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

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
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Latest Episodes

As the war in Ukraine rages on, Ukraine has struggled this summer with a munitions shortage. With U.S. supplies strained by the war with Iran, European governments are having a hard time filling the gap, both because of concerns about ensuring their ... more

Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe made a highly unusual visit to Moscow this week. Although we don’t know with certainty everything that was discussed, multiple reports now confirm that Ratcliffe went in part to warn Russia against ... more

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Brussels Sprouts is back after our summer hiatus, and we’re jumping right back into Ukraine.

Over the past several weeks, the war has entered a more dynamic and dangerous phase. Ukraine has expanded its campaign deep inside Russia, striking military... more

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On July 15th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed now–former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, one of the architects of Ukraine’s technological transformation on the battlefield. His abrupt dismissal sparked protests in Kyiv and other ... more

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Recent Guests

Melinda Haring
Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center; CEO of Kensington Global
Atlantic Council / Kensington Global
Episode: Ukraine's Command Shake-Up: Fedorov Out, Drapatyi In
Nicole Grajewski
Non-resident scholar in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; tenure track assistant professor at Sciences Po
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Sciences Po
Episode: Forecasting the Future of the Axis of Upheaval: The View from Moscow
Marcin Kaczmarski
Lecturer of Central and East European Studies at University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
Episode: Forecasting the Future of the Axis of Upheaval: The View from Moscow
Kadri Liik
Visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe; former director of Estonia's Center for Defence and Security
Carnegie Europe; Estonia's Center for Defence and Security
Episode: Forecasting the Future of the Axis of Upheaval: The View from Moscow
Ian Brzezinski
Resident senior fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Policy
Atlantic Council / Scowcroft Center
Episode: Europe Stepping Up and the United States Stepping Back
Torrey Taussig
Director of the Transatlantic Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center; former Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council
Scowcroft Center / NSC
Episode: Europe Stepping Up and the United States Stepping Back
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

Hosts

Andrea Kendall-Taylor
Host of Brussels Sprouts
Jim Townsend
Co-host of Brussels Sprouts

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 184 ratings
  • Jim is frustrating

    The guests are often wonderful; Andrea is a provocative host, but Jim drives me nuts. It’s clear he has lots of preconceived notions about topics which make him animated and domineering when guests disagree with him.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Hank Kingsley
    United Statesa month ago
  • 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 States3 months 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 States7 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 States8 months ago
  • Technical issues

    You need to fix the microphone of your guests

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JanMasaryk
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the breadth of European and transatlantic security perspectives.
Audio quality and host balance are commonly noted as areas for improvement.
Guests are consistently data-driven and well-informed.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#174
Poland/News
Apple Podcasts
#232
Ukraine/News
Apple Podcasts
#235
Denmark/News
Apple Podcasts
#249
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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Brussels Sprouts

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

High-level discussions focus on Transatlantic security, NATO, the EU, and European geopolitics, with frequent dives into defense posture, alliance cohesion, and strategic autonomy. Episodes feature policy experts, diplomats, and think-tank analysts offering nuanced takes on Ukraine, Russia, Iran, and EU defense integration, often weighing US leadership against Europe's growing defense capabilities. The show stands out for its data-driven guests and practical governance perspectives, plus a willingness to challenge conventional alliance narratives while keeping complex security topics accessible for policy professionals and informed listeners.

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1. Russian Roulette
2. Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. Geopolitics Decanted with Dmitri Alperovitch
5. ChinaPower

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.

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What guests have appeared on Brussels Sprouts?

Recent guests on Brussels Sprouts include:

1. Melinda Haring
2. Nicole Grajewski
3. Marcin Kaczmarski
4. Kadri Liik
5. Ian Brzezinski
6. Torrey Taussig
7. Benedetta Berti
8. Kurt Volker

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