Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs – Details, episodes & analysis

Ahmed Aboudouh — associate fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme and head of the China Studies Unit at the Emirates Policy Center — joins Chris to assess the shifting architecture of power in the Middle East. He argues that China has no coherent regional strategy and that Washington's expectation of Chinese pressure on Tehran reflects a fundamental misreading of Beijing's interests and the limits of coercive statecraft. He traces how Egypt’s diplomacy reflects a country that has traded regional leadership for crisis management, explains why Arab states want a normalized Iran rather than a weakened one, and argues that the war will intensify multi-alignment rather than force a binary choice between Washington and Beijing. With the Abraham Accords effectively dead, the United States faces a damning paradox of its own making: deeper military entanglement, eroding strategic credibility.

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More about Ahmed on Chatham House: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/ahmed-aboudouh

Connect with Ahmed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-aboudouh-346b1459/

Follow Ahmed on X: https://x.com/AAboudouh

Read Ahmed’s work for Chatham House

"Why Egypt is helping to end the Iran war": https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/05/why-egypt-helping-end-iran-war

"China will benefit from the Iran war, regardless of any deal between Trump and Tehran": https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/05/china-will-benefit-iran-war-regardless-any-deal-between-trump-and-tehran

"China is playing the long game over Iran": https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/02/china-playing-long-game-over-iran

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Music by Andrew R. Bird

Photo by Bandar Algaloud/Saudi Royal Court, Chatham House

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. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

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Julian Fisher spent his career as a British intelligence operative before distilling what he learned into the Think Like a Spy: Strategic Relations Workshop—and his central argument is counterintuitive: the most transferable lessons from intelligence work aren't classified techniques, they're interpersonal skills. In conversation with Chris, Fisher argues that human intelligence, at its core, is the disciplined practice of building trust, reading people accurately, and cultivating long-term strategic relationships—competencies with direct applications in leadership, negotiation, and professional life. The conversation covers his distinction between influence and manipulation (one operates in a subject's interests; the other subverts them), the role of self-awareness and genuine curiosity in effective leadership, and the trained capacity to step off the emotional battlefield and respond deliberately rather than react. Drawing on methods developed in intelligence, military, and law-enforcement contexts, Fisher's framework treats networking not as contact collection but as the construction of durable, mutually beneficial bonds—the kind that take years to build and, when they matter, make all the difference.

Join Julian's course that starts on 23rd June here:
https://theintelligencemaven.com

Connect with Julian here:
https://julesfisher.com/

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD: https://filmsandpodcasts.co.uk/

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Photo by Canva

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. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

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John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea, former senior CIA officers and co-founders of Spycraft Entertainment, return to the show for a conversation with Matt and Chris about what Hollywood gets wrong about espionage—and what they're trying to do about it. They dig into the tropes that break the spell (the lone hero, the ditched tail, the torture-porn shortcuts), why real intelligence work is quieter, more bureaucratic, and more character-driven than the screen suggests, and how lazy spy fiction feeds the conspiracy theories they now debunk on their podcast Mission Implausible. Their conversation ranges across the economics of pitching subtlety to risk-averse studios, the moral gray zones that make for better drama than propaganda ever could, the "deep state" as misnomer, and the unsung assets who are the real heroes of most operations. Along the way: a bubble in Moscow for marital fights, a 16-year-old Yazidi girl who helped bring down ISIS, and why the Glomar Explorer remains the great white whale of the genre.

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Learn more about Spycraft Entertainment: https://spycraftentertainment.com/

Listen to John and Jerry’s podcast, Mission Implausible: https://podcasts.apple.com/fm/podcast/mission-implausible/id1728340033

Follow John on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johnsipher.bsky.social

Audio: https://pod.fo/e/401167
YouTube: https://youtu.be/MhJxmS2MItQ

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Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:
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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD: https://filmsandpodcasts.co.uk/
Music by Andrew R. Bird
Photo by Spycraft Entertainment

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. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

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On today’s episode, Matt is joined by another leading counterterrorism researcher, Aaron Zelin. Aaron has spent years studying the global jihadi movement, focusing on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. They explore the resurgence of the Islamic State following its territorial defeat in Iraq and Syria in 2017, and the evolving threat the group poses to the United States and other countries—from recent attacks in Iran, Russia, and New Orleans, and the organizational restructuring that’s made them rather resilient. Unpack these critical issues with one of the foremost experts in the field.

Read Aaron’s work for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/aaron-y-zelin

Read Aaron’s Substack, Jihadology+: https://www.jihadologyplus.com

Read Aaron’s past work for Jihadology: https://jihadology.net

"A Globally Integrated Islamic State" by Aaron Zelin | War on the Rocks

"Remaining, Waiting for Expansion (Again): The Islamic State’s Operations in Iraq and Syria" by Aaron Zelin | The Hudson Institute

Follow Aaron on Twitter/X: https://x.com/azelin
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On this episode, we delve into the world of intelligence with Julian Fisher, a renowned intelligence specialist and author. We explore the covert yet powerful skills of influence and persuasion honed by intelligence officers to elicit cooperation from even the most hardened individuals. Discover how these techniques can be ethically adapted to achieve your personal and professional goals. Julian, the founder of Africa Integrity, a leading private intelligence company, and the face of the Channel 4 TV series 'Spies' in 2017, brings a unique perspective to this fascinating conversation.

Find out more about “Think Like A Spy” here: https://julesfisher.com/book/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JFcgWnwEiqc?si=HnPbNXW0Fs-dgO5c

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In this episode, Sam Liechtenstein from RANE (Risk Assistance Network + Exchange) joins us to dissect their annual geopolitical forecast. We discussed a range of pressing issues, including:

• The deteriorating global climate cooperation
• The evolving conflict in Ukraine
• The shifting political landscape in Europe
• The Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• US-China tensions
• Political uncertainties in Asia
• North Korea's military threats
• Taiwan's strategic position
• India's rising influence
• Pakistan's instability
• Jihadism in Sub-Saharan Africa
• South Africa's political dynamics
• The implications of a potential Trump presidency

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In this conversation, Chris and author Henry Hemming delve into the intricate world of espionage during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, focusing on the roles of spies, informants, and key figures like Frank Hegarty and Freddy Scappatici. They discuss the political landscape that led to Operation Banner, the evolution of the IRA, and the cultural stigma surrounding informers. The conversation also highlights the challenges faced by intelligence operations and the moral complexities involved in espionage.

Get a copy of “Four Shots In The Night” here: https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles/henry-hemming/four-shots-in-the-night/9781529426786/

Find out more about Henry Hemming and his work here: https://henryhemming.com/

Check out our past interview with Henry about his book “Our Man In New York”: https://pod.fo/e/ca367

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/OWmWkMq3hqM

Support Secrets and Spies

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Music by Andrew R. Bird

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Hi everyone, we wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. 

We also wanted to say a huge thank you to each of you for your support over 2024. We have more episodes to share over the Holidays, so please stay tuned.

In the meantime, we hope you have a wonderful holiday period, and we will catch you in 2025 for more.


Support Secrets and Spies

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

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

For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird

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In this episode, we’re joined by Florian Flade, an investigative journalist for Germany’s public broadcaster WDR based in Berlin. In this conversation, Florian discusses the activities of Russian research ships that are suspected of espionage. He explains how these ships, while officially labeled as academic vessels, are equipped with advanced technology for intelligence gathering, mainly focusing on critical underwater infrastructure. The conversation delves into the geopolitical implications of these activities, the Russian government's official stance, and the role of Chinese ships in potential sabotage operations.

Additionally, the discussion highlights the legal challenges in addressing maritime espionage and the difficulties in investigating incidents at sea. Florian also discusses NATO's evolving strategies in response to Russian spy ships, particularly in the context of the Baltic Sea. He highlights the increasing urgency and coordination among NATO members, the challenges of hybrid warfare, and the implications for defence spending in Germany.

The discussion also touches on public perceptions of security threats and the historical context of espionage activities, culminating in a personal account of encountering spy ships.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ojllHsImbNk

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After a despotic reign of over five decades, marked by 13 years of bloody civil war that killed over half a million people and displaced millions more, the al-Assad dynasty’s rule over Syria has come to a sudden, shocking end. In just under two weeks, rebel groups mounted an offensive that captured a string of major cities, culminating in the fall of Damascus with barely a shot being fired and Bashar al-Assad fleeing into exile in Moscow. It’s difficult to understate what a complete sea change these events are for Syria and the Middle East. Today, Phillip Smyth returns to help us make sense of how this all unfolded so quickly, so unexpectedly, and what it means for Iran and its proxies like Lebanese Hezbollah, who propped up the Assad regime and counted on Syria as a hub to exert their influence throughout the region.

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

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

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

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