Podcasts · History

The Rest Is Classified

Goalhanger

223 episodes

Enter the secretive world of spies, espionage, and covert operations. Hosted by former CIA analyst turned spy novelist, David McCloskey, and veteran security correspondent, Gordon Corera, this podcast unravels real-life spy stories, intelligence secrets, and the hidden power struggles shaping global events. From Cold War espionage to modern-day intelligence agencies like the CIA, MI6, and Mossad, explore the world of double agents, classified missions, and the shadowy figures who operate in them. Whether you're a true crime addict, a thriller fan, or fascinated by spy stories, this is the show for you.

Episodes page 1 of 5

  1. 201. Kim Philby: Exiled in Moscow (Ep 6)

    · 56 min · S1 E201

    Kim Philby was perhaps the greatest spy of the twentieth century, but who was he really working for all along? This is the moment the Philby story reaches its dramatic conclusion… Listen as David and Gordon wrap up…

  2. Intelligence Scoop: Is Saudi Arabia Spying on Silicon Valley?

    · 56 min

    Is Saudi Arabia spying inside Silicon Valley? And are America's tech secrets at risk? Listen as David and Gordon dig into the wild story of an engineer allegedly stealing secrets from Open AI - the makers of ChatGPT.…

  3. 200. Kim Philby: Unmasking MI6’s Greatest Traitor (Ep 5)

    · 49 min · S1 E200

    Has the past finally caught up with MI6 officer and KGB spy Kim Philby? His best friend has been sent out to confront him - but who will win out? Listen as David and Gordon reach the penultimate episode in the wild…

  4. Intelligence Scoop: The Biggest Threats to Britain, Live From MI5

    · 49 min

    What really happened at RAF Fairford? Are Russia and Iran escalating their attacks on the UK? And could AI help terrorists develop deadly bioweapons? Listen as David and Gordon dissect the key stories from MI5’s…

  5. 199. Kim Philby: Undercover in Beirut (Ep 4)

    · 47 min · S1 E199

    Kim Philby is staying one step ahead of his pursuers who suspect the MI6 man is also a KGB agent. Now he’s heading to the Middle East where his past will catch up with him in some unusual ways. Listen as David and…

  6. Intelligence Scoop: Former German Spy Chief Arrested for Treason

    · 36 min

    Germany’s former intelligence chief has been arrested for treason and spying for a foreign power. But who has he been accused of spying for? And how dangerous could this accusation be for the BND? Listen as David and…

  7. 198. Kim Philby: Interrogated by MI5 (Ep 3)

    · 51 min · S1 E198

    Two of the Cambridge spies have fled to Moscow and now the finger of suspicion is pointing at the Third Man - Kim Philby. But will the top MI6 officer crack under pressure as the claims against him become public?…

  8. London Station (Extract)

    · 33 min · Bonus

    To coincide with the release of David's latest novel, London, we have the book’s first two chapters in audiobook form for you to enjoy. Artemis Procter returns in David McCloskey’s electrifying new spy thriller, where…

  9. Intelligence Scoop: Could Netanyahu Have Prevented October 7?

    · 53 min

    The events of October 7 2023 reshaped the Middle East. But could what happened on that fateful day, and everything that has come after, have been prevented? Listen as David and Gordon dig into whether there is any…

  10. 197. Kim Philby: The Russians Make a Fatal Mistake (Ep 2)

    · 55 min · S1 E197

    Kim Philby is MI6’s man in Washington - whilst also working for the KGB. But he’s about to discover that western intelligence is running a hunt for moles - one that could lead to him. Listen as David and Gordon go…

  11. Intelligence Scoop: Is Russia Preparing to Attack Europe?

    · 57 min

    Are we dangerously underestimating how close we are to war with Putin? Or are we exaggerating the threat Russia poses to Europe? Listen as David McCloskey and Gordon Corera cut through the fear, the conspiracies and…

  12. 196. Kim Philby: A KGB Spy in Washington (Ep 1)

    · 55 min · S1 E196

    The greatest traitor MI6 has ever seen - a Soviet mole at the heart of the British Secret Service. Kim Philby is now heading to Washington but can he keep his cool as the net begins to close around him? Listen as…

  13. 195. How Silicon Valley Took Over National Security

    · 37 min · S1 E195

    Why are Silicon Valley billionaires developing defence tech? Could Elon Musk build a nuclear bomb? And why did Steve Jobs owe his early success to the CIA? Listen as David is joined by national security journalist…

  14. 194. The KGB in Iran: Appeasing the Ayatollah with Ben Macintyre (Ep 2)

    · 53 min · S1 E194

    A KGB officer who has secretly gone over to work for MI6 in revolutionary Iran. But will MI6 be able to get him out of the country when things go wrong? Listen as David and Gordon are joined by renowned author and…

  15. 193. The KGB in Iran: Defecting to MI6 with Ben Macintyre (Ep 1)

    · 46 min · S1 E193

    A KGB officer is recruited by MI6 in Iran at a time of revolutionary upheaval. His intelligence helped shape the Cold War. But how far is agent Redwood motivated by some rather personal difficulties? Listen as David…

  16. 192. 9/11: The War on Terror (Ep 6)

    · 57 min · S1 E192

    What was the nature of the intelligence failures leading up to 9/11? Could the attacks have been prevented? And what is the enduring impact, 25 years on, of that grim day in September 2001? Listen as David and Gordon…

  17. 191. 9/11: The Twin Towers Fall (Ep 5)

    · 49 min · S1 E191

    What happened on 9/11? This is the day itself, as seen through the eyes of those who lived and died… Listen as David and Gordon take us through the day that changed America, forever. ------------------- THE REST IS…

  18. 190. 9/11: Could the Attacks Have Been Prevented? (Ep 4)

    · 55 min · S1 E190

    By July 2001 the plan for 9/11 was almost complete… All that was missing was a day. How do you set the date the world changes? Listen as David and Gordon unpack the night before the 9/11 hijackers carried out their…

  19. 189. 9/11: How Much Did the Saudis Know? (Ep 3)

    · 1 h 07 min · S1 E189

    Fifteen of the nineteen hijackers on 9/11 came from Saudi Arabia, many from a handful of poor remote villages. Who were the men known as ‘the muscle’, and what made them? Listen as David and Gordon explore the alleged…

  20. 188. 9/11: How to Recruit a Hijacker (Ep 2)

    · 1 h 04 min · S1 E188

    What kind of men do you recruit to fly planes into skyscrapers? And as the 9/11 plot developed, why didn’t the CIA spot what was coming? Listen as David and Gordon chart the mission to recruit the attackers for the…

  21. 187. 9/11: The Rise of Osama bin Laden (Ep 1)

    · 1 h 04 min · S1 E187

    9/11 was the most devastating terrorist attack in history, but where did the plot come from? And when a freelance terrorist walks in with a plan to fly planes into American buildings, why did Osama Bin Laden almost say…

  22. 186. The Secret Spy Network: Can Five Eyes Survive Trump? (Ep 4)

    · 48 min · S1 E186

    The Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance that has endured for decades. But can it survive Donald Trump in the White House? Listen as David and Gordon are joined by Richard Kerbaj for the final instalment of their…

  23. 185. The Secret Spy Network: How Snowden Nearly Destroyed Everything (Ep 3)

    · 53 min · S1 E185

    The Five Eyes are watching the world. But what happens when one eye is bigger than the other? And what happens when new threats emerge? Listen as David and Gordon are joined again by author, journalist and filmmaker…

  24. 184. The Secret Spy Network: Kim Philby Threatens the Alliance (Ep 2)

    · 37 min · S1 E184

    An intelligence alliance established to spy on the Soviets during the Cold War. But will it be able to hold together under crisis? David and Gordon are once again joined by journalist, author and filmmaker Richard…

  25. 183. The Secret Spy Network: How The US and UK Spy Together (Ep 1)

    · 40 min · S1 E183

    It is most powerful intelligence alliance the world has ever seen But what is the Five Eyes and how did it begin? Listen as David and Gordon are joined by journalist, author and filmmaker Richard Kerbaj, to explore…

  26. 182. The Imitation Game: The Codebreakers Who Defeated Hitler (Ep 2)

    · 59 min · S1 E182

    Alan Turing is working frantically to break the German codes at Bletchley Park. But can the Brits and Americans really trust each other? Listen as David and Gordon conclude their two-part exploration of the incredible…

  27. 181. The Imitation Game: How Alan Turing Broke Enigma (Ep 1)

    · 46 min · S1 E181

    A secret mission in the middle of a war to Bletchley Park. One that will lead to the closest intelligence alliance in history. Listen as David and Gordon tell the secret history of how the codebreakers at Bletchley…

  28. 180. Have the US and Israel Always Spied on Each Other? (Ep 2)

    · 52 min · S1 E180

    How did Israel’s spy in America Jonathan Pollard wind up getting caught? And what does the sordid episode tell us about the nature of the spy relationship between America and Israel? David and Gordon explore how an…

  29. 179. Did Israel Spy on Trump’s Iran Negotiations? (Ep 1)

    · 58 min · S1 E179

    Do Israel and America spy on each other? And how do close allies navigate stealing each other’s secrets? Listen as David and Gordon step inside the tricky intelligence sharing relationship between the US and Israel.…

  30. 178. The Plot to Destroy Russia’s Gas Empire (Ep 2)

    · 56 min · S1 E178

    How did a group of civilian divers carry out what’s been described as one of the greatest acts of sabotage of the 21st century? And have they finally been exposed? Listen as David and Gordon unpack the investigation…

  31. 177. Who Blew Up the Nord Stream Pipeline? (Ep 1)

    · 47 min · S1 E177

    Why did an undersea pipeline that sent Russian gas to Germany explode in 2022? And could a group of Ukrainian operatives really have been behind it? David and Gordon are joined by Bojan Pancevski, Chief European…

  32. 176. The True Story of the Spies Held Hostage by China (Ep 2)

    · 47 min · S1 E176

    A Chinese fighter jet and American spy plane collide over the South China Seas. And now a US aircrew are held hostage by their Chinese captors. David and Gordon reach the dramatic crescendo of their story exploring…

  33. 175. How China Downed a US Spy Plane (Ep 1)

    · 37 min · S1 E175

    What happens when a Chinese Fighter jet crashes into a US spy plane? The result is death, hostages and a major crisis with lessons for what could spark a war today. Listen as David and Gordon tell the infamous story…

  34. 174. The Murder of Litvinenko: Did the British State Hide the Truth? (Ep 6)

    · 48 min · S1 E174

    Did the British state try to bury the truth of what happened to Alexander Litvinenko? And how did his wife, Marina, continue battling for justice? Listen as David and Gordon conclude their series on the murder of…

  35. 173. The Murder of Litvinenko: The Killers Escape (Ep 5)

    · 38 min · S1 E173

    Radioactive poison has been used to kill Alexander Litvinenko on the streets of London. But where will the trail lead and can the police follow it to find his killers? Listen as David and Gordon reach the penultimate…

  36. 172. The Murder of Litvinenko: Russia’s Nuclear Weapon (Ep 4)

    · 43 min · S1 E172

    Alexander Litvinenko has been poisoned in London… Now the race is on to work out what is slowly killing him. In this episode David and Gordon tell the story of the race to discover what the Russian security services…

  37. 171. The Murder of Litvinenko: Killed in Plain Sight (Ep 3)

    · 41 min · S1 E171

    Russian assassins are closing in on Alexander Litvinenko… But who will deal the fatal blow? Listen as David and Gordon explore the dramatic moments leading up to the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in London.…

  38. 170. The Murder of Litvinenko: Putin’s Plan To Kill (Ep 2)

    · 52 min · S1 E170

    Former Russian Security Service officer Alexander Litvinenko is in exile in London. But his clash with Vladimir Putin will only increase in its intensity - placing the two men on a collision course towards certain…

  39. 169. The Murder of Litvinenko: Poisoned in London (Ep 1)

    · 52 min · S1 E169

    A Russian security service officer murdered in London, with radioactive poison. But who gave the orders and why? Listen as David and Gordon begin their six-part investigation into the 2006 murder of former FSB officer…

  40. 168. Trump's New Director of National Intelligence and the CIA's Missing Gold Bars

    · 1 h 03 min · S1 E168

    Who is Trump's new Director of National Intelligence? Is the US Intelligence Community becoming increasingly politicised? And what's the story behind the CIA officer who has allegedly stolen millions of dollars in gold…

  41. 167. The Covid Origin Story: What the CIA Really Found (Ep 2)

    · 1 h 02 min · S1 E167

    What do the CIA think caused the Covid pandemic? And did Trump and Biden sway the CIA’s intelligence assessments? Listen as David and Gordon assess whether Trump and Biden played politics with the investigation into…

  42. 166. The Covid Origin Story: Lab Leak or Animal Outbreak? (Ep 1)

    · 39 min · S1 E166

    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.…

  43. 165. Why England Didn't Win the 1970 World Cup (Ep 2)

    · 56 min · S1 E165

    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…

  44. 164. Did the CIA Poison England's World Cup Goalkeeper? (Ep 1)

    · 46 min · S1 E164

    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…

  45. 163. Argo: Smuggled Out of Khomeini's Iran (Ep 4)

    · 48 min · S1 E163

    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…

  46. 162. Argo: How the CIA Made a Movie That Never Existed (Ep 3)

    · 47 min · S1 E162

    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…

  47. Is Iran Recruiting Spies to Conduct Anti-Semitic Attacks?

    · 42 min

    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…

  48. 161. Argo: Six Fugitives in Revolutionary Tehran (Ep 2)

    · 1 h 06 min · S1 E161

    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…

  49. 160. Argo: The Secret Iranian Hostage Crisis (Ep 1)

    · 1 h 06 min · S1 E160

    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…

  50. 159. Is NATO Prepared for a Russian Attack?

    · 53 min · S1 E159

    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…

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