The Burn Bag Podcast

Welcome to the Burn Bag's collaboration with Girl Security, a workforce mentorship program designed to help young women pursue careers in National Security. This series focuses on how we can reframe our thinking on National Security — what is pertinent to national security in the 21st century? Who, or what, is missing from the national security discussion? Join us as we explore topics within...

Welcome to the Burn Bag's collaboration with Girl Security, a workforce mentorship program designed to help young women pursue careers in National Security. This series focuses on how we can reframe our thinking on National Security — what is pertinent to national security in the 21st century? Who, or what, is missing from the national security discussion? Join us as we explore topics within...

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors , a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re...

Are we living in the most dangerous year in history? Or was that 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis? According to former Air Force Intelligence Officer Brian J. Morra , the answer is neither -- rather, it was 1983. Brian makes this case, outlining how the United States and the Soviet Union narrowly avoided nuclear catastrophe, after months of tensions, tough rhetoric, and a tragic shoot-down of...

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors , a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re...

This week, David and Anna talk with Cynthia Loertscher of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation , a non-governmental organization dedicated to advocating for all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. The interview surveys recent developments in U.S. policy before diving into how government agencies can support hostages and their loved ones before and after their return home. Tune in...

This week, A'ndre speaks with Chris Miller, former Acting Secretary of Defense during the last 73 days of the Trump Administration, on a range of topics pertaining to his controversial, short, and significant tenure. We discuss Chris's service in Special Forces, which includes time spent in the early days of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars,  and how that service shaped his worldview. We al...

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors , a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re...

This week, A'ndre talks to Dr. Joyojeet Pal , an Indian politics expert and an Associate Professor of Information at the University of Michigan's School of Information, on all things Narendra Modi. They discuss Modi's unconventional rise to power and the controversies surrounding the BBC's documentary, which implicated Modi in the 2002 Gujarat Riots, which result in the deaths...

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors , a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re...

For the third year in a row, The Burn Bag hosted Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer ( @ianbremmer ) to discuss his Top Risks 2023 Report -- a forecast of the top geopolitical risks most likely to play out over the coming year. A'ndre Gonawela spoke with Ian at length about the report's #1 risk, "Rogue Russia", and why Ian believes that it is the most dangerous risk he has fore...

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan talk to Travis Tygart , CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), about maintaining the integrity of international sports. Travis, who has spent two decades at the USADA, traces the history of doping in sports and how the rules for clean competition have developed over time. Having oversaw the investigation into Lance Armstrong, Travis break down why anti-do...

In this week's episode, A'ndre, Ryan and David dive into some of the biggest stories of 2023. With President Biden's classified documents scandal heating up, they discuss the political and legal impact, as well as larger issues related to classification. The conversation then turns to the shocking resignation announcement by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. A'ndre con...

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors , a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re...

This week, A'ndre talks to Mike Brown, who recently served as Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) between 2018 and 2022, on what DIU is and why the organization is unique within the Department of Defense, his time as Director, and the challenges facing the defense innovation space in the 2020s. We begin the podcast with a conversation on the term innovation itself, before moving int...

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors , a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re...

In this episode, Ryan talks to Tom Feddo, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Investment Security, about the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Tom, who led the interagency body from 2018-2021, discusses the history of CFIUS and its power to review foreign investments. With increasing scrutiny on cross-border transactions, Tom sheds light on the CFIUS review p...

On December 3rd, Burn Bag co-host Ryan Rosenthal was in Simi Valley, CA covering the 2022 edition of the Reagan National Defense Forum, one of the nation's largest gatherings of the defense community. Bucky Butow talks to Ryan about the ability of the DoD to rapidly and effectively innovate, collaborating with the private sector to develop new technologies, and the emerging areas that DIU vie...

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors , a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re...

On December 3rd , Burn Bag co-host Ryan Rosenthal comes to us from Simi Valley, CA,  covering the 2022 edition of the Reagan National Defense Forum, one of the nation's largest gatherings of the defense community. Secretary Wormuth talks to Ryan about what lessons the Army can take away from Russia's war in Ukraine, whether she is concerned about Congressional support for Ukraine, and he...

On December 3rd, Burn Bag co-host Ryan Rosenthal comes to us from Simi Valley, CA,  covering the 2022 edition of the Reagan National Defense Forum, one of the nation's largest gatherings of the defense community. Under Secretary Extetvez talks to Ryan about the China semiconductor rules,  effectiveness of exports controls, and how the U.S. is working with allies and partners. 

This week, A’ndre and Anna (one of our new co-hosts!) talk to writer, filmmaker, and activist Dr. Isabella Alexander-Nathani about the African Migration Crisis, discussing what she saw, heard, and experienced at Europe’s Southernmost border in Morocco and other parts of North Africa. Isabella profiles some of the young migrants at the Moroccan-Spanish border in her book, Burning at Europe’s Border...

This week, Burn Bag co-host Ryan Rosenthal comes to us from Simi Valley,  CA,  covering the 2022 edition of the Reagan National Defense Forum, one of the nation's largest gatherings of the defense community. In this mini-episode, Rep. Adam Smith , Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, talks to Ryan about the United States' role in the world, the importance of supporting Ukraine...

This week, Burn Bag co-host Ryan Rosenthal comes to us from Simi Valley, CA,  covering the 2022 edition of the Reagan National Defense Forum, one of the nation's largest gatherings of the defense community. Joe Laurienti , Founder and CEO of Ursa Major , talks to Ryan about the history of commercial propulsion, how Ursa Major fills a gap for hypersonic engines, and provides his perspective on...

This week, Burn Bag co-host Ryan Rosenthal comes to us from Simi Valley, CA,  covering the 2022 edition of the Reagan National Defense Forum, one of the nation's largest gatherings of the defense community. Doug Philippone , Global Defense Lead of Palantir Technologies , talks Palantir's mission, the utility of 'big data' through the case of Army Vantage, and potential areas fo...