Earlylands in Conversation

For this episode of the podcast we go back to Ukraine. Our guest today sets a new standard for what a highly intelligent, motivated, and deeply patriotic young person can do. Although only 25-years old, Maryna Hrytsenko has established herself as one of the leading advocates for Ukraine and its military in the global halls of power. She is a co-founder of the Snake Island Institute (SII), which in the matter of less than two years has become Ukraine’s leading security-focused think tank and also plays a hands-on role in linking Western defense manufacturers with Ukrainian military units and local Ukrainian defense technology companies. Equally at home in the halls of the US Congress or working alongside Ukraine’s men and women in uniform, Maryna is a force of nature in the very best sense of the phrase and we’re very lucky to have her on the podcast to tell her story.As always, if you enjoy this conversation, please check out our full catalogue of episodes – we have just passed our one-year anniversary – and like and subscribe. Also, we’re now available on YouTube along with all the usual podcast platforms.Publications Mentioned on the Podcast-SII's analytic library-Oleksandr Ivantsov (profile in The Guardian - author of the Ukrainian language Flashback: Mariupol)

For this episode of the podcast we turn our attention back to Africa and roll back the clock to the 19th century. Our guest today is Professor Richard Reid of St. Cross College, Oxford.Richard is a specialist in 19th and 20th century African history and author of the 2025 book The African Revolution: A History of the Long Nineteenth Century. In the book, Richard makes the case for a new lens through which to view African history, notably arguing that the infamous “Scramble for Africa” and the follow-on period of colonialism can’t be understood without an in-depth appreciation of Africa’s own transformative nineteenth century, independent of Europe. The book has met high critical praise ranging from Foreign Affairs calling it an “an authoritative survey” to The Irish Times labelling it “clever, full of ideas and insights and stimulating, as well as provocative.”Books Mentioned in the PodcastThe African Revolution: A History of the Long Nineteenth Century, Richard ReidHow Colonialism Preempted Modernity in Africa, Olúfémi TáíwòViolent Intermediaries: African Soldiers, Conquest, and Everyday Colonialism in German East Africa, Michelle MoydEmpire of Sentiment, Joanna Lewis

Today's episode is out of cycle, but as the issues under discussion are the very essence of timely, we wanted to bring them to you as soon as possible. Our conversation is with Bloomberg's Global Defense Editor Gerry Doyle. Gerry is at the forefront of coverage of the wars in Iran and Ukraine and much else around the world when it comes to defense and security. We go deep on key trends and lessons learned from Iran and also on how the war in Ukraine is changing the global defense industry in locations as varied as Estonia and South Korea. Gerry is also the author of Carrier Killer: China's Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles and Theater of Operations in the early 21st Century.I’m doubly pleased to welcome Gerry to the podcast as we are both proud University of Kansas Jayhawks havinggraduated in the same class long ago – “rock chalk” as they say in Lawrence, Kansas.Books Mentioned in the PodcastCarrier Killer: China's Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles and Theater of Operations in the early 21st Century, Gerry Doyle & Blake HerzingerThe Big Sleep, Raymond ChandlerA Canticle for Leibowitz, Walter M. Miller Jr.

The world of air travel is unquestionably a modern marvel, yet it is also highly complex and brutally competitive. And now, in this period of skyrocketing fuel prices and global hubs shut down because of the spiralling conflict in the Gulf, the sheer difficulty of running a global airline is in sharp focus. Our guest today is well placed to give us insight into this fascinating world. Allan Kilavuka stepped down early this year as Group CEO of Kenya Airways. His six-year tenure leading the airline through the tumult of Covid along with a major restructuring effort provides him unparalleled exposure to the challenges of running a national carrier in a time of global flux. Of course, if you enjoy this and our other episodes, please like and subscribe.Books Mentioned In the PodcastDare to Lead by Brené BrownFooled by Randomness by Nassim TalebHigh Road Leader by John C. Maxwell 

"If you want to understand October 7th, if you want to understand what's happening in current politics in much of the Middle East, certainly in Iran, then the only place to start is the 1970s.” - The Guardian's Jason BurkeSince our last episode, a new conflict has begun in Iran with ramifications not only for the broader Middle East but forthe entire world. We are very fortunate that today’s interview, which we recorded just hours before the first bombs fell on Tehran, is with a guest who is deeply expert on the roots of the conflict. Guardian journalist Jason Burke has reported from Middle East conflict zones for over 30 years and he isalso the author of the hugely successful 2025 book The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s. The book provides an unprecedented account of a period which definitively shaped today’s world and probes the complex relationship between violence, terrorism, and revolution. The book was short-listed for the 2025 Ballie Gifford prize for non-fiction, with the prize committee calling the book “a sweeping, scrupulously reported historical narrative with the pace and suspense of a thriller.” TheRevolutionists also featured on the best of 2025 lists for the Financial Times, The Times, The Economist, The Guardian, and BBC History. If you enjoy this and our other episodes, please like and subscribe.

For this episode we turn our attention back to the ever-evolving topic of European security. Rather than focusing on developments in Ukraine, we instead take a detailed look at the troubling state of the British Army, traditionally one of Europe’s most capable fighting forces and also one that is likely to play a leading role in any European stabilization force in Ukraine. Our guest today is Brigadier Ben Barry, a retired British Army officer who published last year The Rise and Fall of the British Army, 1975–2025. Noted military history Allan Mallinson in reviewing the book called it “an impressively detailed chronicle by an analyst well up to the task. Read it and weep.”Following a 35-year career in the British Army, Ben since 2010 has been a fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London and is the author of a number of highly praised books looking at British Army operations in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Ben is also a visiting professor at the Department of War Studies at King's College London.   Of course, if you enjoy this and our other episodes, please like and subscribe.Books Mentioned In the PodcastBen Barry, The Rise and Fall of the British Army, 1975–2025Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Triumph Peter Elstop, Warriors for the Working DayBarney Campbell, RainHarry Parker, Anatomy of a Soldier

Thousands of people are descending on Cape Town this week for the annual Mining Indaba, one of the industry’s largest annual global gatherings. I doubt any of them would arguewith the assertion that politics, whether it be geopolitics or national level issues, is one of the driving forces impacting the industry. And, while playing host to the Indaba, South Africa is also one country where politics and mining have been deeply intertwined for nearly a century and a half. We are joined today by Simon Freemantle, who is one of the most respected commentators on South Africa’s political economy. In his role as Standard Bank’s Senior Political Economist, Simon’s weekly newsletters are a must read among the investor and political analyst community. Simon has been ranked by Financial Mail as South Africa’s toppolitical analyst for ten consecutive years and he is a frequent speaker at institutions like Oxford and NYU Stern and he is a regular presence in South African and international media.  Of course, if you enjoy this and our other episodes, please like and subscribe.Books mentioned in the episode --The full catalog of Jonny Steinberg -Jeff Wicks, The Shadow State: Why Babita Deokaran Had to Die

“Critical minerals” – a phrase that we hear nearly every day yet one that is too often used with little explanation.  What exactly are critical minerals, where are they found, and why are they so “critical?"   We are joined for this episode by someone who is uniquely well-equipped to help us answer these and many other questions. Journalist Ernest Scheyder is the author of the award-winning book “The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives.” The book was longlisted in 2024 for the National Book Award for Nonfiction and the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book fo the Year. The FT called it “a nuanced and invaluable deep dive into the questions that need to be addressed if we are to fight climate change and achieve energy security.”

2026 has started with a proverbial bang, with the hard realities of military force brought squarely into the headlines with the US operation to seize Nicholas Maduro. And, of course, the grinding war of attrition continues in Ukraine as do conflicts in countries as varied as Sudan and Myanmar. While so much of the media coverage of these wars focuses on the role of technology and the apparent video game-like quality of the contemporary battlefield, our guest today argues that the reality of modern war remains very similar to what was experienced by infantryman throughout the conflicts of the 20th century and even centuries before. Ben Connable is the author of the recently published book, Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War. Thebook serves as a compelling argument against any belief that conflict is now more about joysticks and video screens than it is about the deprivation, fear, and uncertainty that have been associated with ground war since time immemorial. Ben, who holds a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London, is the executive director of the Battle Research Group. He also is an adjunct professor of security studies at Georgetown University and a former senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation.  Ben is a retired Marine Corpsintelligence and Middle East foreign area officer.Books & Documentaries Mentioned on the PodcastGround Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War by Ben ConnableHell in a Very Small Place by Bernard Fall2000 Metres to AndriivkaThe Last 600 Meters

"Orwell himself has become what academics would call a floating signifier. He's escaped from his original grounding like a hot air balloon and gone floating off across the landscapes of the world. And he means virtually anything that anybody wants him to mean." DJ Taylor on the legacy of George OrwellAs we close out 2025, a year that has undoubtedly been one of the most consequential in recent memory, the Earlylands team thought it would be appropriate to have a conversation that could shed light on a man – George Orwell – whose name has become an adjective that is an ever increasing part of daily discourse.We are very fortunate to be joined in this endeavor by DJ Taylor, who is considered Orwell’s leading biographer (in addition to being a highly successful novelist and short story writer). Taylor published in 2023 Orwell: The New Life, which served as a major revision to his previous award-winning work, Orwell: The Life, which was released in 2003. The most recent book received wide critical praise, such as the Wall Street Journal noting that, “Expertly told and subtle in judgment, 'The New Life' will not be the last word in the ever-growing field of Orwelliana, but it will become its central monument.”Of course, please like and subscribe so that you don't miss any of our biweekly episodes.Books mentioned on the podcast:Orwell: The New Life by DJ TaylorOn 1984 by DJ TaylorFinding George Orwell in Burma by Emma LarkinEileen: The Making of George Orwell by Sylvia ToppOrwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit

The release earlier this month of the Trump administration's new National Security Strategy vividly captures the tectonic shifts that are occurring in global affairs. For many observers of the international order, it can feel as if there is no framework or structure to the chaotic period in which we are living. If that opinion resonates with you, then today's guest may be able to offer an analytic lens through which to understand our present state of affairs.Professor Michael Beckley published in the November/December 2025 issue of Foreign Affairs a feature article entitled "The Stagnant Order." In this thoughtful and deeply researched piece, Professor Beckley argues that the “era of power transitions is ending. For the first time in centuries, no country is rising fast enough to overturn the global balance.” Yet while he argues that the likelihood of a global conflict like last century’s world wars is receding, “The age of rising powers is ending, but its immediate aftermath may prove no less violent.” Michael Beckley is an associate professor of political science at Tufts University and a Jeane Kirkpatrick Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. His research on great power competition has received numerous scholarly awards and been featured in a wide variety of leading media outlets. In addition to numerous articles and essays, he is also the author of Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower (2018) and Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict With China (2022).Articles and Books Referenced in the Episode"The Stagnant Order" - Foreign AffairsThe Rise and Fall of Great Powers by Paul KennedyThe Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert GordonWhy the West Rules - For Now by Ian MorrisThe Global Transformation - History, Modernity, and the Making of International Relations by Barry Buzan and George Lawson

Ethiopia is one of the most consequential states on the African continent. With more than 130 million people, one of the largest armies in Africa, and a critical role as a supplier of low-cost power, developments in Ethiopia reverberate far beyond its borders. At the center of the country’s contemporary story is its prime minister, Abiy Ahmed. For this episode we welcome Tom Gardner, The Economist’s Africa correspondent and author of The Abiy Project: God, Power, and War in the New Ethiopia. Foreign Affairs called the book “essential reading,” while the LA Review of Books described it as “groundbreaking.” The book is a critical read for anyone seeking to understand this fascinating country.Books referenced in the podcastThe Wife's Tale: A Personal History by Aida Edemariam - https://tinyurl.com/3pmctm5bOromay by Baaalu Girma - https://tinyurl.com/k7dvpup9

South Africa this month is hosting the G20 summit in Johannesburg, an opportunity for the government of Cyril Ramaphosa to shift the focus from a steady drumbeat of news about the country's highly contentious relations with the US. We are very fortunate to be joined for this episode by prominent analyst of South Africa, Dr. Terence McNamee. Terence published this month in the Christian Science Monitor a cover story entitled “End of the Rainbow?,” a title that bluntly describes a country that he feels has dramatically lost its way. In this conversation we look at what has gone wrong in the Rainbow Nation and also what gives Terence hope about a land and people with such potential.Based in Johannesburg, Terence is a fellow at the Montreal Institute for Global Security. Educated in his native Canada and the UK, he completed a doctorate at the London School of Economics on South Africa’s nuclear weapons program. For more than two decades he led research initiatives and shaped strategy sessions at leading think tanks on two continents – the Royal United Services Institute in London and The Brenthurst Foundation in Johannesburg – that drew presidents, generals, and global CEOs. From 2018-2024 he was a Global Fellow of The Wilson Center in Washington, DC. Articles and Books Mentioned in the Podcast-"End of the Rainbow?" Christian Science Monitor-"My Traitor's Heart" by Rian Malan-"Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah

For episode 15 we welcome Perry Boyle, who has fast established himself as one of the most prominent Western investors – via his firm MITS Capital – in Ukraine’s burgeoning defense industry. Ukrainian defense technology, whether it be highly capable yet low-cost unmanned aerial and ground systems to path-breaking electronic warfare products, isgrabbing the attention of Western investors and highlighting the fact that defense innovation does not need to involve development cycles taking multiple years and tens of millions of dollars of investment. Perry and MITS Capital, and the just launched MITS Industries, is at the leading edge of this trend. Two quick notes – this interview was recorded just a few weeks before President Zelensky announced that the Ukrainian defense industry would be allowed to begin exporting certain types of products. And, finally, while our editing tool has impressive capabilities to cut out background noise, please be advised that this interview was recorded while Perry was in an airport lounge and there are a few moments where the bustle of global travel can be heard in the background.Podcast referenceshttps://mits.capital/https://mits.industries/https://www.boma.ngo/

Christian-Geraud Neema is one of the foremost commentators on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Today we’re excited to discuss with him the DRC's always fascinating and often vexing politics. Geraud wears many hats, including serving as Africa Editor of the China-Global South Project and as a nonresident scholar in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Africa Program. A technical note - because of recording issues, Todd's voice track isn't as clear as usual, but fortunately Geraud's is unimpacted.

"When Putin was a student in the KGB university, he was perfect in a subject called 'verbovka.' In Russian, that means recruiting new agents. So he's perfect in manipulation of people." -Former Latvian President Valdis ZatlersPresident Valdis Zatlers served as Latvia’s head of state from 2007-2011, a period that coincided with the global financial crisis that hit Latvia arguably harder than any country in the world. President Zatlers also was the first and only Latvian leader to visit Moscow on a state visit, where he gained first-hand knowledge of what drives President Putin and how the Russian leader engages with his counterparts. President Zatlers offers insights into how he sees the war in Ukraine developing in the months ahead and fascinating vignettes from a career that includes not only affairs of state, but also serving as a surgeon responding to the disaster at Chernobyl in 1986.

In episode 12 we look at the Baltic region, which has repeatedly been in the headlines of late as it sits on the frontline of NATO’s physical and rhetorical face-off with Russia. Just a few days ago, Russian military aircraft penetrated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, in yet another challenge to the Western defense alliance. We are extremely fortunate to have with us Oliver Moody, who is the Times of London’s correspondent in Berlin. Early this year Oliver published the book Baltic, which has been called a “timely analysis” by the Financial Times and “fascinating…essential reading” by noted political economist Helen Thompson. Oliver helps us understand a region that far too often is ignored in discussions about Europe but which he argues plays an absolutely critical role in geopolitics.Books Mentioned in the Podcast -"The Northern Crusades" by Eric Christiansen"Peter the Great" by Robert K. Massie"Understanding the Baltic States" edited by Charles Clarke

The headlines regarding Africa’s infrastructure needs are ever-present, whether it be the requirement to serve the continent’s rapidly growing cities or construction of export routes for Africa’s minerals. Core to all of these needs is provision of reliable baseload electricity. There are very few companies as advanced in their project pipeline and as committed to Africa’s long-term development as the Anzana Electric Group. Anzana COO Josiah Brand gives us unique insight into the company’s value proposition, its strategy for competing in a highly complex, bureaucratic, and long-cycle industry, and why he hopes that the years ahead bring more competition in their sector. Books mentioned in the podcost -"Dancing in the Glory of Monsters" by Jason Stearns - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-stearns/dancing-in-the-glory-of-monsters/9781610391597/?lens=publicaffairs"Cobalt Red" by Siddharth Kara - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250284297/cobaltred/

Harvard historian Danielle Leavitt's recently published "By the Second Spring" provides a harrowing look at the impact of Russia's war on the lives of seven ordinary Ukrainians. Noted scholar Lawrence Freedman says, "Leavitt uses the individual stories to showcase Ukrainian resilience and resistance...with empathy, candor, and a cautious optimism for Ukraine’s future." Join us for a fascinating discussion with Danielle focused on the unique path she took to writing the book and the many lessons she found in the bravery of her subjects. Books mentioned in the podcast - "By the Second Spring" by Danielle Leavitt -https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374614331/bythesecondspring/"The Gates of Europe" by Serhil Plokhy - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/280294/the-gates-of-europe-by-plokhy-serhii/9780141980614"The Orphange" by Serhiy Zadan - https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300243017/the-orphanage/"In Isolation: Dispatches from the Occupied Donbas" by Stanislav Aseyev - https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674268784

Judd Devermont is unquestionably one of the US’s leading policy practitioners and experts on Africa. His experience ranges from the White House (President Biden's senior Africa advisor) to the CIA (senior political analyst) and many points in between. Not only has he had a ringside seat at the making of US-Africa policy, but he's also a historian who has undertaken fascinating studies looking at how past US presidents have handled relations with the continent. Judd's Substack page - https://substack.com/@judddevermont"High Noon in Southern Africa" by Chet Crocker - https://www.amazon.co.uk/High-Noon-South-Africa-Neighbourhood/dp/0393034321"Betting on the Africans: John F. Kennedy's Courting of African Nationalist Leaders" by Philip Muehlenbeck - https://history.columbian.gwu.edu/betting-africans-john-f-kennedys-courting-african-nationalist-leaders

Join us for a fascinating discussion looking at the interplay of intelligence, covert action, and secret statecraft in the conduct of international affairs. We are joined by Professor Rory Cormac, who is unquestionably one of the leading scholars on the theory and practice of covert action both throughout history and in the contemporary world. Rory has written a number of books on the subject, including most recently How to Stage a Coup  and The Secret Royals: Spying and the Crown from Victoria to Diana. He has researched and fronted three documentaries for UK Channel 4 and he regularly features in a wide variety of UK and international newspapers and TV and radio news broadcasts.Books mentioned in the podcast -Watching the Jackals – Daniella Richterova

Rebecca Campbell is a London-based partner at law firm White & Case, where she leads the firm’s Global Mining and Metals Industry Group. Rebecca has advised on a wide array of project development and financing deals, notable mining focused M&A transactions, and regulatory reforms in a number of global jurisdictions. She is a true substantive expert on an industry that is playing an ever more important role in geopolitics and which will underpin everything from the rise of AI to the green energy transition.Books and publications referenced in the podcast -"The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives" by Ernest Scheyder"Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization" by Ed ConwayWhite & Case Insights

Linda Kinstler is the author of the book Come to this Court and Cry, which was named a Wall Street Journal 2022 Book of the Year and won the 2023 Whiting Award for Nonfiction. In the words of The Guardian, the book is a “tremendous feat of storytelling, propelled by numerous twists and revelations, yet anchored by a deep moral seriousness.” The book traces the post-World War Two journey of Herbert Cukurs - celebrated Latvian aviator turned mass murderer known as the “Butcher of Riga" - who was abducted and assassinated by the Mossad in 1965. Simultaneously, Linda  weaves in her own fraught family history - including her grandfather’s ties to Cukurs' Nazi-affiliated unit and Soviet intelligence - while exploring how Holocaust memory, justice, and truth can be contested, distorted, and erased. Books referenced in the episode include:Axiomatic by Maria TumarkinOresteia by Aeschylus

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, at 38-years old, has been marked out as a name to watch in South African politics. His leadership of the “Mother City” has garnered widespread praise from both domestic and international observers. Join us for a discussion focused on the opportunities and challenges facing one of the world’s great cities, the state of opposition politics in South Africa, and a thoughtful takedown of the notion of a “white genocide” (plus much else). Books referenced in the podcast -Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cry,_the_Beloved_CountryMy Traitor’s Heart by Rian Malan - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Traitor%27s_HeartOn the Contrary by Tony Leon - https://tonyleon.com/books-publications/A Cricket in the Thorn Tree by Helen Suzman - https://books.google.es/books/about/A_Cricket_in_the_Thorn_Tree.html?id=SUkKAQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y

Join us for a discussion with Ambassador Michelle Gavin as we discuss the impacts thus far of the Trump administration on Africa and also look at long-term trends to watch on the continent. Michelle is the Council on Foreign Relations' Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies. Books referenced in the podcast -"Shallow Graves" by Richard Reid - https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/shallow-graves/

Join us for a discussion with The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell as we look at the brutal realities of life on Ukraine's frontlines. Links to material discussed in this episode:--The Kyiv Independent--Francis Farrell on the Pokrovsk frontline --Francis Farrell with Air Assault medics --Yaroslav Trofimov's Our Enemies Will Vanish--Oleksandr Mykhed's The Language of War--Artem Chekh--Myroslav Laiuk's Bakhmut--The Kyiv Independent's The Power Within

Join us for a discussion with Sunday Times bestselling spy novelist and former CIA analyst David McCloskey as we discuss the craft of writing fiction in this time of global disorder.

Join us for the inaugural episode of Earlylands in Conversation. In this episode, we are joined by the Financial Times's Tom Wilson. Tom is a seasoned commentator on the global energy and mining sector and joins us to discuss "minerals for security" agreements and the interplay of mining, minerals, and geopolitics in the era of Trump 2.0. Please use this link to access the FT article referenced in the episode.