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PODCAST

The Focus

Auscast Network

The Focusis the flagship current affairs podcast ofSAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical think tank. Hosted byDr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focusbrings a critical edge to global affairs. John"s expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with theRoyal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst forJane’s

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

54:55

Israel’s ’Total War’

The Focus ·

2025/06/20

Israel vs. Iran: What Drives Tehran’s Strategy? Dr. Ori Goldberg joinsThe Focusto decode ideology, deterrence, and the risks of a wider Middle East war. Show Notes: X: @ori_goldberg Bluesky: @origoldberg.bsky.social Ori’s Top Publications: Selected Articles (2024) “Why Israelis Do and Don’t Want War with Hezbollah”– New Lines Magazine, September 2024 “Israel’s Attack on Hezbollah’s Communications Network Is Not the Victory It

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59:25

Australia | Meeting America’s Demands

The Focus ·

2025/06/12

Is Australia charting its own defence course—or simply meeting U.S. demands? Dr. John Bruni speaks with strategist Dr. Peter Layton on AUKUS, strategic autonomy, and Australia’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific. Show Notes: Contact Peter Layton on: Griffith Asia Institute:p.layton@griffith.edu.au LinkedIn X: @GAIGriffith Peter’s Top Five publications: Ensuring Australia’s Defence Through Complex Interdependence(May 2025) In this article, Dr. Layton advocates for a shift in

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40:29

Can Taiwan Survive?

The Focus ·

2025/06/06

🎙️As China increases military pressure and Trump 47 reshapes U.S. foreign policy, Taiwan’s future is more uncertain than ever.Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Alice Yang from Taipei’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research about Taiwan’s fight for democracy, U.S. ambiguity, and what regional conflict could mean for the world.🎧 Available now on Spotify, iTunes & the Auscast Network. Show Notes: Connect with Alice: At INDSR -indsr2018@indsr.org.tw Facebook

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43:04

Finland | A Defence Masterclass

The Focus ·

2025/05/30

Why does Finland still rely on conscription? And what can Australia learn from it? Brigadier General Jyri Raitasalo breaks down Finland’s “Total Defence” strategy, NATO’s Nordic front, and how citizen readiness can shape national security. 🎧 Watch now onThe Focuswith John Bruni. Show Notes: Connect with Jyri - LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyri-raitasalo-4b96bb96/ X: @JyriRaitasalo Finnish National Defence University:https://maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu.fi/en/frontpage

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56:44

India-Pakistan | Nukes & Nationalism

The Focus ·

2025/05/22

InthisepisodeofTheFocus,hostJohnBruniisjoinedbyProfessorHarshV.Pant —oneofIndia’sforemoststrategicthinkers —todissectthegeopoliticalshiftsshapingSouthAsiaandbeyond.FromChina’sexpandinginfluencetoPakistan’spersistentprovocationsandtheModigovernment’sevolvingdoctrine,weexplorewhetherIndia’sforeignpolicyiskeepingpacewiththeregion’sgrowinginstability.WhatdoesarisingIndiameanfortheworld —andhowwillitrespondwhenthenextcrisiscomesknocking?Harsh V. Pant

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76:23

100 Days that Changed America

The Focus ·

2025/05/16

InthisgrippingepisodeofTheFocus,Dr.JohnBrunispeakswithpoliticalanalystDr.RoyCasagrandatounpacktheseismicshiftsinU.S.politicsafter100daysofTrump47.Fromexecutiveoverreachtotheglobalrippleeffects,thisconversationexploreshowAmerica’sdemocraticinstitutionsarebeingreshaped —andwhytheworldshouldpayattention. 🎧Tuneinnowandjointheconversationthat’sredefininggeopolitics. Show Notes: X: @RoyCasagranda Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html Books by Roy: The Blood Throne of Caria

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59:26

Stand. Fight. Win.

The Focus ·

2025/05/05

Is Europe prepared for war? In this episode ofThe Focus, John Bruni speaks with former NATO commander General Sir Richard Shirreff on Ukraine, NATO’s weaknesses, and the growing threat from Russia. A hard-hitting, unfiltered look at what may lie ahead. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube. 🔗 Connect with Sir Richard Shirreff X: @RichardShirreff LinkedIn:Richard Shirreff Strategia Worldwide Top Five Publications: What Would Cause the Next Nuclear Strike? (The Naked

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98:32

Ukraine & Beyond

The Focus ·

2025/04/20

In this special panel edition ofThe Focus, we bring together three of the world’s most seasoned strategic thinkers—Andrew Michta, Ben Hodges, and Anders Puck Nielsen—to unpack the war in Ukraine and its far-reaching consequences. From the battlefield to NATO's frontlines and the shifting dynamics of global power, this is a timely conversation that goes well beyond Eastern Europe. Show Notes: 🔗 Connect with Andrew, Ben & Anders: Andrew Michta X @andrewmichta LinkedIn

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72:30

The Chainsaw Presidency? Trump, Tariffs & the Trouble...

The Focus ·

2025/04/12

Donald Trump is back in the White House—and the shockwaves are global. In this episode, Professor Scott Lucas joins John Bruni to unpack the trade wars, the constitutional controversy, and the chaos that’s redefining America’s role in the world. Is Trump a misunderstood reformer—or a genuine threat to democratic institutions? What do the tariffs mean for allies like Australia and the UK? And how much power does Elon Musk really have in shaping this administration? Tune in for

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43:47

What Price Peace?

The Focus ·

2025/03/20

Professor Jeffrey Sachs joinsThe Focusto discuss the war in Ukraine, global power shifts, and the West’s role in the conflict. In a thought-provoking conversation, we challenge Sachs on his views, exploring the geopolitical landscape and what the future holds. Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the most pressing issues of our time. 🎙️The Focus with John Bruni| Watch now! Show notes Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs website:https://www.jeffsachs.org/ X: Center for Sustainable Development:

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92:59

Europe Alone | Germany’s Security in an Uncertain World

The Focus ·

2025/03/17

With rapidly shifting global alliances, Germany now faces a critical security dilemma. Can Europe defend itself without unwavering U.S. support? In this episode ofThe Focus, Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp, a leading expert in German and European security, joins John Bruni to discuss Germany’s strategic vulnerabilities, NATO’s uncertain future, and the broader implications for European defence. Is Berlin prepared for a world where America looks inward? Tune in to find out. Show Notes: Dr. Karl-Heinz

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114:38

Trump World

The Focus ·

2025/02/20

What does the dawn ofTrump’s second presidencymean for America and the world? In this hard-hitting episode ofThe Focus, hostJohn Brunisits down withDr. Roy Casagrandato break down thefirst three weeksof theTrump 47 administration. Show Notes: Roy Casagranda LinksX: @RoyCasagranda Website:https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html Books by Roy:The Blood Throne of Caria(Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018. Articles by Roy:Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not

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97:15

Ukraine’s Nuclear Crossroads?

The Focus ·

2024/12/04

Can Ukraine’s security dilemma reshape the global nuclear order? Join us as we explore the chilling realities of nuclear escalation, broken international promises, and what it takes to secure lasting peace with expert Mariana Budjeryn. Show Notes: https://www.belfercenter.org/person/mariana-budjeryn https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/mariana-budjeryn-personal-perspective-war-ukraine

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118:14

Election 2024 | Postmortem

The Focus ·

2024/11/25

🔥 What Will Trump 47 Mean for America and the World? 🚨 From immigration crackdowns to a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, we're diving deep with Dr. Roy Casagranda into the policies, global impacts, and controversies that could define Donald Trump’s second term. 🌍 Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion on how his leadership might reshape domestic politics, the economy, education, and America’s role on the world stage. 🎙️ Tune in now for insights you won’t hear anywhere else! Show Notes: Roy

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96:34

Election 2024 | Democracy on the Edge?

The Focus ·

2024/11/01

In our latest episode of The Focus, we sit down with Dr. Roy Casagranda to delve into the high-stakes landscape of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. With democracy, alliances, and the global order on the line, Dr. Casagranda unpacks the complexities surrounding Trump AND Harris as presidential candidates, exploring how their policies and political manoeuvres could reshape America and its role on the world stage. Join us for this in-depth analysis of an election that could redefine the future

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65:54

Middle East at War | Israel vs. Iran

The Focus ·

2024/10/26

🔥 Iran's Largest Missile Barrage Yet! 🔥 In this explosive episode of The Focus, we dive into the unprecedented Iranian missile strikes on Israel in 2024, the largest of its kind since the conflict began. With 200 ballistic missiles fired, retaliation for the assassinations of key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, and Israel's air defenses pushed to the limit, we sit down with Professor Scott Lucas, an expert in international relations, to break down what this all means for the future of the Middle

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86:33

A Harris Doctrine? Kamala Harris' Foreign Policy

The Focus ·

2024/10/15

Is there a new 'Harris Doctrine' on the horizon? Join Yale historian Dr. Michael Brenes as we unpack Kamala Harris's foreign policy vision in our latest podcast! Show Notes: You can contact Michael here: X: @mbrenes1 Substack: michaelbrenes.substack.com Books published by Michael – And, as mentioned in the podcast - The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy, and TO BE published by Yale University Press in January 2025. Rethinking U.S. Power: Domestic

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67:03

AUKUS In an Age of Unrestricted Competition

The Focus ·

2024/10/11

In this episode of The Focus, host John Bruni sits down with Professor John Blaxland to unravel the complexities of the AUKUS security pact and its implications for global power dynamics. As the world shifts into an era of unrestricted competition between China & the U.S., what does AUKUS really mean for the future of international security? Are Australia, the U.S., and the UK prepared for the challenges ahead? Tune in as we go beyond the headlines to uncover the real stakes of this landmark

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60:45

Unmasking Iran | Israel’s Biggest Misconceptions

The Focus ·

2024/09/27

In our latest episode of The Focus, we sit down with Dr. Ori Goldberg, a leading expert on Iran’s political and religious landscape, to dive deep into the complexities of Israel-Iran relations. Show NotesX: @ori_goldberg Articles by Ori"What Israelis Don’t Want to Hear About Iran and Hezbollah" (Published in +972 Magazine on September 20, 2024) https://www.972mag.com/iran-israel-hezbollah-ori-goldberg/ "Israel’s Attack on Hezbollah’s Communications Network Is Not the Victory It Claims" (Published

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74:27

A Harris Doctrine? Exploring Kamala's Foreign Policy

The Focus ·

2024/09/13

Is there a new 'Harris Doctrine' on the horizon? Join Yale historian Dr. Michael Brenes as we unpack Kamala Harris's foreign policy vision in our latest podcast! Show Notes: You can contact Michael here: X: @mbrenes1 Substack: michaelbrenes.substack.com Books published by Michael – And, as mentioned in the podcast - The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy, and TO BE published by Yale University Press in January 2025. Rethinking U.S. Power: Domestic

en-US

134 results

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