A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

This is the podcast of WAR ROOM, the official online journal of the U.S. Army War College. Join us for provocative discussions about U.S. national security and defense, featuring prominent national security and military professionals.

Episodes

CAN AI PASS THE U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE COMPREHENSIVE EXAM?

June 9, 2026 • 42 mins
Can AI pass military exams? Kevin Boyce & John Nagl join host Tom Spahr to discuss testing ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude & Grok on Army War College comps. All passed, but limits caused AI to degrade under pressure, proving human judgment remains indispensable. You can read the article Can AI Pass the U.S. Army War College? by Kevin Boyce, John Nagl and Kris Wheaton here https://publications.armywarcollege.edu/News/Display/Articl...
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NAVAL POWER & POLICY: RED STAR OVER THE PACIFIC

June 2, 2026 • 37 mins
How has China transformed into a dominant naval power, and what strategic choices must the U.S. make to protect its interests in the Pacific? Toshi Yoshihara and James Holmes join Ron Granieri to discuss the third edition of Red Star Over the Pacific, which answers those very questions. The authors explain how Beijing synthesizes Western and Eastern strategic ideas to expand its maritime reach. Crucially, the conversation moves bey...
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AT THE SPEED OF RELEVANCE: REFORMING PROCUREMENT

May 26, 2026 • 30 mins
How can the military adopt tech at the speed of relevance? Host Tom Galvin talks with Carlisle Scholars John Williams, Jeremy Jackson & Antonio Ilario on bridging the gap between bureaucratic acquisition timelines and rapid tech evolution.
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BEYOND THE SELECTIVE SERVICE MYTHS

May 19, 2026 • 41 mins
Is a return to a military draft even viable? William Taylor and Katherine Kuzminski join JP Clark to bridge the gap between myth and reality regarding the all-volunteer force and the political and logistical hurdles of 21st-century mobilization.
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ESCAPING THE READINESS TRAP: RESHAPING THE RESERVES

May 12, 2026 • 44 mins
To meet the demands of modern, high-intensity warfare, the U.S. Army Reserve must remake itself --"Army Reserve 4.0"-- is the finding of an Army War College integrated research project. Steve Trynosky discussed this study with authors Kiona Pritchard, Brandon Collins, and Colleen Vermeulen. They found the Army Reserve is in a "readiness trap" caused by spreading insufficient infrastructure and budget across too many formations. To ...
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STRESS, SLEEP, AND STRATEGIC STRENGTH

May 5, 2026 • 30 mins
Curt Brooker and Ron Granieri discuss why sleep is an operational requirement. Using wearables to track biometrics can help the military move past a culture of exhaustion toward data-driven readiness. You can't outwork your body.
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RE-RELEASE: JOHN BOYD AND THE 'OODA' LOOP (GREAT STRATEGISTS)

April 29, 2026 • 24 mins
Clay Chun & Jackie Whitt present the theories of #JohnBoyd, a contemporary airpower theorist who created the #OODA Loop, a learning approach to reducing uncertainty on the battlefield
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RE-RELEASE: IT'S ONLY A PRE-WAR PERIOD IN HINDSIGHT

April 28, 2026 • 31 mins
Whether leadership views the inter-war period as post-war or pre-war determines where the organization goes.
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RE-RELEASE: THE FUTURE IS EXPEDITIONARY: JOINT WARFIGHTING HQ

April 27, 2026 • 31 mins
Successful military organizations are always assessing and adapting; this includes methods of command and control. The joint task forces with constituent air, land, and maritime components currently used by the U.S. military have demonstrated benefits, but are all too often ad hoc structures that take too long to stand up and fight as a cohesive team. Tom Bruscino and Lou Yuengert are in the studio to talk about their recently rele...
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RE-RELEASE: LESSONS OF AFGHANISTAN: A CONVERSATION WITH MG BRIAN MENNES

April 24, 2026 • 41 mins
For many, Afghanistan and the lessons that should have been learned have been overshadowed recently by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. And as much as Ukraine deserves the attention of the world, national security professionals have a duty to learn as much as possible from the successes and failures of Afghanistan. To that end, A BETTER PEACE is extremely pleased to welcome Maj Gen Brian Mennes, the Deputy Commanding General, XVI...
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RE-RELEASE: REFLECTIONS ON LEADERSHIP FROM TWO MIRROR IMAGES

April 23, 2026 • 36 mins
When twins Derek and TJ Baird joined the Army in the '90s, neither of them had any idea what lay ahead. But 26 and 30 years later respectively, one is a colonel and the other a command sergeant major, and it's safe to say the Army has been a great place for them. The Baird brothers join podcast editor Ron Granieri in the virtual studio to tell the story of two very different yet very similar careers serving the nation. Derek and TJ...
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RE-RELEASE: MILITARY MIGHT AND THE DEFENSE MARKETPLACE

April 22, 2026 • 34 mins
Has the promise of cost savings due to outsourcing been realized? Or, has the dependence on the private sector caused overall costs to increase?
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TIADS AND TARGETING THE ADVERSARY'S WILL

April 21, 2026 • 37 mins
Editor’s Note: This is our 500th episode. Thank you for being part of this journey, we wouldn't be here without you. Your loyalty and engagement have turned a project into a community. Here’s to the next 500 episodes. Modern warfare transcends tactical victories; it targets the adversary's "will." Sean Heidgerken joins host Tom Spahr to discuss the Army’s newest capability: Theater Information Advantage Detachm...
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THE INTELLIGENCE REVOLUTION: INDIVIDUALS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF INFLUENCE

April 14, 2026 • 42 mins
Jeff Rogg joins Tom Spahr to discuss the "intelligence revolution." Beyond new gadgets, cell phones & AI are transforming the state-citizen relationship & modern warfare, turning digital footprints into targeting beacons & tools for cognitive warfare. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-spy-and-the-state-9780197678732?cc=us&lang=en&
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INSIDE THE KREMLIN'S GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY

April 7, 2026 • 34 mins
CIA officer Sean Wiswesser joins host Tom Spahr to expose the reality of Russian intelligence. Moving past spy myths, they discuss how corruption and "active measures" shape the Kremlin's secret war from Ukraine to Western democracies. Sean's bookhttps://www.usni.org/press/books/tradecraft-tactics-and-dirty-tricks
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HUMAN AGENCY IN THE AGE OF AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS

March 24, 2026 • 39 mins
Blair Wilcox & Chase Metcalf join host Tom Spahr to discuss AI in planning. Wargames show AI excels in data and control but cannot master the art of command. Human intuition remains vital to avoid strategically disastrous decisions.
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THE RISE OF NON-STATE SPECIAL OPERATIONS

March 17, 2026 • 36 mins
Non-state actors now execute strategic strikes mirroring elite state operations. Craig Whiteside joins host Darrell Driver to discuss the rise of non-state special operations, from the Tet Offensive to space-based threats, and why identifying motives is critical.
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INTELLIGENCE, INNOVATION, AND INTEGRATION

March 10, 2026 • 41 mins
The Army is evolving its intel to outpace modern threats. Andrew Evans joins Tom Spahr to discuss a permanent Strategy and Transformation Office. To beat 11-yr acquisition cycles, he advocates for a cultural shift to get new tech to soldiers faster
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BREAKING THE CADENCE: REFORMING THE ARMY'S ACQUISITION FRAMEWORK

March 3, 2026 • 28 mins
The Army is shifting from acquiring "widgets" to a holistic "6 plus 1" portfolio structure to deliver tech to the warfighter faster. Amanda Love joins Dan Harris & Bob Bradford to discuss the new era of "failing fast & learning" in acquisition reform.
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THE LONG ARC OF THE IRAQ WARS

February 24, 2026 • 35 mins
Samuel Helfont joins host Ron Graneri to discuss his book, The Iraq Wars, that makes interesting connections across three decades of conflict.
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