The Focus

We sit down with  Yuki Tatsumi  to explore foreign policy in the  Indo-Pacific . From the  US-Japan alliance  to ties with  Australia, India, and the Quad , we unpack how regional countries and the US navigate today’s shifting fault lines. We also examine the legacy of  Shinzo Abe —including his reputation as the “ Trump whisperer ”—...

India is rising — but what does that mean on the frontlines? 🇮🇳 In this episode of  The Focus , Dr. John Bruni speaks with  Lt. Gen. Ravi Shankar (Retd.) , former Director General of Artillery and the bold voice behind  The Gunner’s Shot . Unapologetic and unfiltered. This is India’s rise told from the inside. Show Notes Connect with Ravi The Gunners Shot YouTube C...

Australia and Indonesia are tied together by geography — but how well do we really understand each other? Despite being close neighbours, relations between Canberra and Jakarta are often uneasy, marked by cooperation, competition, and occasional mistrust. In this episode of  The Focus , Dr.  Gatra Priyandita  (Australian Strategic Policy Institute) joins Dr.  John Bruni &...

What if the interstellar comet  3I/ATLAS  wasn’t natural — but  alien technology ? In this special episode of  The Focus , Dr.  John Bruni  speaks with Harvard astrophysicist  Prof. Avi Loeb  about the  James Webb Space Telescope’s new images  and asks the ultimate question: Who speaks for Earth if the universe makes contact? What...

Europe stands on shaky ground. With Trump floating “peace plans” for Ukraine, Putin pressing his advantage, and NATO allies second-guessing their future, uncertainty is the only constant. In this episode of  The Focus Podcast , Dr. John Bruni speaks with Commander Anders Puck Nielsen of the Royal Danish Navy — one of Europe’s sharpest military analysts.  Show Note...

Mexico’s cartels aren’t just crime syndicates—they’re power brokers shaping politics, security, and the U.S.–Mexico border. In this episode of  The Focus , Dr. John Bruni speaks with Stefano Ritondale to unpack the rise of the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, and Gulf Cartel—and what their influence means for North America. #mexicancartels #geopolitics #thefocuspodcas...

Yale professor  Samuel Moyn  joins us to explore how drones, AI, and precision strikes have transformed modern conflict. Based on his book  Humane , this conversation asks whether efforts to make war more “humane” have sidelined the goal of peace itself. Show Notes: Connect with Sam Yale:  https://law.yale.edu/samuel-moyn  Website:  https://campuspress.yal...

Can ancient Stoicism help us face today’s crazy world? In this episode of  The Focus , Dr. John Bruni speaks with philosopher Prof. Massimo Pigliucci on how Stoic principles offer clarity, resilience, and meaning in an age of rage, war, and misinformation. We also explore real Stoicism vs. “Broicism,” and how to apply timeless wisdom to modern crises. 🎧 Watch now on  T...

Dr. John Bruni speaks with Prof. Salvatore Babones about  U.S.–India relations ,  Modi’s strategic balancing act , the  Quad , and how  Russian oil, and a possible F-35 purchase , affects  Trump’s thinking on India and  how this could reshape stability on the Subcontinent & Indo-Pacific security more broadly. #IndiaUS #SalvatoreBabones #Geopoliti...

In this episode of  The Focus , Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges joins us to unpack Europe’s growing defence dilemma. As U.S. support for NATO faces political headwinds and war rages in Ukraine, can Europe stand on its own? Or is it still relying too heavily on the American security umbrella? We explore NATO’s credibility, European rearmament, and what’s needed to keep the continent safe...

Dr. Roy Casagranda returns to  The Focus  to explore the global and domestic impact of a second Trump term—covering democracy, immigration, alliances, Ukraine, Iran, and more. 🎧 Watch now & subscribe for more insight on geopolitics and global affairs. #geopolitics #trump47 #roycasagranda #uspolitics #thefocuspodcast #globalsecurity #foreignpolicy Show Notes: 🔗 *Connect with R...

In this episode of  The Focus , Dr. John Bruni speaks with economist Nicolas Michelon on how protectionism and power politics are reshaping global trade. 🎧 Watch now on YouTube | Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Show Notes: Connect with Nicolas X: @MichelonNicolas Asia Power Watch:  https://asiapowerwatch.com/ Alagan Partners:  https://alaganpartners.com/our-team/nicolas-miche...

Is General Joseph Aoun the man to rescue Lebanon’s institutions? Can the Lebanese Armed Forces disarm Hezbollah? Can the Lebanese state recover from years of corruption and poor governance? And what role do external powers—Iran, Israel, Syria, and the Gulf states—play in Lebanon’s fate? Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Imad Harb to unpack the country’s fate under new le...

Israel vs. Iran: What Drives Tehran’s Strategy? Dr. Ori Goldberg joins  The Focus  to decode ideology, deterrence, and the risks of a wider Middle East war.   Show Notes: X: @ori_goldberg Bluesky: @origoldberg.bsky.social   Ori’s Top Publications: Selected Articles (2024) “Why Israelis Do and Don’t Want War with Hezbollah”  – New Lines M...

Is Australia charting its own defence course—or simply meeting U.S. demands? Dr. John Bruni speaks with strategist Dr. Peter Layton on AUKUS, strategic autonomy, and Australia’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific. Show Notes: Contact Peter Layton on: Griffith Asia Institute:  p.layton@griffith.edu.au   LinkedIn X: @GAIGriffith  Peter’s Top Five publications: Ensurin...

🎙️As China increases military pressure and Trump 47 reshapes U.S. foreign policy, Taiwan’s future is more uncertain than ever. Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Alice Yang from Taipei’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research about Taiwan’s fight for democracy, U.S. ambiguity, and what regional conflict could mean for the world. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, iTunes &...

Why does Finland still rely on conscription? And what can Australia learn from it? Brigadier General Jyri Raitasalo breaks down Finland’s “Total Defence” strategy, NATO’s Nordic front, and how citizen readiness can shape national security. 🎧 Watch now on  The Focus  with John Bruni.   Show Notes: Connect with Jyri -  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin...

In this episode of  The Focus , host John Bruni is joined by Professor Harsh V. Pant — one of India’s foremost strategic thinkers — to dissect the geopolitical shifts shaping South Asia and beyond. From China’s&...

In this gripping episode of  The Focus , Dr. John Bruni speaks with political analyst Dr. Roy Casagranda to unpack the seismic shifts in U.S. politics after 100 days of Trump 47. From executive overreach to the global&nb...

Is Europe prepared for war? In this episode of  The Focus , John Bruni speaks with former NATO commander General Sir Richard Shirreff on Ukraine, NATO’s weaknesses, and the growing threat from Russia. A hard-hitting, unfiltered look at what may lie ahead. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube. 🔗 Connect with Sir Richard Shirreff X: @RichardShirreff  LinkedIn:&n...

In this special panel edition of  The Focus , we bring together three of the world’s most seasoned strategic thinkers—Andrew Michta, Ben Hodges, and Anders Puck Nielsen—to unpack the war in Ukraine and its far-reaching consequences. From the battlefield to NATO's frontlines and the shifting dynamics of global power, this is a timely conversation that goes well beyond Eastern...

Donald Trump is back in the White House—and the shockwaves are global. In this episode, Professor Scott Lucas joins John Bruni to unpack the trade wars, the constitutional controversy, and the chaos that’s redefining America’s role in the world. Is Trump a misunderstood reformer—or a genuine threat to democratic institutions? What do the tariffs mean for allies like Austral...

Professor Jeffrey Sachs joins  The Focus  to discuss the war in Ukraine, global power shifts, and the West’s role in the conflict. In a thought-provoking conversation, we challenge Sachs on his views, exploring the geopolitical landscape and what the future holds. Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the most pressing issues of our time. 🎙️  The Focus with John Bruni &n...

With rapidly shifting global alliances, Germany now faces a critical security dilemma. Can Europe defend itself without unwavering U.S. support? In this episode of The Focus, Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp, a leading expert in German and European security, joins John Bruni to discuss Germany’s strategic vulnerabilities, NATO’s uncertain future, and the broader implications for European defen...

What does the dawn of  Trump’s second presidency  mean for America and the world? In this hard-hitting episode of  The Focus , host  John Bruni  sits down with  Dr. Roy Casagranda  to break down the  first three weeks  of the  Trump 47 administration . Show Notes: Roy Casagranda LinksX: @RoyCasagranda Website:  https://gov.casagranda.com...