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Rating
3.3from
Categories
This podcast has
7 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
RNZExplicit
No
Date created
2026/03/30
Latest episode
2026/04/13
Average duration
45 min.
Release period
3 days
Description
A Kiwi working for CIA describes the operation he ran against Russian military intelligence at the height of the Cold War.
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Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from The Agency podcast
The Price of Freedom
2026/04/13
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
Treachery
2026/04/13
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
Arranging the Truth
2026/04/09
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
Guerrilla in Manila
2026/04/09
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
Quiet Americans
2026/04/06
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
NOC, NOC
2026/04/06
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
Introducing: The Agency
2026/03/30
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
Podcast reviews
Read The Agency podcast reviews
MIJ BRS 2026/06/15
Political
It was good the first couple episodes then they had to get political
Shame!!!!!
Discount Bob 2026/05/21
Meh
Was interesting until it wasn’t. Too much political bias in the later episodes. They failed to properly fact check one of their sources and portrayed ...
Josiah Glock 2026/05/02
I add this too a long list of studies
I hit gold when I made it to the second article in the series of recordings. The interviews really give you a fit in how we often work. I enjoy learni...
Levi__s 2026/04/07
No BS
The elephant in the room is most certainly Donald J Trump.
Highly recommended listening for those unattached to political cults and tethered to real...
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