Cosmic Top Secret

Episode Overview:

In the season opener of Cosmic Top Secret, host Michael Williams is joined by geopolitical experts Rachel Rizzo, Susie Colbourn, and Monika Sus to discuss the key takeaways from the recent NATO summit and the shifting geopolitical landscape. The conversation covers NATO's strategic decisions, challenges in Europe, and the global implications of leadership changes in both NATO and the U.S.

Key Topics Discussed:

Welcome to Cosmic Top Secret, the definitive podcast on NATO's past, present, and future. 

In this episode, we explore the pivotal role of the Weimar Triangle—comprising France, Germany, and Poland—in shaping the security order of Europe. 

With insights from Andrea Rotter, heading the Foreign and Security Policy Division at the Hans Seidel Foundation, and Lukasz Kulesa, Deputy Head of Research at the Polish I...

In this riveting episode of Cosmic Top Secret, Professor Michael John Williams delves deep into the intricacies of NATO's strategic evolution and its response to contemporary challenges with Dan Fata. With Fata's extensive background in national security and defense, the conversation illuminates NATO's journey towards increased defense spending, capability development, and the pivotal role of military tech innovation...

Cosmic Top Secret: Dr. Stefanie Babst on NATO, Ukraine, and Strategic Course Change

In this gripping episode of Cosmic Top Secret, host Professor Michael John Williams engages with Dr. Stefanie Babst, a distinguished former NATO staff member with over two decades of service, including leading NATO's Strategic Foresight Team. 

Dr. Babst shares her professional journey, insights from her book "Sehenden Aug...

Professor Michael John Williams interviews Dr. Benedetta Berti, Head of Policy Planning in the Office of the Secretary-General at NATO. Dr. Berti discusses the role and challenges of policy planning at NATO, focusing on creating the NATO strategic concept and addressing pressing security challenges facing the Alliance.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Policy Planning at NATO: Dr. Berti explains the nature of policy planning within NATO, emp...

Professor Michael John Williams engages with Ambassador Dennis Ross in a comprehensive discussion about NATO's role in shaping post-Cold War geopolitics. With a distinguished diplomatic career, Ambassador Ross shares his insights on various historical events, including the reunification of Germany, NATO's enlargement, and current tensions in Ukraine.

Key Topics Discussed:

• German Unification and NATO: The episode begins ...

In this episode, Professor Michael John Williams discusses the history of NATO’s enlargement during the Clinton administration and its impact on U.S.-Russia relations with Professor Jim Goldgeier. Goldgeier, a professor of international relations with expertise in contemporary international relations and NATO, provides an in-depth analysis of the political and strategic decisions surrounding NATO's expansion and the subsequent...

Professor Michael John Williams engages in a fascinating conversation with Dr. Susie Colbourn about the Euromissiles Crisis and its impact on NATO and international relations. Dr. Colbourn, a historian specializing in transatlantic relations and the politics of European security, shares insights from her book, "Euromissiles: The Nuclear Weapons That Nearly Destroyed NATO."

Key Topics Discussed:

• Overview of the Euromissi...

Professor Michael John Williams introduces the "Cosmic Top Secret" podcast, which explores NATO's past, present, and future. As the NATO Fulbright Security Studies Fellow in Brussels, Belgium, and an Associate Professor at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Michael brings extensive expertise in NATO and transatlantic relations.

Key Points Discussed:

• Podcast Focus: The podcast...