How to Build a Flying Ebola Hospital

from Statecraft · host Santi Ruiz

I’ve been trying to get a conversation with today’s interviewee, Eric Van Gieson, PhD, since March. Van Gieson is a remarkable character, with a crazy CV: more than 25 years of experience in developing medical technology, and stints at multiple federal agencies including DARPA.A lot of people have spilled a lot of ink discussing what went wrong during COVID, but I think what Van Gieson lays out here is close to a comprehensive account of the reasons we blew it, and how not to blow it in the future.We discuss:* Why is the federal “pandemic preparedness” apparatus so sprawling?* Why haven’t we learned from COVID mistakes, or even run reviews on what went wrong?* How would you revamp the federal apparatus to be ready for the next pandemic?* We don’t test whether generic drugs can fight pathogens. Why not??* How did Van Gieson and colleagues ship a flying Ebola hospital in 6 weeks?* How can we make sure DARPA-developed biotech doesn’t end up in the hands of adversaries? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.statecraft.pub

NOW PLAYING

0:00 1:07:12

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Secrets of Spin with Media Maestro David Yelland | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution

Jul 7, 2026 ·56m

The Chekist Craft, Part III: What Moscow Knew Before Barbarossa: The SVR's own official history of 1933–1941 documents a service that recruited well, collected precisely, and still failed to stop the surprise it foresaw.

Jul 3, 2026 ·18m

የአንድ ቃል ስውር ታሪክ

Jun 30, 2026 ·6m

The Chekist Craft: How Soviet Intelligence Learned to Deceive the World

Jun 28, 2026 ·19m

Andrew Henderson: Why the Nomad Capitalist Founder Quit America

Jun 27, 2026 ·58m

Why Russia Treats Intelligence as a Pillar of State, Not a Support Function

Jun 20, 2026 ·18m

Similar Podcasts

The History of China Podcast Ibnul Jaif Farabi / Light Knot Studios What does the world's oldest continuous civilization, with over 3,000 years of recorded history, have to teach us about power, philosophy, innovation, and human nature? "The History of China Podcast" delivers the epic saga of China in accessible, daily chapters, transforming a vast and complex past into a compelling narrative you can absorb in just minutes a day.This show chronicles the full sweep of China's story, from the mythical Xia Dynasty to the rise of the modern superpower. We explore the dazzling heights of Tang poetry and Song technology, the brutal calculus of Legalist statecraft, and the quiet wisdom of Daoist sages. Each episode focuses on a pivotal event, a transformative figure, or a defining idea—whether it's the construction of the Great Wall, the mind of Empress Wu, or the invention of paper money—weaving them into the grand tapestry of the dynastic cycle. The tone is authoritative yet vividly human, making emperors, poets, and peasants alike feel immediate and real. Samael's Podcast Samael's Podcast Welcome to Samael, a daily research-intensive podcast series that conducts an "intellectual archaeology" of the Horn of Africa by synthesizing diverse disciplines such as genetics, linguistics, and mythology. The publication moves beyond traditional nationalist narratives to explore the deep-seated identities of Ethiopia and its neighbors, utilizing sources ranging from Ge’ez and Sabaean texts to modern DNA haplogroup data. By examining a wide array of topics—including Aksumite statecraft, Cushitic cosmologies, and medieval hydro-diplomacy—Arcielss reclaims lost narratives and positions the region as a central hub of civilizational innovation rather than a historical periphery. www.samael.ink The Institute of World Politics The Institute of World Politics The Institute of World Politics is a graduate school of national security and international affairs, dedicated to developing leaders with a sound understanding of international realities and the ethical conduct of statecraft, based on knowledge and appreciation of the principles of the American political economy and the Western moral tradition.**Please note that the views expressed by our guest lecturers do not necessarily reflect the views of The Institute of World Politics.** Small World, Big Problems JHU SAIS Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies Small World, Big Problems – a SAIS Strategy Podcast. A SAIS student podcast supported by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies. In Small World, Big Problems, we ask the experts about the biggest challenges in the world of strategy and national security. It’s a small world, and it’s only getting smaller. But it seems like every day, there is a new problem on the horizon: great power conflict, political extremism, climate change – the list goes on and on. In this student podcast sponsored by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, we ask leading experts in the fields of national security, strategy, and statecraft about what problems the world is facing and, more importantly, how to solve them. Please address any questions to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Statecraft?

This episode is 1 hour and 7 minutes long.

When was this Statecraft episode published?

This episode was published on November 27, 2024.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this Statecraft episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!