Best Nationaldefense Podcasts (2025)

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Ep: 160: Rapid Space Commerce 41:53

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2M ago41:53

41:53

What is the role of government when it comes to enabling and protecting the business of space? How do regulations keep up (or not) with innovation? To what degree is Space Situational Awareness (SSA) inherently a government function like highway or maritime safety, and which agency should take responsibility? In this episode we talk to former Direc…

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Ep. 159: Rapid Commercial 40:24

3M ago40:24

40:24

Commercial space is a growing industry, and the U.S. government is looking for ways to build capabilities, support private industry, and increase competition. Organizations like Satellite Industry Association (SIA) and Commercial Space Federation (CSF) are working to ensure their members have a voice when it comes to government policy making and st…

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Ep. 158: Rapid Acquisition for Defense 42:17

5M ago42:17

42:17

What needs to happen to improve government acquisition processes so we can go faster to defend and protect our nation and our allies? There are “pockets of innovation” that could be scaled, but how is that balanced with risk? Join CSPS senior policy analyst Andrew Berglund as he talks to former Assistant Secretary of Defense and former staffer on t…

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Ep. 157: Rapid Propulsion & Power 36:25

6M ago36:25

36:25

Nuclear power and propulsion for space has a long history yet there continue to be hurdles from lack of mission to perceived safety concerns. That could be changing as humans stretch to travel further in space and live on celestial bodies like the Moon and Mars. Should NPP be government or commercial? Is the right pursuit for Deep Space nuclear ele…

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Ep. 156: How Stuff Works: Rapid Launch 50:59

7M ago50:59

50:59

Rocket launches are exciting business, but there’s a LOT that goes on behind the scenes and before the rocket is rolled out to the pad. Learn more from this ‘How Stuff Works’ episode! From encapsulation to assembly and integration, launch processing typically takes two years, but the U.S. government is finding ways to meet the demand for increased …

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Ep. 155: Rapid Open-Source Intel 42:43

7M ago42:43

42:43

Open-source intelligence has historically been used to augment government intelligence about our adversaries. Government is relying more heavily on commercial data but how does that lend to resiliency, transparency, and deterrence? How should commercial data become more integrated and more trusted? What role does AI/ML have in the future of warfare…

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Ep. 154: Space Science Unfurled 52:56

9M ago52:56

52:56

The participation of private industry in science and exploration missions that are sponsored by government has increased while still asking and answering some of humanity’s hardest questions – and lower costs, build domestic industry, prove technology, and maintain leadership. What could government do differently to continue fostering private space…

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Ep. 153: How Stuff Works: Resilient Skies 45:42

10M ago45:42

45:42

How can we balance the growing number of satellites on orbit, and the services they provide, with the importance of astronomical science and protecting Dark and Quiet Skies? Reflected light and spectrum interference from satellites have become more problematic for astronomers and Star Gazers alike, but there are mitigation techniques being develope…

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Ep. 152: Resilient Global Space Futures 36:23

11M ago36:23

36:23

The World Economic Forum has set up the 1st Centre for Futures focused on space, and hosted by the Saudi Space Agency, to foster innovation and economic growth across the enterprise. Which areas does the global Centre see as most critical to space delivering its promising economic value? What is the role of policy and regulation on a global scale i…

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Ep. 151: Deep Dive: Sustaining Contested Space 1:06:11

11M ago1:06:11

1:06:11

In any future conflict, space will be involved – from jamming to cyber-attacks or worse. The orbital environment may not be able to withstand more debris from explosions or derelict objects orbiting uncontrolled. How can we engage remediation with new technologies, mitigation through better designs, and regulating with flexibility to ensure growth …

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Ep. 150: Deep Dive: Advancing Science & Exploration 44:27

12M ago44:27

44:27

The promise of return from investments in low Earth orbit (LEO) and cislunar, including the lunar surface, is the reason humans continue scientific and exploratory endeavors in space. But what are those returns, and how could they benefit humanity and economic activity? The relationship between stakeholders can be viewed through the lens of coopera…

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Ep. 149: Deep Dive: Measuring the Space Economy 41:16

1y ago41:16

41:16

Experts claim the space economy will grow by many millions of dollars in the next decade, but why are predictions so different, how do some double count, and what are the potential biases? If government is to protect its investments into commercial services and hardware, what are the questions around consolidation, export control, and rationality? …

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Ep. 148: Deep Dive: Securing the Supply Chain 59:34

1y ago59:34

59:34

Recent geopolitical and natural events have highlighted the interconnectedness of the US supply chain for technology sectors, including space. The increasing use of proliferated low Earth orbit (PLEO) satellites offers a unique lens through which to understand the changing needs of the space supply chain – needing more satellites, more often in a q…

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Special Episode: Defense Innovation w/ former acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller 45:46

1y ago45:46

45:46

Former Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller joined ACME General Corp live from our New York office to talk about innovation and transformation in national defense. A former Army Special Forces colonel, Chris also previously served as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and L…

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Ep. 147: Deep Dive: Advancing Commercial Space 1:00:14

1y ago1:00:14

1:00:14

A successful commercial space sector will depend on a modern regulatory environment that can “keep up” with innovative technology and geopolitical reality. The US space regulatory regime has evolved, but what’s been so hard about finding the right mix? When it comes to US leadership in commercial space, how can insight into the Great Power Competit…

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Ep. 146: Deep Dive: Advancing National Strategy 48:33

1y ago48:33

48:33

Over the past four years the world has witnessed significant change – from covid to conflict. The next US administration will need to make some big muscle movements in order to be both responsive and proactive in the years ahead. Strategic foresight is one way to frame that out, and ask the right questions on where our attention needs to be. In thi…

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Ep. 145: Real Talk on Sustained Space from IAC 48:26

1y ago48:26

48:26

Space as a domain crosses all geopolitical borders which is why solutions from space to Earth must be international and sustainable over the long-term. “Responsible Space” was the theme of this year’s International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in Milan, Italy. The Space Policy Show’s Colleen Stover, Center for Space Policy & Strategy, went on-…

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Ep. 144: Partnering for Safe, Secure, Sustainable 40:36

1y ago40:36

40:36

The importance of space safety spans the lifetime of an entire effort – from design and launch to operations and demise. The International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) brings together experts from across the world to explore technical and governance solutions to better maintain and sustain space activities on Earth, in or…

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Ep. 143: Responsible Space Is International 34:13

1y ago34:13

34:13

How does space sustainability drive research in policy and strategy from both sides of the Atlantic? What are the trades between the good space brings to all of humanity and how do we protect that for future generations? How will success be measured and what are the upcoming key decision points? On location at the 75th annual International Astronau…

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Ep. 142: The Resilience Dilemma 37:17

1+ y ago37:17

37:17

The weaponization of space can be worrisome. What is a space weapon and how could the “security dilemma” lead to an arms race in space? For the space environment to be resilient it must be protected, what are the alternatives to weaponization? In this episode, Jennifer Cannon from Aerospace Corporation’s Government Relations, explores these questio…

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Ep. 141: Regional Resilience – Japan’s Space Security 48:23

1+ y ago48:23

48:23

Japan is situated in the Asia Pacific Region (APAC), considered “a rough neighborhood” when it comes to national defense and security. Recent developments have meant Japan is moving from a strategic posture to a more operational one, and the partnerships with the U.S. and others in space will be key to regional and global security. To talk about th…

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Ep. 140: Resilient Alliances - Space Partner Down Under 41:26

1+ y ago41:26

41:26

How can Australian space efforts integrate and compliment US efforts in both the defense and commercial sectors? What makes the geographic perspective from Australia unique when it comes to deterrence and China? What are some barriers to building a more robust Australian space sector? In this episode Dr Mick Gleason, Senior Policy Analyst, Center f…

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Ep. 139: Resilient Rocketry w/ Tory Bruno, CEO of United Launch Alliance 35:42

1+ y ago35:42

35:42

How can developments in rocket capabilities and in the way we launch reinforce resiliency and national security? For a future cislunar economy what will be the key drivers from a business standpoint? If we can maneuver space assets more responsively, how does that benefit deterrence and space sustainability? In this episode Aerospace’s Randy Kendal…

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Autonomous Weapons and Artificial Intelligence w/ Paul Scharre 46:40

1+ y ago46:40

46:40

Paul Scharre, Executive Vice President and Director of Studies at Center for a New American Security, joins ACME General Corp to talk about his recent trip to Ukraine and his observations of and predictions for autonomous weapons and artificial intelligence. In addition to his work at CNAS, Paul is the award-winning author of Army of None: Autonomo…

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Ep.138: 3-2-1 Launch to Safety 49:00

1+ y ago49:00

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As launches to space become more frequent and private spaceports are planned across the globe, how do launchers and regulators work to ensure both range safety and public safety? What are competing authorizing bodies in vastly different environments like US government-owned complexes versus Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch range in Mahia New Zea…

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Ep.137: The In-Space Rescue Gap 36:24

1+ y ago36:24

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The need for in-space rescue of astronauts and other space participants may not be far off. What do current space laws say, and not say, about space rescue? What are analogies in other domains? What technological challenges exist, and what could be done in the meantime? In this episode, Colleen Stover from The Center for Space Policy & Strategy cha…

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Ep. 136: Europe Eyes Sustainable Space 37:40

1+ y ago37:40

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Space debris is a growing problem, so what are space actors doing about it? Active Debris Removal is a technology currently being demonstrated and strengthened. The Zero Debris Charter from the European Space Agency is a voluntary, community-led initiative that aims to reduce the conditions that lead to more debris. In this episode, space debris ex…

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Ep. 135: Science and Cooperation Against Debris 33:46

1+ y ago33:46

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Safety and sustainability go hand in hand when it comes to protecting the orbital environment for continued use. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has been informing policymakers and regulators, and performing technical research in this area for the past three decades. In this episode Colleen Stover (Aerospace) talks to An…

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Ep. 134: What Is Space Safety? 32:01

1+ y ago32:01

32:01

Space safety might start and finish with human safety, but how does safety run across the entire value chain – from launch to operations to reentry? How do norms of behavior, or technology advancements and economic prosperity play into maintaining the orbital environment? How is The Aerospace Corporation’s Space Safety Institute responding to these…

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Ep. 133: How Stuff Works: Space Weather, Satellites & Humans 38:54

2y ago38:54

38:54

What’s the science behind how space weather affects our satellites and the services they provide? What design and operations options protect satellites and humans in space? Can we really predict space weather and the next “solar maximum”? To find answers to these questions and more, Aerospace's Colleen Stover chats with space weather experts Juha-P…

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Investing in Veterans w/ Craig Cummings 37:55

2y ago37:55

37:55

Craig Cummings, co-founder of Moonshots Capital, joins ACME General Corp to talk about investing in tech start-ups founded by military veteran entrepreneurs. In addition to his work at Moonshots Capital, Craig is the Director of Military and Veteran Affairs for Capital Factory, Austin’s center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas. Previously, Crai…

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Air Force Futures w/ Lt. Gen. Clint Hinote 44:38

2y ago44:38

44:38

Lt. Gen. Clint Hinote, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures, joins ACME General Corp to talk about representing the voice of tomorrow’s Airmen. He most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration, and Requirements at Air Force Futures, where he focused on integrated future force design and speaking on behalf of…

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Ep. 132: Sustained Maneuver for Defending in Space 32:49

2y ago32:49

32:49

What does the concept of dynamic space operations (DSO) mean and how might it impact the future of space operations and the way wars are fought? What are the mutual benefits of this type of sustained maneuver for other domains and for other sectors? What needs to be done to make DSO a reality technologically, politically, and operationally? In this…

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Disruptive Change w/ Joseph Kopser 28:21

2y ago28:21

28:21

Joseph Kopser, technology entrepreneur and president of consulting firm Grayline Group, joins ACME General Corp. to talk about disruptive change, technology innovation, and the national security implications of adapting to that innovation. Joseph is a US Army combat veteran with 20 years of service who went on to co-found a company that later sold …

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Ep. 131: Servicing for Endurance 36:05

2y ago36:05

36:05

Which commercial ISAM technologies offer military utility? How do these change the arena of contested space and deterrence? How will the future of Space Access, Mobility & Logistics (SAML) for national defense play into USSF’s competitive endurance framework? Learn more in this episode with Aerospace Corporation's Margaux Hoar as she talks to Colon…

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Ep. 130: The Geo-economics of ISAM 32:06

2y ago32:06

32:06

According to the Outer Space Treaty, authorization or certification for launch is the responsibility of each launching nation, as well as continuing supervision in space. What are the competing national and international frameworks for this? How do standards and interoperability play into these policies specifically for in-space servicing, assembly…

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Ep.129: US National Strategies for ISAM 35:03

2y ago35:03

35:03

US leadership off-world is not guaranteed. What strategies are being employed at the national level to support in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) industry and technology? How is civil space working with commercial and defense space sectors to develop – and test – technology? What are the commonalities between it all and how is r…

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Ep. 128: Humans vs. Robots for ISAM 32:42

2y ago32:42

32:42

In the world of ISAM (in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing) what should we use humans for and what should we use robotics for? What have we learned from decades of their partnership and what can we bring forward into the future? Do we always need humans-in-the-loop? In this episode experts Martha Hess and Jerry Miller from the Aerospace …

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Ep. 127: How Stuff Works: Servicing & Assembling in Space 32:22

2y ago32:22

32:22

Why do we want to service satellites rather than deorbit them? What do we and could we assemble and manufacture in space? What technologies exist and what are the biggest challenges to expanding a viable in-space servicing assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) economy? In this episode Colleen Stover hosts Aerospace experts Dr. Shannon Zirbel (Vehicle E…

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Ep. 126: Standards & Services in Space 41:10

2y ago41:10

41:10

CONFERS is an international consortium of industry and government stakeholders in the global satellite servicing sector aiming to set standards and best practices to grow the commercial space sector. Think satellite maintenance, refueling and repair and how that could lead to life extension and less debris. Think manufacturing and assembly in space…

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Ep. 125: Forging Ahead in Cislunar 36:56

2+ y ago36:56

36:56

The National Cislunar Science & Technology Strategy was released by the White House in November 2022. What progress has been made? How does this visionary strategy lean into the interests of the US, our international partners, and industry? In creating the strategy, what were historical precedents and what is the role of government in the cislunar …

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Ep. 124: 21st Century Space Policies – Protect, Promote & Partner 25:28

2+ y ago25:28

25:28

The expansion of space activities to new space actors in LEO and into the cislunar regime, has challenged policymakers to ask the right questions to continue bringing benefits to life on Earth, support commercial innovation and investments, and protect the environment for all users, including our international partners. This episode features Dr Ezi…

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Ep. 123: Workforce, Workforce, Workforce 31:24

2+ y ago31:24

31:24

How does the US Space Force attract the right talent? In addition to STEM, what other skills are needed in our Guardians? What’s unique about the defense space workforce and how does it compete? Aerospace’s Colleen Stover (Center for Space Policy & Strategy) and Lina Cashin (National Security Space Programs Policy & Oversight) speak to Col Stuart P…

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Ep. 122: How Stuff Works: Defending in Space 37:52

2+ y ago37:52

37:52

How can satellites be attacked? How and why do we place satellites in certain places? What does that have to do with defending them? What can satellites actually do… and not do? Join Aerospace experts Kristen Kolarik (Combat Power and Battle Management) and Britany Washburn (Mission Analysis & Operations) as they break down some of the basic questi…

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National and Information Security w/ Sue Gordon 34:38

2+ y ago34:38

34:38

Sue Gordon, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, joins ACME General Corp. to talk about national security, cybersecurity threats, and what intelligence information holds the most value. Sue served as Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence and Deputy Director of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency after havi…

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Ep. 121: Cyber Defense for Space 34:41

2+ y ago34:41

34:41

Is cybersecurity the Achilles heel of all our space services? What are national and international strategic approaches that could be taken? Is there room for a “good enough for now” minimum standard, or a government agency to manage risk in the cyber domain? This episode highlights this and more with Aerospace experts Samuel Visner (Aerospace Techn…

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Ep. 120: Contested Space Strategy – Continuity & Change 33:10

2+ y ago33:10

33:10

From the Eisenhower administration, through the Cold War, and into the modern era space has been a domain of competition and cooperation. How have strategies employed by the US changed and stayed the same over the decades? In what ways has the warfighter been integrated into that evolution? Join Dr Mick Gleason and Robin Dickey from Aerospace’s Cen…

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Ep. 119: Operating as a Team with Lt. Gen. Burt 33:16

2+ y ago33:16

33:16

How does the US Space Force face the reality of space as a warfighting domain versus space as a key enabler? What is the role of service-level joint forces, our collective of international allies, and commercial space actors? Does Command and Control (C2) take on different meaning? Join Aerospace Corporation’s Jean Michael (General Manager, Space S…

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NavalX and Innovation Research w/ Captain Ben Van Buskirk 35:22

2+ y ago35:22

35:22

Capt. Ben Van Buskirk, former director of NavalX, joins ACME General Corp. to talk about bringing an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit to naval technology research. Before leading NavalX, Capt. Van Buskirk helped establish the Strategic Warfighting Innovation Cell within the Navy’s Warfighting Development Directorate. Find him on Twitter at @Be…

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Ep. 118: The Season of Space Sustainability 39:53

2+ y ago39:53

39:53

There is little argument as to the importance of keeping space usable – both government and industry leaders continue to weigh in at the 5th annual Summit for Space Sustainability. Proponents of sustainability for space have traditionally looked at the environment as crowded, with great attention given to space traffic coordination, debris mitigati…