The Burn Bag Podcast
We’re here to redefine how scholars and policymakers approach national security and foreign policy. Join us, as we make sense of a world in crisis.
Episodes
309 episodes
The Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on Religion and Politics, Gaza, LGBTQ+ Rights, and Christian Nationalism
This week, A'ndre welcomes a unique guest: The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Some of our audience may recall Bishop Curry's captivating sermon during the 2018 Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle....
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23:43
Hezbollah: Understanding the Lebanese Militant Group after Nasrallah's Death with Dr. Matthew Levitt
Following Israel's targeted killing of Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah, the pager explosions, and the ongoing escalation in Southern Lebanon, A'ndre sat down with Dr. Matthew Levitt from the Washington Institute to discuss anything and everyth...
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49:42
Why Israel Failed: Did a Security Lifestyle Lead to October 7th? Has Hamas Won the War in Gaza? with Professor Uri Bar-Joseph
The Burn Bag will be covering the Israel-Gaza War over the course of several episodes, sourcing multiple perspectives on the conflict. The Burn Bag does not officially endorse any views expressed by our guests, but rather brings those persp...
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1:01:44
What in the World? The Quad: The Indo-Pacific Partnership Between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia featuring Aman Thakker
On Saturday, President Joe Biden will host the leaders of India, Japan, and Australia in Wilmington, Delaware, for his final Quad summit. What is the Quad? To explore this four-way partnership and preview the summit, A'ndre is j...
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46:20
Foreign Agents: The U.S. Lawmakers, Experts, and Insiders Lobbying for Foreign Governments with Casey Michel, Author of "Foreign Agents"
A powerful U.S. Senator. A leading aide to the New York Governor. A leading Korea expert. All prominent figures in the last several months who have been accused of being foreign agents, working on behalf of foreign governments to influence ...
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53:46
We Are Bellingcat: Uncovering War Crimes, Investigating Autocrats, and Citizen Journalism's Future with Eliot Higgins, Founder of Bellingcat
This week, A'ndre chatted with Eliot Higgins, an award-winning journalist who founded the citizen journalism outlet Bellingcat, a fact-checking platform utilizing open-source intelligence focusing on international affairs. Eliot talks ...
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1:00:44
Punishing Putin: Assessing the Unprecedented Economic War on Russia with Bloomberg Reporter Stephanie Baker
Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Within hours, the U.S. and allies coordinated a shadow-war – using the tools of economic statecraft – to bring the heat down on Moscow. That shadow-war is the subject of this...
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46:27
Afghan Technologist Sara Wahedi: How her App Saved Lives and Reflections on Women's Rights since the Taliban Takeover
This week, A'ndre chatted with Sara Wahedi, an award-winning Afghan technologist and humanitarian who created Ehtesab, a crisis notification app that has provided Kabul residents in Afghanistan with real-time emergency alerts. A'ndre and Sara c...
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1:14:39
What In The World? Venezuela's 2024 Election Crisis and Maduro's Gambit to Stay in Power, featuring Gabriela Saade
The Burn Bag returns after a brief hiatus, and we're bringing back "What in the World?" A series where A'ndre talks about ongoing current events with other youthful foreign policy professionals, experts, and geeks.This week, A'...
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44:11
The Righteous Arrows: The Soviet-Afghan War and the Arming of the Mujahideen with Brian Morra, Retired Air Force Intelligence Oficer
This week, A'ndre welcomed back to The Burn Bag Brian Morra, a retired Air Force Intelligence Officer and the author of The Righteous Arrows, a fictionalized account of U.S. proxy efforts during the Soviet-Afghan War...
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59:20
Counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan: New USIP Report on the Threat Matrix with Co-Chairs LTG (Ret.) Michael Nagata and Laurel Miller
This week, A’ndre and Andrea speak with former SOF-CENTCOM commander LTG Michael Nagata and former senior State Department official Laurel Miller on a recent USIP report on counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan. LTG Nagata and Laur...
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49:42
Creating intelligence: Open Source in Action with Arctic Competition Research featuring Eric and Greg Levesque, Co-Founders at Strider Technologies
This week, Andrew interviews Eric and Greg Levesque, co-founders of Strider Technologies. Strider is a tech company that utilizes open-source data and AI methodologies to provide strategic intelligence to governments, corporations, and research...
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34:51
The NATO Youth Summit: Interviews with Key Leaders and Partners in Miami, FL
Last week, co-hosts Andrea Ochoa and Christina Oh attended the 2024 NATO Youth Summit, which was a collaborative event hosted by NATO, The Aspen Institute, Aspen Institute Romania, the Swedish Defence University and the Swedish Civil Contingenc...
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59:20
Genocide: Frameworks, Examples in Modern Warfare, and Reconciliation with Dr. Gregory Stanton, Founder of Genocide Watch
This week, A'ndre and Andrew interview Dr. Gregory Stanton, founder of Genocide Watch on the process of genocide, genocide in modern warfare, and efforts towards reconciliation. Dr. Stanton has been a key figure in the genocide prevention movem...
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53:45
Former DNI Jim Clapper on the War in Gaza, Israel-Iran, and the Crisis in the Middle East
This week, A'ndre chatted with former Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper on the recent strikes exchanged between Israel and Iran, Israel's conduct in Gaza, and the broader regional dynamics at play. Director Clapper, who served as DN...
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51:04
The CIA's Master of Disguise: Jonna Mendez Talks the Art of Deception and Illusion During the Cold War
In this episode, A'ndre and Andrea welcome Jonna Mendez, a distinguished former Chief of Disguise in the CIA's Office of Technical Service, for an intriguing discussion on espionage, disguise, and Jonna's groundbreaking career. Known for her ro...
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54:14
Is TikTok a Threat? Data Sovereignty, Algorithmic Influence, and the China Factor with Lindsay Gorman, Senior Fellow at GMF Tech
This week, A'ndre is joined by Lindsay Gorman, the Managing Director & Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund’s GMF Tech, to delve into the controversies surrounding TikTok and its implications for national security. Lindsay sheds light ...
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54:04
Crisis in Haiti: A Primer on the Country's Violent Flashpoint with Sophie Rutenbar, Visiting Fellow at Brookings
This week, Christina interviews Sophie Rutenbar (she/her), a visiting fellow in the Brookings Strobe Talbott Center and a Visiting Scholar at New York University's Center on International Cooperation, on the current crisis in Haiti and the emer...
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32:40
ISIS Attacks Russia: Dissecting the Terror Attack at a Moscow Concert Hall with fmr. Counterterrorism Official Javed Ali
This week, A'ndre is joined by Javed Ali, a former counterterrorism official who served as Senior Director of Counterterrorism on the National Security Council, to discuss Friday's horrific ISIS terror attacks at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow,...
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33:59
Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Israel-Gaza, Russia-Ukraine, China, and the 2024 Presidential Election
This week, A'ndre chatted with former Secretary of Defense (and CIA Director, and Chief of Staff, and Congressman!) Leon Panetta on a litany of key national security and foreign policy topics relating to the Israel-Gaza War, Russia-Ukraine, the...
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48:04
The Israel-Gaza War: Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on a Path to Peace
The Burn Bag will be covering the Israel-Gaza War over the course of several episodes, sourcing multiple perspectives on the conflict. The Burn Bag does not officially endorse any views expressed by our guests, but rather bring those perspe...
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54:58
Pakistan's Elections: Imran Khan, the Military, and a Game of Thrones with Uzair Younus, Principal at The Asia Group
NOTE: Shebhaz Sharif, brother of Nawaz Sharif, was sworn in as Prime Minister on 3/4. This episode was recorded several days before, on 2/29.This week, A'ndre chatted with Uzair Younus, Principal at The Asia Group and host of <...
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1:04:55
The Current and Future State of Geospatial Intelligence with Dave Sterling, CEO of Royce Geo
This week, Andrew is joined by Dave Sterling, CEO of Royce Geo. Royce Geo, based in Arlington, Virginia, supports mission partners in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community with geospatial analytics and training platforms. Andrew ...
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35:53
Bonnie Glaser on Taiwan: Why is it a Flashpoint in U.S.-China Relations?
This week, A'ndre chatted with Bonnie Glaser, one of the country's premier Taiwan experts and the Managing Director of the German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific program, on all things related to Taiwan. Bonnie provides a quick overview of Taiwan'...
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46:09
"God, Guns, and Sedition:" Looking at Far-Right Terrorism in America with Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware
This week, Andrea and Andrew sit down with Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware to discuss their new book God, Guns, and Sedition. Hoffman and Ware are both fellows at the Council on Foreign Relations specializing in counterterrorism and share...
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54:22