Rephonic
Artwork for Sounds Strategic
Shangri-La Dialogue
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Asia Pacific Regional Security Assessment
Nuclear Arms Race
Quantum Technology
Indo-Pacific
Manama Dialogue
IISS
Defense Budgets Asia
Iran
NATO
European Union
Stockholm, Sweden
Us-China Competition

We are a world-leading authority on global security, political risk and military conflict. We were founded in 1958, and have offices in London, Washington, Singapore and Bahrain.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes120Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Sounds Strategic

Latest Episodes

Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Veerle Nouwens, Darshana M. Baruah, Morgan Michaels and Dr Daniel Salisbury to reflect on the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, which was held in Singapore from 29–31 May 2026.

Hosted on Acast. See ac... more

Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts to preview the Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2026 ahead of its launch next week. Together, they discuss rising defence spending, evolving military doctrines, land force modernisation, nuclear risk an... more

In this episode of Sounds Strategic, IISS experts reflect on the inaugural IISS Stockholm Civil Defence Forum and unpack the findings of the Strategic Dossier Civil Defence in Europe: An Initial Assessment. The discussion explores how European countr... more

YouTube

In this episode of Sounds Strategic, IISS experts unpack the findings of the Strategic Dossier UAVs: ISR, Deterrence and War, exploring how uninhabited aerial vehicles are reshaping military operations in peace and conflict. From Europe’s long-runnin... more

YouTube

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.

Global Security Briefing
Global Security BriefingThe Royal United Services Institute
The Foreign Affairs Interview
The Foreign Affairs InterviewForeign Affairs Magazine
The Asia Chessboard
The Asia ChessboardCenter for Strategic and International Studies
Asia Geopolitics
Asia GeopoliticsThe Diplomat

Recent Guests

Lucie Berro-Sydreau
Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow for Indo-Pacific Defense Policy, Economics and Industry
IISS
Episode: Rethinking Asia-Pacific Security in an Age of Disruption
Henry Boyd
Senior Fellow for Military Capability and Data Assessment
IISS
Episode: Rethinking Asia-Pacific Security in an Age of Disruption
Daniel Salisbury
Senior Fellow for Nuclear Arms Control, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament
IISS
Episode: Rethinking Asia-Pacific Security in an Age of Disruption
Dong-Yun Cho
Senior Fellow for Advanced Technologies, National Security and Defense
IISS
Episode: Rethinking Asia-Pacific Security in an Age of Disruption
Ben Schreer
Executive Director of double IISS Europe and Director for Defence Technology and Future Conflict
double IISS
Episode: IISS Stockholm Civil Defence Forum 2026: Reflections
Charlie Edwards
Senior Fellow for Strategy and National Security and Head of Analytics at SIX Analytic
double IISS
Episode: IISS Stockholm Civil Defence Forum 2026: Reflections
Fenella McGirti
Senior Fellow for Defence Economics
double IISS
Episode: IISS Stockholm Civil Defence Forum 2026: Reflections
Douglas Barry
Senior Fellow for Military Aerospace
AASS
Episode: UAVs: ISR, Deterrence and War
Martin Samy Sampson
Air Marshal Retired, Executive Director of AASS Middle East
AASS
Episode: UAVs: ISR, Deterrence and War

Host

Meia Nouwens
Host of Sounds Strategic

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 67 ratings
  • Please improve the audio quality

    The echo makes the podcast very unpleasant to listen to, even though the analysis is excellent.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    GailRStarr
    United States4 years ago
  • very one sided and obviously partisan

    very one sided and obviously partisan review.

    would be nice if you could include both sides of the arguments and give a chance to both conservatives

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Saeedسعید
    Belgium5 years ago
  • Relevant topics let down by poor audio

    Let down by inexperienced interviewers

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nick741
    Australia5 years ago
  • Quality of sound is so poor it doesn’t matter how good the content is

    The quality of production is so very poor. The sound is so bad that it is not possible to listen to this podcast unless you are in a library with the sound on max and noise cancelling headphones. Such a shame because the conversations promise much but delivery is absent. Is it a problem of lack of finance to support this podcast?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SingDMC
    Singapore7 years ago
  • Agree with IISS Fan

    The content is barely audible at maximum volume in a perfectly quiet environment, even with Bose noise-canceling earphones!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    718konig
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews point to partisan perceptions and variable interviewing quality, which can affect accessibility for new listeners.
Listeners note strong substantive content and valuable expert insights, but audio quality is often a turnout issue.
Several listeners praise the depth of discussion on defense tech and regional security topics.
Production quality is a common area of improvement despite high-caliber guests and rigorous analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#97
Singapore/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2025: Reflections
Q: What did you think were the standout points from his speech?
The panel highlighted that the speech Signaled a clear US commitment to Indo-Pacific priorities, a stance on deterrence and burden sharing, and an insistence that America is back in the region with a focus on partnerships and not seeking conflict with China.
IISS Stockholm Civil Defence Forum 2026: Reflections
Q: What does the 1.5% GDP commitment to civil defence spend in practice, and is the definition clear enough to measure progress?
The 1.5% figure is significant but lacks a comprehensive, unified definition across Europe, leading to remaining ambiguities about what counts toward it; nonetheless, governments are increasingly focusing on whether funding is new or reclassified, and there is momentum toward clearer prioritization and accountability.
IISS Stockholm Civil Defence Forum 2026: Reflections
Q: Can you give us a brief overview of the forum and what the atmosphere in the room was?
The Stockholm Forum brought 27 nations and various international actors together for one-and-a-half days of discussions on civil defence, with a generally positive and productive atmosphere, recognizing the challenges and the need to invest more in civil defence while noting contrasts in how different countries approach the issue.
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2025
Q: For those who haven't been to Shangri-La before, what is the format and who participates?
The dialogue is a track one plus summit with government delegations led by defense ministers and senior military and policymakers; it also hosts defense industry representatives, experts, and a Young Leaders Program.

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 Sounds Strategic

What is Sounds Strategic about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently features high-level security and defense analysis from leading think tanks and policy institutes, with a strong emphasis on regional security dynamics, military modernization, and defense economics. Episodes frequently dissect UAVs, joint force posture, and big-picture geopolitics across Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific, often weaving in procurement challenges, alliance burden-sharing, and regulatory developments. Noteworthy is the presence of senior, institution-backed analysts who provide rigorous context for decision-makers, along with practical takeaways for policymakers, industry, and sponsors seeking expertise-rich conversations.

A notable strength is its access to senior scholars and policymakers ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Sounds Strategic?

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

How many listeners does Sounds Strategic get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Sounds Strategic, 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 Sounds Strategic have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sounds Strategic 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 Sounds Strategic?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sounds Strategic:

1. Global Security Briefing
2. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. Independent Thinking
4. The Asia Chessboard
5. Asia Geopolitics

How many episodes of Sounds Strategic are there?

Sounds Strategic launched 7 years ago and published 120 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 Sounds Strategic?

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 Sounds Strategic?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sounds Strategic 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 Sounds Strategic?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Sounds Strategic. 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 Sounds Strategic?

Recent guests on Sounds Strategic include:

1. Lucie Berro-Sydreau
2. Henry Boyd
3. Daniel Salisbury
4. Dong-Yun Cho
5. Ben Schreer
6. Charlie Edwards
7. Fenella McGirti
8. Douglas Barry

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