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National Security This Week

by Jon Olson | KYMN News

Host Jon Olson, US Navy (Ret.) Interviews different experts to learn about current and historical events with a focus on national security. Topic's include: the economy, climate change, cyber security, nuclear weapons, intelligence operations, and more. New episodes released Wednesdays.

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Episodes

  1. National Security This Week with Tom Hanson, 12-27-23

    For his final episode, host Jon Olson talks with Tom Hanson, Diplomat-in-Residence at the Alworth School at the University of Minnesota - Duluth, about the state of global affairs at the end of 2023. Hanson was also the show's very first guest in January 2020.

  2. National Security This Week with Dr. Jennifer Wistrand, 12-20-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Jennifer Wistrand, Deputy Director of the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, about Central Asia and the Caucasus region.

  3. National Security This Week with Dr. Constanze Stelzenmueller, 12-13-23

    This week, host Jon Olson welcomes Dr. Constanze Stelzenmueller from the Brookings Institution. They discuss EU and NATO security policy, the trans-Atlantic partnerships, and Germany’s evolving security policies.

  4. National Security This Week with Authors JJ Harrigan, David Bruns, and David McCloskey (National Security Thrillers), 12-6-23

    Host Jon Olson's guests are noted authors JJ Harrigan, David Bruns, and David McCloskey. They discuss the intersection of national security thriller novels and actual national security challenges and opportunities. JJ Harrigan is former state department Foreign Service Officer and was a political...

  5. National Security This Week with Dr. Jeff Mankoff, 11-29-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Jeff Mankoff from the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, DC. They discuss Central Asia, with a focus on the role Kazakhstan plays in the region.

  6. National Security This Week with Devry Boughner Vorwerk, CEO of DevryBV Sustainable Strategies, 11-22-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Devry Boughner Vorwerk, CEO of DevryBV Sustainable Strategies about the nexus of food security and national security.

  7. National Security This Week with Christopher Townsend, 11-15-23

    This week's guest is Christopher Townsend, President of the Navy League of the United States. He and Host Jon Olson discuss the maritime services and American national security interests in the maritime arena.

  8. National Security This Week with Yuki Tatsumi, 11-8-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Yuki Tatsumi from the Stimson Center about Japan’s defense policy and both challenges and opportunities for Japan in the Indo-Pacific region.

  9. National Security This Week with Esfandyar Batmanghelidj and Temur Umarov, 11-1-23

    This week, host Jon Olson talks with Esfandyar Batmanghelidj and Temur Umarov about the strategic significance of the Central Asian Republics.

  10. National Security This Week with Dr Sylvain Leblanc and Dr. Sean Costigan, 10-25-23

    This week live from the 13th Annual Cyber Security Summit in Bloomington, Minnesota, host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Sylvain Leblanc and Dr. Sean Costigan about cyber operations and national security.

  11. National Security This Week with Elisabeth Braw of the American Enterprise Institute, 10-18-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Elisabeth Braw of the American Enterprise Institute about Sweden’s bid to join the NATO Alliance, among other topics with a world in turmoil.

  12. National Security This Week with Professor Greg Marfleet - Situation in the Middle East, 10-11-23

    Host Jon Olson and Carleton College Political Science Professor Greg Marfleet discuss the current situation in the Middle East.

  13. Human Augmentation with Dr. Marina Miron of King's College, 10-4-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Marina Miron from King’s College London about human augmentation and the potential impacts in the national security arena.

  14. National Security This Week with Erin Sikorsky, Director of the Center for Climate and Security, 9-27-23

    This week, host Jon Olson's guest is Erin Sikorsky, Director of the Center for Climate and Security, and they discuss the nexus of climate change and American national security interests.

  15. National Security This Week with Dr. Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, 9-20-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Vasileios Karagiannopoulos about cyber security, the role of cyber in the defense of Ukraine, and a phenomenon called “Hacktivism.”

  16. National Security This Week with Professor Rajan Menon, 9-13-23

    Host Jon Olson and Professor Rajan Menon discuss the critical importance of the Global South, and the rise of a new “non-aligned movement” around the world.

  17. National Security This Week with Dr. Ryan Berg, 9-6-23

    This week, host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Ryan Berg, who heads the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). They discuss an American Grand Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean.

  18. National Security This Week with St. Olaf Political Science Professor Anthony Lott, 8-30-23

    Host Jon Olson and Professor Anthony Lott from the Department of Political Science at the College of St. Olaf discuss current crisis areas around the world.

  19. National Security This Week with James Borton, 8-22-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with James Borton, Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) about environmental security in the South China Sea.

  20. National Security This Week with Mark Cozad from the Rand Corporation, 8-16-23

    Host Jon Olson and Mark Cozad from the RAND Corporation discuss two major studies RAND completed on the People’s Liberation Army, and on China’s foreign policy calculations inside the Great Power Competition framework.

  21. National Security This Week with Steve Andreasen, 8-9-23

    Host Jon Olson and Steve Andreasen from the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis and civil war in Ethiopia.

  22. National Security This Week with Professor Michael Kimmage, 8-2-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Professor Michael Kimmage from Catholic University about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what to make of current Russian political leadership.

  23. National Security This Week with Star Tribune editorial writer and columnist John Rash, 7-26-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Star Tribune editorial writer and columnist John Rash about journalism and national security.

  24. National Security with Retired US Army General Joseph Votel, 7-19-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with retired US Army General Joseph Votel, who commanded both US Special Operations Command and US Central Command. He now leads Business Executives for National Security (BENS). They discuss a variety of national security challenges and opportunities, including how BENS…

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  25. National Security This Week with Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, 7-12-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the economic think tank Bourse and Bazaar Foundation, about Iran and broader relations across the Middle East and Central Asia.

  26. National Security This Week with Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, 7-5-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass. As the senior enlisted leader in the US Air Force, she advises the Secretary of the US Air Force, and the Chief of Staff of the US Air Force on all matters related to the 600,000 Airmen who serve the United States.

  27. National Security This Week with retired US Army Colonel Chris Costa, 6-28-23

    Host Jon Olson's guest is retired US Army Colonel Chris Costa, Executive Director of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. They discuss the spy museum, his career in the field of Human Intelligence, and current events.

  28. National Security This Week with Dr. Marina Miron, 6-21-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Marina Miron from King’s College London. They discuss the use of unmanned platforms for both domestic and international operations, and the implications of proliferation and expanded capabilities in this rapidly advancing technology area.

  29. National Security This Week with Fidel Amakye Owusu, 6-14-23

    Host Jon Olson talks with Fidel Amakye Owusu live from Accra, Ghana and they discuss Salafi Jihadist terrorism in the Sahel.

  30. National Security This Week with Professor Christopher Tounsel from the University of Washington, 6-7-23

    This week, Jon Olson's guest is Professor Christopher Tounsel from the University of Washington and they discuss the ongoing crisis and civil war in Sudan.

  31. The Role of the United States War Colleges with Edmund Zukowski and Col. Chad Jagmin (5/31/23)

    Host Jon Olson talks with Colonel Chad Jagmin, the Director of Wargaming at the US Army War College, and Mr. Edmund “Cliffy” Zukowski, the Director for the International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise about the role - and the importance - of the United States War Colleges.

  32. The Islamic Republic of Iran with Professor Brenda Shaffer from the US Naval Postgraduate School

    Host Jon Olson talks with Professor Brenda Shaffer of the United States Naval Postgraduate School about the US' turbulent relationship with Iran, and how that country's government relates to both the rest of the world and its own people.

  33. Soft Power with Daniel Runde, author of 'The American Imperative' (5/17/23)

    Host Jon Olson talks with Daniel Runde from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and we discuss American soft power and his new book, The American Imperative.

  34. Sweden and NATO with Ambassador Karin Olofsdotter, the Swedish Ambassador to the U.S. (5/10/23)

    Host Jon Olson talks with Ambassador Karin Olofsdotter, the Swedish Ambassador to the United States, about the Swedish form of government, its culture, and the country's entry into NATO.

  35. National Security This Week with retired US Navy Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet (5/3/23)

    Host Jon Olson talks with retired US Navy Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, former Oceanographer of the Navy and former Acting Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere/NOAA Administrator about the role the world’s oceans play in American national security interests.

  36. National Security This Week with Hamdullah Baycar and Nick Hayen (4/26/23)

    Host Jon Olson's guests are Hamdullah Baycar and Nick Hayen, who recently visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of a research program with the Middle East Policy Institute. They discuss what they saw and heard on that trip, and broader regional security topics.

  37. National Security This Week with Commander Andrea Cameron (4/19/23)

    Host Jon Olson's guest this week is Commander Andrea Cameron from the US Naval War College. They discuss the nexus of climate change and national security, along with the work she’s doing with America’s NATO allies.

  38. National Security This Week with former CIA Director John Brennan (4/13/23)

    During this special edition of National Security This Week, host Jon Olson talks with former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Brennan. They take a deep dive into the CIA and discuss crises around the world.

  39. National Security This Week with Dana Priest of the Washington Post (4/5/23)

    Host Jon Olson and Washington Post reporter Dana Priest discuss the role the press plays in holding government accountable to the American people for national security policy and actions.

  40. National Security This Week with Professor Steve Andreasen (3/29/23)

    Host Jon Olson talks with Humphrey School of Public Affairs professor Steve Andreasen about the US National Security Council and numerous crises around the world.

  41. National Security This Week with FBI intelligence analysts Chris Tatarka and Jon Watson (3/22/23)

    Host Jon Olson's guests this week are FBI intelligence analysts Chris Tatarka and Jon Watson from the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. They discuss the FBI’s role as a member of the US Intelligence Community.

  42. International security interests in the Arctic with Ambassador Marie Anne Coninsx (3/15/23)

    Host Jon Olson talks with former European Union Ambassador for the Arctic and current Senior Fellow at the Egmont Institute, Marie Anne Coninsx, about the safety, economic, demographic, environmental, and security dynamics of the Arctic region.

  43. National Security This Week with Professor Ryan Gingeras, (3/8/23)

    Host Jon Olson and Professor Ryan Gingeras from the US Naval Post-Graduate School discuss the many facets of Turkey and Greece’s fractured relationship, among other topics.

  44. National Security This Week with St. Olaf Professor Anthony Lott, (3/1/23)

    Host Jon Olson and St. Olaf College Professor Anthony Lott discuss current crises around the world.

  45. National Security This Week with Professor Jen Spindel and Dr. Raymond Kuo, (2/22/23)

    Professor Jen Spindel and Dr. Raymond Kuo discuss the effectiveness of arms embargoes with Host Jon Olson.

  46. The role of women in conflict zones with Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese (2/15/23)

    Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese, a senior fellow with Women in International Security, about the role of women in conflict zones, and more broadly in peace and security

  47. National Security This Week with Jun Jie Phang from the Embassy of Singapore in Washington, DC., (2/8/23)

    This week's guest with host Jon Olson is Jun Jie Phang from the Embassy of Singapore in Washington, DC. They discuss the politics, economy, and security challenges and opportunities for Singapore.

  48. The American/Australian security partnership with Dr. John Blaxland of Australian National University in Canberra, Australia (2/1/23)

    Host Jon Olson discusses Australia’s national security concerns and partnerships with the United States with Dr. John Blaxland from Australian National University.

  49. Russia's long history with Ukraine with Professor Michael Kimmage (1/18/23)

    Host Jon Olson is in Washington, DC and talks with Professor Michael Kimmage from Catholic University about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

  50. Russia's intelligence miscalculations and failures regarding the invasion of Ukraine with Dr. David Gioe, Dr. Huw Dylan, and Elena Grossfeld (1/25/23)

    Dr. David Gioe, Dr. Huw Dylan, and Elena Grossfeld (authors of "The Autocrat's Intelligence Paradox" join host Jon Olson to discuss Russian intelligence - and really Vladimir Putin's - failures in the invasion of Ukraine, as well as the future of the conflict.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Host Jon Olson, US Navy (Ret.) Interviews different experts to learn about current and historical events with a focus on national security. Topic's include: the economy, climate change, cyber security, nuclear weapons, intelligence operations, and more. New episodes released Wednesdays.

HOSTED BY

Jon Olson | KYMN News

Produced by KYMN News | Jon Olson

CATEGORIES

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does National Security This Week have?

National Security This Week currently has 152 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is National Security This Week about?

Host Jon Olson, US Navy (Ret.) Interviews different experts to learn about current and historical events with a focus on national security. Topic's include: the economy, climate change, cyber security, nuclear weapons, intelligence operations, and more. New episodes released Wednesdays.

How often does National Security This Week release new episodes?

National Security This Week publishes regularly with 152 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to National Security This Week?

You can listen to National Security This Week on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts National Security This Week?

National Security This Week is created and hosted by Jon Olson | KYMN News.
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