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Artwork for War on the Rocks

War on the Rocks

Ryan Evans
Ukraine
Russia
Iran
China
NATO
United States
Drones
Middle East
Indo-Pacific
Air Force
Taiwan
Israel
Donbas
Avdiivka
Ukraine Conflict
Bakhmut
U.S. Defense Industrial Base
Hamas
Iraq
Kharkiv

Discussions over drinks with security, defense, and foreign policy insiders and experts. The original War on the Rocks podcast series.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes342Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for War on the Rocks

Latest Episodes

The Marine Corps just released its plan to fight against adversaries on land and Ryan had the two architects of the plan, Ground Combat Element 2040, on the show to talk about it. They discuss drones, resilience, long-range fires, logistics, and what... more

YouTube

Our intrepid team covers a lot of ground in this episode: the increasing fluidity of the battlefield, drones and air defense, the biting Black Sea campaign, the causes and aftermath of the firing of Ukraine's popular defense minister, why Ukraine pro... more

Afshon Ostovar, one of the leading experts on Iran and the host of the members-only podcast The Iran Reckoning, is joined by War on the Rocks membership editor Kerry Anderson for a state-of-play conversation on the conflict between the United States ... more

YouTube

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Francis Beaudette, former commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, joins Ryan to discuss how his family history, service, and books shaped his path into and time in the Army. Together, they talk through his year... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Kerry Anderson
Membership editor and host guest on The Iran Reckoning
War on the Rocks
Episode: Inside Iran's Wartime Regime
Afshon Ostovar
Leading expert on Iran and The Iran Reckoning host
The Iran Reckoning / War on the Rocks
Episode: Inside Iran's Wartime Regime
Fran Beaudette
Former commanding general of USASOC
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Episode: A Life in Army Special Operations, from Desert Storm to the Next War
Joe Bice
Senior executive, Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton
Episode: How Ukraine Put Russia on the Backfoot
Dean Cheng
Senior fellow focusing on Chinese military power; longtime interpreter of Chinese military power
Potomac Institute; former Heritage Foundation
Episode: Is Time on China's Side? Beijing's Taiwan Calculus and the Balance of Power
Mira Rapp-Hooper
Leading analyst of US strategy in the Indo-Pacific; former NSC official; Brookings Institution fellow
Brookings Institution
Episode: Is Time on China's Side? Beijing's Taiwan Calculus and the Balance of Power
Amanda Hsiao
China specialist focused on Taiwan policy, crisis risks; Eurasia Group China practice director
Eurasia Group
Episode: Is Time on China's Side? Beijing's Taiwan Calculus and the Balance of Power
Rose Gottemoeller
Former Deputy Secretary General of NATO
NATO
Episode: What Would Relations with Post-War Russia Look Like?
Phil Duong
Co-founder of NODA, Autonomy Orchestrator
NODA
Episode: What Does SOUTHCOM's New Autonomous Warfare Command Herald?

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • Terrible audio!

    The episode on Strait of Hormuz, we tried to listen while traveling in the car, guys, it went from you were whispering to each other to suddenly audible. Really affects obviously what we took away from the episode. Straighten out your microphones and regulate your voices while speaking please !! Maybe test and listen to your voices before recording?!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    LoveListening26
    United States5 months ago
  • Doxxer

    Watch yourself around Ryan. He will doxx you on X if you disagree with him.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Anti-Dox
    United States6 months ago
  • Biased

    Extremely biased and one sided takes. Twists historical facts to suit his narratives. Unable to see all angles, which kinda sucks considering that’s what this is supposed to be about.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tamoor07
    United States6 months ago
  • Often informative; Sometimes insufferable

    The Mike Kofmann episodes are generally informative regarding the UKR-RUS war. The worst episodes are the convos between 3-4 simpering swamp creature “experts” (who were never correct, but wise in hindsight and second-guessing). The sheer contempt for anyone outside of DC that leaks through, even from Evans himself, is insufferable. Enough looking down your nose at the “real estate guy”. He’s one of the better diplomats we’ve had. Not going to Georgetown seem to be a benefit. Tune down the arrog... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Texas user
    United States6 months ago
  • Have listened to every episode

    Perhaps you might like to discuss how US Miltary are randomly killing people on boats and killing any survivors

    Is it for fun like the Defense secretary says?

    America is in decline

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    mnytdvloddem
    Australia9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Solid in-depth military and security analysis; journalists and sponsors may want transparency on audio quality.
Some reviews point to perceived bias or heated dynamics with the host; listeners vary on tone and presentation.
High-quality guests and tech-forward defense discussions are frequently praised; a few critiques call for broader balance and variability in perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#135
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#102
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#180
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#250
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#30
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#76
France/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inside Iran's Wartime Regime
Q: How stable is the leadership and what does Mohsen Rezaei's appointment signify?
The discussion argues it signals reinforcement of hardline, IRGC-aligned leadership, possible stagnation of generational change, and shows the old guard maintaining influence despite long-term structural challenges within the regime.
Inside Iran's Wartime Regime
Q: What is driving Iran's strategic priorities in the strait and what might the future look like?
Iran seeks to control or effectively manage the strait, potentially monetize shipping through fees, while Oman seeks to placate Iran; the future may include a regional system where both countries share some control and where growth in influence is limited by regional diplomacy and the US stance.
Inside Iran's Wartime Regime
Q: What is the current status of fighting and how is Iran responding?
The discussion outlines that the US has paused major attacks for now, with ongoing ambiguity about real progress on the ground and a focus on how Iran continues to contest the Strait while diplomatic channels float between escalation and restraint.
What a Post-Orbán Hungary Means for Hungarians and Europe
Q: What should we expect on Ukraine if Magyar takes office?
Magyar is expected to be less obstructionist toward Ukraine than Orbán and to push for EU alignment, while avoiding deep confrontations that could alienate the Hungarian electorate; the EU's emphasis on not sabotaging Ukraine issues will likely guide a more constructive stance.
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz & Saving Downed Pilots
Q: What plan would you develop to forcibly reopen and keep open the Strait?
The plan is already being implemented: target the IRGC's capabilities, attrit anti-ship weapons and command and control nodes, and use a combination of air, surface, and unmanned assets to reduce Iran's ability to interdict ships, while maintaining political and international support until the strait can be opened and kept open.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About War on the Rocks

What is War on the Rocks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners tend to be policy wonks and defense professionals who crave in-depth analysis of security, defense tech, and geopolitics, often framed through expert interviews and battlefield case studies. Episodes frequently combine on-the-ground reporting with strategic assessment, featuring high-profile think-tank scholars, military officers, and industry guests, sometimes interleaved with practical tech or policy discussions. Notable strengths include a thorough, data-driven approach to current events, a willingness to cover niche military topics (drones, autonomy, industrial base policy), and a willingness to host a range of perspectives from NATO, U.S. deterrence, and regional security theaters. For potential guests or sponsors, the show a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to War on the Rocks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with War on the Rocks:

1. Net Assessment
2. Modern War Institute
3. Irregular Warfare Podcast
4. School of War
5. Global Security Briefing

How many episodes of War on the Rocks are there?

War on the Rocks launched 13 years ago and published 342 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 War on the Rocks?

Recent guests on War on the Rocks include:

1. Kerry Anderson
2. Afshon Ostovar
3. Fran Beaudette
4. Joe Bice
5. Dean Cheng
6. Mira Rapp-Hooper
7. Amanda Hsiao
8. Rose Gottemoeller

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