SpyTalk

SpyTalk

Download on the App Store

SpyTalk episodes

  • Meeting of the Minds

    Ahead of presidents Putin and Biden meeting in Geneva, a psychiatrist puts the leader of Russia on the couch. Dr. Kenneth Dekleva, who served in the US embassy in Moscow, joins co-host Jeanne Meserve for a special edition of SpyTalk.

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    23 min
  • That Was Then

    Chinese espionage poses a mortal threat to the US, former counterintelligence boss Bill Evanina tells Jeanne Meserve. And author Kai Bird talks with Jeff Stein about a clandestine plot with Iran by Reagan campaign manager and future CIA Director Bill Casey to deny Jimmy Carter re-election. 



    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    48 min
  • Cyber Counterpunch

    On this special edition of SpyTalk, co-host Jeanne Meserve speaks with William Evanina, former Director of the United States National Counterintelligence and Security Center about the recent spate of ransomware attacks. Evanina says President Biden should threaten to pull out of the upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that the US should demonstrate it is willing and able to shut down Russian infrastructure.

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    14 min
  • The Gathering Storms

    Former top FBI domestic extremist specialist Tom O’Connor tells co-host Jeanne Meserve in a startling interview that he’s worried about another Timothy McVeigh plotting something big. And Jeff Stein talks with veteran intelligence reporter Bill Arkin about a vast Pentagon secret army combatting our enemies that no one’s heard about. 

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    52 min
  • Spies in the Soup

    Jean Meserve talks with former Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Juliette Kayyem about the mess in DHS’ intelligence shop, and Jeff Stein interviews Barry Meier about his new book, “Spooked: The Trump Dossier, Black Cube, and the Rise of Private Spies.”

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    58 min
  • Panetta’s Regret

    Former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was praised in a multitude of articles and broadcasts marking the 10th anniversary of the elimination of Osama Bin Laden earlier this month. But in an hour long interview with Jeff Stein, he described a major failing of US intelligence during his watch. Listen to it here. 



    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    57 min
  • Has the CIA Lost Its Grip on the Middle East?

    CIA clandestine services veteran and longtime Middle East hand Marc Polymeropoulos tells Jeff Stein that the CIA no longer prizes regional expertise, instead opting for spy corps “generalists” who can be shifted from region to region. In this Special Edition of the SpyTalk podcast, Polymeropoulos laments the passing of Charlie Seidel, who he calls the CIA’s “last great Arabist.”

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    34 min
  • Crisis and Confusion

    In the fourth edition of the SpyTalk podcast, former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen talks with co-host Jeanne Meserve about combatting “psychological warfare” disinformation attacks from Russia, China, Iran and even Venezuela, and former top CIA analyst Mathew Burrows tells her that US intelligence is so busy coping with immediate threats they “can’t see the forest for the trees.” Leading off the show, Jeff Stein talks with Janis Shinwari, an Afghan interpreter for US intelligence units, who says thousands of his comrades are terrified about being left behind and murdered by the Taliban when US forces leave in September. 

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    1 hr 1 min
  • Shots in the Dark

    Jeanne Meserve looks into the mysterious directed-energy attacks on officials in Washington with Mark Zaid, lawyer for CIA and State Department victims. Then Ronen Bergman, author of a groundbreaking book on Israeli assassination operations, talks with Jeff Stein about the effect of Mossad’s hits on Iran’s nuclear scientists and uranium facilities. Last but hardly least, Jeanne talks at length with technology venture capitalist Gilman Louie about his work with the CIA and the perils of losing the race on artificial intelligence to America’s adversaries.

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    56 min
  • Fire and Ice

    In this week’s edition of the SpyTalk podcast, Jeff Stein goes deep on the CIA’s looming eviction from Afghanistan with Lisa Curtis, a longtime former CIA, State Department and White House National Security Council expert on the region. And then co-host Jeanne Meserve conducts a lively interview with a former senior CIA and NSA analyst, Alma Katsu, about her new, post-government-service thriller, Red Widow, which features a gutsy female spy heroine.

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/SpyTalker

    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter
    https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3

    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/isikoff

     

    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/talk_spy

    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack

     

    https://www.spytalk.co/

    Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.

    http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.



    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker
    Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff
    Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
    Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy
    Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack | https://www.spytalk.co/


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    58 min

About SpyTalk

From the publisher's feed

SpyTalk lives at the intersection of intelligence operations, foreign policy, homeland security, and military strategy. Hosted by veteran national security journalists Jeff Stein, Michael Isikoff…