Spybrary Spy Podcast

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The Grey Men: Pursuing the Stasi into the Present with former FBI Agent Ralph Hope Jul 29, 2021

Show notes

Guest host Steven Minegar chats with author Ralph Hope about his latest book. What do you do with a hundred thousand idle spies? By 1990 the Berlin Wall had fallen and the East German state security service folded. For forty years, they had amassed more than a billion pages in manila files detailing the lives of their citizens. Almost a hundred thousand Stasi employees, many of them experienced officers with access to highly personal information, found themselves unemployed overnight. This is the story of what they did next. Former FBI agent Ralph Hope uses present-day sources and access to Stasi records to track and expose ex-officers working everywhere from the Russian energy sector to the police and even the government department tasked with prosecuting Stasi crimes. He examines why the key players have never been called to account and, in doing so, asks if we have really learned from the past at all. He highlights a man who continued to fight the Stasi for thirty years after the Wall fell, and reveals a truth that many today don't want spoken. The Grey Men comes as an urgent warning from the past at a time when governments the world over are building an unprecedented network of surveillance over their citizens. Ultimately, this is a book about the present.

The True History of the Women of SOE - Mission France with Dr. Kate Vigurs Jul 26, 2021

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Mission France tells the full story of the thirty-nine female SOE agents who went undercover in France. We interview the author, historian Dr. Kate Vigurs to find out more.

Spy Rewind - Danger Man (156) Jul 18, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of Spy Rewind - Matthew and Jeff take a look at the groundbreaking 1960 TV series Danger Man, specifically the episode - Time to Kill. They discuss whether John Drake is the JFK of spies, why you should always keep your bullets in loaves of bread, and the proper attire for an assassin. Plus, rock out to Jeff's rendition of the song Secret Agent Man! All that and more in this episode of Spybrary. links at www.spybrary.com/156

Spy Rewind - Danger Man (156) Jul 18, 2021

Show notes

Spy Book Collectors - Collecting John le Carré novels (155) Jul 04, 2021

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We talk with one of the foremost collectors of John le Carré, Steven Ritterman, whose collection of pristine le Carré editions numbers over 300 items. We learn about the Haycroft-Queen list, rare signed editions and Steve's undercover mission to meet le Carré himself. All that plus talk on champagne toasts with Otto Penzler, meeting Eric Ambler, literal juggling balls and a little Silverview talk from a couple of le Carré collectors.

Spy Rewind - Scarecrow and Mrs. King Review (154) Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

Jeff and Matthew are back with the latest Spy Rewind where they take a look at a specific episode of a Spy tv show and talk about that episode plus a bit about the series as a whole. This week they discuss the 1980's show Scarecrow and Mrs. King

The Alpha List by Ted Allbeury (Brush Pass) Jun 06, 2021

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Spybrary Spy Podcast Host Shane Whaley gives us his brush pass spy book review of The Alpha List by Ted Allbeury.

'Truly a classic writer of espionage fiction' - Len Deighton

Dave Marsh and Charlie Kelly grew up together on the backstreets of Birmingham. Now Charlie is a Labour MP and Dave an Intelligence agent.

When Charlie comes under suspicion of passing secrets to the Russians, Dave is given the task of investigating his old friend. He seems to be able to prove his case soon enough, but as Charlie points out, he doesn't know half of what is really going on. He doesn't know about the Alpha List.

Spy Rewind - Review of Mr Palfrey of Westminster (152) May 31, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of Spy Rewind Matthew and Jeff take a look at the 1985 TV series Mr Palfrey of Westminster, specifically series two episode - Official Secret. They discuss the joy of seeing London in all it's 80's glory, the alarming decline of walking stick/umbrella shops, and whether there really were Soviet moles hiding under every MI5 couch cushion. Plus, revel in Jeff's terrible English and Russian accents! All that and more in this episode of Spybrary.

Adventures in Spy Research with Jeremy Duns and Jeff Quest (151) May 20, 2021

Show notes

Jeremy Duns and Jeff Quest talk through some of the in's and out's of research, and especially spy research, in the hopes of encouraging others to do research too. We talk about the lost Pinkerton manuscript, the time Jeremy nearly got kicked out of an interview before it even started, how Jeff got the title of an author's book wrong within 30 seconds of starting an interview and why you should turn every page. All that and more in this episode of Spybrary.

Spybrary at 150! Special Transmission for all Spybrarians (150) May 12, 2021

Show notes

A special message to Spybrary listeners around the world to celebrate episode 150!

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