Podcast · 157 episodes
The Rest Is Classified, page 5
by Goalhanger · English
Enter the secretive world of spies, espionage, and covert operations. Hosted by former CIA analyst turned spy novelist, David McCloskey, and veteran security correspondent, Gordon Corera, this podcast unravels real-life spy stories, intelligence secrets, and the hidden power struggles shaping global events. From Cold War espionage to modern-day intelligence agencies like the CIA, MI6, and Mossad, explore the world of double agents, classified missions, and the shadowy figures who operate in them. Whether you're a true crime addict, a thriller fan, or fascinated by spy stories, this is the show for you.
All episodes, page 5
111. The Man Behind The CIA: Shooting In The White House (Ep 2)Part 2 of a two-part series on Wild Bill Donovan, founder of the OSS (the CIA’s predecessor), focusing on OSS’s creation, its reckless operations, Donovan’s “in the White House” stunt, his D-Day…24 Dec 2025 · 49 min · 18 chapters
110. The Man Behind The CIA: Charming Mussolini and Stealing From MI6 (Ep 1)Episode 110 (Ep 1) of The Rest Is Classified is a Christmas special about William “Wild Bill” Donovan, portrayed as the modern founder of the CIA.22 Dec 2025 · 49 min · 16 chapters
109. Hunting Al-Qaeda: The CIA’s Deadliest Day (Ep 4)This episode (Ep 4) recounts how Al-Qaeda used the CIA’s “golden source” Abu Dujana/Balawi to lure Jordanian intelligence officer Ali bin Zaid into meeting in Afghanistan, culminating in the 30 Dec…17 Dec 2025 · 42 min · 18 chapters
108. Hunting Al-Qaeda: From Jihadist To Spy (Ep 3)The CIA and Jordanian intelligence try to verify and exploit “Balaoui,” a jihadist blogger-turned-asset/doctor they believe is embedded with Al-Qaeda, to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Ayman…15 Dec 2025 · 53 min · 16 chapters
Introducing: The Rest Is ScienceThe new podcast The Rest is Science introduces how science explains familiar phenomena by questioning assumptions, using gravity as the first example.11 Dec 2025 · 12 min · 5 chapters
107. Hunting Al-Qaeda: The War On Terror (Ep 2)The second part of a four-episode series on the CIA’s 2009 “host bombing” and, specifically, whether an al-Qaeda-aligned agent can be trusted after being turned.10 Dec 2025 · 53 min · 18 chapters
106. Hunting Al-Qaeda: Anatomy Of A Terrorist (Ep 1)Episode 106 (Part 1) of The Rest is Classified, “Hunting Al-Qaeda: Anatomy Of A Terrorist,” focuses on the 2009 CIA attack on Camp Chapman in Host, Afghanistan, and how Al-Qaeda used a rare…8 Dec 2025 · 55 min · 21 chapters
105. The Chinese Spy Scandal: Mastering LinkedIn (Ep 2)Case study of how Chinese intelligence allegedly used LinkedIn-style recruiting to target a former CIA officer, then escalate from online contact to in-person meetings and covert communications,…3 Dec 2025 · 42 min · 17 chapters
104. The Chinese Spy Scandal: Breaching Westminster (Ep 1)How China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) recruits and cultivates targets in sensitive UK roles, using large-scale outreach on LinkedIn plus online “development” steps, and how two UK…1 Dec 2025 · 43 min · 19 chapters
The Rise Of Putin: Becoming PresidentHow Vladimir Putin rose from KGB/St. Petersburg deputy mayor to Moscow power broker, FSB head, prime minister, and eventually president during the 1990s, amid organized crime, corruption, and Boris…28 Nov 2025 · 11 min · 5 chapters
103. Putin's Secret Army: The Coup That Almost Brought Down Russia (Ep 6)The final chapter of a series on Yevgeny Prigozhin, explaining how his Wagner mercenary rise turned into a violent power struggle with Russia’s regular military leadership, culminating in the June…26 Nov 2025 · 55 min · 24 chapters
102. Putin's Secret Army: Criminals And Cannibals - Russia's War In Ukraine (Ep 5)How Yevgeny Prigozhin and Wagner were pulled into Russia’s failed 72-hour invasion plan, expanded from Africa-based mercenaries into a major force on Ukraine’s front, and recruited prisoners for…24 Nov 2025 · 35 min · 15 chapters
The Rise Of Putin: Russian Organised CrimePart 2 of a mini-series on Vladimir Putin’s rise, focusing on his KGB background and how Russian organized crime networks intersect with power during the Soviet collapse.21 Nov 2025 · 10 min · 5 chapters
101. Putin's Secret Army: Wagner's Control Of Africa (Ep 4)How Yevgeny Prigozhin expands Wagner’s “security + propaganda + resource extraction” model across Africa, using disguises and a media/mercenary team to win mining and security deals after France…19 Nov 2025 · 39 min · 14 chapters
100. Putin's Secret Army: Fighting With Assad In Syria (Ep 3)How Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner Group evolve from Russia-linked “entrepreneur” into a state-aligned mercenary force, first in Ukraine (2014) and then expanding to Syria (2015 onward), including…17 Nov 2025 · 46 min · 20 chapters
The Rise Of Putin: Joining The KGBA three-episode miniseries (this installment) on Vladimir Putin’s rise, focusing on his early life in Leningrad/St.14 Nov 2025 · 10 min · 5 chapters
99. Putin's Secret Army: Trump, Wagner And Russia (Ep 2)How Yevgeny Prigozhin’s catering-to-politics rise connects to Russian disinformation, focusing on the Internet Research Agency (IRA) and its role in domestic destabilization and early steps toward…12 Nov 2025 · 44 min · 19 chapters
98. Putin’s Secret Army: The Rise Of Prigozhin (Ep 1)The rise of Yevgeny Prigozhin from petty criminal and prison entrepreneur to Vladimir Putin’s trusted caterer, and how that relationship sets up Wagner and later disinformation operations.10 Nov 2025 · 42 min · 16 chapters
97. Selling The World's Secrets: Why The Brits Won The Falklands War (Ep 2)The CIA’s takeover of Crypto AG, a Swiss cryptology firm, and how its rigged cipher machines let the US (with Germany’s BND) read communications from 130+ countries—until engineering fixes,…5 Nov 2025 · 51 min · 20 chapters
96. Selling The World's Secrets: Is The CIA Reading Your Messages? (Ep 1)Crypto AG, a Cold War-era cipher-machine company allegedly used by the US (with UK GCHQ and German BND involvement) to compromise global communications by selling “secure” encryption devices whose…3 Nov 2025 · 41 min · 17 chapters
Did Fidel Castro Kill JFK?Part 3 of Rest is Classified’s series on CIA and JFK theories, arguing for a “Cuban connection” to Lee Harvey Oswald rather than a lone gunman.31 Oct 2025 · 10 min · 5 chapters
95. JFK vs the CIA: Death in Dallas (Ep 6)Episode 95 (“JFK vs the CIA: Death in Dallas,” Ep 6) covers the Kennedy administration’s post–Bay of Pigs push to overthrow Fidel Castro, and how that covert war intersects with JFK’s assassination…29 Oct 2025 · 54 min · 14 chapters
94. JFK vs the CIA: Fighting in Cuba (Ep 5)The Bay of Pigs invasion (April 17–18, 1961) and the breakdown of JFK’s relationship with the CIA during the Cuba operation.27 Oct 2025 · 1 h 6 min · 24 chapters
Did The Mafia Kill JFK?Whether the Mafia (organized crime families) killed President John F. Kennedy, focusing on mob motives and alleged threats tied to Bobby Kennedy’s anti-crime actions.23 Oct 2025 · 10 min · 4 chapters