Defence & Security Podcast Network

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Phil Tarrant are joined by Simon Bergman, CEO of M+C Saatchi World Services, to unpack the evolving landscape of grey zone warfare and the role of creative industries in modern conflict. Drawing on decades of operational and commercial experience, Bergman explores how advertising expertise is being harnes...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by naval warfare expert Jennifer Parker to discuss the recent decision by the Australian government to select the advanced Mogami Class frigate, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, for the $10 billion SEA 3000 General Purpose Frigate program. Parker is an adjunct fellow...

What does it really take to build strength and community when your family is moving at a moment's notice – and how do you turn that experience into creating meaningful support for veterans and their spouses? In this episode of The Progress Report, Defence Connect's Tash Taylor sits down with Julie Hall who comes from a proud family with deep roots in the Australian Defence Force. As a passionate a...

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss the Commonwealth Bank and Atlassian laying off staff to make way for AI, new developments in the Qantas hack, and Ukrainian hackers targeting Aeroflot. Hollingworth and Croft kick things off with some worrying AI news: one of Australia's largest banks and Atlassian announce staff layoffs as the two companies in...

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack the Cambodia–Thai military confrontation and Australia's economic landscape.  Tarrant and Thompson begin the podcast reflecting on Exercise Talisman Sabre, highlighting how the biennial drills continue to grow in scale and strategic significance with the involvement of mul...

In this episode of the Defence Property Podcast, co-hosts Kane Dury from Discover Buyers Agency and Liam Garman, editor of Smart Property Investment, dive into two of the most overlooked but critical aspects of property investing: opportunity cost and due diligence. They unpack the hidden cost of waiting too long to invest and how analysis paralysis or emotional decision-making can leave defence p...

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss Donald Trump's use and support of AI, the Genea fertility and Qantas hacks, and the United Australia Party hanging its members out to dry in the wake of a data breach. The pair open up with news of Trump's posting of an AI rendition of Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office, and his suggestion that AI d...

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host Liam Garman, editor of Cyber Daily, is joined by Kostas Siourthas, founder and CEO of TomorrowX; Rob Parker, partner at Deloitte; and cyber security leader Dr Marcus Thompson for an in-depth discussion on the future of data protection and innovation in the digital age. The episode was recorded at Deloitte's Sydney headquarters, where the panel explo...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by the Australian Defence Industry Awards' Academic of the Year, Dr Oleksandra Molloy, to discuss the momentous award and her research into the use of drones in the war in Ukraine. The University of NSW senior lecturer has conducted significant research into advanced air mobility and uncrewed systems with...

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host Liam Garman, editor of Cyber Daily, is joined by Kostas Siourthas, founder and CEO of TomorrowX; Rob Parker, partner at Deloitte; and cyber security leader Dr Marcus Thompson for an in-depth discussion on the future of data protection and innovation in the digital age. The episode was recorded at Deloitte's Sydney headquarters, where the panel explo...

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack the latest news and events contributing to national security in Australia. They begin the podcast discussing Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, including how important these kinds of joint military training activities are for the interoperability between Western nations and the certain...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Miles Chambers, senior vice president of international business development at EDGE Group, to discuss how the United Arab Emirates established and manages its own defence prime to work collaboratively with government, provide leadership in industry and coordinate defence exports. Chambers, with more tha...

What do a high school teacher, a psychologist, and a mother of two have in common with a space tech founder? In this episode of The Progress Report, Defence Connect's Tash Taylor sits down with Sheila Maria Gough Kenyon – co-founder of Starbound Space Solutions and national committee member of the Australian Space Diversity Alliance – to explore what it really looks like to carve out a career in t...

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Mike Franklin, Australian cyber security lead at Protecht, to discuss the current cyber security landscape, the importance of top-down cyber security culture, and the impact of AI on cyber security. Garman and Franklin begin with a discussion on the current cyber security landscape, such as the importance of risk management...

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson explore Australia's readiness to meet its military needs and examine the country's role amid a rapidly changing global landscape. They kick things off with a discussion on Commonwealth funding, before exploring the AUKUS agreement and whether its long-term success is at risk, especially...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Simon Olsen, chief executive officer and co-founder of Arkeus autonomous optical systems, to discuss the changing world of drone warfare and what Australia is trying to achieve in the uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) strategic space. Olsen, the commercial-savvy CEO of Arkeus, has more than a decade of experience w...

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft are joined by Australian Aviation's Jake Nelson to talk about the Qantas data breach before our usual suspects talk up the latest AI news, followed by some alarming local hacks. AI is the topic for Hollingworth and Croft as the pair start with a chat about News Corp's new drive to integrate AI into journalists' workflo...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Michael Shoebridge, Strategic Analysis Australia director, to unpack the debate about Australia's level of defence spending and a host of other topics. The pair discuss a range of issues, including: Responding to calls for Australia to shake off the "shackles" of the Australia–US alliance to pursue a truly "independent"...

In this episode of The Progress Report, Defence Connect's Natasha Taylor sits down with Rachel Falzon, founder and national president of the Women in Defence Association, to explore the power of mentorship in shaping meaningful careers. From informal guidance over coffee to a groundbreaking, free national mentoring program, Rachel shares stories of women who have found confidence, navigated transi...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Nova Systems chief executive officer Dean Rosenfield to explore the increasing importance of the defence industry to the nation's security and why it's time for an Australian "prime" contractor. Rosenfield, a highly experienced senior business leader, has more than two decades of defence industry experience and...

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft talk about good and bad AI use cases, dramatic hacker arrests in Australia and France, printer vulnerabilities, and why War Thunder is a national security risk. AI is the topic for Hollingworth and Croft as the pair start with a chat about News Corp's new drive to integrate AI into journalists' workflows and the media...

In this episode of the Defence Property Podcast, Victoria Cross recipient Mark Donaldson joins host Kane Dury to explore the parallels between service life and strategic property investment – and why calculated risk-taking is second nature for Australian Defence Force personnel. Donaldson shares how his military mindset, forged in some of the most demanding operational environments, has shaped his...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Douglas Abdiel, think tank author, Marine Corps officer and now global vice president - defence at Advanced Navigation, to explore how assured PNT is shaping the future of autonomous capability across land, sea, and air. The discussion begins by unpacking the meaning of assured position, navigation, and timing...

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss military AI, cyber warfare in the Middle East, the week in cyber security, and why the Pope is coming out swinging against AI. Hollingworth and Croft kick things off with AI news, including AI tech bros earning a military commission in the efforts to build battlefield AI and creators in the UK being told their...

In this renewable energy and environment-focused episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Felix Bowman-Derrick, Assistant Secretary of Environment and Engineering in the infrastructure division of the Department of Defence's security and estate group. Bowman-Derrick holds a bachelor of environmental science (environmental management, honours) from Dea...