Best Stan McChrystal Podcasts (2025)

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Getting Candid with Gen. Stan McChrystal (Ret.) on Character and Controversy 33:02

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9d ago33:02

33:02

In this episode of State Secrets, Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly talks with retired four-star Gen. Stan McChrystal, who served as Commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and is author of the new book, On Character: Choices That Define a Life, about what character really means in an era where everything feels political, whet…

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When the Military Is in the Streets w Gen. Stan McChrystal 35:06

9d ago35:06

35:06

Baratunde returns to the How To Citizen feed with a conversation that sits right at the intersection of character, democracy, and what it means to citizen in this moment. This episode features Baratunde in a live discussion with retired U.S. General Stanley McChrystal at the 2025 Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco. The two dig into the respon…

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Peace Through Strength in an AI Era: Inside the Reagan National Defense Forum 29:26

3d ago29:26

29:26

What does "peace through strength" mean in 2025—when AI, drones and great-power rivalry are reshaping the battlefield? In this episode of State Secrets, Cipher Brief CEO Suzanne Kelly sits down with David Trulio, President & CEO of the Reagan Foundation and head of the Reagan National Defense Forum (RNDF), to unpack how one of the nation's most inf…

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Information Warfare The New Frontline 44:12

11d ago44:12

44:12

Former NSA senior executive Mike Driscoll joins Cipher Brief's Brad Christian to dissect how America - and its allies - win or lose in the cognitive domain. From post-9/11 SIGINT dominance and its pitfalls to today's OSINT revolution powered by AI, Driscoll details why democracies keep ceding the narrative, what Oct. 7 revealed about messaging at s…

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Lithuania's Foreign Minister: 'Western Restraint Invites Russian Aggression 22:18

16d ago22:18

22:18

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys joins Cipher Brief CEO Suzanne Kelly in Washington with a blunt warning: Western military restraint is encouraging, not deterring, the Kremlin. Budrys explains why Lithuania is raising defense spending to more than 5% of GDP by 2026—the highest in the democratic world—and pushing NATO toward offensive de…

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Two Generals and a Cyber Warning for America 26:20

23d ago26:20

26:20

Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly talks with two former directors of the National Security Agency and former Commanders of U.S. Cyber Command about the cyber threat from China, and just what they think Americans need to know. Retired General Tim Haugh – a new Cipher Brief Expert, spoke recently about the threat with 60 Minutes. He is now a…

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White House Director: We Need a 'Kill Web' for Modern Warfare 36:32

2M ago36:32

36:32

Shawn Chenoweth has one of the most fascinating titles in government, Director of Cognitive Advantage at the National Security Council. Sean explains the concept of cognitive advantage, the challenges of measuring success, and talks about the 'Kill Web' concept, which highlights the interconnectedness of information and cognitive processes in moder…

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Steve Blank has Mapped the Pentagon 33:14

2M ago33:14

33:14

Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Author and Stanford Professor Steve Blank has published a phone book of sorts for the Pentagon - at least when it comes to the trickier issue of understanding how the Pentagon buys things – which is a crucial component of future U.S. national security. Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly talks to Blank about his …

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China's Gray War on America 46:37

2M ago46:37

46:37

As tensions rise globally, so does the risk of conflict. Poland's Prime Minister has recently warned that Poland is closer to war than at any time since WWII. And while Russia's war against Ukraine escalates with no clear path to peace in sight, other incidents such cyberattacks and drone incursions across NATO airspace are fueling growing uncertai…

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Drones, Deterrence, and Overplaying Putin's Hand: with Gen. David Petraeus 25:38

3M ago25:38

25:38

Former CIA Director General David Petraeus (Ret.) doesn't mince words: Russia's 19-drone incursion into Polish airspace was no accident — it was a deliberate test of NATO's resolve. Joining The State Secrets Podcast from Kyiv, Ukraine, General Petraeus lays out Ukraine's breathtaking innovation in drone warfare, noting that units now fly thousands …

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The Secret U.S. Counter-Narcotics Mission 39:47

3M ago39:47

39:47

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited a warship off the coast of Puerto Rico this week, telling Marines and sailors that they are on the "front lines" of a critical counter-narcotics mission. Exactly what that mission is – remains murky but the statement itself was a clue to the administration's intent. The U.S. has been beefing up military ass…

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Inside Emerging Threats: Former CIA Leader Sheetal Patel on Drones, Tech, and America's Adversaries 23:47

3M ago23:47

23:47

In this wide-ranging conversation, former CIA senior leader Sheetal Patel warns about the vulnerabilities the U.S. faces from evolving drone threats, drawing lessons from Ukraine's successful deep-strike operations against Russia. She highlights the lack of clear authorities, resources, and interagency coordination for defending against small drone…

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Does the CIA Have a Trust Problem? 59:39

5M ago59:39

59:39

In a recent opinion piece published in The Cipher Brief, former senior CIA Executive Mark Kelton suggests that the country's leading intelligence organization has a trust problem both with policy makers and the public. One component of that problem that Kelton argues poses an existential threat to the Agency, is leakers. Cipher Brief CEO & Publishe…

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Mission CIA: Mapping Beijing's Path to War 22:20

5M ago22:20

22:20

Taiwan has launched its largest annual military exercise ever - amid growing concern that China is on the cusp of launching a military invasion. Many national security experts see a Chinese invasion as inevitable. A recent piece published at the cipher brief.com focuses on what Washington will do when it does happen. But first, it's the Intelligenc…

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A Practitioner's Guide to Cocktail Tradecraft 27:46

5M ago27:46

27:46

Writing a book was something former senior CIA Officer Rob Dannenberg never thought he'd do, but as he started reflecting on the ways he and his former colleagues would celebrate the successful recruitment of a new agent or the end of an operation that he couldn't talk about, he started thinking about the cocktails he and his colleagues would order…

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Hitting the Panic Button on Rare Earth Minerals 31:34

6M ago31:34

31:34

Rare Earth minerals might not be at the top of your panic list today but when it comes to U.S. national security, it's an issue that has the potential to have the greatest impact on both our way of life and our future security. It was on the agenda at the recent G7 meeting where world leaders agreed to prioritize a joint strategy to protect critica…

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Ground Truth on Ukraine's Tech War 21:09

6M ago21:09

21:09

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainians have used every resource available to fight back. From aid packages and weapons systems acquired from western allies to mobilizing every sector of society to bring innovation to the fight, Ukraine has stayed alive largely because of its adaptations of technology and its inge…

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Why China's Data Centers Should Concern You 28:38

6M ago28:38

28:38

Beijing has long said that it aims to be the world's technology leader but the rate at which it is building data centers – and how it's using them - is raising alarms in national security circles. State Secrets Podcast host Suzanne Kelly is talking with SCSP Senior Director of Intelligence Chip Usher, SCSP Director of Intelligence Libby Lange and P…

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The true story of who we really are 5:41

7M ago5:41

5:41

This is our wrap of our Week of Citizening that I've been doing with Jon Alexander. We found 8 stories from across the U.S. — across sectors, communities, and divides — where people are coming together to make life better, together. See them all here. See the visuals for this story and all our Week of Citizening stories here: https://linktr.ee/week…

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Inside CIA's Mission to Maximize Technology 32:59

7M ago32:59

32:59

CIA veteran Sheetal Patel helped stand up and then lead the spy agency's Transnational and Technology Mission Center in 2022, at a time when there was no longer any denying that more outreach to the private sector and a better grasp of the technologies that were available had to become more of a focus if the Agency was to maintain its strategic adv…

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We Know how to Rebuild Our Democracy - final story 8:08

8M ago8:08

8:08

There is a model for how we rebuild and heal after the human-made disaster being inflicted on the USA right now. Welcome to Dena Heals—a mutual aid marketplace and wellness center born in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena. See the visuals for this story and all our Week of Citizening stories here: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/this-i…

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How we gather is how we citizen 4:20

8M ago4:20

4:20

We head to Eliot, Maine, where a multiracial, multidisciplinary group of artists have reimagined what a conference can be. At SeaCHANGE, creativity isn’t an afterthought—it’s the starting point. The gathering opens with movement and dance. It invites deep connection through shared meals, collaborative workshops, and artistic expression. And it crea…

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Don't Wait for New Leaders. BECOME Them 6:47

8M ago6:47

6:47

Today we bring you Story #6 in our Week of Citizening. We’ve already shown you how people are rethinking democracy through libraries, labor, and school boards. Now we’re headed to a place often overlooked but brimming with democratic possibility: West Virginia. See the visuals and links to all these stories here: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/…

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We found the Anti-DOGE in Chicago 6:37

8M ago6:37

6:37

Today, we head to Chicago, where a civic gathering called Chi Hack Night is bringing technologists, designers, policy nerds, and everyday residents together to build a better city. Access to visuals for this story are here: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/we-found-the-anti-doge-in-chicago and that conversation on Life With Machines with Deb Roy …

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People Know What They Need 6:42

8M ago6:42

6:42

We’re told some people just need to be saved. But what people really need is to be needed. This community of young single mothers in Lexington, Kentucky reveals a version of this story. Full video viewing options for this story plus links to the Instagram and LinkedIn versions: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/young-mothers-asked-to-lead-and-they…

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Can a School Board Teach Us to Overcome Division? 6:38

8M ago6:38

6:38

We’re told America is hopelessly divided. But zoom in—like, say, to a school board in South Central Pennsylvania—and a different story emerges. Full video viewing options for this story plus links to the Instagram and LinkedIn versions: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/proof-we-can-overcome-division-3rd This episode features Steph and Lance: one …

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A Tax Day Message about Layoffs With Consent 4:59

8M ago4:59

4:59

It’s Tax Day in the U.S., a moment when many of us think about how we fund collective life. So today’s story? It’s about layoffs — but not the kind we’ve come to expect. See the visuals for this story and all our Week of Citizening stories here: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/this-tax-day-solidarity-and-consent We’re often told democracy is too…

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How AI & Images are Impacting U.S. Intelligence 20:18

8M ago20:18

20:18

Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth sits at the helm of the Intelligence Agency that is helping war fighters and Intelligence analysts better understand the world and what's beyond it. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) works intensely with the private sector to bring the most critical technological advances to the mission – not just here o…

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Libraries Are Hubs for Citizening - Story 1 3:53

8M ago3:53

3:53

Watch this first video story from the Week of Citizening on Instagram or LinkedIn: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/1st-story-libraries-are-hubs-for?r=204q7 What if every library in the world was a hub for citizening—a space where people could come together, tell their own stories, and build new ones? It’s already happening. And Cossit Llibrary i…

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We're Back (Kind of) with More Stories All Week 5:42

8M ago5:42

5:42

It's been almost two years, and I (Baratunde) am back with an experimental drop because democracy is something we DO, not something we HAVE (or don't), and this moment calls for that reminder. So... I’m teaming up with my friend and fellow citizenist Jon Alexander (author of CITIZENS) to do something we believe is urgent and necessary: shine a ligh…

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Why We're Still at War with Russia 33:48

8M ago33:48

33:48

Despite efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to warm U.S. relations with Moscow amid negotiations for Russia to end its war in Ukraine, Russian sabotage operations, active measures and Gray Zone activities are continuing around the world. Moscow has mastered the art of engaging in operations that push right up to the edge of war, without really c…

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National Security Hollywood Style 49:08

9M ago49:08

49:08

When Walter Parkes co-wrote the movie War Games in 1983, he had no idea what he had launched. The movie about a teen hacker played by Matthew Broderick examined what might happen if someone breached the security systems around U.S. nuclear weapons. As it turned out, then-President Ronald Reagan saw the movie and asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff at t…

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China Keeps Breaking Barriers on Artificial Intelligence 19:57

9M ago19:57

19:57

In this conversation, former Senior CIA Execuvite Chip Usher discusses the recent advancements made by the Chinese AI lab DeepSeq, particularly its new AI models that rival those of American companies like OpenAI. Usher, now the Senior Director for Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project, explains the significance of these developme…

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Former DEA Official Explains the New Terrorist Designation for Cartels 30:53

10M ago30:53

30:53

In this conversation, Mike Vigil discusses the recent designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government, a move he says is largely symbolic with little real impact on the cartels' operations. He highlights the complexities of U.S.-Mexico relations, the ongoing fentanyl crisis, and the risks of military escalation. Vig…

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The Seismic Impact of Artificial Intelligence 25:50

11M ago25:50

25:50

Few people have the perspective that Lt. Gen Mike Groen (ret.) has when it comes to Artificial Intelligence and the impact it has and will have in the national security space. Before retiring from the military, Lt. General Groen served as Director of the Pentagon's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. Today, he's ringing the alarm about AI. The mi…

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Target: Start Up: How Entrepreneurs in Tech are Targeted for Espionage 39:47

11M ago39:47

39:47

Michael Casey is Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, the part of the Director of National Intelligence that leads and supports the counterintelligence and security activities of the U.S. Government. NCSC produces the National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States and includes the National Insider Threat Tas…

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Giving Back to the Intelligence and Military Communities 31:31

12M ago31:31

31:31

The Cipher Brief has been honored to support a number of non-profit organizations over the years that have made giving back their mission – especially in the national security world. In this episode of State Secrets, we're welcoming David Kramer, a self-described 'regular guy who wanted to give back' and Jeremy Morton, a former special operations o…

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Former Trump Ambassador on Why Ukraine 'Must' Win 32:53

12M ago32:53

32:53

Cipher Brief Expert and former Senior CIA Officer Glenn Corn is asking the questions of former Governor James Gilmore as this week's guest host. Gilmore served as Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe under the first Trump Administration and says it's critical that Ukraine wins this war.…

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The Case for Overhauling the Department of Defense 39:36

1y ago39:36

39:36

The Hon. Gilman Louie has had quite the career in national security, one that – despite his family's background of service – he wasn't exactly planning on. Now the co-founder and managing partner of America's Frontier Fund, a phone call early in his career set him on a path that would lead to a 30+ year career "in the business" as they say. Louie's…