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Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 42 | After Rising Lion and Spiderweb: U.S. Vulnerabilities and CCP SabotageUkraine through Operation Spiderweb and Israel through Operation Rising Lion surreptitiously smuggled drones behind enemy lines and successfully neutralized critical Russian and Iranian assets. As we continue to watch the aftermath of these operations, Operations Rising Lion and Spiderweb raise urgent questions for the United States; namely, how vulnerable are we to technologically driven attacks here? And how exactly is our leading adversary, China, interpreting some of the more innovative new operations in these conflicts? Jacqueline Deal, Vandenberg Advisory Board member and Co-Founder of the American Academy for Strategic Education, and Michael Sobolik, Vandenberg Advisory Board member and Senior...2025-06-2450 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusSpecial Episode: 80 Years Since V-E Day80 years ago today, Nazi forces issued an unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers, marking the official end of World War II in Europe. Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) serves as a great reminder of what happens when Americans, with our full might and allies along side us, stand up to tyrants seeking to revise the world order. How can we best commemorate those who gave everything to secure our cherished freedoms? And how can we live up to their example today? Thomas Spoehr, Executive Director for Operations at American Battle Monuments Commission in Paris and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Bo...2025-05-0828 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 39 | Iran’s Puppets Playing PiratesEmboldened by its patron, Iran, Houthi drone and missile attacks have disrupted international shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023. In response, the Trump administration has launched a series of “decisive and powerful” airstrikes against the Houthis, with President Trump declaring that any future Houthi attack will be treated as an attack by Iran itself. Real Admiral Mark Montgomery, Senior Director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and one of the newest members of The Vandenberg Coalition’s Advisory Board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the current situation, the pa...2025-03-2122 minAction ArchitectsAction ArchitectsE4: Bridging the Gap: The one strategy you need to hit every goal (Take 2!)Are You Leaving Your Future to Chance—Or Are You Ready to Design the Life You Want?In this episode of Action Architects, we unlock a powerful goal-setting framework that bridges the gap between your ambitions and the daily actions needed to achieve them.This isn’t just another goal-setting method—it’s a complete blueprint that ties together skills, behaviours, and processes into a practical system you can use every day. It changed how I approach my goals, and I know it can do the same for you.We’re also revisiting the core strategy edited out from Episode 1...2025-03-1620 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusA Conservative Strategy for Countering RussiaIn this special episode, we mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by revisiting the Vandenberg Coalition and the McCain Institute’s November 2024 report, “A Conservative Strategy for Countering Russia.” The report features insights from top conservative thought leaders on how the United States should confront the Russian threat. The authors importantly remind us that Russia remains one of the U.S. and its democratic allies’ most destructive adversaries, and assert that U.S. leadership and robust involvement — not isolationism and withdrawal — are essential to countering Russia and protecting American interests.You can read t...2025-02-211h 08Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 37 | Solving the Middle East: Policy Recommendations for the New AdministrationThe policies of the Biden administration not only failed to extinguish the foreign policy fires consuming the Middle East; they actively accelerated them. Recognizing the urgent need for a revamped Middle East strategy, the Vandenberg Coalition convened a working group of experts to proposed policy solutions to more effectively advance U.S. interests and regional stability. One of group’s experts, Gabe Scheinmann—Executive Director of the Alexander Hamilton Society and a member of the Vandenberg Governance Board— joins Flash Focus to discuss the threat landscape and share some of the report’s conclusions. You can read the Vande...2025-01-2734 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 36 | The Unholy Alliance Between UNRWA, Hamas, and Islamic JihadDespite the high-minded and noble ideas upon which they were founded, multilateral institutions like the United Nations have been hijacked by actors adversarial to the United States, such as China, Russia, Iran, and terrorist organizations. No better example of this concerning trend exists than in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). As documented in a new UN Watch report, UNRWA leadership has met with, and in some cases pledged loyalty and cooperation to, U.S.- and UN-designated terrorist groups including Hamas. In this episode of Flash Focus, Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Hillel Neuer...2025-01-1641 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 35 | Adiós, Assad: The U.S. Reaction to Events in SyriaIn a stunning turn of events, a collection of rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an entity designated by the United States and numerous countries as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad, marking the end of the 50-year brutal rule of the Assad family over Syria. The astonishing speed at which Assad’s regime fell leaves many questions to be answered about what happened. How did Assad fall so quickly? Who are the rebel groups responsible for Assad’s demise, and what is their future in Syria? How are regional actors responding to thes...2024-12-1857 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 34 | The Financial Fight: An Economic Strategy to Defeat the CCPFor decades, the repressive Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has weaponized its position in the global economy to build geoeconomic leverage, fund its military modernization, fuel its global illicit activities, and wage economic warfare on the United States. Americans can no longer afford the costs of an unfettered CCP. What actions can the incoming administration and Congress take to counter the CCP economic threat? The China Economic & Strategy Initiative’s (CESI) recent report, “Defeating the CCP: A Running Start,” details a robust economic strategy to address this critical issue. In this episode of Flash Focus, Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipe...2024-12-1023 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 33 | Picking Putin's Pockets: How to Fix America's Sanctions Towards RussiaRussia remains one of America’s most destructive adversaries, as displayed by its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and ongoing efforts to wage non-kinetic warfare against the world’s democracies. With President Trump set to take office in two months, the Vandenberg Coalition and the McCain Institute have assembled a report featuring proposals from national security leaders with prior government experience on how his administration can confront the Russian threat. In this episode of Flash Focus, Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Matt Zweig, Senior Director of Policy at FDD Action, about his recommendations for a new approach for...2024-11-2128 minThe Boardroom 180 PodcastThe Boardroom 180 PodcastEmployee Ownership Trusts with John Stevens and Jason Vandenberg of Camilla Advisory GroupIn this episode, Munir Haque speaks with John Stevens and Jason Vandenberg, president and senior vice president of Camilla Advisory Group, about their approach to employee ownership and advisory services. John and Jason discuss Camilla’s three primary service areas: employee share plans, fractional CFO services, and merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory. They emphasize their focus on employee ownership trusts as a means for companies to empower employees and build business value.They explore the rising interest in employee ownership trusts (EOT), an interest which has gained momentum with recent Canadian legislation offering a $10 million ca...2024-11-1952 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 32 | What to Expect When You’re Expecting Trump: Foreign Policy in the 119th CongressRepublican control of the White House and majorities in both branches have set the stage to implement President Trump’s foreign policy agenda. What can we expect from the confirmations process and national security committees, and which of President Trump’s foreign policy priorities are likely to garner bipartisan support? In this episode of Flash Focus, join Vandenberg Senior Director for Policy Ana Quintana as she speaks with Michael Allen, Vandenberg Advisory Board Member and Managing Director and Partner of Beacon Global Strategies, and Lester Munson, Co-Head of the International Practice at BGR Group, on what to expect from this...2024-11-1825 minHow to WinHow to WinEpisode 8: Defense Coordination with Allies and PartnersIn this episode of “How to Win,” we are joined by Dr. Matthew Kroenig, vice president and senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member. Dr. Kroenig discusses the critical role allies and partners play in the United States’ national security strategy. Dr. Kroenig also outlines a plan for a future administration to strengthen our defense coordination with allies and partners while keeping the United States’ interests at the forefront. 2024-10-1532 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 31 | Anatomy of a Hurricane ResponseBrian Cavanaugh, former Senior Director for Resilience Policy on the National Security Council (NSC), current Senior Vice President at American Global Strategies, and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member joins Flash Focus. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Brian and Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti discuss the protocol guiding hurricane emergency response efforts. Helene and Milton have rocked the southeastern U.S., decimating communities, leaving millions without power, and resulting in the death of over 200 Americans and reportedly over a 1,000 remain missing. For many Americans, these storms have evoked imagery from other recent catastrophic hurricanes in U.S...2024-10-1134 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 30 | One Year Since October 7th: Antisemitism in AmericaBonnie Glick, Advisory Board Member of the Vandenberg Coalition, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and former Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti for the final of three special Flash Focus episodes reflecting on the year since the October 7th attack. Bonnie specifically explores the impact on the Jewish community, notably how October 7th has fueled a surge of antisemitism in the United States. The world’s longest hatred, antisemitism has most recently infiltrated college campuses and communities across the nation and has inspired a wo...2024-10-0631 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 29 | One Year Since October 7th: Iran’s Destabilization CampaignGabriel Noronha, Executive Director of POLARIS National Security, Fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), and former Special Advisor for the Iran Action Group, joins for the second of three Flash Focus episodes dedicated to the aftermath of the October 7th attack one year later. Alongside Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti, he discusses the continued threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran to American and Israeli interests. October 7th served as a grave reminder of Iran’s presence as a destabilizing force in the Middle East, notably through funding terrorist groups like Hamas an...2024-10-0634 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 28 | One Year Since October 7th: Lessons for Israeli and American SecurityElliott Abrams, Chairman of the Vandenberg Coalition, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and former Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti for the first of three special Flash Focus episodes marking the one-year anniversary of Hamas' brutal terrorist attack against Israel on October 7th. In this episode, Elliott reflects on lessons that American policymakers should glean from October 7th and following events, the evolving dynamics between Israel and its regional partners and adversaries, how Israel and the U.S. should respond to Iran’s October 1st attack, and the future of th...2024-10-0643 minHow to WinHow to WinEpisode 7: Investing in the MilitaryIn this installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by Mackenzie Eaglen to discuss the defense budget and investing in the U.S. military. A Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, Mackenzie is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she works on defense strategy, defense budgets, and military readiness. Mackenzie explains how a future U.S. administration can adequately resource the U.S. military and properly fund the defense budget. The episode will also explore the modernization crunch, areas for cost-saving, and defense programs in dire need of investment.2024-10-0130 minHow to WinHow to WinEpisode 6: Revitalizing the Defense Industrial BaseIn this installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by Dr. Seth Jones to discuss revitalizing our defense industrial base. A Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, Seth is senior vice president, Harold Brown Chair, director of the International Security Program, and director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). This episode warns of the perils of the American defense industrial base’s inadequacy in a time of rising global tensions. Seth also provides recommendations for future administration’s efforts at harnessing the power of American innovation and industry to ensure the United States can de...2024-09-1726 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 27 | Recess is Over: Keeping the CCP out of the ClassroomMichele Perez Exner, Director of Federal Affairs for Parents Defending Education, joins us for another special “China Week” edition of Flash Focus. Michele joined Vandenberg’s Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has infiltrated the American education system to manipulate Americans’ thinking and spread pro CCP propaganda. In recent years, the CCP has leveraged providing grants in order to access schools to shape curriculum, undermine American values and steal sensitive information. A concerned parent herself, Michele discusses the implications of the CCP’s growing influence in American schools and shares tangible ways parents and policy m...2024-09-1123 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 26 | Theft and Espionage: Defending Against the CCP’s Economic WarfareBrian Cavanaugh, former Senior Director for Resilience Policy on the National Security Council (NSC), current Senior Vice President at American Global Strategies, and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member joins for a special “China Week” edition of Flash Focus. Brian joined Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss a central aspect of China’s economic warfare against the United States—intellectual property theft. Costing the U.S. economy between $225 and $600 billion each year, Beijing’s intellectual property theft is key to their plans to supplant the United States. Through cyber espionage, insider threats, forced technology transfers, and acquisitions targeting American businesses, China is seekin...2024-09-0929 minHow to WinHow to WinEpisode 5: The Fourth Estate: DoD Beyond the Military ServicesIn this episode of “How to Win,” we are joined by Vandenberg Advisory Board member David Rader to discuss the Department of Defense’s non-military service departments known as the “fourth estate” and their role in the Pentagon’s overall mission. As a former Deputy Director of the Global Investment and Economic Security Directorate at the Department of Defense, David walks us through the often-opaque non-military service departments within the Pentagon. He also outlines how a future administration can reform the fourth estate by reducing waste and inefficiencies so the departments can more effectively contribute to the Pentagon’s work in securing the na2024-09-0319 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 25 | Cracking Kursk: Dissecting Ukraine’s Surprise OffensiveMick Mulroy, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, co-founder of the Lobo Institute, and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member joins Flash Focus to discuss Ukraine’s recent surprise offensive into Kursk. Ukraine’s sudden incursion into Russia has injected dynamism into a war previously considered a stalemate, sparking renewed discussions on Ukraine’s potential to achieve a victory as well as America’s role in the conflict. On this episode, Mick provides explains the current state of play Ukraine’s calculus behind launching the surprise offensive into Russia, and what this all means for the future of Putin’s war...2024-08-3020 minHow to WinHow to WinEpisode 4: Recapitalizing America’s Nuclear ArsenalIn this installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by Marshall Billingslea to discuss recapitalizing America’s nuclear arsenal. A Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, Marshall is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute focusing on illicit finance and arms control with the Kleptocracy Initiative. He also served as a member of the 2023 Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States. This episode explores why our nuclear arsenal has atrophied while those of our adversaries have grown. It also discusses how a future administration can rebuild our nuclear arsenal to better deter and defend the United States. 2024-08-2020 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 24 | American Strength: Exploring the NDS Commission’s FindingsIn our latest episode of Vandenberg Flash Focus, we discuss the newly released report from the National Defense Strategy Commission, which was mandated by Congress to assess the Biden administration’s National Defense Strategy. Vandenberg Advisory Board member Roger Zakheim, who currently serves as the Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, has twice served as a member of the National Defense Strategy Commission. In this episode, he lays out the details of its findings, the limitations of American defense, and why American leadership should matter to everyday citizens.2024-08-2024 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 23 | “For Us This is Life:” Venezuela’s Future After FraudIn this episode of Flash Focus Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti is joined by the Chairman of the Vandenberg Coalition, Elliott Abrams, who currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and was the U.S.'s former Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela, as well as Miguel Pizarro, Commissioner to the United Nations for the Venezuelan interim government and a member of the Venezuelan National Assembly representing Petare. This past Sunday, millions of Venezuelans came out to vote in presidential elections after years of the Maduro regime's dictatorship. Exit polls indicated opposition candidate Edmundo...2024-07-3040 minHow to WinHow to WinEpisode 2: Technology and Acquisition ReformIn this installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by Jamil Jaffer to discuss technology and acquisition reform. A Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, Jamil is also a Venture Partner with Paladin Capital Group and the Executive Director of the National Security Institute at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. This episode explains the steps necessary to fix the Department of Defense acquisition process. It also provides recommendations for a future administration’s efforts to support technological innovation and acquisition to gain a competitive advantage.2024-07-2325 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 22 | Brewing Conflict at Second Thomas ShoalZack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, lecturer at Princeton University, and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board joins Flash Focus to discuss recent actions by Chinese Coast Guard forces that forcibly intercepted a resupply mission to a Filipino ship grounded at Second Thomas Shoal, which put the South China Sea region back into focus. The Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, obligates U.S. defense of the island, which raises questions of further escalating tensions between the United States and China. Zack understands this incident amid China’s broader strategy in the Sou...2024-07-1826 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 21 | Protecting the Future of NATOAmbassador Paula J. Dobriansky, Vice Chair of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy & Security, former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, and Vandenberg Coalition Governance Board member joins Flash Focus to discuss this week’s NATO summit in Washington, D.C. marking the 75th anniversary of the transatlantic Alliance. Against the backdrop of a protracted war waged by Russia against Ukraine, a looming conflict along the Alliance’s eastern flank, and questions around Ukraine’s future membership, the NATO summit arrived at a critical time in global geopolitics. Ambassador Dobrianksy situates this year’s summit outcomes in the con...2024-07-1224 minHow to WinHow to WinEpisode 1: Recruiting, Retention, and Personnel IssuesFor our first installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by tenth U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie of the America First Policy Institute and retired U.S. Army Lt. General Thomas Spoehr of the Center for Strategic and International Studies to discuss the cornerstone of America’s military strength: its people. Both are also distinguished members of the Vandenberg Coalition’s Advisory Board. This episode outlines the severity of the recruitment crisis, how new American leadership can fix it, and how to undo the Biden administration’s politicization of the armed forces. 2024-07-091h 02Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 20 | Convergence of Dictatorships: Putin and Kim’s Burgeoning AllianceDr. Victor Cha, senior vice president for Asia and Korea at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and a distinguished university professor of government at Georgetown University, and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition advisory board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the recent meeting between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, a summit that designated a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ between Russia and North Korea, marking the most significant and far-reaching agreement between the two nations in the post-Cold War era. Victor joins Flash Focus to situate this recent meeting in the context of Kim J...2024-07-0126 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 19 | Border in DisarrayEmilio Gonzalez, former Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President George W. Bush and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition advisory board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the record-breaking surge of illegal immigration under President Biden, an overwhelmed American immigration system, broken border security, and the straining of resources across government agencies and cities nationwide. Furthermore, the influx of special illegal aliens (SIAs) poses an increasing danger to U.S. homeland security.Jump to:00:02:24 Deteriorating border security under the Biden Administration00:06:02 Impact o...2024-06-1833 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusSpecial Episode: Lost Decade with Richard Fontaine & Robert BlackwillVandenberg is joined by authors Richard Fontaine and Robert Blackwill to discuss their new book, Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power moderated by Vandenberg Director of Strategic Partnerships Sydney Novak. U.S. policymakers often discuss a need to “pivot to Asia,” but what does that mean exactly? Lost Decade authors Richard Fontaine and Amb. Robert Blackwill tell the story of Washington’s strategic reorientation towards the Indo-Pacific and simultaneous rise of China’s power and assertiveness. What were the impulses behind the pivot? What challenges has this posed for America’s role in t...2024-06-1456 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusSpecial Episode: 80 Years Later: Lessons from D-Day for Today's WorldGarrett Exner, an adjunct fellow at Hudson Institute, executive director of the Public Interest Fellowship, board member of Veterans on Duty, and Marine Corps veteran joins Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss the significance of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history in which Allied troops landed in Normandy to liberate Europe. In this special episode, Garrett discusses his time in the military, the inspiration for his enlistment, the enduring legacy and significance of D-Day, and the state of the U.S. military today.Jump to:00:01:58 Historical significance of...2024-06-0627 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 17 | High Stakes in AfricaAmbassador J. Peter Pham, distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, served as the U.S.'s first-ever U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region during the Trump administration, and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition advisory board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the recent coups across the Sahel regions, where in countries Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have seen their elected governments fall and replaced by military juntas, while expelling U.S. military forces. We will also discuss Kenyan President William Ruto's recent state visit to the United States, the first visit of an African leader since 2008, a...2024-05-3120 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 16 | Xi & Putin: Power Play in EurasiaDr. Matthew Kroenig, Vice President and Senior Director at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition advisory board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the recent summit between Russia’s President Putin and China’s President Xi in which the two autocrats signed a joint statement on a “new era” of partnership. Matt outlines the history and significance of the Sino-Russian alliance, the modern defense coordination between the two nations, and the implications of Xi and Putin’s joint campaign to supplant the U.S.-led global security architecture.Jump to:2024-05-2315 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 15 | Tehran’s Turmoil & Israel Under ICC FireBonnie Glick, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Senior Adviser with the Project on Prosperity and Development at CSIS, and Advisory Board member of the Vandenberg Coalition, joins Flash Focus to discuss the Middle East’s most recent developments—the crash of a helicopter carrying Iran’s President and Foreign Minister on board and the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. These events have thrown an already unstable region into further turmoil. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, also known as the “Butcher of Tehran,” was considered a top contender to succeed the 85-year-old Su...2024-05-2122 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 14 | Biden’s Betrayal of IsraelSecretary Robert Wilkie joins Flash Focus to discuss the Biden Administration's unprecedented move to threaten an arms embargo of Israel, a vital U.S. partner in the Middle East currently embroiled in war. In order to defeat Hamas in Gaza, it is imperative that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) eliminate Hamas's final brigade in Rafah. Efforts by the United States to delay or obstruct such an operation, including the Biden Administration’s most recent pause on sending critical armaments, will only bolster Hamas and prolong the suffering of civilians. Ironically, the Administration has halted the delivery of precision-guided munitions (PG...2024-05-1028 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusSpecial Episode: Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart on the Future of Conservative Foreign PolicyRep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) joins TVC Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss his role on the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense, and his role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs at a time of global uncertainty in the strength of American leadership aboard. This special episode is part of the Vandenberg Coalition's Future of Conservative Foreign Policy series, where we discuss the challenges facing the United States and how conservative policymakers should approach the world stage.2024-04-191h 03Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 12 | Mr. Kishida Goes to WashingtonZack Cooper joins Flash Focus to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's state visit to Washington this week. What are the top-takeaways and how should policymakers think about our relationship with the country that is arguably our most important ally?Japan is central to America's alliance network in the Indo-Pacific and the Administration sees a willing security partner in Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. During the Prime Minister’s state visit in Washington this week, the United States and Japan unveiled plans for military cooperation and coordinated command structure, ranging from missiles to moon landings. Kishida also ad...2024-04-1218 minCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldRed Shadows: Unveiling China's Coercive Campaign for Influence in the United StatesThank you to our friends at the Heritage Foundation for co-hosting this live conversation on the CCP's growing influence operations inside the United States!Guests:Bryan Burack | The Heritage FoundationBrian Cavanaugh | American Global StrategiesJacqueline Deal | Long Term Strategy GroupMichele Exner | Parents Defending EducationHost:Carrie Filipetti | The Vandenberg CoalitionThe rise of China isn’t just a foreign concern. Over the last few years, there have been multiple incidents of Chinese attacks against our homeland, from the 2023 spy balloon, to in...2024-04-041h 00Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusSpecial Episode: We Win, They Lose with Matthew Kroenig & Dan NegreaVandenberg is joined by authors Matthew Kroenig & Dan Negrea to discuss their new book, We Win, They Lose: Republican Foreign Policy and the New Cold War.Many argue that today's Republican Party is divided, but this book argues that the outline of a GOP foreign policy consensus is emerging just beneath the surface. We call this emerging Republican foreign policy doctrine the Trump-Reagan fusion. Trump and Reagan were the most influential Republican presidents of the past several decades, and any viable GOP foreign policy must build on their legacies. We Win, They Lose explains why the Trump-Reagan...2024-03-2855 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 11 | Breaking Down Haiti's Continued ChaosJuan Cruz and Ana Quintana join Flash Focus guest host Carrie Filipetti to dissect the unfolding crisis in the Caribbean island nation. For months, unrest has been growing and violence has escalated in the streets. Meanwhile, Haiti's prime minister is trapped in Puerto Rico, Kenya has promised to send a security force to the island, and the United States has promised financial support.Juan Cruz is a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and has previously served in government for 30 years, including on the National Security Council. Ana Quintana is the Vandenberg Coalition's...2024-03-1820 minCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldBeyond the Great Wall: China's Ambitions in the Multilateral SystemIn this installment of “Countering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the World,” leading experts discuss China’s growing influence in multilateral organizations. Executive Director of The Vandenberg Coalition Carrie Filipetti speaks with former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues and the U.S. Representative at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women  Kelley Currie and former Chief of Staff to U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki R. Haley Morgan Viña, who outline ways for the United States to effectively counter the CCP while strengthening our leadership role on the global stage.  In this...2024-01-1657 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 6 | All Roads Lead to Iran: The Israel-Hamas War in Regional ContextHamas, Hezbollah, Houthis—across the Middle East, chaos and violence can be traced back to the Islamic Republic of Iran through its terrorist proxy groups. Vandenberg Coalition founder & chairman Elliott Abrams joins us to discuss the state of the Israel-Hamas War and how it relates to the broader Middle East.00:01:00 Update on the situation in Israel & Gaza00:02:35 The ground war and what to expect going forward00:03:40 Israel determined to eliminate Hamas and wary of the threat from Hezbollah in the north00:05:43 How is this war affecting Israel's relationships with its neighbors & th...2023-12-2113 minCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldThe Far East Meets the Middle: Examining China’s Growing Influence in the Middle EastIn this installment of “Countering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the World,” leading experts discuss China’s growing influence in the Middle East. Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Associate Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College Dr. Dawn Murphy, Managing Director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Michael Singh, and Craig Singleton, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to discuss China’s growing influence in the Middle East.In...2023-12-201h 01Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusSpecial Episode: Rep. Ashley Hinson on the Future of Conservative Foreign PolicyThe Vandenberg Coalition's Executive Director, Carrie Filipetti, sat down with Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA) to discuss her role on the House Select Committee on the CCP, securing the national defense at a time of fiscal uncertainty, the importance of American leadership, and more.This special episode is part of the Vandenberg Coalition's Future of Conservative Foreign Policy series, where we discuss the challenges facing the United States and how conservative policymakers should approach the world stage.2023-12-1548 minCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldReaching for the Stars: China's Advancement in the Space RaceOver the last few years, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has increased its investment in outer space, a domain historically dominated by the United States. China’s space research and exploration ambitions threaten to undermine American interests in orbit and pose national security concerns for the United States on the ground. The Vandenberg Coalition welcomes Dean Cheng, Senior Advisor to the China Program at the United States Institute of Peace and Kari Bingen, former U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, to examine this threat and discuss ways for the United States to effectively counter the...2023-12-131h 01Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 5 | Crisis in the Caribbean: Kenya's Security Mission in HaitiWe are joined by Vandenberg's Ana Quintana & former U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Amb. J. Peter Pham, to discuss the collapse of governance in Haiti and why Kenya has taken the lead of the UN-sanctioned multinational security force being sent to the island country.00:01:25 Situation in Haiti and why the UN approved an outside intervention00:05:08 Why is Kenya the lead country of the multinational security force? Kenya's history with peacekeeping missions00:10:45 Haiti's collapse, the migration crisis, and what this operation means for the Caribbean00:15:30 The...2023-12-0722 minVandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 5 | Crisis in the Caribbean: Kenya's Peacekeeping Mission in HaitiWe sit down with Vandenberg Coalition Senior Policy Director, Ana Quintana, and former U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Amb. J. Peter Pham, to discuss the deteriorating political & humanitarian situation in Haiti, how it affects America and the Western Hemisphere, and the UN-backed plan to send Kenyan peacekeepers to the island nation.2023-11-3016 minCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldThe New Scramble for Africa: A Competition for Influence and Race for ResourcesIn this installment of “Countering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the World,” leading experts discuss China’s growing influence in Africa. Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board Members Amb. J. Peter Pham, former U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region and for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, and Aleksandra Gadzala Tirziu, a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. In this series, the Vandenberg Coalition shifts the focus beyond the Indo-Pacific and into various regions around the world where the Chinese Communist Party continues to threaten America...2023-11-291h 02Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 4 | The Future of U.S. Aid to UkraineWe sit down with the Hudson Institute's Luke Coffey to discuss the current state of the war in Ukraine, the fight brewing in Congress over additional U.S. military aid, and the course of the war as it enters its second year.Mentioned in the Episode:The Fourteen Facts About U.S. Aid to UkraineThe Decisive Moment for Ukraine: A Conversation with Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of UkraineVandenberg Coalition WebsiteFollow us on X/Twitter2023-11-1723 minCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldThe Road Ahead: China's Growing Footprint in South AsiaIn this installment of “Countering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the World,” leading experts cover China’s expanding role in India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at Center for a New American Security and Nargis Nehan, who formerly served as Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum.  In this series, the Vandenberg Coalition shifts the focus beyond the Indo-Pacific and into various regions around the world where the Chinese Communist Party continues to threaten American interests. Each episode in the series...2023-11-081h 07Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 3 | Elections in VenezuelaVandenberg's own Carrie Filipetti joins Flash Focus to unpack this week's opposition presidential primary in Venezuela, how the Maduro regime maintains its grip on power, and how political change in Venezuela would affect U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere.2023-10-2516 minCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldIt Takes Two to Tango: China’s Growing Influence in Latin America and the CaribbeanIn this installment of “Countering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the World,” leading experts provide insights and analysis into China’s malign influence in our hemisphere or neighborhood: Latin America. Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Dr. Ryan Berg and Dr. R. Evan Ellis, professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute. In this series, the Vandenberg Coalition shifts the focus beyond the Indo-Pacific and into various regions around the world where the Chinese C...2023-10-251h 06Vandenberg Flash FocusVandenberg Flash FocusEp. 2 | Biden Visits Jerusalem & Israel UpdateWe sit down with Richard Goldberg—a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies & Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member—to discuss President Biden's trip to Israel yesterday, the IDF's ongoing campaign against Hamas, and the still-unfolding ramifications of Hamas' brutal terrorist attack on Israel almost two weeks ago.This episode was recorded on Thursday, October 19th.2023-10-1920 minCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldA Bad Romance: China's Relationship with EuropeIn this installment of “Countering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the World,” leading experts discuss the CCP’s growing influence in Europe. Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Hudson Institute Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia Peter Rough and former Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Europe and Russia Affairs Ryan Tully.  In this series, the Vandenberg Coalition shifts the focus beyond the Indo-Pacific and into various regions around the world where the Chinese Communist Party continues to threaten American interests. Each episode in the series d...2023-10-0455 minCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldRising to the Challenge: Addressing China's Economic Threats to the United StatesIn this installment of “Countering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the World,” leading experts cover one of the most critical and contentious aspects of U.S. China competition: economic policy. Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with former Chief of Staff for the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Clete Willems, former Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, on rising to the challenge: addressing China’s economic threats to the United States. In this series, the Vandenberg Coalition shifts the focus beyond the Indo-Pacific and into various regions around the world where the Chinese Communi...2023-09-201h 02Countering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldCountering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the WorldNavigating China's Backyard: A Closer Look at China in the Indo-Pacific RegionFor the kickoff of “Countering Chinese Communist Party Influence Around the World,” leading experts cover China’s own backyard—the Indo-Pacific—to lay the groundwork for their strategic interests and activity around the world. Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with former Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Feith, and Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security, for a closer look at China in the Indo-Pacific region.  In this series, the Vandenberg Coalition shifts the focus beyond the Indo-Pac...2023-09-181h 10SHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOT GUN EPISODIO 15VIERNES 13 HORROR SHOW (NUEVO EPISODIO ENERO 2023 ) INNOVA PROMUEVE COMPARTE --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christian-vandenberg/message2023-01-1411 minSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN EPISODIO 14 EN ESTE EPISODIO PRESENTAMOS LO MEJOR DEL METAL Y SUS DERIVACIONES. ADEMAS UNA INVITADA ESPECIAL PARA COMPARTIR DE MUSICA Y UNA REVELADORA CONVERSACION DE LA MUJER EN EL METAL. GRACIAS A LUCIA MACIP ( VOCALISTA DE EVILMINDED ) POR DEJARNOS COMPARTIR ENLAZANDO HASTA IRLANDA DEL NORTE. EN ESTE EPISODIO  ULTHA:  https://ultha.bandcamp.com/track/dispel MORKERA: https://morkera.bandcamp.com/track/deserted-denial HELTEKVAD: https://heltekvad.bandcamp.com/track/rb-dig-er-den-som-sejrer-2 DEHA: https://deha.bandcamp.com/track/dust-and-rain X`BALANKE: https://xbalanke.bandcamp.com/track/ceniza-sobre-baikal B...2022-06-303h 11SHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN EPISODIO 13EN ESTE EPISODIO PODEMOS ESCUCHAR A TRES BANDAS DE TREMENDO PODER DEL METAL. ESCUCHALO HOY SIN COSTO. - HYPERION  HyperioN | Facebook - REINA NEGRA  Reina Negra - Inicio | Facebook - GREYHAWK  Greyhawk - Heavy Metal | Facebook INNOVA PROMUEVE COMPARTE --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christian-vandenberg/message2022-05-311h 17SHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN EPISODIO VIERNES 13 HORROR SHOW / MAYO 2022INNOVA PROMUEVE COMPARTE --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christian-vandenberg/message2022-05-141h 24SHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN EPISODIO 12PUTREVORE  MOSHCAST EPISODIO 12: PUTREVORE DE 🇪🇦 INVITADO DE HONOR: JUAN CALAVERA DE 🇲🇽  ESTRENO 30/4/22 - 9AM.  ENLACE: ANCHOR.FM/CHRISTIAN-VANDENBERG  #SHOTGUN_GUATEMETAL_PODCAST INNOVA PROMUEVE COMPARTE --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christian-vandenberg/message2022-04-301h 01SHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN EPISODE 11IN THIS EPISODE WE´LL DISCUSS THE ORIGIN OF THIS AMAZING THRASH METAL BAND. SINCE 2004 AND CURRENTLY IN 2022. THEIR NEW RELEASE IN ITS ENTIRETY. JOIN US ! AND LISTEN TO "FIST TO FACE" ENTIRELY IN THIS MOSCHAST.  HOLYCIDE line-up:  Dave Rotten - Vocals  Miguel Bárez - Guitar  Dani Fernández - Bass  Salva Esteban - Guitar  Jorge Utrera - Drums  www.holycide.com  www.facebook.com/holycide www.holycide.bandcamp.com www.youtube.com/holycidethrash www.twitter.com/holycide www.instagram.com/holycide_official INNOVA PROMUEVE COMPARTE --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters...2022-03-2955 minSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN EPISODIO 10GUATEMETAL MOSHCAST GOLGOTHA EP "Remembering the Past - Writing the Future" released on CD/DIGITAL on 2nd of March 2021 through Xtreem Music (http://www.xtreemmusic.com)  1. Don't Waste Your Life 2. Helpless (2020) 3. I Am Lost (2020) 4. Elemental Changes (2020) 5. Lonely (2020)  Buy CD here: http://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.i... Buy Digital here: http://xtreemmusic.bandcamp.com Official GOLGOTHA website: http://www.golgothaofficial.com THANKS TO XTREEM MUSIC FOR THE UPDATE!   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christian-vandenberg/message2022-02-2844 minSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN EPISODIO 9GUATEMETAL MOSHCAST LISTEN TO ALBUM "BLOODY RIVERS OF DEATH" HERE!  DECRAPTED is: Vicente Payá - Guitars & Bass Dave Rotten - Vocals Session Musicians: Camilo Pirata - Guitar solos Miquel Angel Riutort “Mega” – Drums www.decrapted.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christian-vandenberg/message2022-01-2945 minSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALSHOTGUN-MOSHCAST-GUATEMETALESTAMOS DE REGRESO 2DA TEMPORADAINNOVA PROMUEVE COMPARTE --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christian-vandenberg/message2022-01-1800 minThis Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #34 - Depth Perception - Iain McGilchristIain McGilchrist is one of the most important intellectuals in the world right now (he's also my favorite thinker and philosopher and a personal hero). Part of the impact of his work is due to the thorough and rigorous research supporting his theories (more than 5,000 papers and essays and deep understanding of countless authors and artists and their work from both ancient contexts as well as the modern conversation about these things). The other, perhaps even more impactful reason for his importance is his engagement with what I think is one of the more dire crisis' in the developed...2021-12-301h 04This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #33 - Broken Identity and The ”Depths” - John VervaekeJohn Vervaeke PhD is an associate professor in Psychology and Cognitive Science whose work focuses on meaning and the science of wisdom. He's an award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto, with his classes ranging from psychology, cognitive science to Buddhist psychology. His popular youtube lecture series "Awakening From The Meaning Crisis" has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times and has struck a chord with many struggling in the modern day to engage with a sense of "meaning" in life.Awakening from the Meaning Crisis Lecture Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54l8_ewcOlY&list...2021-11-092h 54This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #30 Latter Day Apostasy - Alex WilliamnsAlex Williamns has hosted over 10 (different) podcasts, so he's a pro. He's also an ex-Mormon, which is something that came up when I had the opportunity to be a guest on one of those podcasts (an episode still to be released). As soon as it came up, the topic threatened to take over our conversation, but I knew it deserved its own conversation another time. I asked Alex after our chat if he'd be willing to come on this project and chat about his experiences in the Mormon church, and he graciously agreed. Ever since someone first explained to...2021-09-291h 46This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #29 - Adventures in Mental Health - Dave GriffinDave Griffin is an actor, writer, creative, father, husband, and delegate officer in his local Democratic party. Dave is also the voice of the beloved character "Jimmy Barclay" in the well-known audio drama "Adventures in Odyssey". He started on the show in its first official season around the age of 10 and continued to voice the popular character for many years until ultimately the character was written off the show.Struggling with mental illness growing up, the show became an escape from the everyday lows of life. As that season came to a close Dave was confronted with...2021-09-163h 19This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #28 - Spiritual Techno Optimism - Caleb WeidmanCaleb Weidman is a Media wiz, and has been creating quality content for Spiritual communities for the past decade. He's the president of Blackbar Media, a youtube channel focused on exploring how Christianity can be complemented and augmented by technology and media, and how people working within positions related to media production can better engage with their faith. I've known Caleb for a very long time now, and we've worked together professionally on many different projects including short films and various musical productions. Caleb is also an incredibly talented graphic designer and has produced album covers and book covers...2021-09-031h 32This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #26 - A Typical Yogi - Markus SchneiderMarkus grew up in a fundamentalist Christian home but later upon examining his religion rejected it in general and began to think more deeply about his beliefs and his philosophy. In this conversation Markus shares a bit of his story and how he ultimately ended up practicing and teaching Yoga and meditation from a primarily secular framework. I challenge Markus on this perspective towards Yoga and we dig deep into what it means to "listen to your body" and have a relationship with the "unknown".Markus Schnieder runs the local hot yoga studio in my hometown and...2021-07-311h 51This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #22.5 - Processing Opponent Processing with my Opponent (Brother)Conversation with John Vervaeke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3AxPCwoVxA Subscribe to the podcastSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1ezktLCKtpdpPCvZHvFPvF iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-could-be-interesting/id1554166655 Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3RoaXNjb3VsZGJlaW50ZXJlc3Rpbmdwb2RjYXN0L2ZlZWQueG1s  Podbean https://thiscouldbeinterestingpodcast.podbean.com/ John Vervaekehttps://www.youtube.com/user/johnvervaeke/featured http://johnvervaeke.com/ https://www.facebook.com/VervaekeJohn/  Ga...2021-07-1331 minThis Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #22 - A Way Out of the Vicious Cycle - John VervaekeJohn Vervaeke PhD is a Cognitive Scientist and Cognitive Psychotherapist whose work focuses on meaning and the science of wisdom. He's an award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto, with his classes ranging from psychology, cognitive science to Buddhist psychology. I discovered John and his work through my friend Connor during a time when we were both doing a lot of soul-searching and struggling with the ever-encroaching cloud of nihilism that is modern-day media. When we discovered John's work as well as the work of others in his "corner of the internet", our whole relationship t...2021-07-131h 16This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #21 - When Reading the Bible Leads to Atheism - Michael WisemanMichael Wiseman is the host of "The Bible Says What?"-- a podcast a youtube channel exploring the limits of evangelical theology and biblical theory from an atheist perspective. He's also the author of a book of the same name, which you can find online here - https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Says-What-Michael-Wiseman-ebook/dp/B08Y7BLM3H/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= I came into contact with Mike earlier this year when he reached out to me, and we've had several engaging conversations comparing notes on our journeys with evangelicalism since then. He and...2021-07-091h 48This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #20 - The Cosmic "Three-ness" - J.P. MarceauJ.P. and I unpack his latest article concerning the overlap between Christianity, Buddhism, and various other religious traditions on their central "trinity" like concepts. While I recommend reading the article, it's not necessary to read first (in fact I'd recommend reading it after watching) as this conversation is intended primarily to help introduce the ideas he discusses in the article to general audiences.Unfortunately, some of the data for this conversation was corrupted and had to be repaired. As a result, a section in the middle has reduced audio quality. Sorry for that!J...2021-06-121h 53This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #19 - The Age of Artifice - J.F. MartelJean-François Martel has been working with various Canadian producers as a screenwriter and director for the past ten years. He's worked on numerous documentaries that have aired on most of Canada's major broadcasters, as well as writing and directing a number of award winning dramatic short films including "Cicada,". He's also the author of the fantastic short book/manifesto/artistic call to action "RECLAIMING ART IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICE" which was published in 2015. J.F. co-hosts a weekly philosophy of art podcast called "Weird Studies".I discovered J.F. and his work earlier this year v...2021-06-082h 02This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #18 - The Pareto Problem"Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."- Matthew 13:12What a ruthless principle. Pareto Distribution (or "The Matthew Principle) can be found in almost any distributive dataset. 20% of people have 80% of the money in (almost all) economic systems. 20% of people have 80% of the power in (almost all) political systems. 20% of any language gets used 80% of the time in (all) languages. It's especially frustrating thinking about the Matthew Principle playing out beyond the 80/20 rule to the point where...2021-06-081h 54This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #16 - Evaluating Values - Taylor EalandTaylor Ealand runs a conservative news commentary show called "Contrarix". Taylor reached out to me to chat a little bit ago, and we had a great conversation on his show about religion and politics. We had such a good time we decided to follow it up for This Could Be Interesting. We were interested in trying to unpack a little bit of the conundrum of evaluating values in the modern sphere. Why do we value things, and how can we back up or defend those values? Can we even? Are there such things as "objective values". There were a...2021-05-131h 42This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #5 - The Sin God Commands - Lloyd VandenbergLloyd Vandenberg is my dad. He's 100% Dutch by blood but was born in Canada. He grew up in the Dutch Reformed church and became part of the Charismatic Evangelical tradition as a young adult. He and my mom have been touring with the rest of the family around the United States and Canada under the name "New Generation Ministry" for the past 30 years performing Christian "worship music" as well as counseling couples and sharing my dad's story of freedom from addiction.The last two years have been pretty wild for us as a family, and my dad...2021-03-031h 54This Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #4.5 - Stickin' it to Jared Byas - Evan VandenbergAfter the last conversation with Jared Evan and I had a lot of thoughts we still wanted to unpack, so we sat down to do our first ".5". I'm not sure if this is a format that's going to stick or not, but we'll see. The obvious flaw with doing this sort of thing is that in discussing a guest's ideas (or trying to rebut their ideas) they don't have a chance to respond or correct us if we're missing something important. The cost is dwarfed by the benefit, though, I think, because it seems to be the case that...2021-03-0121 minThis Could Be InterestingThis Could Be InterestingTCBI #0 - What could be interesting? - Andrew Kalmar, Connor Howard, Evan VandenbergHey, I just started a podcast! The concept of the show is based around the medium of the "long-form conversation". It's a medium that allows people to unpack complicated and positions on things in an appropriately long format that allows for some nuance and genuine humanity. I've been watching people in my community gradually sort of "drift apart" in certain ways, especially in their ability to have conversations about issues they don't see eye to eye on. While I found this increasingly concerning pointing at other people, it hit me in a big way when I began to see that t...2021-02-171h 54Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulCuban Health Care: The Ongoing Revolution - Don FitzQuiet as it's kept inside the United States, the Cuban revolution has achieved some phenomenal goals, reclaiming Cuba's agriculture, advancing its literacy rate to nearly 100 percent - and remaking its medical system. Cuba has transformed its health care to the extent that this "third-world" country has been able to maintain a first-world medical system, whose health indicators surpass those of the United States at a fraction of the cost.  Don Fitz combines his deep knowledge of Cuban history with his decades of on-the-ground experience in Cuba to bring us the story of how Cuba's health care system e...2020-07-301h 51Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulWhen It's Not Just a TV Show - Penny TaylorOur inner cave-dweller within modern society, power structures, tv-series/movie fandoms, and evolutionary psychology. We also get into the power of large, calm groups of people gathering for a shared purpose. Penny on Twitter: @fakecongirl, https://www.cavedwellerclub.com/ Psychology Today: Surviving Quarantine with a Smile: Claire's survival guide https://bit.ly/article-Surviving-Quarantine-with-a-Smile Dawn of Humanity (full video) PBS NOVA - https://bit.ly/Dawn-of-Humanity-PBS-NOVA If you haven’t already, please tap subscribe in your preferred podcast player and if you’d like to get email reminders when new episodes are publi...2020-06-141h 21Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulCosmic Tusk and Comet Impacts - George HowardExplore abrupt climate change and pandemic induced by comets and asteroids during human history at George Howard’s blog called The Cosmic Tusk. The Tusk also contains a treasure trove of scientific documents in The Cosmic Tusk Bibliography or The Complete Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis Bibliography and Publication Archive. Links to fascinating findings throughout. For many years, George has been in close touch with a group of scientists known as the Younger Dryas Boundary Team, or Comet Research Group, which studies and proposes the Younger Dryas Boundary Hypothesis, which we’re going to talk a lot about here very soon...2020-05-232h 09Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulConscious Evolution - Rob CobboldRobert Cobbold is the founding editor of Conscious Evolution, a website, blog and podcast aiming to disseminate the evolutionary worldview, and kindle an evolutionary transition.  He has a BA in English Literature from Bristol University and is currently midway through a masters in Sustainable Leadership at Cumbria University. Subscribe HERE for Email Episode Reminders Rob works as program manager for the Green Schools Project and has spent the past three years giving assemblies and workshops in schools with the aim of inspiring and equipping young people to take action on climate change and other social i...2020-04-181h 31Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulWhat Does This Do For My Soul? with Daniel ThorsonDaniel Thorson, host of Emerge podcast, and I recorded our first episode together about a year ago and at that time he was preparing to move to the Monastic Academy, which is a training center dedicated to creating wise, powerful, and loving leaders who are an unstoppable force for social and environmental peace on Earth. ---> Subscribe for new podcast episode Email Notifications HERE In this conversation Daniel and I get into how living and working there affects his life, as well as the people around him; the sense of community and purpose…we explore ma...2020-02-291h 20Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulPt 3 - Owning Your Tech's Energy Footprint - Katie SingerOver the previous 2 episodes we talked about Electromagnetic radiation effects on biology, and the true cost of the embodied energy of the internet. This is the 3rd installment of conversations with author Katie Singer. Today we’re going to go into dealing with this awareness on a personal level, what we can do ourselves, and how we can adapt our behavior in light of this information. ---> Subscribe for new podcast episode Email Notifications HERE Katie Singer is the author of An Electronic Silent Spring http://www.electronicsilentspring.com/ https://www.ou...2020-01-041h 12Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulPt 2 - Embodied Energy of the Internet - Katie Singer“If people remain unaware, in the illusion of the simplicity of sending an email, then there isn’t really a way to move forward until Nature imposes limits on us” ---> Subscribe for new podcast episode Email Notifications HERE Where do we get these wonderful toys? What are the hidden costs of the Internet? How do we get silicon wafers for electronics manufacturing? And while we’re at it, how are we able to download podcasts for free? Or is it free? What is the true cost?  Katie Singer is the author of...2019-12-061h 01Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulSitting Up the Whole Time - Jason Sadhana GrechanikAt The Temple of the Way of Light, a traditional Shipibo plant-medicine shamanic healing center in Peru, I sat down with former actor, photographer, Thai boxer Jason Sadhana Grechanik for a deep, thoughtful conversation about traditional plant medicine work. Jason was a facilitator during my recent 23 day, 7 ceremony ayahuasca retreat at the Temple, in the Amazon jungle. Subscribe for new podcast episode Email Notifications HERE “The Temple of the Way of Light is a traditional plant-medicine shamanic healing center located in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest that offers intensive ayahuasca retreats with female and male Shipibo he...2019-04-151h 32Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulReflecting Reflections with EMERGE podcast's Daniel ThorsonDaniel’s podcast EMERGE is an inquiry into the emerging paradigms shaping the next phase of the human experiment. We have a great conversation about conversations and the nature of recording them for public release, soulcrafting, metamodernism, adapting to the idea of climate change, and what it’s like deciding to move to a monastery. Subscribe for new podcast episode Email Notifications HERE   ---> If you enjoy this podcast, tap on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave me a rating, write a review, and subscribe! Thank you so much!   See...2019-03-031h 13Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulMeditation in the Amazon Jungle with Geoff HaunRecorded in the Peruvian Amazon jungle at the Temple of the Way of Light, this episode features Geoff Haun, one of our staff teachers. We sat in his Tambo (see episode artwork) and discussed his experiences learning qigong, meditation, and yoga. We also talk about the Temple and the Chaikuni Institute, the “No Trash Diet”, and Sivananda Yoga Masters working in the Bahamas. Subscribe for new podcast episode Email Notifications HERE If you enjoy this podcast, tap on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave me a rating, write a review, and subscribe! Thank you so m...2019-02-161h 49Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulNeonosis with Joshua FieldsNeonosis is a project dedicated to the evolution of human consciousness. Joshua Fields is a graduate student in Philosophy and Consciousness at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and in a previous life, an Oxford economist, Morgan Stanley analyst, and Scottish amateur boxer. After a series of transformational personal events, he turned his focus away from finance and has since dedicated his life to understanding the ideas and techniques that lead to human flourishing. Subscribe for new podcast episode Email Notifications HERE The conceptual paradigm of the Neonosis project’s content is based on the fo...2018-12-111h 03Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulSaxophone Interlude EpisodeThis episode features a composition written, performed, and produced by Abe Vandenberg Subscribe for new podcast episode Email Notifications HERE   ---> Hear All of the Podcast's Featured Music HERE This episode's Featured Music: https://abeslogic.bandcamp.com/track/jaws   These Tweets, below, are from one of my favorite podcasts. It’s absolutely fascinating. Tangentially Speaking: Episode 303 w/Bruce Damer (Origins of Life/Future in Space)   1/"So by going back to the booting up of life we can see the 3 building blocks that...2018-10-1611 minGenuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulLife as Ceremony - Justin FavellMusicians Justin Favell and Abe Vandenberg recorded this “luxurious” episode on Maui. In Part 1 we catch up, discuss moving one’s life for another person, our musical influences from Branford Marsalis, the greater purposes of music in different cultures, revisionist Tesla history, science and spirituality/faith moving towards the communion of religion and science... Subscribe for New Episode Email Notifications HERE   Music | Abe's Featured Saxophone Track - "Of Timing" https://abeslogic.bandcamp.com/track/of-timing ---> Hear All of the Podcast's Featured Music HERE Episode Web Page & Artwork...2018-08-121h 14Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulIt's All a Question of Balance - Chris CanditoWhile recording music and controlling invasive species, Chris and I have worked together for a number of years. We spoke after his recent visit to the Islands. He currently lives in Boston and plays bass in The Cole Robbie Band. Subscribe for New Episode Email Notifications HERE   ---> Hear All of the Podcast's Featured Music HERE Featured song "Back Then is Over" written by Chris Candito, produced by Abe Vandenberg https://abeslogic.bandcamp.com/track/back-then-is-over   The Cole Robbie Band https://www.facebook.co...2018-07-021h 48Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulCycling Through Remembering, Forgetting, and Remembering Again - Jeremy & Heather NovaAbe Vandenberg talks with Jeremy & Heather Nova about having had an ultra-competitive mindset while also pursuing a spiritual path that eventually lead to becoming parents. Subscribe for Email new episode Notifications HERE --- Former US bike cross country national champions: Jeremy Nova 20 years of competitive riding 17 World Championship team appearances, and a visit to the Olympics & Creative Director at Studio Shed. "...the most important thing you can do is to start cultivating a practice where‍‍‍ you really cultivate a lot of stillness, cause that's what it take...2018-05-121h 07Genuinely UsefulGenuinely UsefulWelcome to the Jungle - Tony MoenichIn Peru at SpiritQuest Sanctuary, Tony and I spoke for this podcast in the Huachuma maloca (pictured in the episode artwork) Tony Moenich is a former USMC scout sniper and is now the host of TFCO, a podcast talking about military experiences, healing, and life Featured music "Chippin' Away" by Abe Vandenberg ---> Hear All of the Podcast's Featured Music HERE Subscribe for Email new episode Notifications HERE Cave of Forgotten Dreams 2010 G 1h 30m This fascinating documentary offers an unprecedented look at France's Chauvet Cave, which contains the oldest human-painted images found on...2018-05-111h 13