Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs

A Spy’s Guide to Cold War Berlin | James Stejskal

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs

Show Notes

In today’s episode, former Special Forces Detachment A operator James Stejskal shares his extraordinary insights into Berlin's role as the epicenter of Cold War espionage. From his personal experiences in the city to the strategic importance of intelligence operations, James explains how Berlin became the world's most notorious spy hub. Whether you're a history buff or an espionage enthusiast, this conversation unveils the secrets behind Berlin's legendary status in covert warfare.

Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.

More on Cold War Berlin

Spy's Guide to Berlin: James Stejskal's book exploring Berlin’s Cold War espionage history

Markus Wolf Biography: On Amazon for deeper insights into Germany's top spy

Teufelsberg NSA Listening Station: Historical overview of one of Berlin’s key signals intelligence sites

Berlin Wall Museum: Experience the history of the Berlin Wall firsthand

Stasi Museum Berlin: Dive into the secret world of East Germany’s secret police

Checkpoint Charlie Museum: Discover stories of espionage and escape in Cold War Berlin

Learn more about James on his webiste: https://jamesstejskal.wordpress.com

Follow James on X/Twitter: https://x.com/jamesstejskal

Support Secrets and Spies

Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996

Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspies

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

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social

Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies

Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies

Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies

Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:

https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net

Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More from Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs

Oct 18, 2026

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Joby Warrick covered national security for the Washington Post for nearly three decades. In his new book, The Jackal, he turns to Ilich Ramírez Sánchez—Carlos the Jackal—the Venezuelan who in the 1970s and '80s was the most famous terrorist in the world.

Oct 16, 2026

A quick programming note: this weekend’s episode will be out on Sunday, October 18, rather than our usual Saturday release. We’re taking an extra day in the edit on Matt’s conversation with national security reporter Joby Warrick about Carlos the Jackal, the Venezuelan-born militant who became one of the Cold War’s most wanted men. Thanks for your patience, and we’ll see you Sunday.

Oct 10, 2026

Chris and Matt break down the week's biggest intelligence and geopolitical stories: what really happened at RAF Fairford, the intelligence failure behind the FlyDubai hijacking, allegations of treason against a former BND chief, and a major data leak at the FBI.

Oct 3, 2026

Sam Lichtenstein, director of analysis at the global risk intelligence firm RANE, returns to walk Chris through RANE's 2025–2035 decade forecast: a multipolar world in which no great power has the will or the means to set the rules.

Sep 26, 2026

Every week, Russia’s Security Council publishes a digest of world events that, journalist Dave Troy argues, reveals more about the Kremlin’s worldview than objective reality. In conversation with Chris, Troy explains how Moscow sees the war in Ukraine as part of a broader struggle over the global order—and how it seeks to export that worldview through proxies, information warfare, conspiracy theories, and ideas about sovereignty.

See all episodes →