The Focus

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/index.html Books by Roy:The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018. Articles by Roy:Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britain enters 2025 facing economic strain, strategic uncertainty, and intensifying global competition. In this hard-hitting year-end special, Dr John Bruni sits down with former Royal Navy submariner and intelligence specialist CDRE Pat Tyrrell OBE (Ret.), and investigative journalist Pete Warren, for an unfiltered assessment of the UK’s political and strategic direction. We break down the British Budget, stalled growth, defence underfunding, and the question of whether the UK can still project credible power. We explore Britain’s shifting foreign policy, the war in Ukraine, Russian hybrid provocations, cyber intrusions, and the fragility of European security. The panel also examines Keir Starmer’s political survival, public fatigue, the rise of the Reform Party, and what Britain must do to avoid strategic drift in 2025. If you care about the UK’s future — its defence, diplomacy, politics and global role — this is your must-watch end-of-year episode. Show Notes: Contact Chris X: @chrismullinexmp Website: https://www.chrismullinexmp.com/  Books by Chris Mullin - 1982 A Very British Coup 1986, Error of Judgement 2009, A View from the Foothills 2010, Decline & Fall 2011, A Walk-On Part 2016, Hinterland 2019, The Friends of Harry Perkins 2023, Didn’t You Used to be Chris Mullin?  Contact Pat LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-tyrrell-3479b6 Articles by Pat - AUKUS: A Tale of Politics, Strategy, and Submarines — published 04 Aug 2022, Crash-Diving into Australia’s Submarine Dilemma — published 13 Jul 2022, Adrift and Rudderless – The Sad Story of SS United Kingdom, Monty Python Politics: A Reflection on the Tumultuous Reign of PM Liz Truss, Nov. 2022, Rip van Winkle and the Age of Complacency, Aug. 2022, A Peace that Dares Not Speak its Name — a co-authored piece (with Dr. John Bruni) June 2022 Bruni, John; Jain, Purnendra; Tyrrell, Patrick J. “Why Australia, the UK and Japan need closer security cooperation.” SAGE International Australia Strategic Concept Paper, 12 August 2020. Bruni, John; Jain, Purnendra; Tyrrell, Patrick J. “A New Strategic Trilateral of the UK, Australia and Japan?” The Naval Review, vol. 108, no. 4 (2020), pp. 362–368.  Pat also contributed as part of a larger report for SAGE International Australia, writing sections on the UK and France in a 2020 Indo-Pacific strategic assessment.  Contact Pete LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/petewarren  Website: https://www.futureintelligence.co.uk/  Books by Pete Warren - AI on Trial – with Mark Deem 2025 (2nd edition), Cyber Crime & Warfare: All That Matters – with Michael Streeter 2013, & Cyber Alert: How the World Is Under Attack from a New Form of Crime – with Michael Streeter 2005.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the climate debate more complex than we’re being told? In this episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni sits down with Professor Ian Plimer — geologist, author, and one of the most contested voices in Australia’s climate conversation. Plimer has spent decades arguing that natural geological and planetary processes play a larger role in climate variability than many policymakers acknowledge.In this extended interview, we explore his arguments, test the evidence, and examine how climate, energy, mining, and geopolitics intersect in ways often overlooked in public debate. This is not an episode about “right” or “wrong.” It’s about asking difficult questions, challenging assumptions, and holding space for perspectives that sit outside the mainstream — while keeping the discussion grounded in science, evidence and geopolitics. Show Notes: Contact Ian: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-plimer-391052226?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BS7AtR8iDR5qZ2SE18wOmIw%3D%3D OpEds: “The Copenhagen charade” Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (5 Feb 2020) and “Legislative time bomb” (also 5 Feb 2020).  “Professor Ian Plimer Launches Climate Change: The Facts 2025 in Perth” Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) (21 Nov 2024) — this is not strictly an op-ed but a release. Books: Ian Plimer, Sceptical Always: A View at Three Quarter Time (Redland Bay: Connor Court Publishing, 2025), ISBN 978-1-923568-02-0. Ian Plimer (ed.), Climate Change: The Facts 2025 (Melbourne: Institute of Public Affairs, 2024).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with leading strategist Professor Andrew A. Michta about whether the West is in decline or on the cusp of renewal, exploring the fractures inside the transatlantic alliance, America’s fading primacy, Europe’s struggle for strategic agency, China’s growing economic fragility, and the deeper civilisational crisis undermining Western confidence. Drawing on Michta’s recent RealClearDefense essays, we discuss Europe’s defence readiness, U.S. strategic miscalculations, the risks of misreading history, and what the West must believe again to survive the 21st century. A sharp, sweeping conversation on power, purpose, and the future of the liberal order.  Show Notes: Connect with Andrew X: @andrewmichta  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-a-michta-39116934/  OpEds: RealClearDefense—“The West Needs to Come Together” 27 October 2025 https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/10/27/the_west_needs_to_come_together_1143377.html  RealClearDefense—“The Next U.S. National Security Strategy Risks Misreading History Again” 22 September 2025 https://www.realcleardefense.com/2025/09/22/the_next_us_national_security_strategy_risks_misreading_history_again_1136224.html  Books by Andrew:  The Future of NATO: Regional Defense and Global SecurityJune 23, 2014 — University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Limits of Alliance: The United States, NATO, and the EU in North and Central Europe2006 — Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland. The Soldier-Citizen: The Politics of the Polish Army after Communism1997 — St. Martin’s Press, New York.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

🇪🇺 Is Europe finally rising as a defence power?As the war in Ukraine grinds on and populist politics reshape Europe, the EU faces a historic test: defend the continent, support Kyiv, and hold the line against Moscow — while staying united.In this episode, Dr John Bruni speaks with EU analyst Piotr Maciej Kaczyński on Europe's defence transformation, Poland’s upcoming EU Presidency, and the populist forces reshaping Europe's future. 🔍⚔️ 👉 Subscribe for more global strategy & geopolitics🔔 New episodes weekly Clarifications The Austrian Empire (1804-1867), ruled by the Habsburg dynasty, evolved from the Holy Roman Empire (800-1806), where the Habsburg family dominated politics, providing almost every emperor from 1438 to 1806. In 1867, the Austrian Empire evolved into the Austro-Hungarian Empire as a direct consequence of Hungarian nationalist agitation. The Austro-Hungarian Empire came to an end at the conclusion of World War I in 1918. Overall, the Austrian/Austro-Hungarian Empire lasted 114 years.   The USSR came into being in 1922 and lasted until 1991, that’s 69 years in total.   Yugoslavia, as with the Austrian Empire, had two phases. There was the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918-1941) that emerged out of the collapse of the Austrian Empire. It lasted 22 years. After a period of time under NAZI occupation (1941-1945), the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (modern Yugoslavia) was founded after World War II. Ruled by dictator Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslav leader from 1945 to 1980), Yugoslavia lasted till 1991. This phase of Yugoslavia lasted 46 years. In total, Yugoslavia, since its emergence, lasted 68 years.   In comparison, the European Economic Community (EEC) was founded through the Treaty of Rome in 1957, coming into existence the following year in 1958. It evolved into the European Union (EU) in 1993, after the Maastricht Treaty. The UK left the EU in 2016. At present, the European project for economic, currency and political integration has lasted 67 years.   Note: Josef Stalin, Soviet dictator during World War II, did not fight a two-front war because the bulk of the Soviet population lay west of the Ural mountain range, with much of it either threatened or occupied by NAZI forces. The vast expanse of Siberia was largely inhospitable and poorly serviced by transport routes stretching from the developed and most populous parts of the USSR. Therefore, there was no way the Soviets could conduct a sustained two-front war during World War II. For the Soviets, until the NAZI threat was defeated, they could not risk transporting large parts of the Soviet Army to confront the Japanese. This calculus changed upon Germany’s surrender in mid-1945. SHOW NOTES: Connect with Piotr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pkaczyn/  OpEds “What to expect from Poland’s EU Council presidency in 2025” — by Real Instituto Elcano, 27/01/2025 “Europe after the elections: the centre holds out, but for how long?” — by Real Instituto Elcano, 20/11/2024 “Poland’s shifting positions on the future of the European Union: deepening and widening?” — by Casimir Pulaski Foundation, 30/10/2024 Books The Ever‑Changing Union: An Introduction to the History, Institutions and Decision‑Making Processes of the European Union (2nd fully revised edition, ~2011) — co-authored.  Upgrading the EU’s Role as Global Actor: Institutions, Law and the Restructuring of European Diplomacy (~2011) — contribution among multiple authors. Polish Council Presidency 2011: Ambitions and Limitations (~2011) — listed as one of his major works.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni speaks with CTO of NY-based company Artorias, Shane Curtis, about how truth is shaped, challenged, and weaponised in today’s information age and how Artorias' premium product, SITREP, is democratising Open Source Intelligence. From the algorithms driving attention to the blurred line between journalism and influence operations, this conversation explores how digital ecosystems are transforming modern strategy and public perception. Glossary of terms: OSINT - Open Source Intelligence G-SOC - Global Security Operations Centre Thirty-five Fox - Intelligence Analyst SME - Subject Matter Expert TSI - Trusted Source Index HUMINT - Human Intelligence CW5 - Chief Warrant Officer 5 Download the SITREP App here - https://sitrep.artorias.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when ceasefire becomes status quo? In this episode of The Focus, John Bruni interviews Israeli scholar Dr Ori Goldberg on the fragile Gaza truce, Israel’s surveillance corridors, and the internal power-struggles that could spark a new war. Expect hard questions, blunt truth, and no easy answers. Show Notes: X: @ori_goldberg  Bluesky: @origoldberg.bsky.social  Ori’s Top Publications:  Articles “The real reason Israel attacked Iran”, Al Jazeera, 15 June 2025  “Why Israelis Do and Don’t Want War with Hezbollah” – New Lines Magazine, September 2024  “Israel’s Attack on Hezbollah’s Communications Network Is Not the Victory It Claims” – New Lines Magazine, September 2024    Books Faith and Politics in Iran, Israel, and the Islamic State: Theologies of the Real (2017) Published by Cambridge University Press, this book examines how religious worldviews shape political action across diverse ideological contexts.  Understanding Shiite Leadership: The Art of the Middle Ground in Iran and Lebanon (2014, co-authored with Shaul Mishal) This work explores how Shi‘ite leaders balance ideological commitments with pragmatic governance in both Iran and Lebanon.  Shi‘i Theology in Iran: The Challenge of Religious Experience (2011) Published by Routledge, this book investigates the role of religious experience in shaping revolutionary Shi‘i political theology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two years after the October 7 attacks, the world remains caught between memory and escalation.In this gripping episode, Dr John Bruni sits down with political theorist Dr Roy Casagranda to unpack the transformation of American power under Trump 47 — from Quantico’s “warrior ethos” and the rebranding of the Pentagon as the Department of War, to the U.S. government shutdown and the deepening global fallout from Gaza to Moscow. Show Notes: 🔗 Connect with Roy X:  @RoyCasagranda Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html  Books by Roy:  The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.  Articles by Roy:  Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-a….  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India is no longer a silent player in world politics. As the U.S. courts New Delhi, Russia relies on Indian markets, China looms across the border, and Pakistan remains a constant rival, India stands at the centre of global geopolitics. In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with Professor Salvatore Babones (University of Sydney) about India’s bold gamble on its future. Will New Delhi define the Indo-Pacific century—or be defined by it? Show Notes 🔗 Contact Salvatore: Website: https://www.salvatorebabones.com/  X: @ProfBabones  UoS: https://www.sydney.edu.au/research/opportunities/3231.html Salvatore’s  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SalvatoreBabones  *Top 5 Books by Salvatore:*  Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World’s First Democracy (2025) – His most recent work is an empirical assessment of India’s democratic evolution.  The New Authoritarianism: Trump, Populism, and the Tyranny of Experts (2018) – Named among the Best on Politics 2018 by The Wall Street Journal  BRICS or Bust? Escaping the Middle Income Trap (co-authored with Hartmut Elsenhans) (2017) – A comparative study of BRICS economic trajectories  American Tianxia: Chinese Money, American Power and the End of History (2017) – Challenges the narrative of a looming Chinese century  Sixteen for ’16: A Progressive Agenda for a Better America (2015) – A policy manifesto outlining a forward looking progressive platform  *Top 5 Articles by Salvatore:*  “Global Kondratiev Waves and Political Transformations in Russia since 1800: A Relative Deprivation Approach” (with Philipp Babcicky & Oleg Gubin) – International Politics (2023)  “Mobile Netware, Social Graphs, and the Reconfiguration of Space” (with Colin Agur) – New Media & Society(2023)  “International Student Revenue and International Rankings Success: A Case Study of Australian University Research Strategies” – Youth and Globalization (2022)  “China’s Development Model: Can it Be Replicated in Sub Saharan Africa?” – Politics & Policy (2020)  “From Tianxia to Tianxia: The Generalization of a Concept” – Chinese Political Science Review (2020)  #IndiaUS #SalvatoreBabones #Geopolitics #Modi #TheFocusPodcast #IndoPacific #Trump2024 #QuadSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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”—and how it has shaped the West’s foreign policy under Trump 47. Show Notes: Contact Yuki IIPS https://indopacificsecurity.org/team-member/yuki-tatsumi/ IIPS website https://indopacificsecurity.org/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuki-tatsumi-166a4b21/ Books by Yuki: Lost in Translation? U.S. Defense Innovation and Northeast Asia(2017) U.S.-Japan-Australia Security Cooperation: Prospects and Challenges(2015)  Opportunity out of Necessity: The Impact of U.S. Defense Budget Cuts on the U.S.-Japan Alliance(2013) Global Security Watch: Japan(co-author, 2010) Japan’s National Security Policy Infrastructure: Can Tokyo Meet Washington’s Expectations?(2008) Articles by Yuki: August 28, 2025 Economic Coercion from the People’s Republic of China Stimson Center June 4, 2025 Trump’s Green Light: Can Tokyo Replicate Nippon Steel Deal? Stimson Center April 4, 2025 Back to the Future? The Implications of Growing Strategic Competition in the Arctic for the US-Japan Alliance Stimson Center February 14, 2025 Trump and Ishiba Meet for the First Time—Success, Maybe? Stimson Center November 6, 2024 Trump Wins—Can the Indo-Pacific Region Withstand? Stimson CenterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@gunnersshot  Website: https://gunnersshot.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/palepu-ravi-shankar-084980214/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to unpack one of the most important — yet least understood — relationships in our region. From trade, migration, and defence, to cultural ties and political tensions Show Notes: Contact Gatra X: @GPriyandita LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gatra-priyandita/  ASPI: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/dr-gatra-priyandita/   Gatra’s Publications Priyandita,Silence as strategy: Southeast Asia and China’s persistent cyber campaigns, ASPI, Canberra, 01/09/2025. Hogeveen, G. Priyandita & J. Corera, Curbing the cost of cybersecurity fragmentation: an agenda for harmonisation across the Indo-Pacific, ASPI, Canberra, 28/08/2025. (eds.) J. Corera & M. Opatha,  Hyperscale cloud and shared security in the Indo-Pacific: Views from The Strategist, ASPI, Canberra, 26/08/2025. Graham & G. Priyandita, Australia and Indonesia can deepen security cooperation by fighting hybrid threats, The Strategist, ASPI, Canberra, 05/08/2025. 👉🏻 E. Graham & G. Priyandita, Australia-Indonesia defence and security partnership: Overcoming asymmetric aspirations to tackle common threats, ASPI, Canberra, 05/08/2025. The article upon which much of this episode is based.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 are the geopolitical implications? Show Notes: Contact Avi: Medium - https://medium.com/me/following-feed/writers/adb0e108a94b X - @GalileoProject1 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thegalileoproject/?hl=en  The Galileo Project website - https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/galileo/home  Best-selling Books by Avi Interstellar: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Our Future in the Stars (2023) – His follow-up, expanding the discussion beyond ʻOumuamua to humanity’s role in the cosmos, the search for alien civilisations, and the implications for our future. Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth (2021) – His breakthrough popular science book, where he argued that the interstellar object ʻOumuamua could be a form of alien technology. It became a New York Times bestseller and put him at the centre of global debates about extraterrestrial life. Relevant Articles by Avi: Should We Be Happier if 3I/ATLAS is a Comet?  https://avi-loeb.medium.com/should-we-be-happier-if-3i-atlas-is-a-comet-91b3f8e74f98 The Adaptive Communication Framework (ACF) for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Discovery  https://avi-loeb.medium.com/the-adaptive-communication-framework-acf-for-extraterrestrial-intelligence-discovery-c1cc91fd0e7e  What Should Humanity Do on the Day After an Interstellar Object is Recognised as Technological? (The article that made us reach out to Avi) https://avi-loeb.medium.com/what-should-humanity-do-on-the-day-after-an-interstellar-object-is-recognized-as-technological-ff26c6fec04dSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Notes:  Connect with Anders  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anderspucknielsen/ Bluesky: @anderspucknielsen.dkHis ‘Logic of War’ Newsletter: https://www.logicofwar.com/ To see full content, you’ll have to subscribe  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@anderspuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 #thefocuspodcast Show Notes Connect with Stefano: X: @All_Source_News  Artorias: https://www.artorias.com/leadership  Podcasts & Interviews: Stefano featured on Cleared Hot podcast (Episode 373) where he discussed cartel violence, organised crime, and Latin American security as an intelligence expert. He also appeared on The Distinguished Savage Podcast (Episode 319), exploring Mexican cartel dynamics. Print/Online Interviews & Commentary In an interview with Rolling Stone published in February 2025, Ritondale offered expert commentary on how cartel leaders perceive government protection and the implications of being labeled terrorists. Recent Media Mentions Most recently, in a Defense Feeds article (July 2025), he provided insights into how Mexican cartels are training in Ukraine to utilise FPV drones, indicating the rising sophistication of cartel tactics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 SamYale: https://law.yale.edu/samuel-moyn Website: https://campuspress.yale.edu/samuelmoyn/Books by Sam:🆕 Liberalism Against Itself: Cold War Intellectuals and the Making of Our Times (2023) A critique of Cold War-era liberal thinkers who, in Moyn’s view, stripped liberalism of its utopian and transformative aspirations — leading to the more constrained version we see today. 🧠 Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War (2021) Explores how efforts to humanize war — through legal and technological means — have helped make war more acceptable and therefore unending. 📉 Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World (2018) Argues that modern human rights discourse has focused on minimum protections rather than addressing global inequality and distributive justice. Articles by Sam:Casus Belli, Harper’s Magazine, August 2025.America is over Neo-Liberalism & Neo-Conservatism - Trump is not, The Guardian, July 2025.The United States and the Human Rights Presidency, June 2025.Previous Episode with Sam:https://sageinternational.com.au/the-focus/humane-war-making-a-better-world/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 The Focus with John Bruni. SHOW NOTES 🔗Connect with Massimo Substack: https://substack.com/@figsinwintertime?utm_source=top-search City College, New York: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/profiles/massimo-pigliucci?srsltid=AfmBOorpDgfdOTs_fokK4iIJL2Zbnen_-EoVL-yFbnzvsgs8G9pi2WKU  Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massimo_Pigliucci  Top Books on Stoicism: The Stoic Guide to a Happy Life (2020) A Handbook for New Stoics (2019) How to Be a Stoic (2017) Top five articles on Stoicism:   “Did the Stoics Get Their Theory of Beauty Wrong?” Published: November 11, 2023 Overview: Pigliucci explores whether ancient Stoic theories on beauty hold up today, drawing from his Stoicon 2023 presentation. Modern Stoicism+15Modern Stoicism+15Modern Stoicism+15 “Updating Epictetus and Stoicism for the 21st century” Published: December 19, 2020 Overview: A reflection—and partial update—on Epictetus’ Enchiridion, arguing for modern adaptation in his later book A Field Guide to a Happy Life. goodlisten+5Modern Stoicism+5colabstaging.co.uk+5 “Minimalism Is Not Enough” Published: February 2, 2019 Overview: Pigliucci pushes back against oversimplified Stoicism, emphasizing that logic and physics must remain part of the practice—not only ethics. Modern Stoicism+14Modern Stoicism+14Wikipedia+14 “Do People Commit Evil Out of Ignorance?” Published: November 25, 2017 Overview: Based on his Stoicon 2017 talk, Pigliucci examines Epictetus’ view that wrongdoing often stems from deluded thinking rather than true malevolence. Modern Stoicism+4Modern Stoicism+4Modern Stoicism+4 “Why not Stoicism?” Published: 2013 Overview: A foundational piece outlining the enduring relevance of Stoicism’s three pillars—ethics, logic, physics—for modern life. #stoicism #geopolitics #massimopigliucci #philosophy #thefocuspodcast #geopolitics #resilience #broicism #marcusaurelius #modernstoicism   Previous Episodes with Massimo: https://sageinternational.com.au/the-focus/a-stoics-take-on-modern-celebrity-the-rise-of-rogan-peterson-the-role-of-social-media/ https://sageinternational.com.au/the-focus/on-stoicism/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 #Geopolitics #Modi #TheFocusPodcast #IndoPacific #Trump2024 #Quad Show Notes: Contact Salvatore: https://www.salvatorebabones.com/ X: @ProfBabones https://www.sydney.edu.au/research/opportunities/3231.html Salvatore’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SalvatoreBabones Top 5 Books by Salvatore: Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World’s First Democracy (2025) – His most recent work, an empirical assessment of India’s democratic evolution The New Authoritarianism: Trump, Populism, and the Tyranny of Experts (2018) – Named among the Best on Politics 2018 by The Wall Street Journal  BRICS or Bust? Escaping the Middle‑Income Trap (co‑authored with Hartmut Elsenhans) (2017) – A comparative study of BRICS economic trajectories  American Tianxia: Chinese Money, American Power and the End of History (2017) – Challenges the narrative of a looming Chinese century  Sixteen for ’16: A Progressive Agenda for a Better America (2015) – A policy manifesto outlining a forward‑looking progressive platform Top 5 Articles by Salvatore: “Global Kondratiev Waves and Political Transformations in Russia since 1800: A Relative Deprivation Approach” (with Philipp Babcicky & Oleg Gubin) – International Politics (2023)  “Mobile Netware, Social Graphs, and the Reconfiguration of Space” (with Colin Agur) – New Media & Society(2023)  “International Student Revenue and International Rankings Success: A Case Study of Australian University Research Strategies” – Youth and Globalization (2022)  “China’s Development Model: Can it Be Replicated in Sub‑Saharan Africa?” – Politics & Policy (2020)  “From Tianxia to Tianxia: The Generalization of a Concept” – Chinese Political Science Review (2020) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 in an age of rising threats. Show Notes: Contact Ben: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hodges-1674b1172?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BsE89zn7ZQEaGKjLMT3r2PQ%3D%3D The Alphen Group (TAG): https://thealphengroup.com/ben-hodges/ Top 5 Articles by Ben: 📰 1. Business Insider – “A key NATO ally said it would be 'really big mistake' for Europe to break away from the US weapons industry” Date: June 25, 2025A detailed interview where Hodges cautions Europe against moving away from U.S. defence suppliers.   📰 2. Business Insider – “Most NATO armies likely 'could not meet Ukrainian standards' in combat effectiveness, retired US Army general says” Date: June 18, 2025Hodges argues NATO should learn from Ukrainian battlefield experience rather than the other way around    📰 3. Cipher Brief – “Getting NATO to Be Able to 'Fight Tonight'” (Expert Q&A) Date: July 1, 2025Hodges examines NATO’s readiness following the Hague summit, focusing on rapid mobilisation and military preparedness.   📰 4. Cipher Brief – “Expert Q&A: Can Europe Defend Itself?” Date: March 27, 2025A deep dive into Europe’s defence capacity, allied cohesion, and whether the continent can maintain security without U.S. support.   📰 5. Swissinfo – “Former US general advises Switzerland to prepare for war” Date: March 16, 2025In this interview, Hodges urges Switzerland to ramp up defence — particularly drone defences and large-scale manoeuvres — as a precautionary measure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Roy Casagranda*  X: @RoyCasagranda  Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html  Books by Roy:  The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.  Articles by Roy:  Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.