Secrets and Spies - A Spy & Geopolitics Podcast

In this conversation, award-winning investigative journalist Philip Obaji discusses the increasing influence of the Russian Wagner Group in Africa, particularly in relation to military coups and economic interests. He shares insights into the motivations behind Russia's actions in the region, the impact of Yevgeny Prigozhin's death on Wagner's operations, and his personal experiences reporting in dangerous environments. Obaji highlights the human rights violations committed by Russian paramilitaries, including sexual assaults and massacres, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and reporting on these issues. This conversation delves into the complex and often dark relationship between Russia and various African nations, focusing on the involvement of Russian mercenaries, the exploitation of local populations, and the growing influence of China. Philip Obaji shares insights from his reporting on atrocities committed by Russian forces, including sexual violence and child labor in mining operations. The discussion also touches on local perceptions of Russian influence, the impact of disinformation campaigns, and the need for accountability from the international community.

Find out more about Philips's work here: https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/philip-obaji-jr/

Connect with him on X here: https://twitter.com/PhilipObaji

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Hi everyone, I hope you are well.

There won't be an Espresso Martini this week. Instead, I will be joined by award-winning investigative journalist Philip Obaji, who discusses the increasing influence of the Russian Wagner Group in Africa. That episode will be released on Friday 8th November.

Then, the following week, we will be on a podcast break, so there will not be a show on the 16th of November.

We will return on Saturday, 23rd November, with a brand-new Espresso Martini and some interesting news to share with you.

Until then, take care.

In this conversation, David Bickford shares his fascinating journey from a unique childhood to a distinguished career in the intelligence services, specifically as a legal director for MI5 and MI6. He discusses the complexities of balancing national security with legality, the current threats posed by Russia and China, and the evolving landscape of intelligence work. Transitioning into a novelist, Bickford reflects on the inspiration behind his books, the writing process he shares with his wife, and offers valuable advice for aspiring writers and those considering a career in intelligence.

To find out more about David and his latest novel, “Katya The Informer”, please visit his website: https://davidbickford.co.uk/

Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0zPfzbDOrIc

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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Follow Chris and Matt on Twitter/X:

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

In this episode of Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt discuss the alarming news that North Korea is sending up to 12,000 troops to bolster Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They explore the implications of North Korea gaining combat experience and modern warfare training and whether these troops are likely to be anything more than cannon fodder for Putin’s war. Next, they unpack the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the October 7th attacks, killed by Israeli forces after a years-long manhunt. In a twist of fate, it was trainee soldiers who found him. While his final defiance is already being mythologized by supporters, Chris and Matt assess whether his death will weaken Hamas or bolster its extremist factions. They also explore the arrest of seven Israelis accused of spying for Iran and how these betrayals compromised national security. Finally, they examine growing threats against FEMA workers in North Carolina, driven by conspiracy theories that disrupted disaster relief efforts and underscore the real dangers of misinformation.

Watch us on YouTube

https://youtu.be/bP_YTHABle4

Articles discussed in today’s episode

"North Korea 'sends 1,500 special forces with fake Russian IDs' to support Putin's war against Ukraine" by Deborah Haynes | Sky News

https://news.sky.com/story/north-korea-sends-1-500-special-forces-with-fake-russian-ids-to-support-putins-war-against-ukraine-13235751

"Yahya Sinwar’s final moments and the Israeli trainees who found him" by Julian Borger | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/18/yahya-sinwar-final-moments-israeli-infantry-tracked-him-down

"Seven Israelis arrested for spying for Iran, providing info on army bases" by Jacob Laznik & Eye Young | Jerusalem Post

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-825487

"Suspect arrested after reports of threats toward FEMA operations in North Carolina" by Andy Rose, Paradise Afshar, Ella Nilsen & Gabe Cohen | CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/14/us/fema-helene-north-carolina-reported-threats/index.html

Click here to tune into our Patreon Show Extra Shot:

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Support Secrets and Spies

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Follow Chris and Matt on Twitter/X:

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Chris is unwell so there won’t be a new episode this week. Instead, Chris is re-sharing the first-ever episode in which he is joined by the author Meredith Tax, and they discuss her book “The Double Bind”, which looks at the problematic relationship between Anglo American left and the Muslim right. Later in the podcast, they also discuss the role of Kurdish women in the fight against ISIS.

You can get a copy of the Double Bind here:

UK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Double-Bind-Muslim-Anglo-American-Universal/dp/0988830302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ZKEJ0U88CK4F&keywords=the+double+bind+meredith+tax&qid=1699649198&sprefix=the+double+bind+meredith+tax%2Caps%2C225&sr=8-1

US

https://www.amazon.com/Double-Bind-Muslim-Anglo-American-Universal/dp/0988830302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SGNS9LZ9PFXX&keywords=the+double+bind+meredith+tax&qid=1699649248&sprefix=the+double+bind+meredith+tax%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1

AUS

https://www.amazon.com.au/Double-Bind-Muslim-Anglo-American-Universal/dp/0988830302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=238AGSX9HY3UG&keywords=THE+DOUBLE+BIND+MEREDITH+TAX&qid=1699649285&sprefix=the+double+bind+meredith+tax%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-1

Support Secrets and Spies

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Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg

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Follow Chris and Matt on Twitter/X:

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

In this episode of Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt discuss a new public opinion poll revealing a sharp decline in Palestinian support for Hamas after a brutal year of war in Gaza. They also explore Iran’s troubling alliances with criminal organizations to carry out assassinations in the West, and Russia’s use of a remote Norwegian town in the Arctic as a laboratory for hybrid warfare. Lastly, 40 years after The Hunt for Red October, they reflect on the enduring legacy of Tom Clancy, whose work continues to shape military fiction and public perceptions of global conflict. Tune in for a compelling mix of current events, espionage, and cultural reflections on the impact of techno-thrillers.

You can now watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Vb4U23bn80s

Articles discussed in today’s episode

“Hamas Is Monstrous. Most Gazans Agree.” by Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib | The Dispatch

“Iran turns to Hells Angels and other criminal gangs to target critics” by Greg Miller, Souad Mekhennet & Cate Brown | The Washington Post

“Russia’s Espionage War in the Arctic” by Ben Taub | The New Yorker

“Tom Clancy’s legend began 40 years ago – with a nudge from The Post” by Dan Diamond | The Washington Post

https://www.patreon.com/posts/extra-shot-audio-113855719?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

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

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies

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Follow Chris and Matt on Twitter/X:

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Today’s episode brings you an in-depth look into one of the most mysterious and controversial sabotage incidents in recent history – the Nord Stream Pipeline attack. Joining both Chris and Matt is investigative journalist Florian Flade, who has been at the forefront of uncovering the truth behind the explosions that shook Europe.

Florian, working with the German public broadcaster Tagesschau, has spent years investigating issues surrounding national security, terrorism, and intelligence. In this episode, we explore the tangled web of geopolitical intrigue surrounding the Nord Stream pipeline bombings, examining who may be responsible and what this attack means for Ukraine’s potential future in the EU and NATO. From questions of Ukrainian involvement to the presence of Russian spy ships in the Baltic, we’ll be unpacking a story filled with uncertainty, strategic sabotage, and high-stakes diplomacy.

So, tune in as we dive into the facts, theories, and investigative breakthroughs that shed light on this murky case.

Follow Florian on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/FlorianFlade

"New clue apparently leads to Ukraine" by Florian Flade & Manuel Bewarder | Tagesschau (May 2023)

"Search in Germany" by Florian Flade & Manuel Bewarder | Tagesschau (June 2023)

"Sailing yacht with stopover in Poland" by Florian Flade, Manuel Bewarder, Michael Götschenberg, Georg Heil & Holger Schmidt | Tagesschau (June 2023)

"Denying All Involvement" by Florian Flade, Manuel Bewarder, et al. | Tagesschau (September 2023)

"New list from Poland raises questions" by Florian Flade, Manuel Bewarder, Michael Götschenberg, Georg Heil & Holger Schmidt | Tagesschau (September 2023)

"Sweden wants to stop Nord Stream proceedings" by Florian Flade & Manuel Bewarder | Tagesschau (February 2024)

"First arrest warrant for Nord Stream attacks" by Florian Flade, Manuel Bewarder, Michael Götschenberg, Georg Heil & Holger Schmidt | Tagesschau (August 2024)

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

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Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies

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Follow Chris and Matt on Twitter/X:

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

In this special episode, Matt welcomes back Phillip Smyth just days after his last appearance to analyze another major development in the Middle East: the assassination of Hezbollah’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, in a targeted Israeli airstrike. Nasrallah’s death has sent shockwaves across Lebanon, Iran, and the wider network of Iran-backed militias, raising pressing questions about Hezbollah’s future and its role in regional power dynamics.

Phillip returns to help unpack the key players, their motives, and the potential fallout from this strike. Together, they examine Israel’s strategic objectives, Iran’s retaliatory actions, and the broader implications for the already fragile situation in the Middle East. They also explore the ongoing Israeli ground offensive and Iran’s ballistic missile strikes in response.

It’s a rapidly evolving situation, so join Phillip and Matt as they break down the latest developments and consider what might come next.

Phillip’s work for West Point’s Combatting Terrorism Center: https://ctc.westpoint.edu/authors/phillip-smyth/.

Phillip’s work at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/phillip-smyth

Follow Phillip on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PhillipSmyth

"Iran’s Strikes on Israel Look Calculated to Shore Up Regional Alliance" by Erika Solomon | The New York Times

"A Wider War in the Middle East, From Hamas to Hezbollah and Now Iran" by David E. Sanger | The New York Times

"Israel Has Destroyed Half of Hezbollah’s Arsenal, US and Israeli Officials Say" by Edward Wong, Julian E. Barnes & Eric Schmitt | The New York Times

"Deep intelligence penetration enabled Israel to kill Hassan Nasrallah" by Dan Sabbagh | The Guardian

"How Israel's bitter 2006 war with Hezbollah could shape possible Lebanon invasion" by Robert Tollast | The National

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

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Follow Chris and Matt on Twitter/X:

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

On today’s episode, Phillip Smyth, the guru for all things related to Iranian proxy groups, returns to chat with Matt about the exploding pagers and radios that maimed thousands of Hezbollah members last week and the following wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting the group’s long-range missile and drone forces. They discuss the implications for Hezbollah’s communication networks and command structure and the broader impact these events will have on the regional war that’s now consumed the Middle East for a year.

Phillip’s work for West Point’s Combatting Terrorism Center: https://ctc.westpoint.edu/authors/phillip-smyth/.

Phillip’s work at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/phillip-smyth

Follow Phillip on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PhillipSmyth

Follow Matt on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/FultonMatt

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Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Hello, everyone. As Chris and Matt are working on new interviews this week, we are sharing a preview of our Extra Shot episode from September 13th.  On this episode we look at the weaponisation of disgust, a peek inside a US Far-Right militia and a globally integrated ISIS.

Articles discussed in the show:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-stochastic-terrorism-uses-disgust-to-incite-violence/

https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-secret-ap3-militia-american-patriots-three-percent

https://warontherocks.com/2024/07/a-globally-integrated-islamic-state/

Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon and get access to "Extra Shot" for £3/$4: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

Take part in our anonymous listener survey which closes on Monday 24th September: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MSRSSSP

 

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

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies

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Follow Chris and Matt on Twitter/X:

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird