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John Kiriakou's Dead Drop

Hosted by John Kiriakou, Alan Katz

John Kiriakou's Dead Drop, hosted by former CIA officer John Kiriakou with co-author Alan Katz, explores what makes a spy tick, drawing on Kiriakou's experience as a whistleblower. The show has 55 episodes on a weekly cadence, with typical episodes of about 45 minutes. Estimated downloads per episode are 20,000 to 80,000, with a rate of $360 to $2,000 per episode for a host-read mid-roll.

Why brands sponsor John Kiriakou's Dead Drop

Ex-CIA whistleblower's weekly deep dive reaches a highly rated espionage audience

  • 2,115 Apple Podcasts ratings with a 4.9 average signal a loyal listener base.
  • Weekly episodes of about 45 minutes give a sponsor steady, recurring placements.
  • Spy, history and true crime listeners tend to be engaged with long-form content.
Best forsecurity and privacy productsbooks and documentarieseducation brands
Watch forThe explicit flag and violent historical subject matter may not suit family-oriented brands.

Brand fit report

Content

Topics, IAB taxonomy
True Crime45%
History30%
Society25%
Formats
interview, solo monologue, narrative, roundtable
Tone
reflective, investigative
Language
English
Production
Clean, edited audio
Typical length
35 to 50 minutes

Audience

Commercial intent15/100
Comments asking for links, prices or where to buy
Sentiment75/100
Estimated from titles, descriptions and engagement
Est. downloads per episode20k–80k
Estimated, confidence 60%: Apple Podcasts shows 2,115 ratings, the 1,000 to 5,000 band, with a weekly cadence, serial format and a show under two years old, which shifts the band up.
Audience asks aboutHow intelligence officers handle lying and deceptionWhat happened in the CIA torture programHow whistleblowers face prosecution
Age
15%18-24
25%25-34
25%35-44
35%45+
Gender
35%women
65%men
Countries
🇺🇸 United States70%
LanguagesEnglish 100%

Commercial

0%of the last 20 episodes had a sponsor
None seenno sponsor mentions in the last 20 episodes
Brands seen
None yet
Categories promoted
None yet
Affiliate links
No

No sponsor mentions found in the feed

Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability

Profanitymedium
Adultlow
Drugslow
Violencemedium
Politicsmedium

The feed carries an explicit flag, and episode titles such as 'The Torture Report' and 'Killing Fascism' reference violent and political subject matter.

We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.

Where to listen

Benchmark score: 98 / 100

Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.

Consistency Latest episode within the usual cadence50 / 50
Activity Episodes in the last 90 days, weekly is full marks28 / 30
Reach Estimated downloads per episode, 20k is full marks20 / 20

Recent episodes

Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 7 days ago, a new one about every 7 days.

Join ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou on a very personal deep dive into what makes a spy tick. One of the most famous spies in the whole world, John - a spy with a conscience - blew the whistle on the CIA's torture program after the war on terror and spent 23 months in federal prison for it. As John explains, no spy is ever an "ex-spy". Why is that so? Listen to the podcast and you'll understand why.…
John Kiriakou's Dead Drop's own show description from the podcast feed

Do you make John Kiriakou's Dead Drop? Claim or remove this page.

About John Kiriakou's Dead Drop

John Kiriakou's Dead Drop is a weekly serial podcast from former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou, co-written with Alan Katz. According to the show's feed and website on Acast, it explores espionage, the psychology of spies and the history of intelligence, and has released 55 episodes since October 2025. Episodes typically run 35 to 50 minutes.

Apple Podcasts lists 2,115 ratings with a 4.9 average. Listeners are estimated to be mostly American adults aged 35 and over, with an estimated 20,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode. The feed shows no sponsor mentions, so the show's commercial history is unknown.

The show suits brands in security, books, documentaries and education that want a serious, engaged audience. A host-read mid-roll is estimated at $360 to $2,000 per episode, based on estimated downloads and the standard rate of $18 to $25 per 1,000.

Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. John Kiriakou's Dead Drop can edit or remove this page at any time.

Questions about John Kiriakou's Dead Drop

How much does John Kiriakou's Dead Drop charge for a podcast sponsorship?

Estimated host-read mid-roll rates are $360 to $2,000 per episode, based on an estimated 20,000 to 80,000 downloads at $18 to $25 per 1,000. Actual pricing depends on the show's terms.

What is John Kiriakou's Dead Drop about?

The show features former CIA officer John Kiriakou discussing espionage, the psychology of spies, whistleblowing and intelligence history in a weekly serial format.

How do I contact John Kiriakou's Dead Drop about sponsoring an episode?

The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can also be booked directly through Starbooked.

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