Best Michael Crutchfield Podcasts (2025)

1
Where the ‘West V. Russia’ Plot Begins 34:17

2d ago34:17

34:17

Why does Vladimir Putin often say that the West is conspiring to weaken Russia? Historian James Crossland traces this narrative back to a British intelligence officer and a failed assassination attempt on Vladimir Lenin in 1918. The story is featured in his new book, Rogue Agent, from Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Rober…

1
Thomas Lennon, Jaime Moyer, Mark Steinbach, Lisa Curry - Dirty Dancing 07 40:49

5d ago40:49

40:49

Dirty Dancing - Chapter 7 Featuring a chapter novelized by ⁠⁠Lisa Curry and narrated by ⁠Thomas Lennon & Debra DiGiovanni, plus an interview with ⁠⁠Mark Steinbach. Hosted by Dave Hill. Thomas Patrick Lennon is an actor, screenwriter, comedian, and author. He's a founding member of The State, writer of Night at the Museum, and author of the Ronan Bo…

1
S9E2 - 5 TRUE Scary Stories: Have You Encountered the Dogman? 35:23

9d ago35:23

35:23

After a brief hiatus, The Scarecast returns with a chilling new episode, Season 9 Episode 2, packed with true stories that will keep you up at night. Mike is back from the chaos of busy season in public accounting and ready to deliver a fresh batch of spine-tingling tales for all the loyal listeners who stuck around during the break. This episode f…

1
Ep. 155 A Haunting on West Adams St. Pt.1 | Paranormal Investigation & Misa 36:50

11d ago36:50

36:50

This week, we’re deep in the heart of historic Los Angeles as we investigate a possible haunting at a private residence off West Adams Street. Join us as we team up with paranormal investigator Matt Lytle and spiritual practitioners Thanya & Eugina Mercado for a night of energy shifts, spirit communication, and a traditional misa, a spiritual gathe…

1
DOGE Layoffs and the Counterintelligence Threats They Pose 33:22

11d ago33:22

33:22

Government employees were dismissed with startling swiftness and sweeping in the midst of the Trump administration's relentless pursuit to pare down the federal workforce. The sheer number of fired personnel and the manner in which US officials let them go have led to concerns that disillusioned former employees may share what they know with foreig…

1
David Wain, Grant O'Brien, Ursula Lawrence - Dirty Dancing 06 28:04

12d ago28:04

28:04

Dirty Dancing - Chapter 6 Featuring a chapter novelized by ⁠⁠Ursula Lawrence and narrated by ⁠David Wain, plus an interview with ⁠⁠Grant O'Brien. Hosted by Dave Hill. David Wain is best known for The State, Wet Hot American Summer, Role Models, Stella, Wainy Days, Wanderlust, They Came Together, Children's Hospital, A Futile Gesture, and Medical Po…

1
Ep. 154 Spooks, Specters, and Sassy Spirits: A Paranormal Chat with Franky Everleigh & Kimberly Johnson of Windy City ParaFest & T.W.A.T.S 1:01:35

18d ago1:01:35

1:01:35

Get ready for a ghostly good time as we welcome Franky Everleigh and Kimberly Johnson, the team behind Windy City ParaFest and the notorious T.W.A.T.S. (The Wisconsin Apparition Tracking Society) crew! From haunted happenings to the craziest Estes sessions, they’re here to share some delicious spooky stories, paranormal insights, and all things wei…

1
Taiwan: China’s Testing Ground for Intelligence Operations 32:11

19d ago32:11

32:11

It's no secret that China has recently stepped up political and military pressure on the democratically governed island of Taiwan. But then, there are the Chinese Communist Party's covert efforts: Recruiting from the inside, gathering intelligence, and exerting influence. Executive Director of the Global Taiwan Institute Russell Hsiao breaks down B…

1
Samantha Bee, Courtney Pauroso, Liz Lent - Dirty Dancing 05 32:08

19d ago32:08

32:08

Dirty Dancing - Chapter 5 Featuring a chapter novelized by ⁠⁠Liz Lent and narrated by ⁠Samantha Bee, plus an interview with ⁠⁠Courtney Pauroso. Hosted by Dave Hill. Samantha Bee is a comedian, writer, and producer who rose to fame as the longest-serving correspondent on "The Daily Show" before creating and hosting "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" f…

1
Introducing Targeted 33:15

25d ago33:15

33:15

Targeted uncovers harrowing stories of people who have been singled out and systematically dismantled—whether for political reasons, personal vendettas, or simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Each episode deep dives into the tactics used against someone, the devastating consequences, and the remarkable lessons they’ve learned in …

1
Understanding Chinese Espionage Through 900 Cases 31:43

26d ago31:43

31:43

Nicholas Eftimiades’ 34 year career in government spanned the CIA, State Department and the Defense Intelligence Agency. He's published three books that examine the structure, methodology and operations of China's intelligence services. This, he says, led a Chinese communist newspaper to declare him an enemy of the state in the ‘90s. Now, Nick is r…

1
Liz Miele, Shannon O'Neill, Mickie Cathers - Dirty Dancing 04 32:06

26d ago32:06

32:06

Dirty Dancing - Chapter 4 Featuring a chapter novelized by ⁠⁠Mickie Cathers and narrated by ⁠Liz Miele, plus an interview with ⁠⁠Shannon O'Neill. Hosted by Dave Hill. Liz Miele has appeared on Comedy Central, Fox, Hulu, NPR’s “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” and CBS’s After Midnight. She’s been featured in The New Yorker, NY Times, Runner’s World, and the…

1
Remembering The CIA’s Mind Games 33:44

1M ago33:44

33:44

Sidney Gottlieb was one of the CIA’s star chemists during the Cold War. As head of MKUltra, he ran a brazen—and deadly—program aimed at mind control. Gottlieb and fellow scientists tried to keep the work secret by destroying files, but historian John Lisle has new details from the six boxes that remained untouched. He shares insights and reflection…

1
Michael Ian Black, H. Jon Benjamin, Abbi Crutchfield - Dirty Dancing 03 35:07

1M ago35:07

35:07

Dirty Dancing - Chapter 3 Featuring a chapter novelized by ⁠⁠Abbi Crutchfield and narrated by ⁠Michael Ian Black, plus an interview with ⁠⁠H. Jon Benjamin. Hosted by Dave Hill. Each season on The Novelizers, we take a beloved film, then get comedy writer (from SNL, The Simpsons, Colbert, and more) to turn it into a hilarious audiobook, narrated by …

1
From Covert to Overt: Valerie Plame on political retaliation 32:58

1M ago32:58

32:58

Valerie Plame’s clandestine life made headlines in 2003 after her CIA cover was leaked to the press. Her husband, an ambassador, had gone to Niger to investigate whether yellowcake uranium had been transferred to Iraq to make weapons of mass destruction. He publicly challenged the Bush administration on what we now know was false intelligence. Vale…

1
Ep. 153 Beyond the Veil: Ghostly Journey & Funeral Secrets with Angel Nunez of Talk Spooky to Me 1:27:45

1M ago1:27:45

1:27:45

Let’s get Hollyweird with our guest and new para BFF, Angel Nunez of Talk Spooky to Me. Angel sits down and talks about what it was like growing up in a haunted house that led her into her paranormal journey along with working in the funeral industry. With a deep respect for the after life and a fearless approach to the unknown, Angel’s journey is …

1
Jesse Thorn, Jordan Morris, Angela Giarratana - Dirty Dancing 02 35:37

1M ago35:37

35:37

Dirty Dancing - Chapter 2 Featuring a chapter novelized by ⁠⁠Jordan Morris and narrated by ⁠Jesse Thorn, plus an interview with ⁠⁠Angela Giarratana. Hosted by Dave Hill. Each season on The Novelizers, we take a beloved film, then get comedy writer (from SNL, The Simpsons, Colbert, and more) to turn it into a hilarious audiobook, narrated by comedia…

1
Eyes on The Ground: The National Resistance Front in Afghanistan 31:25

2M ago31:25

31:25

After the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan, the National Resistance Front rose up to defy them. We spoke with their leader Ahmad Massoud, who has overseen hundreds of military and intelligence-gathering operations. He’s following the footsteps of his father, who led his own resistance group, the Northern Alliance, until members of Al Qaeda …

1
EP. 151 History, Ghosts, and Grade School Flashbacks: The Haunted History of Rancho Los Amigos 48:15

2M ago48:15

48:15

In this episode of our podcast, we dive deep into the eerie history of Rancho Los Amigos, the abandoned hospital that’s been both a place of healing and hauntings. We talk about the chilling ghost stories that haunt the halls and how wandering through its decaying corridors might give you more than just a cold spot—like a blast of middle school nos…

1
Rachel Dratch, Matteo Lane, Rich Talarico - Dirty Dancing 01 37:43

2M ago37:43

37:43

Dirty Dancing - Chapter 1 Featuring a chapter novelized by ⁠⁠Rich Talarico⁠ and narrated by ⁠Rachel Dratch, plus an interview with ⁠⁠Matteo Lane⁠. Hosted by Dave Hill. Each season on The Novelizers, we take a beloved film, then get comedy writer (from SNL, The Simpsons, Colbert, and more) to turn it into a hilarious audiobook, narrated by comedians…

1
From NFL to Espionage: The Story of Ernest Cuneo 27:33

2M ago27:33

27:33

He was an American spy before an American spy agency existed. NFL player Ernest Cuneo, a little known first generation Italian American, worked with British intelligence to convince the United States to join World War II, and helped lay the groundwork for modern day espionage. Thomas Maier traces Cuneo’s extraordinary life in his new book, The Invi…

1
NASA's GRACE Program 20:06

2M ago20:06

20:06

In this episode of We Need Water, we dive into NASA’s groundbreaking GRACE Project (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment), which uses satellites to monitor Earth’s freshwater resources. NASA recently released a report detailing the findings from this vital mission, revealing the state of freshwater supplies across the globe. Our guest, Dr. Matth…

1
Debriefing from the Ukrainian Front 29:54

2M ago29:54

29:54

A fourth year of war in Ukraine begins. But for Lt. Col. Kyrylo Berkal, who’s been fighting since Russia first invaded in 2014, the battle for his country has raged much longer. Now, he’s second in command of the elite Third Assault Brigade, which has played a major role in critical battles against Russia and continues to develop new technologies t…

1
How did Harriet Tubman operate as a spy? 32:33

2M ago32:33

32:33

She’s known for helping to free people through the Underground Railroad, but Harriet Tubman was also a spy during the Civil War. And with the intelligence she collected, the Maryland native became the first woman to lead men into battle on gunboats down the Combahee River in South Carolina. The Combahee River Raid destroyed several vital Confederat…

1
What's next for Kim Jong Un? 32:52

2M ago32:52

32:52

North Korea is growing more dangerous, but no U.S. administration has been able to crack the code on its leader Kim Jong Un. Now, there’s even less incentive for Kim to negotiate because of the support he’s getting from Russia. So what will Kim do next, and where is he vulnerable? Jung H. Pak, a former CIA analyst who served as the country’s top di…

1
Campus Cloak-and-Dagger: Spies Targeting American Universities 29:47

3M ago29:47

29:47

For decades, colleges and universities have been a destination for espionage. Especially in recent years, the use of international students and faculty as spies on American campuses has been particularly daunting. Why do intelligence services, both foreign and domestic, target colleges and universities? And what is there to gain on these campuses? …

1
Agent Zo: The woman who defied the Nazis and Communists 30:52

3M ago30:52

30:52

Agent Zo was the only female Polish resistance agent to reach London as a courier during WWII and the only female member of Poland's fabled 'Silent Unseen' paratroopers. Yet despite having researched Poland's wartime resistance movement, many of us have never heard of her. Why? If you liked this episode, check out these links: Agent Zo: The Extraor…

1
Ep. 150 Getting Hollyweirder | L.A. Fires, Nosfurato and Gap Ghosts 1:01:26

3M ago1:01:26

1:01:26

Lets get catch up as we sit and talk about the wild, unpredictable, and sometimes downright bizarre happenings in Los Angeles. From the smoke-filled skies of raging fires to the political whirlwind shaking the streets, we’re covering it all. And if that’s not enough, we’re also unpacking the creepy side of LA – Nosferato, the eerie vampire lurking …

1
How will President Trump handle intelligence in his second term? 32:47

3M ago32:47

32:47

Now that President Trump has been inaugurated, what can we expect for the intelligence community? On his first full day in his first term, he visited the CIA to voice support. But he has also displayed deep skepticism and accused spy agencies of undermining him. Beth Sanner is a highly decorated, retired career intelligence officer who briefed Trum…

1
How do you fool Russian Intelligence? 28:13

3M ago28:13

28:13

Former intelligence officer Bryan Stern describes the tradecraft he used on Russian intelligence and military services to rescue an American imprisoned in Russian-occupied Ukraine. If you liked this episode check out these links to more hostage rescue stories: SpyCast - James Foley: Journalist, ISIS Hostage, Son – with His Mother Diane Foley Operac…

1
From Ocean to Tap: Carlsbad’s Desalination with Jeremy Crutchfield 29:38

4M ago29:38

29:38

In this episode we explore the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, which is the largest, most technologically advanced and energy-efficient seawater desalination plant in the nation. Each day, the plant delivers nearly 50 million gallons (56,000 acre-feet per year (AFY)) of fresh, desalinated water to San Diego County – enough to serve …

1
The Scarecast Files #19: The Entity From Commerce 11:58

4M ago11:58

11:58

In this chilling podcast episode, we dive into a terrifying encounter that occurred 20 years ago in Commerce, California. A group of friends, out for a night of harmless fun, stumbled upon something they couldn't explain near a massive Scientology building on Sheila Avenue. Finding a quiet place to park so they can drink and smoke would bring them …

1
Introducing the New Host: Sasha Ingber 20:19

4M ago20:19

20:19

Introducing the new host of SpyCast, Sasha Ingber! In this week’s episode, Sasha joined Erin in a conversation about her career and the future of the International Spy Museum’s flagship podcast. Now entering it’s 19th year, SpyCast will relaunch on January 14th with brand new episodes, featuring exciting spy stories and the latest intelligence from…

1
The Scarecast Files #18: The Whaley House | San Diego, CA 33:16

4M ago33:16

33:16

In this episode, we explore the chilling history and paranormal activity surrounding the Whaley House, one of America's most notorious haunted locations. We begin with the tragic execution of "Yankee Jim" Robinson on the site where the house would later be built, setting the stage for centuries of supernatural occurrences. The Whaley family's unfor…

1
The Scarecast Files #17: Gehr Industries | Commerce, CA 11:31

4M ago11:31

11:31

In this spine-chilling episode, we delve into the haunted history of the Gehr Industries warehouse in Commerce, CA. From ghostly employees and spectral children to unexplained phenomena, the warehouse teems with paranormal activity that has left workers shaken for years. We explore the building's intriguing past, including its connection to Howard …

1
The Scarecast Files #16: Finally caught our house ghost… 8:23

4M ago8:23

8:23

In this episode, we explore a family's 15-year journey living alongside an unseen presence in their Victorian home. What began as mysterious footsteps evolved into tangible evidence when a motion-activated camera captured a translucent figure in the upstairs hallway. The story intertwines the family's experiences, their grandmother's antique collec…

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Michael Crutchfield Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen