Podcast Explores Roald Dahl's Hidden Life as Spy & Writer
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, January 16, 2026 | 2:37pm CT |
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 The Secret World of Roald Dahl |
iHeartPodcasts and Imagine Entertainment have announced the launch of "The Secret World of Roald Dahl," a new documentary podcast series examining the little-known personal history of one of the world's most famous children's authors. The series, from iHeartPodcasts and Imagine Entertainment, premieres Monday, January 19 and marks the sixth title released under the companies' original podcast collaboration.
Hosted and created by Aaron Tracy, the podcast explores the hidden life of Roald Dahl, detailing his experiences as a World War II fighter pilot, British intelligence operative with MI6, Hollywood screenwriter, and medical innovator, long before becoming the author of children's classics including Willy Wonka, Matilda, and The BFG.
According to the announcement, the series examines how Dahl's covert work, personal relationships, creative struggles, and controversial aspects of his life influenced the stories that later defined his career. The podcast blends investigative reporting with narrative storytelling to present a more complex portrait of the author and his legacy.
Tracy said the series aims to reveal the lesser-known chapters of Dahl's life, noting that his varied experiences -- from espionage to neuroscience -- preceded his success as a children's writer, which came in his mid-40s.
Nathan Kloke, Executive Producer for Imagine Audio, said the project offered a rare opportunity to explore Dahl's humanity and contradictions, while Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts, described the series as an example of the company's focus on premium documentary storytelling centered on untold stories.
Executive producers for Imagine Audio include Kara Welker and Nathan Kloke. The podcast will be released weekly on Mondays and distributed by iHeartPodcasts, available on the iHeartRadio app and all major podcast platforms.
