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RUSI Journal Radio

The Royal United Services Institute

RUSI Journal Radio, the inaugural podcast of the RUSI Journal, is a new series dedicated to exploring some of today's biggest issues in defence and security.

Join hosts Demi Starks, Emma De Angelis and Ed Mortimer as they go beyond what's written on the page. Every two weeks, they chat with experts who have written for the RUSI Journal on a range of defence and security issues, from misinformation and terrorism to AI, healthcare and climate change.

The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by RUSI employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of RUSI.

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  • 39 episodes
  • Updated Apr 7, 2025

Episodes39

Newest first
  • Apr 7, 2025 · 35 min

    S5E10: War at Sea: Lessons from Ukraine and Future Maritime Security

    Alessio Patalano discusses the maritime dimensions of the Ukraine conflict and the shifting dynamics of naval strategy globally. There are many lessons to be learned from the maritime dimension of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Alessio explores maritime security and resilience, assessing both the operational dynamics and wider economic implications of the war at sea. He examines the challenges faced by NATO members and the broader international community in adapting their naval capabilities. He talks about the future of maritime security, including advancements in undersea warfare and the evolving role of drones and other technologies in naval operations. Alessio Patalano is Professor of War and Strategy in East Asia and Co-Director of the Centre for Grand Strategy at King's College London, where he specialises in maritime strategic issues.

  • Mar 24, 2025 · 27 min

    S5E9: Resistance Networks and Total Defence

    British Army officer Major Jon Armstrong discusses how resistance networks are formed and utilised, particularly in the current Russo-Ukraine war. From the makeshift resistance efforts seen in Ukraine to Sweden's carefully structured Total Defence approach, resistance networks can play a crucial role in a country's defence strategy. Armstrong talks about the different elements of resistance activities, focusing on Ukraine, and examines their successes and limitations. He addresses the challenges in controlling these networks, along with the potential post-conflict difficulties of reintegration; warning of the risk of civil strife if such groups are sidelined. As nations plan for future conflicts, Armstrong argues that they must not only build resistance networks, but also integrate them within the broader operational strategy. Jon Armstrong is a British Army officer with over 20 years of experience. His research interests include land operations and irregular warfare. He holds a BA in War Studies and an MA in Military and Security Studies from King's College London. The views expressed in this podcast are the authors', and do not represent those of RUSI or any other institution.

  • Mar 10, 2025 · 42 min

    S5E8: Autonomous Systems and The Future of Warfare

    Paddy Walker and Elke Schwarz discuss the operational and ethical implications of autonomous systems in warfare. Paddy and Elke highlight the gap between expectations and reality, arguing that while AI-enabled technologies are often marketed as revolutionary, their real-world effectiveness remains uncertain due to data limitations, technical vulnerabilities and the challenges of human–machine integration. Dr Paddy Walker is an Associate Fellow at RUSI and a Senior Research Fellow at the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Buckingham. His latest book, War Without Oversight, was published in January 2025. Professor Elke Schwarz is Professor of Political Theory at Queen Mary University of London and the author of Death Machines: The Ethics of Violent Technologies.

  • Feb 24, 2025 · 24 min

    S5E7: Resilient Armed Forces

    Patrick Bury, Reader in Warfare and Counter-Terrorism at the University of Bath, discusses the trade-offs, policy considerations, and potential solutions shaping the future of national security. With evolving geopolitical tensions, recruitment difficulties, and shifting societal attitudes, the UK armed forces currently face pressing challenges. Patrick explores the key trends shaping UK defence, from NATO's uncertain future and the UK's shrinking force size to the future of conscription and the disconnect between the public and the military. Patrick is a Reader in Warfare and Counter-Terrorism at the University of Bath. He has over 20 years' experience of working in the security sector as a practitioner, analyst and academic, and is a former British Army Captain and NATO analyst.

  • Jan 27, 2025 · 34 min

    S5E6: Changing Power Dynamics in the Indo-Pacific

    In this episode, Jamie Gaskarth and Laura Southgate discuss the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region. They talk about the region's economic importance and growing tensions due, at least in part, to the strained relationship between China and the US. They also discuss the implications for other powers, especially the UK, in seeking to balance security interests in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Jamie is Professor of Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Open University. Laura is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Aston University.

  • Jan 13, 2025 · 49 min

    S5E5: Mass Casualties, Mental Health and Leadership

    In this episode, US and Royal Navy officers examine the mental health challenges experienced by the surviving crew following a mass casualty event. US Navy officer Ryan Easterday and Royal Navy Medical Officer Charlotte Evans use the tragic collision of USS John S McCain in 2017 as a case study to discuss the actions taken to address such mental health challenges. Ryan is an officer in the US Navy and has helped return USS John S McCain to warfighting readiness as Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer from late 2017 until early 2021. Charlotte is a Royal Navy Medical Officer and Consultant Psychiatrist. Related article: Learning From the USS John S McCain Incident | Royal United Services Institute

  • Dec 2, 2024 · 28 min

    S5E3: The Evolution of Illicit Finance

    RUSI researcher Maria Nizzero talks about the growing problem of illicit finance and its shift from a domestic policy issue to a security threat. She explains the process of the securitisation of illicit finance, what it means and the impact and challenges that will arise from it. Maria Nizzero is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Finance and Security at RUSI and was previously Associate Professor of EU Politics and Institutions at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain.

  • Nov 18, 2024 · 30 min

    S5E2: Foreign Influence and its Exploitation of Loneliness

    Albin Östervall and Charlotte Wagnsson explain malign information influence and discuss how one key social factor – loneliness – is contributing to its pervasiveness in Western societies. They share why democracies are particularly vulnerable and suggest ways that how governments can mitigate this. Albin Östervall holds an MSc in Political Science from Uppsala University; Charlotte Wagnsson is Professor of Political Science at the Swedish Defence University. Related article: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/rusi-journal/how-russian-malign-information-influence-exploits-western-loneliness

  • Nov 4, 2024 · 39 min

    S5E1: A New Approach to Sabotage

    Elena Grossfeld and Magda Long discuss the evolution of Russian sabotage activities, from traditional sabotage to the current 'gig-economy' era. They also discuss how intelligence agencies can adjust their response to these covert actions, and whether the general public should be made more aware of them. Elena Grossfeld is a PhD candidate at the Department of War Studies, King's College London, researching intelligence organisations, their strategic culture and technologies. Magda Long is a Visiting Research Fellow at the King's Centre for the Study of Intelligence at King's College London. Russian Sabotage in the Gig-Economy Era | Royal United Services Institute

  • Jul 23, 2024 · 25 min

    S4E7: Artificial Intelligence and Wargaming

    Major Patrick Hinton, Former Chief of the General Staff's Visiting Fellow at RUSI, discussed how AI can be used in military wargaming, recruitment and retention and procurement.

  • Jul 8, 2024 · 31 min

    S4E6: Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain

    Ingvild Bode, Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Southern Denmark, talks about the integration of AI in military systems and discusses the emergence of norms and standards about the use of AI technologies in conflict.

  • Jun 24, 2024 · 31 min

    S4E5: Domestic Politics and International Alignments in Latin America

    Carlos Solar discusses how shifting domestic politics influence the way Latin American countries behave on the international stage, and analyses their divergent narratives about conflict and the future of the international order. Dr Carlos Solar is Senior Research Fellow in the International Security Studies team at RUSI. His current research is focused on security dynamics in the Americas, notably on military, human security and international relations issues that connect with the West. He is the author of Cybersecurity Governance in Latin America (SUNY Press), Governing the Military (Manchester University Press) and Government and Governance of Security (Routledge), and co-edited Violence, Crime and Justice in Latin America (Routledge).

  • Jun 10, 2024 · 44 min

    S4E4: Strategic Trends in Maritime Security

    Tim Edmunds, Professor of International Security and Director of the Global Insecurities Centre at the University of Bristol, traces how maritime security – and our understanding of it – has changed over the past few decades. Joining Emma and Ed, Tim looks at how geopolitics, climate change and technology are changing both the threats and the opportunities at the heart of the maritime security agenda.

  • May 28, 2024 · 48 min

    S4E3: Women's Experiences of Sexual Violence in the Military

    Harriet Gray, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York, mental health nurse Nicola Lester and Emma Norton, lawyer and Director of the Centre for Military Justice, talk about their research on sexual violence in the British Armed Forces and discuss cultural and institutional responses.

  • May 13, 2024 · 37 min

    S4E2: The Future of Counterinsurgency

    Professor David Ucko, Professor at the College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University, in Washington, DC, discusses the history of counterinsurgency and irregular warfare, and the role of special operation forces in contemporary conflict.

  • Apr 29, 2024 · 49 min

    S4E1: Food Security and International Geopolitics

    Hosts Emma and Ed talk to Dr Jennifer Cole, Senior Lecturer in Global Planetary Health at Royal Holloway, and Dr Ivica Petrikova, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy at Royal Holloway, discussing how the global food chain is affected by changing geopolitics, and how the UK can work to build a more resilient and fairer approach to food production and consumption.

  • Nov 21, 2022 · 38 min

    S3E5: Moral Injury, Part II

    In the second of two episodes on moral injury in the military, hosts Demi, Emma and Ed are joined by Katharine Campbell, a writer and neuroscientist. Katharine's biography of her late father Sholto Douglas, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Douglas of Kirtleside, was published in 2021. It highlights his lifelong battle with post-traumatic stress disorder and was shortlisted for the 2018 Tony Lothian Prize. Katharine collaborates with historians across Europe and with world experts on PTSD and has participated in the Australian Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. She also campaigns for the charity Combat Stress.

  • Nov 7, 2022 · 43 min

    S3E4: Moral Injury, Part 1

    Academic Andrea Ellner and author Katharine Campbell discuss the concept of moral injury. In the first of two episodes on moral injury in the military, hosts Demi and Emma are joined by Andrea Ellner, a Lecturer in Defence Studies at the Defence Studies Department at King's College London, based at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Shrivenham. Andrea's work focuses on gender and security, and civil-military relations and ethics, with a particular interest in moral injury. She is a Member of the Board of Directors for the Society of Military Ethics in Europe (EURO-ISME).