The Focus

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.