Best HUMINT Podcasts (2025)

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Policing the Berlin Wall with the Royal Military Police (405) 1:24:06

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5d ago1:24:06

1:24:06

Simon Wood served in the British Army’s Royal Military Police in Berlin during the1980s. He describes the unique challenges he faced patrolling the Berlin Wall and policing British troops in the divided city. Discover the political tensions, the camaraderie with fellow soldiers, and the surreal moments such as being present at the post-mortem of Hi…

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The Art of Reinventing Yourself From Navy SEAL to MMA to CEO 1:08:26

10d ago1:08:26

1:08:26

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4ffYFzN Mitch Aguiar is a hero in more ways than one – Navy SEAL Team 10 operator, Pro MMA athlete, thriving entrepreneur and influencer. His story is one of powerful dedication and tenacity with powerful lessons you can use to get ahead and stay ahead in life, business, and personal success. Don…

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"The aircraft exploded and the cockpit filled with fire" - Korean skies to the brutal Vietnam War (404) 1:28:05

12d ago1:28:05

1:28:05

Colonel Robert J. Graham, USAF (Ret.), was more than a fighter pilot—he was a leader, a warrior, and a witness to one of the most complex conflicts in modern history. From the chaotic early days of guerrilla warfare in Vietnam to the bureaucratic maze that engulfed the later years, Colonel Graham's four combat tours reveal the triumphs and tragedie…

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Childhood Memories of the 1989 Romanian Revolution (403) 1:03:24

19d ago1:03:24

1:03:24

Traian grew up in Romania during the tumultuous 1980s under the shadow of the communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu. We learn about the harsh realities of life under communism, where shortages of basic goods were commonplace. He shares the clever tactics he and his family employed to navigate these challenges, including trading items with tourists …

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The Psychology of Winning: How CIA Trains Spies to Achieve Any Objective 46:00

24d ago46:00

46:00

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4ffYFzN Learn more from Alex: https://everydayspy.com/alex Fitness and health are not easy – they take work, dedication and consistency. Social media may be selling simple solutions in pills and challenges, but what they are promising isn’t fitness – they are selling espionage. Learn how the fitn…

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“Sir, I’m not going to start World War Three for you” - The NATO Russian confrontation in 1999 at Pristina Airport (402) 1:35:53

26d ago1:35:53

1:35:53

In this gripping episode, we hear a detailed account from an eyewitness right at the heart of the tense NATO and Russian confrontation in Kosovo in 1999 at Pristina Airport. NATO General Wesley Clark had ordered the British to use force to remove Russian forces, however British General Mike Jackson refused with the immortal words “Sir, I’m not goin…

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“Houston, we’ve had a problem” interview with Fred Haise, Apollo 13 astronaut (401) 1:32:08

1M ago1:32:08

1:32:08

This is a repeat of an episode published in September 2022. 55 years ago last month Fred Haise was one of the three astronauts on the ill-fated Moon mission when a design fault caused an oxygen tank to explode mid-mission putting the Apollo 13 crew in mortal danger on April 13th, 1970. This was the seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space program…

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He Survived Navy Special Warfare, Blackwater, and Secret Intel Ops | Trevor Fortner 1:04:28

1M ago1:04:28

1:04:28

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4ffYFzN Learn more from Trevor: https://everydayspy.com/trevor Trevor Fortner is a Navy special warfare veteran, Blackwater private military contractor, and seasoned intel consultant. His professional journey is a wild ride, from hanging out the back of an amphibious assault ship to fast-roping i…

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Doped, Abused and Abandoned: Growing Up in East Germany’s Sports System (400) 1:16:04

1M ago1:16:04

1:16:04

This episode covers themes of physical and emotional abuse as well as suicide. If you need support please follow the links below. UK https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Rest of the World https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp Kerstin recounts her harrowing childhood and life experiences in East Germany. She was identified at a y…

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Whispers of Freedom: Portraying the Story of the last person shot at the Berlin Wall (399) 50:42

1M ago50:42

50:42

Chris Gueffroy, was the last person to be shot dead at the Berlin Wall and a new short film called “Whispers of Freedom” portrays his story. I speak with the film’s director Brandon Ashplant who shares the challenges of accurately portraying real individuals with deep personal histories. Actors Cameron Ashplant (Chris) and Wendy Makkena (Karin) ref…

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Submerged: Life on a Fast Attack Submarine in the Last Days of the Cold War (398) 1:05:16

2M ago1:05:16

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Former US Navy Commander Henry Rausch is the author of Submerged: Life on a Fast Attack Submarine in the Last Days of the Cold War. Henry shares his experiences from training to life aboard a submarine, emphasising the challenges, mishaps, and the camaraderie among the crew. He provides vivid descriptions of the rigorous training, the psychological…

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The SECRET Message In Moby Dick's Final Chapter | Day 11 26:24

2M ago26:24

26:24

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4j4CPAZ I just finished reading Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, and I’m shocked by how much the ending of this book moved me. SPOILER ALERT: I share the ending of Moby Dick in detail as I deliver my analysis of the lessons, insights, and relevancy shared in the final chapters. In many ways, finish…

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Deep Cover Cold War Spies: How Russia’s Illegal Agents Penetrated the West (397) 1:11:26

2M ago1:11:26

1:11:26

In 2010, two decades after the Cold War had ended, ten Russian spies were arrested in America, having hidden their true identities from their friends, neighbours and even their children. They were part of a spy programme that had begun nearly a century earlier, when the revolutionary Bolshevik government began sending Soviet citizens abroad to pose…

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CRITICAL LESSONS I Learned from AUSSIE MILLIONAIRES | Day 10 14:06

2M ago14:06

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Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4lr1RvK Aussie entrepreneurs aren’t that different from American entrepreneurs, only they have to work with a weaker currency and a softer workforce. That makes their business leaders and success stories all the more impressive! Here was my experience with Aussie market movers and business owners…

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Thomas Maier Reveals the Invisible Spy 36:24

2M ago36:24

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Episode 73 – The Invisible Spy: Ernest Cuneo and the Secret Machinations of American Power This episode visits the untold life of Ernest Cuneo—a professional football player turned journalist, turned presidential fixer, turned invisible architect of wartime espionage. Before the CIA existed, Cuneo was already moving between the White House, British…

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I Visited Australia—And RELEARNED What It Means to Be American | Day 9 15:50

2M ago15:50

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Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/43Jfikk I recently returned from a trip to Australia where I was reminded how the world views America. I flew through airports without TSA or heavy security, and learned how Aussies see the terrorist attacks from 9/11. For anyone with Australia travel in mind, this entry is for you.…

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A Black US Basketball Virtuoso in Cold War Poland (396) 1:25:46

2M ago1:25:46

1:25:46

The Communist Polish press called it "Kentomania!"—the excitement surrounding a 23 year old, called Kent Washington who made history as the first American—and the first Black American—to sign a professional sports contract behind the Iron Curtain. Stepping off the plane in Poland, Kent was immediately struck by how different everything felt. Yet, i…

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ESPIONAGE vs. SALES: The Shocking Connection | Day 8 16:01

2M ago16:01

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Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4ffYFzN Espionage, business, and sales, all revolve around the same core principle: Value. The problem is, society has lost their understanding of this simple, powerful word. If you are a career professional, entrepreneur, or just now starting your career/business, you don’t want to miss this les…

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John Lechner Unveils The Wagner Group 58:40

2M ago58:40

58:40

Author John Lechner talks about his powerful new book, Death Is Our Business, a definitive investigation into Russia’s notorious private military company, the Wagner Group. With firsthand accounts, OSINT research, and a historian’s depth, Lechner traces Wagner’s evolution from covert operators in Ukraine to global players in Syria, Africa, and beyo…

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THIS is The MOST Powerful Lesson I Learned at CIA | Day 7 11:43

2M ago11:43

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Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4ffYFzN There is a powerful lesson CIA taught me that transformed my life, career, and even my business today. That lesson was understanding the difference between motivation and manipulation. Today, I want to give that lesson to you.By Andrew Bustamante

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Meet The Exercise Scientist Behind The EverydaySpy Fitness System! 57:40

2M ago57:40

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Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4ffYFzN Learn more from Alex: https://everydayspy.com/alex I’m super excited to introduce you to the exercise scientist who keeps me and Jihi in top physical fitness shape – Alex Van Houten! Alex has an awesome story of fighting a genetic disorder, overcoming chronic pain, and living out his fait…

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Agent Zo - From War Hero to Enemy: When Cold War Poland Turned on Its Own (395) 1:02:41

2M ago1:02:41

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In a world where history often overlooks the contributions of women, the story of Agent Zo stands out as a beacon of bravery and resilience. I spoke with Claire Mulley about her book Agent Zo: the Untold Story of a fearless World War II resistance fighter. From the first day of the war to the German surrender, Zo organised efforts…

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How I Used CIA Training to Face My WORST Parenting Nightmare! | Day 6 12:56

2M ago12:56

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Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4kWjrHE We all have to do hard things sometimes. Whether we choose them or they are required of us, difficult times are always ahead. As a parent and business owner, nothing has equipped me better for dealing with difficulty than one simple lesson I learned at CIA. This is that lesson……

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In Conversation with Margot Honecker (394) 31:38

2M ago31:38

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I speak with Jon Benjamin who recounts his meetings with Margot Honecker, the unrepentant architect of East Germany’s education system and widow of GDR leader Erich Honecker then living in exile in Chile. In 2012 and 2013, when Jon was British Ambassador to Chile, he had three long meetings with Margot Honecker, third wife of longtime East German l…

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Kit Turner & A Ragtag Group of Rebels Hit The Shores of Revolutionary Cuba 50:41

2M ago50:41

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🎙️ The Live Drop – Episode 71: Kit Turner on the Cuban Revolution, Espionage, and Historical Fiction In this episode, I speak with former intelligence officer and historical fiction author Kit Turner, whose latest novel Children of Outer Darkness dives deep into the origins of the Cuban Revolution. What begins as a conversation about Kit’s book qui…

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My First Month as an Entrepreneur Made Me Question EVERYTHING | Day 5 11:56

2M ago11:56

11:56

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4kXTh7s The unknown can be a scary thing, especially for people struggling with stress, anxiety, depression or other common mental health challenges. My time at CIA taught me an incredible framework for dealing with the unknown, and I’m excited to share that with you today.…

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The Cuban Missile Crisis Suicide Missions (393) 57:48

3M ago57:48

57:48

Richard F Kaufman is the author of A One-Way Trip to Death A Survivor’s View of Cruise Missiles in the Cuban Missile Crisis In the 1950s he served in the Korean War, where he was shot down and provides a vivid snapshot of flying in that conflict. On his way to Korea Richard meets a Japanese Kamikaze pilot. The pilot’s reflections on life and death …

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Day 4 | How CIA Skills Helped Me Build a Multi-Million Dollar Business 6:18

3M ago6:18

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Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4iw8BGq It can be daunting when you have to do something new, something scary, or something for the first time. Luckily, there are very few things you have to do that haven’t been done before. CIA taught me the value of trusting the process. Even though it may not be perfect, it's better than sta…

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Day 3 | How THIS CIA TACTIC Made My Marriage LAST! 11:55

3M ago11:55

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Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4bx6Whz Nobody ever talks about how much marriage sucks. You hear all the great things about being married your whole life, and then you get a cold dose of reality on your own. And even though it gets harder, it also gets better. The parallels between marriage and a CIA operation are pretty power…

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Day 2 | How My TOXIC Childhood Made Me A CIA MASTER of DECEPTION! 5:12

3M ago5:12

5:12

My stepdad always wanted me to be smart. What he never expected was that my version of smart would be directed by CIA, and I would learn how to lie and deceive better than my enemies. Thanks for trying, dad.By Andrew Bustamante

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Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Chess Grandmaster (392) 55:01

3M ago55:01

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Susan Polgar is the author of Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster. Born to a poor Jewish family in Cold War Budapest, Susan Polgar had the odds stacked against her growing up in a sexist and oppressive culture. Yet her father subscribed to the belief that geniuses are not born, but created, so he set out to ensure h…

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Day 1 | How CIA Trains Spies to Make Lasting Impressions 5:12

3M ago5:12

5:12

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/3FkVidw Middle age brings unique challenges and unique opportunities. And even though it can feel overwhelming, CIA has tools that can help stay focused on the opportunities ahead instead of the losses left behind.By Andrew Bustamante

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The Keys to Armageddon: A Cold War Nuclear Missile Officer's Story (391) 1:08:13

3M ago1:08:13

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Jim is a former Minuteman nuclear missile officer who served in the US Air Force. Throughout the episode, Jim shares first-hand accounts of life in the launch control centre. From evaluations to the strict checklist orientations, every aspect of his training was designed to ensure that he and his crew were prepared for the weighty responsibilities …

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TRAILER | Andrew Bustamante Releases His SPY JOURNAL 2:55

3M ago2:55

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Welcome to the Spy Journal! CIA teaches officers to use radical transparency to combat the confusion that can come from living and working in multiple names, places, and operations. While some officers keep diaries, I’m choosing to practice my radical transparency with this video journal. I’ll share my thoughts, my challenges, and my breakthroughs …