Rephonic
Artwork for Brussels Sprouts
Russia
Ukraine
NATO
European Union
China
United States
Germany
Iran
Transatlantic Relations
Donald Trump
Transatlantic Security
Turkey
North Korea
Syria
Trump Administration
France
U.s.-Russia Relations
Vladimir Putin
Moldova
Center For a New American Security

Small bites on Transatlantic Security, NATO, the EU, Russia, and all things Europe. Hosted by Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend at the Center for a New American Security.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes222Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Brussels Sprouts

Latest Episodes

This week, the Allies met for the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, in what was billed as a summit of low expectations. President Donald Trump once again created headlines with public comments about Greenland and criticism of European allies for failin... more

The past month has featured a series of major transatlantic gatherings that together tell an important story about where the alliance is headed. At the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Sweden, allies focused on strengthening Europe's role within NAT... more

YouTube

On June 22, United Kingdom (UK) prime minister Keir Starmer announced that he would resign as leader of the Labour Party and leave the premiership. Starmer had faced mounting pressure to hand the position over to a new leader after local elections in... more

YouTube

Today's episode comes from the CNAS Annual Conference held last week in Washington, D.C. The theme of this year's conference was “New Rules,” and nowhere is that more evident than in the transatlantic relationship. As Europe takes on greater responsi... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Russian Roulette
Russian RouletteCenter for Strategic and International Studies
Net Assessment
Net AssessmentThe Stimson Center
The President’s Inbox
The President’s InboxCouncil on Foreign Relations
The Foreign Affairs Interview
The Foreign Affairs InterviewForeign Affairs Magazine

Recent Guests

Benedetta Berti
Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Episode: Prospects for Ukraine and a Look Ahead to Ankara
Kurt Volker
Advisory Board co-chair for BGR Group; former US Ambassador to NATO and US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations
BGR Group
Episode: Prospects for Ukraine and a Look Ahead to Ankara
Tom Wright
Senior Fellow at the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Technology
Brookings Institution
Episode: Getting the Brits Ready to Fight
Laurent Bili
Ambassador of France to the European Union
France
Episode: Brussels Sprouts Live: Four Ambassadors Reimagine the Transatlantic Relationship
Jesper Møller Sørensen
Ambassador of Denmark
Denmark
Episode: Brussels Sprouts Live: Four Ambassadors Reimagine the Transatlantic Relationship
Urban Ahlin
Ambassador of Sweden
Sweden
Episode: Brussels Sprouts Live: Four Ambassadors Reimagine the Transatlantic Relationship
Mara Karlin
Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Professor of Practice at Johns Hopkins SAIS
Brookings Institution; Johns Hopkins University SAIS
Episode: U.S. Posture Changes and the Future of European Defense Planning
Jeff Edmonds
President of True North Policy; adjunct fellow with CNAS; long-time intelligence veteran
True North Policy / CNAS
Episode: Window of Opportunity? Deterrence and Moscow’s Calculus
Justyna Gotkowska
Deputy Director at the Centre for Eastern Studies, Head of Security and Defence Department
Centre for Eastern Studies
Episode: U.S. Military Posture and Implications for European Security

Hosts

Andrea Kendall-Taylor
Host focused on European and transatlantic security, CNAS
Jim Townsend
Co-host focusing on NATO and European security perspectives, CNAS

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 184 ratings
  • Challenge of NATO

    This could be a great podcast but fails to deliver every time. I just listened to an interview of four European ambassadors (6-17-26).They are clueless beyond belief. They were all offended over Greenland yet their solution is to form a group to discuss the strategic importance of Greenland and how to defend it. In 2015, NATO declared the strategic importance of Greenland and Denmark completely failed to defend its territory. They want discussions to be private so they can continue their decade... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jim from Silicon Valley
    United Statesa month ago
  • Carney’s Challenge

    The schizophrenia of the guests was amazing to listen to. As much as these guys had contempt for Trump, they finally admitted that Europe unilaterally disarmed militarily. They failed to mention that Europe is de-industrializing, destroying their economies and turning over their sovereignty to Islam. Yet, they laughably claimed that Europe has the resources, industrial base and will to change. There is little evidence to support this. No country can just turn on defense production. For the past ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Jim from Silicon Valley
    United States5 months ago
  • Helpful but inaudible overview

    I agree with previous reviews that the guests are great and grounded in data, but that’s a moot point when they’re so hard to hear. Please do audio checks.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    TommyJWFresh
    United States6 months ago
  • Technical issues

    You need to fix the microphone of your guests

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JanMasaryk
    United States6 months ago
  • Biased much?

    I don’t think that Andrea and her cohost could be any more biased toward a particular political persuasion—even if it’s covered with a candy coating of “but wouldn’t you say…” or “yes, but what about our European partners’ concerns” to maintain a modicum of neutrality.

    That being said, the guest speakers were several episodes were excellent in that they grounded the conversation with less ideology and more facts.

    TL;DR - ignore the moderators, listen to the guest speakers, and pinch your nose... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bluelabeldrinker
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The hosts sometimes appear biased toward a particular political perspective.
The guests are excellent and grounded in data, though audio quality can be an issue.
Strong roster of high-profile guests and timely topics on NATO and Europe.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#219
Finland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Prospects for Ukraine and a Look Ahead to Ankara
Q: How important is the step-back from negotiations with Iran as a model for understanding Europe's approach to negotiations with Russia, and what changes in mediation stance matter most?
Europe should emphasize a realistic, persistent approach that prioritizes deterrence and European-led defense coordination, while maintaining channels for dialogue where it serves strategic aims. The key is not to abandon diplomacy, but to ensure Europe builds its own leverage and does not rely solely on external mediation, using NATO and EU tools to shape outcomes.
Prospects for Ukraine and a Look Ahead to Ankara
Q: Do you think that optimism from the G7 about a tougher stance on Ukraine is warranted, or should allies reserve judgment until they see concrete policy changes?
The optimism should be tempered; while there is recognition of on-ground gains by Ukraine and a toughening rhetoric at times, actual policy shifts are slow and uneven. The most important signal is continued military and economic support for Ukraine and a credible, long-term plan rather than dramatic rhetoric alone.
U.S. Military Posture and Implications for European Security
Q: What are the implications of the US stepping back from a leadership role for NATO and how might European allies respond, especially ahead of Ankara Summit and NATO 3.0 discussions?
Doug argues that this shift could be a decisive pivot point, pressuring European allies to assume greater responsibility for conventional deterrence and alliance cohesion. He notes that the delay or ambiguity around future force posture may compel Europe to accelerate planning for independent or semi-independent defense capabilities and to renegotiate burden-sharing and alliance command dynamics.
U.S. Military Posture and Implications for European Security
Q: Justyna, dig in on how the Poland debate has evolved and what damage to trust in the US as an ally this episode caused in Polish public and political circles.
Justyna explains that Polish discourse is split: some see a need to deepen European cooperation and reduce reliance on the US, while others view the US as still the strongest guarantor of security in the region. Public trust has declined due to the back-and-forth signals about troop presence and deterrence commitments, prompting calls for more independent European defense initiatives while maintaining strong ties with Washington.
Can Europe (Ever) Defend Itself?
Q: Is it plausible, in your view, that Russia could try something like this?
Yes, the Russian military has expanded significantly and could feasibly prepare for such operations sooner than most may think, especially if the ongoing war with Ukraine concludes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Brussels Sprouts

What is Brussels Sprouts about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show provides concise, European-forward analysis of transatlantic security, NATO, and EU policy, often framing geopolitical tensions around Russia, China, and the Middle East through a NATO-centric lens. Episodes frequently feature high-profile think tank and policy voices from Europe and North America, offering strategic outlooks on European autonomy, deterrence, defense spending, and alliance cohesion. Noteworthy is the consistent emphasis on practical steps for Europe to strengthen its strategic autonomy, harness European industry and capabilities, and maintain a credible deterrent in a shifting global order. The format tends toward expert-driven discussions with a focus on policy implications for defense, diplomacy, and alliance go... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Brussels Sprouts?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Brussels Sprouts. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Brussels Sprouts and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Brussels Sprouts get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Brussels Sprouts, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Brussels Sprouts?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Brussels Sprouts, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Brussels Sprouts have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Brussels Sprouts has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Brussels Sprouts?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Brussels Sprouts:

1. Russian Roulette
2. War on the Rocks
3. Net Assessment
4. The President’s Inbox
5. The Foreign Affairs Interview

How many episodes of Brussels Sprouts are there?

Brussels Sprouts launched 9 years ago and published 222 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Brussels Sprouts?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Brussels Sprouts?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Brussels Sprouts from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Brussels Sprouts?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Brussels Sprouts. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Brussels Sprouts?

Recent guests on Brussels Sprouts include:

1. Benedetta Berti
2. Kurt Volker
3. Tom Wright
4. Laurent Bili
5. Jesper Møller Sørensen
6. Urban Ahlin
7. Mara Karlin
8. Jeff Edmonds

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days