Shows / STRAT
STRAT
STRAT – Strategic Risk Assessment Talk, is a forum with a preparedness mindset. Mitigating risks, creating systems of prevention and recovery to deal with potential threats, and understanding the objectives of a Business Continuity Plan. This is the podcast for leaders who are committed to being prepared. The program is hosted by retired Marine Corps intelligence officer and strategic risk assessment professional Hal Kempfer and investment banker Mark Mansfield.
Episodes
STRATSTRAT | 29 OCT 2026 | Military Preparing for Catastrophic Events Here at Home
What happens when the power grid fails and supply lines stop? On this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines…
STRATSTRAT | 21 OCT 2026 | Defeating the Houthis
What would it take to defeat the Houthis, and why could the campaign last for years? On STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines…
STRATSTRAT | 18 OCT 2026 | Ukraine, Russia and US at a Crossroads
Ukraine, Russia and the United States face a pivotal moment as shifting energy policy strains alliances and complicates the search for peace. Retired Marine…
STRATSTRAT | 11 OCT 2026 | The Russian Diesel Deal Dilemma
Can buying Russian diesel ease America’s fuel crunch, or will it deepen a strategic crisis? In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer…
STRATSTRAT | 06 OCT 2026 | California’s “Illegal Domestic Spying” Imbroglio
Retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines California’s “illegal domestic spying” controversy and the questions it raises about homeland…
STRATSTRAT | 01 OCT 2026 | 9-11 Remembered, and How California Countered Counterterrorism
Twenty-five years after September 11, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer reflects on the attacks and examines California’s evolving…
STRATSTRAT | 27 SEP 2026 | CRINK on the Brink
Could mounting economic and security pressures fracture the informal alignment of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea? On this episode of STRAT, retired…
STRATSTRAT | 23 SEP 2026 | What Happens in Vegas… Happens in Cuba?!
Could a transformed Cuba redraw the economic map of the American Southwest? On STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer explores a…
STRATSTRAT | 18 SEP 2026 | Russia’s War With NATO
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines what the program describes as an escalating Russian hybrid warfare…
STRATSTRAT | 12 SEP 2026 | What About Bab…el-Mandeb
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints—and renewed Houthi activity could make it even more…
STRATSTRAT | 07 SEPT 2026 | The Other 1989
Could the geopolitical upheavals of 1989 offer a roadmap for understanding what is happening today? In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence…
STRATSTRAT | 26 AUG 2026 | Ukraine’s Strategic Gambit
Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign is reaching farther into Russia, targeting refineries, warehouses, defense plants, air-defense systems, and critical…
STRATSTRAT | 22 AUG 2026 | Economic D-Day with Iran
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines what the White House is calling “Economic D-Day,” a major escalation…
STRATSTRAT | 19 AUG 2026 | Consequence Management and the Super El Nino
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines consequence management and warns of the risks he associates with a…
STRATSTRAT | 14 AUG 26 | Drones Across The Homeland
Drones are transforming the security landscape across the American homeland, creating opportunities for first responders while introducing rapidly evolving…
STRATSTRAT | 06 AUG 2026 | Missile Mayhem From Absent Ammo
This episode of STRAT with retired Marine Intelligence Officer Hal Kempfer examines the growing shortage of advanced air defense interceptors and the strategic…
STRATSTRAT | 03 AUG 2026 | Iran Stalemate & Russian Reality Check
This STRAT episode examines two of the world's most dangerous security flashpoints as events accelerate in both the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The…
STRATSTRAT | 26 JULY 2026 | The Quickly Broadening War with Iran
As military operations against Iran enter what appears to be an operational pause, the broader regional conflict is expanding in dangerous and unexpected ways…
STRATSTRAT | 18 JULY 2026 | Iran War’s Dangerous New Phase
The conflict with Iran is entering a far more dangerous stage as military operations expand beyond traditional battlefield targets and increasingly focus on…
STRATSTRAT | 13 JULY 2026 | Drone Dominance Reshapes Future of Modern Conflict
Drone technology is rapidly transforming the battlefield, and its strategic consequences are becoming impossible to ignore. This episode of STRAT with Hal…
STRATSTRAT | 08 July 2026 | Global Security Calculus and Iran's Action
Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz are testing more than regional stability—they are challenging the future of global commerce, maritime security, and U.S…
STRATSTRAT | 01 JULY 2026 | Strategic Reset? – Russia, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba
As geopolitical tensions continue to evolve, this episode examines four major international developments that could reshape the global strategic landscape in…
STRATSTRAT | 26 June 2026 | Venezuela Disaster: A Strategic Opportunity
A catastrophic series of earthquakes has left Venezuela facing widespread destruction, thousands of casualties, and an overwhelming humanitarian crisis. In…
STRATSTRAT | 17 JUN 26 | Ukraine Momentum Shifts Amid Emerging Policy Reset
On this episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer Hal Kempfer examines emerging signs of a potential shift in U.S. policy toward the Russia-Ukraine…
STRATSTRAT | 14 JUNE 2026 | Testing a Fragile Path Toward Stability
A reported U.S.–Iran Memorandum of Understanding could become one of the most consequential geopolitical developments in years—but only if both sides follow…
STRATSTRAT | 07 JUN 26 | Iran’s Missile Gamble Signals Growing Desperation
Iran’s latest ballistic missile attack on northern Israel may appear aggressive on the surface, but in this STRAT episode, retired Marine Intelligence Officer…
STRATSTRAT | 04 JUNE 2026 | Lebanon’s High-Stakes Battle Against Hezbollah
A major shift may be unfolding in the Middle East. In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines the evolving…
STRATSTRAT | 28 MAY 2026 | America’s Cartel Crackdown Reshapes Hemisphere
In this explosive episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines how aggressive U.S. operations across Latin America are…
STRATSTRAT | 23 MAY 26 | Iran Crisis Reaches a Strategic Crossroads
In this episode of STRAT with Hal Kempfer, the focus turns to a major strategic inflection point involving Iran, where diplomacy and military escalation appear…
STRATSTRAT | 15 MAY 2026 | Cuba Crisis Signals Hemisphere Power Shift
On this episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines the growing pressure campaign against Cuba and what it could mean for…
STRATSTRAT | 09 MAY 26 | Russia Weakens as Ukraine Expands Strategic Reach
On this episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer Hal Kempfer examines why Russia’s much-anticipated Spring offensive is faltering and why Moscow…
STRATSTRAT | 02 May 2026 | TEHRAN’S TORMENT: Iran Regime Faces Existential Strategic Collapse
In this episode of STRAT with retired Marine Intelligence Officer Hal Kempfer, we examine Iran’s deepening crisis as mounting economic pressure, internal power…
STRATRussia’s Road to Ruination: Ukraine, Iran and Reality
Russia faces mounting pressure as battlefield losses, economic strain, and weakening alliances converge into a growing strategic crisis. This episode of STRAT…
STRATSTRAT | 10 April 2026 | Ceasefire Ire with Iran
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer breaks down the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran following…
STRATSTRAT | 06 APR 26 | Iran’s Looming Deadline
A critical deadline looms as tensions between the United States and Iran reached a far more destructive phase of the war. This episode of STRAT explores the…
STRATSTRAT | 28 MAR 26 | Putting Boots On The Ground In Iran
This episode of STRAT explores the growing possibility of U.S. ground operations in Iran and what those forces could be tasked to accomplish. With Marine…
STRATBeyond Oil, Global Supply Chain Hits from the Strait of Hormuz Crisis
A growing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is triggering far more than an oil disruption—it’s reshaping global supply chains in multiple commodities in…
STRATSTRAT | 17 MAR 26 | Getting it Straight on the Strait of Hormuz
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have reached a critical point, placing one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints under severe strain. This episode…
STRATSTRAT | 09 MAR 26 | Re-Wiring the Western Hemisphere
On this episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines major geopolitical developments reshaping the Western Hemisphere. The…
STRATSTRAT | 08 March 2026 | War in the Middle East and Boots on the Ground
On this episode of STRAT, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines the quickly evolving war across the Middle East following U.S. and…
STRATSTRAT | 20 FEB 2026 | STRIKING IRAN 2.0
In this episode of STRAT with Hal Kempfer, we examine the growing likelihood of direct U.S. military action against Iran and what such a move would legally and…
STRATSTRAT | 12 FEB 26 | How Oil Prices Are Reshaping Global Power Politics
Global oil markets are no longer just about supply and demand—they are reshaping geopolitics in real time. In this episode of the STRAT podcast, retired Marine…
STRATSTRAT | 02 FEB 2026 | What Does Regime Change In Iran Mean?
What would regime change in Iran actually look like—and what would it mean for the United States, Europe, and global stability? In this episode of STRAT with…
STRATSTRAT | 26 JAN 26 | Three Fronts of Conflict Shaping America’s Strategic Future
From America’s heartland to the Pacific coast and the Middle East, this episode of STRAT examines three arenas where pressure is building—and consequences may…
STRATSTRAT | 19 JAN 26 | Minneapolis, ICE, and a Nation on Edge
Protests and federal operations collide in Minneapolis after a fatal encounter between an ICE agent and a local resident. This episode of STRAT with retired…
STRATSTRAT | 14 Jan 26 | Iran on the Brink: Protests, Power, Global Shockwaves
This STRAT episode examines a rapidly escalating crisis in Iran and why it matters far beyond the Middle East. With protests spreading across more than 100…
STRATSTRAT | 06 January 2026 | Night Raid Reshapes Venezuela and Global Power Dynamics
In this episode, retired Marine intelligence officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer analyzes the stunning overnight U.S. operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan…
STRATSTRAT | Ukraine Peace Proposals, Power Politics, and Global Strategic Fallout
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer breaks down the competing peace proposals aimed at ending the war in Ukraine…
STRATSTRAT | 20 Dec 25 | America’s Return to Power Politics in the Western Hemisphere
America’s strategic focus is shifting back to its own neighborhood. In this episode of STRAT with retired Marine Intelligence Officer Hal Kempfer, we examine…
STRATSTRAT | 7 Dec 25 | U.S. Strategy Signals Major Shift in European Security
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer breaks down the newly released U.S. National Security Strategy and what it…
STRATSTRAT | 1 DEC 2025 | Rising Flashpoints Reshape Power Dynamics in Venezuela and Ukraine
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer Hal Kempfer examines two rapidly evolving geopolitical flashpoints—Venezuela and Ukraine—each…
STRATNovember 24, 2025 | California’s Catastrophic Wildfire Mismanagement
California’s recent wildfire tragedies reveal far more than natural disaster—they expose deep failures in federal oversight, intelligence integration…
STRATSTRAT | 16 Nov 25 | Massive U.S. Military Buildup Raises High-Stakes Geopolitical Tensions
In this episode, retired Marine Intelligence Officer Hal Kempfer breaks down the newly announced Operation Southern Spear, a major U.S. military action aimed…
STRATSTRAT | 6 NOV 2025 | U.S.-Mexico Tensions Rise Over Proposed Anti-Cartel Strikes
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines the explosive proposal under consideration by the Trump…
STRATSTRAT | November 2, 2025 | U.S. Naval Pressure Mounts on Venezuela Amid Cartel Ties
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer analyzes escalating U.S. military operations targeting fast boats and…
STRATSTRAT| 27 OCT 2025 | Flamingo Cruise Missiles Bring Russia Within Ukrainian Reach
On this episode of STRAT, we examine Ukraine’s FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missile — a potentially game-changing long-range weapon now entering serial production…
STRATSTRAT | 22 OCT 2025 | Geopolitical Crossroads: Ukraine Tensions, Gaza Ceasefire, National Guard Ruling
In this STRAT episode, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer breaks down three global and domestic flashpoints shaping today’s strategic…
STRATSTRAT | October 13, 2025 | Turning Point in Gaza: Ceasefire and Hostage Release
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer LtCol. Hal Kempfer examines one of the most pivotal developments in recent Middle East…
STRATSTRAT | October 9, 2025 | Peace Deals, Court Battles, and Ukraine’s Escalating Frontlines
In this episode of STRAT, retired Marine Intelligence Officer Hal Kempfer examines three fast-moving global and domestic developments shaping today’s security…
STRATSTRAT | October 2, 2025 | National Guard Deployments and the Expanding War on Narco-terrorists
In this episode, retired Marine Intelligence Officer Hal Kempfer examines the Trump administration’s fast-paced 2025 deployments of federalized National Guard…