Best Clandestine Podcasts (2025)

1
BONUS: SLoB's Secret Crushes and Clandestine Encounters pt 1 49:20

4d ago49:20

49:20

It's Valentine's Day and love is quite literally in the air as the Secret Life of Books beams, via a complex network of satellites and data banks, to your ears. In this Bonus Episode, Sophie and Jonty reflect on what they've learnt about love from the classics, and rank the leading men and ladies of the books covered so far as lovers. St Valentine …

1
Free love in Paris, male wrestling and murder: Giovanni's Room 1:19:48

4h ago1:19:48

1:19:48

It's Black History Month and Sophie and Jonty are bringing their analytical chops once again to the giant of 20th-century literature, James Baldwin. In his debut novel, Go Tell It On the Mountain, Baldwin had captured the experience of growing up in 1930s Harlem. In his second novel, Giovanni’s Room, published in 1956, he focused instead on his exp…

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

1d 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
Shorts: Unbound with Jonathan Meades and John Mitchinson 29:45

7d ago29:45

29:45

On this episode of Shorts, we're talking to author Jonathan Meades and publisher John Mitchinson about the unique publishing process at Unbound. We discuss how they each became readers, Unbound's roots in the subscription model of the 17th century, Meades' magnum opus, and more. Order Empty Wigs: https://unbound.com/books/empty-wigs Join the Unboun…

1
Shakespeare does 'Succession': Rory Stewart on King Lear 58:58

7d ago58:58

58:58

“Now, gods, stand up for bastards!” King Lear is the Mount Everest of Theatre - a sprawling masterpiece of political turmoil, personal betrayal, horrifying gore and great poetry. It makes ‘Succession’ look like The Midsomer Murders. Lear is the pagan king who decides to divides his kingdom between two daughters (and banishing a third), only to find…

1
Exposing Cargo Crime 54:38

8d ago54:38

54:38

BACK on Air is THE podcast for operators who have compliance on their mind and road transport at the heart of their business. This podcast is a recording of our live fortnightly webinar held every other Friday. So, if you like what you hear and fancy joining the live event where you can ask questions, and vote on our interactive polls, Just registe…

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

8d 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
Wizards, Hobbits and WWII: Dominic Sandbrook on The Lord of the Rings 1:18:47

14d ago1:18:47

1:18:47

One ring to rule them all One ring to… Yes, SLoB finally turns its Sauron-like eye on what is thought to be the second best-selling novel of all time (after Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities): Lord of the Rings. And who better to share this experience than Dominic Sandbrook, historian of the 20th Century, co-host of the Rest is History podcast, and Tolki…

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

15d 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
Love and Beauty Bonus: Geraldine Brooks picks Gilead as the great modern classic 23:40

18d ago23:40

23:40

The Pulitzer Prize winner, fan-favorite Geraldine Brooks first read Gilead on a packed flight and found herself clambering over passengers for a Kleenex. Find out why Robinson’s quiet, meditative, multi-generational story remains a model and touchstone for one of the most admired and loved novelists writing today. Or, to echo Jonty’s effort to soun…

1
Soldier Preachers, late-life love and Soapy the cat in Marilynne Robinson's Gilead 1:04:55

21d ago1:04:55

1:04:55

Gilead, from 2004, by the American writer Marilynne Robinson, is a smash-hit novel about Calvinism, three generations of Congregationalist minister and a cat called Soapy. Unlikely trifecta through this is, Gilead is a gorgeous, life-affirming tale that has the distinction of being one of Barack Obama’s favorite books. The Gilead tetralogy - the fo…

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

23d 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
Jane Austen goes to the dark side: social turmoil and scandalous texting in Sense and Sensibility 1:15:42

28d ago1:15:42

1:15:42

If you think Jane Austen is light and bright and sparkling, think again. In Sense and Sensibility, her first published novel, Jane goes to the dark side. Listeners remembering Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet laughing prettily in pale dresses might be expecting a tale of sisterly affection and romantic walks, while Hugh Grant stammers and charms his …

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

29d 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
Digesting Military History with Chris Petty 57:00

1M ago57:00

57:00

My guest is a West Point classmate of mine, Chris Petty, a retired Brigadier General. He created the book and online resource Battle Digest to fill the gap in military history education, offering concise lessons from historic battles. A former Rugby player, he emphasizes how studying history builds battlefield awareness and strategic thinking. Each…

1
Cannes, a white mess jacket, and the pure joy of P.G. Wodehouse's "Right Ho, Jeeves" 1:16:20

1M ago1:16:20

1:16:20

Right Ho, Jeeves was the 34th novel by the British writer PG Wodehouse, written when he was - struggling writers take note - 52 years old. But you would never guess this. It is fresh, energetic, joyful, structurally perfect and one of a handful of books that might be considered Wodehouse’s masterpiece. The story follows the escapades of hopeless to…

1
Virtual Mock Public Inquiry 1:11:56

1M ago1:11:56

1:11:56

BACK on Air is THE podcast for operators who have compliance on their mind and road transport at the heart of their business. This podcast is a recording of our live fortnightly webinar held every other Friday. So, if you like what you hear and fancy joining the live event where you can ask questions, and vote on our interactive polls, Just registe…

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

1M 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
In Deep Trouble: Battering the Seabed for Batteries 1:35:39

1M ago1:35:39

1:35:39

Perils to the Deep Sea From Bottom Trawling, Climate Change and Mining and the Need to Protect Its Stunning Biodiversity Discussion with Matt Gianni from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition on the critical importance of the deep sea to our air, climate, the marine food web, our food security and health. We discuss the biodiversity of the deep sea a…

1
The Craft of Writing, the Booker Prize from Australia: Charlotte Wood on My Name is Lucy Barton 50:16

1M ago50:16

50:16

Elizabeth Strout’s My Name Is Lucy Barton is a much-loved and perennially-read novel that has caught the attention of literally millions of readers worldwide. But it’s quiet, low-key book, about family dynamics and difficult feelings, with a modest plot and characters who wouldn’t seem heroic if you met them in real life. Find out why Charlotte Woo…

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

1M 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
Literature's great parties: launch 2025 in style with Lady Macbeth, Count Dracula and the Mad Hatter 58:17

2M ago58:17

58:17

To round out 2024, SLoB is hosting the world’s shortest New Year’s Eve party, in which we rank literary history’s most under-the-radar ragers. Crank up your sonos and get ready for classic fun this New Year. In under an hour, and with lashings of improvisational revelry, Sophie and Jonty review and rank party scenes from the books they covered in 2…

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

2M 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
Teaser: A Tomb for Boris Davidovich by Danilo Kiš 7:51

2M ago7:51

7:51

In this episode, we talk about A Tomb for Boris Davidovich by Danilo Kiš and Philip Roth's Writers from the Other Europe series from the 1970s and 80s. Listen to the full episode on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384By Dylan Cuellar, Kassia Oset

1
Ending Up with Craig Brown 57:46

2M ago57:46

57:46

Author and critic Craig Brown joins us to discuss Kingsley Amis' novel Ending Up. The story follows a group of poverty-stricken elders as they suffer the miseries of one another's company (and their relatives) over the holidays. We talk about the limits of comic writing, Amis' penchant for irritation, and the context of 1970s England. It's our 50th…

1
Did Dickens Change the Face of Christmas Forever? Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the First Ever Turkey 59:14

2M ago59:14

59:14

From the “man who invented Christmas,” this is the ultimate Christmas fable. Everyone’s heard of Scrooge, and many could quote his “Bah! Humbug!” And maybe even Tiny Tim’s “God Bless us, every one.” But who knows which Christmas season mega-industry Dickens started, with Scrooge’s parting gift to the Cratchit family? And what was going on in Dicken…

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

2M 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

2M 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
The Albatross Curse, Bad Weddings and Lots of Opium: Rime of the Ancient Mariner 1:12:31

2M ago1:12:31

1:12:31

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - the name of a classic song by Iron Maiden AND a decent-ish poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It’s the latter that’s under the microscope in this episode. Written in 1798, in a haze of opium smoke and revolutionary fervor, the Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a long ballad poem describing the supernatural curse against…

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

2M 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
Teaser: Dream of the Red Chamber Part 2 with Eileen Cheng-yin Chow and Wai-yee Li 12:44

2M ago12:44

12:44

Eileen Cheng-yin Chow and Wai-yee Li, both scholars and devoted readers of Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber, join us to discuss the book's final two volumes as well as their varied encounters with the text. In this clip, we talk about the controversy surrounding the novel's last 40 chapters, the author's alter ego, and the depiction of Chinese…

1
What to expect from 2025 and a recap of 2024 1:03:47

2M ago1:03:47

1:03:47

BACK on Air is THE podcast for operators who have compliance on their mind and road transport at the heart of their business. This podcast is a recording of our live fortnightly webinar held every other Friday. So, if you like what you hear and fancy joining the live event where you can ask questions, and vote on our interactive polls, Just registe…

1
Back From the Dead: An Omen of Blood 31:56

2M ago31:56

31:56

The first Back From the Dead deep dive, and yeah, it could only be Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain! Enjoy my narrative surrounding their story and how it influenced my own. Here is video from the gameplay movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20zcUlFcel8 The show was written and produced by me, Johnny Stitches https://twitter.com/JohnnyStitches https:/…

1
Victorian dresses, teenage passions and fiction’s scariest picnic: Picnic at Hanging Rock 57:47

2M ago57:47

57:47

Sophie and Jonty find themselves a few sandwiches short of a picnic this week when they take on their first Australian classic book, the legendary “Picnic at Hanging Rock.” This 1960s masterpiece achieved global fame with Peter Weir’s hit film in 1975. And it has lost none of its edge with the passage of time. The intrepid hosts of SLoB discover th…

1
Angel with Mandylion Press 1:20:05

3M ago1:20:05

1:20:05

Mabel Taylor and Madeline Porsella of Mandylion Press join us to discuss Elizabeth Taylor's Angel, a novel first published in 1957. Angel is the story of a self-obsessed writer whose imaginary world becomes frighteningly real. We talk about her lying tendencies, fraught relationships, and intersections with history's whirligig. Check out Mandylion'…

1
Please Sir, may we have some more? Oliver Twist, sex work and criminal underclasses in Victorian London 1:06:08

3M ago1:06:08

1:06:08

Let’s Twist Again! Not the dance, of course, but Charles Dickens’ incendiary second novel, which he began writing at the tender age of 24. With Oliver Twist, Dickens found his voice - a style simultaneously intimate and epic, funny but terrifying, exaggerated but true to life. Millions fell in love with his characters, shared their misfortunes and …

1
Drugs and drink driving special 3 1:12:52

3M ago1:12:52

1:12:52

BACK on Air is THE podcast for operators who have compliance on their mind and road transport at the heart of their business. This podcast is a recording of our live fortnightly webinar held every other Friday. So, if you like what you hear and fancy joining the live event where you can ask questions, and vote on our interactive polls, Just registe…

1
Teaser: Pablo Casals, "Chopin," and the Esotericism of Classical Music 2:38

3M ago2:38

2:38

It's classical music week at Unburied Books! In this bonus episode, we talk about Joys and Sorrows by Pablo Casals, a sort-of autobiography by the great unburier of Bach's cello suites, as well as Gottfried Benn's poem "Chopin," translated from German by NYRB favorite Michael Hofmann. Read the poem here: https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/benn/C…

1
The world's most famous classicist on the world's most famous classic: Mary Beard and The Odyssey 57:00

3M ago57:00

57:00

The Odyssey - where stories began. Probably written down around 7th century BC - give or take a few centuries either way - by somebody or somebodies who may or may not have been called Homer. Leaving aside these mysteries, what is the Odyssey really about, why is it so violent and why is Odysseus himself - the lord of the lies - such an unlikeable …

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

3M 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
Bonus Live Ep: hosts' secrets revealed and the classics stripped bare! 30:07

3M ago30:07

30:07

Co-hosts Sophie and Jonty bare all in a bonus SLoB live ep! After months of rummaging through the dirty laundry of the great writers, it is only fair that we turn a critical eye back upon ourselves - and reveal the secret life of the Secret Life of Books. In this bonus episode, recorded to mark our official launch before a live audience in Sydney’s…

1
Teaser: Stranger than Fiction with Edwin Frank 2:49

3M ago2:49

2:49

NYRB Classics editorial director Edwin Frank returns to talk about his new book on the 20th-century novel. We discuss how he defined the category, his discoveries during research, and how being an editor has shaped his understanding. To hear the full episode, check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84429384…

1
A Rhyme in Time: Power, Protest and Polarity in America 1:48:03

3M ago1:48:03

1:48:03

American Resistance and Repression, Identity and Intersectionality and the LGBTQI+ Rights Movement Discussion with Professor Timothy Patrick McCarthy on American radicalism and the need for multivocality rather than metanarratives in analyzing history. We discuss the construction and interpellation of identities, their historical contingencies and …

1
Jane Austen does gothic horror with insta-ready clothes and great interiors: Northanger Abbey 1:02:48

3M ago1:02:48

1:02:48

Henry Tilney: is he yet another of Jane Austen’s Bad Men, or the stealth MVP with his interest in dress fabrics and interior decorating? Northanger Abbey is Austen’s funniest, most unabashedly joyful and silly novel. It’s also where Jane gets meta – with lots of speeches about what novels are and why we love reading them. Sophie makes the case that…

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

3M 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
Vehicles as a dangerous weapon 1:00:31

3M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

BACK on Air is THE podcast for operators who have compliance on their mind and road transport at the heart of their business. This podcast is a recording of our live fortnightly webinar held every other Friday. So, if you like what you hear and fancy joining the live event where you can ask questions, and vote on our interactive polls, Just registe…

1
4 – Do Autocrats Need a Foreign Enemy? 24:00

3M ago24:00

24:00

Guests: Henry Hale is Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University. Adam Lenton is Assistant Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Wake Forest University. International Security Article: Henry E. Hale and Adam C. Lenton, “Do Autocrats Need a Foreign Enemy? Evidence from Fortress Russia,” Inte…

1
James: National Book Award global hit; a Huck Finn rewrite the world needed; plot twists you'll never guess 48:37

3M ago48:37

48:37

It took 140 years for someone to write back to Mark Twain’s brilliant but troubling masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Now the celebrated American novelist Percival Everett has done it with James, a daring, provocative, retelling of Huck Finn through the eyes, mind and heart of Huck’s friend Jim, a runaway slave. What are the untold se…

1
Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness changes 1:03:16

3M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness (Guide) is a document that helps explain how to keep vehicles roadworthy. It is intended for use by operators, drivers, and others responsible for maintaining commercial and passenger vehicles. As we mentioned in our BACK on air webinar on 1 November 2024, we have be…

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