In this episode of "Students Talk Security," host Andre Rainville '27 discusses politics, freedom, and totalitarianism with the distinguished Dr. Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat. Born in Havana in 1965, Gutierrez-Boronat is a renowned author, spokesperson for the Cuban Democratic Directorate, and a zealous advocate for democratic change in Cuba. With his expertise deeply rooted in the study of Cuba, Latin American politics, and international relations, he brings invaluable insights into the global str...
May 06, 2025•1 hr
William C. Wohlforth is the Daniel Webster Professor of Government at Dartmouth. He is the author or editor of ten books and some 70 articles and book chapters on topics ranging from the Cold War and its end to unipolarity, Russian foreign policy, and contemporary U.S. grand strategy. His most recent book, coauthored with Jill Kastner, is A Measure Short of War: A Brief History of Great Power Subversion (Oxford 2025). Visit NDISC: www.ndisc.nd.edu *** The views and opinions expressed by the auth...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 28 min
In this episode of the Students Talk Security Podcast, host Colleen Brennan interviews Major Justin Hanson, Notre Dame's 2024-2025 War College Fellow. Major Hanson shares his extensive background in the Marines, which began with his commissioning in 2011 and included roles such as a platoon commander and training assessment advisor in Afghanistan. Currently assigned as the Operations Officer and Assistant Inspector Instructor with the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Major Hanson discusses his jo...
Mar 05, 2025•46 min
Steve Pincus is Thomas Donnelly Professor of History at the University of Chicago. He has written widely on the History of Britain, the British Empire, comparative revolutions, and the relationship between institutions and economic growth. His books include "1688: The First Modern Revolution," "The Heart of the Declaration"; "Protestantism and Patriotism." He is just now completing "The British Empire: A Global History." He has held fellowships from the Harvard Society of Fellows, the American P...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 27 min
Join us in a seminar at the Notre Dame International Security Center as we welcome James Patton Rogers, a distinguished expert on drone warfare and the executive director of the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University. In today's episode, James delves deep into the proliferation of drones in modern warfare, exploring their historical evolution and strategic implications. Whether you're a student of international relations, a policy expert, or a concerned citizen, this episode ...
Jan 05, 2025•1 hr 26 min
In this episode of Students Talk Security, host Peyton Marrone sits down with Colonel Meghan Cumpston, who has dedicated over 21 years of her life to serving in the United States Army. Colonel Cumpston’s journey into military service began by accident, but it evolved into a passion and career that she couldn't have imagined for herself. Originally aspiring to be a doctor, Colonel Cumpston's life took an unexpected turn during her freshman year at Villanova University. A mistaken entrance led her...
Jan 02, 2025•29 min
In this episode of "Students Talk Security," NDISC Fellow Jack Lennon '25 welcomes Eric Connolly, a foreign language-enabled research analyst and project lead at Riverside Research, a notable nonprofit dedicated to advancing scientific research in areas including machine learning, biomedical engineering, and more, for the benefit of the US government and public interest. With a background as an educator and recipient of multiple accolades such as the Fulbright Scholarship and the Foreign Languag...
Nov 04, 2024•43 min
In this episode of "Outside the Box, "hosts Michael Desch and Jim Webb are joined by guest Doug Bandow to discuss the parallels between today’s conflict in Ukraine and the tumultuous year of 1968. The discussion unpacks President Biden's strategies in Ukraine, highlighting a lack of clear victory definition and the echoes of past U.S. foreign policy dilemmas. The panel explores how historical lessons apply to current geopolitical challenges, the initial moralizing of the conflict, and the broade...
Aug 07, 2024•51 min
Join Anne Griffin '26 and Notre Dame political science professor Dr. Rose Kelanic as they explore the nuances of U.S. foreign policy decisions, from balancing power in Asia to the implications of green energy investments on national security. Gain perspective on the clash between academia and policy worlds, navigating incentives and challenges in shaping public discourse. From industry competition to strategic trade theory, join us for in-depth analysis on key topics influencing global dynamics ...
Apr 15, 2024•59 min
In this episode of the Outside the Box podcast, host Dr. Michael Desch is joined by guests Dr. John Mearsheimer and Dr. Stephen Walt to discuss the taboo surrounding the Israel lobby. They highlight the historical backdrop of anti-Semitism in the West, conspiracy theories, and the tragic events of the Holocaust that make it challenging to discuss the lobby without triggering accusations of anti-Semitism. The guests also acknowledge that the lobby itself has used accusations of anti-Semitism to m...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 11 min
From the experiences and viewpoints of citizens growing up in the global South to the challenges faced by policymakers in understanding the complex dynamics of a globalized world, we explore the interplay between economics, the environment, and social dynamics. Join us as we navigate through the nuanced thinking styles and biases that influence decision-making, drawing on insights from experts with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
Jan 04, 2024•42 min
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion against Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been likened to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The comparison is apt, but NDISC Director Michael Desch asks us to truly reckon with it. He did so though his article in Harper's Magazine (https://harpers.org/archive/2023/10/the-tragedy-of-volodymyr-zelensky/), which prompted today's conversation between Dr. Desch and Senator Jim Webb.
Oct 10, 2023•44 min
Mike and Jim talk with former Lieutenant General Newbold about the recent actions of Senator Tuberville to block the president of the United States' selection of a new Commandant of the Marine Corps. In doing so, they compare the military's cultural history to today's political divide and attempt to uncover how and why they have changed.
Aug 17, 2023•1 hr 3 min
In this episode of "Outside the Box," co-hosts Dr. Michael Desch and Sen. Jim Webb welcome Christopher Layne to discuss his recent co-authored article "Why Are We in Ukraine?" published in "Harper's Magazine" in June 2023. Christopher Layne is University Distinguished Professor of International Affairs and the Robert M. Gates Chair in National Security at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. His fields of interest are international relations theory, great...
Jul 13, 2023•55 min
An Interview with Ambassador Nancy Jo Powell by Pranav Guntupalli Interview Summary : Ambassador Nancy Jo Powell speaks about the history of US relations with South Asia including the death of American ambassador Arnold Raphel in 1988, nuclear tension in the subcontinent, and re-emerging non-alignment in India’s foreign policy today. She also recounts her experience in the foreign service and shares advice for aspiring diplomats. Biography: Ambassador Nancy Jo Powell is one of the most distingui...
Apr 24, 2023•34 min
An Interview with Chaplain Col. Billy Graham of the US Army by Pranav Guntupalli Interview Summary: In this episode of the Students Talk Security podcast, Chaplain Billy Graham speaks about his military experience and the uniqueness of chaplaincy corp. Billy explains the crucial role of a Chaplain when a soldier dies in active duty, and shares his advice for ROTC students on how to cope with grief and stay "spiritually fit". Through personal anecdotes, Billy exposes a deeply human side of the mi...
Mar 08, 2023•41 min
Episode summary – In this episode of Students Talk Security, Notre Dame senior and NDISC Undergraduate Fellow Benjamin Erhardt sits down with retired Navy fighter pilot, admiral, and fellow podcaster James A. “Sandy” Winnefeld, Jr. Their discussion covers topics ranging from the Admiral’s storied career – including his time as unit commander of the USS Enterprise during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and his tenure as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – to his insights on the crisis in Ukra...
Dec 06, 2022•34 min
An Interview with Major Gregory M. Scott of the US Marine Corp by Pranav Guntupalli Interview Summary: In the first episode of the "Meet the NDISC fellows" series, Pranav Guntupalli speaks to the NDISC War College fellow, Major Gregory Scott, about his military service. They discuss his time in Okinawa (Japan) and in South America with the Embassy Security group, and Maj. Scott shares the insights he gained from his time being stationed in different countries around the world. Biography: Major G...
Nov 09, 2022•30 min
In this episode of Outside the Box, co-host (and six-time novelist) Jim Webb switches to the interviewee seat to join University of Notre Dame English Professor, Iraq War Army veteran, and novelist Roy Scranton to talk about novels and war. In a wide-ranging discussion, the authors of Fields of Fire and War Porn discuss how their experiences in war led them to become novelists, the creative writing process, and how fiction can convey truths about war in a way that history cannot. Recorded: April...
Apr 29, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Roseanne W. McManus is an Associate Professor in the Political Science Department at the Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on signaling and coercion in an international security context. She received her B.A. from the University of Maryland and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before pursuing an academic career, she was a Senior Analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency. Recorded: April 19, 2022
Apr 21, 2022•41 min
In this episode of ‘Students Talk Security’, Dr. Farr, the leading expert in the interconnection between international religious freedom, human rights, and United States National Security will discuss his work on the implications rights internationally have on defense and security domestically. His work has led to not only scholarship and legislative and State Department action, but to the creation of the Religious Freedom Institute, the leading scholarly institution on global religious freedom....
Apr 14, 2022•36 min
Matt Duss is a congressional staffer and has worked with Senator Bernie Sanders since 2017. Previously he was the President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, and a national security and international policy analyst at the Center for American Progress. Recorded: March 29, 2022
Apr 11, 2022•1 hr 29 min
This episode will cover how the Senate can influence foreign policy in the face of new threats and increasing executive power, and what an NSA for a Senator sees as the biggest future threats to American security and power. Interviewer: Christopher Libero Interviewee: Thomas Mancinelli
Apr 01, 2022•35 min
In this episode of Outside the Box, Mike and Jim engage LtGen Gregory Newbold, former Director of Operations (J-3) for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a hard-hitting and wide-ranging discussion of proposed modernization of the U.S. Marine Corps in the XXIst Century, the role of the U.S. Congress in shaping the development of the armed forces, the legitimate avenues of military dissent, and how to grow a more effective general officer corps for the U.S. military in the years to come. Recorded: Marc...
Mar 18, 2022•58 min
Major Jeremy Grunert is an officer in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. In this capacity, he has served as a military prosecutor and legal advisor at assignments in Afghanistan, Qatar, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Major Grunert is currently assigned to the United States Air Force Academy, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Law. He instructs the Academy’s core “Law for Air Force Officers” course and is the course di...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr 34 min
Šumit Ganguly is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and holds the Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is a specialist on the international and comparative politics of South Asia. His most recent book (edited with M. Chris Mason) is The Future of US-India Security Cooperation (Manchester University Press, 2021).
Jan 21, 2022•27 min
In 2014 Lt. Gen. Daniel Bolger published his book Why We Lost: A General’s Inside Account of the Iraq and Afghan Wars. Seven years before the fall of Kabul, he had already foreseen the chaotic end of that campaign in the Global War on Terrorism. Bolger says there is much blame to go around but focuses his fire on his profession and colleagues: the senior leadership of the U.S. military. In this episode, General Bolger joins Jim and Mike to discuss why we lost and what we need to do to win our wa...
Dec 03, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Bear F. Braumoeller is Professor in the Department of Political Science at The Ohio State University and the holder of the Baronov and Timashev Chair in Data Analytics. He conducts research in the areas of international relations, political methodology, and complexity and human behavior. He received his B.A. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and he held faculty positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Harvard University before mo...
Dec 03, 2021•1 hr 28 min
The episode considers the future of counterterrorism in the context of a Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Beginning with a discussion of how the Taliban was able to regain control so swiftly, the podcast draws on the counterterrorism knowledge and expertise of the FBI’s Former Assistant Director for Counterterrorism Mike McGarrity to explore how the landscapes of counterterrorism and counterintelligence have shifted. Interviewer: Nick Carter Interviewee: Mike McGarrity Official Title: Former Assi...
Nov 24, 2021•34 min
Jayita Sarkar is an Assistant Professor at Boston University Pardee School of Global Studies, where she teaches diplomatic and political history. Her research has been published in the Journal of Cold War Studies, Cold War History, International History Review, Journal of Strategic Studies, Nonproliferation Review, and elsewhere. Her first book, Ploughshares & Swords: India's Nuclear Program in the Global Cold War (Cornell University Press, forthcoming, 2022) examines the first forty years o...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 25 min
