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At the Water's Edge

WRKdefined Podcast Network
Iran
China
Russia
United States
Close Air Support
National Security
Ukraine
Drones
Artificial Intelligence
Pakistan
Foreign Policy
Defense Industrial Base
NATO
India
Tactical Air Control Party
Space Warfare
Trump's National Security Strategy
Mach Industries
National Council Of Resistance Of Iran
Donald Trump

The At the Water’s Edge Podcast explores national security and geopolitics from an insider’s perspective, looking at how national power, industrial policy, diplomacy, and military might shape our world and America’s place in it.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes57Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

Former State Department senior advisor and National Security Council official Negah Angha joins At the Water’s Edge to discuss what the war with Iran reveals about American strategy, alliances, and decision-making.

Angha explains how major national ... more

YouTube

This is Part 7 of The Escalation Trap, an ongoing series with Robert Pape of the University of Chicago tracking the war with Iran in real time.

This week, the Trump administration announced Project Freedom, an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz b... more

YouTube

Are the wars in Ukraine and Iran separate conflicts—or part of something larger?

In this episode of At the Water’s Edge, Scott sits down with Paul Poast, Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, to unpack his argument that we may already be... more

This is Part 6 of an ongoing series with Robert Pape (University of Chicago) tracking the Iran conflict in real time.

Over the past week, we saw renewed efforts to restart negotiations—including a Pakistan-backed diplomatic push—but no meaningful pr... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Negah Angha
Former senior advisor at the U.S. Department of State and National Security Council official under President Biden
King's College London (visiting fellow)
Episode: Former NSC Official: The Iran War Exposed America’s Broken Strategy | Negah Angha
Paul Poast
Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago; NYT/Atlantic coverage on world war concepts
University of Chicago
Episode: Are We Already in World War III? Ukraine, Iran, and the New Global Conflict | Paul Poast
John Kowalski
Major in the US Army First Special Forces Regiment, author of a paper on unmanned systems and Army Special Forces
US Army, Military Review
Episode: Special Forces Aren’t Ready for Drone Warfare | John Kowalski
Colin P. Clarke
Terrorism expert; executive director of the Soufan Center
Soufan Center
Episode: What Happens If Iran Loses Control of Its Terror Network? | Dr. Colin P. Clarke
Arash Azizi
Historian and Atlantic contributor
Atlantic
Episode: Why Iran’s Regime Isn’t About to Fall (And What Everyone Gets Wrong) | Arash Azizi
Tyler Saltsman
Founder and CEO of EdgeRunner AI
EdgeRunner AI
Episode: AI for Warfighters: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong | Tyler Saltsman
Robert Pape
Professor from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: We’re Nearing Stage 3 — And It May Be Irreversible | Robert Pape
Paul Lushenko
Chief strategist for the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIDA 401)
U.S. military
Episode: The Drone Threat Is Already Here
Fidel Amakye Owusu
CEO of DevSec Analytics Africa, geopolitical risk and security consultant in Africa
DevSec Analytics Africa
Episode: Coups, Wagner, and Jihadists: The Battle for the Sahel

Host

Scott
Host of At the Water's Edge

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 27 ratings
  • Thoughtfully challenging conventional wisdom

    Title says it all. My only concern is at times the host seems too deferential to interviewees, particularly the latest Israel-Gaza genocide episode. Both guests should have been challenged on their talking points not just try to justify their support for the flawed belligerents involved in the conflict.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Brovice
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate deep, analytical takes on security and strategy but some feel the host should challenge guests more rather than defer to their points.
Sponsorship alignments are welcomed when they reflect thoughtful, policy-focused discourse.
Guests tend to bring insider experience and rigorous perspectives, which helps ground discussions in real-world relevance.
The show's rigor and guest diversity are strengths, though pacing can be dense for newcomers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Former NSC Official: The Iran War Exposed America’s Broken Strategy | Negah Angha
Q: What role does Congress play in these decisions, and has it maintained sufficient oversight or ownership over wartime actions?
Congress plays a crucial oversight role and should be kept informed, but in practice the executive branch has often acted with limited decisive constraint, indicating a need for stronger congressional engagement and strategic accountability.
Former NSC Official: The Iran War Exposed America’s Broken Strategy | Negah Angha
Q: How has the Iran situation revealed strengths or weaknesses in alliance consultations and public communication?
It highlighted that while there is a formal consultation framework with allies, messaging often shifted and sometimes lacked cohesive, long-term strategy, which undermined confidence among partners and domestic audiences.
Former NSC Official: The Iran War Exposed America’s Broken Strategy | Negah Angha
Q: From your time working in the NSC and State Department, how are major decisions like going to war typically handled beyond the politicians who are elected?
Decisions are deliberated through a hierarchical, interagency process where information is gathered at the working level, vetted by regional and technical experts, and then reviewed by senior leadership to present a coherent set of options to the president, with considerations spanning diplomacy, alliance reactions, and public messaging.
Special Forces Aren’t Ready for Drone Warfare | John Kowalski
Q: How feasible is expanding the ODA from 12 to 14 and creating a full-time unmanned portfolio on the team?
It's a multi-year, resource-intensive shift requiring new training pipelines, centers of excellence, and careful manning, but the guest argues it's necessary given the evolving threat landscape and the growing importance of unmanned systems in both offensive and defensive operations.
Special Forces Aren’t Ready for Drone Warfare | John Kowalski
Q: Why does Special Forces need a dedicated unmanned systems MOS on the team rather than relying on a generic skill set?
Because drone operations span flying, ground, surface, and subsurface management, plus logistics, maintenance, and training for partners; having a focused MOS ensures consistent capability, sustainment, and integration with partner forces.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About At the Water's Edge

What is At the Water's Edge about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently covers national security and geopolitics through inside perspectives, often dissecting defense policy, industrial strategy, and military technology. Recent episodes blend analysis of escalation dynamics, drone warfare, defense procurement, and veteran affairs with on-the-ground anecdotes from pilots, officers, and policymakers. Notable is the willingness to tackle hard questions about civilian-military interfaces, industrial resilience, and the geopolitical implications of technology, while hosting guests who are practitioners, researchers, and veterans. This mix makes it valuable for listeners who want informed, practitioner-level insight into how power and policy shape global security outcomes.

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Which podcasts are similar to At the Water's Edge?

These podcasts share a similar audience with At the Water's Edge:

1. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
2. Real Time with Bill Maher
3. Background Briefing with Ian Masters
4. Prof G Markets
5. The Iran Breakdown with Mark Dubowitz

How many episodes of At the Water's Edge are there?

At the Water's Edge launched 3 years ago and published 57 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on At the Water's Edge?

Recent guests on At the Water's Edge include:

1. Negah Angha
2. Paul Poast
3. John Kowalski
4. Colin P. Clarke
5. Arash Azizi
6. Tyler Saltsman
7. Robert Pape
8. Paul Lushenko

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