Trying to explain new and old, arcane and obscure international security issues in a conversational format.
strategicsimplicity.substack.com (https://strategicsimplicity.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Austin and Matthew are busy writing to keep the free, independent, and lazily managed substack alive, with two recent articles:
In “The Perils of Shallow Theory Redux (https://strategicsimplicity.substack.com/p/the-perils-of-shallow-theory-redux),” Austin responds to a recent article by former DoD colleague Erin Dumbacher, who recently wrote “America Doesn’t Need More Nuclear Weapons (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/america-doesnt-need-more-nuclear-weapons)” in Foreign Affairs.
Matthew Sharp recently wrote “Parity in Arms Control (https://strategicsimplicity.substack.com/p/parity-in-arms-control),” where he explores the role parity plays in…arms control (and why it appears in arms control when it does).
Intro/outro music licensed by Soundstripe: “The Iron Curtain” by Wicked Cinema.
Recording and edits through Riverside.fm.
Strategic Simplicity is a collection of content provided for free by experts, many of whom worked with one another in a variety of jobs. The written or podcast content is solely for education purposes, and in no way reflects the views of the U.S. government, MIT, or other entities.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strategicsimplicity.substack.com (https://strategicsimplicity.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
7 Sept 2026
Interview with Rose Gottemoeller
Rose Gottemoeller needs no introduction to regular listeners, however, it’s possible you didn’t see the release of her recent book on U.S.-Russia relations titled “Security Through Cooperation: Space, Nuclear Weapons, and US-Russia Relations After the Cold War.” During the podcast, we cover the post-Cold War U.S.-Russia relationship, from hopeful early days to the negative trajectory that marks the relationship for the past 15-20 years. Rose also points to what changes may need to happen for the relationship to return to a friendlier footing.
You can find her bio here: https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/people/rose-gottemoeller
And the page for her book here: https://www.sup.org/books/politics/security-through-cooperation
We also mentioned Bill Browder’s book during the podcast, which you can find here (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Red-Notice/Bill-Browder/9781476755748). It is an important read for someone wishing to understand modern Russia.
Intro/outro music licensed by Soundstripe: “The Iron Curtain” by Wicked Cinema.
Recording and edits through Riverside.fm.
Strategic Simplicity is a collection of content provided for free by experts, many of whom worked with one another in a variety of jobs. The written or podcast content is solely for education purposes, and in no way reflects the views of the U.S. government, MIT, or other entities.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strategicsimplicity.substack.com (https://strategicsimplicity.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
11 Aug 2026
Technology and Politics in Arms Competition
We set out to discuss recent articles in the Orbis Journal of World Affairs (https://orbisjournal.org/) by Lowell - a return guest on the Strategic Simplicity Podcast - and Austin Long. Each author raised different aspects of nuclear competition in their articles, with Lowell focusing on the possible “nuclear relationships” the United States may choose with Russia and China, and the impacts that may have nuclear forces and arms control policy. Austin’s article - shockingly - reviews Cold War superpower relations with a particular focus on the role technology played in the o.g. arms competition, and the new technologies that may play a role in the competition of today and tomorrow. We strayed into a wide ranging conversation about all things that are relevant to nuclear policy and arms control - grand strategy, bureaucratic prioritization, nuclear strategy - and Vipin barely got a word in edge-wise. Both authors end the podcast with the questions that preoccupy their minds after going through the writing process - hopefully a useful takeaway from students and young professionals subscribing to this pod.
Lowell’s article (https://orbisjournal.org/commentary/what-kind-of-nuclear-relationship-should-the-united-states-seek-with-russia-and-china/)Orbis.
Austin’s (https://orbisjournal.org/commentary/history-strategy-and-technology-thinking-about-the-second-nuclear-century/)as well.
Strategic Simplicity is a collection of content provided for free by experts, many of whom worked with one another in a variety of jobs. The written or podcast content is solely for education purposes, and in no way reflects the views of the U.S. government, MIT, or other entities.
Intro/outro music licensed by Soundstripe: “The Iron Curtain” by Wicked Cinema.
Recording and edits through Riverside.fm.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strategicsimplicity.substack.com (https://strategicsimplicity.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
Who has been a guest on Strategic Simplicity Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Mallory Stewart
Mike Albertson
Vipin Narang
Eric Brewer
Corey Hinderstein
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 11 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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