In this episode Mick chats with Dr Matthew Ford, a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Sussex and the author of Weapon of Choice. They discuss the development of small arms and it's influence on war.

Matthew provides a succinct and complex response to the final question. 

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In this episode Mick chats with Major General John S Harrel (Ret'd), author of The Nisibis War. They discuss the Roman defence of the east in late antiquity and the war with Persia that lasted 25 years!

John provides a lawyer's response to the final question. 

You can support the show here.

In this episode Mick chats with Professor Hal Brands, a Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and the author of What Good is Grand Strategy? They discuss the the concept of Grand Strategy and how it relates to the use of military force to achieve a political objective.

Hal provides one of the most concise responses to the final question. 

You can support the show here.

This short episode is a book review of The Human Face of War by Professor Jim Storr The book provides an in-depth analysis of warfare and those who conduct it.

Mick reviews the book and gives it a rating on our new 'Carls' scale. 

In this episode Mick chats with Dr Kori Schake, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and an editor, with Jim Mattis, of the book Warriors and Citizens: American Views of Our Military. They discuss the civil-military relationship and contemporary American views of the American military. Kori also explains how her students at Stanford can gain extra credit for listening to our show.

Kori also provides a concise answer to the final question.

You can support the show here.

This short episode is a book review of War, what is it good for? by Professor Ian Morris. The book is a study of war and its effect on civilisations through out history.

Mick reviews the book and gives it a rating from our new review rating system. 

In this episode Mick chats with Dr Bleddyn Bowen, a lecturer in Defence Studies at Kings College London and a space power theorist. They discuss Big Carl's theories applied to war in space, tactics of space warfare, cosmic coastlines, and which SciFi show/movie did it best!

Bleddyn also provides a very non-space related answer to the final question.

Note:This is the first episode for 2017. 

In this episode Mick chats with MAJGEN Roland De Vries (retd), a former South African Army officer who fought in the Angolan Border wars and has written on his experiences and the tactics of mobile warfare in Eye of the Firestorm. They also discuss the implications of peace negotiations at the tactical level and rapid capability acquisition.

Roland provides the final definition of war for the 2016 canon.

Note:This is the final episode for 2016. 

In this episode Mick chats with Dr Nicholas Clements, an author, history teacher and adjunct researcher at the University of Tasmania. They discuss the Black War in Tasmania during the 1820s and 1830s. Nick explains the causes and course of the war as well as providing some insight into how the war effected each side. 

Nick adds to the growing definitions of war complied by the show.

Note: Some elements of the audio are rough due to Mick recording in a car in a hospital car park during a storm... 

In this episode Mick chats with Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria, II, editor of the U.S. Army War College Quarterly, Parameters. They discuss the theory of the nature of war, it's changeable character and enduring elements. Antulio uses the weather as a useful metaphor to explain #BigCarl's theory while Mick demonstrates his lack of sports knowledge with a metaphor of his own.

Antulio also provides a comprehensive definition of war.