The Team House

Death Is Our Business: Inside the Wagner Group | John Lechner | Ep. 331

Mar 8, 2025

John Lechner, journalist and author specializing in Russia and Africa, dives deep into the mystique of the Wagner Group. He discusses their influence in conflict zones, particularly in Central Africa, and highlights the group's recruitment tactics. Lechner shares compelling stories about the intersection of language and cultures, drawing on his many linguistic skills. The conversation also touches on the political manipulations and profit-driven activities of private military contractors, revealing their complex role in modern warfare.

02:00:09

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Episode guests

John Lechner

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The Wagner Group has expanded its influence in conflict zones like Ukraine, leveraging diverse recruiting strategies including the prison population.

Private military companies like Wagner operate at the intersection of state and commercial interests, creating complexities in conflict dynamics.

Wagner's operations in Africa, particularly in the Central African Republic, show a strategy of securing resources in exchange for security services.

The recent mutiny within Wagner highlights the fragile power structures in Russia's military-industrial complex, affecting the group's autonomy and future.

Deep dives

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Intro

2min

Financial Struggles and Intriguing Narratives

4min

The Intersection of Languages and Cultures: A Personal Journey

2min

Navigating International Journalism in Conflict Zones

6min

The Interplay of Conflict and Benefit in Modern Warfare

3min

A Dive into Minimalism and the Rise of Purgosian

5min

From Catering to Conflict: The Rise of Mercenary Power

14min

Comfort Meets Style: The Jeans Revolution

4min

Wagner Group: Profit and Power in Syria

17min

10.

The Wagner Group: Political Manipulation and Mercenary Operations

5min

11.

Entrepreneurial Ventures and Mercenary Mishaps

15min

12.

Modern Mercenaries: Lessons from History

7min

13.

Echoes of Empire: PMCs in Modern Conflicts

15min

14.

Power Plays and Paradoxes

9min

15.

Wagner Group: Loyalty, Betrayal, and Geopolitical Impact

12min

16.

The Role of Private Military Companies in Modern Conflict

5min

17.

Exploring 'Death Is Our Business'

4min

18.

Support and Tax Insights

9min

John graduated from the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. At Georgetown, John focused on security issues in Central Africa and the Sahel; Turkey; Russia, and the former Soviet Union. He is an expert on Russia’s growing influence in Africa. He speaks fluent Russian; advanced French, Turkish, and Georgian; and conversational Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian (BCS), Chechen, German, and Sango (the lingua franca of the Central African Republic).

Get John's book "Death Is Our Business" about the Wagner group here:
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Our-Business-Russian-Mercenaries/dp/1639733361
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The Team House

Death Is Our Business: Inside the Wagner Group | John Lechner | Ep. 331

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Design of the 2025 Nissan Murano

Expansion of the Wagner Group

The Financial Strain on Individuals

The Rise of the Private Military Company Model

Debate Over the Utility of PMCs

Wagner's Involvement in Africa

The Aftermath of the Wagner Mutiny

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The Team House

Death Is Our Business: Inside the Wagner Group | John Lechner | Ep. 331

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Design of the 2025 Nissan Murano

Expansion of the Wagner Group

The Financial Strain on Individuals

The Rise of the Private Military Company Model

Debate Over the Utility of PMCs

Wagner's Involvement in Africa

The Aftermath of the Wagner Mutiny

Get the Snipdpodcast app

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Save anymoment

Share& Export

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Discoverhighlights

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highlights

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