Defence & Security Podcast Network

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss a pair of lawsuits targeting ChatGPT's maker, cyber crime news, and one US politician's novel solution to combat hackers.

Hollingworth and Croft kick things off by addressing a pair of lawsuits targeting OpenAI and the tragic case of a teenager who was allegedly aided in their suicide by ChatGPT's advice.

The pair then catch up with the latest news: from a string of cyber attacks that targeted Western Sydney University to Google's warning of increased Iranian cyber attacks and a round-up of this week's local ransomware attacks targeting Aussie businesses.

Hollingworth and Croft end the podcast discussing Australia's "right to disconnect" laws and the bold plan of one American politician to bring back the Age of Sail's letters of marque to recruit cyber privateers. Enjoy the episode, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Heston Russell – a public speaker, author and former Australian Special Forces officer – to discuss the 2025 Veteran Games and the recent regional heat held in Darwin on 22 August and later this year on the Gold Coast (11 and 12 October).

Russell has previously served in 2nd Commando Regiment as a Commando Platoon commander, was deployed to four combat operational deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, served in Iraq as a Special Operations joint lead planner within the Special Operations Joint Task Force and completed a year-long exchange within the United States Special Operations Command. He holds a bachelor of arts from the University of NSW, majoring in history and Indonesian. The pair discuss a range of issues, including:

• The Veteran Games, veterans support services and why Russell founded the games in 2022 in response to findings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
• Returning home and the reality of living in Australia as a military veteran, the challenges associated with reacclimatising to civilian life and how the defence industry can help veterans return with life of purpose outside the Australian Defence Force.
• Russell's own experience navigating media scrutiny after service and his recommendations to other veterans in their interactions with journalists.
• His experience as a young veteran in relation to traditional support associations in Australia. The pair also look at whether these organisations have the draw and support needed to attract younger veterans.

The podcast wraps up by discussing the need to improve Australian leadership, take a bigger role in peacekeeping operations and how Australia can be a force for good in peacekeeping across the globe. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Defence Property Podcast, Kane Dury from Discover Buyers Agency and Liam Garman, editor of Smart Property Investment, tackle the property questions that Australian Defence Force members can't afford to ignore.

They explore how the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest rate cut could impact borrowing capacity and why understanding these shifts early gives Defence buyers an edge.

The duo emphasise the power of expert guidance – from mortgage brokers who compare multiple lenders to accountants and buyer's agents who know how to avoid costly traps.

Dury also sheds light on the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS) entitlements, explaining how both active and Reservist members can use them to unlock new investment opportunities.

From the growing popularity of rentvesting to upcoming changes in first home buyer schemes, the episode equips ADF personnel with strategies to balance lifestyle and long-term wealth creation.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty sits down with Harry Hickling, managing director at APV Corporation, to discuss the importance of rigorous testing and evaluation in the evolving landscape of defence and automotive industries.

Hickling takes listeners behind the scenes, sharing how the company runs laboratory tests on military and civilian-focused vehicles, ensuring automotive equipment doesn't compromise safety systems.

The podcast also focuses on APV Engineering and Testing Services' (APV-T) use of advanced simulation technology to run thousands of virtual test scenarios, reducing development costs and time to market.

The pair also discuss the broader implications of simulation in defence, where it's helping to de-risk expensive and challenging testing scenarios. APV is growing its international presence and the company's expanding its staff to meet the increasing demand for simulation expertise.

The episode wraps up with an invitation for engineers and technicians to join APV in its mission to enhance safety across industries, especially military and automotive sectors. With their cutting-edge work, APV is setting new standards for testing and safety.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss CommBank's use of AI to stop scams, local hacks and international cyber news, creepy AI toys for kids, and the alarming fact that what we know about ransomware attacks is just the tip of the iceberg.

• Hollingworth and Croft begin the podcast with two Commonwealth Bank stories: CBA rolling back its job cuts after AI chatbots fail to keep up with customer demand, and the bank's novel use of AI to stymie scammers.
• The pair move on to a story with some incredible twists and turns after an Israeli cyber security specialist working for the government was arrested in Las Vegas for a shocking alleged crime, the iiNet hack that saw more Aussie data compromised by cyber criminals, and attacks on Australian institutions by pro-Palestine hackers.
• Hollingworth and Croft round things up with a creepy tale of two AI-powered toys designed to cut down on screen time for children, but which actually sound like a nightmare in their own right.

Enjoy the episode, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by the Australian Defence Industry Awards' Rising Star of the Year, Gitarth Vaishnav, to discuss the inspiring award and his efforts as a software engineer in the sensor fusion team at DroneShield headquarters in Sydney.

The University of Technology Sydney graduate, who was recognised as the AI Rising Star of the Year at the Australian AI Awards in 2024, has completed a bachelor of computing science (honours) and holds a major in artificial intelligence and data analytics.

The pair discuss a range of topics regarding the defence industry and engineering, including:

• Vaishnav's experience winning the Rising Star of the Year award and the acknowledgement of the entire defence industry at ADIA in Canberra.
• His thoughts regarding the evolution of drone and counter-drone technology internationally and domestically.
• His keen interest in programming and microcontrollers during high school and a chance meeting with DroneShield leadership while he was studying at UTS in Sydney.
• Vaishnav's mentors and the people who have inspired and helped along the way at DroneShield.

The pair wrap up the podcast discussing personal challenges and plans for the future.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

What does it really take to find your place in one of Australia's most niche industries – and how do you turn curiosity into a meaningful career?

In this episode of The Progress Report, Defence Connect's Tash Taylor sits down with Mary Pillay, a space and robotics engineer and ambassador of the Australian Space Diversity Alliance. Mary shares how her journey began with a chance industry night at university, her experience cold emailing companies to land her first internship, and the mentorship that helped her grow into a confident professional.

From being thrown into the deep end during her first week to guiding students and young professionals into the space sector, Mary opens up about the importance of putting yourself out there, seizing opportunities, and surrounding yourself with supporters who believe in you.

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

Enjoy the podcast, The Progress Report team

In this episode of Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Liam Garman sits down with Sibel Aktim, a Macquarie University graduate and intelligence officer, to explore postgraduate courses that are available to assist people with their careers in defence and law enforcement.

Inspired by a lecturer, Aktim pursued a master of intelligence, finding a practical bridge between academic study and real-world intelligence work.

The pair discuss major international experiences undertaken during the course of study at Macquarie University, including research in Fiji and the United States.

They also discuss one of the biggest professional takeaways from postgraduate study, the principle of "BLUF" – bottom line up front – which focuses on concise, decision-ready intelligence without unnecessary "fluff".

Closing out the podcast, Aktim credits Macquarie University's intelligence program with preparing her for the demands of front-line intelligence work, from managing biases and working collaboratively with international peers to providing clarity under pressure.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman dissect the forces shaping Australia's national security in an increasingly volatile world.

From the shortage of tradespeople to the sustainability of the nuclear submarine program, the team explores how domestic economic realities – including the property market – intersect with defence capability.

The conversation turns to the AUKUS arrangement, as Thompson questions whether Australia's defence budget can support the ambitions of the trilateral pact with the United States and the United Kingdom. The hosts unpack the risks of over-prioritising certain branches of the ADF and debate whether political change would have altered the trajectory of defence spending.

The team then discusses the recognition of Palestinian statehood – with conditions excluding Hamas from governance. They assess the potential impact on relations with Israel – a nation that has long shared intelligence and counter-terrorism support with Australia – and on Canberra's role in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

The discussion also delves into public sentiment, with Tarrant highlighting the humanitarian toll of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and the difficulty of separating moral imperatives from strategic realities.

Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by the Australian Defence Industry Awards' Executive of the Year, Tim Walmsley, to discuss the momentous award and his leadership of the BenchOn global resource and supply platform.

The retired Australian Army Major has completed two master's degrees – in capability development and acquisition and project management – and has worked as an executive in both government and industry for more than 20 years.

The pair discuss a range of topics regarding the defence industry, including:

• Walmsley's experience winning the Executive of the Year award and the acknowledgement of the entire defence industry at ADIA in Canberra.
• His thoughts regarding service with the Australian Defence Force and a comparison with working in the defence industry.
• Walmsley's mentors and the people who have inspired and helped along the way at BenchOn.

The pair wrap up the podcast discussing personal challenges and plans for the future.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team