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Iran
China
Russia
United States
Ukraine
Israel
NATIONAL SECURITY
Artificial Intelligence
CIA
Venezuela
NATO
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

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Latest Episodes

Michael is joined by Peter Rough, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute, to dissect the stalled diplomatic efforts to resolve the war between Ukraine and Russia, and the latest interventions by U.S. en... more

Michael is joined by Clay Seigle, Managing Director of Beacon Global Strategies' newly announced energy practice and former James R. Schlesinger Chair at CSIS, for an expert briefing on volatile global energy markets. Clay breaks down the economic dy... more

Michael is joined by Yaakov Katz, former Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post and author of While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East, for an assessment of the Israeli perspective following months of joint... more

Michael is joined by Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security and former National Security Council official, for a strategic tour of the world's most urgent flashpoints. Richard explores the dangerous ripple effects of the Iran... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Clay Seigle
Managing Director, Energy Practice at Beacon Global Strategies
Beacon Global Strategies
Episode: 'Economic D-Day' & Refining Realities: Clay Seigle
Bojan Pancevski
Chief European Political Correspondent for The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: 'The Nord Stream Conspiracy' - Sabotage, Spies, and the Baltic Sea Explosion: Bojan Pancevski
Alina Polyakova
President and CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis
Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)
Episode: Testing the Transatlantic Security Pact: Dr. Alina Polyakova & Peter Rough
Peter Rowe
Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia
Hudson Institute
Episode: Testing the Transatlantic Security Pact: Dr. Alina Polyakova & Peter Rough
Divyansh Kaushik
Vice President at Beacon Global Strategies, PhD in Machine Learning from Carnegie Mellon
Beacon Global Strategies
Episode: The Geopolitical Stakes of Frontier AI: Dr. Dr. Divyansh Kaushik
Nadia Schadlow
Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and Co-Chair of the Hamilton Commission on Securing America's National Security Innovation Base
Hudson Institute
Episode: 'Leapfrogging' Diplomacy: Dr. Nadia Schadlow
Rebecca Heinrichs
Senior Fellow and Director of the Keystone Defense Initiative, Hudson Institute
Hudson Institute
Episode: Reading Between the Lines - What's Hidden in the New Iran Agreement: Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs and Rich Goldberg
Admiral Bob Harward
Former Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command; retired Navy SEAL
U.S. Navy; Shield AI (Executive Vice President)
Episode: Operation Epic Fury 2?: Adm. Robert Harward
Alan Mendoza
Chief Advisor for Global Affairs at Nigel Farage's Reform Party
Reform Party
Episode: Special Episode - The Political Firestorm at 10 Downing Street: Dr. Alan Mendoza

Host

Michael Allen
Host of NatSec Matters; Beacon Global Strategies

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 484 ratings
  • Superb realpolitik

    Highly learned contributors and perspicacious analysis. As a Brit, I appreciate viewing things through a different lens here. In the West, we must stand together against the totalitarianism of the CRINK dictatorships undermining global stability and prosperity.

    This pod is relatively free of bias in any prevailing direction (even if that means I may disagree occasionally), though the show’s at its strongest when it eschews both revolving-door lobbyists and Bush-and-Clinton era dinosaurs of byg... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom22 days ago
  • Superb realpolitik

    Highly learned contributors and perspicacious analysis. Refreshingly free of bias in any direction (even if that means I disagree occasionally). As a Brit, I appreciate viewing things through a different lens here. In the West, we must stand together against the authoritarian dictatorships that are undermining global stability and prosperity.

    As an aside, it is a shame the CCP’s bots have been triggered by the honesty herein and swarmed the comments and ratings to lower your reach. Apple really... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Conservative shift

    I listened to Intelligence Matters for years, and it was a balanced, thoughtful podcast that explored the most pressing issues in national security and foreign policy. However, in the last few months, the tenor of the show has changed markedly. Things are notably more conservative and hawkish with respect to foreign policy. Although there are still some interesting discussions and debates, I find that there is simply too much credibility laundering and post hoc rationalization for the foreign po... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ryanstudent2
    United States3 months ago
  • Used to be good

    Seems to have taken a conservative bias recently when it used to be a podcast of reason.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    thedeadpoint
    United States3 months ago
  • No balance - it has a very strong agenda

    See review by makai lanai

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    HgihB
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews note perceived bias and bias-shifting over time; balance is a recurring critique.
High-quality, thought-provoking interviews with credible guests.
Listeners appreciate deep dives and practical geopolitical insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#33
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#55
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#38
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#61
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#105
France/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Confronting Iran's Demands & Washington's Dilemma: Richard Nephew
Q: Yeah, and look, I spent huge chunks of my career working on economic pressure campaigns against Iran to do with the nuclear program. So I kind of have a default bias to think that they can have some impact and some utility. But I think the problem is that we're in a little bit of a new environment, and that makes it harder to have any confidence in this.
Economic pressure can have utility, but its effectiveness is tempered by Iran's resilience and the new strategic context where the threat of force has already been exercised. The leadership believes they can endure, and the U.S. must align its sanctions strategy with a credible path to diplomacy rather than rely solely on coercion.
'The Nord Stream Conspiracy' - Sabotage, Spies, and the Baltic Sea Explosion: Bojan Pancevski
Q: What is unique about Ukrainian intelligence and its collaboration with Western agencies?
Ukraine leveraged a hybrid model combining in-house intelligence with support from Western partners like the CIA, enabling access to money, technology, and training, while maintaining a high degree of autonomy in executing sensitive operations.
'The Nord Stream Conspiracy' - Sabotage, Spies, and the Baltic Sea Explosion: Bojan Pancevski
Q: Tell us about the tactics Ukrainians used to blow up the pipeline.
The operation was planned by an elite Ukrainian special-forces unit and involved deep-dive divers, including civilians, who laid mines at about 80 meters depth, using remotely triggered timers to target the pipelines, reflecting a long-standing capability in clandestine, energy-focused operations.
Testing the Transatlantic Security Pact: Dr. Alina Polyakova & Peter Rough
Q: How real is the risk of Russian incursions into NATO territory given the current posture?
There is an active risk of mixed actions—kinetic probes, drone incursions, and hybrid pressure—especially in the Baltic and Eastern flank; a direct invasion would depend on Moscow's assessment of costs and cohesion within NATO.
Testing the Transatlantic Security Pact: Dr. Alina Polyakova & Peter Rough
Q: Alina, can we discuss how long it will take for Europeans to reach the 5% defense spending target?
It's highly variable by country; some Nordic and Central European states are moving quickly, while others lag due to different threat perceptions, political dynamics, and capacity limits—so timelines will differ by country and region.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About NatSec Matters

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

This program features high-level conversations with former policymakers, military leaders, and national security professionals, focusing on Iran, Europe, Ukraine, defense technology, and AI's impact on geopolitics. Guests range from senior diplomats and intelligence officials to defense analysts, offering nuanced takes on deterrence, diplomacy, sanctions, and strategic risk. A standout thread is the blend of traditional geopolitics with emerging tech and private-sector insights, producing practical perspectives for policymakers and executives alike. The format tends to emphasize bold assessments, historical context, and real-world implications for U.S. strategy, alliances, and critical chokepoints around the world.

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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. Net Assessment
4. Modern War Institute
5. The President’s Inbox

How many episodes of NatSec Matters are there?

NatSec Matters launched 3 years ago and published 160 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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Where can I see ratings and reviews for NatSec Matters?

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What guests have appeared on NatSec Matters?

Recent guests on NatSec Matters include:

1. Clay Seigle
2. Bojan Pancevski
3. Alina Polyakova
4. Peter Rowe
5. Divyansh Kaushik
6. Nadia Schadlow
7. Rebecca Heinrichs
8. Admiral Bob Harward

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