One of the great things about contemporary debate on military and national security issues is the range of different media available to provide a stage for discussion and disagreement over an array of issues.
One of the mediums I really enjoy is podcasts. It is a great format for exploring all the different rabbit holes of a subject. I have been interviewed on a few this year, so I thought I would provide a link to a few of them in my latest post.
War Room Podcast - June 2023
In this discussion, I join the crew from the War Room podcast to discuss my new book, White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan. I explain to editor Ron Granieri why I chose narrative as a tool to what the intersection of people, ideas and new technology on the future battlefield might look like.
You can listen to the discussion here.
Hidden Forces - June 2023
In Episode 317 of the Hidden Forces podcast, I speak with Demetri Kofinas about “White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan.”
In an era when humans no longer just use machines but partner with them in all aspects of military operations, this fictional account views this future war through the eyes of the Americans, Chinese, and Taiwanese caught up in the maelstrom, revealing the heartbreak, courage, leadership, and despair of high-tech warfare played out on land, at sea, in space, and in cyberspace.
You can listen to this episode of Hidden Forces here.
Command and Control podcast - June 2023
A discussion with Peter Roberts about C2 and the search for certainty on the battleifled. We talk about training and preparing commanders for a battlespace that has no certainly, but also where time is compressed for decisions, where delegation is forced down to new levels, and a command footprint is – in and of itself – a high value target for the enemy. The conversation starts with the context and culture of command in the US, UK and Australia, but also touches on Russia, China and Iran. It moves on to talk about developing people (political leaders as well as military ones), and then addresses the future C2 environment and ideas about preparing leaders, commanders and the role of industry in delivering effective C2 systems for the future.
You can listen to this discussion here.
Intrigue Outloud: Man v Machine podcast - June 2023
In this discussion with Ethan Plotkin, I discuss future warfare, the role of uncrewed and autonomous systems, and how we need to rethink tactics, training and leadership models in a new era of partnering with, rather than using, machines.
You can listen to this discussion with Ethan here.
Precision-Guided Podcast - May 2023
In this episode of the Precision-Guided Podcast, I speak with Miriam Pasternak Jorgensen and Gareth Smythe for a discussion about my new book, White Sun War from Casemate Publishers. White Sun War is a fictionalized account of a war in Taiwan fought in the near-future told through the eyes of the American, Chinese and Taiwanese caught up in the struggle.
You can listen to this episode here.
Spectator Australia podcast - May 2023.
A discussion with podcast host, Will Kingston, on trends in future warfare including the technological and human dimensions of conflict. Our discussion also covers my new book, White Sun War, and what a future war over Taiwan might look like.
You can listen to this Spectator Australia discussion here.
Lowy Insitute Conversations - April 2023
In this episode, I discuss the Australian Defence Strategic Review with the Institute’s International Security Program Director Sam Roggeveen. We discuss what the report reveals about Australia’s plans for its military, but also what is missing. We also talk about defence bureaucracy, the role of the Ukraine war in Australia’s strategic thinking, and challenges for the future leadership of Australia’s armed forces.
You can listen to this podcast here.
Special Competitive Studies Project podcast - April 2023
In this SCSP podcast, I join host Jeanne Meserve to discuss the landscape of contemporary and future warfare, generating a competitive advantage, and the role of technology.
You can listed to this discussion here.
Shield of the Republic - March 2023
In this episode, Eliot and Eric interview me about the fighting around Bakhmut, the prospects for both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries respectively in the weeks and months ahead, how this conflict might end, and the utility of science fiction for understanding the evolving character of war.
You can listen to this epsiode of Shield of the Republic here.
The Operational Arch - February 2023
In this podcast, I discuss the operational art with the team from the US Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies. We talk about the relationship between design and operational art, the strategy of corrosion in relationship to attrition or annihilation, how we can prepare ourselves to understand when intangible aspects of war such as culmination or operational reach are occurring, as well as the role that influence design plays on execution.
You can listen to this episode of the Operational Arch here.
Defence Connect Webcast
In this webcast, I join a panel of experts to discuss future, networked warfare. This discussion includes:
The need for the ADF to coordinate and act uniformly across all domains
The opportunity of the ADF‘s systems and platforms working together in a cohesive, integrated operational environment
The advantage the ADF can obtain from operating a networked joint force
You can view this webcast here.
The Bulwark Podcast
In this episode, I speak with Charlie Sykes about the Ukraine War at the ten month mark, and some of the lessons that can be drawn from the war.
You can listen to this episode of The Bulwark Podcast here.
Proceedings Podcast Ep. 265: Mick Ryan On The Future Of Twenty-First-Century Warfare
In this slightly older podcast, I speak with the team at Proceedings about the future of warfare. I also discuss my 2022 book "War Transformed: The Future of Twenty-First-Century Great Power Competition and Conflict" (Naval Institute Press, 2022), which examines both the shifting character of war and its enduring nature.
You can listen to this episode of the Proceedings Podcast here.