School of War
Nebulous Media
This podcast seeks to learn what war teaches. There has been a steady decline in the study of military history and its associated theoretical discipline, strategy.This podcast seeks to fill that gap through in-depth interviews on military and diplomatic history. Our guests have included former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Cold War historian John Lewis Gaddis, and former China Select Committee chairman Mike Gallagher. We discuss the battlefield commanders, diplomats, strategists, policymakers, and statesmen who have had to make wartime decisions in the ancient and modern eras. The subject of an episode may be an historical battle, campaign, or conflict; the conduct of policy in the course of a major international incident; the work of a famous strategist; the nature of a famous weapon; or the legacy of an important military commander or political leader. Aaron MacLean is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He has worked as a foreign policy advisor and legislative director to Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and spent seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps.Visit our Substack for episode transcriptsFollow along on Instagram
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 26, 2023 • 52min
Ep 91: Paul Rahe on Sparta’s Grand Strategy
Paul Rahe, Charles O. Lee and Louise K. Lee Chair in the Western Heritage at Hillsdale College, and author of Sparta's Sicilian Proxy War: The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta, 418-413 BC, joins the show to talk about proxy wars, the strategy of Sparta, and the role of regimes in the shaping of foreign policy.▪️Times • 01:37 Introduction • 06:43 Donald Kagan • 08:32 The Spartan point of view • 11:59 Why change the perspective? • 17:30 Sparta’s goals • 24:59 Why does Sparta matter? • 31:56 “Putin’s completely irrational” • 33:56 Is Realism dangerous? • 39:17 Why do the Athenians go to Sicily? • 44:35 Alcibiades • 47:06 Could the Athenians have won? • 49:11 The significance of victoryFollow along on InstagramFind a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack
Sep 19, 2023 • 48min
Ep 90: Andrew Krepinevich on Military Revolutions
Andrew Krepinevich, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and author of The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers, discusses military revolutions, force protection, technological change, and adaptation in the military. Topics include Andy Marshall's approach to net assessment, the Russian perspective on military revolutions, the rapid pace of technological change in warfare, and the importance of adaptation and institutional capacity.
Sep 12, 2023 • 54min
Ep 89: Mick Ryan on Ukraine, Taiwan, and Future War
Mick Ryan, retired Major General in the Australian Army and author of White Sun War, discusses the war in Ukraine and the potential war in Taiwan. Topics include China's impact on Australia, Ukrainian progress, China's strategies, past wars, and Ryan's book.
Sep 5, 2023 • 45min
Ep 88: John H. Maurer on Alfred Thayer Mahan (New Makers of Modern Strategy #10)
John H. Maurer, the Alfred Thayer Mahan Professor of Sea Power and Grand Strategy at the Naval War College and contributor to New Makers of Modern Strategy, joins the show to talk about Mahan and his relevance today.▪️Times • 01:30 Introduction • 02:06 Mahan struck from the syllabus • 06:30 Early writings • 09:19 Looking out at the world • 12:17 Six elements of seapower • 15:01 Arming for peace • 20:35 Corbett • 22:54 The 18th century • 29:49 A political scientist • 35:10 Where might one go wrong? • 39:03 Free security • 42:26 Who should we be reading? Follow along on Instagramhttp://schoolofwar.substack.com
Aug 29, 2023 • 1h 2min
Ep 87: Wayne Lee on Native American Warfare
Wayne Lee, Bruce W. Carney Distinguished Professor of History at UNC and author of The Cutting-Off Way: Indigenous Warfare in Eastern North America, 1500-1800, joins the show to talk about war in the ‘Eastern Woodlands’, both before and after European contact.▪️Times • 01:48 Introduction • 02:50 Coincidences • 07:19 “Woods and rivers, deer and rabbits, corn and beans” • 12:51 Unused land • 19:29 Sacred spaces • 21:56 Strategic objectives • 28:35 Why not occupy? • 32:50 Logistics • 41:57 The role of the prisoner • 49:10 Something like the truth • 54:34 Offense and defenseFollow along on Instagram
Aug 22, 2023 • 56min
Ep 86: David Betz on Ukraine’s Counteroffensive and Russia’s Defense
David Betz, Professor of War in the Modern World at King’s College London, joins the show to talk about what the status of the Ukrainian counteroffensive has to teach us about the enduring relevance of fortifications and the defense as a form of war.▪️Times • 02:02 Introduction • 02:16 Modern War • 03:36 Counteroffensive progress • 06:08 Tracking events • 11:08 Russia’s defensive scheme • 23:07 Fortified strategic complex • 32:9 Maginot reconsidered • 40:47 The pendulum • 48:07 What if… To read the article discussed on this episode click the link -Russian fortifications present an old problem for Ukraine - JULY 20, 2023 DAVID J BETZFollow along on Instagram
Aug 15, 2023 • 36min
Ep 85: Antulio J. Echevarria on Jomini (New Makers of Modern Strategy #9)
Antulio J. Echevarria, General Douglas MacArthur Chair of Research at the U.S. Army War College and a contributor to New Makers of Modern Strategy, joins the show to talk about one of the most influential military thinkers of the modern age, Antoine-Henri Jomini. ▪️Times • 01:55 Introduction • 02:22 Who was Jomini? • 06:13 A charlatan? • 08:57 Summary of the Art of War • 11:50 Clausewitz vs Jomini • 14:26 The center of gravity • 16:03 Lines of operation • 21:21 Regard for the enemy • 24:44 Interpreting Napoleon • 28:09 Mahan and Jomini • 30:47 Air power • 31:55 Clausewitz revival • 34:02 Jomini today
20 snips
Aug 8, 2023 • 44min
Ep 84: Mike Gallagher on the Korean War and Confronting China Today
Mike Gallagher, U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 8th district and Chair of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition with China, shares insights on the Korean War's relevance to today's geopolitics. He discusses the historical impacts of U.S. military strategy and how lessons from the war can inform current tensions with China. Gallagher emphasizes the significance of military preparedness and the role of diplomatic narratives in understanding the complexities of international relations, particularly amid rising Chinese influence.
Aug 1, 2023 • 43min
Ep 84: B. Rivera and M. McGrath on John Boyd
Mark McGrath and Brian Rivera, hosts of the No Way Out podcast, join the show to talk about strategist John Boyd. ▪️Times • 02:09 Introduction • 02:59 Who was John Boyd? • 06:03 “40 Second” Boyd • 08:05 Air to air combat • 09:45 OODA Loop • 14:20 Getting inside the enemy’s loop • 18:44 Fast transients • 21:41 Patterns of Conflict • 26:27 Military reformer • 29:46 Blitzkrieg and Entebbe • 37:43 DetractorsFollow along on InstagramFor more on John Boyd and from Mark and Brian check out the No Way Out Podcast
20 snips
Jul 25, 2023 • 48min
Ep 83: Aaron O’Connell on 'Geopolitics 101'
Aaron O’Connell, Associate Professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin, joins the show to talk about the “founding fathers” of 20th century geopolitical thought: Mahan, Mackinder, and Spykman. ▪️Times • 01:46 Introduction • 02:20 From Marine to scholar to the NSC • 06:24 Alfred T. Mahan • 12:27 Choke points, decisive battle, and battleships • 15:45 Security through imperialism • 18:08 Chinese Mahanians • 20:33 China’s crowded neighborhood • 21:27 Halford Mackinder • 28:56 Heartland rising • 31:36 Inner and outer crescent • 33:01 Nicholas Spykman • 37:55 The nature of power • 39:03 Containment • 42:11 The American role • 46:22 The path of partnershipsFollow along on Instagram
