The Rest Is Classified

105. The Chinese Spy Scandal: Mastering LinkedIn (Ep 2)

03 Dec 2025

Audio

Description

In 2017, former CIA officer Kevin Mallory was drowning in debt when a message landed in his LinkedIn inbox. A Chinese “headhunter” said he had consulting work. Mallory - fluent in Mandarin, seasoned in intelligence, and once trusted with some of America’s most sensitive secrets - replied. In this episode, David and Gordon unpack how Chinese intelligence services used think-tank cover, tailored taskings, and a custom encrypted smartphone to reel Mallory in. From FedEx scans of classified documents to a frantic attempt to reinvent himself as a double agent, this is the anatomy of a recruitment gone disastrously wrong. ------------------- Make someone a Declassified Club Member this Christmas – go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community. Just go to https://therestisclassified.supportingcast.fm/gifts And of course, you can still join for yourself any time at therestisclassified.com or on Apple Podcasts. ------------------- THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026: Buy your tickets ⁠HERE⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 31 January. ------------------- Try Attio for free at ⁠https://www.attio.com/tric⁠ ------------------- Email: [email protected] Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@triclassified⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Producer: Emma Jackson Producer: Becki Hills Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcription

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.

0 upvotes

🗳️ Sign in to Upvote

Popular episodes get transcribed faster

Other episodes from The Rest Is Classified

Transcribed and ready to explore now

163. Argo: Smuggled Out of Khomeini's Iran (Ep 4)

03 Jun 2026

The Rest Is Classified

162. Argo: How the CIA Made a Movie That Never Existed (Ep 3)

31 May 2026

The Rest Is Classified

Is Iran Recruiting Spies to Conduct Anti-Semitic Attacks?

28 May 2026

The Rest Is Classified

161. Argo: Six Fugitives in Revolutionary Tehran (Ep 2)

27 May 2026

The Rest Is Classified

160. Argo: The Secret Iranian Hostage Crisis (Ep 1)

24 May 2026

The Rest Is Classified

159. Is NATO Prepared for a Russian Attack?

21 May 2026

The Rest Is Classified

View all episodes from The Rest Is Classified

Comments

There are no comments yet.

Please log in to write the first comment.

Report any issue

The Rest Is Classified

105. The Chinese Spy Scandal: Mastering LinkedIn (Ep 2)

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other episodes from The Rest Is Classified

163. Argo: Smuggled Out of Khomeini's Iran (Ep 4)

162. Argo: How the CIA Made a Movie That Never Existed (Ep 3)

Is Iran Recruiting Spies to Conduct Anti-Semitic Attacks?

161. Argo: Six Fugitives in Revolutionary Tehran (Ep 2)

160. Argo: The Secret Iranian Hostage Crisis (Ep 1)

159. Is NATO Prepared for a Russian Attack?

Sign in to Audioscrape

Share this moment