Best ANU National Security College Podcasts (2025)

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The future will thank us: an intergenerational approach to security 46:50

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16d ago46:50

46:50

What is intergenerational security and how does it intersect with traditional concepts of national security? How do intergenerational dynamics and differing interactions with technology, social media and AI impact security and resilience? What are the security issues that young Australians care about and how do these differ from the concerns of old…

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Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force: reflections on half a century of service 44:02

29d ago44:02

44:02

How is the Australian Defence Force preparing for the challenges of a changing world? Does the appointment of a naval officer as the Chief of the Defence Force signal a shift in focus to the maritime domain? What does a career in the Australian Defence Force mean in the 21st century? In this episode, Admiral David Johnston joins Rory Medcalf to dis…

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Seeing the unseen: why geospatial intelligence is important 41:57

1M ago41:57

41:57

What are the origins of the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO), and how has the organisation developed within the National Intelligence Community? How does AGO contribute to the broader remit of Australian statecraft, the work done by other NIC agencies, and the Five Eyes partnership? What makes innovation in the geospatial intel…

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Democratic resilience in the digital age 25:31

2M ago25:31

25:31

What is democratic resilience and why is it a national security issue? Why is it important to preserve public trust and participation in the electoral process and what are some of the challenges to this? Apart from voting, what are some other ways that Australians can engage in the democratic process? What challenges do big tech companies, mis- and…

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Sustaining deterrence and building defence industrial resilience 45:53

3M ago45:53

45:53

Do the US and other Western allies still maintain an edge over China in defence industry and innovation? How are partnerships between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea reshaping the global balance of power? How do Australia and other US partners contribute to strengthening deterrence and industrial resilience? What are the key supply chain vulne…

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What Finland can teach Australia about national security 28:10

3M ago28:10

28:10

How does Finland view strategic linkages between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions? What is the Finnish model of ‘Comprehensive Security’, and how does it work in practice? How does Finland communicate openly with the public about national security risks without fuelling alarm or polarisation? What lessons can Australia learn from Finland'…

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Evolving lessons in counterterrorism from 9/11 to 2025 57:47

3M ago57:47

57:47

How has the terrorism threat landscape evolved since 9/11, and what makes today’s challenges more complex? How is the counterterrorism response evolving in response to today’s rapidly shifting global landscape? How has Trump’s ‘America-First’ policy impacted the US’ relationship with the Five Eyes partners in the counterterrorism space? What can we…

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Indonesia’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific and beyond 51:16

4M ago51:16

51:16

How has Indonesia’s foreign policy evolved under President Prabowo? Is Indonesia slowly moving from being ‘non-aligned’ to being ‘multi-aligned’? How have recent US foreign and domestic policies affected its relationship with Indonesia? How can Australia and Indonesia strengthen their relationship and enhance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific? In thi…

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The evolution of strategic deterrence 43:28

4M ago43:28

43:28

How has strategic deterrence evolved from the Cold War to contemporary times? What is ‘strategic substitution,’ and how has China used it to craft its unique approach to deterrence? How does the ‘Golden Dome’ proposed by the US fit into today’s debates on missile defence and counter-space capabilities? Does Australia need to do more to close the ca…

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Partners with limits: inside the China–Russia relationship 42:59

4M ago42:59

42:59

How aligned are China and Russia's strategic interests? How is this relationship playing out in relation to competing spheres of influence in Central Asia? What are the key points of friction in the China-Russia partnership? In this episode, Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva and Graham Meehan join Sally Bulkeley to delve into the complex dynamics of the China-R…

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PM Albanese's China visit and the future of the Aus-China relationship 51:39

5M ago51:39

51:39

How has the Australia-China relationship changed since the Prime Minister’s last visit to China in 2023? From China's perspective, how does its relationship with Australia fit into its current worldview? And how has US policy under Trump impacted that relationship? What does the future hold for the Australia-China relationship, given China’s increa…

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How can we avoid conflict in our region? 51:51

5M ago51:51

51:51

What are some of the key mechanisms for avoiding conflict? Why is ASEAN a key player in preventive diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region? What challenges are faced in trying to prevent conflict in the region? And what role does Australia play? In this episode, Bec Strating, Huong Le Thu and Collin Koh join Rory Medcalf to delve into the complexities…

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Unpacking the Australia-US relationship with “our man in Washington” 39:34

5M ago39:34

39:34

Is America retreating from global leadership? Is this just a temporary wave of tension in the bilateral relationship, or might it signal a broader, long-term shift? Are the current AUKUS debates in Australia cutting through in the US? In this episode, John Blaxland joins David Andrews to discuss Australia’s relationship with the US, and why he beli…

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A decade at the helm: in conversation with Rory Medcalf 47:16

5M ago47:16

47:16

How has Australia’s security landscape changed over the last decade? How was the Indo-Pacific concept born, and how has it evolved? What are the biggest threats facing Australia right now? In this episode, Rory Medcalf joins David Andrews to look back on the past decade in which he has served as Head of the ANU National Security College (NSC). They…

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Nuclear flashpoint: Iran strikes, non-proliferation, and future threats 35:00

6M ago35:00

35:00

What impact will US and Israeli air strikes on Iran have on global non-proliferation efforts? How is Trump reshaping the US's leadership in nuclear non-proliferation? Could shifting international security dynamics encourage countries like South Korea or Japan to pursue nuclear weapons programs? In this episode, Michael Cohen and Maria Rost Rublee j…

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Disasters, distrust, and disinformation 48:03

6M ago48:03

48:03

What are some of the challenges societies face because of mis- and disinformation during disaster response? How can Australia adapt to deal with these challenges? What lessons can we learn from incidents around the world? What does the future look like if we don't adapt to this changing environment? In this episode, Jodie Wrigley, Anthony Bradstree…

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Iran, Israel and the future of Middle East security 53:20

6M ago53:20

53:20

Where do the other Middle East countries and the Gulf nations stand on the Iran-Israel conflict? How do they view the US’ changing foreign policy? What were the motivations behind the recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran? Was it preventive or pre-emptive action? Is regime change in Iran a realistic objective by Israel/US? Could Australia be asked …