Underground Strategy

In this episode, we’re joined by John Gordon Sennett, a U.S. Marine veteran, writer, and co-author of Accidental Ukrainians, a personal chronicle of war, survival, and adaptation from inside Ukraine.John and his wife Natasha Sennett moved to Kiev just before the invasion began. What started as a family decision quickly turned into a frontline life. From volunteering in the early days of war to chronicling daily reality, they’ve written two powerful books that bridge cultures, challenge narratives, and offer something rarely seen—honest, unfiltered civilian-military experience from inside a war zone.We talk about writing as survival, advocating for POWs, the culture clash between glory-seekers and those who stayed, and how narrative itself can become a tool for recovery.John also shares an exclusive preview of their third book and a bold new mental health project with Ukrainian universities aimed at helping veterans and civilians process trauma through storytelling.This is not just another perspective. It’s a voice from the inside—and it matters.Accidental Ukrainians – Books by John & Natasha SennettPart One – https://amzn.to/3H9GrUbPart Two – https://amzn.to/3ZyJH1JConnect with John & Natasha SennettMedium – https://jgsennett-78059.medium.com/Substack – https://johngordonsennettsr.substack.com/LinkedIn – https://ua.linkedin.com/in/john-g-sennett-srProject & Updates – https://accidentalukrainians.com/More from Underground StrategyJoin the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.comDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined again by Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Jean-Pierre Scherman of the South African National Defence Force—a returning guest with deep operational experience and a sharp eye for military history. This time, we turn to Operation Boleas: the 1998 intervention in Lesotho that tested the SANDF just four years after its formation.We get into the real story behind the headlines—why the mission was launched, how it rapidly escalated, and what it exposed about South Africa’s new defense force. From unexpected combat to political constraints and mission creep, Boleas became a crash course in regional military operations.More than two decades later, the mission remains misunderstood. We unpack why it faded from public view—and what its legacy reveals about South Africa’s approach to hard power.Jean-Pierre Scherman’s linksInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/schermanjeanpierre/X – https://x.com/schermanjp74LinkedIn – https://za.linkedin.com/in/jean-pierre-schermanMore from Underground StrategyJoin the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.comDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Underground Strategy Podcast, Max Lauker continues the conversation with Andy Balaam, former Selous Scout and veteran of some of the Bush War’s most daring missions.In Part 2, Balaam walks us through the attack on Nyadzonya itself — from the buildup on the parade ground to the destruction of the camp, the clearing of huts, and the tense withdrawal across the border. He also reflects on the aftermath, the claims of controversy, and how he saw the operation at the time.Stay tuned for future episodes with Balaam, where we’ll continue exploring his experiences in the Scouts and beyond.Warning: this episode contains graphic combat detail.Andy's Workpseudobalaam.comInstagram – instagram.com/pseudobalaam More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 - https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission - https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Underground Strategy Podcast, Max Lauker is joined once again by Andy Balaam, former Selous Scout and veteran of some of the Bush War’s most daring missions.After walking us through Operation Long John, Balaam now turns to Operation Eland. In August 1976, fewer than a hundred Scouts crossed into Mozambique in a flying column, targeting a ZANLA base at Nyadzonya.Stay tuned for Part 2, where Balaam walks through the battle itself and the aftermath.Andy's Workpseudobalaam.comInstagram – instagram.com/pseudobalaamMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 - https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission - https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined once again by military scholar and practitioner Amos Fox for a fast-paced listener Q&A tackling some of the most pressing questions in contemporary warfare.From the blurred lines between war and peace to the myth of maneuver and the limits of tech, this one hits hard. We talk endurance, positional warfare and why most armies still get strategy wrong. Fox brings sharp analysis and field-smart insight to a global discussion that’s still struggling to catch up with battlefield reality.Expect clarity, hard truths, and zero buzzwords.Amos Fox´s WorkConflict Realism – https://amzn.to/4jc1mmQRevolution in Military Affairs (podcast) – https://shows.acast.com/revolution-in-military-affairsX – https://x.com/AmosFox6LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amoscfoxWant to read like Amos Fox?The Foundations of the Science of War by JFC Fuller (page 65 if you want to pass his class) – https://amzn.to/3F5QitHUrban Warfare in the Twenty-First Century by Anthony King – https://amzn.to/4kssNK2More from Underground StrategyJoin the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.comDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Tarak Barkawi—an international relations scholar, military historian, and sharp critic of the way we often misunderstand war.We talk about everything from colonial troops and battlefield ritual to the power of memoirs and the global legacy of regimental tradition. From the jungles of Burma to the camps of Korea, Barkawi explores what really drives soldiers to fight—and why the stories we tell about war often miss the point.We also get into his groundbreaking book Soldiers of Empire, the myth of the “martial race,” and the deeper, often uncomfortable truths behind military discipline, nationalism, and the afterlives of imperial armies.Tarak Barkawi’s WorkSoldiers of Empire – https://amzn.to/3Hh7MDOOrientalism and War – https://amzn.to/4kqGYQ3Globalization and War – https://amzn.to/3YR281qMore from Underground StrategyJoin the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.comDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we turn our focus to one of the most iconic campaigns of the Second World War—the battle for North Africa. From the strategic significance of the Suez Canal and Middle Eastern oil to the rise and fall of Rommel’s legend, the North African campaign shaped the course of the global conflict in unexpected ways.We’re joined by Lt. Col. Dr. Jean-Pierre Scherman of the South African National Defence Force—a combat officer, scholar, and friend of the podcast—to walk us through what made the desert war so pivotal. We explore the mobile chaos of the early clashes, the critical role of supply lines, and the unsung story of South Africa’s volunteer soldiers who served far from home.We also dive into the bitter legacy of the surrender at Tobruk, the mythmaking around commanders like Rommel and Montgomery, and what it all looked like from the ground level.Expect serious analysis, hard questions, and some reflections on today’s conflicts too.Jean-Pierre Scherman’s contactsInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/schermanjeanpierre/X – https://x.com/schermanjp74LinkedIn – https://za.linkedin.com/in/jean-pierre-schermanMore from Underground StrategyJoin the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.comDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Serhii Velychanskyi, we shift from combat to recovery—exploring how war leaves marks that can’t be seen from the outside, and how humor can help heal them.After serving on the front lines in Irpin and Kharkiv, Serhii transitioned into Ukraine’s Center for Morale and Psychological Support, where he began using improvisational theater as a recovery tool. He walks us through his program “Improv 450,” designed to help wounded and traumatized soldiers decompress, reconnect, and rebuild.But this is more than a therapy story. Serhii reflects on identity, language, Russian disinformation, and the existential nature of this war.We also hear about his upcoming leadership work, his book Path to Effectiveness (Ukrainian only), and what it means to fight and heal at the same time.Serhii’s WorkImprov 4.5.0 – https://improv450.com.ua/enInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/sergey_velichanskiyLinkedIn – https://ua.linkedin.com/in/velichanskyPath to Effectiveness (Ukrainian only) – https://www.skyhorse.ua/product/shlyahy-efektyvnosti/Also MentionedManagement in Times of War by Kostiantyn Koshelenko – https://amzn.to/43gNmlWMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 1 of our conversation with Serhii Velychanskyi, we follow his journey from civilian to frontline soldier in Ukraine’s 130th Territorial Defense Battalion—where he took part in the defense of Kyiv and the liberation of Irpin and Kharkiv.Serhii walks us through those early days of the full-scale Russian invasion: the uncertainty, the shelling, and the harsh lessons learned on the ground. But this isn’t just a war story—it’s also about adaptation. Serhii shares how his past life as an improv performer unexpectedly shaped his resilience under fire, and how that mindset helped him—and others—navigate the chaos of combat.Part 2 continues the story as Serhii transitions into psychological support work, helping soldiers heal through humor, storytelling, and group recovery.Serhii’s WorkImprov 4.5.0 – https://improv450.com.ua/enInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/sergey_velichanskiyLinkedIn – https://ua.linkedin.com/in/velichanskyPath to Effectiveness (Ukrainian only) – https://www.skyhorse.ua/product/shlyahy-efektyvnosti/Also MentionedManagement in Times of War by Kostiantyn Koshelenko – https://amzn.to/43gNmlWMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The third part of our Fortress Britain series takes us north, where Gordon Barclay joins us for a deep dive into Scotland’s defense plans during the Second World War—and how they’ve been misunderstood ever since.We talk about stop lines, airfield vulnerabilities, pillbox design, and the sheer logistical push it took to prepare the country for invasion. Gordon breaks down how anti-tank ditches, coastal artillery, and naval fortresses fit into a larger strategy—one that included Polish and Norwegian forces defending the Scottish coast. We also look at how these defenses evolved, what still survives today, and how some of it is only just being re-discovered.Toward the end, we discuss how Gordon’s research was misrepresented during Scotland’s independence debate, and why wartime history—when twisted—can still fuel modern mythmaking.Gordon’s workIf Hitler Comes: Preparing for Invasion – Scotland 1940 by Gordon Barclay – https://amzn.to/4kvhT6BOther books mentionedFortress Britain: 1940 by Andrew Chatterton – https://amzn.to/3Sd5iJ4Britain’s Secret Defences by Andrew Chatterton – https://amzn.to/4jYuT4xMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the Zimbabwean liberation struggle—a war that redefined Southern Africa and left lasting political and military scars across the region.Takawira Chatambudza joins us to unpack the origins of the nationalist movements, the split between ZANU and ZAPU, and how their armed wings—ZANLA and ZIPRA—fought on different fronts with different doctrines. We talk about guerrilla tactics, ideological influence from China and the Soviet Union, and how newly independent frontline states like Mozambique and Angola changed the course of the war.Taka also offers a grounded, firsthand view of Rhodesian counterinsurgency tactics, including the controversial role of the Selous Scouts and their deep infiltration operations, and we revisit pivotal moments like the Lancaster House Agreement, ZIPRA’s cross-border raids, and the collapse of internal unity efforts like ZIPA.This episode brings together politics, warfare, and memory from a perspective rarely heard in Western military history circles.Takawira’s workMultidisciplinary Perspectives on Zimbabwe’s Liberation Struggle (Edited) – https://amzn.to/3H3f3XTWant more?For Better Or Worse? Women And ZANLA In Zimbabwe's Liberation Struggle – https://amzn.to/43gKeXeThe Army and Politics in Zimbabwe – https://amzn.to/43kG1StMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second part of our Fortress Britain series takes us to the windswept beaches of northeast Scotland, where archeology meets military history.Tony and Alessandro link up with Bruce Mann—a senior Historic Environment Officer and real-world battlefield archaeologist—to walk through pillboxes, anti-tank blocks, and the overlooked coastal defenses that still dot the landscape today. We talk about how terrain shaped defense planning, how local contractors helped construct pillboxes under pressure, and why Black Dog Beach isn’t just a poetic name.We also explore how defensive structures were camouflaged, improvised, and in some cases, repurposed entirely—and how the layering of stop lines and river crossings built a real strategy behind the concrete. From hidden gun loops to pillboxes disguised as cottages, this is the physical side of Britain’s invasion defense as few have seen it.Bruce’s contactHistoric Environment Team – archeology@aberdeenshire.gov.ukBooks mentionedFortress Britain: 1940 by Andrew Chatterton – https://amzn.to/3Sd5iJ4Britain’s Secret Defences by Andrew Chatterton – https://amzn.to/4jYuT4xIf Hitler Comes: Preparing for Invasion: Scotland 1940 by Gordon Barclay - https://amzn.to/4kvhT6BMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of our Fortress Britain episodes, we step back from the secret guerrilla units and look at the bigger picture—how ready was the UK, really, to stop a German invasion in 1940?Andrew Chatterton returns to break down Britain’s physical defenses—from the rapid construction of stop lines and pillboxes to the strategic thinking behind them. We talk about how much of the country was actually covered, why mobility was so limited, and how even a random brick hut on the coast fits into a much larger defense plan. It wasn’t just Home Guard with pitchforks—there was real doctrine, structure, and urgency.We also look at the overlooked air and naval elements: radar, decoy airfields, and the sheer power of the Royal Navy—along with the PR, panic, and practical improvisation that shaped the public's view of the war.Andrew’s workFortress Britain: 1940 – https://amzn.to/3Sd5iJ4Britain’s Secret Defences – https://amzn.to/4jYuT4xInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/historicalandrewX – https://x.com/Chats1More from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Roman Kuzyuk, First Deputy CEO of Viysktorgservice and co-author of Management in Times of War. Roman brings a unique mix of experience to the table—from corporate governance and martial arts to frontline logistics within Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.We explore the transformation of Ukraine’s defense sector, the challenges of legacy systems, and the ongoing fight to establish integrity and effectiveness within state institutions. Roman speaks openly about veterans' futures, the limits of reform, and the deeper personal mission that drives him through war and bureaucracy alike.We also dive into his fiction writing, why he chose a detective novel to explain real-world corporate dysfunction, and how martial arts shaped his view on leadership, balance, and power.This isn’t theory—it’s real-world warfighting, organizational struggle, and national survival, told by someone living it every day.Books by Roman KuzyukManagement in Times of War (English) – https://amzn.to/44SdXbxLedarskap i krigstider (Swedish edition) – https://www.bokus.com/bok/9789177415527/ledarskap-i-krigstider-erfarenheter-fran-krigets-ukraina/Connect with Roman KuzyukLinkedIn – https://ua.linkedin.com/in/roman-kuzyukFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/roman.kuzyuk.2025/More from Underground StrategyJoin the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.comDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve covered the Radleys, Rooseboom, and the Felix network—but in this final episode, the focus flips.What did the South African and British services actually know about these Nazi spy efforts? And more importantly—how did they respond?Evert Kleynhans takes us inside the counterintelligence war: the Royal Navy’s Y service, MI5, and the South African Postmaster General all played a role in intercepting transmissions, triangulating hidden radios, and watching the Ossewabrandwag from the inside. They were reading the messages. They had the direction-finding gear. And they still couldn’t shut it down.We get into why—factionalism, political hesitation, and sabotage from within. And we follow the trail beyond the war, all the way to the abandoned treason cases, buried archives, and the intelligence files that were meant to be erased.The spy rings may have fizzled, but the fallout never really ended.Evert’s workHitler’s South African Spies by Evert Kleynhans – https://amzn.to/43u79jpMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second half of our series, we turn to the aftermath—Franco’s victory, the cost of silence, and the contested memory that still divides Spain.Séan Scullion returns to chart Franco’s rise from the margins to dictator. We look at how he consolidated power, erased opposition through systematic terror, and survived long enough to become a Cold War ally. From forced exiles and mass graves to American base deals and a Vatican-blessed crusade, this episode unpacks how Franco shaped Spain’s future—and why it remains unresolved today.We also talk about Séan’s book Españoles contra el nazismo, which is the Spanish translation of his earlier release Churchill’s Spaniards, and how the expanded edition reflects new discoveries and family stories that emerged after publication.Séan’s workEspañoles contra el nazismo (Spanish edition of Churchill’s Spaniards, out June 4) – https://amzn.to/3ROJXFIChurchill’s Spaniards – https://amzn.to/4j2bsqAInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/sean.scullion/X – https://x.com/sean_f_scullionMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first of a two-part series, we unpack the political collapse and brutal realities behind one of the most significant conflicts of the 20th century—the Spanish Civil War.Séan Scullion joins us to trace the long arc leading to war: empire in decline, broken reforms, class fractures, and military coups recycled from the 19th century. From the fall of the monarchy to the Popular Front’s last stand, we walk through the key players, failed power grabs, and shifting momentum between Republican and Nationalist forces between 1936 and 1939.We also get into Franco’s rapid rise, foreign intervention, and why Madrid never quite fell—even when the war was lost.Part one ends just before the reckoning. In part two, we turn to Franco’s legacy and how Spain still wrestles with its memory.Séan’s workEspañoles contra el nazismo (June 4 release) – https://amzn.to/3ROJXFIChurchill’s Spaniards – https://amzn.to/4j2bsqAInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/sean.scullion/X – https://x.com/sean_f_scullionMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last episode, we met Rooseboom and the Radleys—Germany’s early spy recruits in South Africa, whose operations leaned more chaotic than covert.This time, the spotlight’s on a man with a much better spy name: Felix. Real name—Lothar Sittig. The one the British couldn’t quite pin down. After escaping internment, he linked up with the Trompke network in Mozambique and was smuggled back into South Africa to help build a direct radio line to Berlin.Evert Kleynhans walks us through how the Ossewabrandwag backed the effort, how the transmitter was built using stolen medical gear, and why British intelligence already knew what was coming. We also get into the kind of intelligence they passed along—some of it credible, some of it questionable, and some of it just… potatoes.Part two of a three-part series on Nazi espionage in South Africa.Evert’s workHitler’s South African Spies by Evert Kleynhans – https://amzn.to/43u79jpMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with Ben Zweibelson for part two of our deep dive into Reconceptualizing War. This episode goes even further into the deep end: war paradigms, doomsday ideologies, radical structuralism, and the philosophical divide between Ukraine vs Russia and Israel vs Hamas.Ben lays out why some conflicts can't be understood through the same lens. We get into social paradigms, interpretivism, and how even Clausewitz is being bent to fit frames he never intended. From AI to Marxist theory, this is war philosophy at its most dangerous and thought-provoking.We also ask the important stuff: which war theorist would Ben grab a drink with? And what does strategic success actually mean in a world of flawed assumptions?If part one cracked the surface, this one digs through the foundations. It might leave you with more questions than answers—and that’s the point.Ben's WorkReconceptualizing War – https://amzn.to/4jFUZZYTwitter - https://x.com/BZweibelsonMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the problem isn’t that we misunderstand war—but that the frameworks we use to understand it are broken?In this episode, we sit down with Ben Zweibelson—veteran, theorist, and design troublemaker—for a deep dive into his massive new book Reconceptualizing War. This isn’t about doctrine tweaks or buzzword bingo. Ben takes a sledgehammer to the foundations, arguing that modern military thinking is stuck in rigid, outdated paradigms that can’t explain how war really works.We talk about how childhood art projects shaped his career, why veterans struggle with identity, and what happens when you tell your boss in Kabul that their beloved center of gravity is nonsense. From Clausewitz to Sun Tzu, Marx to Mao, Ben tears into war theory with philosophical tools most strategists are too scared to touch.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. If you're tired of the same recycled thinking, you’ll want to hear this.Ben’s WorkReconceptualizing War – https://amzn.to/4jFUZZYTwitter - https://x.com/BZweibelsonMore from Underground StrategyDiscover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.