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The Grumpy Strategists

Strategic Analysis Australia
AUKUS
Australia
China
United States
Australian Defence Force
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Trump Administration
Defense Spending
National Defense Strategy
Submarines
Defense Budget
Virginia Class Submarines
Defence Spending
National Defence Strategy
United States Navy
Renewable Energy
Australian Defence Industry
Alliance Relations
Taiwan

The Grumpy Strategists chat about defence and security issues, from an Australian perspective. We say simple things about complicated issues that help cut through the politics and careful bureaucratic talking points. Critical but constructive conversations about the big security and technology issues affecting our world. RSSVERIFY

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Latest Episodes

Marcus and Michael each pick their three stand out takeaways from Australian Defence officials testimony about delivery and performance to the Parliament. It's hard to pick winners in a field like this, but there's some overlap in the Grumpy choices.... more

Marcus talks to SAA's man in Singapore, Graeme Dobell, about the dynamics and developments on show at the annual Defence ministers' gathering in Singapore's Shangri-La hotel. This year, its America talking up the China-US relationship as a source of ... more

In history, a retreat from Singapore can have hairs all over it, but Richard Marles has turned that around, as the Grumpy Strategists unpack the events. At Singapore's Shangri-La dialogue, Mr Marles faced down an America First Pete Hegseth, meeting t... more

Marcus and Michael go through the scandalous revelations about 10 years of failed planning on extending the operational life of the only submarines Australia has - the 6 Collins class - while AUKUS subs slowly appear. Disturbingly, the most senior De... more

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Recent Guests

Marcus Hellyer
Head of Research
Episode: The Gulf collective defence exercise: a war no one admits to fighting
Vasyl Myroshnychenko
Ukrainian Ambassador representing Ukraine in Australia
Ukrainian Government
Episode: The Ambassadors Series - a Grumpy Strategist meets a high energy Ukrainian Ambassador
Steve Baxter
Head of Beaten Zone Ventures and a former member of the Australian Army with extensive business experience in technology.
Beaten Zone Ventures
Episode: Grumpy Strategist Makers Series - with Beaten Zone's Steve Baxter
Douglas Hsu
Senior Taiwanese representative in Australia
Taiwanese Government
Episode: A Grumpy Strategist meets Taiwan's Australian rep: world health, regional security, economics & trade - Episode 43
Peter Jennings
Founder and Director of Strategic Analysis Australia; former advisor to multiple defense ministers
Strategic Analysis Australia
Episode: Episode 36: A Grumpy Strategist meets a Wise Owl: caught between China & the US, Australia fixates on a 2040 Fantasy Force
Rob Kremer
Director and Defence Sector Lead at Kinexus
Kinexus
Episode: Grumpy Strategist Makers' Series - the workforce edition with KINEXUS
Robert Nioa
Head of Nioa Group, a company specializing in weapons and munitions.
Nioa Group
Episode: Grumpy Strategist Makers Series Episode 3 - NIOA Group
Adam Gilmour
Co-founder and CEO of Gilmour Space
Gilmour Space
Episode: Grumpy Strategists Makers Series Episode 2 - Gilmour Space
Dr. Tom Loveard
Founder and Chief Technology Officer of C2 Robotics
C2 Robotics
Episode: Grumpy Strategists - The Makers' Series Episode 1

Hosts

Michael Shewbridge
Host of Grumpy Strategists with frequent appearances and commentary on defense strategy and procurement.
Marcus Hellyer
Co-host/analyst with focus on defense research and policy implications; frequently referenced as Head of Research at ASPI.
Michael Schuprich
Host of The Grumpy Strategists, contributes analysis on defense procurement and strategy.
Michael Shubridge
Host of Grumpy Strategists, provides commentary on defense leadership and policy debates.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 49 ratings
  • Great discourse on a subject that needs this discussion

    For any Australian Defence enthusiast/professional I recommend this podcast. The dry humour and observations are on point. If the ADF believed in contestability it would make this mandatory listening for all uniform and APS staff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brozy007
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise sharp, humorous critique of defense policy and budgeting.
The show is seen as insightful for Australian defense professionals and enthusiasts seeking practical takes on complex topics.
Fans value candid discussions that cut through bureaucratic talking points.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#42
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#12
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#20
Netherlands/Government
Apple Podcasts
#62
Israel/Government
Apple Podcasts
#78
Taiwan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#104
New Zealand/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 36: A Grumpy Strategist meets a Wise Owl: caught between China & the US, Australia fixates on a 2040 Fantasy Force
Q: How are our strategic circumstances today?
The current strategic outlook is the most challenging Australia has faced, largely due to a more assertive China and a lack of significant government action to strengthen defense capabilities in response to this threat.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Grumpy Strategists

What is The Grumpy Strategists about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Sharp, humor-infused analysis of defense and security from an Australian perspective, with a focus on strategic budgeting, procurement, and alliance dynamics (notably AUKUS and submarine programs). Episodes consistently critique official narratives, spotlight governance and transparency issues, and juxtapose high-stakes policy discussions with accessible sarcasm and pop-culture references. Noteworthy is the duo's willingness to challenge incumbents and budgets while translating complex defense topics into relatable commentary, making it appealing to policy professionals, defense contractors, and security enthusiasts seeking candid takes and practical implications for strategy and public messaging.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Grumpy Strategists?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Grumpy Strategists:

1. The National Security Podcast
2. Australia in the World
3. Lowy Institute
4. The Joe Walker Podcast
5. Grattan Institute

How many episodes of The Grumpy Strategists are there?

The Grumpy Strategists launched 3 years ago and published 82 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 Grumpy Strategists?

Recent guests on The Grumpy Strategists include:

1. Marcus Hellyer
2. Vasyl Myroshnychenko
3. Steve Baxter
4. Douglas Hsu
5. Peter Jennings
6. Rob Kremer
7. Robert Nioa
8. Adam Gilmour

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