{"podcast":{"title":"Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs","slug":"secrets-and-spies-podcast-espionage-global-issues-current-affairs-609504","podcast_index_feed_id":609504,"rss_url":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/cLTfHjFw","website_url":"https://bleav.com/shows/secrets-and-spies-podcast-espionage-global-issues-current-affairs/","image_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/6215cda8-011d-4ccd-9fe8-c389912a62af/0249cd23-9e06-4e63-ad91-5f7b62f372de/3000x3000/secrets_and_spies_1.jpg?aid=rss_feed","author":"Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs","episode_count":340,"summary":"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…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-26T06:21:27.681791+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/secrets-and-spies-podcast-espionage-global-issues-current-affairs-609504"},"episode":{"title":"S10 Ep21: Myths and Realities of Russian Intelligence with John Sipher","slug":"s10-ep21-myths-and-realities-of-russian-intelligence-with-john-sipher","published_at":"2025-12-20T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/secrets-and-spies-podcast-espionage-global-issues-current-affairs-609504/s10-ep21-myths-and-realities-of-russian-intelligence-with-john-sipher","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/secrets-and-spies-podcast-espionage-global-issues-current-affairs-609504","url":"https://audioboom.com/posts/8819063","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/audioboom.com/posts/8819063.mp3?modified=1766736079&sid=5038215&source=rss","summary":"Former senior CIA officer John Sipher joins Chris to break down what Western audiences get wrong about Russian intelligence—starting with what it’s actually like to operate inside one of the world’s most hostile counterintelligence environments. Sipher explains the KGB-to-Putin throughline, why Moscow treats intelligence as a frontline tool of regime survival, and how “active measures” and reflexive control shape Russia’s political warfare abroad. He also pushes back on myths of intelligence work, digs into how the West misread Russia’s strength and Ukraine’s will to fight, and lays out what containment—and a post-Putin future—might realistically look like. The conversation closes with a sharp look at disinformation, conspiracy culture, and why Hollywood keeps getting espionage wrong. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs. More about John and Spycraft Entertainment: https://spycraftentertainment.com/john-sipher Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/36a59d YouTube: https://youtu.be/EfRdJ98XJz8 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…","meta_description":"Former senior CIA officer John Sipher joins Chris to break down what Western audiences get wrong about Russian intelligence—starting with what it’s actual…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4197,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/secrets-and-spies-podcast-espionage-global-issues-current-affairs-609504/episodes/s10-ep21-myths-and-realities-of-russian-intelligence-with-john-sipher/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/secrets-and-spies-podcast-espionage-global-issues-current-affairs-609504/s10-ep21-myths-and-realities-of-russian-intelligence-with-john-sipher.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}