Shows
The Strategy BridgeThe School of Advanced Warfighting and the Training of Operational Planners with Brian KergIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we are joined by Brian Kerg to talk about the School of Advanced Warfighting and the training of operational planners. Kerg is a Lt. Col. in the Marine Corps and the author of "Dare to Know: Pursuing the Path of the Operational Planner" in the August 2025 issue of the US Naval Institute's "Proceedings."
2025-09-2240 min
The Strategy BridgeIdeology and Soviet and American Correspondents during the Cold War with Dina FainbergIn this episode we talk with Dina Fainberg about the Cold War ideologies that shaped how Soviet and American foreign correspondents reported on each other's countries and how their reporting influenced the views of policy makers, commentators, and citizens. Fainberg is an assistant professor of modern history at City University of London and the author of "Cold War Correspondents: Soviet and American Reporters on the Ideological Front Lines."
2025-07-2152 min
The Strategy BridgeTheater and the American Revolution with Jason ShafferIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Jason Shaffer about the role of theater during the American Revolution and in 18th Century Anglo-American culture. We look at how theater portrayed the military, expressed the principles of Revolutionary ideology, and the role of propaganda plays during the Revolutionary War. Shaffer is the author of "Performing Patriotism: National Identity in the Colonial and Revolutionary American Theater" and is an Associate Professor of English at the U.S. Naval Academy.
2025-06-2231 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Canadian Army on D-Day with Mark ZuehlkeDuring the Second World War, Canadian soldiers fought fascism in Europe alongside British and American troops. In this episode, we talk with historian Mark Zuehlke about the Canadian Army's fight for Juno Beach on D-Day. Zuehlke is the author of "Juno Beach: Canada's D-Day Victory, June 6, 1944."
2025-04-2044 min
The Strategy BridgeMilitarism in Post-Colonial Africa with Samuel Fury Childs DalyIn the years after independence, military coups overthrew civilian governments in many new African countries and tried to transform their societies into martial utopias. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge podcast, we talk with Samuel Fury Childs Daly about the ideology of militarism, military dictatorships, and how law both enabled and challenged them. Daly is Associate Professor of History at the University of Chicago and is the author of "Soldier's Paradise: Militarism in Africa after Empire."
2025-01-1953 min
The Strategy BridgeAlfred Thayer Mahan and the Concept of Sea Power with Nicholas LambertNicholas Lambert joins the Strategy Bridge Podcast to talk about Alfred Thayer Mahan, his concept of sea power, and the ideas and events that shaped his worldview. Lambert is the author of "The Neptune Factor: Alfred Thayer Mahan and the Concept of Sea Power."
2024-12-1659 min
The Strategy BridgeEdward Mead Earle and "Makers of Modern Strategy" with Michael FinchIn 1943, the book "Makers of Modern Strategy" was released and was an immediate success. The editor, Edward Mead Earle, had hoped to offer the public a historical lens through which to understand a world in the midst of a global war. Joining us to talk about the book, its intellectual history, and legacy is Michael Finch. Finch is the author of "Making Makers: The Past, The Present, and the Study of War."
2024-11-2456 min
The Strategy BridgeFrom the Rappahannock to Gettysburg with Scott Mingus and Eric WittenbergFrom June 3-30, 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac moved from their positions along the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg, VA north to Pennsylvania where they met in battle at Gettysburg. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Scott Mingus and Eric Wittenberg about some of the key events of this movement. They are the authors of the two-volume series: "If We Are Striking for Pennsylvania": The Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac March to Gettysburg - Volume 1: June 3–21, 1863 & Volume 2: June 22 - June 30, 1863.
2024-05-261h 00
The Strategy BridgeThe Delaware River Campaign of 1777 with James McIntyreBetween September and November of 1777, the Continental Army and Pennsylvania State Navy fought to deny the British access to the Delaware River to prevent the Royal Navy from supplying British troops in Philadelphia. In this episode, James McIntyre joins the Strategy Bridge Podcast to talk about the Delaware River Campaign and his book "A Most Gallant Resistance." McIntyre is an associate professor of history at Moraine Valley Community College.
2024-04-2156 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Geographies of War with Jeremy BlackJeremy Black returns to the Strategy Bridge Podcast to talk about geographical concepts, mapmaking, strategy, geopolitics and his book "The Geographies of War." Black is Emeritus Professor of History at Exeter University.
2024-02-1843 min
The Strategy BridgeIndigenous Warfare in Eastern North America with Wayne LeeIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Wayne Lee about his book "The Cutting-Off Way: Indigenous Warfare in Eastern North America, 1500-1800." Lee is Bruce W. Carney Professor of History and the University of North Carolina.
2024-01-2153 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Fight for Women to Fly in Combat with Eileen BjorkmanEileen Bjorkman joins the Strategy Bridge Podcast to talk about her book "Fly Girls Revolt: The Story of the Women Who Kicked Open the Door to Fly in Combat." The book tells the story of how women fought for equality in the armed services and for the right to serve on flight crews in combat. Bjorkman is a retired Air Force colonel and flight test engineer.
2023-12-1753 min
The Strategy BridgeMartial Aesthetics with Anders Engberg-PedersenIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we are joined by Anders Engberg-Pedersen to talk about his book "Martial Aesthetics: How War Became an Art Form." He is Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Southern Denmark and the University of Copenhagen.
2023-10-2446 min
The Strategy BridgeThe U.S. Army in the Pacific War, 1945 with John McManusDr. John McManus returns to the Strategy Bridge Podcast to talk about the final book in his trilogy on the U.S. Army in the Pacific War, "To the End of the Earth: The US Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945." McManus is the Curator's Distinguished Professor of US military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
2023-09-2356 min
The Strategy BridgeWargaming Education and Design with Sebastian BaeSebastian Bae joins the Strategy Bridge Podcast to talk about wargaming education and design and his new game "Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific." Bae is the editor of the book "Forging Wargamers: A Framework for Professional Military Education." He works as a research analyst and game designer in the defense industry and serves as an adjunct assistant professor at the Center for Security Studies at Georgetown University, where he teaches a graduate course on designing educational wargames.
2023-05-2134 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Mobile Riverine Force in the Vietnam War with Erik VillardDuring the Vietnam War, a joint Army and Navy unit known as the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) was established to operate in the maritime environment of the Mekong Delta. In the episode we talk about the Mobile Riverine Force with Erik Villard, the digital military historian at the U.S. Army Center of Military History and a historian of the Vietnam War. Villard is the author of "Combat Operations: Staying the Course, October 1967 to September 1968."
2023-03-2848 min
The Strategy BridgeWater, Roads, and Rail in the Gettysburg Campaign with Troy HarmanNational Park Service Ranger Troy Harman joins the Strategy Bridge Podcast to talk about the role of the location of water, roads, and rail in the decision making during the Gettysburg campaign. We also talk about how symbolism built into the design of the park shapes views of the battle. Harman has served as a ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park since 1989 and he is the author of "All Roads Led to Gettysburg: A New Look at the Civil War's Pivotal Campaign."
2023-02-2050 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Mythology of World War II with Elizabeth SametElizabeth Samet joins the Strategy Bridge Podcast to talk about the mythology surrounding World War II, the literature and film that emerged following the war, and the mythology's effect on our beliefs about the use of American military force. Samet is the author of "Looking for the Good War: American Amnesia and the Violent Pursuit of Happiness" and a professor of English at West Point.
2022-10-2346 min
The Strategy BridgeNimitz and the Art of Command in the PacificTrent Hone returns to the Strategy Bridge Podcast to talk about his new book "Mastering the Art of Command: Admiral Chester Nimitz and Victory in the Pacific." We talk about how Nimitz organized and reorganized his staff as the war unfolded, his relationship with the Army, the effort to integrate the British Pacific Fleet into American operations and more. Trent Hone is a Vice President with ICF and an award-winning naval historian.
2022-09-271h 15
The Strategy BridgeThe History of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers with Matt Kriner and Jon LewisIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk with Matt Kriner and Jon Lewis about the history, ideology, and organization of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. Matt Kriner is a Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at Middlebury Institue of International Studies. He is an intelligence analyst with almost a decade of experience researching and analyzing US domestic violent extremism, transnational far-right extremism, and radicalization. Jon Lewis is a Research Fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, where he studies domestic violent extremism a...
2022-08-141h 15
The Strategy BridgeThe Concept of "Great-Power Competition" and American Foreign Policy with Ali WyneIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Ali Wyne about the concept of great-power competition and what it means for American foreign policy. Wyne is a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group and is the author of "America's Great-Power Opportunity: Revitalizing U.S. Foreign Policy to Meet the Challenges of Strategic Competition."
2022-07-1356 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Susquehannock Wars and Bacon's Rebellion with Matthew KruerIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Matthew Kruer about the Susquehannock wars of the 1670s and 1680s in the mid-Atlantic and Bacon's Rebellion in colonial Virginia. Kruer is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Chicago and author of "Time of Anarchy: Indigenous Power and the Crisis of Colonialism in Early America."
2022-06-191h 07
The Strategy BridgeThe U.S. Army in the Pacific War, 1944 with John McManusIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, Dr. John McManus returns to talk about "Island Infernos: The U.S. Army's Pacific War Odyssey, 1944" the second book in his series on the Army in the Pacific during World War Two. McManus is the Curators' Distinguished Professor of U.S. Military History at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
2022-05-151h 14
The Strategy BridgeHabits of Maritime Strategists with James HolmesIn this episode we talk with Dr. James Holmes about his book "Habits of Highly Effective Maritime Strategists." Holmes is a former Navy surface warfare officer and the J.C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College.
2022-04-1745 min
The Strategy BridgeCombatant Command Campaign Planning with Chad PillaiIn this episode we talk with Chad Pillai about combatant command campaign planning. Pillai is a U.S. Army strategist and the author of "Developing a Combatant Command Campaign Plan: Lessons Learned at US Central Command" published by the Modern War Institute at West Point.
2022-03-1538 min
The Strategy BridgeIndian Civil-Military Relations with Ayesha RaySince gaining independence in 1947, the relations between India's civilian leaders and the military has changed over time as the country fought wars with China and Pakistan, developed nuclear weapons, and used the military for internal counterinsurgency operations. In this episode we talk with Dr. Ayesha Ray about Indian Civil-Military Relations. Ray is an Associate Professor of Political Science at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and the author of "The Soldier and the State in India: Nuclear Weapons, Counterinsurgency, and the Transformation of Indian Civil-Military Relations."
2022-02-1529 min
The Strategy BridgeThe U.S. Navy in the Jacksonian Era with Claude BerubeIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Dr. Claude Berube about his book "On Wide Seas: The U.S. Navy in the Jacksonian Era." Berube is the museum director at the US Naval Academy Museum, an assistant professor of history at the Naval Academy, and a Naval Reserve officer.
2022-01-0354 min
The Strategy BridgeStrategy and the Second World War with Jeremy BlackIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Jeremy Black about his book "Strategy and the Second World War: How the War Was Won and Lost." Black is a emeritus Professor of History at the University of Exeter.
2021-08-1040 min
The Strategy BridgeWar Veterans and Fascism with Angel AlcaldeIn the years following the First World War, the Italian fascist movement appropriated the symbol of the veteran as a new revolutionary political force. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk about the fascist myth of the veteran with Dr. Angel Alcalde. Alcalde is the author of "War Veterans and Fascism in Interwar Europe" and is a lecturer in Twentieth Century European History at the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne.
2021-05-2452 min
The Strategy BridgeThe U.S. Army in the Pacific War, 1941-1943 with John McManusBy the summer of 1945, 1.8 million American soldiers were serving in the war against Japan in the Pacific and Asia. This included 21 U.S. Army infantry and airborne divisions plus independent regimental combat teams and tank battalions. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk with Dr. John McManus about the role the Army played in the Pacific during the first two years of the war. McManus is the author of "Fire and Fortitude: The U.S. Army in the Pacific War, 1941-1943" and is the Curators' Distinguished Professor of Military History at the Missouri University of Science...
2021-04-1958 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Politics and Strategy of Project ApolloIn this episode of Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony about how the Apollo program to put men on the moon was created and run as an instrument of foreign policy. Muir-Harmony is the curator of the Project Apollo collection at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum and is the author of the book "Operation Moonglow: A Political History of Project Apollo."
2021-01-2752 min
The Strategy BridgeA Foreign Service Officer in South Sudan with Elizabeth ShackelfordIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk with Elizabeth Shackelford about her book "The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age." In the book Shackelford writes about her time in South Sudan as a Foreign Service Officer and what she experienced when the new country descended into war.
2020-12-2150 min
The Strategy BridgeStrategic Culture, Ideology, and Military Strategy with Jeremy BlackIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk about strategic culture, ideology, and military strategy with Jeremy Black. He is an emeritus Professor of History at the University of Exeter and the author of "Military Strategy: A Global History."
2020-12-0756 min
The Strategy BridgeStrategy Before Clausewitz with Beatrice HeuserIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk with Prof. Beatrice Heuser from the University of Glasgow about whether strategic thinking as we have come to understand it existed in the centuries before the word "strategy" was introduced into the Western European languages. Heuser is the author of the book "Strategy Before Clausewitz: Linking Warfare and Statecraft, 1400-1830."
2020-11-0948 min
The Strategy BridgeOn Bernard Brodie's "A Layman's Guide to Naval Strategy" with Nick PrimeIn 1942 Bernard Brodie published the first edition of his book "A Layman's Guide to Naval Strategy." It would see a total of 5 editions, the last in 1964 with a slightly changed title of "A Guide to Naval Strategy." In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk about Brodie's book with Dr. Nick Prime. Prime is a post-doctoral fellow with the Army Strategic Education program at the Army War College.
2020-10-2637 min
The Strategy BridgeOn Grand Strategy with John Lewis GaddisIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Dr. John Lewis Gaddis about his book "On Grand Strategy." Gaddis is the Robert A. Lovett Professor of Military & Naval History at Yale University and was the founding director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy.
2020-09-0954 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Strategist and the General Staff Officer with Jacqueline Whitt and J.P. ClarkIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk with Dr. Jacqueline Whitt and Dr. J.P. Clark about their two essays in the book "On Strategy: A Primer." Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the Army War College and the author of the essay "The Strategists' Mixing Board: Characteristics of a Strategist." Clark is an active duty Army officer who has served 14 years as an Army Strategist and is the co-author along with Frances Park of the essay "Practical Strategists: The Perspective and Craft of the General Staff Officer."
2020-07-2054 min
The Strategy Bridge"Useful Fiction," Imaginative Thinking, and National Security Affairs with August ColeIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk with August Cole about how fiction and imaginative thinking can inform how we approach national security affairs. Cole is a non-resident senior fellow at the Brent Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council. From 2014-2017 he directed the Art of Future Warfare Project which explored creative and narrative works for insight into the future of conflict. He works on creative futures at SparkCognition, an artificial intelligence company, and along with Peter Singer he is the author of two novels "Ghost Fleet" and "Burn-In: A Novel of...
2020-05-2649 min
The Strategy BridgeLibrarians, Books, and Intelligence Gathering in World War II with Kathy PeissDuring World War II, librarians, archivists, microfilm specialists, and book connoisseurs were recruited by the US government to go overseas and collect enemy books, newspapers, journals, and other publications as part of an open-source intelligence effort. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk about their work with Dr. Kathy Peiss. She is a professor of American history at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of "Information Hunters: When Librarians, Soldiers, and Spies Banded Together In World War II Europe."
2020-04-1557 min
The Strategy BridgeOn Hannah Arendt's "Lying in Politics" with Celestino PerezIn 1971, the New York Times published leaked versions of what became known as the Pentagon Papers. The papers were part of a 7,000 page report commissioned by Defense Sec. Robert McNamara that looked at the history of the American involvement in Vietnam. Later that year, political theorist Hannah Arendt published an essay in the New York Review of Books called "Lying in Politics" that focused on issues of deception and self-deception as revealed in the Pentagon Papers. In this episode we talk with Dr. Celestino Perez about Arendt's essay and what it can teach us about decision making. Perez is...
2020-02-1756 min
The Strategy BridgeU.S. Foreign Assistance Policy with Jessica Trisko DardenSince its establishment during the Truman administration, the U.S. foreign assistance program has been seen by policymakers as a primary means of influencing the politics and economies of recipient countries. But the effects of foreign assistance has often had unintended consequences. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge podcast we talk with Dr. Jessica Trisko Darden about how US foreign assistance contributes to state violence and government repression. Trisko Darden is an assistant professor of international affairs at the School of International Service at American University and is the author of Aiding and Abetting: US Foreign...
2019-12-1951 min
The Strategy BridgeThe U.S. Navy's Strategical Awakening with Scott MobleyFrom the 1870s-1890s the U.S. Navy experienced a strategical awakening. Changes in technology, international politics, and other factors drove officers to develop new concepts of naval professionalism, identity, and organization. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk with Dr. Scott Mobley about how this awakening unfolded. Mobley teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is the author of Progressives in Navy Blue. Special thanks to the U.S. Naval Academy Museum and Claude Berube for providing a space to record.
2019-10-1457 min
The Strategy BridgeThe U.S. Colored Troops, Camp William Penn, and the Civil War with Donald ScottIn 1863, Camp William Penn was established outside of Philadelphia to train African American soldiers for the Union Army. By the end of the war eleven U.S. Colored Troops regiments were trained there and would go on to serve in Virginia, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and other states. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk with Donald Scott about the U.S. Colored Troops and Camp William Penn. Scott is an assistant professor at the Community College of Philadelphia and a history columnist for Digital First Media, Inc. He is the author of the book "Camp...
2019-09-1644 min
The Strategy BridgeA Theory of Tactics with Brett FriedmanWhile military thinkers have assembled many lists of the principles of war, they have not developed a theory of tactics. Brett Friedman set out to remedy that situation by writing the book he wished he had when he was a junior officer. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast he joins us to talk about his book On Tactics: A Theory of Victory in Battle. Friedman is a military analyst and Marine Corps Reserve officer.
2019-08-1846 min
The Strategy BridgeNaval Irregular Warfare in Early America with Benjamin ArmstrongWhile naval historians and strategists have tended to focus on commerce raiding and ship-on-ship or fleet-on-fleet operations, naval history also includes many examples of wartime raiding and maritime security operations. In this episode of The Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk about naval irregular warfare in early America with Dr. Benjamin Armstrong. He is an active duty naval officer and Assistant Professor of War Studies and Naval History at the US Naval Academy. Armstrong is the author of the book Small Boats and Daring Men: Maritime Raiding, Irregular Warfare and the Early American Navy.
2019-07-2359 min
The Strategy BridgeU.S. Army Professionalism and Preparations for War, 1815-1917 with J.P. ClarkThroughout the 19th century the U.S. Army alternated between a small regular force scattered at isolated forts and large forces built quickly to fight major wars. In his book Preparing for War, Dr. J.P. Clark breaks the officer corps down into four generations between 1815-1917 whose ideas about professionalism and how to prepare for war were shaped by their institutions, experiences and culture. Clark is an active duty military officer who taught history at West Point and served as a strategic advisor at the Pentagon and British Ministry of Defense.
2019-05-191h 01
The Strategy BridgeWargaming and National Security Decision Making with Elizabeth BartelsOver the past several years there has been a renewed interest in using gaming as a method to investigate national security decision making, explore policy and strategy options, and gain experience as practitioners. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Elizabeth Bartels about how wargames are designed, the differences in approaching gaming as an art and a science, and how games are used to think creatively about global competition. Bartels is a PhD candidate studying national security policy gaming at the Pardee RAND Graduate School.
2019-04-2158 min
The Strategy BridgeOn J.C. Wylie's "Military Strategy" with Nick PrimeIn 1967, a short book called Military Strategy: A General Theory of Power Control was published by a naval officer named J.C. Wylie. Over the years the book developed a devoted following despite being generally neglected and is considered one of the important books on strategy to come out of the 20th century. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we are joined by Dr. Nick Prime to talk about "Military Strategy" and its intellectual history. Prime recently completed a PhD at King's College London focused on Wylie and the control school of strategy. He was the Smith...
2019-03-2450 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Nigerian Civil War and the Biases of American Intelligence Analysis with Judd DevermontFrom July 1966 to January 1970, Nigerians fought a civil war which led to the deaths of more than half a million people. Looking back at the American attempts to understand what was happening offers an opportunity to assess how intelligence analysts responded to a foreign policy challenge. In this episode we talk with Judd Devermont about the American intelligence community's biases in its analysis of the Nigerian Civil War and its influence on American policy. Devermont is the director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He has worked at the CIA, National Security Council...
2019-02-2436 min
The Strategy BridgeAble Archer and the Nuclear War Scare of 1983In 1983 Soviet leaders interpreted a series of American actions leading up to Exercise ABLE ARCHER as real steps toward a nuclear attack. In this episode we talk with Dr. Bob Hamilton about how Soviets and Americans misunderstood each other and almost started a nuclear war. Hamilton is an Professor of Eurasian Studies at the U.S. Army War College and a retired Army colonel. He is the author of the article "ABLE ARCHER at 35: Lessons of the 1983 War Scare."
2018-12-1840 min
The Strategy BridgeThe American Anti-War Movement During WWI with Michael KazinThe decision to go to war is one of the most important a country can make. In a democracy that debate can involve activist groups both for and against the war. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we talk with Dr. Michael Kazin about the American anti-war movement during WWI. Kazin is a professor of history at Georgetown University and a co-editor of Dissent Magazine. He is the author of War Against War: The American Fight for Peace 1914-1918. The Strategy Bridge is a non-profit organization focused on the development of people in strategy, national s...
2018-11-1957 min
The Strategy BridgeThe U.S. Navy as a Learning Organization with Trent HoneAs the United States industrialized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the U.S. Navy worked to adapt to a maritime environment shaped by the development of new technologies and ship types. This effort led to the redefinition of what it meant be a naval officer and new thinking about doctrine, tactics, and strategy. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge podcast we talk with Trent Hone about how the American Navy transitioned from a traditional institution to a modern learning organization. Hone is the author of the book Learning War: The Evolution of Fighting Doctrine in...
2018-10-1757 min
The Strategy BridgeAfrican Soldiers in the German East African Colonial Army with Michelle MoydFrom the 1890s through the end of WWI, Germans recruited African soldiers to serve in the Schutztruppe, the colonial army in German East Africa. Known as the askari, they were drawn from various ethnic groups whose backgrounds made them desirable in the Germans' eyes for military service. In this episode we talk with Dr. Michelle Moyd about the askari, their way of war, and what motivated them to be agents of German imperialism. Moyd is an associate professor of history at Indiana University and a former U.S. Air Force officer. She is the author of Violent Intermediaries: African...
2018-09-1451 min
The Strategy BridgeOn Indian Foreign Policy with Dr. Aparna PandeIn this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast we talk with Dr. Aparna Pande about Indian foreign policy and how it has been influenced by ancient philosophers, the example of Indian empires, the institutions of the British Raj, and the ideas of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Pande is the director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at the Hudson Institute and is the author of From Chanakya to Modi: Evolution of India's Foreign Policy. The Strategy Bridge is a non-profit organization focused on the development of people in strategy, national...
2018-08-1342 min
The Strategy BridgeThe First Day at the Battle of Hue: One Soldier's StoryWhen the Tet Offensive began on January 31, 1968, Bob Lauver had been in Vietnam for 15 months. He was a sergeant with G Battery, 65th Artillery Regiment and was in charge of a Quad 50 gun truck. The trucks were originally intended for air defense but found a new role in Vietnam in firebase support and as convoy escorts. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge Podcast, we follow Lauver through his experiences on the first day of the Battle of Hue for which he would be awarded a Silver Star. The Strategy Bridge is a non-profit organization focused on...
2018-07-2320 min
The Strategy BridgePolitics & Strategy of the Mexican-American War with Amy GreenbergIn the presidential election of 1844, James Polk campaigned on a policy of territorial expansion. After becoming president he used diplomacy and military force to implement his policy. In this episode we talk with Dr. Amy Greenberg about the politics and strategy of the Mexican-American War. Greenberg is a professor of history at Penn State University and the author of the book A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico.
2018-06-1152 min
The Strategy BridgeOn Iroquois War and Diplomacy with Timothy ShannonIn the 1600s and 1700s, the Iroquois were a Native American confederacy that exercised great influence in northeastern North America in their relations with the French, Dutch, and English colonists and the surrounding native peoples. In this episode we talk to Dr. Timothy Shannon about how the Iroquois waged war and engaged in diplomacy to advance their interests. Shannon is a professor of American history and the chair of the history department at Gettysburg College. He is the author of Iroquois Diplomacy on the Early American Frontier. His most recent book is Indian Captive, Indian King: Peter Williamson in...
2018-05-1457 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Rise of the Military Welfare State with Jennifer MittelstadtAs the U.S. Army transitioned to the All Volunteer Force in the 1970's, it realized that it needed to provide a higher standard of living to its soldiers and their families to encourage recruitment and retention. The provision of these services was controversial as it challenged concepts of military identity and became part of a larger political discussion within the U.S. about social welfare services. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge podcast, we talk with Jennifer Mittelstadt about her book The Rise of the Military Welfare State. Mittelstadt is a professor of history at Rutgers University...
2018-04-1153 min
The Strategy BridgePres. Eisenhower's Project Solarium with Richard ImmermanIn the months after Dwight Eisenhower was inaugurated president, he initiated what became known as Project Solarium. Three teams were established to research different options for dealing with the Soviet Union and to present their findings to the president and his foreign policy and national security advisors. In this episode of the Strategy Bridge podcast we talk with Richard Immerman about Project Solarium and what we can learn from it. Immerman is professor emeritus at Temple University, a specialist in the Cold War foreign policy and intelligence history, and co-author of Waging Peace: How Eisenhower Shaped an Enduring Cold...
2018-03-1145 min
The Strategy BridgeCulture, Politics, and Carl von Clausewitz with Vanya Eftimova BellingerThe Strategy Bridge talks with Vanya Eftimova Bellinger about the influence of culture and politics on Carl von Clausewitz. Vanya Eftimova Bellinger is the author of Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman Behind the Making of On War and is a professor of Clausewitz studies at the Army War College.
2018-02-1147 min
The Strategy BridgeOn Strategy Education with Tami Davis BiddleThe Strategy Bridge talks with Dr. Tami Davis Biddle about strategy education, strategic thinking, and the importance of being a lifelong learner. Read Dr. Biddle's monograph Strategy and Grand Strategy: What Students and Practitioners Need to Know. Dr. Tami Davis Biddle is a professor of national security and strategy at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA.
2018-01-2253 min
The Strategy BridgeThe Strategy Bridge Podcast TeaserJoin The Strategy Bridge on January 22 for the premiere of a new podcast series on strategy, national security, and strategic history. Subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play.
2018-01-1802 min