Best Australian Strategic Policy Institute Aspi Podcasts (2025)

1
All the world's a stage but is Australian politics playing its part, with Laura Tingle and Peter Hartcher 42:20

1d ago42:20

42:20

As Australians head to the polls, David Wroe interviews two of the best minds on the intersection of Australian politics and global affairs - the ABC 7.30 program's political editor Laura Tingle and The Age's political and international editor, Peter Hartcher. As well as their reflections on the substance of the election campaign, the conversation …

1
Democracy in the age of disinformation, with Audrey Tang 53:48

15d ago53:48

53:48

Audrey Tang is the unflappable Jedi knight of technology and democracy, who can connect with different political perspectives. Audrey was the inaugural digital minister of Taiwan and is now ambassador-at-large for cyber affairs. She came to prominence first as an open source programmer and hacker, before becoming involved in Taiwan’s successful Sun…

1
The FT’s Demetri Sevastopulo on Trump’s tariffs and the disappearing Chinese general 35:32

21d ago35:32

35:32

The United States-China tit-for-tat tariffs have been escalating faster than the bids at a Sydney house auction in the early 2010s. ‘Trade war’ is the headline. But does Donald Trump have a strategy to decouple, or is he angling for a grand bargain? Either way, Xi Jinping is making it clear that China has a vote (even if its people don’t). Demetri …

1
The road to artificial general intelligence, with Helen Toner 44:10

28d ago44:10

44:10

Australian AI expert Helen Toner is the Director of Strategy and Foundational Research Grants at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET). She also spent two years on the board of OpenAI, which put her at the centre of the dramatic events in late 2023 when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was briefly sacked before being reins…

1
Bringing Russia’s war criminals to justice, with Nobel Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk 33:09

1M ago33:09

33:09

Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk heads the Center for Civil Liberties, which won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for its work documenting Russian war crimes. She speaks with Stop the World about her hopes that Vladimir Putin and other powerful Russians can be held accountable for their human rights abuses against Ukrainians. Oleksandr…

1
Vladimir Putin is taking the peace, with Peter Tesch 38:22

1M ago38:22

38:22

During a two hour phone call this week with US President Donald Trump, Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin did what everyone expected—he raised impossible demands, promised next to nothing, and generally made a mockery of Trump’s patience. Australia’s former Ambassador to Russia and Germany Peter Tesch speaks with David Wroe about the dynamic between Tr…

1
What’s happening in Syria, with Aaron Zelin 41:06

2M ago41:06

41:06

Syria has been front and centre in the news in recent days, with international agencies saying that hundreds and perhaps thousands have been killed – many of them civilians – in the coastal regions of the country. In today’s podcast, David Wroe speaks to Aaron Zelin, the Gloria and Ken Levy Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a…

1
Europe steps up, with Constanze Stelzenmüller 45:27

2M ago45:27

45:27

Constanze Stelzenmüller, expert on German, European, and trans-Atlantic foreign and security policy and strategy at the Brookings Institution, gives Stop the World her short take on the remarkable sense of urgency that Europe is displaying in building its own security capabilities: “I've never seen anything like this in my life.” Her longer answer …

1
The Economist's Shashank Joshi on Trump, Ukraine and Europe's rearmament 46:16

2M ago46:16

46:16

Donald Trump has upended US foreign policy—in particular his nation’s role in supporting Ukraine’s self-defence against Russia’s unprovoked invasion, and its traditionally close relationship with its NATO allies in Europe. As a consequence, Europe is scrambling to lift its defence investment and capability with a sense of urgency not seen in the po…

1
Status update: Responsible state behaviour in cyberspace 52:06

2M ago52:06

52:06

2025 is a pivotal year for international cyber governance. Not only is it the tenth anniversary of the international community’s agreement to a global framework for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, but it is also the year that the UN Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies will…

1
Why Ukraine matters to the Indo-Pacific 23:00

2M ago23:00

23:00

Today on Stop the World, the conversation on Ukraine continues, with ASPI’s Alex Bristow speaking to Jakub Zajączkowski and Saroj Kumar Aryal from the University of Warsaw. They discuss the EU and US approaches to peace in Ukraine, the security guarantees Ukraine needs, and the links between the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic, including through NAT…

1
A new world order? Ukraine’s Ambassador on Russia, the United States and Europe 33:26

2M ago33:26

33:26

In this special episode of Stop the World, ASPI’s David Wroe speaks with Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, on the morning after US and Russian representatives met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Ambassador responds to the blizzard of recent developments affecting the prospect of a peace agreement to end Russia’s unprovoked war o…

1
It’s all about economic security with the EU’s Maria Martin-Prat 20:44

2M ago20:44

20:44

This week on Stop the World, we were pleased to host EU Deputy Director-General for Trade and Economic Security, Maria Martin-Prat. Interviewed by ASPI’s David Wroe, they discuss how the EU is managing economic security, Australia and Lithuania’s experience of economic coercion by China and, of course, the latest developments in tariffs. This episo…

1
Stop the World is back with a pod on the Quad 41:37

3M ago41:37

41:37

Stop the World is back from its summer hiatus and, with so many major developments already, there’s much ground to cover in 2025. This week, ASPI’s Raji Pillai Rajagopalan speaks to Euan Graham and Griffith University’s Ian Hall about the Quad partnership between Australia, India, Japan and the United States. They discuss the significance of the Qu…

1
Stop the World: Building cyber resilience with Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness 33:05

5M ago33:05

33:05

In this episode of Stop the World, ASPI’s Executive Director Justin Bassi speaks with Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness CSC to discuss her role and how it helps protect Australians online. LTGEN McGuinness explores the dual role that the National Office of Cyber Security plays in preparing for an…

1
Strategic shifts with Thijs van der Plas, Anita Nergaard and Scott M. Oudkirk 44:15

5M ago44:15

44:15

In the latest episode of Stop the World, ASPI’s Executive Director Justin Bassi is joined by Netherlands Ambassador to NATO Thijs van der Plas, Norway’s Ambassador to NATO Anita Nergaard and the US Chargé d'affaires to NATO Scott M. Oudkirk. Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO has undergone a strategic shift with increased collective …

1
Stop the World: Authoritarianism and the future of Hong Kong with Kevin Yam and Ted Hui 30:16

5M ago30:16

30:16

In the latest episode of Stop the World, David Wroe speaks to Kevin Yam and Ted Hui, two of Australia’s most prominent exiled Hong Kong democracy activists. Kevin is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School and a commentator on China and Hong Kong. Ted Hui is a lawyer who was previously a member of Hong Kong's legislature before …

1
Artificial intimacy, persuasive technologies, and how bots can manipulate us 34:07

5M ago34:07

34:07

Today on Stop the World, David Wroe speaks with Casey Mock and Sasha Fegan from the US-based Center for Humane Technology. The CHT is at the forefront of efforts to ensure technology makes our lives better, and strengthens rather than divides our communities. They also produce the podcast, Your Undivided Attention—one of the world’s most popular fo…

1
Urban warfare in Ukraine and Gaza with John Spencer 22:51

5M ago22:51

22:51

In this episode of Stop the World, ASPI Senior Analyst Alex Bristow interviews John Spencer, the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and host of the Urban Warfare Project podcast. Alex and John discuss urban warfare in the context of the conflict in Ukraine and Gaza, asymmetric capabilities and the impact of tec…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: The Climate Crisis with Anote Tong 28:29

5M ago28:29

28:29

In the latest video edition of The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions, ASPI Senior Fellow Dr Robert Glasser speaks to the former President of Kiribati and Chair of the Pacific Elders Voice Anote Tong. Anote is one of the Pacific region’s most prominent and respected advocates for action to combat climate change. Robert and Anote discuss the impact tha…

1
Climate change and security with ‘Climate General’ Tom Middendorp 30:26

6M ago30:26

30:26

In this episode of Stop the World, Justin Bassi speaks to retired General Tom Middendorp – also known as the ‘Climate General’ – about the links between climate change, defence and security. They discuss the impact of climate change on the military and its role in disaster preparedness and response. With a growing global population meaning a growin…

1
UK defence strategy, AUKUS and deterrence with General Sir Jim Hockenhull 28:05

6M ago28:05

28:05

In this episode of Stop the World, ASPI’s Dr Malcolm Davis and Dr Cathy Moloney speak with special guest General Sir Jim Hockenhull, Commander of the United Kingdom’s Strategic Command. They discuss the global strategic outlook and the importance of partnerships, including AUKUS, and the need for partners to be truly integrated. They explore how ar…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: Diversity and national security with Arfiya Eri 21:36

6M ago21:36

21:36

In the latest edition of the Sydney Dialogue SummitSessions, ASPI Analyst Daria Impiombato interviews Japanese politician Arfiya Eri. Arfiya is a Japanese woman of Uyghur and Uzbek heritage. She talks about her experiences in Japanese politics, her experiences online and the importance of diversity in politics. They discuss Japan’s place in the wor…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: Quantum, semiconductors and security with Dr Pete Shadbolt 36:10

7M ago36:10

36:10

This episode of Stop the World is a deep dive into quantum computing with Dr Pete Shadbolt, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at PsiQuantum, and Alex Capri, Research Fellow at the Hinrich Foundation. The conversation provides a breakdown of quantum computing and explores the challenges and profound opportunities that the technology could brin…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: AUKUS - lowering barriers, increasing capability with Abe Denmark 27:22

7M ago27:22

27:22

In the latest episode of Stop the World, Justin Bassi speaks to Abe Denmark, former senior advisor to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III and now non-resident senior associate with the Asia Program at CSIS. Given their respective roles in the US and Australian governments to establish AUKUS, Abe and Justin discuss the need for the partnership …

1
TSD Summit Sessions: Cyber security and tech diplomacy with Jennifer Bachus 37:56

7M ago37:56

37:56

It’s a double episode week on Stop the World, and today we bring you a conversation with Jennifer Bachus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the US Department of State. ASPI’s Bart Hogeveen speaks to Jennifer about cyber security and tech diplomacy, and how the US Government is working to improve…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: ASEAN, regional stability and disruptive tech with Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz 22:43

7M ago22:43

22:43

In the latest video edition of The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions, Bethany Allen, Head of China Investigations and Analysis at ASPI, speaks with Her Excellency Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Political-Security Community. They discuss Dato’s career path and how her time as a diplomat within Malaysia’s foreign minist…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: Intelligence and evolving technology with Michael Rogers and Jason Healey 42:45

7M ago42:45

42:45

In the third video edition of The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions, Jason Healey, Senior Research Scholar at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, sits down with Admiral Michael Rogers (Ret’d), Senior Advisor at Trusted Future, to discuss all things intelligence. Jason was a founding member of both the Office of the …

1
Multilateralism, UN reform and the WDSN with Lisa Sharland 32:44

7M ago32:44

32:44

In the latest episode of Stop the World, Olivia Nelson sits down with Lisa Sharland, Senior Fellow and Director of the Protecting Civilians and Human Security program at the Stimson Centre. The conversation, which was recorded in July, discusses the United Nations (UN) and how the multilateral system is adapting - or struggling to adapt - to rapid …

1
Stop the World: TSD Summit Sessions: Strengthening peace and stability with Baiba Braže 20:04

8M ago20:04

20:04

In the second video edition of The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions, ASPI’s Executive Director Justin Bassi sits down with Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže. Justin and Baiba discuss the partnership between the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific, and how democracies can work together to strengthen regional and global stability. They a…

1
Stop the World: TSD Summit Sessions: Artificial intelligence and catastrophic risk with Connor Leahy 39:28

8M ago39:28

39:28

In the first video edition of The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions, David Wroe sits down with Connor Leahy, co-founder and CEO of Conjecture AI. David and Connor speak about the catastrophic risks that a powerful but uncontrolled and unaligned artificial superintelligence could pose to humanity, and Conjecture’s approach to safe AI called “cognitive…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: How to navigate the deep fake and disinformation minefield with Nina Jankowicz 32:54

8M ago32:54

32:54

The Sydney Dialogue is over, but never fear, we have more TSD content coming your way! This week, ASPI’s David Wroe speaks to Nina Jankowicz, global disinformation expert and author of the books How to Lose the Information War and How to Be a Woman Online. Nina takes us through the trends she is seeing in disinformation across the globe, and offers…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: Defence, intelligence and technology with Shashank Joshi 1:01:03

8M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

In the final lead-in episode to the Sydney Dialogue (but not the last in the series!), ASPI’s Executive Director, Justin Bassi, interviews Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor at the Economist. They discuss technology, security and strategic competition, including the impact of artificial intelligence on defence and intelligence operations, the implicati…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: Artificial intelligence and the value of data with Jennifer Zhu Scott 40:12

8M ago40:12

40:12

In today’s episode of The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions, Alex Caples speaks to Jennifer Zhu Scott, globally recognised AI expert and Founding Partner of IN. Capital, about artificial intelligence and the changing value of data. They discuss how rapid tech advancements have seen debates about how to keep governments out of cyberspace and technolog…

1
Arbitrary detention on the rise and freedom of press on the decline with Peter Greste and Kylie Moore-Gilbert 38:55

9M ago38:55

38:55

Today we have a double episode special on arbitrary detention and the decline of press freedoms, with two people who have been wrongfully detained. David Wroe speaks to distinguished journalist and author Peter Greste, about his experience of detention in Egypt, how governments should respond to the use of arbitrary detention, and his take on the r…

1
TSD Summit Sessions: Economic security with Abigaël Vasselier 53:40

9M ago53:40

53:40

In the next episode of The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions, it’s all about economic security. ASPI’s Executive Director, Justin Bassi, interviews Abigaël Vasselier, head of the Foreign Relations team at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) in Berlin. They discuss – and debate – how the EU and individual member states have responded to …

1
TSD Summit Sessions: Technology innovation and investment with Gilman Louie 41:52

9M ago41:52

41:52

The Sydney Dialogue (TSD) is just weeks away. To help our listeners prepare for the forthcoming discussions at TSD, we are bringing you an interview with Gilman Louie, who was the first CEO of In-Q-Tel— set up in 1999 by the CIA as an independent, not-for-profit strategic investment firm —and Commissioner on the National Security Commission on Arti…

1
Explainer: A quick dive into subsea cables with Jocelinn Kang and Jessie Jacob 9:28

9M ago9:28

9:28

Subsea cables have been a major focus in the media lately. Just last week at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Tokyo, Australia announced the launch of its new Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre—its contribution to the Quad Leaders’ Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience. So, what are subsea or undersea cables and why are they…

1
Understanding AUSMIN, with Kim Beazley and Marise Payne 31:10

9M ago31:10

31:10

AUSMIN (Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations) – what is it, how did it come about and why is it important? Ahead of next week’s meeting on 6 August in the United States between Australia’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence and the US Secretaries of State and Defense, this week’s episode of Stop the World is a special explainer. …

1
Japan in a blizzard of Indo-Pacific diplomacy with Guibourg Delamotte and Yamagami Shingo 28:10

9M ago28:10

28:10

In today’s episode, senior analyst Dr Alex Bristow is joinedby Professor Guibourg Delamotte, Professor of Political Science at the Japanese studies department of the French Institute of Oriental Studies and Yamagami Shingo, former Japanese Ambassador to Australia, who is also, among several roles, Senior Fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. The…

1
Not just another conversation on Russia, with Mark Galeotti 48:39

9M ago48:39

48:39

This week on the pod, David Wroe interviews Russia expert Mark Galeotti. Mark is a renowned author of many books, including ‘We Need to Talk About Putin’ and ‘Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin, and the new fight for the future of Russia’, and host of the podcast ‘In Moscow’s Shadows’. David asks Mark for an update on Russia’s war on Ukraine, whether time …

1
TSD Summit Sessions: Countering hybrid threats with NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General James Appathurai 49:44

10M ago49:44

49:44

The countdown to the Sydney Dialogue (TSD) is on! In the second episode of ASPI’s TSD Summit Sessions, Justin Bassi, Executive Director of ASPI, speaks to James Appathurai, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber on all things tech, innovation, security and democracy. Justin and James discuss hybrid threats in the…

1
The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions: Australia’s Cyber and Critical Technologies Ambassador Brendan Dowling 20:31

10M ago20:31

20:31

The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions are back! Today on Stop the World, we are relaunching our special series – The Sydney Dialogue Summit Sessions. To kick off the series, Alex Caples, Director of ASPI’s Sydney Dialogue, speaks to Brendan Dowling, Australia’s Cyber Affairs and Critical Technologies Ambassador. This conversation covers all things cy…

1
Peace on Ukraine’s terms, with Minister Bill Shorten 21:43

10M ago21:43

21:43

In a special episode of Stop the World, ASPI’s Executive Director, Justin Bassi, speaks with Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and former leader of the Labor Party, Bill Shorten, about his recent attendance as Australia’s representative to Switzerland’s Summit on Peace in Ukraine. The Minister outlined why what happens in Ukrain…

1
AUKUS, industry and public support with Sophia Gaston and Eric Chewning 27:41

10M ago27:41

27:41

In this episode of Stop the World, we bring you the final interview from our special series recorded from the sidelines of the ASPI Defence Conference ‘JoiningFORCES’. And today it’s all about AUKUS. ASPI's Director of The Sydney Dialogue, Dr. Alex Caples, is joined by Sophia Gaston, Head of Foreign Policy at Policy Exchange, and Eric Chewning, Exe…

1
Japan’s security, partnerships and regional strategic outlook with Narushige Michishita 25:45

10M ago25:45

25:45

In this episode of Stop the World, we bring you the penultimate episode in our special series recorded from the sidelines of the ASPI Defence Conference ‘JoiningFORCES’. This interview is all about Japan and regional security. Dr Euan Graham, Senior ASPI Analyst speaks with Narushige Michishita, professor at the National Graduate Institute for Poli…

1
Russia, North Korea and nuclear threats with Bee Yun Jo and Peter Tesch 32:04

10M ago32:04

32:04

This week on Stop the World, we bring you the second episode in our special series recorded from the sidelines of the ASPI Defence Conference ‘JoiningFORCES’. In this episode, the conversation is all about North Korea, Russia, China and nuclear threats. Alex Bristow speaks to former Australian diplomat and defence official, Peter Tesch, and Dr Bee …

1
Defence innovation and investment with Heather Richman and Linda Lourie 31:46

11M ago31:46

31:46

This week on Stop the World, we bring you a special episode from the sidelines of the ASPI Defence Conference ‘JoiningFORCES’. In this first episode of a short series, ASPI’s Director of Defence Strategy and National Security, Bec Shrimpton, speaks to defence innovation and investment experts Heather Richman and Linda Lourie. They discuss defence i…

1
Securing democracy: countering disinformation in 2024 31:46

11M ago31:46

31:46

This week’s episode of Stop the World comesto you from Brussels, where ASPI’s Executive Director Justin Bassi interviewed the Head of Strategic Communications at the European External Action Service Lutz Güllner. The conversation explored disinformation, foreign influence, manipulation and interference, with Justin and Lutz discussing the importanc…

1
EU security and strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific 41:51

12M ago41:51

41:51

This week on Stop the World, ASPI Senior Analyst Alex Bristow speaks to Niclas Kvarnström, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service, to discuss the European Union’s engagement in and relationship with the Indo-Pacific. With war in Europe and conflict in the Middle East, they discuss how much capacity the Eu…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Australian Strategic Policy Institute Aspi Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen