Defence & Security Podcast Network

In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Steve Kuper discuss the immediate aftermath of the US–Israeli strikes against Iran and the ramifications for Australia.

The trio lays the foundation for a mini-series of focused podcast conversations over the coming weeks to address the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on Australia and the Australian public.

These topics will include engaging conversations with a range of experts across the following:

• The impact on social cohesion and the rise of foreign interference in Australia's diaspora communities.
• Australia's declining industrial sovereignty and the impact of contested, frayed and interrupted supply chains.
• The economic impacts of the conflict in the Middle East and Australia's cost-of-living crisis and the fuel security challenges Australia faces.
• The impact on Australia's key economic pillars and the connective tissue of logistic supply chains.
• Cyber security, disinformation and proxy activity in Australia.
• Migration and the challenges facing Australia's diaspora communities.
• Questions relating to Australia's geographic isolation and the psychology behind our "Tyranny of Distance" and the impact on Australia's security posture. Questions relating to what kind of "Middle Power" Australia wants to be.

Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by UK member of Parliament for Plymouth Moor View, Fred Thomas, who has recently toured Australian defence facilities as part of a UK parliamentary delegation examining submarine infrastructure and AUKUS cooperation.

Thomas has previously served as a Royal Marines Officer across several security environments, including nuclear security, counter-terrorism, arctic warfare and on overseas operations. He remains an active Royal Marines Commando Reservist.

Thomas represents the recognised UK submarine hubs of Barrow and Plymouth, he has established the Defence Technology All Party Parliamentary Group, and has close links to the UK submarine enterprise, including facilities in Barrow-in-Furness and His Majesty's Naval Base Devonport.

During the podcast, the pair discuss development of submarine infrastructure in Australia and historical examples from the UK, including the following:

• Australia's efforts to develop infrastructure and a skilled workforce to support nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS.
• Community perceptions of nuclear propulsion and the importance of regulation and training pathways.
• News from visits to facilities, including HMAS Stirling and the Australian Marine Complex, and a tour of HMS Anson during its maintenance period in Western Australia.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

This week on Cyber Uncut, Liam Garman and Daniel Croft unpack the week's cyber and AI news, while David Hollingworth reports from Zero Trust World 2026 in Florida!

Garman and Croft kick off the podcast with news of ChatGPT shedding a raft of users since it announced it would sign up with the Pentagon after rival AI giant Anthropic backed down over fears its AI would be used without adequate guardrails.

The pair then unpack the Commonwealth Bank's self-reported $1 billion fraud case involving illegitimate home loans after two whistleblowers accused a lender and a mortgage broker of forging income statements within the bank's private banking division. The two also cover how a hacktivist group named the "Department of Peace" allegedly breached the DHS Office of Industry Partnerships and released details on ICE and DHS contracts with over 6,000 entities, including Anduril, Microsoft, Oracle, and Palantir.

Finally, we then cut to David Hollingworth on the floor of Zero Trust World 2026, where he caught up with ThreatLocker's CEO, Danny Jenkins, unpacking the cyber security implications of the fighting in Iran, after Garman and Croft outline the threats to the world's financial systems as the conflict continues in the region.

Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

From commercial pilot to maritime leader, Georgia Davey's "roller-coaster" career is a masterclass in adaptability. In this episode, the NORSTA Maritime program manager joins Tash Taylor to discuss her journey from the skies of northern Australia to managing maintenance for naval vessels. Georgia shares the unique challenges of defence construction and maritime logistics, offering a candid look at being the only woman in the room and her commitment to "holding the door open" for the next generation of diverse talent.

The Progress Report. New voices. Real stories. Big shifts.

Enjoy the podcast, The Progress Report team

In this special "Iran conflict" episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper is joined by Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro to unpack major developments surrounding the escalating battle between the forces of Iran, the United States and Israel.

The discussion begins with an overview of the lead-up to the conflict, proxy activity across the Middle East, then implications for regional and global security. The team examines how these developments are reshaping strategic calculations for Western allies and partners.

Their attention then turns to Iran's growing use of drones, missiles and asymmetric warfare against a rapidly dwindling supply of advanced and costly munitions among Western allies, such as the US.

Regionally, the team assesses how the conflict could affect maritime security in critical waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz, along with the potential impact on global energy markets and international trade routes.

They also discuss alliance commitments and coalition operations, in particular with reference to Australia.

The episode concludes with an analysis of the broader geopolitical consequences of the crisis and the possible "off-ramps" to peace for the Iranian people.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Stephen Kuper is joined by James Rabey, principal consultant at Macquarie Government, to explore how AUKUS and broader Defence reforms are reshaping security requirements across Australia's defence industry supply chain.

As part of this in-depth conversation, the pair discuss a range of subjects, including the following:

• How AUKUS and the expansion of Australia's sovereign capability are increasing cyber security obligations for both traditional defence primes and non-traditional suppliers entering the market.
• What the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) requires across personnel, physical and cyber security; and the key decisions that businesses must make before committing to accreditation.
• Why achieving Essential Eight maturity model level two should be considered baseline cyber hygiene for any organisation, not just defence suppliers.
• The growing threat environment facing Australia, including state-sponsored actors, low-and-slow intrusions, and the targeting of operational technology and internet-facing devices.
• How businesses can balance investment, risk and reward when engaging with Defence, and the broader commercial benefits of uplifting cyber posture, including reduced insurance premiums and stronger resilience.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Spotlight team

This week on Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft unpack the week's cyber and AI news and entertain a special guest to boot!

The pair kick off the podcast discussing Qantas facing a backlash over a series of job cuts that may be informed by the company embracing AI, while WiseTech's announcement of 2,000 job cuts definitely is driven by AI uptake. The pair also talk about CrowdStrike's latest research, which shows hackers are embracing AI as much as everyone else.

Hollingworth then unpacks a hacking spree targeting Australian small and medium-sized businesses by the Qilin ransomware operation, as well as a hack that has taken a major Aussie poultry producer offline. The pair also discuss the implications of an Australian man charged for selling cyber secrets to a broker linked to Russia.

Hollingworth introduces this week's guest, ProofPoint CEO Sumit Dhawan, before the pair have a chat about agentic AI threats and how CISOs can educate their boards, and then they have a look at a more lighthearted – somewhat – sex toy data breach.

Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Trevor Fortner, a former US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist, Blackwater PMC contractor and current EverydaySpy consultant.

Fortner has formerly served as a US Navy EOD master training specialist and operated alongside Tier 1 units, including SEAL Team Six and Delta Force.

He previously led Blackwater's ambassador protection detail, served as a tactical commander for the US ambassador's diplomatic security service protection detail in Iraq, trained personnel with the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard and Iraqi counter-terrorism units.

He now works as a principal engineer and test architect at Raytheon Missiles & Defense.

• During the podcast, the pair discuss the modern battlefield and future warfare topics, including:
• An insight into the world of Navy EOD and the unique demands of elite special operations training.
• The intelligence, preparation and leadership required for high-risk capture missions, such as the recent US actions in Venezuela.
• Public misconceptions surrounding private military contractors and how the industry has evolved since Iraq and Afghanistan.
• The military strategy shift towards network-centric warfare, artificial intelligence-enabled decision making and industrial resilience.
• The US military's renewed focus on standards, accountability and the resurgence of "warrior culture".

The pair close out the discussion with a rapid-fire round of questions relating to Fortner's military training experience.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

Defence Connect undertook the above podcast with cooperation from online digital learning platform EverydaySpy. For more information about EverydaySpy, visit the following links.

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4aXS3qi Explore Spy School: https://everydayspy.com/ Listen to the podcast: https://youtube.com/@EverydaySpyPodcast Learn from a CIA Spy: https://youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante

In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Steve Kuper and Liam Garman speak with Agsecure's Andrew Henderson as they unpack the recently released US food security strategy.

The trio unpack the details underpinning the pivot in American thinking resulting in the development of the food security strategy.

They also discuss the key priorities and focus areas identified in the food security strategy, ranging from concerns around biosecurity, foreign ownership of agricultural land through to supply chain bottlenecks and constraints for key inputs.

The trio also unpack the lessons for Australia as we begin our own national conversation about our food security and the challenges we face despite exporting 70 per cent of our annual agricultural produce.

Enjoy the Podcast The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Bethany Alvaro is joined by Graeme Bulte, founder and chief executive officer of Aquaterro, as they discuss developments in next-generation small arms and the company's growing role across defence and law enforcement capability.

The pair discuss Aquaterro's collaborations with global partners as well as emerging technology in hybrid ammunition, projectile design and advanced soldier systems.

They also discuss a range of topics, including:

• Highlights from SHOT Show 2026 and key technology trends across small arms, optics, thermal imaging and helmet systems.
• Developments in the US Next Generation Squad Weapon program, including SIG Sauer's M7 program, hybrid ammunition technology and evolving projectile design.
• Implications for Australia's small arms modernisation efforts, including LAND 159 and lessons from overseas programs such as the United Kingdom's Project Grayburn.
• Opportunities and considerations for sovereign manufacturing in Australia, including local assembly, supply chain integration and ammunition production.
• Aquaterro's expanding capabilities across body armour, helmet systems, textile design and domestic manufacturing for defence and law enforcement customers.
• The until-now unannounced appointment of Major General (Ret'd) Fergus "Gus" McLachlan and former Victoria Police deputy commissioner Ross Guenther APM to Aquaterro's board, strengthening governance and strategic guidance.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team