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War on the Rocks
Discussions over drinks with security, defense, and foreign policy insiders and experts. The original War on the Rocks podcast series.
Episodes
- War on the Rocks
A Contest of Wills: Ukraine's Summer Offensive
On this episode, Nick sits down with Mike to discuss Ukraine's ongoing offensive. The conversation discussed the latest from Ukraine's three axes of advance…
- War on the Rocks
Zooming Out on Ukraine's Offensive
Ryan and Mike finally found themselves in the same locale after heavy travel and sat down for a in-depth conversation on Ukraine's offensive, how we got here…
- War on the Rocks
An Inflection Point in Ukraine's Counteroffensive
Aaron sat down with Mike to discuss the Ukrainian counteroffensive and where things stand along the three axes of advance. The two discussed the state of the…
- War on the Rocks
Ryan Evans on 10 Years of War on the Rocks
To mark the tenth anniversary of War on the Rocks, Philip D. Zelikow did us the honor of interviewing Ryan on the origin story of War on the Rocks, where it's…
- War on the Rocks
Ukraine Struggles to Scale Offensive Combat Operations
On this special sneak peak of the Russia Contingency, Mike sat down with Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, to discuss the…
- War on the Rocks
Assessing Ukraine's Three Axes of Advance
On this sneak-peak episode of the Russia Contingency, Aaron sat down with Mike Kofman to discuss the state of the Ukrainian military's offensive, the different…
- War on the Rocks
Understanding Risk and Redefining Readiness
Aaron sat down recently with Kimberly Jackson, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for force readiness and Gen. David Berger, who is handing over the…
- War on the Rocks
Ukraine and Lessons Learned for Airpower and Spacepower
This episode comes to you from Ramstein Air Base, where Ryan spoke with Gen. James Hecker of the U.S. Air Force and Air Marshall Johnny Stringer of the Royal…
- War on the Rocks
Defense and Capital: Venture and Debt
In the first of a series of conversations on the topic of the defense industrial base and capital, Ryan is joined by Dan Gwak of Point72 and James Parker of…
- War on the Rocks
Ukraine's Offensive and Russia's Localized Counterattacks
In today's episode, Mike looks at the slow progress of the Ukrainian offensive and what, if anything, it means for the course of the war. He also discusses…
- War on the Rocks
Managing Chaos: The 2021 Kabul Airlift
On this special edition podcast, listeners will get to hear the first 20 minutes of Unspent Rounds, a members-only War on the Rocks podcast that features…
- War on the Rocks
Ukraine's Multiple Axes of Attack
On Monday, Nick Danforth sat down with Mike Kofman to discuss the latest from the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive. In this episode, Mike details the…
- War on the Rocks
The Ebb and Flow of Russian Military Power
On this special edition podcast, listeners will get to hear the first 20 minutes of Mike Kofman's members-only podcast, The Russia Contingency. Mike spoke last…
- War on the Rocks
Ukraine's Offensive and its Meaning for the War
Following Russia's failed winter offensive, Ukraine appears to be preparing for its planned counter-offensive. Ryan sat down with Mike Kofman to discuss the…
- War on the Rocks
Why Erdogan Wins
This week, Ryan sat down at a cafe in Washington, D.C., with Hümeyra Pamuk and Nicholas Danforth to discuss the results of Turkey's May 14 election. They…
- War on the Rocks
The Calm Before the Storm: Waiting for Ukraine's Offensive
Ryan sat down with Mike Kofman at WOTR HQ in Washington, DC to talk about Ukraine's coming offensive; the manpower, materiel, and politics behind it; and…
- War on the Rocks
A Conversation with Gen. CQ Brown, Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Ryan recently tagged along on a little trip to Alabama with Gen. CQ Brown, the chief of staff of the Air Force. They recorded this episode on the flight back…
- War on the Rocks
China, France, and the Shadow of History
Ryan sat down at 1789 in Georgetown with Justin Vaïsse, a French historian and director general of the Paris Peace Forum, an independent NGO he started at the…
- War on the Rocks
Powering American Renewal with Innovation
Ryan sat down with two old friends for a rich conversation on wielding innovation and smart policies to create an American renewal. Listen to his conversation…
- War on the Rocks
Russia Will Soon Be on the Defense, But Then What?
Mike Kofman joins the show yet again. This time, he explains why the debate over the wisdom of the Battle for Bahkmut is so important while still overshadowing…
- War on the Rocks
The Military and Great Powers: The Latest From Latin America, Part 2
Nicholas Danforth recently sat down with Agustina Giraudy, Adam Isacson and Anya Prusa to discuss the latest political developments in Latin America. This the…
- War on the Rocks
Central Command's Big Technology Bets
On this episode, Ryan sat down with Schuyler Moore, the chief technology officer for U.S. Central Command, to discuss how it is planning to fight and win the…
- War on the Rocks
The Latest From Latin America, Part 1
Nicholas Danforth recently sat down with Agustina Giraudy, Adam Isacson and Anya Prusa to discuss the latest political developments in Latin America. This…
- War on the Rocks
How to Think About Bakhmut and a Ukrainian Spring Offensive
Fresh back from his research trip to Ukraine, Mike Kofman joins Ryan for a discussion about what he learned. They discuss the battle for Bakhmut, munitions…
- War on the Rocks
Backing Ukraine Against Russia, With Colin Kahl and Derek Chollet
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl and Counselor to the Secretary of State Derek Chollet join the show to reflect on the war on year after…
- War on the Rocks
Russia's Winter Offensive
Mike Kofman sat down with Nicholas Danforth to discuss Russia's latest offensive, it's focus, and why it has been underwhelming so far. The conversation…
- War on the Rocks
Unfolding Offensives and Counter-Offensives in Ukraine
Mike Kofman and Ryan Evans cover a lot of ground in this episode about the war in Ukraine: Russian goals in the Donbass, the coming Russian counter-offensive…
- War on the Rocks
Talking Strategy with Assistant Secretary of Defense Mara Karlin
Ryan sat down with Dr. Mara Karlin, who serves as assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities. They discussed the making of the new…
- War on the Rocks
Manpower, Materiel, and the Coming Decisive Phase in Ukraine
In his latest discussion with Ryan on the war in Ukraine, Mike Kofman explains why the coming spring and summer will be strategically decisive. He also offers…
- War on the Rocks
A Disquieting Winter at War in Ukraine
Michael Kofman joins Ryan for their first discussion of the new year on the war in Ukraine. They cover the state of play at the various fronts, manpower and…
- War on the Rocks
Nukes, Negotiations, and Lessons From the War in Ukraine
Ryan recently traveled to Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base where he was joined by three of the many big thinkers teaching servicemembers down there…
- War on the Rocks
Localized Offensives: The Direction of the Conflict
Mike Kofman and Nick Danforth start this episode by analyzing the latest events in the war and the fighting in and around Bakhmut. Mike offers his thoughts on…
- War on the Rocks
Winter and Beyond: An Inflection Point in the War Over Ukraine
Mike Kofman and Ryan Evans start this episode by taking a step back to the beginning to put this stage of the war in context. Mike offers possible scenarios on…
- War on the Rocks
Cognition and Curiosity: A Conversation with Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson
War on the Rocks threw a party for almost 200 people on the sidelines of I/ITSEC, the premier modeling and simulations conference held every year in Orlando…
- War on the Rocks
Josh Wolfe on Investing in American Defense
Ryan sat down with Josh Wolfe, co-founder of Lux Capital, in his New York office earlier this month to talk about why he is drawn to invest in companies…
- War on the Rocks
The Liberation of Kherson and the Next Phase of the War
On this episode, Ryan and Mike discuss the liberation of Kherson, the Russian military's strategy before the start of the winter, and Ukraine's efforts to…
- War on the Rocks
A Conversation with Ukraine's Special Operations Commander
While in Ukraine, Ryan sat down with Brig. Gen. Viktor Khorenko, the commander of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces. They discussed the roles and missions of…
- War on the Rocks
Southward and Eastward Pressure on Russian Forces
Mike Kofman and Ryan Evans recorded this episode on the war as they return home from their week-long research trip to Ukraine. They cover the fight for…
- War on the Rocks
A Chat With Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos of Air University
During a visit to Maxwell Air Force Base, Ryan had a chance to visit with Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos, the president and commander of Air University. We spoke about…
- War on the Rocks
What Will Be Ukraine's Pre-Winter Gains?
A blown up bridge, progressing Ukrainian operations in the east and south, and an unimpressive Russian mobilization effort. How should these be understood?…
- War on the Rocks
The Kremlin in Command, Part II: Syria and the First Assault on Ukraine
Lawrence Freedman and Michael Kofman walk us through the post-Cold War history of the Kremlin as commander. In the second episode of this multi-part series…
- War on the Rocks
Russia's Plan to Stay in the War
After Ukraine's stunning Kharkiv counter-offensive, Vladimir Putin has doubled down on his war against Ukraine, announcing a large military mobilization…
- War on the Rocks
The Kremlin in Command, Part I: The Chechen Wars and Georgia
Vladimir Putin's role as supreme commander has been center stage, offering a floundering and frightful performance. To understand the present, we reach back to…
- War on the Rocks
Ukraine's Kharkhiv Operation and the Russian Military's Black Week
On a foggy morning in August 1918, Allied forces commenced the Battle of Amiens and the Hundred Days Offensive that ended the Great War. A German general later…
- War on the Rocks
Into the Breach: Ukraine's Counter-Offensive Begins
Join us for another discussion with Michael Kofman on the war in Ukraine. The main focus of this episode is the southern counter-offensive launched by…
- War on the Rocks
Awaiting a Ukrainian Counter-Offensive
Mike Kofman joins Ryan once again to update us all on the war in Ukraine. The big thing that everyone is watching for is evidence of an impending Ukrainian…
- War on the Rocks
Troubled Waters Around Taiwan
Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit was met with fury and condemnation in Beijing, as well as new Chinese military exercises in the seas surrounding Taiwan. In the…
- War on the Rocks
The Task Force at the Bleeding Edge of the Marine Corps
Maj. Gen. Frank Donovan of the U.S. Marine Corps sat down with Ryan to discuss the recent mission and exercises of Task Force 61/2, from Greece and Turkey to…
- War on the Rocks
Great Expectations? The Next Phase of the Russo-Ukrainian War
Michael Kofman joined Ryan for yet another conversation about the unfolding tragedy of the Russo-Ukrainian War. In this episode, they focus largely on the…
- War on the Rocks
Shinzo Abe's Legacy in Japan and on the World Stage
Shinzo Abe, Japan's former prime minister, was gunned down by an assassin earlier this summer. He is credited with having paved the road to his country's far…
- War on the Rocks
Ukraine's Window of Opportunity?
With military circles abuzz that Ukraine might be preparing to launch a counter-offensive against Russian-held Kherson, Michael Kofman of CNA's Russia team…
- War on the Rocks
Is the Most Important Battle of the War Coming?
Michael Kofman joins Ryan once again to discuss the Russo-Ukrainian War. In this episode, he discusses the looming battle for Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, two…
- War on the Rocks
Ukraine and Russia Grapple with Relentless Battle and Attrition
Mike Kofman joins the show again to update us on the war in Ukraine. In this episode (which was recorded shortly before Russian forces withdrew from Snake…
- War on the Rocks
The Most Dangerous Phase for Ukraine?
This is not an optimistic episode. Michael Kofman speculates that the war might be in its most dangerous phase. Why is that? Ukraine's casualties and shortages…
- War on the Rocks
What the Experts Got Wrong (and Right) About Russian Military Power
It is now widely understood that many observers, in advance of this war, over-estimated Russian military performance and underestimated Ukrainian military…
- War on the Rocks
The Battlefields of the Donbass and Beyond
Michael Kofman sat down with Ryan again to sort through how the war in Ukraine is proceeding, with a focus on the Donbass, where Ukraine and Russia are…
- War on the Rocks
Counter-Attacks and Can-Kicking in the Russo-Ukrainian War
Russia's stumbling war was launched almost three months ago. As Russian and Ukrainian forces battle on, how should we understand the state of play? Michael…
- War on the Rocks
The U.S. Military Might Be More Like Russia's Military Than You Think
Did that title get your attention? It got Ryan's attention too when it came out of Steve Blank's mouth. If you're a War on the Rocks reader/listener, you've…
- War on the Rocks
Ukraine's Military Advantage and Russia's Stark Choices
Our friend Michael Kofman popped in for another conversation with Ryan about where things stand in the Russo-Ukrainian War. He gives a wide-ranging assessment…
- War on the Rocks
From Ukraine and Beyond: Unpacking the Sino-Russian Relationship
This is the national security podcast crossover of the century! Or at least of the year...ok maybe of Spring 2022! For this special episode, Doyle Hodges of…