Goat Rodeo #20 ft. Alex Martin – Clearspeed, Polygraphs, and the Art of the Pivot

This Week: We’re joined by Alex Martin, CEO of Clearspeed—a voice-based risk screening company that’s been quietly making waves in national security, intelligence, and defense. A fellow Marine and GWOT-era vet, Alex has seen firsthand how hard it is to stay on mission when DoD priorities shift and contracting obstacles pile up.  We talk with Alex about the limitations of legacy tools like the polygraph, why trust and deterrence still matter, and how screening technology is evolving. The conversation also hits on the improving landscape for defense tech venture funding, the frustrating imbalance between commercial incentives and national priorities, and why it’s time more technical talent picked mission over margin. The crew also digs into legacy primes falling behind, new questions on Army procurement power, and Simon’s latest from Capitol Hill. It’s a full house—and this time, it’s all Marines. Our Podcast:  National security, defense tech, and geopolitics—serious topics, but that doesn’t mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare.  Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take—because let’s be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo. Listen on other platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mTJ1oJEgB3rCbQouCL7XD?si=fd69212e4e3a42ba   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/goat-rodeo/id1801310605   YouTube: youtube.com/@GoatRodeoPodcast