'Leapfrogging' Diplomacy: Dr. Nadia Schadlow

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1. 

   S1 · E153 · 15 Jul 2026 · 59 min

   Testing the Transatlantic Security Pact: Dr. Alina Polyakova & Peter Rough

   Michael is joined by Dr. Alina Polyakova, President and CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis, and Peter Rough, Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute, to discuss how the recent NATO Summit in Ankara landed. The two explore the hidden friction points undercutting transatlantic unity, from software interoperability gaps to trade and digital policy disputes. They also focus on how Ukraine's decentralized, software-driven "operating system" has transformed Russia's immense geographic mass into highly exposed vulnerabilities, and how the sudden passing of…

2. 

   S1 · E152 · 8 Jul 2026 · 44 min

   The New Era of Global Espionage: Anthony Vinci

   Michael speaks with Anthony Vinci, former career intelligence officer and the first Chief Technology Officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. They discuss Anthony's new book, "The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America", which explores how artificial intelligence and intensive competition with China have transformed modern spycraft. Anthony explains his forecast where "machines are going to spy on machines," rendering legacy counterterrorism and Cold War operations obsolete. He warns that adversarial surveillance strategy now…

3. 

   S1 · E151 · 1 Jul 2026 · 56 min

   The Geopolitical Stakes of Frontier AI: Dr. Dr. Divyansh Kaushik

   Special guest host Klon Kitchen, Managing Director for the Global Technology Policy Practice at Beacon Global Strategies, is joined by Dr. Divyansh Kaushik, machine learning expert and BGS Vice President, to analyze the trajectory of frontier artificial intelligence. They explore the rapid shift to reasoning models like Anthropic's Mythos, which autonomously solve complex software problems and uncover deep cybersecurity risks. They also discuss "recursive self-improvement"—the threshold where AI begins autonomously coding and training its own next-generation pipelines—as well as the…

4. 

   S1 · E150 · 24 Jun 2026 · 44 min

   Deciphering the Iran Ceasefire: Amb. Jeffrey Feltman

   Andrew Shapiro is joined by Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman, whose distinguished diplomatic career includes serving as U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. Amb. Feltman, now a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, discusses the fragile state of the U.S.–Iran ceasefire and progress toward talks for a long-term diplomatic agreement. He assesses Iran's core objectives, the strategic sidelining of Israel, and how Tehran's survival alters the calculus for Russia and China in global geopolitics. Amb. Feltman also maps out…

5. 

   S1 · E149 · 17 Jun 2026 · 51 min

   Backyard Hegemony - Reasserting U.S. Influence in the Western Hemisphere: David Shedd

   Michael is joined by David Shedd, former Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and a veteran intelligence officer, for a comprehensive look at the shifting geopolitical dynamics across Latin America. David discusses the structural collapse of Cuba and the outlook for U.S. intervention, the delicate execution of the administration's plan for Venezuela, and the profound strategic challenges posed by Chinese investments in the U.S. backyard. He also explores the sharp friction points surfacing within the U.S.–Mexico relationship and the reality of behind-the-scenes intelligence…

6. 

   S1 · E147 · 31 May 2026 · 42 min

   The Price of Peace in Iran: Richard Nephew

   Michael is joined by Richard Nephew, Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University and former Director for Iran at the National Security Council, to examine the fragile state of the U.S.–Iran ceasefire and the looming terms of a potential memorandum of understanding (MOU). Richard shares his concerns about the current trajectory of negotiations, warning that Washington is at risk of overpaying with massive sanctions relief without securing a durable, verifiable nuclear agreement. Richard also helps unravel the strategic and economic fallout of the crisis, examining the potential long-term…

7. 

   S1 · E146 · 27 May 2026 · 56 min

   Reading Between the Lines - What's Hidden in the New Iran Agreement: Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs and Rich Goldberg

   Michael is joined by Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs, Senior Fellow and Director of the Keystone Defense Initiative at the Hudson Institute, and Rich Goldberg, Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to pull back the curtain on the still-unreleased U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding to end the war. They explore the hidden risks of a premature diplomatic off-ramp, with Dr. Heinrichs and Mr. Goldberg analyzing why a partial deal could squander the historic geopolitical momentum built up over weeks of military pressure. Finally, they map out a definitive theory of victory,…

8. 

   S1 · E142 · 20 May 2026 · 1 hr 2 min

   Operation Epic Fury 2?: Adm. Robert Harward

   Michael Allen is joined by Admiral (Ret.) Robert "Bob" Harward, former Deputy Commander of CENTCOM and a retired Navy SEAL, for an intensely candid look at what he believes the ultimate end state of the Iran conflict should look like. Drawing on his distinguished military career and the unique perspective of having lived in Tehran during his youth, Admiral Harward rejects the cautious consensus of Washington skeptics. Instead, he doubles down on the strategic necessity of driving toward total regime change, arguing that the U.S. holds a historic opportunity to decisively alter the global…

9. 

   S1 · E144 · 15 May 2026 · 53 min

   Special Episode - The Political Firestorm at 10 Downing Street: Dr. Alan Mendoza

   Michael is joined by Dr. Alan Mendoza, Chief Advisor for Global Affairs for the U.K.'s Reform Party, to explain the political firestorm engulfing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party. Dr. Mendoza provides an insider's look at the mounting pressure on Starmer and the momentum behind the Reform Party and firebrand Nigel Farage following recent local election results. He explores the last decade of tectonic shifts in British politics—from the decline of the Conservative Party to the potential for a radical hybrid coalition that could reshape the country's leadership. Dr. Mendoza…

10. 

    S1 · E143 · 13 May 2026 · 39 min

    Trump's Beijing Detour & China's Role in the Iran Endgame: Craig Singleton

    Michael is joined by Craig Singleton, Senior Director of the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to preview the long-delayed summit between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week. With the war in Iran looming over the meeting, Craig discusses whether Beijing will leverage its influence over Tehran as a bargaining chip or continue to provide the regime with a critical economic lifeline. He also focuses on the unbalanced dependencies that define the U.S.-China relationship—from the weaponization of trade to the national security risks posed by Chinese…