The Rest Is Classified

Latest Episodes:

166. The Covid Origin Story: Lab Leak or Animal Outbreak? (Ep 1) Jun 14, 2026

Show notes

Where does the CIA think the Covid-19 virus came from? And could it have been intentionally leaked as an act of biological warfare?

Listen as David and Gordon step inside the investigation as to where Covid came from.

-------------------

THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

165. Why England Didn't Win the 1970 World Cup (Ep 2) Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Could England have won the 1970 World Cup if their star goalkeeper, Gordon Banks, hadn't contracted food poisoning the day before the quarter-final? And could the CIA have had anything to do with England's 60 years of hurt?

David and Gordon are joined by journalist Gabriel Gatehouse to get to the bottom of whether the CIA poisoned England's World Cup ambitions.

-------------------

Listen to Gabriel's full investigation, Foul Play: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/foul-play/id1896803199

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

164. Did the CIA Poison England's World Cup Goalkeeper? (Ep 1) Jun 07, 2026

Show notes

Why did Gordon Banks pull out of the 1970 World Cup quarter-final against West Germany? And was the CIA to blame?

Listen as David and Gordon are joined by journalist Gabriel Gatehouse who has spent the past three years investigating whether the CIA poisoned England's star goalkeeper.

-------------------

Listen to Gabriel's full investigation, Foul Play: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/foul-play/id1896803199

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

163. Argo: Smuggled Out of Khomeini's Iran (Ep 4) Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

Six American diplomats are about to walk through the Tehran airport with alias Canadian passports. But will they make it through? And how does the real Argo end?

As the story reaches its dramatic conclusion, David and Gordon look at what can be learnt from the 1979 plot to smuggle six American diplomats out of Iran.

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

162. Argo: How the CIA Made a Movie That Never Existed (Ep 3) May 31, 2026

Show notes

Tony Mendez has just landed in revolutionary Tehran. Now he must teach six terrified diplomats to be a Hollywood film crew… in 72 hours.

Listen as David and Gordon reach the climax of their adventure into the true story behind Argo.

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Iran Recruiting Spies to Conduct Anti-Semitic Attacks? May 28, 2026

Show notes

Are groups linked to the Islamic Republic recruiting spies on Telegram to coordinate anti-semitic attacks in Europe? How are Jordanian people feeling about the war in Iran? And why is anti-western sentiment reaching new heights in the Middle East?

Listen as David McCloskey is joined by award-winning CNN International Correspondent Jomana Karadsheh, to discuss her latest reporting on how what appear to be Iran-linked groups are using social media to recruit individuals to carry out surveillance and attacks on Jewish communities.

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

161. Argo: Six Fugitives in Revolutionary Tehran (Ep 2) May 27, 2026

Show notes

Six Americans are hiding out as Canadian houseguests in Tehran. To get them out, the CIA will invent a Hollywood film studio that does not exist.

In this episode, David and Gordon examine how the CIA worked with Hollywood to plan a daring escape from revolutionary Iran during the hostage crisis.

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

160. Argo: The Secret Iranian Hostage Crisis (Ep 1) May 24, 2026

Show notes

One of the most audacious rescue operations the CIA has ever run. It begins with a mob at the gates of the US Embassy in Tehran, six diplomats slipping out a side door, and a man painting a wolf in a studio above his garage in rural Maryland.

Listen as David and Gordon tell the true story of Argo.

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

159. Is NATO Prepared for a Russian Attack? May 21, 2026

Show notes

How worried are Baltic countries about the threat from Russia? Would the US protect its NATO allies from Putin? And what is happening on the Estonian border?

Last weekend, Gordon headed to the annual Lennart Meri security conference in Estonia to speak with experts from across the world about the security challenges the region is currently facing. Listen as he speaks with journalists, former presidents, and former NATO intelligence analysts about what is happening across the Baltics.

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

158. The Road to Iraq: George Bush's Unstoppable War (Ep 6) May 20, 2026

Show notes

Was Iraq WMD one of history’s biggest intelligence failures? Why couldn’t Saddam Hussein prove he has destroyed his weapons of mass destruction? And what is the legacy of the Iraq War in the Middle East?

Listen as David and Gordon conclude their investigation into Iraq WMD and analyse what has been learnt from the decision to go to war with Iraq.

-------------------

Just go to ⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor