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The National Security Podcast

ANU National Security College
Australia
China
Climate Change
Indian Ocean
National Security
ASEAN
Artificial Intelligence
India
Indonesia
Bangladesh
United States
Non-Traditional Security
Policymaking
AI Safety Summit
Southeast Asia
Cybersecurity
Economic Policy
Indo-Pacific
OSINT
2024 Elections

Expert analysis, insights and opinion on the national security challenges facing Australia and the Indo-Pacific.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes286Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernmentPolitics

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Artwork for The National Security Podcast

Latest Episodes

Why did the United States and Israel choose to strike Iran now – and what are the strategic consequences of that decision? What lessons have been learnt from Iran’s asymmetric response?

Can Iran’s protesters realistically leverage the current crisi... more

Is there a strategic through line or an explanatory logic behind the Trump Administration’s actions in Venezuela, Greenland and Iran?

What is the current state of the Transatlantic Alliance?

What are the implications of cross-theatre linkages for t... more

Why do Australia’s borders require a fundamental rethink? How can Australian governments build on the vision of Australia’s borders as a national strategic asset? 

How can new forms of border governance, such as the use of AI and advanced data analy... more

YouTube

Why has serious and organised crime – estimated to cost Australia $82.3 billion each year – become a national security issue? How is the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) responding to this?

What are the linkages between state acto... more

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Recent Guests

Gorana Grgić
Head of the Global Security Team at the Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich; senior affiliations in Australia and the US
ETH Zurich
Episode: Plotting a through line: February 2026 geopolitics update
Euan Graham
Policy expert in Indo-Pacific defense and security
NSC (ANU National Security College)
Episode: Plotting a through line: February 2026 geopolitics update
Heather Cook
Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
Episode: Why organised crime is now a national security threat
Victoria Cooper
Researcher and political analyst based in Melbourne
Development Intelligence Lab
Episode: The future will thank us: an intergenerational approach to security
Afeeya Akhand
Advocate for cultural diversity in national security and secretary of Women in International Security Australia
Women in International Security Australia
Episode: The future will thank us: an intergenerational approach to security
Admiral David Johnston
Chief of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
Episode: Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force: reflections on half a century of service
Kathryn McMullan
Director of the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation
Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation
Episode: Seeing the unseen: why geospatial intelligence is important
Tom Rogers
Former Australian Electoral Commissioner who served from 2014 to 2024
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, London School of Economics, ANU National Security College
Episode: Democratic resilience in the digital age
Dr. Seth G. Jones
President of the Defence and Security Department and Harold Brown Chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
Centre for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: Sustaining deterrence and building defence industrial resilience

Hosts

Justin Burke
Host of The National Security Podcast; focus on Australia's security policy and Indo-Pacific dynamics.
Rory Medcalf
Head of the National Security College; senior advisor on strategic security and policy.
Sally Bulkeley
Deputy Head of the ANU National Security College; policy and governance expert.
David Andrews
Senior Manager for Policy and Engagement; governance and strategic communications.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 192 ratings
  • Sad

    The podcast ‘classifying misogyny as extremism’ . Listening to these 4 women create arguments to restrict freedom is chilling. No wonder there is a backlash against feminism. It appears they can never be happy. Academics with little worldly experience. Humans are unjust, unreasonable and life is unfair. Sad? Yes! Reality? yes! Govt overreach is never the answer.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Anthony Marich
    Australia10 months ago
  • Sound Quality is Poor

    I’m not sure if the host has a speech impediment or if the mixing of this podcast is over emphasising bass (or both) or the recording of the podcast is occurring too close to the microphone, but whatever is going on it’s difficult to get past listening to the poor production quality. It detracts from wanting to listen to potentially good content.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    NatahliaB
    Australiaa year ago
  • A national security podcast about anything but

    This podcast ought to devote more bandwidth to core matters of national security.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    hugefitzpatrick
    Australia2 years ago
  • Great range of topics

    This is a great podcast covering a wide range of topics crucial for the national security conversation in and around Australia. The episodes could be shorter, but the conversation points are fantastic and would make a great resource for any student or young policymaker.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TeeRex_Dino
    Australia2 years ago
  • Often Misleading Podcast Titles

    I really wanted to listen the this podcast in-depth but every time I downloaded episodes it was full of woke agendas and discussion if this is what The National University is teaching Australia’s Brightest we are in trouble. It’s a woke agenda podcast rather than intelligent discussion on security, intelligence and National issues facing Australia from the ANU

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BandidoK
    Australia3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong resource for students and policymakers, with room for more dynamic presentation.
Excellent interviews and topics; high-quality insights from senior guests.
Overall positive on content quality and relevance, with some comments about production or pacing.
Great range of topics and concise discussions; essential listening for those tracking Australia's security and geopolitics.
Some critiques note a need for tighter, more engaging delivery and shorter episode formats.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#194
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#125
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#159
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#2
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#52
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#73
France/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Pat Conroy on defence reform, industry and the Pacific
Q: What is the direction of travel for the growing integration of Australian statecraft?
The National Defence Strategy makes a good first attempt at that integration.
Pat Conroy on defence reform, industry and the Pacific
Q: How do you see the year that was?
It was one of delivery interrupted or punctuated by a federal election.
Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force: reflections on half a century of service
Q: What lessons does the Ukraine conflict hold for the Indo-Pacific?
Johnston noted the importance of rapid innovation observed in the Ukraine conflict, including the use of drones and the need for adaptive strategies to meet new threats.
Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force: reflections on half a century of service
Q: How do you see Australia's defence priorities evolving over the next decade?
Admiral Johnston spoke about the evolving national defence strategy and emphasized three foundational elements: focus, integration, and the importance of time in addressing current and future security challenges.
Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force: reflections on half a century of service
Q: How did your career come to be an apprenticeship for this job?
Johnston reflected on his journey beginning as a Cold War warrior, major events in his career shaped his understanding of military contributions during various conflicts and the evolving strategic environment.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About The National Security Podcast

What is The National Security Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program provides expert analysis and informed debate on national security challenges in Australia and the Indo-Pacific. Recent episodes cover alliance dynamics, deterrence, regional security architectures, border and law-enforcement modernization, and the evolving roles of intelligence, space, and geospatial capabilities. Notable strengths include high-profile, policy-focused guests from government, academia, and think tanks, plus timely discussions of US‑Australia alignment, China and Russia competition, and regional security cooperation. The show tends to tailor complex security topics for policy professionals, students, and practitioners, with clear takeaways on defense reform, alliance management, and technology-enabled security. It... more

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How many listeners does The National Security Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The National Security Podcast have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The National Security Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The National Security Podcast:

1. If You're Listening
2. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. Lowy Institute
5. Australia in the World

How many episodes of The National Security Podcast are there?

The National Security Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 286 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 National Security Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The National Security Podcast?

Recent guests on The National Security Podcast include:

1. Gorana Grgić
2. Euan Graham
3. Heather Cook
4. Victoria Cooper
5. Afeeya Akhand
6. Admiral David Johnston
7. Kathryn McMullan
8. Tom Rogers

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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