Podcasts by Modern War Institute
The Modern War Institute Podcast is the flagship podcast of the Modern War Institute at West Point, featuring discussions with guests including senior military leaders, scholars, and others who discuss the most important issues related to modern conflict.
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Understanding Hamas: From Tactics to Strategy from 2023-11-14T12:18:50
This special episode of the MWI Podcast features the first installment of a three-part miniseries produc...
ListenShusha, the Battle that Won a War from 2023-11-01T08:57:12
Observers watched the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War closely, searching for indicators of the character of warfare on tomorrow's battlefields. The lessons extracted have covered advanced technology a...
ListenWhat Was Hamas Thinking? from 2023-10-23T15:26:33
When Hamas fighters conducted a large-scale and deadly attack against Israel and its people on October 7, what was the group aiming to achieve? What were its strategic objectives? And what sort ...
ListenCombined Arms in Gaza from 2023-10-18T15:30:12
As Israeli ground forces mobilize for what at this point appears to be a looming battle in Gaza to destroy Hamas military capability, this episode looks ahead at what form that battle will take....
ListenThe Battle of Mogadishu—Thirty Years On from 2023-10-03T21:16:14
Thirty years ago this week—on October 3, 1993—US special operations forces launched a mission in Mogadishu. It was part of Operation Gothic Serpent, which was aimed at capturing Soma...
ListenHistory, Identity, and Russia's War in Ukraine from 2023-09-20T10:37:50
While Western leaders, media, and institutions have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its conduct of the ongoing war—characterizing it as a brutal act of naked aggression&md...
ListenSweden, Finland, and NATO from 2023-08-24T07:13:12
The decisions by the governments of Sweden and Finland to apply to join NATO marked a major departure from both countries' longstanding policies of nonalignment. But how, specifically, will it a...
ListenSecuring NATO's Baltic Flank from 2023-08-10T09:45:38
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the world has seen firsthand evidence of the threat posed by the revanchist state. Among those who perceive this threat most acutely are the t...
ListenThe Robotic Revolution is Here from 2023-07-28T13:29:53
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with August Cole, coauthor of a new book called Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution. It’s a techn...
ListenInside Azovstal from 2023-07-18T10:15:51
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, one of its first targets was the city of Mariupol. Despite being outnumbered by—and less well equipped than—their adversaries, Ukrainian...
ListenAfter the Wagner Mutiny, What Next for the War in Ukraine? from 2023-06-29T09:14:48
When Yevgeny Prighozin, the head of the Wagner Group, released a video on June 23 that criticized Russian leaders' management of the war in Ukraine, it was the first in a series of extraordinary...
ListenWorld Order in the Drone Age from 2023-06-14T10:21:27
In this episode, Paul Lushenko joins to discuss armed drones—in particular the impact their proliferation will have on global order. That's the subject of a new book for which he was a coe...
ListenHow is Russia Adapting its Tactics in Ukraine? from 2023-05-31T13:49:43
When Russia invaded Ukraine last year, its ground forces were largely built around the battalion tactical group. Fifteen months on, and that organizational structure has been dramatically change...
ListenChange and Continuity: Tracing the Evolution of Turkish Statecraft from 2023-05-17T09:40:30
Turkey is in the middle of a presidential election, the closest challenge to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his twenty years in power. This offers an opportunity for a broad survey of the evolution of ...
ListenNeuroscience, Neurotechnology, and the Future of War from 2023-05-03T08:59:23
How will the rapid pace of advancement in the fields of neuroscience and neurotechnology impact the changing character of warfare? Will they lead to the human brain becoming a battlespace as new...
ListenCommand in Modern War from 2023-04-20T09:15:31
Would Patton be an effective battlefield commander today? Do the characteristics of successful commanders generally remain constant over time? Or do they evolve alongside—and in response t...
ListenRussia and the Arctic Conundrum from 2023-04-08T09:14:07
Arctic geopolitics are characterized by features that set the region apart from others. Eveything from governance structures to the way Arctic states engage with one another to the way they...
ListenCan Taiwan Become a Poison Frog? from 2023-03-23T10:47:35
In this episode, John Amble speaks with Chris Dougherty of the Center for a New American Security. He and his colleagues have conducted a wargame that sought to identify what strategic options t...
ListenHow to Build an Effective Partner Military—and How Not To from 2023-03-09T10:48:34
After twenty years of America’s post-9/11 wars and the US military’s struggle to build capable and effective security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is an important discussion...
ListenTwelve Months of War from 2023-02-23T14:14
One year ago this week, Russian forces invaded Ukraine. Twelve months on, how should we think about the way the war has taken shape? What lessons about modern war should we be learning? What ass...
ListenWhen Cities Become Battlefields from 2023-02-08T12:10
This episode features a conversation with MWI's chair of urban warfare studies, John Spencer. A leading expert on urban warfare and the coauthor of the book Understanding Urban Warfare<...
ListenThe Theory and Practice of Resistance from 2023-01-25T12:44
In this episode, John Amble speaks to Sandor Fabian about a very specific approach to national defense: resistance. The war in Ukraine has made clear that comparatively small states can be vulne...
ListenWho Innovates Wins? Drones and Adaptation in the Ukraine War from 2023-01-15T15:10
Ukrainian forces have been praised for their innovation efforts during their ongoing war with Russia, particularly with regard to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. But what has that innovatio...
ListenIntroducing Social Science of War from 2022-12-15T11:03
We're thrilled to announce a new podcast, launched in partnership with West Point's Department of Social Sciences, called Social Science of War. Each episode will leverage a unique...
ListenWhat Should We Make of the Protests in Iran? from 2022-12-01T11:12
Since the middle of September, when an Iranian woman died after being detained in Tehran for improperly wearing her headscarf, protests have gripped the country. But what sets them apart from pr...
ListenData and the Battlefield from 2022-11-16T13:04
This episode examines how special operations forces are integrating high-tech tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize their operations. Dr. Richard Shultz of the Flet...
ListenWhat Kind of Leader Will Al-Qaeda Choose Next? from 2022-11-02T15:44
The recent death of Ayman al-Zawahiri marks a rare inflection point for a terrorist organization that has had just two leaders in the more than three decades of its existence. Forecasting its fu...
ListenOn the Streets: Irregular Warfare in an Urban World from 2022-10-21T09:31
How are demographic and economic shifts increasing the importance of urban centers around the globe? What does this mean for military forces? To what extent do the local politics of a city compl...
ListenJust How Crowded Is The Space Domain? from 2022-10-06T11:15
As the US Space Force nears its third birthday, John Amble is joined by Dr. Moriba Jah on this episode to explore just how crowded the space domain is—especially with the surprising amount...
ListenWhy Cohesion Matters from 2022-09-08T09:42
The term "cohesion" features prominently in discussions of military effectiveness, especially at the small-unit level. We all know intuitively what it means, but understanding how to develop and...
ListenThe British Army and the Post-9/11 Wars from 2022-08-26T10:48
This episode features a discussion with Simon Akam, author of the book The Changing of the Guard: The British Army Since 9/11. The book tells the story of nearly two decades of the...
ListenFar-Right Extremism and the War in Ukraine since 2014 from 2022-08-11T08:20
How have European far-right extremists responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? How has the Russian government leveraged the Russian far right in service of its objectives in the war? An...
ListenCompetition, Conflict, and Cyber from 2022-08-01T11:12
How does cyberspace differ from the other warfighting domains—land, sea, air, and space? What challenges do those differences pose? Does cyber require unique approaches to talent manage to...
ListenFinding Opportunity in a Competitive Strategic Environment from 2022-07-14T12:21
When the idea of great power competition began to gain traction with the publication of the 2017 National Security Strategy and the 2018 National Defense Strategy, it was in some ways less a str...
ListenAdapting During War from 2022-06-30T11:46
What are the hallmarks of an adaptable military force? What types of leaders best create cultures of adaptability in their formations? How do such forces employ rapidly changing technologies? An...
ListenOn War and Sanctions from 2022-06-15T12:47
While Ukrainian forces have fought to defend against Russia's invasion since February, the war's conduct has been influenced by international involvement—namely, the supply of weapons and ...
ListenAmphibious Operations and the Future of War from 2022-06-03T09:06
The war in Ukraine has been playing out in—and across—all domains. So it is perhaps surprising that Russia's invasion plan held almost no role for the type of operation designed to b...
ListenAnd Then There Were 32? Finland, Sweden, and NATO from 2022-05-18T12:43
The decisions by the governments of Sweden and Finland to apply to join NATO mark a major departure from both countries' longstanding policies of nonalignment. But how, specifically, will it aff...
ListenBayraktar (Story of a Drone) from 2022-05-06T16:13
Almost every listener will be familiar with the Turkish-made TB-2 Bayraktar drone. Most will have seen the many reports of its operational effectiveness in the hands of Ukrainian forces defendin...
ListenWhen Frozen Conflicts Turn Hot: Learning from Nagorno-Karabakh from 2022-04-21T11:27
The ongoing war in Ukraine is giving observers a chance to forecast how future conflicts will take shape. Drones, advanced sensors, and other technologies are playing impactful roles in the figh...
ListenBreaking Down the Hypersonic Missile Threat from 2022-04-08T12:11
Hypersonic missiles have become an increasingly frequent focus of defense and security discussions in recent years and the subject of growing public attention. But what truly sets them apar...
ListenThe Future of European Defense from 2022-03-23T12:38
This episode features a discussion with retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges. He served until 2017 as the commanding general of US Army Europe and now holds the pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the...
ListenUnderstanding No-Fly Zones from 2022-03-10T21:16
This episode of the MWI Podcast tackles the topic of no-fly zones. Almost immediately after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began calling fo...
ListenGermany, NATO, and the Ukraine Crisis from 2022-02-09T11:19
In recent weeks there has been a considerable amoung of questioning in public debate in the United States about Germany and—when it has been stated most bluntly—how reliable Germany ...
ListenHow Capable is Ukraine's Military? from 2022-01-26T15:13
From 2016 to 2018, Colonel Liam Collins played a key role in US efforts to assist the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense with a series of substantial reforms—ranging from organization and comma...
ListenThe Robotic Revolution is Already Here from 2022-01-14T09:34
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with August Cole, coauthor of a new book called Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution. It’s a techn...
ListenModern War in 2021: Year in Review from 2021-12-31T11:02
What did we learn about modern war in 2021? What issues defined the most important conversations in defense circles? In this special year-end episode of the MWI Podcast, John Amble spea...
ListenWhen Security Force Assistance Works—and When it Doesn't from 2021-12-16T10:25
After twenty years of America’s post-9/11 wars and the US military’s struggle to build capable and effective security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is an important discussion...
ListenA Looming Showdown Over Ukraine? from 2021-12-02T11:26
Recently, large numbers of Russian military forces have been moved to areas near Russia's border with Ukraine. This has set off a wave of reporting and analysis about what it likely means. ...
ListenTaiwan, China, and the Poison Frog Strategy from 2021-11-17T13:32
In this episode, John Amble speaks with Chris Dougherty of the Center for a New American Security. He and his colleagues recently conducted a wargame that sought to identify what strategic optio...
ListenOn Resistance from 2021-11-03T06:25
In this episode, John Amble speaks to Sandor Fabian about a very specific approach to national defense: resistance. Specifically, Sandor argues that resistance is the most viable means of defens...
ListenGlobal Order in the Age of the Drone from 2021-10-20T12:30
In this episode, Paul Lushenko joins to discuss armed drones—in particular the impact their proliferation will have on global order. That's the subject of a new book for which he was a coe...
ListenA Conversation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from 2021-10-07T12:45
In this episode, John Amble speaks to Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau. A key pillar of the US defense enterprise, the National Guard is also fundamentally unique. Compos...
ListenThe Iraq War in Retrospect from 2021-08-04T15:42
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi is joined by retired Col. Frank Sobchak, one of the authors of the Army's 1,300-page, two-volume study of the Iraq War. He dis...
ListenThe Decisive Battle of the Nagorno-Karabakh War from 2021-07-27T09:07
Observers watched the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War closely, searching for indicators of the character of warfare on tomorrow's battlefields. The lessons extracted have covered advanced technology a...
ListenTaking Stock of America's Pacing Threat from 2021-07-16T08:18
China is increasingly labeled America's "pacing threat" by US national security leaders. That makes it more important than ever to understand China with an appropriate degree of nuance. How do p...
ListenBreaking Down the NATO Summit from 2021-06-23T14:05
President Joe Biden recently made his first trip to Europe. Between meetings with G-7 leaders and a bilateral meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, he attended his first NATO summit. Th...
ListenTraining for Tomorrow's Battlefield from 2021-06-15T07:47
This episode features a conversation with Brig. Gen. David Doyle, commander of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk. He describes how training at JRTC—one of the Army's three ...
ListenMosul, Urban Destruction, and Political Instability from 2021-05-28T06:23
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, MWI's John Amble speaks to James Verini. An award-winning journalist, he spent months reporting from Mosul as Iraqi forces, backed by US troops, foug...
ListenHow Militaries Adapt from 2021-05-13T06:46
What are the hallmarks of an adaptable military force? What types of leaders best create cultures of adaptability in their formations? How do such forces employ rapidly changing technologies? An...
ListenSurvival at the Top of the World from 2021-04-29T09:35
In this episode Ryan Burke—codirector of MWI's Project 6633—visits the Air Force’s Arctic Survival School at Eielson Air F...
ListenThe Future Defense of Europe from 2021-04-20T10:28
This episode features a discussion with retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges. He served until 2017 as the commanding general of US Army Europe and now holds the pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the...
ListenSpecial Operations Forces in the High North from 2021-04-02T13:02
In this episode, Col. Brian Rauen and Capt. Barrett Martin join to talk about the increasing importance of the Arctic. Col. Rauen is the commander of 10th Special Forces Group, and Capt. Ma...
ListenHow Science Can Help Us Meet the Cognitive Demands of War from 2021-03-19T14:50
This episode features a conversation with Dr. Amy Kruse, who was at the time of recording the chief scientific officer at the Platypus Institute. She discusses "Human 2.0," a concept she describ...
ListenThe British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2021-03-03T04:43
This episode features a discussion with Simon Akam, author of the book The Changing of the Guard: The British Army Since 9/11. The book tells the story of nearly two decades of the...
ListenWhy Combatives? from 2021-02-18T04:19
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Matt Larsen, known in many corners of the Army as the father of the modern combatives. He explains why he thinks combatives ...
ListenThe Past, Present, and Future of Amphibious Operations from 2021-02-03T04:13
Most people know something about the most famous amphibious operations in military history—the D-Day landings and Gallipoli, for example. But what about an amphibious night attack ...
ListenThe US Army's Quest to be Ready for the Future from 2021-01-21T04:08
This episode features a conversation about innovation and the future battlefield and features two guests perfectly suited to discuss those topics. Maj. Gen. John George served as the deputy...
ListenSecurity in the High Latitudes from 2021-01-06T05:19
In an era of renewed great power competition, what are the risks of that competition migrating to the Arctic region and Antarctica? How might it play out? What are states' key interests in the p...
ListenProxies and American Strategy in Africa from 2020-12-23T21:02
The recent decision to withdraw seven hundred US servicemembers from Somalia offers a timely opportunity to explore a few important questions: How does the US military work with partners in purs...
ListenScanning the Future Battlefield with Former Deputy SECDEF Robert Work from 2020-12-11T03:34
In this episode, MWI's John Amble speaks to Robert Work, former deputy secretary of defense. He describes his expectations for the future of conflict, including the role unmanned and autonomous ...
ListenUnderstanding Urban Warfare from 2020-11-25T03:36
This episode features a conversation with MWI's chair of urban warfare studies, John Spencer. In the conversation, he explores a wide range of questions. Why are cities so challenging for milita...
ListenThe Brain and the Battlefield from 2020-11-12T20:54
In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI editorial director John Amble speaks to Dr. James Giordano, the Chief of the Neuroethics Studies Program at Georgetown University and Sch...
ListenPandemics, National Security, and Zombies from 2020-10-29T03:16
In this episode, Maj. Jake Miraldi talks to Max Brooks, bestselling author of "World War Z" and "The Zombie Survival Guide" about how he uses zombies in his books as a stand-in for the kinds of ...
ListenThe Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is Giving Us a Glimpse into the Future of War from 2020-10-14T02:46
In this episode Dr. Jack Watling, Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, discusses the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan that has erupted sin...
ListenMWI Podcast: The Space Domain is Getting Crowded from 2020-10-01T02:47
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, John Amble talks to Dr. Moriba Jah, an aerospace engineer who has worked for NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory. He is now an associate ...
ListenArtificial Intelligence, Big Data, and the Modern Battlefield from 2020-09-16T15:22
This episode examines how special operations forces are integrating high-tech tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize their operations. Dr. Richard Shultz of the Flet...
ListenCommand on the Modern Battlefield from 2020-09-02T23:48
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Dr. Anthony King, author of the book Command: The Twenty-First-Century General. He explains how the way i...
ListenCrafting a US Strategy for the Twenty-First Century from 2020-08-19T16:17
In this episode of the Modern War Institute Podcast, John Amble is joined by Rebecca Lissner and Mira Rapp-Hooper, authors of the new book An Open World: How America Can Win th...
ListenThe Other Foreign Fighters from 2020-08-05T15:57
In this episode, we talk to American University Professor Joseph Young and the Brookings Institution's Jason Fritz about a phenomenon they've been studying: American citizens who traveled indepe...
ListenCompetition, Conflict, and the Future of Irregular Warfare from 2020-07-22T02:21
This episode of the Modern War Institute Podcast features a conversation with Dave Stephenson, the director of the Joint Staff’s Office of Irregular Warfare and Competition. ...
ListenSecurity Force Assistance in an Era of Great-Power Competition from 2020-07-08T02:54
This episode of the Modern War Institute Podcast features a conversation with Col. Curt Taylor, commander of the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade. The unit was formally activated in May, an...
ListenIs Great-Power Competition a Strategy? from 2020-06-24T02:36
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a discussion with Ali Wyne. He is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and a nonresident fellow at the Modern War Institute whose...
ListenWomen in Defense and Security from 2020-06-10T17:28
In this episode, four remarkably accomplished women in the field of national security join to share their experiences and observations on the evolving dynamics surrounding the vital contribution...
ListenThe Robotic Revolution is Upon Us from 2020-05-27T03:26
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with August Cole, coauthor of a new book called Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution. It’s a techn...
ListenIntroducing the Irregular Warfare Podcast from 2020-05-25T03:06
The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a new collaboration between the Modern War Institute at West Point and Princeton University's Empirical Studies of Conflict Project. In this preview of the inaug...
ListenHow the Islamic State Happened from 2020-05-14T03:52
How did ISIS manage to take control of so much territory, imposing its will politically and inflicting an immense amount of damage? How should we make sense of its origins and evolution as an or...
ListenWhat's Going on in North Korea? from 2020-04-29T03:41
What's going on in North Korea? Is Kim Jong-Un alive or dead? We don’t actually know—and that's remarkable. The country is in the midst of a situation that could have serious ramific...
ListenHow Countries Decide to Go to War from 2020-04-16T21:44
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Jake Miraldi speaks to Cornell University associate professor and MWI adjunct scholar Dr. Sarah Kreps about her research on how countries go to ...
ListenNuclear Weapons on a Shifting Strategic Landscape from 2020-04-02T20:53
This episode features a conversation with retired US Air Force Gen. Kehler, former commander of US Strategic Command, which oversees America's strategic nuclear arsenal. He talks about how deter...
ListenWhat Can the US Military Do to Support the COVID-19 Response? from 2020-03-19T02:10
In some states, the National Guard has been called on to play a role in the government's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, and there have also been calls to leverage active-duty force...
ListenSpecial Operations Forces on the Modern Battlefield from 2020-03-05T02:06
Our guest on this episode of the MWI Podcast is Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson. He is currently the commanding general of the Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School....
ListenLet's Talk Multi-Domain Operations from 2020-02-25T02:49
This episode of the Modern War Institute Podcast features a conversation with Lt. Gen. Eric Wesley, deputy commanding general of Army Futures Command and director of the Futures an...
ListenWhy War Doesn't Go Away from 2020-02-17T22:07
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a discussion with Dr. Bear Braumoeller, a political science professor at the Ohio State University and author of a book called Only the Dead...
ListenThe Future of our Army, with Gen. James McConville from 2020-01-22T03:37
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville. He talks new weapons and equipment, bringing the active and reserve compon...
ListenCompetition and Conflict in a Changing World from 2020-01-10T00:24
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a discussion with Mark Mitchell. A career Army officer, he was among the first Special Forces soldiers in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attack...
ListenThe Soldiers' History of America's Post-9/11 Wars from 2019-12-27T11:20
CJ Chivers, award-winning New York Times journalist and best-selling author, joins for this episode to discuss his new book, The Fighters. In it, Chivers seeks to tel...
ListenEp. 92 – Conversation with the SECARMY from 2019-12-12T01:31
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi is joined by Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy. He discusses a series of big-picture questions about the Army in an era...
ListenEp. 91 – Manning a 21st-Century US Army from 2019-11-26T15:36:18
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, John Amble is joined by Dr. Casey Wardynski, the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs. He talks about a range of topics, ...
ListenEp. 90 – What Happens to Our Brains in Combat? from 2019-11-13T23:36:59
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi talks to Dr. Charles Morgan, a forensic psychologist whose work has helped us better understand the nature of stress and psychologi...
ListenEp. 89 – Syria Study Group from 2019-10-30T16:02:26
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Michael Singh, co-chair of the Syria Study Group. The group recently released its final report, and he discusses the report'...
ListenEp. 88 – Intelligence and the Future Battlefield, with Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier from 2019-10-15T15:21:22
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, the Army G-2. The discussion touches on a range of topics, from how the intelligence function is bei...
ListenEp. 86 - What is the Army Doing in Space? from 2019-10-02T17:23:16
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with four guests, all of whom are involved in the Army's space operations enterprise, including the commander of the 1st Space Brigade. Th...
ListenEp. 85 – Inside the Long, Brutal Fight to Recapture Mosul from 2019-09-17T22:43:30
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, MWI's John Amble speaks to James Verini. An award-winning journalists, he spent months reporting from Mosul as Iraqi forces, backed by US troops, fou...
ListenEp. 84 – The Future of Cyber Conflict, with Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty from 2019-09-06T10:02:53
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi is joined by Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, commander of US Army Cyber Command. He explains the nuances of the cyber domain and operatio...
ListenEp. 83 – How Sci-Fi Can Help Us Think about AI and the Future of War from 2019-08-22T18:35:54
In this episode, MWI's John Amble talks to Martha Wells, author of the four-volume science fiction series The Murderbot Diaries. She discusses how the books' central figure—a hybrid bei...
ListenEp. 82 – Creating Warriors, with Matt Larsen from 2019-08-13T01:22:33
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Matt Larsen, known in many corners of the Army as the father of the modern combatives. He explains why he thinks combatives ...
ListenEp. 81 – Autonomous Weapons and the Next War from 2019-07-30T15:00:52
Paul Scharre is the author of Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War. In this episode, he talks about the state of development of artificial intelligence and autonomy, a...
ListenEp. 81 – How the Army is Preparing for the Future Battlefield from 2019-07-11T23:50:17
This episode features a conversation about innovation and the future battlefield and features two guests perfectly suited to discuss those topics. Maj. Gen. John George is the deputy director of...
ListenEp. 80 – The Future of Warfare, with Former Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work from 2019-06-26T21:12:14
In this episode, MWI's John Amble speaks to Robert Work, former deputy secretary of defense. He describes his expectations for the future of conflict, including the role unmanned and autonomous ...
ListenEp. 79 – How Science Can Optimize Cognitive Performance on the Battlefield from 2019-06-12T16:02:12
This episode features a conversation with Dr. Amy Kruse, chief scientific officer at the Platypus Institute. She discusses "Human 2.0," a concept she describes a vision of where humans are heade...
ListenEp. 78 – Space is Getting Crowded from 2019-05-30T22:30:18
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, John Amble talks to Dr. Moriba Jah, an aerospace engineer who has worked for NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory. He is now an associate profe...
ListenEp. 77 – Can Defense Problems be "Hacked"? from 2019-05-15T03:55:09
In this episode, we talk to retired Army Col. Peter Newell about Hacking 4 Defense, a program that leverages the unique qualities of universities and private-sector startups to find solutions fo...
ListenEp. 76 – China's Quest for Enhanced Military Technology from 2019-05-01T02:55:41
In this episode, we speak to Elsa Kania, whose research is at the forefront of efforts to better understand the way China approaches innovation and military technology. From artificial intellige...
ListenEp. 75 – The Army's Iraq War Self-Reflection from 2019-04-17T01:47:07
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi is joined by retired Col. Frank Sobchak, one of the authors of the Army's 1,300-page, two-volume study of the Iraq War. He discusse...
ListenEp. 74 – Talking China with Ali Wyne from 2019-04-02T19:45:53
This episode features a conversation with Ali Wyne, a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation and an MWI non-resident fellow. In the conversation, he addresses important questions, like how we sh...
ListenEp. 73 – Women in National Security from 2019-03-19T23:59:08
In this episode, four remarkably accomplished women in the field of national security join to share their experiences and observations on the evolving dynamics surrounding the vital contribution...
ListenEp. 72 – The Twenty-First-Century General from 2019-03-06T20:48:31
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Dr. Anthony King, author of the book Command: The Twenty-First-Century General. He explains how the way in which mi...
ListenEp. 71 – Building Militaries in Fragile States, with Dr. Mara Karlin from 2019-02-20T20:43:45
Dr. Mara Karlin has served in national security roles under five US secretaries of defense and is the author of the book Building Militaries in Fragile States. She explains how this obj...
ListenEp. 70 – Fighting a "Virtual War" from 2019-02-07T00:10:52
In this episode, retired US Army Col. Steve Banach talks about "virtual war," which he argues is transforming the way conflict plays out. He discusses the hallmarks of the concept, and explains ...
ListenEp. 69 – Armies of Sand? An Assessment of Arab Militaries' Battlefield Performance from 2019-01-23T16:35:37
This episode features a conversation with Ken Pollack, a military analyst and the author of Armies of Sand, a book that grapples with the question of why there are so many cases of Arab...
ListenEp. 68 – Deterrence and Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century, with ret. Gen. Bob Kehler from 2019-01-10T15:00:37
This episode features a conversation with retired US Air Force Gen. Kehler, who finished his military career as commander of US Strategic Command, which oversees America's strategic nuclear arse...
ListenEp. 67 – The World Order Under Threat from 2018-12-28T01:02:10
This episode features a conversation with Dr. Hal Brands, who explains the challenges to the longstanding US-led world order. In a world that looks to most observers like a dynamic and tumultuou...
ListenEp. 66 – How Will Technology Change Future Wars? from 2018-12-14T14:20:40
In this episode, John Amble is joined by retired Maj. Gen. David Fastabend and Mr. Ian Sullivan. Both have been heavily involved with initiatives to conceptualize the future of warfare for the A...
ListenEp. 65 – Dr. Graham Allison: "Are We Destined for War with China?" from 2018-11-28T13:51:32
In this episode, MWI's Capt. Jake Miraldi speaks to Dr. Graham Allison, author of the book "Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?" In this fascinating conversation, D...
ListenEp. 64 – War Goes to the City, with David Kilcullen from 2018-11-14T03:55:36
This is a sneak peek at the newest podcast series we're launching at the Modern War Institute: the Urban Warfare Project podcast. Each episode will seek to better understand the challenges citie...
ListenEp. 63 – Twitter Battles and Facebook Wars, with PW Singer from 2018-10-31T04:50:25
PW Singer, co-author of the new book LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media, joins for this episode of the MWI Podcast. He explains how a convergence of advancements in web-enabled ...
ListenEp. 62 - AI, Robots, and the Future of War from 2018-10-16T01:14:48
In this episode, MWI's John Amble talks to US Air Force Lt. Col. Jen Snow of USSOCOM's SOFWERX and author and futurist Dr. James Canton. From robotics to AI to autonomy and more, the guests expl...
ListenEp. 61 – Iraq and Afghanistan Through the Eyes of the Men and Women That Fought There from 2018-10-03T04:59:38
CJ Chivers, award-winning New York Times journalist and best-selling author, joins for this episode to discuss his new book, The Fighters. In it, Chivers seeks to tell the stor...
ListenEp. 60 – The Brain and the Battlefield from 2018-09-20T22:02:01
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi talks to Dr. Charles Morgan, a forensic psychologist whose work has helped us better understand the nature of stress and psychologi...
ListenEp. 59 – Turning Soldiers into Warriors, with Matt Larsen from 2018-09-05T02:45:47
This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Matt Larsen, known in many corners of the Army as the father of the modern combatives. He explains why he thinks combatives ...
ListenEp. 58 – Syria, Ukraine, and the Danger of Forgetting Counterinsurgency, with Max Boot from 2018-08-23T03:57:23
In this episode of the MWI Podcast we talk to historian and bestselling author Max Boot. He gives his assessment of the current situation in Syria and Ukraine, warns of the dangers of r...
ListenEp. 57 – Better Analysts, Humans or Machines? from 2018-08-07T23:34:52
In the era of big data, the minds of human analysts are no match for the processing power of computers fed with terabytes of data and armed with powerful algorithms. But MWI Non-Resident Fellow ...
ListenEp. 56 – War and the Human Brain, with Dr. James Giordano from 2018-07-24T13:43:11
In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI editorial director John Amble speaks to Dr. James Giordano, the Chief of the Neuroethics Studies Program at Georgetown University and Sch...
ListenEp. 55 – The Future Urban Battlefield, with Dr. Russell Glenn from 2018-07-05T14:20:18
In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI editorial director John Amble speaks to Dr. Russell Glenn, a senior adviser for plans and policy to the deputy chief of staff, G-2, of th...
ListenEp. 54 – Blood, Treasure, and the Decision to Go to War from 2018-06-19T21:54:21
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Jake Miraldi speaks to Cornell University associate professor and MWI adjunct scholar Dr. Sarah Kreps about her research on how countries go to war, ...
ListenEp. 53 – The Middle East, Russia, and Beyond: A Conversation with Ambassador Doug Lute from 2018-06-07T05:49:54
In this episode, MWI's Maj. Jake Miraldi speaks with Ambassador Doug Lute. A retired US Army lieutenant general, Lute held key posts in both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, ...
ListenEp. 52 – Human 2.0, with Dr. Amy Kruse from 2018-05-22T22:00
This episode features a conversation with Dr. Amy Kruse, chief scientific officer at the Platypus Institute. She discusses "Human 2.0," a concept she describes a vision of where humans are heade...
ListenEp. 51 – The Future Autonomous War, with Paul Scharre from 2018-05-08T21:21:57
Paul Scharre is the author of Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War. In this episode, he talks about the state of development of artificial intelligence and autonomy, a...
ListenEp. 50 – Preparing for the Future Operating Environment, with Under Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy from 2018-04-24T18:56:29
This episode features a conversation with Under Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy. He discusses everything from modernization and what that means for soldiers in the operational Army to the re...
ListenEp. 49 – The American Citizens Who Went to Fight Against ISIS from 2018-04-11T23:26:49
In this episode, we talk to Joseph Young and Jason Fritz of American University's School of Public Affairs about a phenomenon they've been studying: private Americans who traveled to the Middle ...
ListenEp. 48 – China and its Quest for Enhanced Military Technology from 2018-03-29T03:41:25
In this episode, we speak to Elsa Kania, whose research is at the forefront of efforts to better understand the way China approaches innovation and military technology. From artificial intellige...
ListenEp. 47 – The Army's Future, with Secretary of the Army Mark Esper from 2018-03-14T03:39:35
Secretary of the Army Mark Esper has an important set of priorities for the Army. In this episode of the MWI Podcast, he discusses those priorities, and explains how his experience as an Army of...
ListenEp. 46 – What is Virtual War? from 2018-02-28T00:29:14
In this episode, retired US Army Col. Steve Banach talks about "virtual war," which he argues is transforming the way conflict plays out. He discusses the hallmarks of the concept, and explains ...
ListenEp. 45 – The Battle for Mosul, with Col. Pat Work from 2018-02-13T20:20:04
Last summer, Iraq's prime minister declared victory in the long battle to retake Mosul from ISIS. The Iraqi security forces who fought there did so with the help of a US brigade commanded by Col...
ListenEp. 44 – Technology and the Future of Warfare from 2018-02-01T05:30:28
In this episode, John Amble is joined by retired Maj. Gen. David Fastabend and Mr. Ian Sullivan. Both have been heavily involved with initiatives to conceptualize the future of warfare for the A...
ListenEp. 43 – Writing on War, with Journalist and Best-selling Author Sean Naylor from 2018-01-17T00:27:53
In this episode of the MWI Podcast, we talk to Sean Naylor, an award-winning journalist and best-selling author of Not a Good Day to Die and Relentless Strike. The conversation...
ListenEp. 42 – Sebastian Junger on Syria, Iraq, and the Rise of ISIS from 2018-01-04T02:35:24
In this episode, MWI's Capt. Jake Miraldi talks to best selling author and award winning filmmaker Sebastian Junger about his newest film, "Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS....
ListenEp. 41 – "Are We Destined for War with China?" – Dr. Graham Allison from 2017-12-20T18:28:39
In this episode, MWI's Capt. Jake Miraldi speaks to Dr. Graham Allison, author of the book "Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?" In this fascinating conversation, D...
ListenEp. 40 – The Future Multi-Domain Battlespace, with Gen. David Perkins from 2017-12-05T21:32:05
In this episode, Gen. David Perkins, commander of US Army Training and Doctrine Command, joins to talk about Multi-Domain Battle, the new concept by which the military will fight its future wars...
ListenEp. 39 – Surveying the Threat Landscape, with Gen. David Petraeus from 2017-11-21T21:31:50
Gen. David Petraeus had a remarkable military career—including commanding the 101st Airborne Division at the beginning of the Iraq War and later commanding all forces in both Iraq and Afghanista...
ListenEp. 38 – All About the F-35 from 2017-11-08T19:41:40
The F-35 is the new fifth-generation fighter jet the US military expects will overcome the many challenges of the battlespace of today and tomorrow. In this episode, two former Air Force pilots,...
ListenEp. 37 – The North Korea Challenge, with Dr. Victor Cha from 2017-10-25T02:26:19
What should we make of the considerable uptick in North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile tests? What are the best tools to bring to bear against the North Korea problem? In this episode, Geo...
ListenEp. 36 – Human Analysis in the Age of the Algorithm, with Dr. Nicholas Krohley from 2017-10-11T02:24:41
In the era of big data, the minds of human analysts are no match for the processing power of computers fed with terabytes of data and armed with powerful algorithms. But MWI Non-Resident Fellow ...
ListenEp. 35 – How Innovation Happens in the Military, with Professor Stephen Rosen from 2017-09-28T01:45:37
How and why did the US Navy shift from battleships to aircraft carriers? What drove the US Army's adoption of helicopter aviation? In this episode, Harvard University's Professor Stephen Rosen t...
ListenEp. 34 – Tactical Economics, with Maj. Jon Bate from 2017-09-13T22:11:48
Money is a powerful weapon in a combat zone. There are risks of deploying it in the form of economic programs, of course. But when used effectively, "tactical economics" can be a powerful tool w...
ListenEp. 33 – Russia, Global Security, and Limited War, with Dr. Jakub Grygiel from 2017-08-29T21:53:35
In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI's Capt. Jake Miraldi speaks to Dr. Jakub Grygiel, the George H.W. Bush Senior Associate Professor of International Relations at the Schoo...
ListenEp. 31 – The Future Urban Battlefield, with Dr. Russell Glenn from 2017-08-15T15:15:14
In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI editorial director John Amble speaks to Dr. Russell Glenn, a senior adviser for plans and policy to the deputy chief of staff, G-2, of th...
ListenEp. 31 – Neuroscience and the Weapons of War, with Dr. James Giordano from 2017-08-02T01:34:26
In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI editorial director John Amble speaks to Dr. James Giordano, the Chief of the Neuroethics Studies Program at Georgetown University and Sch...
ListenEp. 30 – Zombies and Global Security, with Max Brooks from 2017-07-19T02:45:14
In this episode, Capt. Jake Miraldi talks to Max Brooks, bestselling author of "World War Z" and "The Zombie Survival Guide" about how he uses zombies in his books as a stand-in for the kinds of...
ListenEp. 29 – Training to Win, with Col. Jonathan Neumann from 2017-06-28T02:47:14
In this episode, Capt. Jake Miraldi speaks to Col. Jonathan Neumann, the director of West Point's Department of Military Instruction and previously the commander of the 198th Infantry Brigade, r...
ListenEp. 28 – A Firefight on the Edge of Sadr City from 2017-06-20T19:33:21
In 2008, Maj. Emily Spencer was an EOD platoon leader in Iraq. In April, she and one of her teams accompanied a route clearance patrol that was planned to approach Sadr City, a notorious safe ha...
ListenEp. 27 – The Battle of Barg-e Matal from 2017-06-07T02:08:26
This is the first episode in MWI's new podcast, "The Spear," which is aimed at providing a window into the combat experience. In this episode, Capt. Jake Miraldi walks us through the 2009 Battle...
ListenEp. 26 - Capt. Natalie Mallue on Her Ranger School Experience from 2017-05-24T04:03:36
In this episode, Capt. Natalie Mallue describes her experience as one of only seven women to have complete the US Army's grueling Ranger School. She discusses her preparation, what it means to b...
ListenEp. 25 - Opening Shock: Four Combat Jump Veterans Tell Their Stories from 2017-05-10T04:01:49
In this episode, a joint production with the West Point Center for Oral History, four combat jump veterans talk about their experiences jumping onto the battlefield from above.
ListenEp. 24 - Physical Fitness and National Security with Lt. Gen. (Ret) Mark Hertling from 2017-04-26T12:17:48
In this episode, we talk to Lt. Gen. (Ret) Mark Hertling about the risk to military readiness and national security posed by declining American physical fitness.
ListenEp. 23 - Robots, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of War from 2017-04-11T05:01:08
In this episode, we speak with US Air Force Maj. Jen Snow of USSOCOM's SOFWERX and author and futurist Dr. James Canton. From robotics to AI to autonomy and more, the guests explore what war is ...
ListenEp. 22 - On Writing and War from 2017-03-01T01:58:39
In this episode, four writers discuss the ways that writing can help clarify our thinking about war—past, present, and future—and process firsthand experiences at war.
ListenEp. 21 – "Tunnel Warfare, Robots, and the Future Battlefield" with IDF Brig. Gen. Nechemya Sokal from 2017-02-14T21:30:32
Brig. Gen. Nechemya Sokal, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces’ Technology and Logistics Branch, discusses battlefield challenges the IDF has confronted, the solutions put in place, and ...
ListenEp. 20 - "Championing Creativity" with Max Brooks from 2017-01-25T20:23:33
Max Brooks talks about how creativity can only succeed if someone takes up and works for new ideas. From Army doctrine to weapons development to organizational management, championing creativity...
ListenEp. 19 - "Leadership on Your Worst Day" with MoH Recipient SSG Sal Giunta from 2017-01-11T02:29:04
Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. (Ret) Sal Giunta discusses his actions in the Korengal Valley in 2007, how he managed keep calm under duress, and what he was fighting for.
ListenEp. 18 - "The Autonomous Battlefield" with August Cole from 2016-12-22T23:14:39
We talk with August Cole about how autonomous systems will shape the future battlefield and how they are beginning to appear today. Where on the battlefield will autonomous systems be used and w...
ListenEp. 17 - "Catching Saddam Hussein" with Eric Maddox from 2016-12-07T23:44:40
MWI talks to Eric Maddox, former US Army interrogator, about how he developed a new way to conduct interrogations. His interrogations eventually led to information about the whereabouts of Sadda...
ListenEp. 16 - "Achieving Tactical Overmatch" with MG (R) Robert Scales from 2016-11-18T02:47:44
MWI talks with "Scales on War" author and former Army War College Commandant MG (R) Robert Scales. We discuss how the role of the infantry has changes and how we might increase the lethality and...
ListenEp. 15 - "Intelligence Operations on the Modern Battlefield" with GEN (R) Michael Hayden from 2016-11-02T12:42:41
MWI talks to GEN (R) Michael Hayden, former NSA and CIA director, about the changes in the way we collect and use intelligence and how that will influence the modern battlefield.
ListenEp. 14 - "Assessing Emerging Trends" with COL Michael Loos from 2016-10-26T11:47:39
The MWI podcast sits down with COL Michael Loos, commander of the Army Asymmetric Warfare Group, to discuss how they work to support the operational force through observation and analysis of eme...
ListenEp. 13 - "The American Soldier Experience" with Sebastian Junger from 2016-10-04T15:43:21
The Modern War Institute talks Sebastian Junger's new book "Tribe" and about his on the ground experience in Afghanistan. Hosted by Cadet Mitchell Magill.
ListenEp. 12 - "The Modern Nature of Casualties" with Dr. Tanisha Fazal from 2016-09-27T11:12:56
Dr. Tanisha Fazal, an associate professor of Political Science and Peace Studies at Notre Dame, discusses the changing nature of the kill-to-wounded ratio in war and how casualties in modern war...
ListenEp. 11 - "Tactical Economics" with MAJ Jon Bate from 2016-08-31T15:37:09
MAJ Jon Bate discusses his recently published paper on how tactical economics influence decision-making and the modern battlefield. We talk both macro and micro-economic considerations and how t...
Listen"West Point and the War in Iraq" with LTG Robert L. Caslen Jr. from 2016-08-10T00:57:12
The Modern War Institute has an exclusive discussion with LTG Robert L. Caslen Jr., 59th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy about his recent trip to Iraq and what it means for ...
ListenEp. 9 - "What Makes Violent Actors Tick?" with Dr. Benedetta Berti from 2016-08-04T20:04:59
MWI sits down with Dr. Benedetta Berti, researcher, author, and TED speaker to discuss the rise of violent non-state actors and how security professionals should understand them.
ListenEp. 8 - "War in the Greater Middle East" with Dr. Andrew Bacevich from 2016-07-14T12:57:36
We talk to Dr. Andrew Bacevich about his new book "America's War for the Greater Middle East" and how security professionals and leaders can prepare for the complexities of current and future w...
ListenEp. 7 - "War and Recovery with the Most Wounded Commander in the Army" with MAJ DJ Skelton from 2016-05-27T13:46:49
We sit down with MAJ DJ Skelton, USMA class of 2003, to talk about his experiences in Iraq, Afghanistan, and as a wounded warrior.
ListenEp. 6 - "The Story of Wanat" with SSG Ryan Pitts from 2016-04-22T10:31
We talk with SSG Ryan Pitts, Medal of Honor recipient, about 2008's Battle of Wanat. His unit experienced a large scale, determined attack in the mountains of Afghanistan which resulting in nine...
ListenEp. 5 - "Zombies and Global Security" with Max Brooks from 2016-04-06T03:11:55
We talk to Max Brooks, writer of the Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z, and Harlem Hellfighters, about how a zombie plague can help us understand current and future security issues.
ListenEp. 4 - "The Evolving US Template to Global Security" with Eric Schmitt from 2016-03-24T03:23:52
The United States currently has a limited appetite for large scale deployment of conventional forces, but the security situation around the world is tenuous. Today, the United States has avoided...
ListenEp. 3 - "The Once and Future Mission" with Michael O'Hanlon from 2016-03-15T00:19:52
We talk to Michael O'Hanlon from the Brookings Institution about the current state of the Army, what the future of the Army holds, and how juniors leaders and security professionals can prepare....
ListenEp. 2 - "A Look at Urban Warfare in the Syrian City of Aleppo" with Dr. Rodger Shanahan from 2016-03-01T18:36:28
This week on the podcast we talk to Dr. Rodger Shanahan, a Research Fellow at the Lowy Institute.
Using Aleppo as a case study we talk about tactical action leading up to the fighting in ...
ListenEp. 1 - "Are We Headed for Limited War" with Dr. Jakub Grygiel from 2016-02-23T13:32:11
For our first podcast we are talking to Dr. Jakub Grygiel of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. We talk limited war and how it influences the tactical, ope...
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