Secrets and Spies is an enthralling podcast that guides listeners on an immersive journey into the hidden realm of espionage, terrorism, geopolitics, and intern...
S9 Ep15: Russian Spy Ships and undersea cables with Florian Flade
In this episode, we’re joined by Florian Flade, an investigative journalist for Germany’s public broadcaster WDR based in Berlin. In this conversation, Florian discusses the activities of Russian research ships that are suspected of espionage. He explains how these ships, while officially labeled as academic vessels, are equipped with advanced technology for intelligence gathering, mainly focusing on critical underwater infrastructure. The conversation delves into the geopolitical implications of these activities, the Russian government's official stance, and the role of Chinese ships in potential sabotage operations.
Additionally, the discussion highlights the legal challenges in addressing maritime espionage and the difficulties in investigating incidents at sea. Florian also discusses NATO's evolving strategies in response to Russian spy ships, particularly in the context of the Baltic Sea. He highlights the increasing urgency and coordination among NATO members, the challenges of hybrid warfare, and the implications for defence spending in Germany.
The discussion also touches on public perceptions of security threats and the historical context of espionage activities, culminating in a personal account of encountering spy ships.
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ojllHsImbNk
For more information on these suspected Russian Spy Ships, please check out the links below:
DW Documentary: “Putin’s Fleet”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br3K93-z6PI
DW News: “What are dozens of Russian ships doing in European waters?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f7Nujs1_yY
HI Sutton
http://www.hisutton.com/
Online Trackers
Marine Traffic
https://www.marinetraffic.com/
Global Fishing Watch
https://globalfishingwatch.org/map/index
For more information and to connect with Florian please follow the links below:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/florianflade.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/FlorianFlade
Blog: https://ojihad.wordpress.com/
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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird
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1:01:53
S9 Ep14: The Fall of Assad and What’s Next for Syria with Phillip Smyth
After a despotic reign of over five decades, marked by 13 years of bloody civil war that killed over half a million people and displaced millions more, the al-Assad dynasty’s rule over Syria has come to a sudden, shocking end. In just under two weeks, rebel groups mounted an offensive that captured a string of major cities, culminating in the fall of Damascus with barely a shot being fired and Bashar al-Assad fleeing into exile in Moscow. It’s difficult to understate what a complete sea change these events are for Syria and the Middle East. Today, Phillip Smyth returns to help us make sense of how this all unfolded so quickly, so unexpectedly, and what it means for Iran and its proxies like Lebanese Hezbollah, who propped up the Assad regime and counted on Syria as a hub to exert their influence throughout the region.
Read Phillip’s work for West Point’s Combatting Terrorism Center: https://ctc.westpoint.edu/authors/phillip-smyth/
Read Phillip’s past work for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/phillip-smyth
Follow Phillip on Twitter/X: https://x.com/PhillipSmyth
Relevant articles and reporting
"The Backstory Behind the Fall of Aleppo" by Hassan Hassan and Michael Weiss | New Lines Magazine
"Jihadi ‘Counterterrorism:’ Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Versus the Islamic State" by Aaron Y. Zelin | CTC Sentinel
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Backgrounder | Center for Strategic & International Studies
"Syrian rebels reveal year-long plot that brought down Assad regime" by William Christou | The Guardian
Support Secrets and Spies
Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies
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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird
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1:43:49
S9 Ep13: We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History with Jack Murphy
In this episode, Matt’s joined by Jack Murphy—former Green Beret, investigative journalist, and host of The Team House podcast. Jack shares insights from his latest book, We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History, which uncovers lesser-known missions that shaped the US special operations community, from Cold War Berlin to nuclear contingencies reminiscent of Dr. Strangelove. Jack delves into the untold stories of units like Special Forces Detachment A and Blue Light, exploring the ingenuity, adaptability, and sacrifices of the men behind these covert operations, reflecting on the evolving role of special operations in today’s world.
Get We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/ref=sr_1_1
Listen to Jack on The Team House: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-team-house/id1492797340
Read’s reporting for The High Side on Substack: https://thehighside.substack.com
Follow Jack on Bluesky & X
https://bsky.app/profile/jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social
https://x.com/JackMurphyRGR
Support Secrets and Spies
Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies
Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996
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
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Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:
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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird
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49:56
S9 Ep12: Can a Federation Heal the Divide between Israel and Palestine with Nigel Roberts
Retired World Bank Director Nigel Roberts tackles the intractable Israel-Palestine conflict. He dissects the shortcomings of the two-state solution and champions a novel approach: a federation acknowledging both identities. Roberts delves into the historical roots and the radicalisation fuelling the conflict. He argues for a new framework built on a constitutional process, acknowledging the trauma on both sides.
The discussion explores the challenges of public acceptance amidst deep mistrust. Roberts examines the influence of social media and urges international engagement to foster dialogue. Ultimately, he offers a glimmer of hope with the federation model, calling for citizen action and support for initiatives like "A Land for All."
Watch on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Ija7A6Csh3o
Links
Read the full paper - “An Israeli/Palestinian Federation: An Alternative Approach to Peace“ by Riccardo Bocco and Nigel Roberts
https://we.tl/t-sMTakmxHGD
A Land For All
https://www.alandforall.org/english/?d=ltr
Geneva Graduate Institute
https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/war-middle-east
Support Secrets and Spies
Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies
Buy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996
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
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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird
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1:08:02
S9 Ep11: Far-Right Extremism Under Trump 2.0 with Jacob Ware
In this episode, Matt is joined again by Jacob Ware, a counterterrorism expert with the Council on Foreign Relations and co-author of God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America. They discuss the unsettling question of what far-right extremism, with its proponents feeling emboldened and legitimized by Donald Trump’s election, might look like during his second term in office.
Jacob helps unpack how these movements are evolving, the risks they pose to democratic institutions, and what the next four years might hold for these groups in terms of recruitment, violence, and public visibility of their hateful worldview. It’s a critical conversation we hope you’ll find steers away from hyperbole, focusing instead on historical lessons and current dynamics shaping this moment.
So, grab your coffee—or maybe something stronger—and join us for an in-depth look at the challenges ahead.
Get Jacob’s book God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America:
https://www.cfr.org/book/god-guns-and-sedition
https://www.amazon.com/God-Guns-Sedition-Far-Right-Terrorism/dp/0231211228
Jacob’s work for the Council on Foreign Relations: https://www.cfr.org/expert/jacob-ware
Jacob’s work for Lawfare: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/contributors/jware
Follow Jacob on Bluesky & X
https://bsky.app/profile/jacobware.bsky.social
https://x.com/Jacob_A_Ware
Relevant articles and reporting
"Understanding the Threats to US Election Security in 2024" by Kat Duffy & Jacob Ware | Council on Foreign Relations
"The Terrorist Threat from the Fractured Far Right" by Bruce Hoffman & Jacob Ware | Lawfare
"The Proud Boys Love a Winner" by Juliette Kayyem | The Atlantic
"Far-right extremists celebrate, see opportunity in second Trump win" by Hannah Allam | The Washington Post
"Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon pick, sparks alarm over far-right extremism" by Alice Herman | The Guardian
Support Secrets and Spies
Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies
Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996
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
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies
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Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies
Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/fultonmatt.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social
Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird
About Secrets and Spies - A Spy & Geopolitics Podcast
Secrets and Spies is an enthralling podcast that guides listeners on an immersive journey into the hidden realm of espionage, terrorism, geopolitics, and international intrigue. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode promises riveting conversations with best-selling authors, historians, journalists, and former intelligence professionals.
Tune in for thought-provoking discussions and expert insights with balanced yet 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.
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