Hosted and produced by Arnold Koka and Derrick T. Dortch, this podcast takes you on a journey through the intricate landscape of global threats and intelligence analysis. Tune in regularly to stay informed about the latest developments that shape our world. 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

Crime Interrupted explores some of the biggest and most challenging cases handled by the AFP, Australia's national policing agency.Presented by Casefile, the series covers cases including human trafficking, counter-terrorism operations, international kidnappings and more. You will hear from the AFP officers who investigated these crimes, as well as members from domestic and international partners.Six new episodes will be released monthly from April 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

John Nuttall and Amanda Korody are scraping by on welfare and methadone in a basement suite with John's grandma, when they find themselves embroiled in a terrorist plot. A mysterious figure named Abe comes into their lives and introduces the couple to a shadowy world of global extremism. With Abe as their mentor and benefactor, John and Amanda hatch a plan to bomb a national holiday celebration using homemade pressure cooker devices. They have no idea that federal police are tracking their every move. Through nearly a hundred hours of surveillance footage and wiretaps, Pressure Cooker puts you in the middle of a sprawling anti-terror operation at the height of the War on Terror — one the courts will eventually call a 'travesty of justice.' For the best in true crime from CBC, ad-free, visit apple.co/cbctruecrime. more

Lebanese Hezbollah goes to great lengths to publicize its overt, social, and political activities and to conceal its covert terrorist, militant, and criminal pursuits. In the words of one operative, Hezbollah's 'Golden Rule' is this: The Less You Know, the Better.In this podcast, terrorism scholar Matthew Levitt sets out to break this rule by shining a bright spotlight on Hezbollah's global terrorist and criminal activities. Levitt has been following Lebanese Hezbollah for almost three decades in and out of government. He's written books, given expert testimony, and literally mapped Hezbollah's worldwide illicit activities in an online interactive map and timeline. (https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap)Listen as Levitt tracks Hezbollah's evolution over the years and its operations across the globe from Lebanon to Kuwait, across Europe and Asia, then on to the Western Hemisphere from Buenos Aires to New York. Along the way, he'll speak with law enforcement officers, intelligence agents, government officials, and world-class experts from around the globe, each of whom has first-person experience confronting Hezbollah and uncovering things the group would much prefer nobody ever heard about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Have you ever wondered what it's like to tackle terrorists as your day job? Every day, incredible staff and officers at Counter Terrorism Policing work to keep the public safe from terrorism, playing a crucial part in protecting the UK's national security.    So much of what they do can't be talked about publicly. But in season two of our chart-topping podcast series, we're taking you behind the scenes to hear more about the amazing people who take on some of policing's toughest jobs.Over six episodes you'll hear from people in different roles across Counter Terrorism Policing, from those working in explosives, and in hostile locations overseas, to the legal teams, intelligence officers, and people managing terrorists in the community.They'll talk about the careers that led them here the good stuff and the bad and share their advice about working in policing. For some of the people featured in this series, it's the first time they've spoken publicly about their work. To do so safely, their identities have been protected. Interested in joining them? Visit our careers page to find out more: www.counterterrorism.police.uk/careers/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Want to learn more about how terrorists and violent extremists are using the internet to communicate and share propaganda? Perhaps you're interested in why terrorists share their manifestos online and livestream their attacks? The Tech Against Terrorism podcast is a deep dive into the evolving use of the internet by terrorists and violent extremists, how this relates to real world harms, and what can be done to support the tech sector to disrupt this threat. Join us as we speak to the world's leading experts in this field and uncover everything from the online propaganda behind an IS prison break in Syria, to the online network of neo-Nazis behind a foiled terrorist plot in Texas. more

The Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) is a non-profit, non-political, educational association for current and former intelligence professionals and supporters of the US Intelligence Community. Part of our mission is to foster an understanding of the important role of intelligence in national security and to nurture student interest in careers across the many US intelligence agencies. To this end, the channel features podcast versions of our AFIO Now episodes - a series of recorded interviews and presentations that features experts, historians, and officers from across the US Intelligence Community who have fascinating stories to tell. more

The podcast exploring how much we really know about terrorism and what is being done to stop it. Hosted by former British soldier Adnan Sarwar.Understanding terrorism is the first step in fighting it.Preventing acts of terror is a major priority for governments across the globe. Yet terrorism has fallen off the news agenda, we've had other things to think about. And while the eyes of the world are elsewhere, there are well organised extremists who haven't given up their fight.Yet it's hard to engage with something we don't understand; Daesh, ISIS, Islamic State, ISIL... what do these terms actually mean? Are they the same thing?Taking Apart Terror is a brand-new podcast presented by former British soldier, Adnan Sarwar, who served in the Iraq War. Across 10 episodes, Adnan speaks to experts to learn about every aspect of how terrorist organisations operate: how they're funded, how they communicate, and the role of women. He discovers what's really going on behind the scenes, and what the world is doing to stop them.For the first time ever, the world's leading counter terrorism and extremism experts join Adnan to explore the world of terrorism, including leading professors from universities across the globe who specialise in extremism, organisations who prevent terrorism and investigative journalists who have risked their lives to bring true stories of terrorism to the world.Taking Apart Terror tells extraordinary stories from a former Al-Qaeda recruiter and features the brave 'Mosul Eye', a citizen journalist called Omar Mohammed, who risked his life to tell the world about the atrocities taking place in his city. The harrowing realities of terrorism are shared by a mother who lost her son in the Manchester Arena attack and Nobel prize-winner Nadia Murad who stood before President Trump and demanded help for her Yazidi people, who suffered unimaginable brutality at the hands of Daesh.A terrorist organisation doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to out compete the opposition that it's up against. Terrorists want us to be confused, they want to us to be scared, they want to seem like a terrifying threat with mythical status. Taking Apart Terror, from The Global Coalition against Daesh, is here to help us understand more and fear less, exploring every aspect of how terrorists work and what the world is doing to stop them.Taking Apart Terror was the recipient of the Bronze Lovie & People's Lovie Winner 2022 for the Best Crime & Justice Podcast and a finalist for the Best International Affairs Podcast at the New York Festival Radio Awards 2022. more

A podcast that deconstructs internal power dyamics and policy shifts within the Taliban Emirate. A deep dive into the power, people and policies of the Emirate. more

Dive into a case of domestic terrorism from the past that's really a warning about the future. Back in 1995, there was a disaster that should have prepared us for January 6th and the political violence that we're seeing today: the Oklahoma City Bombing. Journalist Jeffrey Toobin reveals the story behind Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City Bombing, and right-wing extremism in America - how a decorated army veteran became consumed with rage, how he somehow went underground and built a bomb that damaged fifty blocks in a modern city, and how everything that led to the horror of April 19th, 1995 is still very present in America. Homegrown: OKC is a USG Audio podcast produced by Western Sound and Esmail Corp. Based on the book 'Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Rightwing Extremism' by Jeffrey Toobin. more

Talking Terror is a podcast series presented and produced by Dr. John F. Morrison, from the School of Law and Criminology at Maynooth University, Ireland. In the episodes John talks to world leading experts of terrorism and extremism about their research findings and its impact. These conversations will allow the listener to get an in-depth insight into some of the best research on terrorism, from the researchers themselves. Within the episodes the guests will discuss their own research, as well as the research by others who have influenced them. It is our aim that this podcast series will be worthwhile and interesting for a wide ranging audience. From students to professors, practitioners to those with a passing interest in understanding terrorism and counter-terrorism, we believe that there will be something for everyone within each episode.For the most up to date information about the show be sure to follow us on Twitter @Terror_podcast using #TalkingTerrorThis podcast was originally established while John was director of the Terrorism and Extremism Research Centre at the University of East London. more

Terrorism 360° is a podcast brought to you by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) headquartered at the University of Maryland. In this podcast, Dr. Gary LaFree, the Founding Director of START, interviews the world's leading experts on terrorism and responses to terrorism. This podcast explores their research, their insights into the causes and consequences of terrorism, and their recommendations for policy makers. The central organizing principle of this podcast is that sensible policy on terrorism requires an objective, science-based approach. But beyond this, we would like to approach terrorism from a wide variety of perspectives—hence the title, Terrorism 360. Our 15 guests on the podcast are all researchers who have contributed directly to scholarship on terrorism. In selecting our guests, we have tried to invite a diversity of opinions.  Some of our guests feel that worldwide responses to terrorism have not been strong enough—others feel that they have been far too strong. Some feel that the threat of terrorism is increasing—others that it is diminishing. See more on our website at start.umd.edu more

DEEP Dive is a podcast series from NATO's Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP). Each episode provides commentary and analysis with experts and practitioners on a variety of subjects, including international security and defence, counter-terrorism, and geopolitical current events. For more information and additional content, including full transcripts of each episode, please visit deepportal.hq.nato.int/deepdive more

Exploring some of the key concepts in preventative counterterrorism work, drawing on global experience and RUSI research.Over the past few years, RUSI's Terrorism and Conflict group has conducted multiple and extensive reviews of global preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) programmes, identifying what can work and what has not worked in these efforts. The research covered hundreds of programmes addressing different ideological motivations, with a particular focus on Islamist and far-right extremism. Through these projects, RUSI has helped to build the global evidence base for P/CVE interventions across different thematic areas and regions. Several key themes and concepts, as well as methods to prevent and counter violent extremism, have emerged.This podcast series, hosted by Dr Jessica White and Raffaello Pantucci, features RUSI experts in conversation with international scholars and practitioners. more

'(Un)masking the Threat' is the official podcast of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University. This thought-provoking series dives deep into the evolving world of terrorism, counter-terrorism, and global security. Hosted by an ICT researcher, Ms. Gal Rapaport, the podcast features leading experts, scholars, and practitioners who analyze critical topics such as extremist ideologies, global security threats, intelligence operations, military strategies, propaganda, radicalization, and the use of technology in terrorism and counter-terrorism. Through in-depth discussions and expert insights, '(Un)masking the Threat' unravels the strategies and challenges shaping the modern security landscape, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the threats and solutions in the fight against terrorism. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and join us in exploring the forefront of counter-terrorism research. more