The Spy Who - The Spy Who Outplayed Nixon | A gift for Mr. Lee | 2

Episode Date: March 10, 2026

After years of cautious spying, Larry Wu-Tai Chin is about to hit the jackpot. He’s getting a promotion that will give him the inside track on President Richard Nixon’s plan to reset relations with China. But in Beijing, trouble’s brewing for Mao’s undercover agent.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

February 1970, CIA headquarters Langley, Virginia. Larry Chin sits in a small room, wired up to a polygraph machine. It's the first lie detector test he's ever taken. He's nervous, and he's right to be. For nearly two decades, he's been working for the FBIS, a division of the CIA that translates publicly available information for analysis. All that time, he's also been a spy for the People's Republic of China. Now he's been offered a promotion that will make him even more useful to Beijing

and increase his security clearance, but only if he can defeat this polygraph. The examiner frowns at his machine. Sorry, I need to repeat that one. Again, are you Larry Chin? Yes. The examiner frowns again before fiddling with the polygraph machine. These damn things, needles playing up.

That should do it. The test resumes. Chin feels a not in his car. his stomach. It's the pressure of trying to answer the questions correctly. He can see the examiner watching the needles jitter over the paper. Chin also watches it to distract himself. Up and down they go, skittish and erratic. The knot starts to loosen. Have you had extramarital affairs? Chin is surprised by the query. He wonders if that's a standard question or if the CIA knows the answer. He replies truthfully. Yes, I'm ashamed to be so weak. They don't mean anything.

Kathy is my wife. I love her. I would never leave my marriage. I only require a yes or a no, Mr Chin. The examiner consults his list of questions. Have you had contact with foreign intelligence services in Hong Kong? Chin feels the knot in his stomach tighten again. He senses his heart beating faster. A sign the polygraph machine is designed to pick up. Then he has a sudden brainwave. He translates the examiner's question in his head before replying, moving words from English to Mandarin and back again.

The language has a cooling effect. It always does. The familiar process of translation calms him. His breathing slows. His stomach settles. No, I go there to visit family and friends. I lived there, Mr Chin. Chin, just a yes or no, please. Chin braces for a follow-up question about his trips to Hong Kong to meet his spymaster.

But instead, the examiner moves on to an unrelated. matter. Confidence warms his body. If there had been any real concerns about him, they would have questioned him further. And if he passes the polygraph test, he will have access to top secret information. He'll be exactly where China wants him. The CIA just had a chance to uncover him as a Chinese spy, and they've blown it. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of The Spy Who ad-free right now. Join Audible today by download. the Audible app. From Audible Originals, I'm Indravama and this is The Spy Who.

In the last episode, Larry Chin became a translator for US intelligence and used his position to inform on Chinese soldiers who collaborated with America after being captured in the Korean War. Now, Chin's in America and about to get a new job with top secret clearance, just as US President Richard Nixon seeks to forge a new alliance with communist China. You're listening to the spy who outplayed Nixon. This is episode two, a gift for Mr. Lee.

One month after the polygraph, March 1970, Hong Kong. Chin walks into one of the city's bustling tea houses, its walls carefully patterned in red and gold. He slides into a booth opposite O. Chi Ming. After a long absence, his spy master has finally resurfaced. While the two men have a reserved relationship, Chin is overjoyed to see O again. He's the only person who knows everything about him, the only person who understands Chin's world. It is good to see you again. I was worried. Chin tries not to stare.

His spymaster was always slight, but he now looks gaunt, and there is a strained expression in his eyes that wasn't there before. Chin understands they will not talk about what happened. O's absence likely means he was taken away for re-education. For anyone surviving that fearsome process, the story is always the same. Afterwards, they want to repress the memory and shame and move on with their lives as briskly as possible. When O speaks, he picks his words with care. My re-education is now complete and I can return to work, our work.

Then I have good news. I am about to start a new job at FBIS headquarters in Virginia. I will have higher security clearance and will work alongside CIA officials from Langley. O's eyes light up. This is excellent, and the timing is fortunate too. It seems the Americans want to resume diplomatic relations. O pauses to let the thought dangle in the air between them. Chin knows the system well enough to understand that he will never be asked outright for information on America's approach.

to diplomacy. China prefers its spies to deal in trivialities and play the long game than risk exposure from chasing big flashy winds, but he wants to show willing. I'm very trusted at work. I hear a lot about what president... Please do not take risks. Patience, as always, is the way. But patience can use a sharp eye. Should anything important happen to cross your path? Oh, picks up his tea, his tired eyes suddenly glassy. It is hard to... trust imperialists. China has been burnt by opening up to foreigners before. If you hear anything at all, you must let us know. Of course. But I will need a new way to share urgent information. Vancouver is too far away from the East Coast for me to travel without someone noticing.

We will find you someone in Toronto. I trust that is close enough? Yes, that would work. Good. I'll be in touch. And, of course, I shall deposit money in your Hong Kong bank account. Chin watches O's hand shake as he lifts his teacup. His spymaster's new frailty is a reminder of how swiftly fortunes can change in the world they both inhabit. Even so, it feels good to be back in the spy game. It feels good to be needed. In America, Chin is a traitor.

In China, he can be a hero. And the money doesn't hurt either. A few months later, FBI's headquarters, Roslyn, Virginia. enters the office of his boss. Like the rest of his new workplace, it has the scuffed blandness that goes with intelligence work. So does his boss. You wanted to see me, boss?

Ah, Larry, yes. I want you to look over this. Chin tries to remain calm as his boss hands over a document. It's a presidential review memorandum and stamped top secret. It only takes a cursory scan for Chin to realise that he struck gold. Larry, the president is seeking to improve

relations with the People's Republic of China. You have a much better handle on China than most of our people, so I would value your opinion on the approach set out in this memo. You think you can do that? Chin is never backwards in boasting. Yes, I understand Chinese affairs, but also the mentality. I know the society, the bureaucracy. I guess you could say, I know how the Chinese think. His boss pauses. For a second, Chin worries he's gone too far. Then his boss nods at the document in Chin's hands. In particular, I'd appreciate your views on how you think the Chinese might respond to this approach. The President wants to establish practical and cooperative relations with China. Chin maintains his best poker face as he flicks through the document. It outlines President

Nixon's intentions, terms and strategies for reaching out to China. It's America's entire game plan and it would be invaluable to Beijing. Chin looks up at his boss. I'll need some time with it. His boss checks his watch. It's already mid-afternoon. Could you give me your thoughts by tomorrow lunchtime? Absolutely. Chin takes the document back to his desk. As the office empties out, Chin stays at his desk.

Around six, Chin's boss finally heads off for the night, and the office is silent. Alone at last, Chin moves swiftly. He hides the document under his shirt, puts his suit jacket on and buttons it up, despite the swampy summer heat outside. He walks out of the office and right past the security guard. That night, Chin's apartment in Alexandria.

Pleading that he has to work late, Chin stays up as his wife Kathy heads to bed. Once he is sure she is asleep, he starts to photograph the document. He's had a chance to read it and now knows this could be the biggest coup of his spy career. The document shows the Americans are serious about restoring diplomatic relations with Beijing

in order to further isolate the Soviet Union and help the US get out of the Vietnam War. The document also reveals what President Nixon is prepared to give up at the negotiating table. Chin smiles as he raises the camera. The next day, FBI's headquarters, Roslyn, Virginia. Chin arrives at the FBI office before everyone else and places the document in the locked drawer it should have spent the night in.

After handing in his report to his boss, Chin heads out for lunch. He finds a payphone a few blocks away and phones the number in Toronto that his handler O gave him. The number he is only to use when he needs to share information urgently. Chin waits for the phone to be answered, then uses the code name his contact in Toronto will be expecting. Mr. Lee, it is Mr. Yang here. Yes? I have a gift. I will arrive at the weekend to give it to you.

Code phrases exchanged, Mr Lee gives Chin directions to a strip mall in Toronto. That weekend, Toronto, Canada. Chin drives off the expressway and into a strip mall car park. Pulse racing, he heads over to the shop he's been told to wait outside. He pretends to study the window display. Moments later, he hears footsteps behind him. Mr. Yang, what are you doing here? turns to see his contact and, with a look of surprise delight, holds out his hand.

Mr. Lee, I didn't know you lived nearby. The pair shake hands, and in that second, Chin passes Mr. Lee the undeveloped film. His contact casually puts his hand and the film that's now in it into his coat pocket. The exchange is made. By the time Chin returns to Washington, D.C. that same day, the documents containing Nixon's game plan for China will be winging their way to Beijing. A few days later, the headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. Chinese premier, Joe N. Lai, walks quickly through the echoing spaces of former imperial palaces and gardens.

He enters the building's indoor pool. As he suspected, Chairman Mao Zedong is there moving through the water with long, powerful strokes. Despite being in his 70s, Chairman Mao still loves to swim. As Mao emerges from the pool, Joe presents the secret US documents Chin obtained. Chairman, this has just come in from one of our spies in America. It concerns President Nixon's attempts to restore relations. Dripping wet, Mao settles into a chair to read the document.

Joe watches his reactions carefully. He believes it is in China's interests to reboot diplomatic relations with the US. Yet he knows Mao's position is more complicated. Mao wants the advanced technology that America has. But since the Korean War, he has sought to keep America at a distance. Mao looks up from a cursory scan of the papers. Can we trust this source? Joe nods. Yes, he joined us even before we took Beijing.

Joe thinks it's a good sign that Mao's so engrossed in the document that he hasn't bothered to get dry. A relationship with America is just the thing to help relaunch China and its leader on the world stage. Mao hands back the document. Very good. tells us Nixon's very thoughts, and if we know his thoughts, we can beat him in any negotiation. 18 months later, February 21st, 1972, Air Force One.

President Richard Nixon stares out the window as it rushes over solid banks of cloud. He's traveling with Henry Kissinger and a small entourage. While he projects his typical grumpy exterior, he actually feels anxious, or is it excitement? After all, he's about to become the first American president to visit the People's Republic of China. There's a lot at stake. Establishing relations with the Chinese will weaken and isolate the Soviet Union. It will also help him negotiate a face-saving way to get U.S. troops out of Vietnam. His team has been working, mostly in secret, to make this happen since 1970.

But if all goes well, he will deepen the rift between China and the Soviets. and reorganize global politics in America's favor. His national security advisor, Henry Kissinger, looks up from his book. Not long now, Mr. President. Nixon just hopes disagreements over Taiwan won't derail his plan. The People's Republic of China regards it as a breakaway province and hasn't ruled out using force to take the island. Nixon is going to have to navigate that to get what he wants.

Kissinger spots him frowning. I hope you're feeling confident, Mr President. There's a lot riding on this. Taiwan cannot be a deal breaker. We're too close to a genuine breakthrough here. You're perfectly placed to make this happen. Do what you need to do. This is the captain.

Mr. President, we are making our approach to Beijing. Later that same day, Beijing. In the library of his house, the chairman of communist China, Mao Zedong, shakes hands with president. Nixon. Both smile for the world's press cameras until Mao waves them away. They are trying to take over our meeting. I just want to say how honoured I am to visit China and meet with you, Chairman. Your writings have moved a nation and changed the world.

Mao smiles a wicked glint in his eye. Generalissimo Changkaishek doesn't approve of this meeting, you know. He calls us communist bandits. President Nixon looks uncomfortable that the who leads Taiwan has come up so soon. Shankai Shek calls the chairman a bandit. So what does the chairman call Changkai Shek? Mao eyes Nixon carefully. He had initially dismissed the American president's overtures of diplomatic friendliness as a ruse.

After all, it was less than 20 years ago that they were at war in Korea. And they are currently indirect opponents in the Vietnam War. Well, Chang and I, we abuse each other. There is an awkward silence as Mao begins to feel the pain coming back all over his body. He's now in his late 70s and he's very ill. He's been heavily dosed up on painkillers to take this meeting. It's a meeting that he knows many in his own party are against.

They will look for any opportunity to show that Mao is giving in to the imperialist enemy. But what they don't know is that he's entering these talks, forearmed. All thanks to the Chinese spy in America who stole no. Nixon's game plan. Three days later, Great Hall of the People, Beijing. Chinese Premier Joe N. Lai is now deep in negotiations with President Nixon. With the photo opportunities done, Mao has retreated, leaving Joe to extract a good deal for China.

And thanks to Larry Chin's intel, Joe knows Nixon is willing to offer a lot to draw China closer, and Joe's out to get those concessions. Taiwan is the crucial question between our two countries. If one has profound understanding, one can see that there is common ground towards this question. But if one looks at it in a general or a superficial way, one may not see that common ground. Nixon responds with a careful, rehearsed reply. My goal is normalization with the People's Republic. I realize that solving the Taiwan problem is indispensable to achieving that goal,

As Vietnam is concluded, as it will be concluded in one way or another, the removal of two-thirds of our forces on Taiwan will be done. Joe nods but says nothing. The empty second stretch outwards. He calmly holds the US President's stare until he says more. There will be opposition, but it will be done. Joe risks further silence, emboldened by the material China's spy has provided. It's also clear that Nixon finds silence awkward and feels compelled

to fill it. Joe holds his stare. He knows he can get more. The second stretch out. Nixon's expression falters. A hint of uncertainty. Even panic creeps into his eyes. And I can also move to reduce our other forces, the other one third. I can do that as our relationship. I can do that as our relationship develops. Joe smiles. It turns out poker is easy when you know your enemy's cards. Three days later, the Jinjung Hotel, Shanghai. In a large function room, the Chinese premier Joe Enlai, signs the Shanghai communique, the document he and President Nixon have spent the past few days negotiating. Signature done, he makes way for Nixon to sign it to. Just here, Mr. President Behind his impassive face, Joe feels victorious.

This is the first diplomatic agreement between the two countries since the communists took power in 1949 and China's succeeded in almost all of its negotiating targets. The US has promised it will eventually pull almost all of its soldiers from Taiwan. In return, Joe has given little more than a few assurances that China will support peace in Vietnam. These are wins he might not have secured without the help of the undercover Chinese agent

embedded in the CIA. Joe knows if the Americans ever discover what this agent has done, it will go all out to hunt him down. Four years later, Las Vegas. Larry Chin's eyes wander to the whirling fruit of the slot machines as he enters one of his favorite casinos. He heads to the cashier's desk reserved for VIPs and big spenders. The cashier smiles on seeing him.

Good to see you again so soon, Mr Chin. Chin's always enjoyed gambling, but his fast-growing habit isn't just for fun. He uses it to launder and explain the money his Chinese spymasters pay into his secret Hong Kong bank account. How many chips would you like today? I'm feeling lucky. How about $5,000?

Put it on my tab. Chin takes his chips to the private blackjack tables. The concierge swoops in. Mr Chin, always a pleasure. How are the kids? Medical school, isn't it? They're making me proud, but they're also costing me money. Well, I wish you luck tonight.

A complimentary drink, perhaps. Your usual? Chin nods and begins to play. He quickly starts to lose money, but he doesn't mind. He's having fun. And a few recorded losses help make the money he's about to walk away with look more legitimate. And that's 21.

After losing $2,000, he returns to the cashier and hands over the remaining $3,000 worth of chips. Shall I put them against your tab? No, I'll take it in cash. Invoice my Hong Kong account for the tab. Chin smiles as the cashier counts out the cash. He can now claim the money as gambling winnings, even though it came straight from his secret bank account in Hong Kong. And now he's laundered his spy earnings. He plans to invest some of the money in buying properties.

to rent around the US. The only problem is that he's finding it harder and harder to leave the gambling tables early. Three years later, 1979, CIA headquarters Langley, Virginia. In a small conference room, Chin is finishing up a meeting with intelligence officers from the CIA's China desk. As one of the CIA's best translators,

he's often called in to offer his advice. He may be a spy and a traitor, but he still enjoys the feeling of being needed. As the meeting ends, Warren Young, a slim and energetic intelligence officer with Chinese heritage, approaches Chin. Larry, you got a couple of minutes? Of course. Could you check a message I'm sending to an agent in China? It's important I make a good first impression. Chin keeps his face neutral. Another opportunity to please Beijing has fallen right into his lap.

He'd kill for this kind of luck at the blackjack table. Of course. I'll need to know a few things about who the message is going to. What kind of things? Just the basics. Age, male or female, where in China they're from, education level. These are legitimate questions for a translator. They're also a way for Chin to glean information that can help China's Ministry of Public Security identify the CIA's agent.

Chin read through the message numerous times to memorize it and all the details Young has unwittingly revealed about the agent. After he has finished, Young is grateful. I might consult you about more cultural stuff in the next few weeks, if that's okay. I'm heading to Beijing soon. It's a big posting and I don't want to make any etiquette mistakes. Of course. Anytime. Two years later, July 1981,

FBIS headquarters, Roslyn, Virginia. In a large meeting room that's been transformed for an award ceremony, with a makeshift stage, Chin steps forward to shake hands with Bobby Inman, the deputy director of the CIA. Pride, relief and sadness entwine within him as he accepts his career intelligence medal. After years of service and with his 59th birthday imminent, Chin is being forced to retire due to his age. Mr Chin, I'm sorry the director couldn't be here today, but leave with the knowledge that your faithful and loyal support, has measured up to the high ideals and traditions of the Federal Service. As the applause dies down and people start mingling, Chin looks at his medal.

He tries to understand the muddle of emotions he's feeling, pride at a job well done, relief that he ended his career without his spying being uncovered, melancholy that he's being cut adrift and will no longer be surrounded by the friendly chatter he's grown accustomed to. He also wonders what next? He's not yet sick. There's a lot of life yet to fill. A colleague nudges him. You've got your best years ahead of you, Larry? I hope so.

Chin looks at the former colleagues all around him and realizes something. He has no idea what to do now. His outgoings far exceed his CIA pension. His landlord earnings from properties in Baltimore and Las Vegas won't close the gap. And now he no longer has access to classified information. He's about to lose his spy income too. The medal glints in his hand as it catches the light. Chin wonders, does he actually need to tell Beijing he's retired?

He grabs a drink from a nearby table and ponderes whether he's got a few big gambols left in him. Winter 1981, a few months after Larry Chin's retirement, the Ministry of Public Security, Beijing. Intelligence officer Yu Changchong enters the office of his boss, Miss Wong. U sits sullenly showing as much disrespect as he dares. Miss Wong is an attractive woman and U, the adopted son of the head of China's intelligence service. But one night, U made the error of thinking that his family ties trumped the hierarchy he moves within and propositioned her. Miss Wong rejected him in the most scathing terms. Now he can never think of her without feeling shame and humiliation.

Without meeting O's gaze, Miss Wong hands over a file. The US has posted someone new to its embassy. His name's Warren Young. We know he is CIA, but he has Chinese heritage. We may be able to use that as leverage. Get close and recruit him for us. O' frowns as he scans the file. How do we know he's CIA?

That's not for you to know. O's senses Ms. Wong is enjoying holding information back. It's clear she thinks he only got this job out of nepotism. He wonders, if she's setting him up to fail. He leaves angry and worried, but he dares not slam the door behind him. Early 1982, the back streets of Beijing.

CIA officer Warren Young walks down a narrow alleyway, using it as both a detour and a way to flush out any Chinese surveillance he's picked up since leaving the US embassy. Despite his Chinese heritage, his clothes and manner mark him out as a westerner. It feels like everybody in Beijing,

Beijing is watching him. Not that China's intelligence services always opt for subtlety. Sometimes those watching him make no attempt to hide the fact that they are following him. He heads down another alleyway. Today, he's determined to ensure he hasn't been followed, for he's about to meet with a Chinese government official called U Changshong. Yang suspects U is actually a Chinese intelligence officer who suspects he's with the CIA. For months, they have been meeting on the diplomatic, cocktail circuit just a shade too often and having odd stilted conversations. Then, O'u asked if they could meet somewhere more private.

Young wants to see where this could lead. Reassured that he's not being tailed, Young reaches their meeting place. It's a traditional tea house, a little dingy but comfortable. He notes that Ooo has secured a table where his back is against the wall. From there, he will be able to watch the rest of the room and ensure they cannot easily be overheard. Mr. Young, so glad to see you. They make small talk for a while. Then Young's senses, ooh, starting to grow nervous. He's ready to ask the question he's clearly been waiting to ask. Mr. Young, I wondered, to put it bluntly, if you'd be willing to help China while you are here.

Blood pounds in Young's ears. It's the moment every intelligence agent trains for. But it's suddenly here. It's suddenly real. He tries to seem calm, almost amused. You want me to spy? Ooo sits forward. The slight tremble of his hands betrays his nervousness. No, no, Mr. Young, nothing like that. I don't want you to do anything that would hurt the US. Don't you read the papers? This is a bold new era for our countries. I want you to help foster better relations between us. I'd love you to pass us anything that might... Young senses that something is slightly off about, Owe. But what? Anything that might help us understand one another better, you would be well compensated.

Ooo sits back and waits for an answer. Young knows this is a dangerous moment. The offer could be a trap to expose him as an American spy. Protocol is to end the conversation there and walk away. But what Young registered about Ou a moment ago has come into focus. Beneath the nerves, O's tone is half-hearted, slumped in his chair. His body language suggests defeat as much as what. It was a rushed pitch, a little basic.

Young stirs his tea to give himself more time to think. He's surprised that Euse mentioned compensation already. Maybe money's an issue close to Ewe's heart. Young ponders the man in front of him. Every time he's met, O there's been something only loosely contained within him, some kind of angry grudge at the world around him. He wouldn't be the first Chinese spy who's been wronged in the endless purges and re-education. Is it possible that Wu's loyalty is compromised with his heart and his mouth?

Young takes a risk. America shares your desire for good relations. But perhaps we could achieve these objectives better if the information ran from China to the US? We too would be prepared to compensate well for such efforts. Young tenses for angry denials. But instead, Ooo does nothing. Young decides he may as well plow on. I believe you are a senior intelligence officer.

You must be to be able to meet an American alone like this. What is your rank? Young's just up the stakes. They're no longer just chatting. He's made a direct request for actual information. Owe leans forward slightly. Does your offer include resettlement? Young's heart leaps.

Ooo wants to move to America. Young leans towards O. You would have to earn that. We would need to be sure of high quality information. O takes a long sip of tea, then answers Young's question. I am the chief of the Foreign Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Public Security. Young blinks in disbelief.

He's just recruited an agent who can prize open the deepest secrets of Chinese intelligence. A few days later, a restaurant in Beijing. In a restaurant favoured by the most powerful members of the Politburo, a banquet is being served. In pride of place is Larry Chin. He feels calm and quietly pleased with himself. Since he's no longer a government employee in the US, a trip to Beijing is low risk,

but he's decided to keep his retirement to himself. If China thinks he's still capable of passing them information, they'll still be capable of passing him checks. Next to Chin is his spymaster O, who points out the various leading members of the Chinese intelligence service. They have all come to honour Chin. See how the great and the good have turned out to honour you and your work? That man over there is Li Wen Chong,

Vice Minister of Chinese Intelligence. He is here for you. I can't quite believe it. While Chin watches, Lee stands and raises a glass. The crowd grows silent. You honour us with your dedicated service, Comrade Chin. For more than three decades, you have aided the party in navigating a hostile landscape. we would like to honour you with a new rank, Deputy Bureau Chief in the United States.

After the applause, oh, whispers in Chin's ear. The rank is honorary, of course. But there is also $40,000 in your bank account. A thank you for the intelligence provided, and for the intelligence you will provide in the future. Chin smiles and thanks him. He's come to terms with who he is now. He's a spy and a traitor, and in China at least.

least a hero. But deep down, he's a gambler. And to keep the money coming, he's going to keep placing bets. Several days later, Beijing. CIA officer Warren Young arrives at the safe house who has organized in the back streets of Beijing. He breathes a sigh of relief as he enters. It took an age to get here, mainly because he had to give his own CIA counterintelligence officers the slip before coming here. But it's all for show. Wu has told his bosses that he recruited Young as an agent to enable them to continue meeting.

So Young must make it look like he's betraying the CIA. It also means he must come to each meeting armed with worthless but credible intelligence for Wu. But today, Wu looks frustrated. What's wrong? I'm tired of all this back and forth. I've given you a lot of information now and you promised me resettlement. Young has seen O's impatience building, so his agitation comes as no surprise.

Ou continues to vent. I am not as popular as I could be in my department. I just want to get out of here before I'm discovered. Young watches as Ou paces and then suddenly stops. I want to go to America. I've honoured my part of the bargain. Haven't I done that? Young nods curtly.

He must remain diplomatic but firm. Look, I want to help. But you need to give us more. If you give us something really useful, something we can act on, I'll be able to convince my superiors. Young watches Wu, whose face suggests he's grappling with a decision. Eventually, Wu speaks. What if I told you there is a Chinese agent inside your intelligence services? That would be extremely valuable, but I'll need more details, starting with a name.

I don't have his name. I happen to overhear a conversation. I was lucky to get that much. That information's too vague. I know what my superiors will say. There will be no question of resettlement until we have enough details to track down the mole. But if you lead us to him,

you will have more than earned your ticket out. Oud nods silently to confirm that he understands the task ahead of him. Young knows he's asking Oud to risk his life to get this information. But if there really is a Chinese spy embedded inside U.S. intelligence, this could be America's own. only shot at exposing him. You have been listening to The Spy Who, an Audible original. Have you got a spy story you'd like us to tell?

Email your ideas to the Spy Who at audible.com. A quick note about our dialogue. We can't know everything that was said or done behind closed doors, particularly far back in history, but our scenes are written using the best available sources. So even if a scene or conversation has been recreated for dramatic effect, it's still based on biographical research. The CIA officer identified in the script as Warren Young is a pseudonym.

We used many sources in our research for this season, including The Spy Within by Todd Hoffman and Chinese Spies by Roger Falago. The Spy Who is hosted by me, Indra Varma. The producer was Vespucci with writing and story editing by Yellowant. For Yellowant, the writer was Christian Donlan, Research by Louise Byrne with thanks to Monty Cooper and Gigi Kour. The managing producer was Jay Priest. For Vespucci, the senior producer was Holly Aquilina.

The sound designer was Alex Port Felix. Natalia Rodriguez is the supervising producer. Music supervision by Scott Velasquez for Friss on sync. For Vespucci, the executive producers were Johnny Galvin and Daniel Turkin. For Yellow Ant, the executive producer was Tristan Donovan. For Audible, the executive producers were Ehrlichable. Estelle Doyle and Theodora Luludis. Follow the Spy Who on the Audible app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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