Secrets and Spies Podcast: Current Affairs | Geopolitics | Intelligence

• S9 Ep30: Mission Iran: Behind the Scenes of Operation Eagle Claw with James Stejskal

  Guest host and spy thriller writer Stephen England sits down with James Stejskal, a former US Army Special Forces soldier, CIA officer, historian, and author. They discuss Stejskal’s journey from special operations and intelligence work to writing both fiction and nonfiction. The conversation focuses on Mission Iran, his latest book, which uncovers Special Forces Detachment A’s covert role in Operation Eagle Claw, the 1980 mission to rescue American hostages in Tehran. Stejskal shares firsthand insights into the mission, the dynamics between Special Forces, the CIA, and the State Department, and how his experience in the field shaped his writing. They also explore his Snake Eater Chronicles thrillers, his research into Cold War Berlin, and his upcoming novel, The Rat Catcher of Berlin. Along the way, Stejskal reflects on the reality of intelligence operations, the challenges of writing both history and fiction, and the enduring influence of special operations forces in modern conflicts. Don’t miss this deep dive into espionage history, real-world spycraft, and how it translates into gripping storytelling. Connect with James on his website: https://jamesstejskal.wordpress.com/ Follow James on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/James-Stejskal-Writer/100063534272964/ Find Mission Iran and James’ other books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Stejskal/author/B00NXOQG4Y More about Stephen England: https://www.stephenenglandbooks.com/ Follow Stephen on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenengland.bsky.social Follow Stephen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephenenglandauthor 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 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/fultonmatt.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social 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. Each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.

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• S9 Ep29: Espresso Martini | The Oval Office Debacle and a Reckoning for the Western Alliance

  This week’s Espresso Martini is unlike any other. Chris and Matt take a deep dive into the future of the transatlantic relationship after the disastrous White House meeting between Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy. They unpack the fallout, the shifting US stance on Ukraine, and the broader implications for NATO and European security. A raw, emotional, and unfiltered discussion on a critical moment in world affairs—one where the stakes couldn’t be higher. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DRqFtzQ_orA Articles discussed in today’s episode "At Least Now We Know the Truth About Trump and Vance" by David Frum | The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/02/least-now-we-know-truth-about-trump-and-vance/681872/ "How JD Vance emerged as the chief saboteur of the transatlantic alliance" by Andrew Roth | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/jd-vance-volodymyr-zelenskyy "Trump officials fume at Zelenskyy for disregarding advice before meeting" by Hugo Lowell | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/01/trump-officials-zelenskyy "Five Dispassionate Ways of Looking at Today's Oval Office Blow-Up" by Dan Drezner | Drezner’s World Substack: https://danieldrezner.substack.com/p/five-dispassionate-ways-of-looking "Breaking Down the U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal" by Gracelin Baskaran & Meredith Schwartz | Center for Strategic & International Studies: https://www.csis.org/analysis/breaking-down-us-ukraine-minerals-deal 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 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/fultonmatt.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social 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. Each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.

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• S9 Ep28: Shane Harris on the US Intelligence Community in Crisis

  The Trump administration’s national security team is in place, and the intelligence community is feeling the shock. Elon Musk’s "Department of Government Efficiency" has infiltrated federal agencies, intelligence officials are resigning or being purged, and US allies are questioning how much they can still trust Washington. In this episode, The Atlantic’s Shane Harris joins Matt to assess the state of the US intelligence community one month into Trump’s second term. They discuss the FBI shake-up under Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, Musk’s DOGE operatives posing an unprecedented counterintelligence risk, and whether Five Eyes can survive another four years. Plus, is the intelligence community still a viable career path for those who believe in its mission? Read Shane’s work at The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/shane-harris/ Follow Shane on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/shaneharris.bsky.social Follow Shane on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/shaneharris Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G50obIZatz0 Shane’s reporting discussed in the episode: "Trump’s Military Purge Has Washington Asking 'Who’s Next?'" by Shane Harris & Jonathan Lemire: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/02/cq-brown-joint-chiefs-chairman-fired/681804/ "This Is What Happens When the DOGE Guys Take Over" by Michael Scherer, Ashley Parker, Matteo Wong & Shane Harris: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/02/doge-musk-federal-agencies-takeover/681744/ "Elon Musk Is Breaking the National-Security System": https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/02/doge-intelligence-agencies-harm/681667/ "The Spies Are Shown the Door": https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/02/trump-intelligence-agency-buyouts/681589/ "FBI Agents Are Stunned by the Scale of the Expected Trump Purge": https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/01/trump-fbi-revenge-firings/681538/ "Trump’s First Shot in His War on the 'Deep State'": https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/01/trump-executive-order-security/681423/ "The Rise of John Ratcliffe": https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/01/ratcliffe-dni-cia-trump/681197/ "Trump’s 'Deep State' Revenge": https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/11/intelligence-agencies-trump-loyalists/680625/  Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” and go AD-Free 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 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/fultonmatt.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social 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. Each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.

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• S9 Ep27: Espresso Martini | Trump’s FBI Shake-Up, China’s Military Buildup, and James Bond’s Future

  Chris and Matt discuss Dan Bongino’s appointment as FBI deputy director, signaling a dramatic shift in federal law enforcement and raising alarms about political loyalty over experience while Trump’s broader FBI purge faces internal resistance. Meanwhile, as the war in Ukraine enters its third year, polling challenges assumptions about the Global South’s stance on the conflict, revealing a divide between government policies and public sentiment. In the Indo-Pacific, a new report warns that China’s military modernization may be more about political control than combat readiness, despite its growing arsenal. And finally, former CIA officer John Sipher takes aim at Hollywood’s spy fantasies, arguing that real intelligence work is more about trust and tradecraft than rooftop chases—just as Amazon’s billion-dollar takeover of James Bond raises new questions about the franchise’s future. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9H2nB56zRwQ Articles discussed in today’s episode "How Dan Bongino Went From Infowars to FBI Deputy Director" by David Gilbert | Wired: https://www.wired.com/story/dan-bongino-fbi-deputy-director-infowars/ "Inside Patel’s first week: Internal upheaval at the FBI – some of his own making" by Even Perez | CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/politics/kash-patel-first-week-fbi/index.html "The Global South’s Views on Ukraine Are More Complex Than You May Think" by Michael Karadjis | New Lines Magazine: https://newlinesmag.com/argument/the-global-souths-views-on-ukraine-are-more-complex-than-you-may-think/ "Is China’s military really built for war? New report questions Beijing’s arms buildup" by Brad Lendon | CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/16/china/china-military-readiness-rand-report-intl-hnk-ml/index.html "The Chinese Military's Doubtful Combat Readiness" by Timothy R. Heath | RAND Corporation: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA830-1.html "The Car Chase to Nowhere: Hollywood & Spies" by John Sipher | Tomorrow’s Affairs: https://tomorrowsaffairs.com/the-car-chase-to-nowhere-hollywood-spies 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 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/fultonmatt.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social 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. Each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.

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• S9 Ep26: Dr. Taras Kuzio on Ukraine & Trump Peace Negotiations

  In this conversation, Dr. Taras Kuzio provides an in-depth analysis of the ongoing war in Ukraine, discussing the current military status, the technological innovations being utilized by Ukraine, and the geopolitical implications of the conflict. He emphasizes the challenges faced by the Russian military and the evolving dynamics of international support for Ukraine. The discussion also touches on the complexities of peace negotiations and the trust issues surrounding the Trump administration's proposals regarding Ukraine's resources. Chris and Taras delve into the complexities of U.S. foreign policy regarding the Ukraine conflict, examining the implications of Trump's statements, NATO membership, and the Biden administration's approach to territorial integrity. They discuss the challenges of negotiating peace with Russia, the dynamics of European defense spending, and the geopolitical landscape involving China and Israel's position in the conflict. The conversation highlights the intricate interplay of international relations and the historical context shaping current events. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YJ3V8CrBjDI Connect with Dr Kuzio: https://twitter.com/TarasKuzio 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 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/fultonmatt.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social 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. Each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.

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