Talking Strategy Podcasts

This podcast explores the strategists and ideas that have shaped our understanding of defence and security.



Our thinking about defence and security is shaped by ideas. What we see depends on our vantage point and the lenses we apply to the world. Governments, militaries and business leaders are seeking to maximise the value they can gain from scarce resources by becoming more ‘strategic’. Standing on the shoulders of the giants of strategy of the past can help us see further and more clearly into the future. This series is aimed at those – leaders, practitioners, scholars – looking to learn more about strategy and wishing to discover how to become more strategic in thought and action.

This podcast series, co-chaired by Professor Beatrice Heuser and Paul O’Neill, examines the ideas of important thinkers from around the world and across the ages: the ideas themselves, where they came from, and what shaped those whose ideas shape us now. By exploring the foundations of how we and our adversaries think today, the episodes will shine a light on how we can best prepare for tomorrow.

The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by RUSI employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of RUSI.


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Season 3

Welcome to the third season of Talking Strategy. Access the latest episodes.

Episode 12: Petraeus’s ‘Big Four’: Brainstorm, Communicate, Implement, Assess
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Episode 11: Raoul Castex: The Servitude of Strategy
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Episode 10: Mao Zedong’s Strategy for Revolutionary War
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Episode 9: Sir Michael Quinlan and British Nuclear Strategy
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Episode 8: Continuation of Diplomacy by Other Means: Dietrich von Bülow
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Episode 7: T E Lawrence: Understanding Irregular Warfare’s Cultural and Human Terrain
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Episode 6: Andrew Marshall: Net Assessment as a Tool of Strategy
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Episode 5: Kautilya: India’s Forerunner to Machiavelli?
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Episode 4: Aube and the Jeune Ecole: Strategy for the Weak
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Episode 3: John Warden: Lord of the Five Rings
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Episode 2: C E Callwell: Small Wars and Integrated Sea-Land Operations
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Episode 1: Jomini: Selling Napoleon’s System
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