Shows
The 7th Rule -- A Star Trek Podcast with DS9's Cirroc LoftonPhoenix | With David Zappone | TNG 5.21, "The Perfect Mate" | #348Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and sci-fi producer, Ryan T. Husk review and react to Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 5, episode 21, The Perfect Mate"Special Guest: David ZapponeProducer: Ryan T. HuskAudio Engineer: Scott JensenExecutive Producer:Jason OkunAssociate Producers:Dr. Ann Marie Segal Eve England Yvette Blackmon-TomTJ Jackson-BeyTitus MohlerDr. Mohamed Noor Anil O. Polat Joe Balsarotti Mike Gu Dr. Stephanie BakerCarrie SchwentFaith HowellEdward Folt...
2025-06-231h 29
The Dark Shining Moment CountercastUS Election Proves to be 'World Cup' of Interference with Jed WillardThere has been a surge of foreign interference aimed at the US during the presidential campaign between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Foreign powers such as Russia, China, Iran seed bad information into the domesitic information flow of democracies in order to exploit real life emotions, shape perceptions, and where possible, influence outcomes on the ground.Host: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.Guest: Jed Willard Learn more abou...
2024-11-0828 minThe Dark Shining Moment CountercastA Longer View of Russia, Colonialism and the West, with Kyle WilsonAmid the current clash in geopolitical narrative, former Australian diplomat and analyst Kyle Wilson discusses the history and culture of Russia, imperialism and the right to self-determination of smaller countries.Host: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.Guest: Peter Tesch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2024-10-1445 minThe Dark Shining Moment CountercastUS Blames Russia for Interfering in 2024 Election via RT, Faked News, with Matt SussexThe US Department of Justice reveals an influence campaign run through Russia’s international propaganda arm, RT. The US also seizes 32 internet domains used in the "Doppelganger" disinfo campaign: https://coldwardaily.com/2024/09/23/us-doj-doppelganger-indictment-all-277-pages/ANU professor Matt Sussex discusses the larger impacts.Host: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.Guest: Matt Sussex Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2024-09-2827 minThe Dark Shining Moment CountercastUS Accuses Russian Media Outlet RT of Covert Activity, with Peter TeschThe US accuses RT, Russia's propaganda outlet, of conducting influence operations, cyber activities, and even fund-raising. Peter Tesch, Australia's former ambassador to Russia, discusses the impact RT has on democracies.Host: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.Guest: Peter Tesch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2024-09-2026 min
The Cold War DailyUS accuses Russia of interfering in 2024 election via RT, faked newsAfter interfering in the US 2016 election, Russia has returned. This time, even more is riding on the interference campaign.
2024-09-0522 min
Double TakeThe Wickedness of Information DisorderCMT Research Fellow Michael Davis speaks with Chris Zappone, Digital Foreign Editor at The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, where he was among the first in the media to report on the Kremlin’s efforts to change the course of the 2016 US election.
2024-05-2839 min
The Dark Shining Moment CountercastThe Moment That Never EndsAfter the election, society is altered with many people left angry and distrustful of each other. Russian subversion is aimed against both left and right. Hints about Trump’s collusion with Russia abound, terrifying one half of the country and infuriating the other.Story written and narrated by: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producer: Greg MullerConsulting Producer: Richard BakerProduction Manager: Nick RandallSound Design: Marty PeraltaCredits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.Special thanks to Taisiy...
2024-04-1641 min
PoliticologyHow To Demoralize AmericaMolly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) and Chris Zappone (Digital Foreign Editor at The Age and the writer and narrator of the Dark Shining Moment podcast) join host Ron Steslow to discuss the evolution of Russian tactics since 2016 and the vulnerability of American democracySegments to look forward to:(02:16) The state of the war in Ukraine (10:00) The evolution of Russian influence campaigns (14:37) What Putin wants (25:14) The democratic mind and futur...
2024-04-111h 41
The Dark Shining Moment CountercastEvil at ScaleWith a shared understanding of the presidential campaign shattered, information chaos reigns. Into the narrative vacuum, fantasies replace realities and Donald Trump is elected president.Story written and narrated by: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producer: Greg MullerConsulting Producer: Richard BakerProduction Manager: Nick RandallSound Design: Marty PeraltaCredits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2024-04-0941 min
The Dark Shining Moment CountercastMurky World Battle SpaceAn enormous noise is generated online, turning Malcolm Nance’s attention from terrorism to bots, trolling, Russian hacks and leaks. The chaos targets Democrats, Republican candidates in the primaries, and journalists, disrupting the media’s ability to report on Trump.Story written and narrated by: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producer: Greg MullerConsulting Producer: Richard BakerProduction Manager: Nick RandallSound Design: Marty PeraltaCredits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records. Learn more about your ad choic...
2024-04-0242 min
The Dark Shining Moment CountercastA Shift in ToneIn Arkansas, Andy Rosebrook notices how Russian state media insinuates itself into America’s news flow, sowing the seeds of distrust and polarisation. From a distance, Russians figure out how to mobilize a Texas community around a conspiracy fear.Story written and narrated by: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producer: Greg MullerConsulting Producer: Richard BakerProduction Manager: Nick RandallSound Design: Marty PeraltaCredits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records. Learn more about your ad choice...
2024-03-2642 min
The Dark Shining Moment CountercastPoor Man's NSAIn the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, Andrew Weisburd tracks jihadist terror websites, which put him on the trail of Iranian and then Russian social media troll networks. The road to 2016 passes first through Syria, then Ukraine, and finally to the US election.Story written and narrated by: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producer: Greg MullerConsulting Producer: Richard BakerProduction Manager: Nick RandallSound Design: Marty PeraltaCredits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records. Lear...
2024-03-1938 min
The Dark Shining Moment CountercastSchool of FishAn office in St Petersburg works to divide society for the glory of the Kremlin. Just one aspect of a larger information war that is revealed when a contractor in Afghanistan stumbles upon a vast, mysterious network of anti-Western conspiracy websites.Story written and narrated by: Chris ZapponeExecutive Producer: Greg MullerConsulting Producer: Richard BakerProduction Manager: Nick RandallSound Design: Martin PeraltaCredits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records. Learn more about your...
2024-03-1228 min
Round Ball AustraliaMichael Zappone: The state of Australian football mediaToday we are joined by long time Australian football media figure, Michael Zappone to talk about the challenges the game faces in the wake of the mass APL redundancies.
Lachlan Avil, Chris Macpherson and Christian Montegan are on the show.
Zappas on X: @Michael_Zappone
Follow us on X: @Aleaguesofourown
Music: Sunsetter © 2023 by Shane Ivers is licensed under CC BY 4.0
2024-02-2735 minRound Ball AustraliaALM | Victory self-destruct, Sydney establish a finals buffer & the 'Distance-ish Derby'Join Lachlan Avil, Jacob Stevens, Christian Montegan and Chris Macpherson as they run their eyes over the latest round of A-League Men's action.
There's Jackson's excellent tactics that stifled the Victory, Daniel Arzani's struggles, Marco Tilio's loan, naming our top 6 and more.
BIG episode tomorrow where we are joined by Michael Zappone to talk about the Australian football media landscape.
Follow us on X: @Aleaguesofourown
Music: Sunsetter © 2023 by Shane Ivers is licensed under CC BY 4.0
2024-02-261h 04
ASPI Podcast: Policy, Guns & MoneyOffensive cyber operations; election integrity and disinformationThis week, Dr Alex Caples speaks to Emily Harding from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies about offensive cyber operations and how to respond. They discuss how governments are integrating cyber operations with more traditional military planning, as well as responses to cyber-attacks, and how to deter in the cyber domain.
With more than 2 billion people in over 70 countries expected to vote this year, 2024 has been dubbed the year of elections. To explore election related foreign interference and disinformation, David Wroe speaks to Chris Zappone, the Digital Foreign Editor for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. They discuss...
2024-02-2348 minThe 7th Rule -- A Star Trek Podcast with DS9's Cirroc LoftonStar Trek TNG Documentary: Chaos On The Bridge! Review, with David Zappone & Lolita Fatjo | T7R #256Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and sci-fi producer, Ryan T. Husk, review and react to the Star Trek TNG documentary, "Chaos on the Bridge."Special Guests, David Zappone and Lolita Fatjo of 455 Films.Producer: Ryan T. HuskAudio Engineer: Scott JensenExecutive Producers:Dr. Susan V. Gruner & Jason OkunAssociate Producers:Homer Frizzell Dr. Ann Marie Segal Eve England Yvette Blackmon-Tom TJ Jackson-BeyBill Victor Arucan Titus MohlerDarlena Marie Blander Dr. Mohamed Noor Tierney...
2024-01-081h 33
The Cold War DailyThe Kremlintarian tendency of American libertariansA while ago, I wrote about what appears to be a rhetorical alignment between Western libertarians and the Kremlin’s messaging. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the divide between East and West regarding libertarianism has become more evident. In some European libertarian circles, those who adopt such views are derogatorily referred to as […]
2023-05-0606 minThe Cold War DailyThe Kremlintarian tendency of American libertariansA while ago, I wrote about what appears to be a rhetorical alignment between Western libertarians and the Kremlin’s messaging. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the divide between East and West regarding libertarianism has become more evident. In some European libertarian circles, those who adopt such views are derogatorily referred to as […]
2023-05-0607 minThe Cold War DailyThe US tech world and RussiaGiven the interest in Elon Musk’s flirtation with the Kremlin view on Ukraine, the topic of the Western tech world’s openness to Kremlin narratives has emerged again. I’ve gotten a small spike of interest in a presentation I made at SXSW in 2018. So I’ll share it here again in a downloadable form. If I […]
2022-10-111h 01The Cold War DailyThe US tech world and RussiaGiven the interest in Elon Musk’s flirtation with the Kremlin view on Ukraine, the topic of the Western tech world’s openness to Kremlin narratives has emerged again. I’ve gotten a small spike of interest in a presentation I made at SXSW in 2018. So I’ll share it here again in a downloadable form. If I […]
2022-10-111h 01The Cold War DailyUS declassifies and releases more intel to ‘expose Russia’s strategy’The US has released the kernel of another intelligence assessment that describes the Kremlin’s global malign influence machine. Following the liberal tradition, it produces facts, allowing the public the make up its mind. This is in contrast to the authoritarian model that relies more on producing narrative. Democracies argue in facts. Authoritarians play with meanings. […]
2022-09-1606 minThe Cold War DailyUS declassifies and releases more intel to ‘expose Russia’s strategy’The US has released the kernel of another intelligence assessment that describes the Kremlin’s global malign influence machine. Following the liberal tradition, it produces facts, allowing the public the make up its mind. This is in contrast to the authoritarian model that relies more on producing narrative. Democracies argue in facts. Authoritarians play with meanings. […]
2022-09-1606 minThe Cold War DailyChina’s challenge & Russia’s threat: the director’s cutThe film director Brian De Palma had this to say about director’s careers… “We don’t plan them out, we happen to be working on one thing, then another happens, then another thing is delayed. Then we do the thing we can do at the time.” There is a lesson in this for the great debate […]
2022-08-1410 minThe Cold War DailyChina’s challenge & Russia’s threat: the director’s cutThe film director Brian De Palma had this to say about director’s careers… “We don’t plan them out, we happen to be working on one thing, then another happens, then another thing is delayed. Then we do the thing we can do at the time.” There is a lesson in this for the great debate […]
2022-08-1410 minThe Cold War DailyUkraine: Biden’s info war blows up Russia’s cynical narrative on democraciesThe strategy of declassifying intelligence around Russia’s intentions to invade Ukraine has recast the global narrative about Russia, and possibly about authoritarianism too. The way the White House declassified and shared intelligence on Putin’s military intentions has effectively now robbed Russia of narrative control. But the campaign to forewarn the public of an imminent invasion has […]
2022-03-0100 minThe Cold War DailyUkraine: Biden’s info war blows up Russia’s cynical narrative on democraciesThe strategy of declassifying intelligence around Russia’s intentions to invade Ukraine has recast the global narrative about Russia, and possibly about authoritarianism too. The way the White House declassified and shared intelligence on Putin’s military intentions has effectively now robbed Russia of narrative control. But the campaign to forewarn the public of an imminent invasion has […]
2022-03-0111 minThe Cold War DailySummit for Democracy, a contest against chaos……and information disorder, untruths, trolling, disinformation. The virtual event is an effort to resurrect the global language of democracy after its rough start in the new century. One of the traits of this era is escalating complexity of systems. No form of government knows that better than liberal democracy — just look at the news and […]
2021-12-1015 minThe Cold War DailySummit for Democracy, a contest against chaos……and information disorder, untruths, trolling, disinformation. The virtual event is an effort to resurrect the global language of democracy after its rough start in the new century. One of the traits of this era is escalating complexity of systems. No form of government knows that better than liberal democracy — just look at the news and […]
2021-12-1015 min
The Cold War DailyWe are partners in our own demise: ex-president of Estonia Toomas Hendrik IlvesToo much information, too much contradiction and too much confusion. In this era, how do we even think about where democracy stands in the world? The former president of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, in a speech in honour of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, offers a clear-eyed assessment of the state of democracy today in competition […]
2021-10-1800 min
The Cold War DailyWe are partners in our own demise: ex-president of Estonia Toomas Hendrik IlvesToo much information, too much contradiction and too much confusion. In this era, how do we even think about where democracy stands in the world? The former president of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, in a speech in honour of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, offers a clear-eyed assessment of the state of democracy today in competition […]
2021-10-1817 minThe Cold War DailyRegulate Facebook? Sure, but good luck in ridding the internet of bad contentThis is a big week for the prospect of meaningful regulation of social media in the US. The testimony of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has raised hopes of legislative reform for Facebook. But in the drive for government action, are reformers forgetting how much personalisation has change political communication? We’re in a different world now. […]
2021-10-0805 minThe Cold War DailyRegulate Facebook? Sure, but good luck in ridding the internet of bad contentThis is a big week for the prospect of meaningful regulation of social media in the US. The testimony of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has raised hopes of legislative reform for Facebook. But in the drive for government action, are reformers forgetting how much personalisation has change political communication? We’re in a different world now. […]
2021-10-0805 min
Plutopia News NetworkChris Zappone: Media, Social Media, and PoliticsChris Zappone works as a foreign news editor in Australian media. Chris has written about geopolitics, space, technology, ideology, and the future. He has consulted with universities, think tanks and businesses in the area of tech disruption, information war, and cryptocurrencies. And he has an interest in history and utopia (and Plutopia!).
Chris Zappone: “I think part of the issue with the social media world is that you see something and it’s visceral, it’s in your disembodied mind. It’s overwhelming your mind. And then there’s the immediate desire to respond to it. And there’s no...
2021-09-211h 02
Plutopia News NetworkChris Zappone: Media, Social Media, and PoliticsChris Zappone works as a foreign news editor in Australian media. Chris has written about geopolitics, space, technology, ideology, and the future. He has consulted with universities, think tanks and businesses in the area of tech disruption, information war, and cryptocurrencies. And he has an interest in history and utopia (and Plutopia!).
Chris Zappone: “I think part of the issue with the social media world is that you see something and it’s visceral, it’s in your disembodied mind. It’s overwhelming your mind. And then there’s the immediate desire to respond to it. And there’s no...
2021-09-211h 02The Cold War DailyDisinformation research: a critique This short podcast is not so much a criticism of disinformation research but rather a critique of the expectations around it – or possibly the unexamined expectations around it. I refer to these three articles. 1) https://www.npr.org/2021/08/04/1024791053/facebook-boots-nyu-disinformation-researchers-off-its-platform-and-critics-cry-f 2) https://harpers.org/archive/2021/09/bad-news-selling-the-story-of-disinformation/ 3) https://www.niemanlab.org/reading/facebook-sent-flawed-data-to-misinformation-researchers/ Music by Lesfm from Pixabay/ Image
2021-09-1909 minThe Cold War DailyDisinformation research: a critiqueThis short podcast is not so much a criticism of disinformation research but rather a critique of the expectations around it – or possibly the unexamined expectations around it. I refer to these three articles. 1) https://www.npr.org/2021/08/04/1024791053/facebook-boots-nyu-disinformation-researchers-off-its-platform-and-critics-cry-f 2) https://harpers.org/archive/2021/09/bad-news-selling-the-story-of-disinformation/ 3) https://www.niemanlab.org/reading/facebook-sent-flawed-data-to-misinformation-researchers/ Music by Lesfm from Pixabay/ Image
2021-09-1909 min
The Cold War DailyThe US middle class and foreign policy: democracy’s new danceI wanted to push a little deeper on the question of how (or even why) US foreign policy should be more in sync with the middle class. So I’ve recorded a podcast that discusses this potential new direction in US democracy – the effort, however early, to ensure that US foreign policy goals support working […]
2021-02-1108 min
The Cold War DailyThe US middle class and foreign policy: democracy’s new danceI wanted to push a little deeper on the question of how (or even why) US foreign policy should be more in sync with the middle class. So I’ve recorded a podcast that discusses this potential new direction in US democracy – the effort, however early, to ensure that US foreign policy goals support working […]
2021-02-1108 minThe Cold War DailyScience fiction from Cixin Liu, Chinese civilization, democracy and the futureWhat does a science fiction novel by China's Cixin Liu reminds us about the civilizational needs of liberal democracy?
2020-12-0805 minThe Cold War DailyScience fiction from Cixin Liu, Chinese civilization, democracy and the futureWhat does a science fiction novel by China's Cixin Liu reminds us about the civilizational needs of liberal democracy?
2020-12-0805 minThe Cold War DailyChina needles Australia on social mediaWhat has the CCP learned about antagonizing democracies from their post-revolutionary friends linked to the Kremlin?
2020-12-0100 minThe Cold War Daily‘Rank democracy’ and a democratic future after November 2020Some thoughts on rank democracy.
2020-10-0908 minThe Cold War Daily‘Rank democracy’ and a democratic future after November 2020Some thoughts on rank democracy.
2020-10-0908 minThe Cold War DailyRoll Call at the 2020 DNC: What just happened?The Democrats may have really struck on something when they were forced to do a virtual roll call at the 2020 DNC.
2020-08-2308 minThe Cold War DailyRoll Call at the 2020 DNC: What just happened?The Democrats may have really struck on something when they were forced to do a virtual roll call at the 2020 DNC.
2020-08-2308 minThe Cold War DailyThe meaning of D-Day for democracy todayAs Allied troops stormed the beaches, one military expert stressed the goal of fairness in the system designed to save democracy. This has lessons for democracy today.
2020-07-2710 minThe Cold War DailyThe meaning of D-Day for democracy todayAs Allied troops stormed the beaches, one military expert stressed the goal of fairness in the system designed to save democracy. This has lessons for democracy today.
2020-07-2710 minThe Cold War DailyTwitter hack: cryptocurrency’s rise is also socially engineeredAfter more than a decade of growth cryptocurrency appears as socially engineered as the high-profile hack of Twitter.
2020-07-1700 minThe Cold War DailyTwitter hack: cryptocurrency’s rise is also socially engineeredAfter more than a decade of growth cryptocurrency appears as socially engineered as the high-profile hack of Twitter.
2020-07-1705 minThe Cold War DailyLincoln Project: the vicious side of the ledgerThe Lincoln Project helps fill out the vicious side of the ledger against Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Will it help clear the space for the virtuous side of US politics to take over? The question with the Lincoln Project is whether it can reach the persuadable voters who matter in the presidential election. […]
2020-07-0304 minThe Cold War DailyLincoln Project: the vicious side of the ledgerThe Lincoln Project helps fill out the vicious side of the ledger against Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Will it help clear the space for the virtuous side of US politics to take over? The question with the Lincoln Project is whether it can reach the persuadable voters who matter in the presidential election. […]
2020-07-0300 min
The National Security PodcastDisinformation - from climate change to COVID-19How do Australia’s experiences fit into the global contest over the climate change narrative and why is that contest now bleeding into discussion about the coronavirus pandemic? On this National Security Podcast, Chris Farnham is joined by Chris Zappone to tackle a growing spread of disinformation in the media and how it can affect a crisis.Australia’s recent bushfire crisis saw the nation’s computer screens, airwaves, and television screens dragged into the global disinformation storm over climate change. Who were the actors behind messages and memes claiming that the fires were the work of ars...
2020-04-0249 min
The National Security PodcastFintech and the geopolitics of crypto-currenciesAs Facebook advances its plan for a new cryptocurrency – Libra – we ask what the fintech revolution means for national security. Will a major player like Facebook take crypto mainstream, and if so, how could that reshape global financial flows and economic power?In this National Security Podcast, Katherine Mansted explores what is shaping the cryptocurrency landscape - from the invisible creators of Bitcoin, to nation-states with a penchant for fintech innovation. We discuss the opportunities and pitfalls of Facebook’s proposed new cryptocurrency, Libra, as well as the other crypto actors on the scene.Chris Zappon...
2019-09-0434 min
The National Security PodcastNational Security Podcast: Weaponised narrativesPropaganda has been with us since time immemorial, but the rise of digital media has changed the dynamic. Today, propaganda has evolved into something new and more threatening, attacking new targets and with new aims. Chris Zappone talks to Chris Farnham about how political and social narratives have been weaponised and designed to undermine and divide democratic societies.Chris Zappone is a foreign editor at The Age where he covers the intersection of politics, propaganda and social media.Chris Farnham is the presenter of the National Security Podcast. He joined the National Security College in...
2018-07-1928 min
Word RiotNot for All the Mayo in Western PennsylvaniaNot for All the Mayo in Western Pennsylvania by Chris Zappone
2010-08-0505 min