Shows / Hardpoints
Hardpoints
Every week, former fighter pilots and current entrepreneurs Neal Rickner & Mike Smith provide unfiltered insights into the biggest stories in startups, energy, and national security.
Episodes
HardpointsPower, Privilege, and the Energy Future
This episode of Hardpoints explores the intersection of power—political, economic, and literal. Mike and Neal dissect how America's priorities are shifting…
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When The Storm Comes
In Episode 14, Mike Smith and Neal Rickner return from vacation into a week of devastating headlines: a deadly ambush on firefighters in Idaho, catastrophic…
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Modern Conflict: Tech, Climate, Bad Calls
Explore the evolving nature of modern warfare, where strategic missteps, the growing influence of tech giants, and the escalating threat of climate change…
HardpointsUnserious Country, Serious World
In this episode of *Hardpoints*, Mike and Neal tackle the AI talent wars, Meta’s failed grab at Safe Superintelligence, and the absurdity of their $30B…
HardpointsDrones, Nuclear Proliferation, & American Dysfunction
Asymmetric threats continue to expand, whether its the use of drones, cybertechnology, climate, espionage, or terrorism. The interaction is quickly leaving…
HardpointsFree speech and online safety - Guest: Michael O'Herlihy
Free speech online is a central debate that has been raging for over a decade, and everyone has a strong opinion. See what someone who has been at the center…
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Finding Meaning in Work - Guest: Daniel Kim | Hardpoints
Living a life of meaning can happen anywhere, not just in the military or non-profits, but well into business. Rethink the way you do business and how to lead…
HardpointsPredator Innovation & The Age of Machines - Guest: Siggy Zerweckh | Hardpoints
The time of machines has arrived. See how we got here with one of the fathers of autonomous vehicles and AI and how to think about how humans & machines will…
HardpointsSurfing, Carbon Collective, & Film Making - Guest: Breene Murphy | Hardpoints
Surfer, CEO, Filmmaker - See how one man decided that his favorite sport and his business acumen led him to rethink how he can live his life. Guest Breene…
HardpointsMicrobes, Mines & an Alaskan: A Startup CEO Redefines Mining
The world's economy relies upon that everything you see has either been mined or grown. Learn about the life of an extraordinary Alaskan and her passion for…
HardpointsElite athletes & the veteran transition | Hardpoints
When your job goes away or you experience, we all have to go through a transition. Learn about how elite athletes and veterans share that experience, how it's…
HardpointsSetting up the DoD Energy Clearinghouse
Look at the world through the eyes of a former F-16 pilot and Department of Defense official about the intersection of energy and national security. Today's…
HardpointsTariffs, national security, and startups - More overlap than you'd think | Hardpoints
Tariffs and how they're created have so many effects on the world we live in, from manufacturing, to national security, to startup ecosystems. Neal & Mike…
HardpointsSignal is forgotten but we all got the message
There aren't different rules for leaders, just sometimes different results. Think through how being sloppy with security secrets is dangerous to us all. Plus…