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The General & The Journalist

The Times
Russia
Ukraine
NATO
Iran
China
Donald Trump
United States
United Kingdom
North Korea
Israel
Vladimir Putin
Gaza
Taiwan
Ukrainian Children Abducted By Russia
People's Liberation Army
Undersea Cables
European Union
Nuclear Weapons
Hamas
Benjamin Netanyahu

How wars start, how they are won and what they leave behind them.

General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn first met in a war zone. Drawing on their real-life experience of armed conflict, they bring you the latest from Ukraine, Gaza and the dozens of other bitter struggles being fought across our increasingly divided planet.

From interviews with key people on the frontlines of modern warfa... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes72Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for The General & The Journalist

Latest Episodes

For more than a century, the Middle East has been made and remade by collapsing empires, colonial borders, revolutions, wars and powerful rulers. Now, Iran is weakening, Gulf states are becoming more influential and old alliances are shifting again. ... more

Ukraine’s drone campaign is reaching deeper into Russia than ever before, striking oil terminals, ships and targets around Moscow and St Petersburg. As casualties rise and attacks put growing pressure on Russia’s economy and war machine, is Ukraine b... more

North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery rounds, thousands of troops and workers for its drone factories to support its war in Ukraine. In return, Russian money, food, energy and weapons are reviving Pyongyang’s economy, giving it m... more

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Mossad has spent decades building intelligence networks inside Iran, using spies, cyber operations and covert technology to penetrate the regime at the highest levels.

Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad, joins The General & The Journalist to rev... more

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Recent Guests

Victor Cha
US expert on the Korean Peninsula, former White House official, CSIS chair
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Episode: How Putin made North Korea richer – and more dangerous
Yossi Cohen
Former Mossad Director, national security advisor to Benjamin Netanyahu, author of The Sword of Freedom
Mossad
Episode: Inside Mossad: How Israeli spies penetrated Iran
Mark Urban
Colleague from The Sunday Times, journalist
The Sunday Times
Episode: EXPLAINER: Britain's £5 billion drone gamble
Sean Bell
Air Vice Marshal, former RAF Harrier pilot
Royal Air Force / MoD
Episode: Is Pete Hegseth’s macho culture fit for the military?
Natia Seskuria
Lead Specialist in Russian and Eurasian Security at RUSI
Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)
Episode: How Ukraine’s leadership crisis impacts the war
Kirsten Fontenrose
Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council; former White House Advisor, Gulf on the National Security Council
Atlantic Council
Episode: Can Trump force open the Strait of Hormuz?
John Bew
Professor, historian, former chief foreign policy advisor to four British prime ministers
University of Birmingham / Former No. 10 Downing Street adviser
Episode: NATO, Britain and the middle powers
Keith Blount
Admiral Sir Keith Blount, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Royal Navy / NATO
Episode: Does Britain’s defence plan make it NATO’s weak link?
H. R. McMaster
Former National Security Advisor to President Trump
Hoover Institution / Former U.S. National Security Advisor
Episode: Trump’s Art of the Deal – from the man who advised him

Hosts

Tom Newton Dunn
Host of The General & The Journalist
Patrick Sanders
Co-host of The General & The Journalist; General sir with strategic military perspective

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 427 ratings
  • Enjoying it

    Really enjoying this podcast. Fab range of guests, great balance of deep and wide ranging discussion and light hearted mirth. Excellent shirt choices too 😉👍🏻 Well done both of you, Pete

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CO XIX
    United Kingdom19 days ago
  • For goodness sake, what's with the deeply annoying and intrusive action film background music for the drone episode? Deeply silly.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    iggs58
    19 days ago
  • Top quality and highly enjoyable.

    Fascinating insights, well paced and very accessible. The podcast I look forward to most each week and the one I savour most.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NevMac
    United Kingdom21 days ago
  • Generally interesting

    Generally interesting but some episodes fall into the trap of trump sane washing, please dont insert your intelligent strategy into trumps actions. People so often forget that he is just a failed business man with a background in tv and corruption.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Glydyr
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Interesting, but…

    I do really like this program, some of the interviewees and the subjects are fascinating.

    But the constant “Labour is failing” theme is grating - maybe Labour is not investing what they need to, but there is history here! There is too little comment about the context- decades of under-investment by all governments

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    David in Norwich
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics note strong viewpoints and occasional perceived bias, but still value in-depth exploration of complex issues.
Fans appreciate the combination of journalism and military expertise, delivering clear, grounded geopolitical analysis.
Listeners praise the balanced, thought-provoking discussions and high-quality guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#23
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#47
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#144
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#160
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#246
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#40
Hong Kong/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Putin made North Korea richer – and more dangerous
Q: What would surprise people most about North Korea in five years, if we spoke again.
The regime could be gone, or it could be thriving even more; the range of possibilities is very wide, and the most hopeful development is the growth of civil society and markets which could gradually shift politics.
Inside Mossad: How Israeli spies penetrated Iran
Q: Why didn't regime change happen and what should happen next?
Cohen argues regime change cannot be forced from outside; it depends on Iranians themselves, possibly catalyzed by internal demonstrations and external pressure, but not something Mossad can deliver unilaterally.
How Ukraine’s leadership crisis impacts the war
Q: What does Kyiv's power struggle mean for the war's momentum and Western support?
It could either derail Ukraine's momentum by creating domestic political instability and reducing confidence among Western partners, or be managed as a constructive period of democratic debate that ultimately strengthens reforms and leadership continuity if Zelensky stabilizes the situation.
Can Trump force open the Strait of Hormuz?
Q: How might allies in the region, like Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, influence or be affected by the chosen approach?
Allies are pivotal; the guest suggests conversations with Gulf partners are already shaping approaches to leverage regional influence, support coercive measures, and share the burden of escort duties, while also potentially bearing political risk if escalation worsens energy markets or destabilizes the region.
Can Trump force open the Strait of Hormuz?
Q: What are the three main pathways to re-open the strait, and which does your analysis suggest is most likely or most prudent given current dynamics?
The three pathways are peaceful diplomacy (unlikely with the current regime), bombing or coercive force to submit Iran, and a coordinated escort-and-shutdown approach. The analysis leans toward a phased, multilateral escort strategy with economic and political pressure rather than a full-scale invasion, given risks and political feasibility.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The General & The Journalist

What is The General & The Journalist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A hard-edged geopolitical and defense podcast that blends frontline military experience with sharp geopolitical analysis. Episodes typically feature former military leaders, foreign policy experts, and senior journalists who dissect current conflicts, alliance dynamics, and strategic risk—ranging from Ukraine and Israel to Iran, Russia, and broader security architectures. The tone is informed, candid, and geared toward decision-makers and thoughtful listeners who want practical context for complex security questions. A notable strength is its dual-host format: a seasoned journalist and a high-ranking military figure, which tends to yield rigorous questioning, clear explanations of warfighting concepts, and grounded assessments of policy tra... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The General & The Journalist?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The General & The Journalist:

1. The State of It
2. The Rest Is Classified
3. Political Currency
4. The Rest Is Politics
5. The Rest Is Politics: Leading

How many episodes of The General & The Journalist are there?

The General & The Journalist launched a year ago and published 72 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 The General & The Journalist?

Recent guests on The General & The Journalist include:

1. Victor Cha
2. Yossi Cohen
3. Mark Urban
4. Sean Bell
5. Natia Seskuria
6. Kirsten Fontenrose
7. John Bew
8. Keith Blount

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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