Rephonic
Artwork for Saltwater Strategists

Saltwater Strategists

Australian Naval Institute
Aukus
Royal Australian Navy
Australia
The Big Fix
Sri Lanka Navy
Pacific Islands
Joint Operations Command
Indo-Pacific Maritime Security
Maritime Domain Awareness
Undersea Warfare
Singapore
Imperial Navy
Autonomous Systems
NAVSTRAD 2030
Colombo Port City
Hambantota Port
Indian Ocean
Sea Denial
Sea Control
Blue Pacific Continent

In an increasingly competitive maritime environment, the Saltwater Strategists provide insightful and considered discussion on maritime issues in the Indo-Pacific. Well respected strategists, academics, international relations and maritime professionals from across the region provide their thoughts on the maritime challenges and opportunities within the region. If you want to understand current ma... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes45Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Saltwater Strategists

Latest Episodes

Named after Commodore Vernon Parker, a founder and inaugural President of the Australian Naval Institute, the annual Vernon Parker Oration is one of the Australian Naval Institute’s flagship events. On the 19th of May this year, the Institute was ext... more

Application of Naval History and Strategy Dr Sean Andrews, CSC, PhD, Senior Research Fellow at the Changing Character of War Centre, University of Oxford, and Dr Knox Peden, Academic Research Officer in the Sea Power Centre - Australia and a Visiting... more

Unpacking the Maritime Elements of the 2026 National Defence Strategy The Australian Naval Institute hosted a discussion on 6 May 26 examining the maritime elements of the recently released 2026 National Defence Strategy. The panel explored what the ... more

Inaugurated in 2021, The Australian Naval Institute’s Commodore Sam Bateman Book Prize is awarded annually by the ANI to recognise excellence in books making a major contribution to the study and understanding of naval and maritime matters. The Prize... 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.

Lowy Institute
Lowy InstituteLowy Institute
The Proceedings Podcast
The Proceedings PodcastU.S. Naval Institute
Modern War Institute
Modern War InstituteModern War Institute at West Point

Recent Guests

Peter Jones
Vice Admiral Retired, AO, DSC, AM; former president of the Australian Naval Institute
Australian Naval Institute
Episode: S5 Special Episode 1 - Unpacking the Maritime Elements of the NDS 26 Webinar
Will Taylor
Brigadier Retired, OBE; former Defence and Naval Advisor
Raytheon Australia (previous)
Episode: S5 Special Episode 1 - Unpacking the Maritime Elements of the NDS 26 Webinar
Troy Duggan
Captain Retired RIN; CEO of C2 Robotics
C2 Robotics
Episode: S5 Special Episode 1 - Unpacking the Maritime Elements of the NDS 26 Webinar
Albert Palazzo
Adjunct professor at the University of New South Wales, Canberra; former Director of War Studies, Australian Army
University of New South Wales, Canberra
Episode: 5.4 'The Big Fix: Rebuilding Australia's National Security' by Albert Palazzo
Mark Douglas
Maritime domain analyst at Starboard Maritime Intelligence
Starboard Maritime Intelligence
Episode: 5.3 Maritime Domain Awareness – Contemporary Perspectives with Mark Douglas, Starboard Maritime Intelligence
Cheryl Collins
Royal Australian Navy Warrant Officer; Joint Operations and Senior Enlisted Leader
Royal Australian Navy
Episode: 5.2 A Sailor's Perspective of the Royal Australian Navy with Warrant Officer Cheryl Collins
John Seymour
Author of Australia's Naval Alliances, Lessons of History
Author; Honorary Professor at ANU
Episode: 5.1 'Australia's Naval Alliances: Lessons of History' with John Seymour
Steven Thorpe
Chief Operations Officer, Omni Executive
Omni Executive
Episode: 4.8 'Australian Partnership in the Pacific' - with Steven Thorpe and Nick Stoker from Omni Executive
Nick Stoker
Business Development Manager, Omni Executive
Omni Executive
Episode: 4.8 'Australian Partnership in the Pacific' - with Steven Thorpe and Nick Stoker from Omni Executive

Hosts

Duncan McCray
Host of Saltwater Strategists
Duncan MacRae
Host of Saltwater Strategists

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • Superb host, crucial topic, brilliant guests!

    Jennifer Parker brings a national security professional’s expertise to her interviews with some really smart guests who “get it” when it comes to Indo-Pacific issues. If you want to understand maritime security issues in the Indo-Pacific, this is a podcast you really need to subscribe to.

    Jennifer is not just an academic or talking head, she’s an experienced naval officer who understands what questions need to be asked and what issues need to be surfaced.

    Australia is a critical U.S. Indo-Paci... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rayrich90
    United States2 years ago
  • A new perspective

    I have to admit not to having a naval eye for strategic matters but I this podcast really stirred my curiosity. Interesting guests and quite pointed questions that kept me interested throughout. Great style and feel. Looking forward to season two. Recommend to you all.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gwtoooq
    Australia3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Smart guests and pointed questioning keep episodes engaging and informative for strategic planners.
Listeners value the host's practical naval experience and ability to surface the right questions on Indo-Pacific maritime topics.
Positive reception towards expert perspectives that bridge academic analysis and real-world defense considerations.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Conversations
ConversationsABC Australia
Mamamia Out Loud
Mamamia Out LoudMamamia Podcasts
Shameless
ShamelessShameless Media
No Filter
No FilterMamamia Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
Modern Wisdom
Modern WisdomChris Williamson
Chat 10 Looks 3
Chat 10 Looks 3Chat 10 Looks 3

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

4.4 'Challenges to AUKUS Naval Shipbuilding' with Emma Salisbury
Q: Is a high-low mix of ships a viable strategic option for Australia to rapidly enhance naval capacity?
Yes, adopting a high-low mix—with smaller, faster-to-build vessels alongside high-end platforms—could help build a resilient industrial base and a capable fleet, provided there is coherent integration, training, and logistics support across services.
4.4 'Challenges to AUKUS Naval Shipbuilding' with Emma Salisbury
Q: What lessons can be drawn from recent frigate programs (e.g., Constellation, Hunter) to improve Australia's forthcoming C3000 General Purpose Frigate?
The key lesson is to avoid excessive design tweaks and keep to mature baselines where possible; this would reduce schedule delays and cost overruns, suggesting Australia should pursue a more straightforward, off-the-shelf approach where feasible.
4.4 'Challenges to AUKUS Naval Shipbuilding' with Emma Salisbury
Q: Given the U.S. production bottlenecks, can the UK and Australia proceed with the SSN Aukus design largely independently?
There is potential for the UK and Australia to move forward with the SSN Aukus design with reduced dependence on the U.S., provided there is sufficient tech transfer and propulsion support; however, Virginia production capacity remains a bottleneck that could affect timelines.
4.4 'Challenges to AUKUS Naval Shipbuilding' with Emma Salisbury
Q: What is the core rationale of Aukus Pillar 1 in the context of deterring China in the Indo-Pacific?
Aukus Pillar 1 aims to build up allied submarine capabilities in the Indo-Pacific and deter China by ensuring access to advanced SSN capability through multi-national collaboration, even as production and transfer arrangements face political and industrial constraints.
5.1 'Australia's Naval Alliances: Lessons of History' with John Seymour
Q: What are the biggest risks in committing to Aukus for Australia?
The key risks discussed include financial burden, dependence on American strategic decision-making, potential misalignment of interests with allies, and uncertainties about the pace and ownership of advanced technologies like nuclear submarines.

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 Saltwater Strategists

What is Saltwater Strategists about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across episodes, the show concentrates on strategic maritime issues in the Indo-Pacific, with deep dives into national defense planning, shipbuilding challenges, and the role of emerging technologies such as autonomous systems and advanced sensing in naval operations. Conversations frequently center on Australia's defense posture, alliances (notably Aukus), industrial capacity, and how data, AI, and open-source intelligence reshape maritime domain awareness. A standout characteristic is the mix of seasoned military leaders, scholars, and industry experts who bring practical procurement insight and historical context to forward-looking policy discussions, making it a strong resource for policymakers, defense contractors, and researchers seek... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Saltwater Strategists?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Saltwater Strategists. 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 Saltwater Strategists and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Saltwater Strategists get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Saltwater Strategists, 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 Saltwater Strategists?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Saltwater Strategists, 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 Saltwater Strategists have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Saltwater Strategists 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 Saltwater Strategists?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Saltwater Strategists:

1. Lowy Institute
2. The Proceedings Podcast
3. Australia in the World
4. Modern War Institute
5. Defence & Security Podcast Network

How many episodes of Saltwater Strategists are there?

Saltwater Strategists launched 4 years ago and published 45 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 Saltwater Strategists?

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 Saltwater Strategists?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Saltwater Strategists 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 Saltwater Strategists?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Saltwater Strategists. 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 Saltwater Strategists?

Recent guests on Saltwater Strategists include:

1. Peter Jones
2. Will Taylor
3. Troy Duggan
4. Albert Palazzo
5. Mark Douglas
6. Cheryl Collins
7. John Seymour
8. Steven Thorpe

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