The Merge
The MergeMilitary technology, trends, and national security...presented with unique insights, salt, and wit from combat aviator veterans and industry experts. Fence in for interviews and anecdotes about the ins, outs, and happenings at the intersection of technology, industry, strategy, and policy of aerospace and national defense. Brought to you by The Merge newsletter.
| Publishes | Monthly | Episodes | 61 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Government | |||
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Latest Episodes
This is the untold origin story of the Fury CollaborativeCombat Aircraft (CCA), as told by those who lived it.
Scott Bledsoe and Joe Murray join Mike to talk about Fury’s very beginning—way back to 2016.
Now known as Anduril’s YFQ-44, Fury originat... more
There is a strange set of organizations that live betweenindustry and government called Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs).
They play an important—but largely misunderstood r... more
Mike sits down with Matt Hawkins and Nick LaRovere,co-founders of Pryzm.
Pryzm is building an Operating System for defense innovation—software that uses AI to generate capture intel to make sense of Pentagon budgets, Congressional legislation, progr... more
Chris "Snooze" Kurek, Rob “Trip” Raymond, and Erik“EZ” Brine chat with Mike “Pako” Benitez on all things fighter pilot culture—toast, roast, and lore.
Better known as Dos Gringos, Snooze and Trip put out 4 albums of fighter pilot songs that are famo... more
Key Facts
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Recent Guests
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Reviews
- Always gets the 3 wire
One of the few TRUSTWORTHY pods available that has gouge of interest to those in the know while being accessible to the general public.
Outstanding work gentlemen.
Apple Podcasts5Dr. TANSTAAFL
United States5 months ago - Awesome Podcast
Another great episode. Informative, insightful and entertaining episode on Red6.
Apple Podcasts560GHUnited States5 months ago - Once great, now ok
The Merge used to be one of my favorite podcasts, providing an unfiltered yet humorous view of defense tech, future conflict, and geopolitics. However, the recent focus has become more corporate and the show has gone downhill. Further, bringing Jello on was a step in the wrong direction as he adds more of the old world bureaucratic military-industrial flavor than he does truly new takes or novel ideas.
Apple Podcasts3RamenIsGoodUnited States9 months ago - Awesome Podcast
Another great episode. Mike is a wealth of knowledge and explains well for us uninformed people.
Apple Podcasts560GHUnited States10 months ago - Excellent Source!
After years in the government and military I needed to keep up with the latest news! The Merge provides that fantastically! Keep up the good work!
Apple Podcasts5NicktheStick1United States10 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #112 | United States/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #88 |  Germany/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #147 |  France/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #203 |  Australia/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #33 |  South Korea/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #96 |  Singapore/Government |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Merge
What is The Merge about and what kind of topics does it cover?
The show concentrates on military technology, defense industry trends, and national security, often unpacking how policy, procurement, and cutting-edge systems intersect with real-world military needs. Across episodes, listeners hear from combat veterans and industry experts about aerospace tech, defense contracting, strategic innovation, and the evolving role of AI, simulation, and electronic warfare in modern warfare. The format blends technical depth with candid storytelling, offering both practical insights for practitioners and engaging context for enthusiasts. A notable strength is the ability to pair frontline experience with market and policy perspectives, making complex topics accessible without sacrificing nuance.
Where can I find podcast stats for The Merge?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Merge. 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 Merge and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Merge get?
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What are the audience demographics for The Merge?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Merge, 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 Merge have?
To see how many followers or subscribers The Merge 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 Merge?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Merge:
1. The Afterburn Podcast
2. 10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit
3. Fighter Pilot Podcast
4. The Aerospace Advantage
5. The Foreign Affairs Interview
How many episodes of The Merge are there?
The Merge launched 3 years ago and published 61 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 Merge?
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 Merge?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Merge 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 Merge?
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What guests have appeared on The Merge?
Recent guests on The Merge include:
1. Scott Bledsoe
2. Joe Murray
3. Christine Fox
4. Nick LaRovere
5. Matt Hawkins
6. Carlos Howard
7. Steve Wingfield
8. Dan Jablonsky
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.