In this special episode, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Baroness Dr Sophy Antrobus MBE, Co-director of the Freeman Air and Space Institute and Member of the House of Lords, and Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor, The Economist.

What lessons does the US-Israel-Iran conflict hold for the UK? The panel examines the strategic environment Britain faces and the interests shaping its response. They discuss key military lessons, including missile production depth, air and naval superiority, and force mix, as well as the geoeconomic impact of rising energy prices. The conversation also explores the wider implications for Russia’s war in Ukraine and Britain’s ability to protect its assets and personnel in the Middle East while safeguarding its interests in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific.

Find ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 15, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Prof. Peter Frankopan, Professor of Global History at the University of Oxford, and James Rogers, our Co-founder (Research).

What is the strategic outlook for 2026? We unpack the current geostrategic power balance to understand the Britain’s place in a volatile world. The discussion tackles major challenges facing the United Kingdom (UK) and its allies in 2026, including Russian aggression, the future of the ‘special relationship’ with the United States (US) and the deepening cooperation between the ‘CRINK’ nations – the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Russia, Iran and North Korea. Finally, we explore how Britain might effectively leverage areas of strength to secure advantage in 2026.

Find ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 14, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Richard Berthon, Director Future Combat Air in the United Kingdom (UK) at the Ministry of Defence, and Herman Claesen, Managing Director, Future Combat Air Systems at BAE Systems.

The discussion explores the future of combat air in the UK, with the perspectives of both government and industry. We outline the difference between the UK’s Future Combat Air System and Global Combat Air Programme, with a focus on their respective capabilities and their contribution to the UK’s overall defence and security. The episode will also examine the delivery of future flight capability, the key milestones achieved so far, and the de-risking and future-proofing of the UK’s military capabilities.

Find ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 13, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Cat Calder, Housing Specialist at Army Families Federation, and Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE, Chair of the Defence Housing Strategy review team, and Director and Head of Housing at the Housing and Finance Institute.

The discussion offers a window into the quality of life experienced by service personnel and their families, with a focus on housing and infrastructure following the recent publication of the Defence Housing Strategy. We discuss the challenges facing military families, the contribution of safe and good housing to overall living standards in the British Armed Forces, and the impact of wider infrastructure in supporting military families both during and beyond service life.

Find ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 12, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Dr Tanya Suárez, CEO and founder of IoT Tribe, and Brigadier (rtd.) John Ridge, Adoption Lead, NATO Innovation Fund.

The discussion explore how NATO is accelerating innovation to strengthen rearmament, deterrence and resilience across the alliance. They explore technological and capability development across the alliance, in particular the contribution of dual-use technology.

Find ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 11, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Alex Baker MP, Member of Parliament for Aldershot and Chair of the Defence and Security Sectors Supporting Local Communities All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

The discussion covers the contribution of defence to local communities across the UK. They discuss the interaction between the defence sector and local communities, the importance of local engagement, and the opportunities for partnerships to maximise the social and economic potential of defence across the whole of the nation.

Find ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 10, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Dr Paul Hollinshead MBA OBE, Chief Executive of Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), and Finbar O’Keeffe, Head of Future Software Capability for BAE Systems Maritime and Land.

Their discussion covers the contribution to the United Kingdom’s (UK) defence made by a range of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum and engineering biology. The guests also draw on their expertise to explore the benefits of utilising technologies in defence, as well as how to address the challenges they pose.

Find ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 9, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Adjunct Fellow, are joined by Andy Start, acting National Armaments Director and Chief Executive, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and Air Vice Marshal (rtd.) Gary Waterfall, Senior Military Adviser, DSEI UK.

Viktorija, Paul, Andy and Gary explore defence equipment and exports. They look at the fundamentals of equipment procurement and the importance of emerging technologies, exports and acquisition processes in preparing the defence sector for the future.

Find ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 8, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Associate Fellow, are joined by Rob Murray, Chief Executive Officer, Defence, Security and Resilience (DSR) Bank, and Aimie Stone, Chief Economist, ADS Group.

Viktorija, Paul, Rob and Aimie explore financing and investment in the UK’s defence and security sector. They also outline the defence, financial and related professional services industries, and discuss the challenges and opportunities of investment in the sector.

Find ‘Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 7, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Associate Fellow, are joined by Kevin Craven, CEO, ADS Group, and Air Marshal (rtd.) Edward Stringer CB CBE, Director, iJ7, and Senior Fellow, Policy Exchange.

Viktorija, Paul, Kevin and Edward explore the Strategic Defence Review and its implications for industry, military personnel and Britain’s international partners. They also discuss practical next steps, including the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy.

Find Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 6, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Associate Fellow, are joined by Lt. Col. Dan Sawyers, Head of the jHub, UK Strategic Command, and Robert Merryweather, Group Technology Director, BAE Systems.

Viktorija, Paul, Dan and Rob explore innovation through the stark challenges facing the sector, the key lessons from Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the boldest innovations set to shape the future of defence.

Find Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 5, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, our Co-founder (Strategy), and Paul Mason, journalist, author and our Associate Fellow, are joined by Iain Martin, Director, London Defence Conference, and Dr Hillary Briffa, Senior Lecturer in National Security Studies, King’s College London.

Viktorija, Paul, Iain and Hillary explore key recent developments in the UK defence sector, broader societal engagement on defence issues, and the upcoming London Defence Conference.

Find Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 4, Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, Co-founder (Strategy), Council on Geostrategy, is joined by Gen. (Rtd.) Philippe Lavigne, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (2021 - 2024), and Prof. Sir Hew Strachan, Professor of International Relations, University of St Andrews.

Viktorija, Gen. (Rtd.) Lavigne, and Sir Hew explore how Britain, and its allies and partners, can improve their readiness for a prolonged period of strategic confrontation including bolstering defence industrial capacity, enhancing societal resilience, and improving our political base.

Find Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 3, hosts Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, Co-founder (Strategy), Council on Geostrategy, and Paul Mason, journalist and author, are joined by Prof. Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King’s College London, and James Rogers, Co-founder (Research), Council on Geostrategy.

Viktorija, Paul, Sir Lawrence and James explore the growing alignment between the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, and discuss how Britain, and its allies and partners, should respond.

Find Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In Episode 2, hosts Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, Co-founder (Strategy), Council on Geostrategy, and Paul Mason, journalist and author, are joined by Nathan Mathiot, Head of Policy, ADS Group.

Viktorija, Paul, and Nathan explore the implications of the Industrial Strategy and the forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy on the defence and deterrence capability of the UK.

Find Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

In this episode, hosts Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, Co-founder (Strategy), Council on Geostrategy, and Paul Mason, journalist and author, are joined by Angus Lapsley, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Viktorija, Paul and Angus explore the changing geopolitical environment in Europe, NATO’s approach to defence planning, procurement, and industry, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the alliance now, and in the long-term future.

Find Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Radio Public, Soundcloud, Pocketcast and Overcast.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.

You can find out more about Defence Talks here.