Spybrary Spy Podcast

A propulsive, high-stakes thriller—Robert McCaw delivers a gripping tale of espionage, betrayal, and deception amid the race to expose Russian moles at the highest levels of the US government. Tense, timely, and full of international intrigue, Traitors will keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended. David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and author of The Persian Author Robert B McCaw joins us to discuss Traitors, a geopolitical thriller shaped by his background in law, Washington and international affairs. He reveals how real-world stories involving Russia, Ukraine, Finland, nuclear weapons and ballistic submarines helped inspire the novel—and how his legal experience taught him to think about lies, interrogation and the search for truth. Support Spybrary every month with a small donation and help us keep the lights on at the Spybrary Safehouse McCaw also explains why he believes a thriller writer has to "play fair" with the reader: the clues should be there, the twists should feel earned, and even the most dramatic developments need to feel possible. Along the way, we explore his unusual path to publication—from spending nearly 20 years on his first novel and self-publishing it, to a chance encounter on a Mediterranean cruise that led to a literary agent and, eventually, Traitors being published by W. W. Norton.

In this episode of Spybrary, host Matthew Hurst talks with author Jinwoo Park about his debut novel, The Oxford Soju Club. The book centres on North Korean spies and their Korean American adversaries, who are regulars at an Oxford restaurant run by an oblivious South Korean. It's as much about the psychology of their ethnic identities as shoot outs and chases. Jinwoo discusses how the book developed from a simple action thriller to drawing out parallels of how deep cover spies and immigrants share a need to to mould themselves to their surroundings. The conversation explores Jinwoo's influences, from the Bourne films and Robert Ludlum to John le Carré and The Sympathizer, to conversations with his uncle — a former deputy director in South Korea's National Intelligence Service. It also explains why spies should never be rude to taxi drivers. Support Spybrary on Patreon, every little helps us produce content for you.

Cold War Spies Series with Shane Whaley For decades, Sweden presented itself as neutral and determined to remain outside the Cold War struggle between East and West. But behind that public image, the Swedish Stay Behind network was preparing for an altogether darker possibility: Soviet occupation. Shane Whaley is joined by Swedish historian and author Johan Wennström to uncover the extraordinary story of Sweden's secret Stay Behind resistance network — a clandestine organisation created in 1949 to operate behind enemy lines in the event of a Soviet invasion. Drawing on previously classified documents, archival research and first-hand testimony from surviving members, Johan reveals how ordinary Swedes — farmers, insurance brokers, businessmen and travelling salesmen — were secretly recruited into cells designed to survive occupation. They trained in intelligence gathering, clandestine communications, psychological warfare and resistance operations, all while keeping their involvement hidden from colleagues, friends and even their own families. We also explore Sweden's real relationship with NATO during the Cold War, Soviet submarine incursions, Cold War traitors, the human cost of living a secret life — and why one of Sweden's most important intelligence chiefs bears an uncanny resemblance to George Smiley. And, naturally, the conversation eventually turns to spy fiction, John le Carré, Len Deighton, Carl Hamilton, Jan Guillou and the surprisingly underdeveloped world of Swedish spy novels.

Simon Conway returns to Spybrary to discuss his latest espionage thriller, The British Agent — a contemporary, globe-spanning story involving missing British-made surface-to-air missiles, Ukraine, American extremist militias, political conspiracy, and an audacious plot targeting.... Support Spybrary here and help us produce more spy author interviews. Spybrary's David Craggs talks with Simon Conway about the creation of his new protagonist, Chuff, why he decided to leave behind the recurring characters of his earlier novels, and how his real-world experience informs the weapons trafficking and intelligence elements of the story. The conversation also explores the complicated people drawn into extremist movements, the influence of algorithms and conspiracy theories, a fascinating connection between The British Agent and the Gunpowder Plot, and whether Chuff might return in a future novel. Simon also discusses the long, uncertain road from novel to screen adaptation.

The novelist Graham Greene ranks at number 6 on Tim Shipman's infamous Best Spy Writers list — and yet we haven't given him enough airtime on the podcast. Time to put that right. Graham Greene didn't just write about spies — spying was the family business. His uncle founded Naval Intelligence. His sister recruited him into SIS. And Greene himself walked out of the Service the day before D-Day. Why? The answer may involve his boss and drinking companion: Kim Philby. Guest host Matt Hurst debriefs Professor Kevin Ruane — Greene scholar and Director of the Graham Greene International Festival — on the novelist's secret double life. In this episode: The Greene family spy business: an uncle in Naval Intelligence, a sister in SIS, a brother running black ops in Malaya, and another spying for three countries at once (badly) Why Greene quit SIS on the eve of D-Day — and the Philby theory "Recreational espionage": how Greene's letters reveal decades of meetings with "the old firm" before trips to Vienna, Cuba, Poland and Vietnam The Quiet American: the 1955 novel that predicted the Vietnam War, and why journalists like David Halberstam and Neil Sheehan carried it in their knapsacks Was Greene spying in Vietnam? The "Catholic solution" and the hunt for a third force The 1958 film Greene called a travesty — and his fan letter to Sean Connery for a remake that never happened Greene vs le Carré: the endorsement that made le Carré's name, and the letter that said "you're not my friend" Why Greene would love Slow Horses This is the first of what we hope will be many episodes exploring the great spy novelists — subscribe to Spybrary so you don't miss what's coming. The Graham Greene International Festival runs 24-27 September in Berkhamsted, UK — 30 minutes from London Euston. Spy highlights include Ben Brown's play A Splinter of Ice, Robert Verkaik on The Writer and the Traitor, and le Carré biographer Adam Sisman on Greene and le Carré. Tickets at grahamgreenebt.org All links at spybrary.com/306