The Security Distillery Podcast

Check out the first episode in our new series election special podcast. In this Pakistani election special of the Security Distillery Podcast, we sit down with our colleague Fatima to discuss the upcoming election in Pakistan. Amongst others, we cover the following topics during the episode:

Why the election has been postponed into 2024.

How the Pakistani military has yet again influenced the election, especially with the imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The return of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif to Pakistani politics and how this might shape Pakistani foreign policy.

As a new feature, The Security Distillery Podcast is now available on all podcasting apps, so listen to us on your favourite podcast app.

Find out more about the Security Distillery and follow us on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/thesecuritydistillery

For enquiries and feedback, contact us at: [email protected]

Editor/Producer: Buster N. Hartvigsen.

Hosts: Buster N. Hartvigsen.

In the first episode of the Intelligence Episode of 2024, the hosts will discuss the following topics:

James will be discussing the latest test of the British military’s Dragonfire laser and how the development of military-grade lasers might impact the battlefield of the future.

Johanna will look at the upcoming European Council meeting and how Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán might interfere with the approval of the Ukraine Facility.

Buster will talk about the largest NATO exercise since the end of the Cold War, Steadfast Defender 2024, and what its purpose and implications might be.

Find out more about the Security Distillery and follow us on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/thesecuritydistillery

For enquiries and feedback, contact us at: [email protected]

Why does the US military track Santa?

Is it even possible to track Santa?

What can Santa and Saddam Hussain possibly have in common?

Check out the latest episode of our podcast series, “Intelligence Espresso”, where we strive to distil world affairs pertaining to intelligence and security into a bite-sized intelligence briefing to kick off your week. Think of it as the short sharp slap in the face a highly caffeinated espresso produces but for current affairs. 

In this weeks episode we will update you on the intensified Israel-Palestine conflict, as Israel prepares for a potential land invasion of Gaza. We speak about the explosion at al-Ahli Arab Hospital and the dispute over its cause and death toll. We speak once more about the failure of Israel’s Intelligence apparatus as more comes to light on the events of 7th of October. Finally we reflect on the 10th anniversary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, highlighting its achievements and challenges.

We will then examine the topic on everyone’s minds: just how was this allowed to happen? How did Israel, a state with one of the strongest and most sophisticated intelligence services in the world, get taken by surprise? Lastly, we will discuss the tragic events and escalating aggression that have come as a result of the attacks.

Check out the latest episode of our podcast series, “Intelligence Espresso”, where we strive to distil world affairs pertaining to intelligence and security into a bite-sized intelligence briefing to kick off your week. Think of it as the short sharp slap in the face a highly caffeinated espresso produces but for current affairs.

This week's episode will discuss:

- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s rapid tour of Europe

- The escalating conflict in Sudan and how it is emblematic of a modern-day ‘scramble for Africa’ among Eastern and Western powers

- Finally, the outcomes and consequences from the recent Turkish and Thai elections.

As space becomes increasingly important to our daily lives, it's critical that we understand and address the security risks. In this first of our Spin-Off Series, we are joined by astronomer Po Yen Liu to discuss space security and the DART project. 

In the previous episode, we introduced the history and scientific part of the DART project, and explored different approaches to defend the earth. In this episode, we keep on the conversation with astronomer Po Yen Liu about the issues within space security, and push further to discuss the ethical problem about space development.

The DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) project is a joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) to test the effectiveness of deflecting an asteroid using a spacecraft.

During our discussion, we delve into the issues of space security and their impact on the international relationship in addressing the challenges of space exploration. We also touch on the connection between ancient civilisation and asteroids.

Tune in to hear from Po Yen Liu and our hosts as they explore the exciting world of space.

Check out the latest episode of our podcast series, “Intelligence Espresso”, where we strive to distil world affairs pertaining to intelligence and security into a bite-sized intelligence briefing to kick off your week. Think of it as the short sharp slap in the face a highly caffeinated espresso produces but for current affairs.

This week's episode will discuss:

- What shape the scramble for Africa takes in the 21st century.

- The unauthorised Chinese Police Outpost in New York.

- An update on the current Sudan Civil War.

- Recent diplomatic tensions between Poland and Russia over the seizure of a building linked with Warsaw's Russian embassy.

Check out the latest episode of our podcast series, “Intelligence Espresso”, where we strive to distil world affairs pertaining to intelligence and security into a bite-sized intelligence briefing to kick off your week. Think of it as the short sharp slap in the face a highly caffeinated espresso produces but for current affairs.

This week the Trento team will be discussing:

- President Joe Biden’s visit to his ancestral home of Ireland for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the perceived snubbing of the British Prime minister and questions around Ireland’s shibboleth of neutrality going forward.

- A possible new Snowden? - the recent arrest of a 21-year-old U.S. Air National Guardsman in suspect of intelligence leak stirred the Pentagon and unveils the difficulties in national security safeguarding - and how will this affect the intelligence community of the US and its closed allies?

- The recent escalation of tensions around the Korean Peninsula (resulting from an incursion of a North Korean vessel in South Korean waters.

- Finally, we will round out the episode with an interview conducted by Chris Dunne with Nyein Nyein Thant Aung on her article last week on the development of South Korea’s foreign policy and nuclear ambitions.

Check out the latest episode of our podcast series, “Intelligence Espresso”, where we strive to distil world affairs pertaining to intelligence and security into a bite-sized intelligence briefing to kick off your week. Think of it as the short sharp slap in the face a highly caffeinated espresso produces but for current affairs.

In our fifth episode of the series, the Dublin team will be discussing:

- The increasingly familiar sight of Israeli security forces attacking worshipers in Al Aqsa during this year’s Ramadan.  

- The visit of Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen to the United States (which was dramatically mirrored by her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou’s five-city tour of China).

- The first official visit of Volodymyr Zelensky to Warsaw resulting in a pledge of the remaining fleet of MiG-29 jets from their closest European partner.  

- Finally, we will round off episode with a discussion on the transparency of Twitter’s open-source algorithm and a brief analysis on their recommendation system.