Alice Loxton
Dive deep into secrets behind iconic spy objects and gadgets. Hosted by historian Alice Loxton and featuring stars from art, design, architecture and more.
Listen Now
Subscribe
RUSSIA'S LAUNDROMAT, PART 2: THE GODFATHER
All around the world, dirty money pollutes public and private life. Those who wield it are a diverse cast of businessmen, politicians, and criminals - and sometimes, they're all three. In this anthology, Vanessa Kirby meets the investigators using open source intelligence to expose the murky relationship between international institutions and Russian financial crime. In Part 2, investigative journalist Olesya Shmagun goes on record with her efforts to expose the financial dealings of a wealthy musician with close ties to the Kremlin. But working against corruption inside the Russian Federation isn't without risk. Would you poke the bear?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
RUSSIA'S LAUNDROMAT, PART 1: MINISTRY OF THIEVES
All around the world, dirty money pollutes public and private life. Those who wield it are a diverse cast of businessmen, politicians, and criminals - and sometimes, they're all three. In this anthology, Vanessa Kirby meets the investigators using open-source intelligence to expose the murky relationship between international institutions and Russian financial crime. In Part 1, former financier and anti-corruption activist Roman Borisovich details an undercover operation in London where an eager real-estate industry is all too willing to get rich off of ill-gotten cash. Could you shine a light in the shadows?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS, PART 3: HANDS ACROSS LIBYA
After a shaky start, the friendship between Britain and America has blossomed in to one of the most important alliances on the world stage. In this anthology, Vanessa Kirby relates three crucial chapters in the evolution of the Special Relationship. In Part 3, former CIA case officer Jim Lawler and intelligence writer Michael Smith lift the lid on a rare joint operation between the CIA and MI6. When A.Q. Khan - the father of Pakistan's nuclear program - is caught selling nuclear secrets to rogue states, the Brits and the Americans must join forces to bring him down. To do so, they need the help of an unlikely ally - Colonel Moammar Gadhafi. Could you play games with global consequences? From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS PART 2: THE LISBON CONNECTION
After a shaky start, the friendship between Britain and America has blossomed into one of the most important alliances on the world stage. In this anthology, Vanessa Kirby relates three crucial chapters in the evolution of the Special Relationship. In Part 2, scholar and intelligence professional Dr. Anthony Wells takes us behind the scenes in WW2-era Lisbon, where rival spies work tirelessly to turn the tide of war. Among their number is Commander Ian Fleming, who mounts an operation that will provide the inspiration for a daring new American intelligence agency... Could you survive in the City of Spies? From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPSIODE HOMEPAGE
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS PART 1: THE ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM
After a shaky start, the friendship between Britain and America has blossomed in to one of the most important alliances on the world stage. In this anthology, Vanessa Kirby relates three crucial chapters in the evolution of the Special Relationship. In Part 1, scholar and intelligence professional Dr. Anthony Wells is your guide to the unprecedented carnage of WWI - and how a crafty British Naval Intelligence officer tipped the scales by bringing the US in to the conflict. Could you adapt to a new reality? From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
TEAM ALPHA PART 2: FIRST CASUALTY
October 17, 2001. The dust of 9/11 has barely settled. America and the world are reeling. In Afghanistan, eight CIA officers - a crack team of linguists, tribal experts, and paramilitaries - are the first Americans to infiltrate Taliban territory after the attacks. Their mission is to ensure that al-Qaeda does not strike again. They are Team Alpha. In Part II, Vanessa Kirby joins CIA linguist David Tyson and author Toby Harnden for the gripping conclusion to the first act of the War on Terror. Could you adapt to a new reality?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
TEAM ALPHA PART 1: THE TIP OF THE SPEAR
October 17, 2001. The dust of 9/11 has barely settled. America and the world are reeling. In Afghanistan, eight CIA officers - a crack team of linguists, tribal experts, and paramilitaries - are the first Americans to infiltrate Taliban territory after the attacks. Their mission is to ensure that al-Qaeda does not strike again.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
SEXPIONAGE PART 3: THE LOVER, THE AX, AND LEON TROTSKY
Throughout history, spies have used sex, seduction, and emotional manipulation to achieve their shadowy aims. In this three-part anthology, Vanessa Kirby joins espionage authors Henry Schlesinger and Michael Smith to uncover the real stories behind some of history's most explosive honeytrap operations. In Part III, Michael and Henry share the real spy story behind one of history's most famous murders. When Ramón Mercader attacked Marxist revolutionary Leon Trotsky at his home in Mexico, the evidence suggested a crime of passion. In reality, it was the culmination of a long and intricate honeypot operation by Stalin's secret service. Could you get close enough to kill?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
SEXPIONAGE PART 2: ANNA CHAPMAN
Throughout history, spies have used sex, seduction, and emotional manipulation to achieve their shadowy aims. In this three-part anthology, Vanessa Kirby joins espionage authors Henry Schlesinger and Michael Smith to uncover the real stories behind some of history's most explosive honeytrap operations. In Part II, Henry Schlesinger reveals the unlikely life and times of a celebrity spy. In 2010, Russian property entrepreneur Anna Chapman was exposed as one of 10 deep-cover agents working on US soil. Armed with SVR tradecraft, nightlife connections, and charm to spare she was linked to a variety of rich and influential men as she rose through the upper echelons of Western society - waiting for the moment to strike. Could you play the long game?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
SEXPIONAGE PART 1: OPERATION DIAMOND
Throughout history, spies have used sex, seduction and emotional manipulation to achieve their shadowy aims. In this three-part anthology, Vanessa Kirby joins espionage authors Henry Schlesinger and Michael Smith to uncover the real stories behind some of history's most explosive honeytrap operations. In Part 1, Michael Smith relates an audacious plot by the Israeli Mossad in the turbulent 1960s. Mossad officers targeted Iraqi pilots, hoping to seduce them into defecting with a MiG-21 - the next-gen fighter plane favored by Israel's enemies. In a bloody and dangerous mission spanning three continents, the outcome played a part in changing the face of the Middle East. How far would you go to level the playing field?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
THE SPY'S SON, PART 2, DARK INHERITANCE
When he was arrested in 1996, Jim Nicholson - nicknamed 'Batman' - was the highest-ranking CIA officer to be convicted of espionage for the Russian Federation. Ten years later, he did it again. Join Vanessa Kirby for the first ever True Spies duology - a tale of spy-craft, treachery, and a toxic father-son relationship. In Part 2, DoJ Attorney Ethan Knight shines the spotlight on Nicholson's son, Nathan, who was manipulated by his incarcerated father into continuing his espionage work. But before long, his spy fantasies turned sour. Could you live a double life?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
THE SPY'S SON PART 1, BRINGING DOWN BATMAN
When he was arrested in 1996, Jim Nicholson - nicknamed 'Batman' - was the highest-ranking CIA officer to be convicted of espionage for the Russian Federation. Ten years later, he did it again. Join Vanessa Kirby for the first-ever True Spies duology - a tale of spycraft, treachery, and a toxic father-son relationship. In Part 1, veteran CIA case officer John Maguire tells the story of his strangest mission, an operation on American soil to bring down one of his own colleagues. Could you befriend a traitor?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
NETWORK REQUEST
LinkedIn, the social network for professionals, is a part of working life for millions of people around the world. But do you really know who you're connected with? Vanessa Kirby joins former DIA officer J.T. Mendoza on a cross-agency collaboration to take down Kevin Patrick Mallory, an American traitor recruited online by a hostile foreign power. Do you think before you click?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
I WAS NEVER HERE
True spies work in all sorts of far-flung locales - but some assignments are closer to home. For Andrew Kirsch, a Special Operations officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the suburbs of Toronto hold as much intrigue as Moscow or Baghdad. Vanessa Kirby joins Andrew on a nail-biting infiltration mission to unmask a home-grown terrorist, right in his back yard. Could you spy in suburbia?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
HIDDEN HAND
Deep in the jungles of Central America, right-wing 'Contra' guerrillas face off against government forces. Major Alex, a Honduran Army officer, trains and supplies the Contras on the ground. Except Major Alex isn't a Major at all - he's Ric Prado, CIA. Vanessa Kirby joins Ric as he recalls the most nail-biting moments from his time undercover. Could you survive the jungle? From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Produced by Leo Hornak. Music by Nick Ryan.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
UNDERCOVER IN THE OLD WEST
In the Old West, money talks and six-guns shout. All too often, it's not a world that rewards subtlety. Enter Charlie Siringo, a detective with the world-famous Pinkerton Agency. Vanessa Kirby joins Charlie to outwit outlaws, bust fraudulent prospectors, and bring the hammer down on union toughs. Could you survive the Frontier?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
THE SPY WHO COULDN'T SPELL
Some stories are too fascinating to go untold. Author and journalist Yudhijit Bhattacharjee tells them. When he heard about a dyslexic spy who came close to selling some of America's most dangerous secrets, he had to know more. With the help of the FBI agent who brought the traitor to justice, he spent years researching this incredible tale. Could you put the pieces together?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
KING OF SCOTLAND YARD
It's 2003, and Coalition forces have taken Baghdad. A conference is held to portion out the contracts that will sustain the occupation. The United Kingdom sends a minister to negotiate their share - but the war-torn city is too dangerous for him to travel alone. Enter Carlton King - a senior protection officer with the Metropolitan Police Special Branch. With no time, three handguns and a broken sat-phone, Carlton and his tight-knit team must prepare the ground for the Minister's visit. Could you guarantee his safety?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
PURE GREEN GREED
In 1992, the Cold War is all but over. But for FBI Special Agent John Whiteside, the counterespionage case of a lifetime is about to begin. An anonymous source reports a traitor within the NSA, active during the height of the Vietnam War. He thinks he's gotten away with it - but the crimes of the past call for modern justice. Could you turn up the heat on a cold case?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
THE MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN
In the remote mountains of Northern Idaho, there's no shortage of places to hide. Fortunately, Deputy US Marshal Marc Cameron is an expert seeker. It's 1996, and a dangerous fugitive has taken refuge in the dense forests of Bonner County. Vanessa Kirby joins Marc on an audacious operation to lure the outlaw into the open. Could you hunt the deadliest game of all?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Ten Episodes Not To Miss
Ready to unlock the secrets of the spying game? Here's a quick intro to our True Spies series.
Howard Hunt Unleashed, Part 1: The CIA & Animal Farm
In this special two-part True Spies miniseries, Daisy Ridley presents a dramatized encounter with Everette Howard Hunt Jr, based on our own historical research and Hunt's own writings. In Part 1, Hunt explains his role in one of the CIA's most unusual PsyOps - the backing of 1954's animated version of George Orwell's Animal Farm.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
HAVANA SYNDROME SPECIAL
Debilitating neurological symptoms have affected US officials worldwide. Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos has been suffering since 2017 - he joins Russia expert and former CIA Station Chief John Sipher, and Dr. James Giordano to analyze Havana Syndrome.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPIDSODE HOMEPAGE
GRAY SUIT & THE GHOST
Eric O’Neill describes the hunt for the infamous FBI mole Robert Hanssen, who he was tasked with catching. Eric needs to get Hanssen into a hire car so his own car can be searched for evidence of his betrayal... but the hire car isn’t there and Hanssen is getting suspicious. What would you do in O'Neill's position?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
LISTEN NOW
THE ILLEGAL
'Jack Barsky' was a New York computer programmer for a well-known insurance firm. In real life, he was Albrecht Dittrich, a highly-trained Soviet sleeper agent dropped behind enemy lines in 1970s America. When the KGB recalled him to Europe, Barsky had a difficult choice to make: Should he leave his wife and 18-month-old baby behind or betray his country?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
LISTEN NOW
INSIDE NAMBLA
Bob Hamer had a colorful career as an undercover FBI agent but nothing prepared him for infiltrating Nambla, the North American Man/Boy Love Association. If he was going to put the pedophiles behind bars, Bob would have to hide his hatred and disdain - even if it ripped at the very fabric of his being. (Warning: This episode contains graphic details.)
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
WHITE TRAITOR
Sue Dobson was a white woman who wanted to spy for the African National Congress - making her a minority within a minority in apartheid-era South Africa. Dobson spent seven months training in the USSR to learn her tradecraft. Now she wasn’t just a traitor, she was a turncoat with the training to kill.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
PSYCHIC SPIES
Dr. Edwin May is an unusual scientist, a physicist who researches psychic phenomena. For decades he worked with psychics who believed they could ‘foresee’ events like potential terrorist attacks, which raised an interesting question: If you can see the future, are you condemned to experience it?
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
THE SOCIOPATHIC SPY
Working as a lawyer is one path to success, but Jim Lawler wanted adventure. He ditched his job in Texas and joined the CIA. On his first tour abroad, Jim had to recruit a spy working for a hostile government knowing she’d be killed if her cover was blown. That’s when Jim realized he was born with the type of sociopathic personality that would ensure success.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
ME AND THE MULLAH
Shawnee Delaney was a key part of the US team hunting Osama bin Laden in the wake of 9/11. One of her contacts was a Mullah with close ties to al-Qaeda but how could she win his trust? There was a language barrier and the Mullah refused to accept money for intelligence. This was shaping up to be Shawnee’s most challenging assignment yet.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
THE IRISHMAN
Sean Hartnett grew up in Ireland during the 'Troubles'. His family was Republican so they were shocked when Hartnett talked about joining the British Armed Forces. In fact, Hartnett went a step further. He joined the British Army’s most secretive covert counterterrorist unit in Northern Ireland, Joint Communications Unit Northern Ireland aka ‘The Det’.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
And, if you're into covert operations and intelligence gathering, check out these episodes:
EPISODE 71
RISE AND KILL FIRST
Ronen Bergman is an investigative journalist specializing in the dark arts of espionage and Mossad. In the early ‘80s, he stumbled on the scoop of a lifetime involving PLO chairman Yasser Arafat.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
TEAM ALPHA PART 1: THE TIP OF THE SPEAR
October 17, 2001. The dust of 9/11 has barely settled. America and the world are reeling. In Afghanistan, eight CIA officers - a crack team of linguists, tribal experts, and paramilitaries - are the first Americans to infiltrate Taliban territory after the attacks. Their mission is to ensure that al-Qaeda does not strike again.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
EPISODE 87
STALIN'S ROMEO SPY
As a young Soviet journalist, Emil Draitser stumbled on a story that changed his life. He was summoned by Dmitri Bystrolyotov to hear the deep secret that he was a ‘Stasi Romeo’ spying on Germany for Moscow, taking advantage of vulnerable women to steal state secrets. It was a fascinating tale, but it could also land Draitser in prison.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
ALDRICH AMES PART 1: THE ULTIMATE DOUBLE AGENT - SELLING SECRETS
The CIA is only as strong as the weakest link. And in the waning years of the Cold War, weak links were in ready supply. A number of trusted Agency officers were caught selling secrets to the Russian regime. And the most notorious traitor? Aldrich Hazen Ames.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
EPISODE 43
PUTIN'S PALACE?
Former Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny released a film in 2021 that sent shockwaves through the country. Part exposé, part-psychological portrait, his investigation claimed to reveal a culture of corruption within the Kremlin - with President Putin at its heart. The Kremlin and Putin deny everything.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
LISTEN TO ALL TRUE SPIES EPISODES Find us on Apple Podcasts
See all episodes here
Spy Sisters
See all episodes here
CIA Secrets
See all episodes here
FBI Secrets
See all episodes here
Russian Secrets
Manya Kullmann - Castro’s Keepsakes
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Tim Marlow - The Welbike
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Kengo Kuma - Nijo Jinya Hotel
Japan's Nijo Jinya Hotel is shrouded in mystery. Some say it was built in the 19th century. But most date it much earlier, to Japan’s Edo era, which started around 1600. Renown architect Kengo Kuma describes it as a paradise for Ninja spies.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Tom Ayling - Secret Service Payments Book
Who pays for all the King’s secrets? In between the lines of a tired old accounts ledger, a hidden history of espionage and scandal lies in wait. Antiquarian bookseller Tom Ayling and host Alice Loxton guide us through the secret affairs of King William III - with direct access to the payments that he kept away from prying eyes.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Trevor Paglen - Skynet
How dangerous is metadata? According to the artist and author Trevor Paglen, it can be deadly. Paglen joins host Alice Loxton to shine a light on Skynet - a network of all-seeing satellites - and the ominous AI algorithm that farms metadata and gets to decide who lives and who dies.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Simon Menner - The Coffee Pot
Who keeps on moving the coffee pot? That innocent question plunges one East German woman into a dangerous world of deception and betrayal. Photographer and archivist Simon Menner joins Alice Loxton to unravel a Cold War domestic mystery centered around the most inconspicuous of objects.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
The Cultural Tutor - Napoleon’s Briefcase
How did Napoleon keep a sprawling empire under his thumb? Ask Sheehan Quirke. He runs the popular history feed, The Cultural Tutor, and he’ll tell you that the great historical leader depended on a vast network of spies to keep him clued up. The fruits of their toil were delivered to him each morning in a leather briefcase. Here, Quirke and host Alice Loxton open up that tired old folio and explore the secrets hidden within.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Marc Newson - SR-71 Blackbird
How do you solve a problem like a Russian radar? That question lies at the heart of one of the most innovative and intricate planes ever to be made: the SR-71 Blackbird. Acclaimed industrial designer and artist Marc Newson and host Alice Loxton tell the story of an aircraft born out of an impossible brief.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Jung Chang - Chairman Mao Badge
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Dan Snow - PM’s Despatch Box
What official secrets hide inside that battered red leather box? Popular historian Dan Snow and host Alice Loxton peer inside a Victorian Prime Minister’s despatch box, and speculate on the world-changing intelligence that such a storied case once contained.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Daniel Arsham - Animal Farm Film Cels
What did George Orwell and the CIA have in common? Perhaps more than the great socialist writer would have cared to admit. The groundbreaking visual artists Daniel Arsham and host Alice Loxton bring us inside the CIA-sponsored production of Animal Farm.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Justin Jampol - Wende Museum Artifacts
To whom do retired spies turn after the collapse of their mission? Los Angeles’ Wende Museum holds one of the most impressive Cold War collections in the world and has become something of an amnesty box for old agents seeking to preserve a piece of their former lives. The Wende’s director Justin Jampol and host Alice Loxton explore highlights from the collection and peer into the history of tradecraft.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Elizabeth Bruton: Portland Spy Ring Ephemera
What does it take to betray your country? Less than you might think. Dr. Elizabeth Bruton and host, Alice Loxton, break down the surprisingly humble tool kit of one of the most destructive espionage networks in British history - the Portland Spy Ring.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Jason Isaacs: B-2 Spirit
How many secrets weigh 1500 lbs, cost $100 million, and travel at 600 mph? Only one that we can think of. Acclaimed actor Jason Isaacs and host Alice Loxton take us inside the cockpit of Northrop Grumman’s legendary B-2 Spirit – the iconic stealth bomber that epitomized late Cold War ingenuity.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
James Grime: Enigma Machine
How many secrets weigh 1500 pounds, cost $100m, and travel at 600 mph? Only one that we can think of. Acclaimed actor Jason Isaacs and host Alice Loxton take us inside the cockpit of Northrop Grumman’s legendary B-2 Spirit - the iconic stealth bomber that epitomized late Cold War ingenuity.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Anthony Horowitz: Joan Bright Astley’s Inner Circle
How long could you keep a secret? In the case of Joan Bright Astley, the answer was ‘To the grave.’ Acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz and host Alice Loxton offer up a gift from the real-life Miss Moneypenny - a formidable woman who protected the secrets of the notorious Special Operations Executive for as long as she lived.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EXPISODE HOMEPAGE
Lynette Nusbacher: Button Compass
How can a button save your life? It depends on who your tailor is. Military history expert Lynette Nusbacher and host Alice Loxton discuss an ingenious piece of covert pathfinding technology, designed for RAF pilots stranded behind enemy lines in World War II.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Thomas Heatherwick: Poison-Tipped Umbrella
What was the sharp pain that George Markov felt in his ankle as he crossed London’s Waterloo Bridge one day? Spoiler: it doesn’t end well for George. Designer Thomas Heatherwick and host Alice Loxton tell the sad tale of a Bulgarian dissident’s encounter with one of the most notorious tools of spycraft.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
Daniel Arsham: Jackson Pollock, Number 8
What connects the radical 20th century painter Jackson Pollock and the CIA? More than you’d think. Artist Daniel Arsham and host Alice Loxton share the surprising secret history of Pollock’s 1949 masterpiece, Number 8.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
EPISODE HOMEPAGE
A History of the World in Spy Objects: Trailer
The Enigma Machine. The B-2 stealth bomber. The poisoned-tipped umbrella. Napoleon’s Briefcase of Secrets. As long as there has been conflict, there have been spies, and as long as there have been spies, there have been incredible gadgets and iconic objects. Alice Loxton presents the stories of the tools that power the world of espionage in a brand new show for the SPYSCAPE Podcast Network. Get episodes early and ad-free with SPYSCAPE+ on Apple Podcasts.
Share with WhatsappShare with FacebookShare with Twitter
TRAILER
Daniel Arsham: Jackson Pollock, Number 8
A History of the World in Spy Objects: Trailer
Thomas Heatherwick: Poison-Tipped Umbrella
Lynette Nusbacher: Button Compass
Anthony Horowitz: Joan Bright Astley’s Inner Circle
James Grime: Enigma Machine
Jason Isaacs: B-2 Spirit
Elizabeth Bruton: Portland Spy Ring Ephemera
Justin Jampol - Wende Museum Artifacts
Daniel Arsham - Animal Farm Film Cels
Dan Snow - PM’s Despatch Box
Marc Newson - SR-71 Blackbird
Jung Chang - Chairman Mao Badge
The Cultural Tutor - Napoleon’s Briefcase
Simon Menner - The Coffee Pot
Trevor Paglen - Skynet
Tom Ayling - Secret Service Payments Book
Tim Marlow - The Welbike
Kengo Kuma - Nijo Jinya Hotel
Manya Kullmann - Castro’s Keepsakes

Gadgets & Gifts

Put your spy skills to work with these fabulous choices from secret notepads & invisible inks to Hacker hoodies & high-tech handbags. We also have an exceptional range of rare spy books, including many signed first editions.

Shop Now

Your Spy SKILLS

We all have valuable spy skills - your mission is to discover yours. See if you have what it takes to be a secret agent, with our authentic spy skills evaluation* developed by a former Head of Training at British Intelligence. It's FREE so share & compare with friends now!

dISCOVER Your Spy SKILLS

* Find more information about the scientific methods behind the evaluation here.