Best Gecko Gaming Podcasts (2025)

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The GovCon Game: Relationships and Red Tape | John Ferry 1:30:12

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5d ago1:30:12

1:30:12

John Ferry returns to the show for one of the most blunt conversations yet about the defense startup ecosystem. From the realities of selling to government and surviving the “valley of death” to the cultural dysfunction inside acquisition, Ferry lays out why so many startups die before getting their product fielded and what it actually takes to win…

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Inside AV Inc: Drones, Directed Energy, and Defense Innovation | Church Hutton 1:10:06

9d ago1:10:06

1:10:06

Church Hutton, Chief Growth Officer at AV Inc. (formerly AeroVironment), joins the show for a deep dive into the future of autonomous systems, directed energy, and defense innovation. A retired Army officer and longtime Hill staffer, Church brings an insider’s view of how national security priorities, procurement, and industrial competition with Ch…

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Autonomous Fighter Drones and the Next Era of Air Superiority | Jeff Wright, SplashOne Robotics 1:25:52

12d ago1:25:52

1:25:52

Jeff Wright, founder and CEO of SplashOne Robotics, joins the show to discuss how his company is developing small, purpose-built fighter drones to redefine air superiority. A former Marine and Air Force Special Tactics Officer, Wright brings a warfighter’s perspective to modern defense tech — from the limits of current counter-drone systems to the …

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Solid Rocket Motors and America’s Hypersonic “Sputnik Moment” | Max Vozoff 1:18:45

19d ago1:18:45

1:18:45

Max Vozoff, Chief Technology Officer at X-Bow Systems, joins the show to discuss the urgent challenges and opportunities in America’s solid rocket motor industry. With decades of experience, including early work at SpaceX, Vozoff explains why the U.S. is facing a “Sputnik moment” in hypersonics and energetics — and how X-Bow is building new manufac…

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222: Outside in Chinatown NYC w/ Gianmarco Soresi 1:32:48

24d ago1:32:48

1:32:48

222: Ni hao, outsiders! The very talented Gianmarco Soresi joins us on the streets of Chinatown to interview some fascinating characters in the vibrant city. Guests include a recently divorced gaffer with a heart and hair of gold, two young actress roommates thriving in the big city, a formerly incarcerated father navigating life on the outside, an…

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FAA, DJI, and the Next Era of U.S. Drone Innovation | Todd Graetz, CEO, Aerolane 1:30:02

27d ago1:30:02

1:30:02

Todd Graetz, co-founder and CEO of Aerolane, joins the show to share how his aviation startup is reimagining air cargo with autonomous glider-based aircraft. From his early work launching one of the first large-scale drone programs at BNSF Railway to building Aerolane's innovative “air cart” system, Graetz has been at the forefront of UAV and aeros…

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Advanced Radar Detection, Modular Sensing, and Dual-Use Innovation | Jon Dandrow, CEO, Radenso 1:26:04

1M ago1:26:04

1:26:04

Jon Dandrow, CEO of Radenso and Strikeman, joins the show to talk about building advanced radar detection systems, modular sensing hardware, and consumer-to-defense innovation. From hacking traffic cameras in his college years to leading dual-use technology companies, Dandrow shares the unconventional path that brought him into the defense world. W…

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Modular Jamming, AI Detection, and the Rise of DroneShield | Matt McCrann 1:17:12

1M ago1:17:12

1:17:12

Matt McCrann, U.S. Navy veteran and CEO of DroneShield US, joins the show to talk about the evolving fight against drone threats. From handheld jammers like the DroneGun MkIV to advanced sensor fusion and AI-powered RF detection, DroneShield is building modular tools for defense and homeland security. We dig into the cat-and-mouse game with adversa…

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From Industrial Robots to Defense Infrastructure | Troy Demmer, Gecko Robotics 1:21:06

2M ago1:21:06

1:21:06

Troy Demmer is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Gecko Robotics, the industrial tech company behind wall-climbing inspection robots and the full-stack software platform reshaping how we manage critical infrastructure. In this episode, Troy breaks down Gecko’s origin story, their second act in defense, and why hardware is just the wedge.We…

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221: Outside A MASSIVE Premier League Football Game w/ Lisa Gilroy! 1:09:17

2M ago1:09:17

1:09:17

Gooooooooal! Premier League, the world's eminent football club, invited us to a Summer Series game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey! Guests included an uplifting father son duo, a young couple who both felt they had found their future spouse the night they first met, and a couple of scrappy lads who sometimes throw hands at the pub. Recorded on 7/2…

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The Reality of Selling to the Pentagon | Mike Canty 1:29:59

2M ago1:29:59

1:29:59

Mike Canty, co-founder and CEO of Armaments Research Company, joins the show to discuss the future of defense tech and the realities of building hardware startups for the Pentagon. A former Army major, Mike now leads ARC in developing AI-enabled weapon sensors that turn rifles into data-driven decision systems. We get into his founder journey from …

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The Future of Drone Swarms and Counter-UAS | Kyle Hardy & Ashkan Bayatpour 1:16:31

2M ago1:16:31

1:16:31

Kyle Hardy, CEO of Hardy Dynamics, and Ashkan Bayatpour, U.S. Navy Reserve Officer, join the show to break down the future of drone warfare and the challenges of building software for autonomous swarms. We dig into the reality of counter-drone operations, why electronic warfare and lasers fall short, and why kinetic defenses are still the only reli…

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Inside Ukraine's Drone War and the Defense Tech Bubble | Patrick Blumenthal 1:23:25

2M ago1:23:25

1:23:25

Defense tech insider Patrick Blumenthal breaks down the latest developments in Ukraine's drone warfare evolution and the Vector vs. RedCat lawsuit shaking up the industry. From Russia's new evasion modules and radar warning receivers on Shaheds to the reality of SMR hype in defense tech, Patrick delivers unfiltered analysis on what's actually worki…

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Gex 2: Channel Surfing, Gecko-Style 30:14

2M ago30:14

30:14

Join Jeff and PJ as they dive tail-first into Gex 2: Enter the Gecko, the witty, pop-culture-packed platformer released by Crystal Dynamics in 1998 for PlayStation 1. Originally inspired by groundbreaking 3D platformers like Mario 64, Gex returns—this time in full 3D glory—bringing attitude, humor, and a barrage of quirky one-liners voiced by comed…

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220: Outside Headgum w/ Amir Blumenfeld, Nicole Byer, and Kristen Schaal! 1:10:51

3M ago1:10:51

1:10:51

220: Very special episode time! The Headgum podcast network is turning double digits and to celebrate, cofounder Amir Blumenfeld joins us on the street to interview Headgum cohosts and some random strangers walking by. Guests include Nicole Byer, Kristen Schaal, two high school friends turned lovers, and a WeHo actor with an enviable amount of conf…

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Russia’s Next Move: Middle East, Arms, and Influence | Matt Tavares & Anna Borshchevskaya 1:22:09

3M ago1:22:09

1:22:09

Russia’s ambitions extend far beyond Ukraine. In this episode, we’re joined by two experts with deep regional and strategic insight: former Army intelligence officer Matt Tavares, and Anna Borshchevskaya, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and author of Putin’s War in Syria.We unpack how Russia uses frozen conflicts as long-term leverage, wh…

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Driver: Undercover Cops and Parking Garage Nightmares 22:58

3M ago22:58

22:58

Get behind the wheel with Jeff and PJ in this episode of Cartridge Chronicles, as they revisit Driver, the groundbreaking 1999 PlayStation classic from Reflections Interactive. You play Tanner, an ex-race car driver turned undercover cop, infiltrating criminal gangs and navigating gritty cities like Miami, San Francisco, LA, and New York. Along the…

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Reinventing Radar: Building the Future of ISR from Space | Andrew Peterson 1:27:43

3M ago1:27:43

1:27:43

Andrew Peterson is the co-founder and CEO of Array Labs, a startup building 3D imaging radar satellites to compete with billion-dollar airborne ISR platforms at a fraction of the cost. In this episode, Andrew breaks down why government customers don’t just want imagery—they want hardware—and how selling into the defense ecosystem really works.We di…

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Fundraising, Focus, and Failure: Hard Truths About Defense Startups | Kirsten Bartok Touw 1:22:12

3M ago1:22:12

1:22:12

Kirsten Bartok Touw is the co-founder and Managing Partner of New Vista Capital, a venture firm focused exclusively on aerospace, space, and defense. In this episode, Kirsten joins to talk about investing in dual-use tech, startup momentum, and how capital is becoming a competitive moat in defense. We discuss what founders get wrong about working w…

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Building Unmanned Warships for the Navy | Austin Gray, Blue Water Autonomy 1:10:23

4M ago1:10:23

1:10:23

Austin Gray, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Blue Water Autonomy, joins the podcast to break down the future of autonomous naval warfare. From unmanned ships that carry large payloads to the technical and political challenges of defense procurement, Austin offers an insider’s view of building in one of the most complex arenas in defense te…

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Autonomous Boats and the Future of Naval Warfare | Paul Lwin, HavocAI 1:08:13

4M ago1:08:13

1:08:13

Paul Lwin is the co-founder and CEO of HavocAI, a defense startup building collaborative autonomous surface vessels. In this episode, Paul breaks down the company’s tech stack, their strategic approach to naval warfare, and how Havoc’s 14-foot robotic boats might reshape the future of the Pacific fight.We dive into dual-use applications, investor n…

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219: Outside Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing w/ Lyle the Therapy Gecko 1:04:43

4M ago1:04:43

1:04:43

219: It's konnichiwa time yet again! Friend of the podcast Lyle the Therapy Gecko helps us interview folks on the busy streets near Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing. Guests include a Dutch author in a long distance friendship turned relationship, a young computer scientist with an impressive pokémon haul, and a kind Australian child therapist helping kids …

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The Future of the Army: Autonomy, AI, and Combat Innovation | General James Rainey 1:05:49

4M ago1:05:49

1:05:49

General James Rainey leads the U.S. Army’s effort to prepare for the next war. As the Commanding General of Army Futures Command, he’s focused on adapting to a battlefield shaped by drones, autonomy, and AI. In this conversation, he breaks down how drone warfare in Ukraine is reshaping military thinking, why adaptability—not prediction—is the key t…

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Can the U.S. Still Build Things? Fixing the Industrial Base | Miles Arnone (Podcast #34) 1:34:43

4M ago1:34:43

1:34:43

Miles Arnone, CEO of Re:Build Manufacturing, joins the podcast to explain why American manufacturing fell behind—and how to bring it back. We dive into defense supply chains, national security vulnerabilities, rare earth magnets, and why the U.S. can’t rely on overseas factories forever. Miles shares Re:Build’s long-term plan to re-industrialize th…

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218: Outside A Metrolink Train Station (Choo Choo!) w/ Lizzy Cooperman 1:09:09

4M ago1:09:09

1:09:09

218: Trains: something you will mostly find outside! Our comedian pal Lizzy Cooperman joined us as we set up at a bustling local train station and met some locomotive commuters and enthusiasts. Guests include a young Honda employee looking for lesbian love in the desert, an aspiring pop solo artist focusing on himself right now, and a train-obsesse…

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Defense, Drones & Developing New Talent | David Ruth, Ph.D. 1:17:42

4M ago1:17:42

1:17:42

David Ruth, Dean of STEM at the University of Austin and retired Navy captain, joins the show to discuss the future of technical education, the ethics of AI in warfare, and what it takes to build a new university from scratch. From nuclear submarines to autonomous drone targeting, this conversation spans practical experience and deep philosophical …

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Ukraine’s Spider Web Drone Attack & The Future of War | John Dulin (Podcast #32) 1:06:42

5M ago1:06:42

1:06:42

Modern Intelligence Founder and CEO John Dulin joins us in-studio for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of autonomous warfare. We break down the latest Ukrainian drone strike and what it signals about the next era of defense tech—where software, not hardware, defines lethality. From AI-powered targeting to modular DoD acquisitions, this epi…

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217: Outside A Phish Concert w/ Brent Weinbach (CHAOTIC) 1:18:28

5M ago1:18:28

1:18:28

Attention Phish Phreaks: this podcast is for you! We set up in front of the jam band Phish's Sunday night show at The Hollywood Bowl and chatted with the wild crew in attendance. Guests include a government employee about to be fired by Elon Musk, two young curious guys exploring their first Phish show, and a really nice hippie artist lady trying t…

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From Cartels to Combat Zones: Mapping the Global Drone Threat | Mike Monnik (Podcast #31) 1:14:09

5M ago1:14:09

1:14:09

Mike Monnik, CEO of DroneSec, breaks down the global drone war that’s unfolding in real time. From prison drops to battlefield swarms, Monnik reveals how DroneSec tracks drone threats across the world and delivers that intelligence to military and government clients—putting raw, open-source drone warfare data into actionable hands. DroneSec: https:…

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216: Outside Another Public Bathroom w/ Nick Kroll + Owen Thiele 1:17:20

5M ago1:17:20

1:17:20

Kroll fans rejoice, the king has returned! He brought along the very talented Owen Thiele and we met some really interesting strangers outside of the public bathroom in Griffith Park. Guests include a deadhead who walks way too much, a woman who worked for THE OBAMAS (yes, those Obamas), and a certified hunk who may be hiding some demons in his clo…

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From Memes to Military Tech: Investing in the New Defense Era | Patrick Blumenthal (Podcast #30) 1:21:54

5M ago1:21:54

1:21:54

Venture capitalist and Anomaly Fund founder Patrick Blumenthal joins the pod to talk frontier tech, reindustrialization, and the future of defense. (0:00) - Intro (0:52) - Defense Spending and Threats from China (2:18) - Patrick Blumenthal and the Anomaly Fund (4:21) - Defense-Focused Venture Investing (10:24) - Pulsar L and Counter-Drone Innovatio…

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How to Sell to the U.S. Military: OTAs, 4023 & Sole Source Deals | Travis James (Podcast #29) 1:10:24

6M ago1:10:24

1:10:24

Government contracting, but with zero fluff. In this episode, we sit down with Travis James—former Army contracting officer and now Head of Contracts at Fortera—for a brutally practical breakdown of how to actually win defense contracts. From underused authorities like 10 USC 4023 to what really happens behind the scenes with sole source justificat…

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From Iraq to AI Drones: How War Has Changed (And How It Hasn’t) | Chris Jennings & Mike Rodriguez 1:44:45

6M ago1:44:45

1:44:45

What does it feel like to be under fire? How are drones changing warfare? And why does modern military tech so often miss the mark? In this episode, special operations veterans Chris “Gus” Jennings (5th Special Forces Group) and Mike “Rod” Rodriguez (Marine Raider) join us for a raw, unfiltered conversation about battle, culture, and the evolution …

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The Brutal Reality of Building in Defense Tech | John Ferry (Podcast #27) 1:34:28

6M ago1:34:28

1:34:28

Most VC-backed defense startups stall, pivot, and eventually die. John Ferry has a few ideas why.As President of Trenchant Analytics and a deeply connected defense insider, Ferry pulls back the curtain on what’s really going on in GovCon. We talk pivot traps, why most military customers aren’t actually looking for innovation, and why founders need …

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From NASA to Startup: Building the Future of Satellite Imaging | Vishnu Sridhar (Podcast #26) 1:09:55

6M ago1:09:55

1:09:55

What if satellite imaging could go beyond RGB and actually see the molecular makeup of our planet? In this episode, the former NASA engineer turned co-founder and CEO breaks down how his startup, Matter Intelligence, is creating a new class of earth observation sensors that go beyond RGB to capture the molecular makeup of the planet. We talk about …

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215: Our Creepiest Random Guest Ever! (w/ Katie Marovitch) 1:17:30

6M ago1:17:30

1:17:30

215: Katie Marovitch from the Dropout world joins the pod to find a brand new cast of strangers to interview on the street. And only one of them is a total creepy weirdo! The rest of the guests are wonderful and include a talented sensitive poet who needs that extra push to put himself out there, a pair of teen fraternal twins, and two medical stud…

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From Combat Zones to Satellites: The Future of Earth Intelligence | Luke Fischer (Podcast #25) 1:19:41

7M ago1:19:41

1:19:41

Luke Fischer is the Co-Founder and CEO of SkyFi, an industry-leading Earth Observation marketplace company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Before co-founding SkyFi, Luke was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Shield Capital, focusing on investing in Space, Autonomy, AI, and Cyber. Prior to joining Shield Capital, he led Government Operations at Joby A…

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The Future of Defense Tech Investing | Jackson Moses (Podcast #24) 1:15:42

7M ago1:15:42

1:15:42

A proven serial entrepreneur and early defense tech investor, Jackson Moses currently serves as the Founder and Managing Partner of Silent Ventures, an early stage venture firm that invests in exceptional founders building unrivaled aerospace, defense, and national security startups. He also founded and manages Silent Capital, a private syndicate t…

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214: The End of Capitalism w/ Ben and Emil 1:22:05

7M ago1:22:05

1:22:05

214: Past guest cohosts Ben Cahn and Emil DeRosa return for a fantastic episode with incredible random strangers on the streets of Los Angeles. Guests include a young TikTok dancer trying to make it in the city of dreams, a video game voice actor who has some problems with the current political administration, and a guy who recently started monetiz…

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Laser Weapons, Defense Startups, Reshoring U.S. Manufacturing | Michael LaFramboise (Podcast #23) 1:24:44

7M ago1:24:44

1:24:44

Michael LaFramboise is the co-founder and CEO of Aurelius Systems, a defense technology startup building the next generation of autonomous counter-UAS. Their premier product, the Archimedes Laser Sentinel, combines high-powered directed energy with edge-deployed advanced control for unparalleled point-defense capabilities.TOPICS (0:00) Intro (1:06)…

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America’s Intelligence Wake-Up Call | Simone Ledeen (Podcast #22) 48:48

7M ago48:48

48:48

Simone Ledeen has served in various U.S. Government and business leadership positions, most recently as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy. Her prior US Government work, including on multiple overseas deployments, influenced key counterterrorism activities, intelligence collection and analysis, as well as military info…