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/

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

In the Season 9 premiere of the Secrets & Spies podcast, hosts Chris Carr and Matt Fulton reveal exciting new plans for the show, including a transition to video. They dive into breaking stories, starting with the shocking failed ISIS attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna—exposing the growing threat of teenage online radicalization. The episode also covers the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France for failing to regulate harmful content, and the DOJ’s exposure of ties between American influencers and Russian state media. Finally, they discuss a rare joint interview with CIA Director William Burns and SIS Chief Sir Richard Moore, offering insights into the historic US-UK intelligence collaboration amid rising global tensions.

Tune in for expert analysis on terrorism, online extremism, and intelligence from the leaders shaping the global security landscape.

Video version available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/espresso-martini-112014979

"The Tortured Teens Department: What the Terror Plot Against a Taylor Swift Concert Tells Us About Youth Extremism" by Farah Pandith & Jacob Ware | US News & World Report

"Who is Pavel Durov, the Russian-born Telegram founder arrested in France?" by Niha Masih | The Washington Post

"U.S. Investigating Americans Who Worked With Russian State Television" by Steven Lee Myers & Julian E. Barnes | The New York Times

CIA director Bill Burns and MI6 chief Richard Moore talk to FT editor Roula Khalaf | The Financial Times

Click here to tune into our Patreon Show Extra Shot: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extra-shot-13-09-112015759.

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

On today’s episode (originally aired January 20th, 2024), Matt speaks with aerospace historian Peter Merlin, whose new book, DREAMLAND: THE SECRET HISTORY OF AREA 51, is the first authoritative, scholarly history ever published on the infamous top-secret base deep in the Nevada desert. This isn’t a book about UFOs or conspiracy theories but instead offers a sweeping, comprehensive study of the real Area 51, where for 70 years the US Air Force has developed and tested classified military aircraft like the U-2 and SR-71 spy planes, the F-117 stealth fighter, and some projects that will remain secret for decades to come.

Purchase DREAMLAND through Schiffer Publishing: https://schifferbooks.com/products/dreamland

Find DREAMLAND and Peter’s other books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Peter-W.-Merlin/author/B001JS0GU6

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Chris and Matt are enjoying a late-summer break. Please enjoy this episode of Extra Shot, our bonus show for Patreon subscribers, originally aired May 11th, 2024. Secrets and Spies will return for season 9 with a new Espresso Martini on September 14th.

Take our anonymous listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MSRSSSP

"Asio boss says privacy ‘not absolute’ as he urges social media companies to do more on extremism" by Josh Butler | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/24/asio-boss-says-privacy-not-absolute-as-he-urges-social-media-companies-to-do-more-on-extremism

"Autocracies Are Winning the Information War" by Tom Nichols | The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/05/the-plot-to-discredit-democracy/678315/

"Putin’s Propagandists Rage Against the Republican ‘Betrayal’" by Julia Davis | CEPA: https://cepa.org/article/putins-propagandists-rage-against-the-republican-betrayal/

"The Royal Navy is going through difficult times" by Stavros Atlamazoglou | Sandboxx News: https://www.sandboxx.us/news/royal-navy-woes/

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Hello, everyone. We just wanted to say a huge thank you for your support during season 8. We will be starting Season 9 on the 14th of September.

Before we start the new season, we wanted to hear from you about your thoughts on the podcast and if there is anything you would like us to do.

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Join us on today’s podcast as we sit down with author and investigative journalist Tim Tate to chat about his fascinating new book, To Catch A Spy. Tim takes us behind the scenes of the SpyCatcher affair, where the Thatcher government of the 1980s tried to silence MI5 whistleblower Peter Wright. It’s a gripping tale of cover-ups, deception, and its impact on MI5 today. So, grab your favourite drink, get comfortable, and enjoy this intriguing conversation with Tim!

To find out more about Tim and To Catch A Spy, visit: https://timtate.co.uk/

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Secrets & Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

In this episode, we’re joined by Florian Flade, an investigative journalist for Germany’s public broadcaster ARD, based in Berlin. Florian takes us inside the gripping true story of two Russian sleeper spies who lived undercover in Germany for years, posing as an ordinary family. Drawing parallels to the fictional world of The Americans, this real-life espionage tale reveals the extraordinary lengths to which Russia will go to spy on foreign nations. Join us as Florian shares insights from his in-depth research and podcast, shedding light on one of the most remarkable espionage operations uncovered in recent history.

Please note that this episode was recorded before the historic prisoner swap with Russia in early August.

To listen to Florian’s podcast “Die Anschlags – Russlands Spione unter uns”  visit this link: https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/die-anschlags-russlands-spione-unter-uns-wdr-und-ndr/13420611/

For more information and to connect with Florian, please follow the links below.

Blog: https://ojihad.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/FlorianFlade

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Secrets & Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

 

On today’s episode, Washington Post national security reporter and friend of the show, Shane Harris, joins Matt to discuss last week's historic prisoner exchange between the US and Russia, securing the release of several prominent journalists and pro-democracy activists. Shane dives into his reporting on the swap, detailing months of delicate negotiations, who the Russians got in return, and touches on the complicated question of whether these exchanges incentivize autocrats like Putin to take hostage more Westerners and journalists to extract concessions from their governments.

Read Shane’s work for The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/shane-harris/

Follow Shane on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/shaneharris

Follow Shane on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@shanewharris

"Inside the deal that led to a blockbuster prisoner swap between US, Russia" by Shane Harris, Yasmeen Abutaleb & Souad Mekhennet: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/08/01/deal-us-russia-prisoner-swap/

Committee to Protect Journalists: https://cpj.org

James Foley Legacy Foundation: https://jamesfoleyfoundation.org

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In today’s special episode, Phillip Smyth, a leading expert on Iranian-backed militias, returns to dissect the latest wave of conflict in the Middle East. Recent escalations have claimed the lives of a dozen Israeli civilians and two senior leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. Retaliation from Iran and its allies is expected at any moment, leaving the region once again on the brink of a potentially more widespread and unrestrained war. Phillip sheds light on who these two men were and what their deaths mean for their organizations, parses the delicate messaging and maneuvering behind the scenes, and offers his insights on what Iran and Hezbollah’s imminent response might entail.

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

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

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

"Who Is Fuad Shukr, Target of the Israeli Strike on Beirut?" by Aaron Boxerman, Ronen Bergman & Euan Ward: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/world/middleeast/fuad-shukr-hezbollah-israel-strike.html

"Bomb Smuggled Intro Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago Killed Hamas Leader" by Ronen Bergman, Mark Mazzetti & Farnaz Fassihi: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/world/middleeast/how-hamas-leader-haniyeh-killed-iran-bomb.html

"Iran Arrests Dozens in Search for Suspects in Killing of Hamas Leader" by Farnaz Fassihi: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/world/middleeast/iran-security-response-hamas-assassination.html

"Houthis Launch Deadly Drone Strike on Tel Aviv, Evading Israel’s Defenses" by Gabby Sobelman, Aaron Boxerman, Ronen Bergman, Lara Jakes & Erin Mendel: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/world/middleeast/houthis-drone-strike-tel-aviv.html

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On today’s podcast, we are joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, historian, and journalist Anne Applebaum. In this episode, we discuss Anne’s latest book, Autocracy Inc., which examines how and why autocracies try to undermine democracy.

We also consider what can be done to better protect ourselves from anti-democratic propaganda.

Find out more about “Autocracy Inc” here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725302/autocracy-inc-by-anne-applebaum

Connect with Anne and find out more about her work here: https://www.anneapplebaum.com

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