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Artwork for NatSec Matters
Iran
China
Russia
United States
Ukraine
Israel
National Security
CIA
NATO
Venezuela
Artificial Intelligence
North Korea
Middle East
Taiwan
Syria
Hezbollah
Turkey
Cybersecurity
Trump Administration
Al-Qaeda

Formerly known as Intelligence Matters, the NatSec Matters podcast features former senior national security officials Michael Allen, Jeremy Bash, and Andrew Shapiro as they interview top leaders in national security, including intelligence officers, military leaders, and policymakers, on the most critical security challenges of our time. Their interviews offer insights into the world's most pressi... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes139Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for NatSec Matters

Latest Episodes

Michael is joined by Gen. (Ret.) Joseph Votel, former CENTCOM Commander, to examine the high-pressure maneuvering between Washington and Tehran amid the recently extended Mideast ceasefire. Gen. Votel warns of a looming "escalation trap" as the US an... more

Former NSC Director for Iran Richard Nephew returns to NatSec Matters to discuss the tactical and economic shifts in the Mideast conflict. Richard, a senior research scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, gives Michael a can... more

Michael is joined by Roger Zakheim, Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, and Rich Goldberg, Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to discuss the high-stakes blockade of Iranian ports by the US Navy.... more

Michael sits down with Admiral (Ret.) Chris Grady, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to break down the tactical evolution of the Iran conflict following President Trump's recent address to the nation. Admiral Grady provides an inside... more

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Recent Guests

Chris Grady
Admiral, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
US Navy
Episode: President Trump's Latest Ultimatum to Iran: Adm. Chris Grady
Matt Kroenig
Vice President for Geostrategy and Senior Director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council
Atlantic Council
Episode: Emergency Podcast - Decoding the President's Iran Address: Matt Kroenig
Seth Jones
President of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: Off-Ramp or Escalator - The Iranian Regime's Final Act?: Dr. Seth Jones
Yaakov Katz
Former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post; journalist and defense analyst
Jerusalem Post
Episode: Israel's Strategic Reset: Yaakov Katz
Clay Seigle
Analyst focusing on energy and security implications
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: The Hormuz Pressure Cooker and Oil Price Roulette: Clay Seigle & Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery
Michael Doran
Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East
Hudson Institute
Episode: Searching for Cracks in Iran's Core: Michael Doran
Joseph Votel
Former commander of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command
Former U.S. military officer
Episode: The CENTCOM Playbook for Iran?: Gen. Joseph Votel
Ryan Berg
Director of the Americas Program and Head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at CSIS
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: Eliminating 'El Mencho' & Re-Engineering the Americas: Dr. Ryan Berg
Gregory Brew
Senior analyst with the Eurasia Group's Energy, Climate and Resources team, focusing on the geopolitics of oil and gas and country analyst for Iran.
Eurasia Group
Episode: US-Iran Summit - Taming Mideast Volatility: Gregory Brew

Host

Michael Allen
Host of NatSec Matters, Beacon Global Strategies

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 463 ratings
  • Excellent podcast on current events with insights you don’t typically hear

    The deep dives with all the guests makes it very enjoyable to learn about current events from people with exceptional knowledge who have spent years in their respective fields. Would be great to hear about more domestic security issues, but I enjoy the excellent coverage of multiple theaters of operation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chadillac253
    United States3 months ago
  • Unlabeled reruns hold it back

    The podcast hosts and guests are fine for the topic, but timeliness and transparency are major opportunities. In fact, this podcast will post reruns of old episodes without any disclosure that it is a rerun in the title (or audio or description!). So, for example, you may listen to December’s rerun of an August episode with Craig Singleton and wonder why Craig keeps making forecasts about things in the past (“…through November”, “…this Fall”, etc.). Until a podcast successfully executes the bas... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Byrd Nick
    United States4 months ago
  • What a joke

    Surely they can’t be serious? Very entertaining though, fun to hear the excuses, justifications and contradictions they come up with. Not sure I’d want to hire those dudes to advise my business though :D

    Lots of hot air and conspiracies, it’s those evil Marxists pulling the strings behind the scenes :D

    Also, describing the current more liberal drug policies in Latin America as “failures” is a bit hypocritical without examining decades of hardline and military/police efforts, which have led us to... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Fredomator
    Hong Kong6 months ago
  • Dr. Karako interview!

    An outstanding discussion on missile defensive/offensive capabilities. Well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steve-MASS
    United States10 months ago
  • Excellent analysis

    Fulsome analysis looking at all the evidence.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    >>l
    United Kingdom10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise high-quality, thought-provoking analysis and access to experts.
Episodes are seen as credible and informative by many, with strong praise for guest expertise.
Some criticisms note timeliness and transparency issues with reruns.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#31
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#18
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#27
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#15
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#15
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#16
Italy/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Hormuz Pressure Cooker and Oil Price Roulette: Clay Seigle & Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery
Q: From a policy perspective, what options does the United States have to address higher oil prices beyond restoring oil through the Straits?
The panel outlines using reserves releases, waiving some regulations to improve fuel manufacturing efficiency, reinvigorating reinsurance confidence, and pursuing clear, credible signals to deter disruption—though none of these substitutes fully replace the Gulf's role in global exports.
The Hormuz Pressure Cooker and Oil Price Roulette: Clay Seigle & Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery
Q: Clay, can you talk a little bit about the big news from the weekend, which is that the United States bombed the military targets on Horg Island?
Seigle explains the strike was a symbolic signal rather than targeting oil infrastructure, aimed at softening Iranian military capacity and setting the stage for possible further actions, while preserving the ability to resume exports if conditions allow.
Israel's Strategic Reset: Yaakov Katz
Q: Yaakov Katz, what's the view of the Iran war from Israel?
Israelis broadly support the war, driven by the perception that Iran is the source of regional threats, and there is a continued belief that decapitation strikes can disrupt Iranian proxies and reduce threat levels, though leaders recognize the conflict may not topple the regime quickly.
Venezuela, China, and America's Secrets: David Shedd & Andrew Badger
Q: What concrete steps do the authors propose to counter China's tech and industrial espionage?
They outline seven pillars of action: reconceptualize economic security as national security, update antiquated laws, strengthen public-private coordination via an Economic Security Council, harden corporate front lines, improve legal deterrence, secure digital perimeters, and sustain long-term will and investment.
Venezuela, China, and America's Secrets: David Shedd & Andrew Badger
Q: What is the core premise of The Great Heist and how does it connect to Made in China 2025?
The book argues that China's rise has been accelerated by a whole-of-society approach to intelligence collection, leveraging insider threats, lawfare, and forceful IP transfer to gain technological leadership, with Made in China 2025 serving as the blueprint guiding these efforts.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About NatSec Matters

What is NatSec Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

NatSec Matters presents high-level conversations with former senior national security officials and policy leaders. Episodes center on contemporary security challenges, geopolitics, and US policy responses, featuring insider perspectives on Iran, Russia, China, Latin America, and regional crises. The show stands out for its access to practitioners and policymakers, offering pragmatic impact-focused analysis and scenario planning, often with a sharp emphasis on U.S. strategy, deterrence, and defense posture. Potential sponsors and guests can expect a rigorous, policy-driven audience interested in defense, intelligence, diplomacy, and national security strategy.

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Which podcasts are similar to NatSec Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with NatSec Matters:

1. Irregular Warfare Podcast
2. Global Security Briefing
3. Modern War Institute
4. War on the Rocks
5. School of War

How many episodes of NatSec Matters are there?

NatSec Matters launched 3 years ago and published 139 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 NatSec Matters?

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What guests have appeared on NatSec Matters?

Recent guests on NatSec Matters include:

1. Chris Grady
2. Matt Kroenig
3. Seth Jones
4. Yaakov Katz
5. Clay Seigle
6. Michael Doran
7. Joseph Votel
8. Ryan Berg

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.

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