In the 26th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve discuss current events, adapting military operations during a pandemic and the new Netflix Space Force series. Our Feature Interview this week is with Lindsay Cohn [30:45], Associate Professor - US Naval War College. This week’s RnR segment [01:04:00], where we will provide some levity in these trying times with entertainment reviews and suggestions. This week’s RnR picks are: 1. Little Monsters 2. Autobiography of Malcolm X 3. The Wire Mentioned: Lindsay Cohn’s Yes, Trump can send the military to shut down protests. Here’s what you need to know; Steve Saideman’s Civil-Military Relations are Broken
Episode 6: The Interdisciplinarity of Insurgency / Return of the Students
In this episode of Battle Rhythm, Steve and Stef start by discussing the highlights of their summer and the start of the semester. They move on to a discussion of the recent G7 meeting in Biarritz. In particular, they explore Trump’s approach to such meetings and Macron’s efforts at diplomacy with Iran. In a bonus segment, fitness expert FitCafé - Véronique Malo Fitness offers some tips on adopting good habits at the start of the semester. The Emerging Scholar interview is with Tanya Irwin [18:00] who talks about her fascinating research on rebel group taxation. In the feature interview, Steve speaks with Nada Bakos [27:00] about her new book, “The Targeter”, which chronicles her experiences at the CIA. Finally, in Steve's Peeves, some commentary from Steve on former Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis’s new book tour.
Episode 5: Learning and Adapting, or Not
This episode of Battle Rhythm is about adaptation and learning in international affairs. In the New and Noteworthy segment, Steve and Stef discuss the ongoing protests in Hong Kong and Canada’s response. They also examine the influence of celebrity diplomacy in light of the diplomatic crisis between Sweden and the US over A$AP Rocky and unpack Trump’s recent expression of interest in Greenland. As September approaches, Steve and Stef highlight what is exciting and challenging about a new academic term. Responding to a listener’s question, they recommend key readings for Canadians interested in defence and security. The Emerging Scholar segment is with Alexander Salt [19:30] whose research explores how lessons learned from military operations in WWII affected US military organizational change. In the feature interview, Steve and Stef speak with Christopher Ankersen [25:45] who considers the possibility that the international system may not bounce back from the Trump era. Finally, in Steve's Peeves, Steve offers his views on the gun debate in America.
Episode 3: NATO, Boston for Berlin
In this episode of Battle Rhythm, Steve and Stef provide updates on their current research projects and recent travel to Israel (Steve) and Holland (Stef). Discussing the news, Steve and Stef talk about Secretary General of NATO, General Stoltenberg’s recent visit to Canada and Canada’s contributions to NATO. They also discuss the recent accidental disclosure of location of U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe. In the emerging scholar segment, Stef speaks with Sara Greco [21:15] about her fascinating PhD dissertation on the salience of soft power mechanisms in power transitions amongst great power rivals, “The erosion of American diplomacy.” This episode’s featured interview is with Sara Bjerg Moller [31:30] who talks NATO in the Trump era. Finally, in Steve’s Peeve’s, Steve argues that presidential tweets matter!
In the pilot episode of Battle Rhythm Podcast, Steve and Stef introduce themselves and explain the purpose and format of the podcast. They discuss the end of Canada’s peacekeeping mission in Mali and the appointment of Canada’s first ambassador for Women, Peace and Security. In our Emerging Scholar segment, Stef speaks with James Anderson [12:12], a US Air Force intelligence officer and Fulbright Scholar on US-Canada security relations . Steve shares some of his thoughts on millennials in the debut of 'Steve's Peeves.' The feature interview guest is Dan Drezner [29:00], Professor of International Politics at Tufts University and Washington Post Columnist who offers his perspective on the frayed state of the liberal international order. Dan Drezner’s most recent book: The Ideas Industry: How Pessimists, Partisans, and Plutocrats are Transforming the Marketplace of Ideas. Movie Recommendation: War Games.
