Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs cover art

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs

By: Secrets & Spies
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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. 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.Chris Carr / F & P LTD Politics & Government Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • S10 Ep31: Jan Marsalek’s Spy Ring and a Telegram Trail to Moscow with Manuel Bewarder

    S10 Ep31: Jan Marsalek’s Spy Ring and a Telegram Trail to Moscow with Manuel Bewarder
    Feb 14 2026

    In this episode, Chris speaks with German investigative journalist Manuel Bewarder about the Jan Marsalek spy network and the landmark UK trial that exposed it. They unpack how the former Wirecard executive allegedly directed a Bulgarian spy ring from Moscow, targeting journalists, dissidents, and even U.S. military facilities in Germany. Drawing on thousands of Telegram messages revealed in court, Manuel explains how the network operated, how close it came to violence, and what the case reveals about modern Russian espionage—from freelance-style proxy networks to sabotage plots and battlefield intelligence collection. They also explore ongoing investigations in Austria and Germany, and what Marsalek’s continued presence in Russia tells us about his ties to the Kremlin.

    Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.

    Find more about Manuel and his reporting on his website: https://manuelbewarder.com/

    Please share this episode using these links

    Audio: https://pod.fo/e/38f75c
    YouTube: https://youtu.be/bBx6xsv7YHM

    Support Secrets and Spies

    Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies
    Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996
    Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspies
    Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg
    For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com

    Connect with us on social media

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies
    Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies

    Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:
    https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social
    https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net

    Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.
    Music by Andrew R. Bird
    Photo by Nibor/Zuma Press

    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 examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • S10 Ep30: Espresso Martini | Epstein’s Russian Espionage Ties and a World Out of Bounds

    S10 Ep30: Espresso Martini | Epstein’s Russian Espionage Ties and a World Out of Bounds
    Feb 7 2026
    This week on Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt examine a set of stories pointing to a more volatile intelligence and political landscape. They unpack Poland’s investigation into whether Jeffrey Epstein functioned as a long-running collector of kompromat tied to Russian interests, and what the available evidence does — and does not — tell us about his relationship with Moscow. In Germany, the expulsion of a Russian military attaché and the arrest of an alleged spy accused of mapping defense and drone infrastructure highlight Berlin’s shift toward treating Russian intelligence activity as operational preparation for sabotage on NATO soil. The episode also explores mounting concerns around DNI Tulsi Gabbard, from the delayed handling of a highly sensitive whistleblower complaint to her unusual involvement in election-related investigations, raising questions about politicization and oversight. Chris and Matt then turn to Donald Trump’s Greenland brinkmanship, the role NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte played in defusing an alliance crisis, and why attempts to “sanewash” the episode risk lasting damage to transatlantic trust, before closing on the quiet but symbolic shuttering of the CIA’s World Factbook.Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.Please share this episode using these linksAudio: https://pod.fo/e/38a3a8YouTube: https://youtu.be/zMOdqzC-_JsSupport Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesBuy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspiesSubscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dgFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.comArticles discussed in today’s episode "Jeffrey Epstein investigated for being a Russian spy" by David Charter | The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/jeffrey-epstein-investigated-for-being-a-russian-spy-tpcplhvxp"The Cesspool and Chaos: the Russian Connection in the Epstein Affair" by Françoise Thom | Russian Desk: https://desk-russie.info/2025/07/30/the-cesspool-and-chaos-the-russian-connection-in-the-epstein-affair.html"Jeffrey Epstein’s Russian Connection: Billionaire's ties with FSB Academy graduate revealed" | Dossier Center: https://dossier.center/jeffreyepsteinrusconnect-en/"Germany expels Russian diplomat over spying case" by Richard Connor | Deutsche Welle: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-expels-russian-diplomat-summons-ambassador-over-espionage-case/a-75609339"Germany Arrests Five in Major Scheme to Smuggle Sanctioned Goods to Russia" by Dariia Mykhailenko | United24 Media: https://united24media.com/latest-news/germany-arrests-five-in-major-scheme-to-smuggle-sanctioned-goods-to-russia-15554"Classified Whistleblower Complaint About Tulsi Gabbard Stalls Within Her Agency” by Dustin Volz and C. Ryan Barber | The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/classified-whistleblower-complaint-about-tulsi-gabbard-stalls-within-her-agency-027f5331"Intelligence watchdog shares whistleblower complaint involving Gabbard with Congress after monthslong delay" by Olivia Gazis, Michael Kaplan | CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/intelligence-watchdog-sensitive-whistleblower-complaint-congress-monthslong-delay/"Tulsi Gabbard running solo 2020 election inquiry separate from FBI investigation" by Hugo Lowell | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/03/tulsi-gabbard-2020-election-investigation-ed"Behind Trump's Greenland reversal, the crucial role of NATO chief Mark Rutte" by Anne-Françoise Hivert, Philippe Jacqué & Philippe Ricard | Le Monde: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/01/22/behind-trump-s-greenland-reversal-the-crucial-role-of-nato-chief-mark-rutte_6749681_4.html"What follows President Trump’s decision to step back from threatening to use force in Greenland?" by Elaine Kamarck | The Brookings Institution: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-follows-president-trump-decision-to-step-back-from-threatening-to-use-force-in-greenland/"Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell" | Central Intelligence Agency: https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/spotlighting-the-world-factbook-as-we-bid-a-fond-farewell/Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.socialInstagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspiesFacebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspiesSpoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesFollow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.netSecrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.Music by Andrew R. Bird
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 26 mins
  • S10 Ep29: How Russia Protects its Nuclear Submarines with Florian Flade

    S10 Ep29: How Russia Protects its Nuclear Submarines with Florian Flade
    Jan 31 2026

    Investigative journalist Florian Flade returns to discuss Russia's Harmony Undersea Surveillance System, a project aimed at protecting its nuclear submarine fleet. Florian and Chris cover the international collaboration involved in Florian’s investigation, the strategic importance of the Harmony system, and the challenges of reporting on sensitive military topics. Florian also highlights the broader implications of Russia's military activities in the Arctic and the ongoing efforts to counteract Russian procurement networks for Western technology.

    Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.

    Follow Florian’s blog and connect on social media

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/florianflade.bsky.social
    X: https://x.com/FlorianFlade
    Blog: https://ojihad.wordpress.com/

    Florian’s reporting discussed in the episode

    https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr-wdr/russland-harmonie-unterwasser-spaehsystem-atomwaffen-100.html
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/10/23/russia-nuclear-subs-western-technology-surevillance/
    https://www.icij.org/investigations/russia-archive/russia-secretly-acquired-western-technology-to-protect-its-nuclear-submarine-fleet/

    Support Secrets and Spies
    Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

    Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996
    Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspies
    Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg
    For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com

    Connect with us on social media
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies
    Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies

    Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:
    https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social
    https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net

    Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.

    Music by Andrew R. Bird

    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 examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
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