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Irregular Warfare Podcast

Irregular Warfare Initiative
Irregular Warfare
Special Operations Forces
Russia
China
Ukraine
Afghanistan
United States
Security Force Assistance
Proxy Warfare
NATO
Great Power Competition
Hamas
Iran
National Defense Strategy
Information Warfare
Cyber Warfare
Terrorism
South America
Military Strategy
Israel

The Irregular Warfare Podcast explores an important component of war throughout history. Small wars, drone strikes, special operations forces, counterterrorism, proxies—this podcast covers the full range of topics related to irregular war and features in-depth conversations with guests from the military, academia, and the policy community. The podcast is a collaboration between the Modern War Inst... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes159Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

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Artwork for Irregular Warfare Podcast

Latest Episodes

This episode examines why the United States has failed at irregular warfare and what it would take to reverse that trajectory—not merely to deter, but to actually win.

Summary

While irregular warfare is on the rise around the globe today, the Unite... more

Description

Episode 156 examines what the U.S.-Iran War and Russia-Ukraine War reveal about how weaker states and irregular actors contest navies, maritime commerce, and global energy flows.

Summary

This conversation examines naval irregular warfa... more

YouTube

This week’s episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines how Taiwan could deter—or potentially defeat—a Chinese invasion by transforming the Taiwan Strait into an “unmanned hellscape.” Anchored in the recent CNAS report Hellscape for Taiwan: Ret... more

Episode 154 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines a core puzzle in intrastate conflict: how a small number of foreign fighters can exert outsized influence on insurgencies. Anchored in Professor Tricia Bacon’s The Counterinsurgency Dilemma, this ... more

YouTube

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Modern War Institute
Modern War InstituteModern War Institute at West Point
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School of War
School of WarThe Free Press
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Net AssessmentThe Stimson Center

Recent Guests

Ben Connable
Executive Director of the Nonprofit Battle Research Group, retired Marine
Nonprofit Battle Research Group
Episode: Iran, Ukraine, and the Future of Naval Warfare
Ian Ralby
Naval researcher, president of Auxilium Worldwide, senior fellow at the Center for Maritime Strategy
Auxilium Worldwide; Center for Maritime Strategy
Episode: Iran, Ukraine, and the Future of Naval Warfare
Stacie Pettyjohn
Senior fellow at CNAS and co-author of Hellscape Taiwan
Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
Episode: Hellscape Taiwan: Drones, Deterrence, and the Future of Asymmetric Defense
Ken Tovo
Retired Lieutenant General, former commander USASOC
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Episode: Where the Lion Can’t Reach: Unconventional Warfare in Major War
Mark Grdovic
Author of Those Who Face Death: The Untold Story of Special Forces and the Iraqi Kurdish Resistance
US Special Operations Command (publications)
Episode: Where the Lion Can’t Reach: Unconventional Warfare in Major War
Tony Marco
First Lieutenant, aspiring special forces officer; later roles as a consultant and defense advisor
Green Beret Foundation / National Security Capital Partners (as described)
Episode: Where the Lion Can’t Reach: Unconventional Warfare in Major War
Dr. Chris Tripodi
Reader in Irregular Warfare, Defence Studies Department, King's College London
King's College London
Episode: What the Hell is Irregular Warfare Anyway?
Mike Nagata
Lieutenant General (retired), former Commander US Special Operations Command-Central
US Army / SOF
Episode: What the Hell is Irregular Warfare Anyway?
Eddie Fishman
Author of Chokepoints, academic/author
Author of Chokepoints
Episode: Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare

Hosts

Ben Jebb
Host of the podcast focusing on irregular warfare and defense policy discussions.
Kyle Atwell
Co-host with a focus on empirical and practical perspectives in irregular warfare.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 753 ratings
  • Vocal fry

    Vocal fry fest :/

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    TabacMan123
    Sweden2 months ago
  • Fascinating

    An exceptional podcast that’s deeply informative. Can’t recommend more highly.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Review1299
    United States2 months ago
  • Thank you.

    I really enjoy listening to these discussions. Great to hear diverse views on topics, and interpretations of concepts and operations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Natalie Treloar
    Australia6 months ago
  • I lived in China

    2016-21 I lived in China and several of my Chinese colleagues were married to PLA staff officers and they mentioned casually that it’s inevitable that they’ll hit Taiwan and possibly by 2027.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amdyfyn
    United States9 months ago
  • 5min ideas embellished to make 45min podcasts

    This podcast has been a good source of information and ideas concerning irregular warfare, but the last several guests have offered very little concrete practical recommendations and instead fall back on purely academic or theoretical scripts. It’s frustrating because you get 3/4 through a podcast and realize you could have gotten the same points from skimming an article in 5min versus wasting 45min. This is especially evident in the latest episode “plausible deniability and proxies”. Disappoint... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Bloxk
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are top-notch; strong balance of theory and practical insight.
Clear, high-signal discussions with practitioners and academics.
Some episodes criticized for being overly academic or lengthy.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#27
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#18
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#24
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#21
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#53
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#61
France/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hellscape Taiwan: Drones, Deterrence, and the Future of Asymmetric Defense
Q: How does geography shape the Hellscape concept and its defense logic?
Taiwan's geography—short distances across the strait with limited landing zones—creates a defensible edge where layered, mobile defenses and drones can disrupt attackers as they advance, particularly when combined with mines and mobile air defenses.
Hellscape Taiwan: Drones, Deterrence, and the Future of Asymmetric Defense
Q: What motivated you to write Hellscape for Taiwan at this moment?
The authors wanted to translate lessons from drone warfare and recent conflicts into a practical, layered defense concept for Taiwan that could disrupt an amphibious invasion and provide a credible deterrent while leveraging cheaper, proliferated drones.
From Orbit to Objective: Space and the Future of Conflict
Q: What is the most important takeaway for academics studying space and irregular warfare?
Understand the potential of the triad versus its real-world limitations, clarify what type of influence space should enable (deterrence, population influence, or proxies), and avoid overestimating rapid, down-to-the-unit deployment of space expertise; focus on higher-level integration and policymaking.
From Orbit to Objective: Space and the Future of Conflict
Q: What does maneuver warfare in space look like, and how does it fit with terrestrial operations?
Maneuver in space involves intentional, energy-aware positioning of assets to gain tempo and disrupt adversaries, balancing fuel use with satellite lifespans while aligning space actions with ground, air, and maritime campaigns for a coordinated effect.
From Orbit to Objective: Space and the Future of Conflict
Q: How do you coordinate with SOCOM to integrate space-based effects into joint campaigns?
Coordinate via formal liaison elements, joint integrated teams, and ongoing exercises; operations are integrated at the joint level to ensure attackers, defenders, and planners synchronize space, cyber, and soft power effects.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Irregular Warfare Podcast

What is Irregular Warfare Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on irregular warfare, counterterrorism, and the use of proxies, drones, and special operations in modern conflicts. Episodes bring together practitioners, scholars, and policymakers to unpack definitions, strategic frameworks, and real-world case studies—from Ukraine and Taiwan deterrence to space, cyber, and economic statecraft. The format tends toward rigorous analysis paired with practical implications for defense, diplomacy, and alliance building, with an emphasis on how irregular approaches influence conventional campaigns and policy design. Notable strengths include a steady rotation of senior practitioners paired with academics to balance operational insight with theoretical framing, plus frequent cross-domain discus... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Irregular Warfare Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Irregular Warfare Podcast:

1. Modern War Institute
2. War on the Rocks
3. NatSec Matters
4. School of War
5. Net Assessment

How many episodes of Irregular Warfare Podcast are there?

Irregular Warfare Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 159 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 Irregular Warfare Podcast?

Recent guests on Irregular Warfare Podcast include:

1. Ben Connable
2. Ian Ralby
3. Stacie Pettyjohn
4. Ken Tovo
5. Mark Grdovic
6. Tony Marco
7. Dr. Chris Tripodi
8. Mike Nagata

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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