Best Scholars Strategy Networks Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 283: How Maps Decide Elections 36:11

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26d ago36:11

36:11

Political maps decide who has a voice in government, and who doesn’t. And right now, big legal battles in Texas and California are putting redistricting in the spotlight. Professor Michael Latner breaks down the difference between redistricting and gerrymandering, why unfair maps weaken voters’ voices, and what today’s gerrymandering fights mean f…

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Gabrielle Durepos and Amy Thurlow, "Archival Research in Historical Organisation Studies: Theorising Silences" (Emerald Publishing, 2025) 1:08:59

1h ago1:08:59

1:08:59

Archival Research in Historical Organisation Studies: Theorising Silences offers an accessible account of theorising the archive, contesting the narrow definitions of the archive with a view beyond a mere repository of documents. Scholars Gabrielle Durepos and Amy Thurlow discuss the ways that business archives have marginalized various populations…

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Alisha Karabinus et al. eds., "Historiographies of Game Studies: What It Has Been, What It Could Be" (Punctum Books, 2025) 27:01

3h ago27:01

27:01

Historiographies of Game Studies: What It Has Been, What It Could Be (Punctum Books, 2025) offers a first-of-its-kind reflection on how game studies as an academic field has been shaped and sustained. Today, game studies is a thriving field with many dedicated national and international conferences, journals, professional societies, and a strong pr…

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Julien Mailland on "The Game That Never Ends: How Lawyers Shape the Videogame Industry" 1:10:25

2d ago1:10:25

1:10:25

Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks with Julien Mailland, Associate Professor of Media Management, Law, and Policy at The Media School of Indiana University Bloomington, about his book, The Game That Never Ends: How Lawyers Shape the Videogame Industry. The book examines key moments, beginning in the 1970s, in which legal decisions influenced …

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Irregular Solutions for Irregular Threats: Maritime Lessons from Dutch Counterpiracy Operations in Colonial Indonesia 14:50

1h ago14:50

14:50

This episode explores how Dutch counterpiracy operations in colonial Indonesia shaped maritime strategy. We connect historical lessons to today’s challenges in piracy, irregular threats, and global shipping security.By Irregular Warfare Initiative

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Daisy Livingston, "Managing Paperwork in Mamluk Cairo: Archives, Waqf and Society" (Edinburgh UP, 2025) 57:49

10d ago57:49

57:49

Archives are not only sources for history but have their own histories too, which shape how historians can tell stories of the past. In Managing Paperwork in Mamluk Cairo: Archives, Waqf and Society (Edinburgh UP, 2025), Daisy Livingston explores the archival history of one of the most powerful polities of the late-medieval Middle East: the ‘Mamluk…

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The History of U.S.-Iranian Irregular Warfare 15:55

16d ago15:55

15:55

This podcast explores the complex history of U.S.-Iranian irregular warfare. From the 1953 coup and Iranian Revolution to cyberattacks, proxy conflicts, and the twilight war, Dr. Lumpy Lumbaca examines how unconventional tactics shaped today’s geopolitical landscape.By Irregular Warfare Initiative

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Jimi Jones and Marek Jancovic, "The Future of Memory: Jimi Jones and Marek Jancovic" (U of Illinois Press, 2025) 59:00

19d ago59:00

59:00

We're pleased to welcome Dr. Jimi Jones and Dr. Marek Jancovic, authors of The Future of Memory: A History of Lossless Format Standards in the Moving Image Archive (U of Illinois Press, 2025), to the New Books Network. In this book, Jimi Jones and Marek Jancovic document the development and adoption of JPEG 2000, FFV1, MXF, and Matroska while inves…

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Preparing for the Silent Surge: Countering North Korea’s Gambit in a Dual Contingency 12:51

28d ago12:51

12:51

This episode explores how North Korean irregular warfare could unfold in a dual contingency with China, threatening U.S., Japanese, and South Korean security. We discuss SOF tactics, sabotage scenarios, lessons from Ukraine, and why resilience must become a strategic priority.By Irregular Warfare Initiative

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Rebuilding Combat Electromagnetic Warfare for U.S. Ground Forces 14:26

22d ago14:26

14:26

This episode explores the future of combat electromagnetic warfare and why U.S. ground forces must modernize to meet the growing threat from Russia and China. From the lessons of the “Wild Bill” prototype to a reimagined CEWI 2.0, discover how spectrum dominance will define success in irregular and conventional conflicts.…

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Democratized Intelligence: How Open-Source Intelligence is Reshaping Asymmetric Advantage 15:33

22d ago15:33

15:33

In this episode, we explore how open-source intelligence (OSINT) is transforming global security. From Bellingcat’s investigations to the OSINT revolution, discover how non-state actors now challenge state dominance in intelligence, reshape irregular warfare, and shift the balance of information power.…

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Liz Fischer, "Network Analysis for Book Historians: Digital Labour and Data Visualization Techniques" (Arc Humanities Press, 2025) 46:54

26d ago46:54

46:54

Researchers and archivists have spent decades digitizing and cataloguing, but what does the future hold for book history? Network Analysis for Book Historians: Digital Labour and Data Visualization Techniques (ARC Humanities Press, 2025) explores the potential of network analysis as a method for medieval and early modern book history. Through case …

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Episode 282: The Unequal Costs of Climate Change 39:38

1M ago39:38

39:38

In the U.S., 2025 began with devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, followed by hundreds of tornadoes across the central states, and has recently been marked by catastrophic flooding in Texas and across the South and Midwest. These escalating weather disasters aren’t isolated events—they’re part of a global pattern in which climate change is making …

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Kenneth Jones, "African American Males and Video Games: How Gaming Technology Can Motivate and Enhance Learning" (Myers Education, 2025) 20:01

1M ago20:01

20:01

African American males are confronted with formidable barriers in their pursuit of quality education, resulting in stark disparities in academic performance, economic opportunities, and social outcomes. Despite numerous educational initiatives striving for parity, African American males persistently bear the brunt of the highest rates of suspension…

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Nathan Wainstein, "Grant Us Eyes: The Art of Paradox in Bloodborne" (2025) 24:13

1M ago24:13

24:13

Grant Us Eyes is a book-length close reading of Bloodborne by literary critic Nathan Wainstein (LA Review of Books, Cartridge Lit, American Book Review). Grant Us Eyes situates the game’s oft-discussed difficulty in relation to a much longer tradition of difficult art – surrealist painting, the modernist novel, etc. Wainstein probes the difficulty …

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Dom Ford, "Mytholudics: Games and Myth" (de Gruyter, 2025) 56:10

1M ago56:10

56:10

Dom Ford joins Jana Byars to talk about Mytholudics: Game and Myth (DeGruyter Brill, 2025). Games create worlds made of many different elements, but also of rules, systems and structures for how we act in them. So how can we make sense of them? Mytholudics: Games and Myth lays out an approach to understanding games using theories from myth and folk…

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Russia’s Shadow Fleet: The Dangerous Tanker Network Threatening Global Waters 16:05

1M ago16:05

16:05

Explore how Russia’s Shadow Fleet has evolved from a sanctions workaround into a weapon of irregular warfare. This podcast unpacks how aging, uninsured tankers exploit legal gaps to spread environmental risks, destabilize critical waterways, and challenge global maritime security. Learn why targeting the fleet’s enabling infrastructure—not just the…

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Boko Haram and Beyond: The Paradox of Local Militias in Nigeria's War on Terror 11:08

1M ago11:08

11:08

This episode examines the rise of local militias in Nigeria, their role in combating Boko Haram, and the risks of escalating violence and alternative governance.By Irregular Warfare Initiative

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Reclaiming U.S. Engagement in Latin America: Strategy Beyond Competition 17:18

1M ago17:18

17:18

In this episode, we explore why revitalizing the U.S.-Latin America strategic partnership is crucial for countering external influence, combating transnational crime, and strengthening democratic institutions across the region.By Irregular Warfare Initiative

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Episode 281: When the Safety Net Shrinks 33:55

1M ago33:55

33:55

On July 4, President Trump signed a sweeping new law that makes major changes to the social safety net—with serious consequences for families and children. Child and family policy expert Professor Taryn Morrissey breaks down the Republican-backed legislation, which slashes Medicaid, SNAP, and other key supports that millions of families rely on. Sh…

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Paul A. Thomas, "Inside Wikipedia: How It Works and How You Can Be an Editor" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022) 55:42

2M ago55:42

55:42

In this book, Paul A. Thomas—a seasoned Wikipedia contributor who has accrued about 60,000 edits since he started editing in 2007—breaks down the history of the free encyclopedia and explains the process of becoming an editor. Now a newly minted Ph.D. and a library specialist at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, he outlines the many roles a Wik…

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Space and Ice: Envisioning Special Operations Forces’ Role in Future Operational Environments 16:38

2M ago16:38

16:38

In this episode, we explore the future of Special Operations Forces, examining their potential roles in space and the Arctic. Learn how a Space Joint Terminal Attack Controller (SJTAC) and “reverse” security force assistance from Nordic allies could redefine NATO’s ability to fight and win in extreme environments.…

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Cameron Kunzelman, "The World is Born from Zero: Understanding Speculation and Video Games" (de Gruyter, 2022) 37:34

2M ago37:34

37:34

The World is Born From Zero is an investigation into the relationship between video games and science fiction through the philosophy of speculation. Cameron Kunzelman (Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, USA) argues that the video game medium is centered on the evaluation and production of possible futures by following video game studies, media phil…

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James O'Connor, "Untitled Goose Game" (Boss Fight Books, 2025) 23:18

2M ago23:18

23:18

It's a beautiful day in the village, and you are a horrible goose, ready to wreak charming havoc on the weary locals. You'll ruin their gardens, invade their pub, and terrorize their children. What kind of scoundrels would make such a devious game? Before the critical acclaim, the tweets from celebrities, the major awards, the memes, the fan art, a…

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Development or Dependence? Rethinking China’s Economic Playbook in the Americas 18:12

2M ago18:12

18:12

In this episode, we explore how China’s expanding economic footprint in Latin America and the Caribbean is reshaping the region's sovereignty and strategy. From deepwater ports to vaccine diplomacy, we unpack the tactics behind Beijing’s influence and what policymakers can do to push back.By Irregular Warfare Initiative

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Episode 280: Is the Drop in Gun Violence at Risk? 42:59

2M ago42:59

42:59

Gun violence is down, but you wouldn’t know it from the headlines. This progress didn’t happen by accident—it’s at least partially the result of smart, targeted strategies that address the root causes of violence. Professor Daniel Semenza explains what’s working, drawing lessons from Camden’s dramatic shift from “murder capital” to record-low homic…

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Hezbollah’s Hybrid Model Under Strain: Relative Decline and the Evolving Dynamics of Irregular Warfare in Lebanon 14:28

2M ago14:28

14:28

In this audio version, we examine how Hezbollah’s hybrid warfare model is unraveling under the strain of leadership loss, reduced Iranian support, political shifts in Lebanon, and exposure to illicit trade. The episode dissects how irregular warfare theory applies to Hezbollah’s relative decline and why this matters for global security.…

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Episode 279: Clearing Up Vaccine Confusion 34:27

3M ago34:27

34:27

When Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the entire federal vaccine advisory committee and installed new members, it raised alarms across the public health world. At the same time, measles is making a comeback as more Americans are hesitant about getting vaccines. Professor Lindsey Haynes-Maslow explains how we got h…

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Exploring African Perspectives on Irregular Warfare 15:57

2M ago15:57

15:57

This episode explores African perspectives on irregular warfare based on a new study by the U.S. Irregular Warfare Center. Drawing on interviews with defense leaders from Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia, and Zambia, we discuss how these nations define IW, what threats they face, and how colonial history and regional instability shape modern conflic…

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Preparedness and Parallels: Lessons in Crisis Preparedness from Sweden and Latin America 14:46

3M ago14:46

14:46

This podcast episode explores how Sweden’s civil defense handbook and Latin America’s disaster response strategies reveal critical lessons in national crisis preparedness. From irregular warfare awareness to community-based drills, this is a must-listen for anyone interested in security, resilience, and public policy.…

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Elliot Lichtman, "The Computer Always Wins: A Playful Introduction to Algorithms through Puzzles and Strategy Games" (MIT Press, 2025) 46:46

3M ago46:46

46:46

In The Computer Always Wins: A Playful Introduction to Algorithms through Puzzles and Strategy Games (MIT Press, 2025), Elliot Lichtman will teach you some of computer science’s most powerful concepts in a refreshingly accessible way: exploring them through word games, board games, and strategy games you already know. Learn recursion by playing tic…

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Carly A. Kocurek and Matthew Payne, "Ultima and Worldbuilding in the Computer Role-Playing Game" (Amherst College Press, 2024) 27:12

3M ago27:12

27:12

Ultima and World-Building in the Computer Role-Playing Game (Amherst College Press, 2024) is the first scholarly book to focus exclusively on the long-running Ultima series of computer role-playing games (RPG) and to assess its lasting impact on the RPG genre and video game industry. Through archival and popular media sources, examinations of fan c…

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Putting Operation Spider’s Web in Context 14:11

3M ago14:11

14:11

In this podcast episode, we explore the long history of airfield raids and drone warfare, pushing back against the notion that modern tech revolutionizes war. Drawing on examples from WWII to the war in Ukraine, this article-turned-audio examines why understanding historical context is essential for grasping today’s military dynamics.…

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Trans Technologies 1:03:27

3M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

How can technology creates new possibilities for transgender people? How do trans experiences, in turn, create new possibilities for technology? Trans Technologies, (MIT Press, 2025) by Dr. Oliver L. Haimson, explores how and why mainstream technologies often exclude or marginalize transgender users. Trans Technologies describes what happens when t…

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Once Upon a Proxy War: Chinese Support to the People’s Army of Vietnam 11:35

3M ago11:35

11:35

In this episode, we explore China’s indirect approach to the First Indochina War through Xiaobing Li’s Building Ho’s Army, analyzing how Beijing trained, armed, and advised North Vietnamese forces to defeat the French. The discussion dives into the strategic context of China's geostrategic encirclement, the PLA's pivotal role in military advising, …

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Episode 278: How Taxes Can Save Lives 29:25

3M ago29:25

29:25

Congress is in the middle of a high-stakes budget debate that includes fighting over tax policy and funding for many vital public programs. But what’s often missing from that budget debate is a focus on the people these decisions affect, especially kids. Professor Jean Junior explains how tax policy choices made on Capitol Hill directly affect heal…

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The Balkans Model & Conditions for Peace in Ukraine 14:22

3M ago14:22

14:22

In this episode, we explore how historical lessons from the Balkan wars can inform Ukraine’s struggle for peace amid Russia’s hybrid warfare. We break down why irregular warfare—not just legal agreements—must guide any future resolution, and what steps Ukraine and its allies can take to build lasting resilience and sovereignty.…

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Influence by Design: Reassessing U.S. Military Advising 15:23

4M ago15:23

15:23

This podcast explores why U.S. military advising missions succeed or fail, drawing on Frank Sobchak’s in-depth case studies from El Salvador to Afghanistan. We examine key variables such as advisor relationships, mission design, and institutional reform. Whether you're a policy expert or a military professional, this episode breaks down critical le…

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Does China’s Growing Security Outreach Matter? Tracing Implications for Irregular Warfare and U.S. Security Cooperation 11:44

4M ago11:44

11:44

This episode explores “security hybridization,” a growing global trend where states engage both the U.S. and China for different types of security support. We examine how this dual cooperation shapes policy, highlights contrasting approaches to internal versus external threats, and raises implications for practitioners working in irregular warfare …

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Episode 277: Consumer Protection Under Fire 37:17

3M ago37:17

37:17

Under the Trump administration, major changes at key consumer protection agencies, including widespread staff cuts and rule rollbacks, are raising concerns about the future of efforts to curb unfair or deceptive financial practices. Professor Terri Friedline explains what’s been happening at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, why it matters,…

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Dave Cook, "Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-'Em-Ups" (Bitmap Books, 2022) 19:26

3M ago19:26

19:26

Get ready for the fight of your life in Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-'Em-Ups (Bitmap Books, 2022). Written by award-winning author Dave Cook, and opening with a foreword by legendary Double Dragon creator, Yoshihisa Kishimoto, this odyssey through bare-knuckle nostalgia features over 200 games spanning 37 years. At over 45…

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Emily Leachman and A. Garrison Libby, "A Complete Guide to Training Library Staff: From Onboarding to Offboarding" (Bloomsbury, 2024) 56:39

4M ago56:39

56:39

Written for library managers and training leaders, A Complete Guide to Training Library Staff (2025, Bloomsbury) presents a comprehensive lifecycle for staff development with a focus on tools and techniques to build a sustainable training program, set staff up for success in their positions, and develop a positive and supportive community across th…

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Sara E. Wolf, "Teaching Copyright: Practical Lesson Ideas and Instructional Resources" (Bloomsbury, 2025) 39:39

4M ago39:39

39:39

The teaching of copyright and related concepts can easily be overwhelming to instructors who are experts in their field but may have little to no detailed understanding of copyright law. They require reliable, accessible information to coach students on copyright-related matters. In Teaching Copyright: Practical Lesson Ideas and Instructional Resou…