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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.

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Latest Episodes

While operating on the brink of a government shutdown has become the not-so-new normal, a fresh take on the Space Force's FY 2027 budget request shows the service branch's plan to normalize real growth through dramatic, yet targeted, programmatic inc... more

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Companies rarely know how a military is using their satellites — and that blind spot could quietly turn commercial infrastructure into a legitimate target, putting the civilians and humanitarian workers who depend on that same infrastructure at risk.... more

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SpaceX posted its first earnings report as a public company this week, the same week its first share unlock hit the market, more than doubling the float. Elon Musk says revenue will top $1 trillion by 2030, but the plan is murky. Laura Winter speaks ... more

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China's on the cusp of truly competing with SpaceX with a reusable rocket, while it supplies Iran and Russia and Xi Jinping purges another of the nation's space heroes. Laura Winter speaks with Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst, Defence Strategy Program,... more

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Recent Guests

Jonathan Horowitz
Deputy Head of the Legal Department, ICRC Regional Delegation for the United States and Canada
International Committee of the Red Cross
Episode: Satellites, War, and Humanitarian Law: The ICRC Explains
Laura Walker McDonald
Senior Advisor for New Technologies and Conflict, ICRC delegation in Washington, DC
International Committee of the Red Cross
Episode: Satellites, War, and Humanitarian Law: The ICRC Explains
Brendan Mulvaney
Director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at Air University
Air University
Episode: Space Competition: China 1H 2026: Rockets, Vassals, and Purges
Joseph Guastella
Former Lieutenant General, USAF; Executive Vice President for National Security, Voyager Technologies
Voyager Technologies
Episode: Space Power: Should the Space Force Station Guardians on the Moon?
Charles Galbreath
Director, Mitchell Institute Space Power Advantage Center of Excellence
Mitchell Institute
Episode: Space Power: Should the Space Force Station Guardians on the Moon?
Jennifer Reeves
Retired Air Force Colonel and space professional
Mitchell Institute Space Power Advantage Center of Excellence
Episode: Space Power: Who Is the Next Chief of Space Operations?
Patrick Donley
Retired Air Force Colonel, leadership development focus
Doolittle Leadership Center
Episode: Space Power: Who Is the Next Chief of Space Operations?
Rajeev Gopal
Vice President of Advanced Programs for Hughes Defense
Hughes Defense
Episode: Space Tech: Where "Resilient" Isn't a Policy Cliché
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

Host

Laura Winter
Host of The DownLink Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 44 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 States5 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.

Satellites, War, and Humanitarian Law: The ICRC Explains
Q: What is the relationship between Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law in this context?
Geneva Conventions are four treaties that sit within the broader body of international humanitarian law, which also includes customary law; in practice, IHL guides what is lawful in armed conflict and how civilians and civilian objects should be protected, including in space.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

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

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. Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast
3. Off-Nominal
4. Shield of the Republic
5. Modern War Institute

How many episodes of The DownLink Podcast are there?

The DownLink Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 236 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. Jonathan Horowitz
2. Laura Walker McDonald
3. Brendan Mulvaney
4. Joseph Guastella
5. Charles Galbreath
6. Jennifer Reeves
7. Patrick Donley
8. Rajeev Gopal

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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