Wind of Change
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"Wind of Change asks whether the CIA secretly wrote the song that ended the Cold War — and somehow, by the final episode, you'll believe it's entirely possible."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode
Pros & cons
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team — exceptional across all dimensions
- +Exceptional binge factor — near impossible to stop at one episode
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
- −Must listen in order — cannot dip in and out between episodes
About this podcast
Patrick Radden Keefe (author of Empire of Pain and Say Nothing) investigates the extraordinary claim that the CIA secretly wrote the Scorpions' 1990 power ballad 'Wind of Change' — the song that became the anthem of the fall of the Berlin Wall — as a piece of Cold War psychological warfare. What begins as a music mystery becomes a spy story.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1 — listen in order
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Wind of Change
What is Wind of Change about?
Patrick Radden Keefe (author of Empire of Pain and Say Nothing) investigates the extraordinary claim that the CIA secretly wrote the Scorpions' 1990 power ballad 'Wind of Change' — the song that became the anthem of the fall of the Berlin Wall — as a piece of Cold War psychological warfare. What begins as a music mystery becomes a spy story.
Is Wind of Change worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 9/10 on binge factor. True crime-adjacent listeners interested in espionage, Cold War history, and one of the most stranger-than-fiction investigations of the podcast era; fans of Patrick Radden Keefe's journalism.
Who is Wind of Change for?
Wind of Change is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode.
What is the best episode of Wind of Change to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1 — listen in order. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to Wind of Change?
Wind of Change is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Wind of Change?
If you enjoy Wind of Change, you might also like: Bag Man (MSNBC), Crimetown, Slow Burn (Slate), Dr. Death. See our full "Podcasts Like Wind of Change" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Inquisitive, literary, compelling
- Episode length
- 8 episodes ~30-45 min each; bingeable in a weekend
- Binge factor
- 9/10
- Country
- United States
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History buffs and true crime fans who want political crime; listeners who want to understand how America gets to defining moments of corruption and crisis.
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True crime fans interested in medical crime, institutional failure, and white-collar predators — compelling for anyone who has ever trusted a doctor blindly.
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True crime fans interested in cults, coercive control, and how dangerous organisations hide in plain sight; those who want original reporting rather than documentary recaps.
In the Dark
Listeners who want journalism-grade investigation into wrongful convictions, systemic racism, and institutional failures — more 60 Minutes than true crime thriller.
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