Guest host and spy thriller writer Stephen England sits down with James Stejskal, a former US Army Special Forces soldier, CIA officer, historian, and author. They discuss Stejskal’s journey from special operations and intelligence work to writing both fiction and nonfiction. The conversation focuses on Mission Iran, his latest book, which uncovers Special Forces Detachment A’s covert role in Operation Eagle Claw, the 1980 mission to rescue American hostages in Tehran. Stejskal shares firsthand insights into the mission, the dynamics between Special Forces, the CIA, and the State Department, and how his experience in the field shaped his writing. They also explore his Snake Eater Chronicles thrillers, his research into Cold War Berlin, and his upcoming novel, The Rat Catcher of Berlin. Along the way, Stejskal reflects on the reality of intelligence operations, the challenges of writing both history and fiction, and the enduring influence of special operations forces in modern conflicts.



Don’t miss this deep dive into espionage history, real-world spycraft, and how it translates into gripping storytelling.



Connect with James on his website: https://jamesstejskal.wordpress.com/

Follow James on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/James-Stejskal-Writer/100063534272964/

Find Mission Iran and James’ other books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Stejskal/author/B00NXOQG4Y



More about Stephen England: https://www.stephenenglandbooks.com/

Follow Stephen on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenengland.bsky.social

Follow Stephen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephenenglandauthor

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



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

Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg



For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com

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/fultonmatt.bsky.social

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



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. Each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.