Space, Defence, & Security podcast

What really happens in the Grey Zone, the invisible space between peace and war where influence, espionage, perception, and plausible deniability shape global events? In this gripping episode of the Space, Defence, & Security Podcast powered by Access Hub , our host Omkar Nikam sits down with Oriane Cohen , a former Grey Zone Operative who transitioned from conflict journalism into covert inte...

Why is one of the world's fastest-growing security crises receiving so little global attention? In this episode with Intelligence Analyst, Aman Bezreh, we explore the rapidly evolving conflict in Africa's Sahel region, where terrorist groups, rebel alliances, military coups, and foreign powers are reshaping the future of the continent. We discuss the rise of JNIM, the security situation in Mali, N...

Will SpaceX and Starlink dominate Asia's future in space? A new space race is unfolding across Asia. Nations are rapidly investing in military satellites, sovereign communication networks, Earth observation capabilities, and indigenous space industries to secure their strategic interests. In this episode, Asian space industry expert and the founder of Orbital Gateway Consulting (OGC), Blaine Curci...

India’s wars are not always fought on the battlefield. Behind the headlines, beyond diplomacy, exists a silent world of intelligence, covert operations, and strategic action. In this episode of the Space, Defence & Security Podcast, we explore the reality of Spies, India, and R&AW, the agency at the center of India’s external intelligence operations. Who are the “unknown men” often spoken...

For decades, the world has tried to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons through sanctions, diplomacy, covert operations, and military pressure. But many analysts now believe Iran could reach nuclear weapons capability in the near future. If that happens, it will not just change Iran. It will change the Middle East. And it could reshape the global balance of power. In this episode, we spea...

Illicit finance is no longer a side issue, it is a core enabler of modern conflict, coercion, and gray-zone warfare . In this episode, we speak with Adam Rousselle , Intelligence and Security Expert, on how illicit financial networks power terror financing, sanctions evasion, organized crime, and state-driven hybrid operations worldwide. Moving beyond regional case studies, the discussion frames i...

Illicit finance is no longer a side issue, it is a core enabler of modern conflict, coercion, and gray-zone warfare . In this episode, we speak with Adam Rousselle , Intelligence and Security Expert, on how illicit financial networks power terror financing, sanctions evasion, organized crime, and state-driven hybrid operations worldwide. Moving beyond regional case studies, the discussion frames i...

Joint warfare is not about individual platforms. It’s about who owns the mission, who controls the air, and who controls the kill chain . As India moves toward integrated theatre commands, the logic of warfare is undergoing a fundamental shift. Weapons that perform exceptionally within a single service often struggle when exposed to the realities of Air-Land-Sea joint operations . The difference b...

Joint warfare is not about individual platforms. It’s about who owns the mission, who controls the air, and who controls the kill chain . As India moves toward integrated theatre commands, the logic of warfare is undergoing a fundamental shift. Weapons that perform exceptionally within a single service often struggle when exposed to the realities of Air-Land-Sea joint operations . The difference b...

The Russia-Ukraine war has stripped away long-held assumptions about military power, exposing what works, what fails, and what adapts under pressure. In these episodes, Olena Kryzhanivska examines the shifts that defined 2025: the growing dominance of low-cost, scalable weapons, the declining advantage of legacy platforms, and the speed at which warfare now evolves through constant battlefield fee...

The Russia-Ukraine war has stripped away long-held assumptions about military power, exposing what works, what fails, and what adapts under pressure. In these episodes, Olena Kryzhanivska examines the shifts that defined 2025: the growing dominance of low-cost, scalable weapons, the declining advantage of legacy platforms, and the speed at which warfare now evolves through constant battlefield fee...

Some conversations don’t stay confined to the moment they’re spoken. They linger. They unsettle. They reopen memories. This episode was one of those. As DHURANDHAR, one of the latest Indian films exploring the world of espionage, moves audiences with its depiction of intelligence operations. One particular sequence, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, hit closer to home than expected. For me, it trigg...

Spies don’t work alone. And neither does intelligence. In this two-part episode, The Shadow Network of Spies , Dr. Ecaterina Matoi takes us inside the hidden world of intelligence cooperation against Hamas, where satellites, intercepted messages, and human sources converge across borders. From why even the most powerful intelligence agencies can’t track Hamas alone, to how Israel, the U.S., and re...

Spies don’t work alone. And neither does intelligence. In this two-part episode, The Shadow Network of Spies , Dr. Ecaterina Matoi takes us inside the hidden world of intelligence cooperation against Hamas, where satellites, intercepted messages, and human sources converge across borders. From why even the most powerful intelligence agencies can’t track Hamas alone, to how Israel, the U.S., and re...

In this two-part special, we explore why Fiji, among all Pacific Island nations, stands uniquely positioned to pursue a national space program, and whether this is a bold geopolitical move or an existential response to rising climate threats - with Marçal Sanmartí . From great-power competition involving India, Japan, U.S., and China to the dual-use dilemmas of satellites that serve both disaster...

In this two-part special, we explore why Fiji, among all Pacific Island nations, stands uniquely positioned to pursue a national space program, and whether this is a bold geopolitical move or an existential response to rising climate threats - with Marçal Sanmartí . From great-power competition involving India, Japan, U.S., and China to the dual-use dilemmas of satellites that serve both disaster...

A simmering flashpoint in the Americas is entering a dangerous new phase, and we’re breaking it down with someone who knows the playbook from the inside. Former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer Michael (Mick) Patrick Mulroy joins us to unpack the intelligence priorities, covert authorities, and geopolitical fault lines shaping the escalating U.S.-Venezuela confrontation. From reported CIA...

In an era where digital continuity defines national resilience, Es’hailSat stands at the forefront of ensuring that mission-critical services never go dark. In this episode, Mr. Omkar Nikam sits down with Mr. Raghid Nabil Shanti, Senior Sales Manager at Es’hailSat to explore how the company is redefining disaster recovery solutions for governments, broadcasters, and playout service providers acros...

In this special episode of the Space, Defence & Security Podcast , produced in partnership with Access Hub , host Omkar Nikam sits down with Ibrahim Al-Hammadi of Es’hailSat to explore how Qatar’s national satellite operator is shaping the future of secure connectivity across the Middle East and North Africa. Across 30 minutes, the discussion delves into: Robust Connectivity Across MENA – How...

In this episode, we explore the security dynamics between India and Pakistan in the context of recent incidents and long-standing tensions. We also assess Pakistan’s internal challenges, ranging from political and economic instability to growing radicalization, and how these factors could shape the broader regional security landscape. Drawing on his experience, Col Sodhi discusses the nature of as...

In this episode, we explore the far-reaching implications of the recent escalation between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and Pakistan’s military response. How is the conflict being perceived within Pakistan, from the perspective of ordinary citizens? We also discuss the potential fallout from India’s reconsideration of the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan’s reliance on China–Pakist...

In this gripping episode, Lt Col JS Sodhi (Rtd) joins us to unravel the escalating threat landscape India faces — not just from Pakistan, but from a synchronized two-front assault strategy aligning Beijing and Islamabad by 2035. We dive deep into: Why Pakistan’s persistent use of terrorism is more than just tactical — it's strategic groundwork for future conflict. How China’s Taiwan ambitions in 2...

In this gripping episode, Lt Col JS Sodhi (Rtd) joins us to unravel the escalating threat landscape India faces — not just from Pakistan, but from a synchronized two-front assault strategy aligning Beijing and Islamabad by 2035. We dive deep into: Why Pakistan’s persistent use of terrorism is more than just tactical — it's strategic groundwork for future conflict. How China’s Taiwan ambitions in 2...

What if the greatest threat to your organization wasn’t outside its walls, but already inside? In this gripping episode, we sit down with Gina Bennett, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) counterterrorism analyst whose career includes tracking Osama Bin Laden’s network long before 9/11. Together, we peel back the layers of Insider Risk Management, exposing why it’s not just a government or defense...

What if the greatest threat to your organization wasn’t outside its walls, but already inside? In this gripping episode, we sit down with Gina Bennett, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) counterterrorism analyst whose career includes tracking Osama Bin Laden’s network long before 9/11. Together, we peel back the layers of Insider Risk Management, exposing why it’s not just a government or defense...