The Agency

4.6 (30)
History
Semi-weekly Series

A Kiwi working for CIA describes the operation he ran against Russian military intelligence at the height of the Cold War.

Episode 1

NOC, NOC

Kit Bennetts, a young officer with New Zealand's SIS, is recruited into the CIA. Former NZSIS Minister Andrew Little says New Zealand's involvement with American intelligence agencies is still tight today. This episode touches on Kit Bennetts's part in the Bill Sutch case. It mentions 'pen portraits' of senior civil servants that were found in Sutch's safe. You can see this document, as well as an analysis by historian Sarah Gaitanos, online on the RNZ website here: What to make of new evidence in the notorious Bill Sutch spy case You can also listen to The Service, from RNZ and Bird of Paradise Productions on the RNZ website or on your favourite podcast app. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Episode 2

Quiet Americans

From CIA training in Washington to the diplomatic round in Wellington, Kit Bennetts' target comes into focus. CIA historian Tim Weiner says the Agency is no rogue elephant - it is acting under orders from the President. To see some of the pictures of Kit Bennetts mentioned in this, and other episodes, have a look at this piece on the RNZ website. You can also listen to The Service, from RNZ and Bird of Paradise Productions on the RNZ website or on your favourite podcast app. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Episode 3

Guerrilla in Manila

An operation against the GRU, Soviet Military Intelligence, means getting right up close to a Russian. Former CIA Counterintelligence Chief Susan Miller talks us through recruitment processes and shows how CIA, the US Military, State Department and the White House work closely together on political warfare. You can also listen to The Service, from RNZ and Bird of Paradise Productions on the RNZ website or on your favourite podcast app. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Episode 4

Arranging the Truth

A CIA colleague, running a similar operation, is killed. Kit Bennetts has to decide whether he should carry on with his dead end technology play. Former Soviet diplomat Rouben Azizian says we may be at the beginning of World War Three. You can also listen to The Service, from RNZ and Bird of Paradise Productions on the RNZ website or on your favourite podcast app. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Episode 5

Treachery

Traitors inside American intelligence agencies have sold the lives of agents to the enemy. "Vladimir" might have suffered the same fate. Susan Miller says when it comes to trusting President Trump, New Zealand needs to think carefully. In this episode, there is mention of notes from a two hour meeting that Oleg Gordievsky held with Prime Minister David Lange on August 27, 1986. The notes are online to view here The episode also mentions an example of the Presidential Daily Briefing from January 18, 1961, which you can view here You can also listen to The Service, from RNZ and Bird of Paradise Productions on the RNZ website or on your favourite podcast app. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Episode 6

The Price of Freedom

Decades after his time with CIA, Kit Bennetts says there's always been a less visible side to our relationship with the US - but now we have to understand what that looks like. The Five Eyes will have to start making good choices - for everyone. You can also listen to The Service, from RNZ and Bird of Paradise Productions on the RNZ website or on your favourite podcast app. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Season 1 Trailer

Introducing: The Agency

A Kiwi working for CIA describes the operation he ran against Russian military intelligence at the height of the Cold War. Hosted, written and produced by Guyon Espiner from RNZ and John Daniell from Bird of Paradise Productions. You can also listen to The Service, from RNZ and Bird of Paradise Productions on the RNZ website. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

See All Season 1 (7)

Trailer

Introducing: The Agency

A Kiwi working for CIA describes the operation he ran against Russian military intelligence at the height of the Cold War. Hosted, written and produced by Guyon Espiner from RNZ and John Daniell from Bird of Paradise Productions. You can also listen to The Service, from RNZ and Bird of Paradise Productions on the RNZ website. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

4.6

out of 5

30 Ratings

Dry, tedious, with a bonus TDS rant

24 July

Dan-Stuart

RNZ’s charisma-free journalists take an interesting concept and manage to create one of the most lacklustre, droll podcasts yet. About as funny as a brick to the nose, this uninspiring story of a man who joined the CIA and… did some stuff (but we can’t actually tell you anything of substance, or even interesting - ‘oh wow you met a Soviet agent in Manila, you don’t say? Oh and his wife was pretty, you don’t say?’. This is real seat-of-the-pants stuff, folks) is interspersed by an American journalist who somehow cannot even pronounce the letters ‘CIA’ properly. This utterly pointless waffle winds up inadvertently revealing a dark secret: it was all a cover plot to allow a left-wing American to express his distaste at President Trump.
Fascinating

10 May

Luckyhorse

Almost John Le Carre and The Bureau - but New Zealand. Great reporting covering historical NZSIS and five eyes operation in current geo politics. I loved it.
Simon

16 Apr

Simon sauce

Top stuff RNZ.
Fantastic!

13 Apr

Hazelnutgirl

The Service is just about my favourite podcast ever and the Agency is shaping up to be at the same level, can’t wait for the next episode! The thing I love about these podcasts is the slow burn, starting with ordinary Kiwi lives that unfold to tell an extraordinary tale of the Cold War and the machinations at both the highest and lowest levels. And that theme song! Not sure what it is about it but I just love it and am so pleased you’ve kept using it.