National Security This Week

Host Jon Olson discusses new intelligence collection, processing, and analytical capabilities, with Dr. Catherine Marsh, the Director of the US Intelligence Community’s cutting edge organization the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity.

Host Jon Olson talks with former Department of State Foreign Service Officer Elizabeth Shackelford about the militarization of American foreign policy.

Host Jon Olson talks with Paul Szymanski about space operations and modern space warfare tactics.

This week, Jon Olson’s guest is US Army Colonel Matt Sousa from the George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies. Using his expertise on African affairs, they discuss southern Africa.

Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Moises Naim about challenges to the liberal democracies around the world from rising authoritarian political movements.

Host Jon Olson's guest this week is Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. They discuss politics, economics, and security interests for Saudi Arabia.

Host Jon Olson talks with US Navy Vice Admiral Frank “Trey” Whitworth, Director of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), and they discuss NGA’s role in the US Intelligence Community and support for American national security.

Host Jon Olson’s guest is James Fanell, CAPT, USN (ret.) from the Geneva Center for Security Policy in Geneva, Switzerland. They discuss China, the People’s Liberation Army, and American national security challenges in the Indo-Pacific Theater.

Host Jon Olson talks with world-renowned oceanographer Professor John Englander about climate change and the national security ramifications of sea level rise

Host Jon Olson talks with The Honorable Mr. Ronald Moultrie, Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security about the Department of Defense intelligence enterprise and America’s national security challenges

This week, host Jon Olson talks with Jill Sanborn, the former Executive Assistant Director leading the National Security Branch of the FBI. They discuss the ways the FBI investigates a wide variety of national security threats.

This week, host Jon Olson's guest is Beth Sanner, former Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration. They discuss the US Intelligence Community and cyber threats to American national security.

Host Jon Olson talks with Daniel Rice from the Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Future Warfare at Marine Corps University. They cover the People’s Liberation Army aviation technology advancements, capabilities, and combat potential.

Host Jon Olson talks with Jon Darby, the recently retired Director of Operations for the National Security Agency (NSA). They discuss all aspects of NSA’s SIGINT operations in support of American national security.

Host Jon Olson’s guest this week is Professor Tun Myint from Carleton College and they follow-up on the situation in Myanmar. Additionally, Eileen Manning announces a Cyber Security Summit scheduled in Minneapolis and online for October 24-26.

This week Jon Olson's guest is US Army Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. They discuss the missions DIA performs in support of US military operations, and how DIA fits into the overall US Intelligence Community.

This week, host Jon Olson talks with Professor Mark Deets from The American University in Cairo about the strategic importance of the Nile River basin.

Host Jon Olson talks with Bill Hamblet, Editor-in-Chief of Proceedings, a publication of the US Naval Institute, on a host of topics related to the naval services. They also cover topics like China, Russia, the redesign of the US Marine Corps, and how the US Navy might restructure to meet modern and future challenges as new technologies mature.

Host Jon Olson discusses a variety of international and American security issues with Professor Anthony Lott of St. Olaf College and Professor Greg Marfleet of Carleton College.

This week, host Jon Olson's guest is Colonel Matthew Cantore of the US Space Force, Space Operations Command.

This week host Jon Olson discusses the use and effectiveness of international economic sanctions with Dr. Menevis Cilizoglu.

This week host Jon Olson talks with Charly Salonius-Pasternak from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs about Finland and Sweden’s application to the NATO Alliance.

Host Jon Olson discusses the development of the United States Space Force, the Guardians who serve within, and the Space Force Systems Command

Host Jon Olson and Dr. Kathryn Sikkink from Harvard’s Kennedy School discuss human rights, refugees and asylum seekers.

This week, host Jon Olson talks with Nick Hayen, who leads The Orientalist Express podcast. They discuss various American national security challenges and opportunities.