Podcast appearances and mentions of dame stella rimington

Welcome back to a brand-new season of Two Women Chatting! We're opening this season with a fascinating conversation with Dame Stella Rimington, the first female Director General of MI5, whose career spans real-world espionage and gripping spy fiction. From classified files to bestselling thrillers, she's got stories that would make Bond jealous!. She takes us behind the scenes of intelligence work, the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and the surprising realities of spy life versus fiction.Key Insights:

Hello, and welcome back to another exciting season of Two Women Chatting with me, Michelle Ford. I'll be diving deep into the heart of midlife topics that truly matter. Whether you're breezing through your early 40s or hitting those fabulous 50s, this season is packed full of engaging discussions that will empower, uplift, inspire, and entertain.Join me as I chat with an amazing array of guests—think celebrities, experts, actors, authors, campaigners, and yes, even a couple of distinguished Dames! I've got such an incredible lineup this season that you won't want to miss a single episode.I'll be covering a variety of captivating topics. Have you ever wondered about the hidden dangers of romance scams? I'm chatting to Becky Holmes, author of ‘Keanu Reeves is NOT in love with you. We'll be chatting about how to spot the scams and the red flags. Ever been curious about what it's like to grow up Amish? I'll sit down with someone who's lived that experience and discuss the contrasts of faith, community, and identity.I'll also be delving into the critical topic of bone health—an area that gains importance as we age— and I'll be kicking off the new season with Dame Stella Rimington, the Queen of Spies herself, - plus I've got a fabulous guest who will be a special guest for my 100th episode! Any guesses on who it might be? She's an absolutely the ‘gold-standard' in her field!And for those looking to enhance their confidence, we'll explore the intriguing world of colour psychology with Anita Feron Clark—discover how the colours we wear can profoundly impact our mood and self-esteem.Throughout the season, I'll also be shining a light on women who truly support women. From community builders to inspiring leaders, we'll celebrate the shared strength and resilience we find in each other when we walk the walk, not just talk the talk.You can listen to Two Women Chatting wherever you get your podcasts—whether you prefer Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or a different platform, I'm right there with you! And don't forget to check out twowomenchatting.com to sign up for my newsletter with extra content. I'm over on instagram at michelleford_twc for behind the scenes and topical midlife content.So, buckle up for a fantastic season filled with insightful conversations and intriguing guests. I can't wait to share this journey with you. Stay tuned, and let's chat about life, love, and all things midlife!Until next time, take care, keep shining, and remember, we're halfway through, not halfway done! New season starts 25 March 2025! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The launch of Michelle's new Book Club - this week featuring an interview with Dame Stella Rimington, former head of MI5 whose new spy thriller, The Hidden Hand, is

STELLA RIMINGTON chats to Paul about zeitgeisty new thriller THE HIDDEN HAND, the Chinese threat, Liz Carlyle, Manon Tyler, MI5, retirement, sexism, James Bond and John Buchan. THE HIDDEN HAND: A historic institution is hiding a very modern threat.The student - Li Min, a Chinese student, is forced by her government to transfer from Harvard to Oxford University, where she is recruited to an elite Chinese study centre based out of St Felix's College.The scapegoat - Meanwhile, the centre's newly recruited head stumbles on its more sinister purpose: recruiting Chinese and sympathetic British students to steal high-value research and intellectual property. Unsure who at the university he can trust, he turns to CIA agent Manon Tyler for help.The spy who might be their only hope...But as Li and another Chinese-American student are drawn deeper into a deadly game, will Manon be able to penetrate the heart of St Felix's secrets in time to save them?Dame Stella Rimington joined the Security Service (MI5) in 1968. During her career she worked in all the main fields of the Service: counter-subversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism. She was appointed Director General in 1992, the first woman to hold the post. She has written her autobiography and six Liz Carlyle novels. She lives in London and Norfolk.Recommendations: Dorothy L Sayers novels, George Simenon - Maigret novels, Rudyard Kipling - Kim, JK Rowling Striker series.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

Summary David McCloskey (Twitter; Website) and James Stejskal (Twitter; LinkedIn) join Andrew to discuss writing about espionage. They are both former intelligence officers.   What You'll Learn Intelligence What it is like writing spy fiction as a former practitioner How fact informs fiction Writing as a former analyst compared to as a former operator (James)  Reactions by the intelligence community to practitioners-turned-authors Reflections The heaven and hell of being an author  The process of getting a process And much, much more… Episode Notes Hear two intelligence formers discuss life as current novelists.  Where does fact end, and fiction begin when you are a former CIA officer writing fiction? What parts of your own story bleed into the novel? Are the characters composites of people you knew in your line of work or are they entirely fictional?  To answer these questions and more, this week, I sat down with David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and author of Damascus Station, a book David Petraeus described as “the best spy novel I have ever read,” and James Stejskal, author of Appointment in Tehran, which has been called “a textbook clandestine operation involving…US Army Special Forces and a clandestine CIA Case Officer,” which James would know something about, since he was both.  And… Spy fiction received quite the blow in the space of a 6-month period (Dec 2020-May 2021) which saw the passing of both John Le Carre and Jason Matthews, two formers who served in British and American intelligence. Le Carre was in MI5 and MI6 while Matthews had a long career in the CIA. David and James join a distinguished cast of formers who became novelists, including Ian Fleming, Graham Greene and Dame Stella Rimington.  Quote of the Week "There are far more edits on, short articles I wrote that weren't even going to the president than on the book, so your writing is being critiqued at all levels. I I think when I did write for the PDB [Presidential Daily Brief], I don't think I'm making this up, I believe it was 9 or 10 layers of review. You could probably argue that sometimes that makes it worse, but you have to be able at all stages to roll with the punches and to write and to try to make things very clear." Resources Headline Resources Damascus Station, D. McCloskey (2021) Appointment in Tehran, J. Stejskal (2021) Andrew's Recommendation The Looking Glass War, J. Le Carre (1965) Le Carre doubles down on disabusing the public's romanticization of intelligence  *SpyCasts* “Snake Eaters, Detachment A, CIA” – James Stejskal (2022) “American Spy” – Lauren Wilkinson (2021) “Red Widow” – Alma Katsu (2021) “American Traitor” – Brad Taylor (2021) “The Evolution of Spy Fiction”  - Wesley Wark (2011) Beginner Resources 15 Best Espionage Novels, M. Warwick, Mal Warwick On Books (2022) [article] Novelists Who Became Spies, C. Cumming, Crime Reads (2019) [article] Best Spy Novels According to a Spy, A. Katsu, Crime Reads (2021) [article] Books Missions of the SOE and OSS in WWII, J. Stejskal (Casemate, 2021) Special Forces Berlin, J. Stejskal (Casemate, 2017) On Writing, S. King (Scribner, 2010) Spy Fiction, Spy Films & Real Intelligence, W. Wark (Routledge, 1991) Articles Nine Examples of Spy Fiction Books, Masterclass (2021) How to Write a Spy Thriller, Masterclass (2021) How End of Cold War Changed Spy Fiction, J. Ciabattari, BBC Culture (2014) Videos All the Old Knives, O. Steinhauer, SPY (2022) Spy Writing in the Real World, Hayden Center (2021) The Spy Writers You Love to Read, SPY (2020) Primary Sources  American Observer, CIA (1970) Barry Farber Show, CIA (1970) *Wildcard Resource* The Riddle of the Sands, E. Childers (1903) An early spy novel that presaged the anti-German “spy fever” that struck allied countries before and during WWI 

Today we sit with Lady Val Corbett, a businesswoman who's dedicated her life's work to helping women help women. The essence, ethos and heartbeat of Lady Val's Professional Network is betterment; building the life and career you dreamed for yourself. It is the mission of all of Lady Val's endeavors: Lady Val's Professional Women's Network, The Corbett Network and The Robin Corbett Award. Lady Val is a devoted advocate for Prison reform and the rehabilitation and re-integration of returning citizens into society. All the profits from the Network's events, both digital and live, go into Lady Val's enterprises, they fundraise for work on prison reform which Lady Val understands is an investment in people who, released from prison, have served their time and need a chance to change their lives. Lady Val's Professional Women's Network lunches in central London, are attended by women who work, not ladies who lunch. Speakers have included Michael Palin, Cherie Blair, Gina Miller, Dame Stella Rimington, Jon Snow etc. This Network links like-minded businesswomen into a cohesive group for sharing contacts, experience, knowledge and to attract future business. This is a cold world and if women don't help other women, who would? The Network motto is: "There's a special place in hell for any woman who doesn't help another woman." The Robin Corbett Award funds £10,000 annually to three charities who do the most for prisoner reintegration. Unless ex-offenders are steered in the right direction after release, around 50% will re-offend within two years – that figure plummets to 19% when they have a job. Yet only 12% of firms employ people with criminal convictions who have served their time and need to change direction.          This led to The Corbett Network, a coalition of over 90 decision-makers of charities, social enterprises and organizations involved in reintegration working together to persuade more firms to hire returning citizens.  Lady Val Corbett | LinkedIn www.ladyvalnetwork.biz www.robincorbettaward.co.uk www.thecorbettnetwork.com

As we gear up for an exciting new Spring program – which will feature a number of changes including a content overhaul and improved audio – we are releasing some of our greatest hits from the vault. Back in 2007 Dame Stella Rimington, former Director-General of MI5, spoke about British intelligence past and present and compared British and American approaches to intelligence. She was the first female Director General of the Security Service (better known by its three letter abbreviation, MI5) and her autobiography is entitled, Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5. She is also the author of a number of novels. Most recently in her “Liz Carlyle” series are, The Moscow Sleepers (2018) and Breaking Cover (2016). During her 30+ year career, she worked in all the main fields of MI5’s area of responsibility: counter-subversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism. During Dame Stella’s watch, MI5 moved towards greater openness, so it is fitting that this interview is with a former CIA Director of Media Relations, The International Spy Museum’s former Executive Director Peter Earnest. Suggested pairings:  How Spies Think – Spy Chief David Omand (Nov 24, 2020)  The MI5 Centenary (Dec 1, 2009)

In this episode, Nicholas Barton talks with Jeff Grout to discuss some of the key challenges for leaders during these turbulent times. Tune in to this insightful conversation addressing;What leaders should be focusing on todayBuilding commitment and trust in a remote environmentHow leaders can empower, motivate and build resilience with their teamsFacilitating the reintegration of colleagues back into the businessAn effective framework for addressing performanceInsights from celebrated leaders Dame Stella Rimington, Sir Clive Woodward & Greg Dyke

Dame Stella Rimington reveals that she still keeps a sharp eye out for espionage despite retiring as chief of MI5. (Starts at 1.10) Frederick Forsyth and Frank Gardner go head to head in Cheltenham and spill the beans about how close fact comes to fiction (Starts at 25.25) And we return to Dame Stella Rimington for the books of her life (Starts at 51.00)

In 1992 Dame Stella Rimington became Director-General of MI5 - the first female Director-General, and the first to be publicly named. Since retiring from the service she's forged a successful second career as a novelist, drawing on her MI5 experience to create the compelling Liz Carlyle series. The ninth book will be published in summer 2016. In Alderney recently for the second Alderney Literary Festival, she spoke to us about her two careers, and why they're actually more similar than you might think.

Dame Stella Rimington, former director of MI5 and a celebrated crime writer herself, nominates for a Great Life that of Dorothy L Sayers. Sayers' first Lord Peter Wimsey novel was published in the 1920s, the Golden Age of crime fiction, and he is still very much with us, appearing often on BBC Radio 4 Extra. She went on to enjoy a huge popularity with her crime novels and then turned to writing Christian essays and plays, most notably the series for the BBC on the life of Christ – which stirred up a great controversy as no-one had before impersonated Jesus on the radio. Dame Stella tells Matthew Parris why the paradoxes and contradictions in Dorothy Sayers' life fascinate her, and explains how Sayers' writing influences her own. With Seona Ford, chairman of the Dorothy L Sayers Society. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing and the killing of a British soldier on the streets of Woolwich in London, it emerged that the suspects were known to the security services. But how feasible is it for the authorities to keep track of everyone on their watch list? Tim Harford crunches the numbers, with the help of the former head of the UK intelligence service MI5, Dame Stella Rimington.

After the killing of a British soldier on the streets of Woolwich in London, it emerged that the suspects were known to the security services. But how feasible is it for the authorities to keep track of everyone on their watch list? Tim Harford crunches the numbers, with the help of the former head of MI5, Dame Stella Rimington. Plus: a listener requests a cost-benefit analysis of kidney donations; and Johnny Ball gives the Apprentices a maths lesson.

Libby Purves meets Stella Rimington, former head of MI5; food writer Claudia Roden; biologist Dr Alan Rabinowitz and Kate Bond of experimental theatre group You Me Bum Bum Train. Kate Bond co-founded You Me Bum Bum Train in 2004. A performance journey for one audience member - or passenger - at a time, You Me Bum Bum Train has been variously called live art, interactive comedy and experimental theatre. Passengers participate in a variety of situations from hosting their own chat show to running a kebab shop. You Me Bum Bum Train is part of the London 2012 Festival and performances run from July 19th-26th and August 15th-September 19th Dame Stella Rimington joined the Security Service M15 in 1968. During her career she worked in all the main fields of the Service including counter-subversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism. She became the first female director general in 1992. Her latest novel featuring MI5 agent Liz Carlyle, The Geneva Trap, is published by Bloomsbury. Dr Alan Rabinowitz is one of the world's leading big cat experts. He is currently the CEO of Panthera, a non-profit organization devoted to saving the world's wild cat species. In a new film for the BBC's Natural World series, Tiger Island, he goes to Sumatra to visit a project that is rehabilitating man-eating tigers in an attempt to save them from extinction. Natural World - Tiger Island will be broadcast on 26th July at 8pm on BBC Two. Claudia Roden is a renowned food writer and oral historian who was born and brought up in Egypt as part of a Jewish family. Her most famous book The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, published in 1968, introduced Middle-Eastern cuisine to home cooks the world over. For her latest book about Spanish food Claudia spent five years researching and writing about the history, people and culture of Spain. The Food of Spain - A Celebration is published by Penguin/Michael Joseph. Producer: Paula McGinley.

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2011 was won by Julian Barnes for The Sense of an Ending, published by Jonathon Cape. His award was presented by Dame Stella Rimington. 9.40pm October 18 2011

Peter interviews Dame Stella Rimington, former Director-General of MI5, the British domestic security service. Dame Stella compares American and British approaches to intelligence and offers her view on the terrorist threat and the Litvinenko murder. She also discusses the authenticity of spy fiction and reveals her favorite espionage writer.