MSW Media
Veteran national security journalists interview authors, officials, and spies about the inner workings of the intelligence world.
A weekly discussion and interview show focused squarely on the US intelligence community and national security. Each episode typically opens with the hosts analyzing recent news—from leadership changes at the DNI to covert operations abroad—before transitioning to a long-form interview with a subject matter expert, often an author, former operative, or fellow journalist.
“Unlike broader political news shows, SpyTalk maintains a laser focus on the intelligence world, leveraging the hosts' extensive source networks to bring insider perspectives to light. The hosts' own reporting experience often adds a layer of historical context to the interviews.”
Who hosts this show
SpyTalk is a podcast and Substack publication hosted by veteran national security journalists Jeff Stein, Michael Isikoff, and author Karen Greenberg. The show delves into the world of espionage and foreign policy, drawing on the hosts' decades of experience covering the intelligence community. It is produced as part of the female-led MSW Media network.
Credentials & credits
- Jeff Stein: Editor-in-chief of SpyTalk; former national security correspondent for Newsweek, The Washington Post, and CQ.
- Michael Isikoff: Chief Investigative Correspondent for Yahoo! News; former correspondent for NBC News and Newsweek.
- Karen J. Greenberg: Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law; author of multiple books on national security.
- Jeff Stein: U.S. Army Intelligence case officer in Vietnam.
- Michael Isikoff: Co-author of 'Russian Roulette' and 'Hubris'.
- Karen J. Greenberg: Permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Other ventures
- SpyTalk on Substack
- Center on National Security at Fordham Law
- Skullduggery podcast (Michael Isikoff)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Go in PeaceJun 28, 2026 · 23 min
- 02Harass, Coerce, and RetaliateJun 28, 2026 · 58 min
- 03War Ender Weapons | SpyTalkJun 26, 2026 · 1h 00m
- 04Cyano-Toxic Relationship (feat. John Fugelsang)Jun 26, 2026 · 1h 09m
- 05Unhinged and UnhousedJun 25, 2026 · 40 min
- 06Courts Push BackJun 25, 2026 · 39 min
- 07The Senate Rejects The War (feat. Johanna Silva Waki)Jun 24, 2026 · 1h 07m
- 08Episode 283 | Felon Payout LoopholeJun 24, 2026 · 41 min
Notable episodes
- 01War Ender Weapons | SpyTalk
Features an in-depth interview with author Jeffrey Stern on the history of smart bombs, exploring the gap between technological promise and the reality of war.
- 02The Intel Mess | SpyTalk
An interview with the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Mark Warner, about the politicization of U.S. intelligence agencies and a major Ukrainian covert operation.
- 03How a Terror Case Fizzled | SpyTalk
Former Guantánamo prosecutor Michael Lebowitz gives an inside account of a major post-9/11 nuclear terror plot that ultimately fell apart.
What you'll be asked on this show
The interview often opens by establishing the core subject of the guest's work, asking for a simple definition of a key term or concept (e.g., 'What is Paveway?'). The hosts guide the conversation from the specific to the general, using the guest's expertise as a launchpad to discuss broader political, ethical, and philosophical implications. They frequently ask for dramatic examples of failure or success to ground the conversation and probe for the impact of these events on public awareness and government transparency.
The show follows a two-part structure: a roundtable discussion on current intelligence news, followed by a single-guest interview. The tone is journalistic and serious, but with the collegial feel of veteran reporters sharing notes. The show is produced as part of the MSW Media network and has an accompanying Substack newsletter.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
4 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“What is [the central subject] of your book?”
The host uses this opening question to define the core topic for the audience.
controversy
2- Q.01
“What's the biggest failure you write about, where a 'smart' technology was used poorly?”
This question seeks a specific, dramatic narrative from the guest's research to illustrate a key theme.
- Q.02
“With this kind of weaponry, what does the American public know about what's being done in its name?”
A recurring probe into the themes of government transparency and public accountability.
politics
1- Q.01
“What does it mean to 'go to war without going to war,' and which leaders were drawn to this idea?”
This question pushes the guest to explore the wider political and philosophical meaning of their topic.
Signature segments
- · Introductory host roundtable on current intelligence news
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically authors with new books on espionage or military history, former intelligence officers, journalists with a specific national security beat, or high-ranking government officials like a sitting U.S. Senator.
- Jeffrey Sternon War Ender Weapons | SpyTalk
- Michael Lebowitzon How a Terror Case Fizzled | SpyTalk
- Tommy Vietoron Pod Save Our National Security | SpyTalk
- Jon Altermanon War Fever | SpyTalk
- Sen. Mark Warneron The Intel Mess | SpyTalk
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The show promotes its own paid Substack newsletter and often highlights the guest's latest book. It appears to be supported by the broader MSW Media network, though direct ad reads were not present in the episodes reviewed.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
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People also ask
- What is SpyTalk?
- SpyTalk is a podcast and Substack newsletter focused on espionage, foreign policy, and the US intelligence community, hosted by veteran national security journalists.
- Who are the hosts of SpyTalk?
- The primary hosts are Jeff Stein, Michael Isikoff, and Karen Greenberg.
- What is the format of the show?
- Episodes typically begin with a news roundtable among the hosts, followed by a long-form interview with a single expert guest.
- Is SpyTalk part of a network?
- Yes, SpyTalk is part of MSW Media, a female-led podcast network focused on news and politics.
- Where can I listen to SpyTalk?
- The show is available on major podcast platforms and YouTube, with an accompanying newsletter on Substack.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]SpyTalk on MSW Mediamswmedia.com
- [02]SpyTalk on Substackspytalk.co
- [03]Jeff Stein Biography - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [04]Michael Isikoff Biography - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [05]Karen J. Greenberg Biography - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [06]Karen Greenberg, Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Lawfairobserver.com
- [07]Jeff Stein Biography - Muck Rackmuckrack.com
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