After a well-earned rest David and Michelle are back, somewhat injured, but ready to take a look at what happened while we were away. What's the story behind the death of Wagner chief Prigozhin? Who is the 21 year old terrorist double agent who managed to escape the nick in the UK? Why are Chinese tourists booking holidays on US military bases? And why is it that every time we go on holidays, the intelligence world goes into overdrive?! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Sweden's terrorist threat level has soared to unprecedented levels and Australia's travel advice is to exercise a high degree of caution. So what's going on in the land of vikings and Volvo? What do books and bacon have to do with it? And is this a signal that Islamic extremism is on the rise, or is it the handy work of one very disturbed individual?And David & Michelle are taking a well-earned holiday so there's a thank you to all those listeners that have kept this show on the road. See...

With the Ukrainian counter-offensive grinding on, it seems the real battle is taking place in the intelligence sphere. From foiled assassination attempts to drone strikes on shipping to seemingly impossible explosions in Russian factories and a cyber battlefield that is roiling, both sides of this conflict are claiming victories. This week we look at how, even when war goes kinetic, you can never underestimate the importance of an effective intelligence service. Produced by DM Podcasts See...

With the news that Australia's DIO will soon have US intelligence officers embedded within its ranks, we have a look at the relationship between Australia and the US. Are we the trusted and much loved spouse that America can't do without? Or are we just a country of convenience, one of many mistresses the US strings along? And what about all the stuff the US is storing at our place? Make sure your pre-nup is up to date for this ep! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for...

With authoritarian governments on the rise, it seems they are being emboldened in exporting their tyranny. Transnational Repression is growing, with despotic governments harassing, abducting and even killing critiques, dissidents and migrant communities far beyond their own borders. How bad is the problem? Who are the main players? Is Australia immune from such sinister attacks? And what is David's problem with the Canadian accent? Expect to be "oot in a boot" this week! Produced by DM...

We all know just how bad a spy David was but he pales in comparison with some of these guys. From German spies in WWI treating espionage missions to the US as fully paid vacations, to the British virtually insisting the US let a Russian spy work on the Manhattan Project, this episode features some of the dumbest moments in intelligence. There’s even the story of a swinging Czechoslovakian comedian who led the CIA by the nose.Suddenly, David doesn’t look so bad. Produced by DM Podcasts. See...

A country's intelligence service is there to seek out information and protect us from our adversaries, but what about spying on allies? Do our friends spy on us, and if so why? What is Australia's record when it comes to betraying the trust of an ally? And what is going on with ASIO's email?Take a good, long look at the people close to you this week! Produced by DM Podcasts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we look at how someone becomes a spy. While recruitment into a modern intelligence organisation is fairly mundane these days, there used to be some very unique ways of going about it. And being recruited to act as an agent is even more complicated and extreme. So what is the difference between an agent and an intelligence officer? How is a potential agent approached? Why are academics and students such attractive targets? And what is the last thing you would think could be used as...

For a moment there the world thought Russia was plunging into civil war and Putin's long reign was coming to a close. And just 24 hours later Prigozhin, the mutineer and owner/leader of the brutal Wagner Group, had called off the coup and absconded to Belarus.This week, to help us pull apart what happened and what it means for Putin, Russia and Ukraine, we are joined by Walkley Award winning journalist and former ABC Moscow correspondent Monica Attard. Is Putin on the ropes or is he stronger?...

It has long been believed that the KGB had a mole in ASIO and that suspicion was confirmed last week when the ABC’s 4Corners revealed the identity of the spy. Who was the mole and how did he avoid detection for so long? What does it say about Australia’s premier espionage hunters? What does it mean for the people who worked along side a traitor, not knowing their every move was being orchestrated to fail? And how did David take the news? Join us for a very personal episode this...

The US is through the looking glass with former president Trump indicted and arraigned on multiple federal felony counts of espionage, conspiracy and obstruction. So what did Trump actually do? How likely is a conviction? And did Mar-a-Lago have the most confidential selection of bathroom reading ever? Make sure you have an extra roll of loo paper this week! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the recent destruction of the Nova Kharkovka Dam in Ukraine we take a look at the latest situation in the ongoing conflict. Who was the likely culprit? What more can we expect from the burgeoning Ukrainian ounter-offensive? And when and why did it become a war crime to bomb a dam? Expect it to get wet underfoot this weel! Produced by DM Podcasts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we take a peek at one lonely spying whale on the hunt for some friendship and a Mossad birthday party gone horribly wrong, before diving deep into the current situation with the astounding leaks throughout the intelligence community. When is it a leak and when is it a whistle being blown? What measures can we take to stem the flow? And what is Michelle's problem with dolphins? Careful who you swim with this week! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

This week we conclude our interview with former Australian diplomat Jeremy Dicker with a good hard look at the state of Australia’s foreign affairs. Where do we rate as a diplomatic power? What were the findings of the latest review into DFAT and what needs to change? And how has the rise of the internet made diplomatic relations more complicated? Put on your fishnets and dance like there’s no tomorrow with this ep! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle is on the mend so this week we're bringing in a guest. Former Australian diplomat Jeremy Dicker joins us to give us a view of what life is like as a player on the international stage. What is expected of an Australian diplomat? What is it like to find yourself rubbing shoulders with the world's most powerful political players? And why would you go to a Trump rally in Vegas? And we unpack Joe Biden rainchecking his four-way date with Albo and the QUAD in Sydney. In diplomacy, true...

Our apologies but Michelle has a nasty head cold and David’s irrational fear of nasal blockage meant he wouldn’t stay in the studio after a particularly explosive sneeze. So we have to rerun an old ep, and what could be better than the tale of of an out-of-luck ASIO tech getting stuck in a roof? Enjoy and we’ll be back to normal service next week. Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three different stories from three different parts of the world allow a very candid look at the modern intelligence world and how it operates. First the execution of an Iranian hardliner accused of being an agent of the UK; then the seemingly oafish drone attack on the Kremlin; and finally ASIO's legal hot water over luring an ex-US Marine pilot back to Australia for arms dealing. It all gives us a glimpse at the machinations of the intelligence community, the global politics it serves, and...

The Defence Strategic Review is the biggest examination of Australia's capability to wage war in nearly 30 years, and the findings have had chins wagging. So what is the state of Australia's Defence Force? Who are the big winners and losers, and what changes can our fighting men and women expect to see? And what has David's fascination with pocket knives got to do with it? Lock and load for this weeks ep! Produced by DM Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just as we were taking a well-earned and all-too-brief break, the intelligence community was rocked by two spy dramas: First, a US Airman dumped a trove of Top Secret documents on Discord; while in Australia a businessman was arrested and charged under our Foreign Interference laws for cooperating with suspected Chinese spies. So who are these guys? What would posses a 21 year old intelligence clerk to dump classified documents into an online chatroom (and why would he have access to that...

Is artificial intelligence having an effect on... intelligence? With the power to reshape how information is gathered and analysed, is this the end of the classic Cold War spy and the rise of a Computer Overlord? Are we facing an all-conquering Cybercrat like Skynet? Or a compu-nerd that reads to much and wants to be a creative writer like ChatGPT? And will our HUMINT assets let it happen? What ever the answer, one place there is no intelligence - artificial, informational or otherwise - is...

Michelle and David are taking a sneaky break over the Easter weekend so this week we invite you to enjoy once again friend of the pod Neil Fergus as he regales us with tales of working on the Olympics. With the Commonwealth Games due to start in rural Victoria in 2026 and Brisbekistan hosting the big show in 2032, now might be just the time to remind ourselves what is involved in running a global sports carnival. Produced by DM Podcasts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While James Bond and his fictional spy ilk are often armed with a plethora of astounding gadgets, it seems the modern spy has to make do with more mundane devices. The internet is increasingly the battle space with the computer and mobile phone the weapons of choice, but everything from apps to appliances to cargo cranes are evolving into the tools of the spy trade. And can you really trust your router? The device you're using to listen to this ep is probably betraying you right...

With the turbulent waters of the AUKUS announcement settling, we take a look at what some are saying is a glowing future. Has Australia breached the nuclear non-proliferation treaty? Can we expect the neighbours to get some nuclear equipment of their own? And what are we going to do with all that radioactive waste these boats generate? Probably not the last look at a national security issue with an as yet indeterminant half-life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a $368 billion price tag, a delivery timeline that stretches across decades and an ex-PM going feral about it, everyone is talking about Albo's  AUKUS announcement. So what are we getting for the price tag? Do we really need it? And what exactly is a Shelby Cobra? An issue so big that this is just the first part! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout history women have played an enormous part in the intelligence world, and yet this contribution has been repeatedly overlooked and women’s advancement as spies systemically quashed. Why has this happened? Do women make effective spies? What was the problem with David’s love life in his 20s? And how white can Michelle’s knuckles turn? Be prepared to embrace the sisterhood this ep! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.