After more than five years, ASPI is saying goodbye to the Policy, Guns and Money podcast. With over 200 episodes featuring interviews with experts from around the world, we are pleased to have brought you discussions on so many important topics in security and foreign affairs and hope you have taken something away from our many interviews. The podcast has discussed defence capabilities and budgets, mis and disinformation, cyber and technology policy, Russia and Ukraine, climate, China, counterte...
Apr 10, 2024•3 min
This week, Dr Alex Caples speaks to Emily Harding from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies about offensive cyber operations and how to respond. They discuss how governments are integrating cyber operations with more traditional military planning, as well as responses to cyber-attacks, and how to deter in the cyber domain. With more than 2 billion people in over 70 countries expected to vote this year, 2024 has been dubbed the year of elections. To explore election related foreign ...
Feb 23, 2024•49 min
This week, David Wroe hosts a discussion on the latest from Myanmar, where the military regime that seized power in 2021 has recently enforced conscription amid plummeting military morale and steady pressure from armed resistance groups. ASPI’s Nathan Ruser and the Wilson Center’s Lucas Myers talk about how a range of opposition groups are making military gains, and where the civil conflict is likely to go in the coming months. ASPI senior analysts Blake Johnson and Euan Graham join David Wroe t...
Feb 16, 2024•51 min
In this special three-part episode: David Wroe speaks to economist, lawyer and author, Misha Zelinsky, about his new novel ‘The Sun Will Rise’, which is inspired by his experience covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for the Australian Financial Review. They discuss the overarching theme of the book and its characters, as well as the message Misha hopes people will take away from the book. They also discuss the latest developments in the war, the risk of war fatigue, and why democracies must co...
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 26 min
In this special three-part episode: Alex Bristow speaks to Brigadier General Linell Letendre, the Dean of Faculty at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. They discuss the long-standing Australia-US cadet exchange programs and the importance of STEM in military education. They also discuss the repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy in the US, and how the culture has changed in the Air Force. Linell also discusses her use of the #warfighterscholar handle on social media, ...
Dec 22, 2023•1 hr 3 min
In today's episode: Following the recent AI Safety Summit hosted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Bart Hogeveen speaks with the European Union's Senior Envoy for Digital to the United States Gerard de Graaf. They discuss the EU's approach to AI regulation and how it differs from the US and other governments. They also discuss which uses of AI the EU thinks should be limited or prohibited and why, as well as provide suggestions for Australia's efforts to regulate AI. Finally, Alex Caples, s...
Dec 15, 2023•40 min
What do Australia’s parliamentarians think about cybersecurity and critical technology? In this special episode, David Wroe speaks to ASPI Chair and former parliamentarian Gai Brodtmann about the landmark study she led which canvasses the views of parliamentarians on cyber security and critical technologies. They discuss the results of this ASPI study, including gaps in knowledge, differences of opinion and unexpected responses, and how policymakers can keep pace with technological developments ...
Dec 08, 2023•23 min
On this week’s episode, Justin Bassi speaks with Ian Hall, Professor of International Relations at Griffith University and a renowned India expert. Justin and Ian discuss the recent Ministerial Dialogue between Australia and India in New Delhi – which was was only the second 2+2 dialogue between the two countries’ foreign and defence ministers. They talk about the priority given to maritime security, the East and South China Seas, the Pacific and climate change. They also cover India’s stance on...
Dec 02, 2023•28 min
In a special episode this week, ASPI's Director of Defence Strategy Bec Shrimpton speaks to Australia's Defence Space Commander, Air Vice Marshal Catherine Roberts, and Assistant Secretary of Strategic Plans in Defence Space Command, Jacinta Carroll. Our guests detail the importance of the space domain and offer an update on the Defence Strategic Review and the role of space in Defence's integrated and focused force. They also discuss Defence Space Command's Joint Commercial Operation's announce...
Nov 24, 2023•35 min
Last week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting in Cook Islands, where he and the Prime Minister of Tuvalu announced a major new agreement – the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union. In this episode, David Wroe speaks with the ABC’s foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic about the significance of the agreement, its strategic importance to competition with Beijing, how the deal was done, and whether it can be replicated with other Pacific is...
Nov 17, 2023•42 min
This week Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese travelled to China to meet with President Xi Jinping. Amongst the backdrop of warming relations between the two countries they represent, David Wroe speaks with ASPI executive director Justin Bass and new ASPI fellow Ami Bagia, who previously sat on the Biden-Harris Administration's National Security Council as the Director for Countering Foreign Malign Influence and Information Integrity within the Democracy and Human Rights Directorate. They...
Nov 11, 2023•1 hr 6 min
This episode is all about AI, emerging technologies and China. Dr Alex Caples speaks to Simeon Gilding about his ASPI report ‘De-risking authoritarian AI: A balanced approach to protecting our digital ecosystems’. They discuss the risks of Chinese AI-enabled technologies, including through data theft, disruption and denial of services, and how nations should approach regulation of AI. David Wroe speaks to Dr Samantha Hoffman and Lilly Lee about the Metaverse and China. They discuss Beijing's app...
Nov 03, 2023•43 min
With Australian Prime Minister Albanese in Washington DC this week, and set to visit Beijing shortly after, Justin Bassi speaks to CNAS’s Lisa Curtis and ORF’s Dr Raji Pillai Rajagopalan for a special episode of the ASPI podcast. They discuss the significance of the two visits, and how PM Albanese should approach the upcoming meetings with President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. They also explore regional security in the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on India’s foreign policy and what Ind...
Oct 24, 2023•1 hr
This week it is all about Southeast Asia on the ASPI pod. To kick off, Gatra Priyandita speaks to Thomas Parks from The Asia Foundation about geopolitics in Southeast Asia. While there’s a lot of attention on the US-China rivalry and its implications for the region, Gatra and Tom focus on the different regional dynamics in Southeast Asia, including ASEAN, regional challenges and the relationships that countries like Australia and Japan have in the region and how they have changed. Zooming in on ...
Oct 20, 2023•50 min
‘Hacking for Cash’ is a new ASPI podcast series exploring state sponsored campaigns of cyber espionage for commercial gain. Throughout the series we talk to experts who were close to the negotiations that led to a 2015 agreement between the United States and China to refrain from supporting and engaging in ‘hacking for cash’, as well as a G20 leaders’ commitment to stamp out cyber-enabled intellectual property (IP) theft. The series features conversations with cybersecurity experts on state-spon...
Oct 13, 2023•32 min
In the third episode of our special series from the sidelines of the ASPI ‘Disruption and Deterrence’ conference, ASPI’s Alex Caples speaks to Sean Singleton, Partner & VP of Business Development at America’s Frontier Fund. They discuss innovation, challenges to government-industry collaboration on disruptive technologies and the origins and evolution of the US Defense Innovation Unit. Thanks for listening to the ASPI podcast. That’s all we have time for today, we’ll back with another episode so...
Oct 06, 2023•34 min
In this special episode, recorded on the sidelines of ASPI’s annual conference ‘Disruption and Deterrence’, Bec Shrimpton speaks with Dr Brad Roberts. Brad has served as director for the Centre for Global Security Research, and as policy director of the Obama administration's Nuclear Posture Review. Bec and Brad talk about the meaning of deterrence, what has historically made for good and bad deterrence, and what Australia and its allies can do to improve deterrence going forward. Guests: Bec Sh...
Sep 29, 2023•25 min
In this special episode, recorded on the sidelines of ASPI’s annual conference ‘Disruption and Deterrence’, David Wroe speaks with Kori Schake. As well as being Director of Foreign and Defense Policy at the American Enterprise Institute, Kori is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and a regular on the popular Deep State Radio podcast. David and Kori talk about the future of the international order, the state of American politics — from the perspective of a lapsed Republican — and Kori’s irrep...
Sep 19, 2023•27 min
This week, ASPI’s Executive Director, Justin Bassi speaks with Jason Healey, Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs specialising in cyber conflict, competition and cooperation. Jason wrote and edited the book ‘A Fierce Domain: Cyber Conflict, 1986-2012’ and has held a number of senior cyber security roles, including in the Pentagon, as a founding member of Joint Task Force - Computer Network Defense, and as Director for Cyber Infrastructure P...
Sep 04, 2023•38 min
As we fast approach ASPI’s 2023 conference on deterrence and disruption, this week’s podcast begins with a conversation between conference speakers Bec Shrimpton and Dr Ross Babbage about military, political and economic strategy. They discuss Dr Babbage’s new book ‘The Next Major War: Can the US and its Allies Win Against China?’ and the importance of net assessment to allied deterrence and defence strategy. Shifting to a more domestic focus, Dr John Coyne speaks to countering violent extremism...
Aug 28, 2023•36 min
Last month, Australia’s foreign and defence ministers hosted the U.S. secretaries of state and defense in Brisbane for the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN). Dr John Coyne and Dr Euan Graham join the podcast for Part Two of ASPI’s AUSMIN special to discuss the meeting’s outcomes with a focus on force posture cooperation, strategic geography and the importance of Northern Australia. Guests: Dr John Coyne: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/john-coyne Dr Euan Graham: https...
Aug 18, 2023•33 min
‘Hacking for Cash’ is a new ASPI podcast series exploring state sponsored campaigns of cyber espionage for commercial gain. Throughout the series we talk to experts who were close to the negotiations that led to a 2015 agreement between the United States and China to refrain from supporting and engaging in ‘hacking for cash’, as well as a G20 leaders’ commitment to stamp out cyber-enabled intellectual property (IP) theft. The series features conversations with cybersecurity experts on state-spon...
Aug 11, 2023•55 min
In this special episode of Policy, Guns and Money’s Bigger Picture series, Alex Bristow and Jennifer Parker from ASPI’s Defence, Strategy and National Security program sit down to discuss the upcoming AUSMIN meeting in Brisbane. They discuss the significance of this year’s meeting being held against the backdrop of the largest ever iteration of Exercise Talisman Sabre and explore some of the key outcomes they expect from the meeting. They also discuss the expansion of the alliance discussions to...
Jul 27, 2023•26 min
‘Hacking for Cash’ is a new ASPI podcast series exploring state sponsored campaigns of cyber espionage for commercial gain. Throughout the series we talk to experts who were close to the negotiations that led to a 2015 agreement between the United States and China to refrain from supporting and engaging in ‘hacking for cash’, as well as a G20 leaders’ commitment to stamp out cyber-enabled intellectual property (IP) theft. The series features conversations with cybersecurity experts on state-spon...
Jul 20, 2023•20 min
In May, ASPI released ‘Smooth sailing? Australia, New Zealand and the United States partnering in–and with–the Pacific islands’. The report detailed how Australia, New Zealand and the United States could improve security partnerships and coordination in the region. This week, ASPI’s Bec Shrimpton speaks to report authors Joanne Wallis and Anna Powles. They discuss the key recommendations from the report, including setting up an ASEAN-style forum for Pacific island nations, as well as the need fo...
Jul 17, 2023•46 min
‘Hacking for Cash’ is a new ASPI podcast series exploring state sponsored campaigns of cyber espionage for commercial gain. Throughout the series we talk to experts who were close to the negotiations that led to a 2015 agreement between the United States and China to refrain from supporting and engaging in ‘hacking for cash’, as well as a G20 leaders’ commitment to stamp out cyber-enabled intellectual property (IP) theft. The series features conversations with cybersecurity experts on state-spon...
Jul 07, 2023•54 min
This week, it’s all about the US-Australia alliance with conversations on Australia-US special operations forces cooperation and opportunities to strengthen the alliance through enhanced mutual understanding. Bec Shrimpton speaks to Chris Maier, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict in the US Department of Defense. They discuss the origin of special operations forces, the role they play in integrated deterrence and their ability to work across multiple ...
Jun 30, 2023•44 min
This week, the Australian Government released the Critical Minerals Strategy 2023 – 2030, which has four objectives, including building sovereign capability in critical minerals processing and creating diverse, resilient and sustainable supply chains through secure international partnerships. New ASPI analysis by the Honourable Kim Beazley and Ben Halton looks at the potential of one such partnership – AUKUS – to deliver on mineral diversification and address global supply chain vulnerabilities....
Jun 23, 2023•24 min
This week, ASPI’s Director of Cyber, Technology and Security Dr Alex Caples speaks to Hamish Hansford, who was recently appointed Deputy Secretary of Cyber and Infrastructure Security at the Department of Home Affairs. They discuss the links between cyber security, supply chain security and critical infrastructure, as well as the rise in ransomware attacks, including on hospitals, and lessons learned from the Colonial Pipeline attack. Alex asks Hamish about the amendments to the Security of Crit...
Jun 15, 2023•27 min
In April this year, the Australian Government released the Defence Strategic Review which set an agenda of ambitious reform to Defence’s posture and structure. ASPI’s Jen Parker speaks to the US Studies Centre’s Professor Peter Dean, who co-authored the review. They discuss defence strategy in the maritime domain and next steps following on from the DSR, including the Surface Fleet Review, uncrewed capabilities and addressing workforce challenges. Amidst questions being raised around India’s rel...
Jun 07, 2023•57 min
