The Rest Is Classified

Goalhanger

  • 34 minutes 22 seconds
    126. Al Qaeda’s Deadliest Plot: The Terror Attack That Never Happened (Ep 2)

    MI5 have discovered a bomb making factory in East London, but how do they stop the Al Qaeda plotters from carrying out their terrifying plans?


    In the second episode of their series on the Liquid Bomb Plot, David and Gordon share the inside story of how MI5 surveilled the extremist cell and “legally” broke into the bomb factory.


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    Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


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    Email: [email protected]


    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified


    Video Editor: Joe Pettit


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

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    11 February 2026, 12:05 am
  • 46 minutes 37 seconds
    125. Al Qaeda’s Deadliest Plot: How MI5 Stopped Another 9/11 (Ep 1)

    In the aftermath of 9/11, while the world was still reeling from the deadliest terror attack on US soil, Al Qaeda were plotting an airline attack with ever graver consequences. This is the story of the Liquid Bomb Plot.


    Listen as David and Gordon delve into the story of how MI5 foiled the plans of an extremist cell in East London.


    -------------------


    Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


    Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED for more information. T&C's apply.


    -------------------


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    Email: [email protected]


    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

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    9 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 50 minutes 59 seconds
    124. Kim Philby: Britain’s Most Notorious Traitor (Ep 4)

    A Russian agent is trying to defect to Britain, but there’s only one person in his way: Kim Philby. Will the communist double agent at the heart of MI6 sell his comrade down the river to save himself, or spare his life at the risk of giving the game away?


    As David and Gordon reach the end of their first foray into the infamous life and career of Kim Philby, they ask: can you ever feel sympathy for a traitor?


    -------------------


    Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


    Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED for more information. T&C's apply.


    -------------------


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    -------------------


    Email: [email protected]


    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified


    Video Editor: James Clayden


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

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    4 February 2026, 12:15 am
  • 49 minutes 3 seconds
    123. Kim Philby: Communist Double Agent In London (Ep 3)

    Kim Philby’s moment in the sun has finally arrived: he has been recruited by MI6 and asked to join the anti-communist division. With access to intelligence beyond his wildest dreams, this is Philby’s chance to show the Russians what he’s made of.


    Listen as David and Gordon continue their story on the rise of Kim Philby from war correspondent to one of the most important men in British intelligence.


    -------------------


    Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


    Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED for more information. T&C's apply.


    -------------------


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    -------------------


    Email: [email protected]


    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified


    Video Editor: James Clayden


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

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    2 February 2026, 12:10 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    122. Kim Philby: An Assassin In Spain (Ep 2)

    Kim Philby has been recruited by the communists to spy on the growing fascist movement across Europe, but he can’t seem to penetrate the intelligence services. So, like all men with access to an old boys’ network in 20th century Britain, he asks a friend for a job. 


    In this episode, David and Gordon chart Philby’s rise as a war correspondent for The Times in London; eventually finding himself in Spain on the eve of war with the unenviable task of trying to assassinate General Franco.


    -------------------


    Make someone a Declassified Club Member this year – go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


    Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED for more information. T&C's apply.


    -------------------


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    -------------------


    Email: ⁠[email protected]

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

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    28 January 2026, 12:05 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    121. Kim Philby: Stalin’s Mole Inside MI6 (Ep 1)

    Kim Philby has gone down in history as Britain’s most notorious double agent: spying for Stalin while running the MI6 counter-intelligence operation against him. But how did a quiet public school boy go on to change the course of the Cold War?


    Listen as David and Gordon begin their four-part series on the rise of Kim Philby, from the son of an anti-colonial eccentric in India to one of the most powerful, and dangerous, men in Britain.


    -------------------


    Make someone a Declassified Club Member this year – go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


    Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED for more information. T&C's apply.


    -------------------


    EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/restisclassified⁠⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 


    -------------------


    Email: ⁠[email protected]

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    26 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 13 minutes 12 seconds
    The Persian (Extract)

    To coincide with the release of David's latest novel, The Persian, we have the book’s first chapter in audiobook form for you to enjoy.

     

    Mixing suspense with strikingly cinematic action, David McCloskey takes readers deep into the shadow war between Iran and Israel.

     

    The Persian by David McCloskey, is OUT NOW in the UK.


    Pre-order a signed edition ⁠via this link.⁠


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    What happens when a spy is forced to reckon with the consequences of his deception?


    Kamran Esfahani, a Persian Jewish dentist from Stockholm, dreams of starting afresh in California. To finance his new life, he agrees to spy for Mossad in Iran, working with a clandestine unit tasked with sowing chaos and sabotage inside the country. When he’s captured by Iranian security forces, Kamran is compelled to confess his experiences as a spy, in a testimonial dealing not only with the security of nations, but also with revenge, deceit, and the power of love and forgiveness in a world of lies.


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    Email: [email protected]


    Twitter: ⁠@triclassified⁠


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

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    24 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 42 minutes 29 seconds
    120. Greenland Intelligence Scoop: Trump, Xi, and Putin's Battle for the Arctic

    Why is Trump backing down on his plans to seize Greenland? Are the Russian's already spying in the Arctic? And should we be fearing Chinese influence in the icy north?


    In this emergency podcast, David and Gordon delve into the intelligence story regarding Greenland and ask why Trump's forcefulness may be distracting us from the plans of China and Russia.


    -------------------


    Make someone a Declassified Club Member this year – go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


    EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/restisclassified⁠⁠⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.


    -------------------


    Pre-order a signed edition of David's latest novel, The Persian, ⁠here.⁠


    -------------------


    Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]


    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    23 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 52 minutes 59 seconds
    119. Inside Iran: Why Trump Didn’t Intervene (Ep 2)

    What does history tell us about how a revolution is going to play out? What can intelligence agencies and political scientists working on Iran learn from Syria? And why didn’t Donald Trump follow through on his plan to militarily intervene in Iran?


    Listen as David and Gordon look at the ongoing situation in Iran through the lens of intelligence analysts and ask what there is to be learnt from studying revolutions of the past. 


    -------------------


    Make someone a Declassified Club Member this year – go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


    EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/restisclassified⁠⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 


    -------------------


    Pre-order a signed edition of David's latest novel, The Persian,⁠ ⁠here.⁠⁠


    -------------------


    Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]


    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠⁠


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    21 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 58 minutes 41 seconds
    118. Inside Iran: Can You Predict A Revolution? (Ep 1)

    How are intelligence agencies reacting to the recent protests in Iran? Is the regime on the edge of collapse? And is it ever possible to predict a revolution?


    Listen as David and Gordon analyse the ongoing situation in Iran and look at what the mass uprising, and its suppression, means for intelligence agencies across the globe.


    -------------------


    Make someone a Declassified Club Member this year – go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


    EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/restisclassified⁠⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 


    -------------------


    Pre-order a signed edition of David's latest novel, The Persian, here.


    -------------------


    Email: ⁠[email protected]


    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified


    Video Editor: Teo Ayodeji-Ansell


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    19 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 49 minutes 24 seconds
    117. Epstein Files Declassified: Mossad, Israel and Ghislaine Maxwell (Ep 2)

    It has been alleged that Robert Maxwell, father of convicted child sex offender Ghislaine, had connections to the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad. Through these links, some have suggested that Maxwell recruited Jeffrey Epstein, who then also became an Israeli asset. While this has never been confirmed by Mossad, conspiracy theories are rife. 


    In their second episode on Epstein’s intelligence connections, David and Gordon examine the validity of these theories and answer the question of whether Epstein was actually a spy.


    -------------------


    Make someone a Declassified Club Member this year – go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.


    Just go to ⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.


    -------------------


    EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/restisclassified⁠⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 


    -------------------


    Email: ⁠[email protected]

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified


    Video Editor: Oli Oakley


    Social Producer: Emma Jackson


    Producer: Becki Hills


    Head of History: Dom Johnson


    Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    14 January 2026, 12:05 am
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