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The DownLink Podcast

The DownLink
Space Force
Spacex
China
Space Economy
NASA
Golden Dome
Tariffs
Artemis Program
Artificial Intelligence
Donald Trump
Government Spending
Space Warfare
Missile Defense
Department Of Defense
United States
United States Space Force
War Fighting
U.S. Space Force
Iron Dome
Space Development Agency

From the Defense & Aerospace Report... This is The DownLink Podcast, hosted by Laura Winter. From the intersection of space, business, and defense... Not just what's over the horizon, but what's happening above it. The DownLink Podcast is 2023, 2024, and 2025 Defense Media Award-winner.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes231Founded5 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess is on track to become the Space Force's third Chief of Space Operations after a 44-minute confirmation hearing. Who is Schiess, and how has the CSO role evolved? Laura Winter speaks with retired Air Force Col. Jennifer Reeves... more

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Save the eye-roll. There really are contracts and places where words "resilient" or "resiliency" drive the communications mission. Laura Winter speaks with Dr. Rajeev Gopal, Vice President of Advanced Programs, Hughes Defense.

Rocket Lab is acquiring Iridium for $8 billion. Honeywell split in two. Driven by SpaceX, the first half of 2026, especially the second quarter, delivered a remarkable wave of high-value space business activity in the public and private markets. Laur... more

With a NATO Summit two weeks away and Washington pressing allies to take on more, Air Marshal Paul Godfrey explains how a year of executing the U.S. Space Force's International Partnership Strategy is turning allied integration from plan into practic... more

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Recent Guests

Rajeev Gopal
Vice President of Advanced Programs for Hughes Defense
Hughes Defense
Episode: Space Tech: Where "Resilient" Isn't a Policy Cliché
Lou Whiteman
Contributing analyst focusing on aerospace and space
Motley Fool
Episode: Space Money: Q2 2026 — Deals, Divestitures, and Big Checks
Paul Godfrey
Air Marshal, Royal Air Force officer; first commander of UK Space Command
UK Space Command
Episode: Space Power: Executing the International Strategy — Air Marshal Paul Godfrey
Kevin O'Connell
Former Director of Space Commerce, US Department of Commerce; founder and CEO of Space Economy Rising
Space Economy Rising
Episode: Space Money: The Demand Pull — Kevin O'Connell
Wu Jong-Shinn
Director General, Taiwan Space Agency (TASA)
Taiwan Space Agency
Episode: Space Power: What Is Taiwan Building? Why?
Clay Mowry
CEO of AIAA; former president of the International Astronautical Federation
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Episode: Space Competition: AIAA's Clay Mowry On What The Commercial Sector Wants
Martin Soltau
Co-founder and CEO of Space Solar
Space Solar
Episode: Space Tech: Can Space-Based Solar Power Close the Business Case?
Richard Winslade
Chief Financial Officer at Space Solar
Space Solar
Episode: Space Tech: Can Space-Based Solar Power Close the Business Case?
Peter Krauss
President and Chief Executive Officer, Terran Orbital
Terran Orbital (Lockheed Martin subsidiary)
Episode: Space Money: Terran Orbital and the Race to Scale

Host

Laura Winter
Host of The DownLink Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 43 ratings
  • Good but short

    The shows are interesting and the guests and topics are great but every episode Laura says they’re running out of time. There’s a constant need to wrap up the episode and a lot more color around the discussion of topics is leftbout.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Jk,:
    United States4 months ago
  • Best in Class Space Activities Analysis

    This is an excellent resource for accurate information and analytics concerning space issues. The moderator is excellent. Laura is great

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LarryLeibrock
    United Statesa year ago
  • A Must Listen

    I followed the show now for a couple of years, and find the conversations invigorating, enlightening, and always energetic! Don’t miss the opportunity to listen as often as you can to the new content, or as I have done, go back and listen to the previous episodes. This podcast is perfect for my PhD track in Aerospace science.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    T Space Engineer
    United States2 years ago
  • Still one of my favorite podcasts

    Thank you for researching the topic and preparing well for the discussion on this podcast. The advanced work prior to the show is evident. I also, enjoy how the host keeps the conversation on topic and follows up on vague answers from guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    briancreighton
    United States2 years ago
  • Thank you

    Thank you for making a professional and well run podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    briancreighton
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Professional and polished execution with strong subject matter depth.
Thoughtful, well-researched discussions with clear host guidance.
Listeners appreciate the host's ability to steer topics and follow up on nuanced answers.
High-quality guests and prep lead to insightful conversations.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Space Tech: Where "Resilient" Isn't a Policy Cliché
Q: How does Open RAN affect DoD connectivity and interoperability?
Open RAN decouples software from proprietary hardware, enabling multi-vendor, secure, interoperable networks, and allowing private 5G deployments that are open, modular, and easier to secure through standard interfaces.
Space Tech: Where "Resilient" Isn't a Policy Cliché
Q: What is PTES and PTW, and how do they contribute to resilience in contested environments?
PTES is the program focusing on protecting military satellite communications, while PTW is a hopping waveform that shifts frequencies in a synchronized way to avoid jamming, maintaining secure links across space and ground segments.
Space Tech: Where "Resilient" Isn't a Policy Cliché
Q: Can you explain what resilience means in practice for space and ground communications?
Resilience is about using diverse, redundant resources and automated orchestration to switch rapidly between satellites and transports when threats occur, ensuring secure, continuous connectivity even under jamming, cyber, or physical attacks.
Space Money: The Demand Pull — Kevin O'Connell
Q: Which regulation trends stand out to you, and how can the US create a better environment for the space economy?
He stresses that space is highly regulated and that the right regulation should be agile, transparent, and balanced to protect safety while enabling innovation, with emphasis on mission authorization and scalable processes across new space activities.
Space Competition: AIAA's Clay Mowry On What The Commercial Sector Wants
Q: What should listeners do to support the IAC bid?
Write letters of support, engage the IAF, and participate in building a regional ecosystem—emphasizing scholarships, collaboration, and regional participation, especially in the Americas.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The DownLink Podcast

What is The DownLink Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show blends space, defense, and business topics with a practitioner's lens on international partnerships, policy, and industry dynamics. Across episodes, guests range from space agency leaders and defense strategists to industry economists and investors, examining force design, regulatory landscapes, and market implications for space-enabled programs. It stands out for its sharp host-led conversations, practical takeaways, and timely debates on sovereign capabilities, Artemis-era policy, and the evolving space economy. Listeners likely include defense and aerospace professionals, policymakers, researchers, and investors seeking informed analysis and actionable perspectives on space strategy, funding, and technology trends.

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How many listeners does The DownLink Podcast get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The DownLink Podcast 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 The DownLink Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The DownLink Podcast:

1. Defense & Aerospace Report
2. War on the Rocks
3. Net Assessment
4. The President’s Inbox
5. The Asia Chessboard

How many episodes of The DownLink Podcast are there?

The DownLink Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 231 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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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.

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What guests have appeared on The DownLink Podcast?

Recent guests on The DownLink Podcast include:

1. Rajeev Gopal
2. Lou Whiteman
3. Paul Godfrey
4. Kevin O'Connell
5. Wu Jong-Shinn
6. Clay Mowry
7. Martin Soltau
8. Richard Winslade

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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