Episodes

  • S8 Ep39: The legal case for the victims of Havana Syndrome with Mark S. Zaid

    S8 Ep39: The legal case for the victims of Havana Syndrome with Mark S. Zaid
    Apr 22 2024
    On today’s podcast, Chris is joined by national security Lawyer Mark S. Zaid. They discuss the legal case for the victims of the Anomalous Health Incidents, more popularly known as Havana Syndrome. Mark discusses the US government's denial and how that affects his clients, who have had their lives disrupted by these alleged attacks.

    You can find out more about Mark and his work here: https://markzaid.com/

    You can follow Mark on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MarkSZaidEsq

    If you feel politicians and decision-makers should be doing more to help the victims of these attacks, you can contact Politicians via the links below:

    Contact your Senator: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
    Contact your MP: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/



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    55 mins
  • S8 Ep38: Directed energy and Havana Syndrome with Dr. James Giordano

    S8 Ep38: Directed energy and Havana Syndrome with Dr. James Giordano
    Apr 20 2024
    On today’s podcast Chris is joined by Dr James Giordano. Dr Giordano served as the consulting neuroscientist on research into the original cases of Havana Syndrome.

    Dr. James Giordano is a neuroscientist and neuroethicist, whose work focuses upon mechanisms and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, and neuroethical issues arising from the use and misuse of neuroscientific techniques and technologies.

    Dr Giordano wrote a fantastic article titled “Directed Energy Remains Key Suspect Behind Havana Syndrome” which looks at Dr Giordano’s research on directed energy devices and their potential weaponisation.

    You can read that article here: https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2024/4/4/directed-energy-remains-key-suspect-behind-havana-syndrome

    You can find out more about Dr. Giordano’s work at the links below:

    Georgetown University
    https://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/00336000014Tm4oAAC/james-giordano

    Bio Defense Research
    https://biodefenseresearch.org/the-institute-for-biodefense-research-announces-dr-james-giordano-as-new-executive-director/


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    58 mins
  • S8 Ep37: Former US Navy Captain Gene Moran on the Houthi threat in the Red Sea

    S8 Ep37: Former US Navy Captain Gene Moran on the Houthi threat in the Red Sea
    Apr 15 2024
    On today’s podcast, Chris is joined by Former US Navy Destroyer Captain Gene Moran to discuss the Houthi Threat in the Red Sea. In this episode, they look at the background of the Houthis, the threat that they pose, and how the US Navy and its allies are dealing with that threat. They then discuss life on a ship during a time of conflict and finish up with Gene explaining what more he thinks could be done to counter this threat.

    You can find out more about Gene and his work here:
    https://www.genemoran.com/

    You can connect with Gene on LinkedIn here:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/genemoran

    Check out Gene’s books on his Amazon page:
    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gene-Moran/author/B07YW9RLMD?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

    Support Secrets and Spies:

    Become a “Friend of the podcast” on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

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    Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg

    For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/

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    55 mins
  • S8 Ep36: Espresso Martini: Putin exploits ISIS-K attack, House Republicans hold up US aid to Ukraine, and new Havana Syndrome information.

    S8 Ep36: Espresso Martini: Putin exploits ISIS-K attack, House Republicans hold up US aid to Ukraine, and new Havana Syndrome information.
    Apr 13 2024
    On today’s episode, we are going to look at Putin exploiting the ISIS-K attack for his war on Ukraine, House Republicans holding up US aid to Ukraine, and we will wrap up looking at new revelations on Havana Syndrome.

    Then we will move to our Patreon only show “Extra Shot”. On that we will look at Chinese Disinformation efforts targeting the US elections, a Chinese Drone flying over the Sea of Japan, the results of a recent survey that suggests some US gun owners would engage in political violence, and we wrap up looking at Hollywood’s depiction of espionage in Film & TV.


    You will need to be a Patreon subscriber to get access to Extra Shot. Click here to subscribe and listen to Extra Shot: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extra-shot-13-04-102258042?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link



    Articles discussed:
    https://cepa.org/article/moscow-terror-attack-a-lie-too-good-to-waste/

    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/01/us/politics/mike-johnson-ukraine-aid.html

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/08/mike-johnson-ukraine-aid-congress-republicans

    https://theins.ru/en/politics/270425


    Support Secrets and Spies:

    Become a “Friend of the podcast” on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

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    Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg

    For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/

    Connect with us on social media.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • S8 Ep35: Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu imprisoned in Azerbaijan

    S8 Ep35: Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu imprisoned in Azerbaijan
    Apr 9 2024
    On today’s podcast, we are joined by Ibad Bayramov, and we discuss the imprisonment of his father, Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, in Azerbaijan. Dr Ibadoghlu is an economics professor who was a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and a leading figure in the opposition in Azerbaijan. In July 2023, he was arrested and held by Azerbaijan authorities while visiting family. He is facing up to 12 years in prison for the production, acquisition, or sale of counterfeit money by an organised group and allegedly possessing extremist material—charges he denies. Find out more about Dr Ibadoghlu at the Gubad Files Website: https://thegubadfiles.com/ You can connect with and follow Ibad here: https://twitter.com/BayramovIbad Ibad’s sister Zhala is also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayramovaZhala You can contact Politicians via the links below: Contact your Senator: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm Contact your MP: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/ You can read more on some of the topics Ibad mentions about the political situation in Azerbaijan Detention of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/61412/detention-of-dr-gubad-ibadoghlu-in-azerbaijan https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/the-struggle-for-freedom-an-azerbaijani-economist-who-stands-up-to-aliyevs-kleptocracy Concerns about Dr Ibadoghlu’s health https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/14/health-of-lse-academic-detained-in-azerbaijan-at-risk-say-family US could do more to help Dr Ibadoghlu https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/11/united-states-must-do-more-help-gubad-ibadoghlu/ Doubt about the validity of Azerbaijan’s elections https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68237326 Caviar diplomacy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caviar_diplomacy Pandora Papers https://www.rferl.org/a/pandora-papers-tax-havens/31490744.html https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/queen-crown-estate-bought-property-family-azerbaijan-ruler Azerbaijani Laundromat https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/04/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-azerbaijani-laundromat Azerbaijan adopt harsh tactics against the opposition https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijani-government-adopts-still-harsher-tactics-against-opposition Human Rights report on Azerbaijan - Torture and Ill-Treatment in Detention https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/azerbaijan BP and Azerbijan https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/08/bp-projects-have-helped-fund-azerbaijan-military-aggession-say-campaigners UK Gov Risk Guidance on doing business in Azerbaijan https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-azerbaijan/overseas-business-risk-azerbaijan Support Secrets and Spies: Become a “Friend of the podcast” on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Connect with us on social media. BLUE SKY https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/ SPOUTIBLE https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • S8 Ep34: Moscow ISIS-K attack, Ukriane update and Ukraine Intelligence

    S8 Ep34: Moscow ISIS-K attack, Ukriane update and Ukraine Intelligence
    Apr 5 2024
    In today’s episode, we welcome Dr Taras Kuzio, who has just returned from a trip to Ukraine.

    Dr. Taras Kuzio is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy and an Associate Research Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. Winner of the 2022 Peterson Literary Prize for Russian Nationalism and the Russian-Ukrainian War: Autocracy-Orthodoxy-Nationality (Routledge, 2022).

    In the first section, we discuss the recent ISIS-K terrorist attack in Moscow and how President Putin is capitalising on that atrocity and attempting to blame Ukraine. We look at new Ukrainian tactics against Russia and an increasingly risk-averse US government to give Ukraine what it needs to defeat Russia.

    We then shift focus to Dr Kuzio’s trip to Ukraine, in which he shares his observations, and then we look at how President Zelensky is holding up after recent reports that he has been at loggerheads with senior members of the Ukraine military. We also discuss some of the talking points about Ukraine on both sides of the political spectrum in the British and American press.

    After the break, we’ll shift our focus to the lesser-known realm of the Ukrainian intelligence services and special forces, shedding light on their roles and actions.

    So, it’s a pretty jam-packed episode, and we end with a few bonus questions about the Nord Stream pipeline attack, a strange conversation I had with a taxi driver in London about Ukraine that left me scratching my head, and a brief chat about Alexi Navalny’s links to the Russian far-right.

    So pour yourself your favourite drink, make yourself comfortable and immerse yourself in an episode packed with revelations, analysis, and unexpected stories.

    Lawrence Freedman Substack mentioned:
    https://substack.com/profile/69709932-lawrence-freedman

    New York Times Article mentioned:
    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/world/europe/cia-ukraine-intelligence-russia-war.html

    Connect with Dr Kuzio: https://twitter.com/TarasKuzio


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    2 hrs and 11 mins
  • Easter sample of Extra Shot our Patreon only show.

    Easter sample of Extra Shot our Patreon only show.
    Mar 30 2024
    As it's the Easter weekend, Chris and Matt are away. So today, we are going to share a sample episode of "Extra Shot," our Patreon-only show that immediately follows each episode of "Espresso Martini."

    To get access to future and past episodes of "Extra Shot" please subscribe here:
    www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

    In this edition of Extra Shot, we will look at recommendations for a shake-up of British intelligence, the arrest of an alleged member of the Red Army Faction in Germany, we also look at the conviction of a left-wing terrorist in the UK and a cyber-attack against an Iranian spy ship.

    Links to articles discussed:

    https://therecord.media/british-former-spy-chiefs-shakeup

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68415892

    https://news.sky.com/story/left-wing-anarchist-guilty-of-terror-offences-after-declaring-he-wanted-to-kill-mps-13072775

    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/us-conducted-cyberattack-suspected-iranian-spy-ship-rcna138638

    NSPCC: “Spotting the signs of radicalisation”

    https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/dedicated-helplines/protecting-children-from-radicalisation/


    Support Secrets and Spies:

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    55 mins
  • S8 Ep33: Espresso Martini: Tactical nukes, Spies in Brussels, Turkish spies in the West and more

    S8 Ep33: Espresso Martini: Tactical nukes, Spies in Brussels, Turkish spies in the West and more
    Mar 23 2024
    On today’s episode, we are going to look at how close we got to Russia using nukes in Ukraine, spies wining and dining in Brussels, Russia setting up fake news sites and more.

    Then we will move to our Patreon-only show, “Extra Shot”. On that, we will look at how to run a CIA station abroad, SAS soldiers accused of murder, reports that the King has died and more.

    Get Patreon access to Extra Shot here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extra-shot-23rd-100909002?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

    Articles

    https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/09/politics/us-prepared-rigorously-potential-russian-nuclear-strike-ukraine?cid=ios_app

    https://www.politico.eu/article/belgian-justice-minister-only-tip-iceberg-brussels-spy-problem-known/

    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/business/media/russia-us-news-sites.html

    https://www.axios.com/2024/03/10/antarctica-china-science-geopolitics

    https://nordicmonitor.com/2024/03/turkey-escalates-covert-intelligence-activities-in-europe-and-north-america/

    Our restaurant recommendation in Brussels: Meet Meat Steak & Wine House
    https://meetmeat.be/


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    1 hr and 18 mins