Rephonic
Artwork for The General & The Journalist

The General & The Journalist

The Times
Russia
Ukraine
NATO
China
Iran
United States
Donald Trump
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes80Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The General & The Journalist

Latest Episodes

The Houthis have advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast threatening one of the world’s most important shipping routes through Bab al-Mandab. Yemeni government forces are fighting back, but the Iran-backed group’s ability to disrupt global trade and str... more

As Russia steps up sabotage, interference and intimidation across Europe, how far is Vladimir Putin prepared to go?

Former MI6 chief Sir John Scarlett joins Tom and Patrick to explain what Putin wants in Ukraine, whether Russia could escalate into a... more

America has 11 aircraft carriers. So why is the US Navy struggling to deploy more than three at once?

In this bonus video explainer, The Sunday Times’s Mark Urban examines the growing strain on America’s carrier fleet. These 100,000-ton floating air... more

More than 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, Britain remains bitterly divided over how to resolve legacy cases from the Troubles. The government’s new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill would allow some halted inquests to resume and reform the sys... 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.

Recent Guests

John Scarlett
Former MI6 chief (2004–2009); co-founder of SC Strategy
SC Strategy
Episode: Will Putin attack NATO? Former MI6 chief on Russia’s next move
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton
Former SAS officer, author
SAS, author of Beyond the Edge of Light
Episode: Is the future of the SAS at risk?
George Simm
Former SAS officer, advocate for veterans
SAS, SAS veterans' advocacy
Episode: Is the future of the SAS at risk?
Nina Khrushcheva
Professor of International Affairs at The New School, expert on Vladimir Putin
The New School
Episode: Russia’s war “will last as long as Putin lives”
Bojan Pancevski
The Wall Street Journal's chief European political correspondent who wrote The Nord Stream Conspiracy
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Who really blew up the Nord Stream pipeline?
Simon Mayall
Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall, former UK Deputy Defence Chief of Staff and Senior Defence Advisor for the Middle East
UK Government (Former)
Episode: The new Middle East: Can a ‘NATO of the East’ work?
Simon Sebag Montefiore
Historian and author of The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East
Historian/Author
Episode: The new Middle East: The battle to shape a region
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

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 448 ratings
  • Proper insight!

    My must-listen for decoding what’s going on in the world of conflict.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    xvjsujenr
    United Kingdom21 days ago
  • Excellent podcast

    An essential listen . Always informative & answering questions no other podcasts ask.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    okfhcdhtd
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Essential Listening

    This is my must listen to every week. I’m learning so much and excited to learn more. Great guests and so much experience from the presenters makes for an excellent podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Ex-WO1
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Cauldron boiling!

    An excellent discussion with Sebag Montefiore though surprising that Patrick didn’t challenge more in the wars in Iraq which he would have far deeper knowledge than the historians very sweeping generalisation

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    City Tory
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • A sleeper hit…!

    I’m an academic historian in a related discipline, put this on by chance one day, and have become a very regular listener! Genuinely thoughtful discussions peppered with good humour and, truly, world-class guest experts. Well done and keep going

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fifthamendment
    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.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will Putin attack NATO? Former MI6 chief on Russia’s next move
Q: Is there a genuine risk that Russia could escalate to direct confrontation with NATO, and what would be the indicators to watch?
The guest cautions against calling any plan a guaranteed phase zero or a guaranteed path to direct NATO conflict, emphasizing the need for evidence before labeling intent. He notes that while deterrence and pressure are being consciously managed, a full-scale direct confrontation would hinge on an accumulation of signals and misperceptions, not a single event.
Will Putin attack NATO? Former MI6 chief on Russia’s next move
Q: What are Putin's core objectives for Russia in the near term, and how do they influence his behavior toward NATO and Ukraine?
Putin's objectives appear to center on regaining and maintaining influence over Ukraine and the broader former Soviet space, with Russia viewing Ukraine as integral to its strategic sphere, and NATO expansion as an existential threat. The guest suggests that understanding these aims requires looking at Russia's need for security guarantees and the perception of encirclement, rather than simple opportunism.
Who really blew up the Nord Stream pipeline?
Q: How did investigators finally narrow down to the suspects, and what were the key turning points in the case?
A combination of intelligence tips, boat rental records, satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts, high-resolution camera footage, and DNA traces together pointed to a Ukrainian-led group; arrests followed after a long, transnational investigation.
The new Middle East: The battle to shape a region
Q: Why do you describe the Middle East as the epicenter of our interconnected world, and what does that imply for global stability?
The guest notes the region's historical role as a bridge among continents and its current engagement with multiple great powers, meaning conflicts there have outsized implications for global security and diplomacy, not just regional concerns.
The new Middle East: The battle to shape a region
Q: Do you think the concept of a homogeneous nation-state is a poor fit for the Middle East, and could zombie states be a major future concern?
Yes, the guest argues that the mosaic of ethnic, religious, tribal, and linguistic identities makes strict nation-states fragile, and that many states could unravel or reform through federations or autonomy arrangements as external powers and internal factions compete for influence.

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 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

Where can I find podcast stats for The General & The Journalist?

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

How many listeners does The General & The Journalist get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The General & The Journalist, 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 The General & The Journalist?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The General & The Journalist, 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 The General & The Journalist have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The General & The Journalist 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 General & The Journalist?

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

1. The State of It
2. The Rest Is Politics
3. How To Win An Election
4. The Rest Is Politics: Leading
5. BFBS Sitrep

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

The General & The Journalist launched a year ago and published 80 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 The General & The Journalist?

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 The General & The Journalist?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The General & The Journalist 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 The General & The Journalist?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The General & The Journalist. 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 The General & The Journalist?

Recent guests on The General & The Journalist include:

1. John Scarlett
2. Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton
3. George Simm
4. Nina Khrushcheva
5. Bojan Pancevski
6. Simon Mayall
7. Simon Sebag Montefiore
8. Victor Cha

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