Best Luca Trenta Podcasts (2025)

1
205. The CIA, The United Fruit Company, and Communism in Guatemala with Dr. Luca Trenta 56:04

Play Pause

8d ago56:04

56:04

This week Justin welcomes Dr. Luca Trenta. Luca is an associate professor in international relations at Swansea University in Wales, and is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Higher Education Academy. He's written extensively on covert action and assassination as tools of foreign policy. He's the host of the Out of the Shadows Podc…

1
206. Behind the Lines from Belfast to Sierra Leone with Tim Spicer 1:15:21

15h ago1:15:21

1:15:21

Today Justin is joined once more by Tim Spicer. Tim served for 20 years in the British Army where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and saw active service in Northern Ireland, The Falklands Campaign, the Gulf War, and the Balkans, as well as serving in the Far East, Cyprus, and Germany. Today, he's back to discuss his own life and career, w…

1
204. Behind the Atomic Curtain: 80 Years into the Nuclear Age with Dr. Frank Close 1:20:03

15d ago1:20:03

1:20:03

This week Justin reconnects with Dr. Frank Close. Frank is Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics and Fellow Emeritus at Exeter College at the University of Oxford. He was formerly the head of the Theoretical Physics Division at the Ruthford Appleton Laboratory Vice President of the British Science Association and Head of Communications and Publ…

1
203. A Diplomat’s Journey in Cold War Romania with Ernest Latham 1:00:43

22d ago1:00:43

1:00:43

*Ernest joined us via telephone call, so some parts of this interview may be difficult to understand due to unreliable audio quality. We apologize for the inconvenience. Today's guest is Ernest Latham. Ernest is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Roosevelt University. During his career with the US State Department, Ernest worked all over the world…

1
202. Britain's SOE Jungle Warrior in Burma with Dr. Richard Duckett 1:11:34

1M ago1:11:34

1:11:34

Today Justin talks with Dr. Richard Duckett. Richard received a master's degree from the University of Reading and a doctorate from Open University. He's taught history and politics for more than 20 years. He's also the author of three previous books on British military history in Burma. He's here to discuss the story of Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Pe…

1
201. Psychic Spying: The Truth about Remote Viewing with Dr. Paul H. Smith 58:03

1M ago58:03

58:03

Today Justin sits down with Dr. Paul H. Smith. Paul is a retired Army intelligence officer and a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Brigham Young University, a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College, and a Doctorate from the University …

1
200. From Biffy to Bond: The Real Spy Who Inspired "From Russia, with Love" with Tim Spicer 57:17

2M ago57:17

57:17

Today Justin is joined by Tim Spicer. Tim served for 20 years in the British Army where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and saw active service in Northern Ireland, the Falklands Campaign, the Gulf War, and the Balkans, as well as serving in the Far East, Cyprus, and Germany. After retiring, he founded private security company Aegis in 200…

1
199. [ARCHIVE] Flying for the CIA: A Continental Air Services Contractor with Toby Scott 1:45:37

2M ago1:45:37

1:45:37

Today we're going back into the archives again with a replay of episode 60, originally published in September 2022. We're excited to reintroduce you to the incredible story of Toby Scott and Jerry Daniels. Randolph Toby Scott is a former smoke jumper with the US Forest Service, who later worked in Southeast Asia under contract with Continental Air …

1
198. Project Mind Control: The Dark Secrets of MK Ultra with John Lisle 1:09:19

2M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

Today Justin sits dow with repeat guest John Lisle. John has a PhD in history from the University of Texas where he is now a professor of The History of Science. He's received research and writing awards from The National Academy of Sciences, The American Institute of Physics, and The National Endowment for the Humanities. His work has been publish…

1
197. The Hidden History of Nazi POW Camps on US Soil with William Geroux 1:06:25

2M ago1:06:25

1:06:25

Today's guest is William Geroux. Bill graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia before becoming an author. He spent more than 25 years as a newspaper reporter and editor in Virginia and Northern Idaho, winning numerous awards for breaking news coverage, feature writing, and investigative reporting. He also worked as a…

1
196. Housewife Assassin: The Sara Jane Moore Story with Geri Spieler 1:10:27

3M ago1:10:27

1:10:27

Today Justin sits down with Geri Spieler. Geri is a graduate of the University of California in Los Angeles and is a journalist and investigative reporter whose work has appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, and other publications. Geri is also a former president of the California Writers Association and has w…

1
195. Nuclear Physicist or Soviet Spy? The Enigma of Bruno Pontecorvo with Dr. Frank Close 1:09:20

3M ago1:09:20

1:09:20

Today Justin talks with Dr. Frank Close. Frank is Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics and Fellow Emeritus at Exeter College at the University of Oxford. He was formerly the head of the Theoretical Physics Division at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Vice President of the British Science Association, and Head of Communications and Public Un…

1
194. The Secret War: A Medic in Laos with Steven Schofield 1:33:53

3M ago1:33:53

1:33:53

This episode contains particularly graphic descriptions of violence and gore. Know your own limits and proceed accordingly. Today Justin sits down with Steven Schofield. Steve enlisted into the US Army and completed training as an 18 Delta Special Forces Medic in 1967. He then deployed to Okinawa and later to Vietnam, where he served with Military …

1
193. Cairo Cold Case: Solving the Murder of David Holden with Emanuele Midolo 54:24

3M ago54:24

54:24

This week Justin talks with Emanuele Midolo. Manu is a journalist based in London and writing for The Times and The Sunday Times. His work has appeared in Forbes, Wired UK, and publications across the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Today he's here to discuss his new book, which he co-authored with Peter Gillman. It was just published last month…

1
192. Inside the Bulgarian Spy Ring with Trevor Barnes 1:17:22

4M ago1:17:22

1:17:22

Today just sits down with Trevor Barnes, a former senior reporter and producer for the British Broadcasting Corporation and retired attorney you're a longtime listener. You may remember Trevor from his first appearance here on the podcast for episode number 33. Today he's here to discuss another spy ring operating in the UK and throughout Europe th…

1
191. Espionage in the NFL with Kevin Bryant 1:02:38

4M ago1:02:38

1:02:38

Today Justin interviews Kevin Bryant. Kevin graduated from the University of California - Santa Cruz with a B.A. in History and graduated with top honors from American Military University with an M.A. in Intelligence Studies and an M.S. in Sports Management. He served more than 20 years with the United States Army both as a soldier and civilian, du…

1
190. Churchill's Spy Ring in Rockefeller Center with Thomas Maier 57:06

4M ago57:06

57:06

Today Justin speaks with Thomas Maier, an award-winning investigative journalist who has worked at Newsday since 1984. Thomas has written several books over the years, including When Lions Roar about the Churchills and the Kennedys and Masters of Sex, which was produced as a series on Showtime for four years. This is Thomas's second time here on th…

1
189. Marguerite Harrison: Socialite, Reporter, and Military Intelligence Operative with Janet Wallach 58:39

4M ago58:39

58:39

Today Justin sits down with Janet Wallach. Janet attended New York University and her work has been published in The Washington Post Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, and other periodicals. She's the author of 10 books and has written extensively about notable women in history, including Queen Noor of Jordan, Coco Chanel, and Gertrude Bell, among oth…

1
188. Cuban Exiles vs. Guevara's Forces in the Congo with Frank Villafana 40:29

4M ago40:29

40:29

This week's guest is Frank Villafana. Frank was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to the United States after graduating high school to attend the University of Alabama, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in engineering. He spent the next three decades working in various positions in the field of engineering before retiring in 1998. A…

1
187. The Wagner Group: Rise and Fall of a Russian Mercenary Collective with John Lechner 1:13:30

5M ago1:13:30

1:13:30

Today Justin talks to John Lechner. John graduated from Georgetown University with a master's degree in foreign service. He speaks several languages, including Russian, French, Turkish, and Georgian. He now works as an independent journalist and his reporting has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, BBC, and many …

1
186. Defeating Noriega: Inside Operation Just Cause with Rick Yell 1:24:50

5M ago1:24:50

1:24:50

This week Justin talks with Rick Yell. Rick served as a civilian agent with the Naval Investigative Service, later renamed the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. In 1986, he was assigned to the resident agency at Fort Amador, Panama. He was present along with his family before, during, and after Operation Just Cause, when the U.S. military ouste…

1
185. The Invisible Battlefield: Subversion in the Age of Information with Andreas Krieg 52:25

5M ago52:25

52:25

This week Justin interviews Andreas Krieg. Andreas is a senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King's College London and at the Royal College of Defense Studies. He spent more than 10 years living, studying, and working across the Middle East and North Africa, including in Lebanon, Syria, and Qatar. He is a co-author of the book, Surr…

1
184. How to Deliver a Ransom with Rob Phayre 1:09:38

5M ago1:09:38

1:09:38

Today Justin sits down with Rob Phayre. Rob served for seven years in the British Army as a helicopter pilot and commander. After leaving the service, he moved to Kenya and opened his own business before moving into a second career in security and crisis management a few years later. Much of his time involved responding to Somali piracy and hostage…

1
In conversation: Peter Finn and Elspeth Van Veeren on the official government record 16:27

6M ago16:27

16:27

In this final episode of the latest series of the SPIN Podcast, Dr Elspeth Van Veeren and Dr Peter Finn discuss how secrecy impacts democracy through an analysis of official government records in countries such as the US, UK, and Canada. Dr. Finn shares research from his recent book including the complexity of official records and how they are not …

1
183. My Life As a Canadian Spy with Andrew Kirsch 54:09

6M ago54:09

54:09

Today Justin sits down with Andrew Kirsch. Andrew grew up in Toronto, Canada, and is a graduate of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He worked as an investment advisor in London before applying for a position with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or CCIS. He spent nearly 10 years as an intelligence officer working in several p…

1
In conversation: Lewis Bush and Elspeth Van Veeren on his new project, Depravity's Rainbow and Trading Secrets 19:47

6M ago19:47

19:47

In this episode of the SPIN Podcast series, Lewis Bush shares details of what led him into his visual and archival work on security and secrecy, sharing details of his latest projects: Depravity's Rainbow and Trading Secrets. In Depravity's Rainbow, he explored the 'secret' and controversial histories of US space exploration using archival work, si…

1
182. The Most Damaging Espionage Case in History with Joe Navarro 42:53

6M ago42:53

42:53

Today Justin talks to retired Special Agent Joe Navarro. Joe spent 25 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, primarily working on counterintelligence investigations. He is also a founding member of the National Security Division Behavioral Analysis Program, which focused on the behavior of spies, terrorists, and criminals. During his caree…

1
Talk: G is for (Secrecy) Games With Elspeth Van Veeren. 7:07

6M ago7:07

7:07

In this next episode of the SPIN Podcast series, Dr. Elspeth Van Veeren provides an overview of the concept of 'secrecy games' that is at the heart of the paper recently published in Review of International Studies, co-authored with Dr. Clare Stevens (Cardiff) and Dr. Amaha Senu. You can also download and read the paper at: https://www.cambridge.or…

1
181. From Anthropology to Espionage and Authorship with Kit Turner 39:42

6M ago39:42

39:42

Today's guest is Kit Turner. Kit has worked as an anthropologist and archeologist in the U. S., Polynesia, and Southwest Asia. He later joined the Central Intelligence Agency where he spent 25 years working in East Asia, South Asia, and Europe, running sensitive operations against high priority objectives. He's been awarded the Intelligence Star, a…

1
180. Evolution of Drone Warfare From Vietnam to the War on Terror with David Axe 37:10

6M ago37:10

37:10

Today's guest is David Axe. David is a journalist and filmmaker. His work has appeared in The Daily Beast, Vice, Reuters, Wired.com, The Washington Post, Forbes, and many other publications. He's published several books including fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. He's also written, produced, or directed several independent films. David is he…

1
179. Who Was D. B. Cooper? with Pat Boland 1:17:09

7M ago1:17:09

1:17:09

This week Justin talks with Pat Boland. Pat has worked in several different positions in sales and marketing, including as a Portfolio Analyst, Consultant, and Senior Account Executive. She's currently working as a writer and researcher. But aside from her career, she's also devoted a great deal of time to investigating one of the most intriguing m…

1
178. Czechoslovakia's Cold War Liaisons with the Palestinian Liberation Organization with Dr. Daniela Richterova 1:12:22

7M ago1:12:22

1:12:22

Today Justin sits down with Dr. Daniela Richterova. Daniela received her master's degree from King's College London and her PhD from the University of Warwick. She is an associate professor of intelligence studies at the department of war studies at King's College London, as well as the co director of the King's Center for the Study of Intelligenc…

1
177. Traitor or CIA Double Agent? The Richard Craig Smith Story 34:30

7M ago34:30

34:30

In this solo episode, Justin share some of his own research. Today he discusses the very unusual case of Richard Craig Smith. Craig was a former army counterintelligence agent who was arrested in April, 1984 for passing classified information to a KGB officer in Japan on several occasions. There are two very different versions of Craig's story. He …

1
176. First to Afghanistan: The Earliest Days of the War on Terror with David Tyson 1:55:26

7M ago1:55:26

1:55:26

This week's guest is David Tyson. David served in the U. S. Army first as an enlisted artilleryman and later as an intelligence officer. During his time in the Army, he discovered he had an affinity for learning languages, and after leaving the service, he began working towards a graduate degree, focusing his studies on Central Asia. He was recruit…

1
[BONUS] Espionage in TV: The Sandbaggers 16:34

7M ago16:34

16:34

Join Justin for a special review episode of The Sandbaggers, a British television series that ran for three seasons between 1978 and 1980 following characters who worked at MI6. In Justin's opinion, this show is one of the best ever fictional portrayals of covert operations and the day-to-day running of an intelligence agency. You can find more rev…

1
175. The Real Miss Moneypenny: Forgotten Women of the British Secret Service with Dr. Claire Hubbard-Hall 1:15:05

8M ago1:15:05

1:15:05

This week Justin sits down with Dr. Claire Hubbard-Hall. Claire received her doctorate in European history from the University of Hull. She has lectured and taught history courses at several British universities over the past 16 years with a particular focus on secret intelligence. She's also appeared in several television documentaries and written…

1
In conversation: Brian Rappert and Elspeth Van Veeren on revelations, deception, and magic 19:36

8M ago19:36

19:36

In this week's episode of the SPIN Podcast, Professor Brian Rappert is in conversation with Dr. Elspeth Van Veeren on revelations, secrecy, and his new book project. Inspired by a longstanding interest in thinking through revelation, Brian outlines some of its complex features -- its relationship with secrecy, its involvement in state security spec…

1
174. A German Spy Ring on Staten Island with Robert Weingartner 1:04:15

8M ago1:04:15

1:04:15

This week Justin talks with Robert Weingartner. Rob is a lifelong resident of Staten Island, New York. He graduated from Drake Business School in Manhattan in 2002, and he enjoys reading and learning about history. Over the past few years, Rob has been researching an espionage story that began right in his own hometown. I invited Rob onto the podca…

1
In conversation: Luca Trenta and Elspeth Van Veeren on secrecy and assassinations 23:53

8M ago23:53

23:53

In the next in our new series of SPIN podcast episodes, Dr. Luca Trenta discusses the history of US government involvement in assassinations and targeted killings from the Cold War era to today. Dr Trenta shares insights from his research and latest book including the evolving justifications around labels like "assassination" versus "targeted killi…

1
173. The Real Secrets of Area 51 with Peter Merlin 1:12:36

8M ago1:12:36

1:12:36

Today Justin sits down with Peter Merlin. Peter is an author, historian, and college instructor. He received his Bachelor's of Science degree in Aeronautical Studies from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and has just completed his Master's degree in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University. He's been a freelance writer and research…

1
Talk: O is for Omertà with Kate Thornton 5:47

9M ago5:47

5:47

Kate Thornton, our first graduate podcaster, reads her entry from SPIN's A-Z series: O is for Omertà. This talk explains how omertà, which literally means silence, has developed into a code of secrecy and loyalty for mafia members. By keeping their criminal activities secret from authorities, the mafia is able to operate freely and influence societ…

1
[ARCHIVE] The Green Beret Defector with Greg Walker 1:29:53

9M ago1:29:53

1:29:53

This week Justin replays one of his personal favorite episodes, number 26, when author and former special forces officer Greg Walker shared the little-known story of a David Baez, a green beret defector. Baez was a Nicaraguan national whose father was killed by U.S.-backed President Samosa after voicing his displeasure with inequalities that had ri…

1
Episode 9 - Francesca Lessa 55:39

9M ago55:39

55:39

In today’s episode we welcome Dr Francesca Lessa. Dr Lessa is associate professor in International Relations of the Americas at University College London. Previously, she was a researcher and lecturer at the University of Oxford, where, among other achievements, she secured a prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship. Her research focuses on transnational…

1
172. Secrets of the Spycatcher Affair with Tim Tate 1:21:18

9M ago1:21:18

1:21:18

Today Justin sits down with repeat guest Tim Tate. Tim has worked as a documentary filmmaker and an investigative journalist for more than 40 years, and in that time has published 19 books and produced 80 documentaries. Some of the topics he's covered in the past include China's slave labor gulags, the worst child murderer in British history, and t…

1
171. Out of the Shadows and Into the Boardroom: Intelligence in the Private Sector with Dr. Lewis Sage-Passant 1:10:37

9M ago1:10:37

1:10:37

This week's guest is Dr. Lewis Sage-Passant. Lewis is a former British military intelligence officer and holds a PhD in Intelligence Studies. He's currently the global head of intelligence for one of Europe's most valuable companies, where he helps the firm navigate geopolitical, security, and industrial espionage risks. He also teaches courses in …

1
170. The Secret History of the Civil War with Patrick K. O'Donnell 1:02:41

9M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

This week, Justin welcomes back Patrick K. O'Donnell. Patrick is a combat historian who has covered the war in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004, where he was armed and participated in the battle alongside the U.S. Marines. He's an expert on special operations units and irregular warfare. He's published 13 books so far on combat history, covering stories from…

1
169. MKUltra and the Real Mind-Altering Potential of Psychedelics with Norman Ohler 43:36

10M ago43:36

43:36

Today Justin talks with Norman Ohler. Norman is a best selling novelist, a journalist, and a screenwriter. He's written three novels, which comprise the City Trilogy, and while working in the West Bank in 2004, he interviewed Yasser Arafat in what turned out to be the final interview of his life before he passed away in November of that year. He's …

1
168. Unveiling the October Surprise: The Treason That Put Reagan in the White House with Craig Unger 1:00:37

10M ago1:00:37

1:00:37

This week Justin sits down with Craig Unger. Craig is a journalist and the author of eight books. He's a graduate of Harvard University, where he worked as an editor for The Harvard Crimson. He's written articles which have appeared in The Washington Post, The Guardian, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Esquire, and other publications. He also se…

1
167. The Real Guns of 007 with Caleb Daniels @CommandoBond 1:10:37

10M ago1:10:37

1:10:37

This week Justin talks with Caleb Daniels. Caleb is a lifelong fan of the James Bond films and novels, as well as a firearms enthusiast from Kansas City, Missouri. For seven years, he worked in the firearms industry. In 2020, he started the website and social media pages titled Commando Bond, which are a passion project of his to bridge the gap bet…

1
166. My Father Defected to Russia for Love with Vladimir McMillin 58:00

10M ago58:00

58:00

Today Justin sits down with Vladimir McMillin. Vlad was born in Moscow and worked for 20 years for the TASS Russian news agency as a sports reporter. He immigrated to the United States in 1990 and has lived here since then. At a very young age, Vlad realized that there was something different about his family, because they were the only family name…