SSI Live Podcast

SRAD | June 12, 2026

SSI Live 125 – Europe’s Role in a Taiwan Crisis

In this episode of SSI Live, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Dr. John Deni on his ongoing research concerning Europe’s potential involvement in a war in the Pacific. The conversation explores the challenges of coalition management and the unique

SRAD | May 4, 2026

SSI Live 124 – The Selective Service System

In this episode of SSI Live, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Dr. Michael Lynch on his involvement with the Selective Service System. The conversation explores the history of the military draft and the contemporary challenges of implementing a

SRAD | April 1, 2026

SSI Live 123 – Obama and the Bomb

In this episode of SSI Live, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Dr. Frank Jones, a distinguished fellow of the US Army War College, on his recently published book Obama and the Bomb: New START, Russia, and the Politics of post-Cold War Arms Control.

SRAD | March 5, 2026

SSI Live 122 – On Iran

In this episode of SSI Live, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Dr. Jacob Stoil, a research professor of Middle East Security Studies at the Strategic Studies Institute, regarding the ongoing operations against Iran. The conversation explores the

SRAD | March 2, 2026

SSI Live 121 – The National Defense Strategy

In this episode of SSI Live, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Army Strategists Colonel Michael Long and Lieutenant Colonel Loris Lepri to get their take on the recently released National Defense Strategy. The conversation explores the importance of

SRAD | Feb. 12, 2026

SSI Live 120 – NATO’s Defense Education Enhancement Program [DEEP]

In this episode of SSI Live, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Dr. Richard Lacquement on his involvement in NATO’s Defense Education Enhancement Program as the Academic Lead for Morocco. The conversation explores how the US Army War College built its

SRAD | Jan. 30, 2026

SSI Live 119 – On Venezuela

This episode discusses Latin American reactions to the recent US operation in Venezuela, noting that some governments expressed criticism but with notable restraint due to domestic political and economic considerations. Dr. R. Evan Ellis explains

SRAD | Nov. 13, 2025

SSI Live 118 – The China Strategic Competition Seminar

In this episode of SSI Live, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Colonel Kyle Marcrum and Lieutenant Colonel Paul Milas on the SSI-developed China Strategic Competition Seminar. The conversation explores the origin and relevance of the seminar,

SRAD | Sept. 30, 2025

SSI Live 117 – China-Russia Relations and the Central Asian States

In this episode of SSI Live, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Dr. Brian Carlson, a research professor of Indo-Pacific security studies for the China Landpower Studies Center, on Central Asia. The conversation highlights two drastically different

SRAD | Aug. 4, 2025

SSI Live 116 – Exterminating ISIS: A Memoir on Technology and Warfare

From January to August 2016, Army strategist and SSI National Security Researcher Major Brennan Deveraux served in Iraq in a strike cell as the theater-level rocket artillery liaison for Operation Inherent Resolve, firing over 500 rockets that killed

SRAD | July 30, 2025

SSI Live 115 – Argentina Under Milei: Success, Failure, or Something in ...

A year and a half ago, Javier Milei shocked Latin America by winning a landslide election in Argentina. His libertarian approach and dogmatic style worried many as he assumed the presidency starting in December 2023 – so how have things turned out so

SRAD | Dec. 2, 2024

SSI Live 114 – The Role of European Allies in the Ukraine War

America’s European allies have played a critical role in providing military assistance to Ukraine. Can Europeans maintain that effort or even increase it if the United States reduces its role? What lessons can the United States learn from the role of

SRAD | Sept. 6, 2024

SSI Live 113 – Dr. Ron Gurantz on Satellites in the Russia-Ukraine War

Satellites and anti-satellite capabilities have come to play a major role in modern warfare and strategic competition. How are they being used today in the context of the Russia-Ukraine War? What role are government-owned systems and commercial

SRAD | Aug. 21, 2024

SSI Live 112 – Homeland Defense in the Indo-Pacific

Reconceptualizing Homeland Defense in the Indo-Pacific – Homeland defense does not begin at the water’s edge, at least not on the east and west coasts of the United States. How do we think about, plan for, and operationalize defense of far-flung

SRAD | May 13, 2024

SSI Live 111 – Dr. Evan Ellis on the Central Role of Paraguay in South A...

Paraguay as a Linchpin Both Literally and Figuratively – Paraguay sits at the crossroads of both illicit and licit activities in South America, with implications stretching from arms trafficking to the drug trade to Hezbollah's fundraising to

SRAD | April 25, 2024

SSI Live 110 – Proxy War Ethics: The Norms of Partnering in Great Power ...

Given the unfolding wars in Ukraine and Gaza – both of which have seen proxy activity or something that looks a lot like proxy activity – what kind of ethical concerns should policymakers focus on? Have proxy wars become more common over time, and

SRAD | March 28, 2024

SSI Live 109 – Putin’s Reelection, Russia’s Trajectory, and the War in U...

SSI Live 109 – Vladimir Putin was recently reelected to an unprecedented fifth term. He faced no serious challenges, thanks to a strict crackdown on opposition and free speech. Relatedly, last month marked two years since Russia began its second and

SRAD | Feb. 15, 2024

SSI Live 108 – Latin America and Caribbean Outlook for 2024

SSI Live 108 – Latin America and Caribbean Outlook for 2024 – What is the outlook for security, defense, politics, and economics across Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024? How do far-away conflicts in Ukraine or Gaza impact the region? And

SRAD | Jan. 31, 2024

SSI Live 107 – SSI Launches China Landpower Studies Center

The Strategic Studies Institute has just launched a new initiative, the China Landpower Studies Center (CLSC). SSI Live host John Deni invited its Research Director, Josh Arostegui, to discuss the new Center, its research priorities, and how China’s

SRAD | Jan. 10, 2024

SSI Live 106 – Dr. Chris Mason on the Study of Internal Conflict

Clear, Hold, [and don’t] Build? The Study of Internal Conflict – Although strategic competition has placed China and Russia at the center of American security policy, internal conflicts in places like Iraq, Kosovo, Syria, and Yemen continue to demand

SRAD | Dec. 14, 2023

SSI Live 105 – The Dragon and the Bear in Africa

Much is made of the ‘axis of authoritarianism’ emerging between Moscow and Beijing, and it’s clear the PRC is playing an important if only implicit role in supporting Russia’s war on Ukraine. But how do these two strategic actors collaborate in other

SRAD | Dec. 5, 2023

SSI Live 104 – Implications of Milei’s Election in Argentina –

Libertarian Javier Milei recently won a landslide victory in Argentina’s presidential election on a platform of radical reform designed to solve the country’s major economic challenges. How did Milei pull it off? What came out of his post-election

SRAD | Nov. 20, 2023

SSI Live 103 – Terrestrial Responses to Space Aggression

Terrestrial Responses to Space Aggression – Russia and China have both tested ground-based anti-satellite missiles as well as on-orbit anti-satellite weapons. The latter include projectiles launched from one satellite to another and satellites that

SRAD | Oct. 30, 2023

SSI Live 102 – Ellis on Elections in Argentina Ecuador Venezuela

Implications of Elections in Argentina, Ecuador, and Venezuela – It’s election season in South America, and the outcomes in three key countries have somewhat surprised observers. The implications for Argentina’s flailing economy, the narcotics-fueled

SRAD | June 15, 2023

SSI Live 101 – What’s the Real State of the Russia-China Relationship

What’s the Real State of the Russia-China Relationship? – The debate over the nature of the Russia-China relationship remains unsettled. One side believes the two are strategic partners, while the other believes their ties are merely an “axis of

SRAD | May 26, 2023

SSI Live 100 – Panama’s Evolving Relationship with China

Dr. Evan Ellis is a relatively small country but one of pivotal strategic importance in our hemisphere, especially given the role of the Panama canal and the related financial services industry. Dr. Evan Ellis had the opportunity to travel there

SRAD | April 11, 2023

SSI Live 99 – AI in Today’s (and Tomorrow’s) Military

AI in Today’s (and Tomorrow’s) Military – What are the implications of the U.S. military incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into what it does during peacetime, in conflict, and everything in between? How does trust figure into the use of AI,

SRAD | March 17, 2023

SSI Live 98 – One Year On: Russia’s War on Ukraine

With the Russian war in Ukraine having just reached its one-year mark, how can we assess outlook for Ukraine? Is there reason for Kyiv – or Moscow – to be optimistic, given the current trajectory? And what can we make of potential Chinese

SRAD | March 9, 2023

SSI Live 97 – One Year On: Russia’s War on Ukraine and the Role of the EU

One Year On: Russia’s War on Ukraine and the Role of the EU – With the Russian war in Ukraine having just reached its one-year mark, how can we assess the role of the European Union (EU)? Have its diplomatic, political, economic, and military

SRAD | March 8, 2023

SSI Live 96 – One Year On: Russia’s War on Ukraine and the Role of Latin...

With the Russian war in Ukraine having just reached its one-year mark, it’s clear that economic sanctions against Russia as well as the provision of military equipment and other materiel have formed the centerpieces of the Western response to

SRAD | Oct. 5, 2022

SSI Live 95 – Putin Mobilizes as Ukraine Advances

Ukraine’s recent battlefield successes, Putin’s partial mobilization, Moscow’s annexation announcement, and the Kremlin’s nuclear saber rattling all add up to a shifting outlook for Russia’s war of aggression. What do these events tell us about

SRAD | Sept. 3, 2022

SSI Live 94 – Gorbachev’s Passing and Legacy

Earlier this week, the last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, passed. To discuss his leadership of the Soviet Union’s last years and his legacy today, SSI’s own Dr. Bob Hamilton, former SSI research professor Dr. Steve Blank, and former

SRAD | Sept. 2, 2022

SSI Live 93 – The Grand Strategy of Gertrude Bell and Implications for U...

British strategist and diplomat Gertrude Bell shaped the modern Middle East and played a leading role in crafting London’s policies at a time of shifting great power dynamics. In this podcast, Dr. Heather Gregg discusses her monograph on Bell’s life

SRAD | July 29, 2022

SSI Live 92 – China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: Chinese Investm...

SSI Live 092 – China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: Chinese Investment in European Infrastructure – This is the fifth podcast in a short series to launch a recently published multi-author study on China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession:

SRAD | June 9, 2022

SSI Live 91 – China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: Europe’s Evolvi...

This is the fourth podcast in a short series to launch a recently published multi-author study on China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: Beijing’s Investments and Transatlantic Security. In this podcast, Dr. John R. Deni discusses Europe’s

SRAD | June 2, 2022

SSI Live 90 – China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: Europe’s Evolvi...

SSI Live 090 – China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: Europe’s Evolving Attitude Toward China – This is the third podcast in a short series to launch a recently published multi-author study on China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: Beijing’s

SRAD | May 25, 2022

SSI Live 89 – China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: China’s Strateg...

This is the second podcast in a short series to launch a recently published multi-author study on China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: Beijing’s Investments and Transatlantic Security. In this podcast, contributing author Dr. Roger Cliff joins

SRAD | May 19, 2022

SSI Live 88 – China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: COVID-19’s Econ...

This is the first podcast in a short series to launch a recently published multi-author study on China, Europe, and the Pandemic Recession: Beijing’s Investments and Transatlantic Security. In this podcast, contributing author Dr. Mark Duckenfield

SRAD | Jan. 24, 2022

SSI Live 87 – China, Taiwan, and the Outlook for 2022

Tensions between China and Taiwan increased dramatically through most of 2021, yet a somewhat calmer, steady state situation has prevailed in recent weeks. What explains this? What role does the 2022 Party Congress in China play, and how might

SRAD | Jan. 10, 2022

SSI Live 86 – Negotiating with Russia Over Ukraine

Negotiations between Russia and the United States, NATO, and the OSCE regarding the situation in/around Ukraine begin this week. How should the West approach those negotiations? SSI Live host Dr. John R. Deni argues the West should strike a hard

SRAD | Jan. 7, 2022

SSI Live 85 – Latin America’s Shift Left

Recent elections in Honduras and Chile appear to indicate that left-leaning parties are on the rise across Latin America. Is this the case, and if so, what are the strategic implications for U.S. security? Dr. Evan Ellis, SSI’s Latin America expert,

SRAD | Sept. 8, 2021

SSI Live 84 – Can the West get Counterinsurgency Right?

The fall of Afghanistan raises serious questions about whether the United States and the West more broadly are able to successfully implement what military practitioners call Foreign Internal Defense, or supporting a friendly foreign government under

SRAD | Sept. 7, 2021

SSI Live 83 – Explaining Afghanistan’s Downfall

How did Afghanistan fall to the Taliban after 20 years of effort by the United States and its allies? SSI Live host Dr. John R. Deni invited his SSI colleagues Dr. Chris Mason to address the end of America’s longest war and to help shed light on the

SRAD | Sept. 21, 2020

SSI Live 82 – Striking the Balance: US Army Force Posture in Europe, 2028

Within the context of Europe, the US Army must develop a force posture that best navigates the tensions between deterring or defeating armed conflict at an acceptable cost, successfully competing below armed conflict, and maintaining global

SRAD | July 24, 2020

SSI Live 81 – Addressing Hypercompetition in the Indo-Pacific Theater

Given the multifaceted great power competition underway in the Indo-Pacific theater, how can the United States military best position itself? What role can and should the Army play in facilitating a joint approach? After a two-year hiatus, SSI Live

SRAD | July 31, 2018

SSI Live 80 – Is a Reset with Russia in the Offing?

The Helsinki summit meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin may be the first step in a rapprochement between the United States and Russia. If so, what are the strategic and policy implications in Europe, with specific regard to the security of

SRAD | June 7, 2018

SSI Live 79 – Avoiding the Trap in U.S.-China Relations

Getting the Indo-Asia-Pacific and relations with China right is the key to a peaceful and prosperous 21st Century. The challenge for the U.S. administration, and for policy experts writ large, is to build an effective strategy for a

SRAD | Jan. 26, 2018

SSI Live 78 – The New National Defense Strategy

The Helsinki summit meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin may be the first step in a rapprochement between the United States and Russia. If so, what are the strategic and policy implications in Europe, with specific regard to the security of

SRAD | Jan. 8, 2018

SSI Live 77 – Multi-Domain Battle and the Pacific Theater

In gross or raw potential, the United States remains the world’s leading global military power. At present though, American power is either dormant in or ill-adapted to many if not most of the world’s most important competitive spaces. American

SRAD | Oct. 17, 2017

SSI Live 76 – Decertification of the Iranian Nuclear Deal

On 13 October, President Trump announced his intention not to certify Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and threatening to leave the nuclear deal altogether if it was not amended in various ways. Why did the

SRAD | Sept. 15, 2017

SSI Live 75 – Rotational Deployments vs. Forward Stationing – Deni

Continuing security challenges in Eastern Europe, as well as saber-rattling on the Korean Peninsula, have raised questions once again about the capabilities, posture, and positioning of U.S. overseas forces. In this podcast, SSI Live host Dr. John R.

SRAD | Aug. 25, 2017

SSI Live 74 – The Trump Administration’s New Afghanistan Strategy

On 21 August, President Trump announced a new strategy toward the conflict in Afghanistan, America’s longest war. What’s new about the strategy? Does a renewed focus on Pakistan, and the role it plays in Afghanistan, have any chance of succeeding?

SRAD | July 11, 2017

SSI Live 73 – At Our Own Peril: DoD & Risk Assessment

How does DoD go about defining, identifying, and mitigating risk? Are DoD risk assessment practices and procedures effective and useful to the Department and other stakeholders? SSI Research Professor Nate Freier joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss

SRAD | July 5, 2017

SSI Live 72 – Great Power War: Growing BCTs and an Expanded Army

Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of the number of Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs)? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of expanding the number of maneuver units? What

SRAD | June 21, 2017

SSI Live Ep 71 – Great Power War: Organization, Materiel, and an Expande...

Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of its organization and materiel? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of expanding its organization and ensuring sufficient materiel?

SRAD | June 12, 2017

SSI Live 70 – Great Power War: Personnel and an Expanded Army – Echevarr...

Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of personnel? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of expanding its personnel pool? What steps should the Army consider to overcome

SRAD | June 8, 2017

SSI Live 69 – Great Power War: Military Intelligence and an Expanded Arm...

Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of military intelligence? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of expanding its intelligence capability and capacity? What steps should

SRAD | June 5, 2017

SSI Live 68 – Great Power War: Force Generation Installations and an Exp...

Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of its force generation installations? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of using its Mobilization Force Generation Installations

SRAD | June 1, 2017

SSI Live 67 – Great Power War: Special Operations Forces and an Expanded...

Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of expanding its Special Operations Forces? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of increasing Special Operations Forces? What steps

SRAD | May 26, 2017

SSI Live 66 – Great Power War: Maintaining and Sustaining an Expanded Ar...

Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of expanding its Special Operations Forces? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of increasing Special Operations Forces? What steps

SRAD | May 23, 2017

SSI Live 65 – The NATO Summit and German Burden-Sharing – Dr. John R. Deni

On 24-25 May, NATO heads of state and government will meet in Brussels. This will be President Trump’s first NATO summit, and although the meetings will lack the scope and number of initiatives and other deliverables many have come to expect from a