On today’s podcast, Chris is joined by former MI6 Officer turned best-selling author Charles Beaumont. They discuss the real-life inspiration behind Charle’s debut spy novel, “A Spy Alone”, and a little bit about his career in MI6. Charles also shares his literary influences, his approach to writing fiction and some tips if you are thinking of a career in intelligence.

Please note that in this episode we have disguised Charles’s voice.

To find out more about “A Spy Alone” and to get a copy visit the publisher's website here: https://www.canelo.co/books/a-spy-alone-charles-beaumont/

To connect with Charles you can follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cb20226

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On today’s episode, Matt welcomes back Phillip Smyth, one of the leading researchers of Iranian-backed militia groups in the Middle East. This time, they discuss last month’s exchange of missiles, drones, and airstrikes between Israel and Iran. Phillip helps unpack what triggered this latest cycle of violence, gauge Iran’s intent behind an unprecedented attack against Israel itself, and look ahead at how it may impact the war in Gaza and the wider conflict throughout the region.

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

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Hi all, due to essential maintenance works at London HQ, there won't be an Espresso Martini or Extra Shot this weekend. We are very sorry about this. We will have a new podcast out next weekend, so please stay tuned.

We hope you all have an excellent weekend and we will catch you on the next episode.

All the best

Chris & Matt

On today’s podcast, Chris is joined by national security Lawyer Mark S. Zaid. They discuss the legal case for the victims of the Anomalous Health Incidents, more popularly known as Havana Syndrome. Mark discusses the US government's denial and how that affects his clients, who have had their lives disrupted by these alleged attacks. 

You can find out more about Mark and his work here: https://markzaid.com/

You can follow Mark on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MarkSZaidEsq

If you feel politicians and decision-makers should be doing more to help the victims of these attacks, you can contact Politicians via the links below:

Contact your Senator: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

Contact your MP: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/

Support Secrets and Spies: 

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On today’s podcast Chris is joined by Dr James Giordano. Dr Giordano served as the consulting neuroscientist on research into the original cases of Havana Syndrome.

Dr. James Giordano is a neuroscientist and neuroethicist, whose work focuses upon mechanisms and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, and neuroethical issues arising from the use and misuse of neuroscientific techniques and technologies.

Dr Giordano wrote a fantastic article titled “Directed Energy Remains Key Suspect Behind Havana Syndrome” which looks at Dr Giordano’s research on directed energy devices and their potential weaponisation.

You can read that article here: https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2024/4/4/directed-energy-remains-key-suspect-behind-havana-syndrome

You can find out more about Dr. Giordano’s work at the links below: 

Georgetown University

https://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/00336000014Tm4oAAC/james-giordano

Bio Defense Research

https://biodefenseresearch.org/the-institute-for-biodefense-research-announces-dr-james-giordano-as-new-executive-director/

Support Secrets and Spies: 

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On today’s podcast, Chris is joined by Former US Navy Destroyer Captain Gene Moran to discuss the Houthi Threat in the Red Sea. In this episode, they look at the background of the Houthis, the threat that they pose, and how the US Navy and its allies are dealing with that threat. They then discuss life on a ship during a time of conflict and finish up with Gene explaining what more he thinks could be done to counter this threat. 

You can find out more about Gene and his work here: 

https://www.genemoran.com/

You can connect with Gene on LinkedIn here: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/genemoran

Check out Gene’s books on his Amazon page: 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gene-Moran/author/B07YW9RLMD?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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On today’s episode, we are going to look at Putin exploiting the ISIS-K attack for his war on Ukraine, House Republicans holding up US aid to Ukraine, and we will wrap up looking at new revelations on Havana Syndrome.

Then we will move to our Patreon only show “Extra Shot”. On that we will look at Chinese Disinformation efforts targeting the US elections, a Chinese Drone flying over the Sea of Japan, the results of a recent survey that suggests some US gun owners would engage in political violence, and we wrap up looking at Hollywood’s depiction of espionage in Film & TV. 

You will need to be a Patreon subscriber to get access to Extra Shot. Click here to subscribe and listen to Extra Shot: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extra-shot-13-04-102258042?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Articles discussed:

https://cepa.org/article/moscow-terror-attack-a-lie-too-good-to-waste/

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/01/us/politics/mike-johnson-ukraine-aid.html

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/08/mike-johnson-ukraine-aid-congress-republicans

https://theins.ru/en/politics/270425

Support Secrets and Spies: 

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On today’s podcast, we are joined by Ibad Bayramov, and we discuss the imprisonment of his father, Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, in Azerbaijan.

Dr Ibadoghlu is an economics professor who was a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and a leading figure in the opposition in Azerbaijan. In July 2023, he was arrested and held by Azerbaijan authorities while visiting family. He is facing up to 12 years in prison for the production, acquisition, or sale of counterfeit money by an organised group and allegedly possessing extremist material—charges he denies.

Find out more about Dr Ibadoghlu at the Gubad Files Website: https://thegubadfiles.com/

You can connect with and follow Ibad here:  https://twitter.com/BayramovIbad

Ibad’s sister Zhala is also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayramovaZhala

You can contact Politicians via the links below:

Contact your Senator: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

Contact your MP: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/

You can read more on some of the topics Ibad mentions about the political situation in Azerbaijan

Detention of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu

https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/61412/detention-of-dr-gubad-ibadoghlu-in-azerbaijan

https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/the-struggle-for-freedom-an-azerbaijani-economist-who-stands-up-to-aliyevs-kleptocracy

Concerns about Dr Ibadoghlu’s health

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/14/health-of-lse-academic-detained-in-azerbaijan-at-risk-say-family

US could do more to help Dr Ibadoghlu

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/11/united-states-must-do-more-help-gubad-ibadoghlu/

Doubt about the validity of Azerbaijan’s elections

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68237326

Caviar diplomacy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caviar_diplomacy

Pandora Papers

https://www.rferl.org/a/pandora-papers-tax-havens/31490744.html

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/queen-crown-estate-bought-property-family-azerbaijan-ruler

Azerbaijani Laundromat

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/04/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-azerbaijani-laundromat

Azerbaijan adopt harsh tactics against the opposition

https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijani-government-adopts-still-harsher-tactics-against-opposition

Human Rights report on Azerbaijan - Torture and Ill-Treatment in Detention

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/azerbaijan

BP and Azerbijan

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/08/bp-projects-have-helped-fund-azerbaijan-military-aggession-say-campaigners

UK Gov Risk Guidance on doing business in Azerbaijan

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-azerbaijan/overseas-business-risk-azerbaijan

Support Secrets and Spies:

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In today’s episode, we welcome Dr Taras Kuzio, who has just returned from a trip to Ukraine.

Dr. Taras Kuzio is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy and an Associate Research Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. Winner of the 2022 Peterson Literary Prize for Russian Nationalism and the Russian-Ukrainian War: Autocracy-Orthodoxy-Nationality (Routledge, 2022).

In the first section, we discuss the recent ISIS-K terrorist attack in Moscow and how President Putin is capitalising on that atrocity and attempting to blame Ukraine. We look at new Ukrainian tactics against Russia and an increasingly risk-averse US government to give Ukraine what it needs to defeat Russia.

We then shift focus to Dr Kuzio’s trip to Ukraine, in which he shares his observations, and then we look at how President Zelensky is holding up after recent reports that he has been at loggerheads with senior members of the Ukraine military. We also discuss some of the talking points about Ukraine on both sides of the political spectrum in the British and American press.

After the break, we’ll shift our focus to the lesser-known realm of the Ukrainian intelligence services and special forces, shedding light on their roles and actions.

So, it’s a pretty jam-packed episode, and we end with a few bonus questions about the Nord Stream pipeline attack, a strange conversation I had with a taxi driver in London about Ukraine that left me scratching my head, and a brief chat about Alexi Navalny’s links to the Russian far-right.

So pour yourself your favourite drink, make yourself comfortable and immerse yourself in an episode packed with revelations, analysis, and unexpected stories.

Lawrence Freedman Substack mentioned:

https://substack.com/profile/69709932-lawrence-freedman

New York Times Article mentioned:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/world/europe/cia-ukraine-intelligence-russia-war.html

Connect with Dr Kuzio: https://twitter.com/TarasKuzio

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As it's the Easter weekend, Chris and Matt are away. So today, we are going to share a sample episode of "Extra Shot," our Patreon-only show that immediately follows each episode of "Espresso Martini."

To get access to future and past episodes of "Extra Shot" please subscribe here:

www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

In this edition of Extra Shot, we will look at recommendations for a shake-up of British intelligence, the arrest of an alleged member of the Red Army Faction in Germany, we also look at the conviction of a left-wing terrorist in the UK and a cyber-attack against an Iranian spy ship. 

Links to articles discussed:

https://therecord.media/british-former-spy-chiefs-shakeup

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68415892

https://news.sky.com/story/left-wing-anarchist-guilty-of-terror-offences-after-declaring-he-wanted-to-kill-mps-13072775

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/us-conducted-cyberattack-suspected-iranian-spy-ship-rcna138638

NSPCC: “Spotting the signs of radicalisation”

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/dedicated-helplines/protecting-children-from-radicalisation/

Support Secrets and Spies: 

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