The Red Line

About The Red Line

Three experts, one Story. Each fortnight we host a panel of international experts diving into the biggest geopolitical stories shaping the news both here and overseas. Hosted by Michael Hilliard

Publisher

The Red Line

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Oct 2019

Latest episode

22 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

28 of 146 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   22 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   138 - Could Europe Defend Itself Without the US?

   Ruben Stewart, Ben Barry, Neil Melvin, and Gen. Philip Breedlove discuss Europe's ability to defend itself without US support, exploring critical capabilities and timelines in this interview.

2. 

   31 Mar 2026

   137 - Exclusive: We Toured One Of Europe’s Most Secretive Tank Factories

   Once synonymous with Europe’s past wars and fading heavy industry, the tank factory has re-emerged as one of the continent’s most guarded and politically charged symbols amid rearmament, strategic anxiety, and a renewed push for deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank. In this special exclusive episode, Michael and two special guests are granted rare access inside one of Europe’s most secretive tank factories to examine the newest generation of armoured vehicles now moving into production. From armour protection and fire control to manufacturing timelines, battlefield doctrine, and the industrial logic behind Europe’s current defence buildup, the visit offers a close look at how these platforms are being designed, built, and sold as part of a broader strategy of containment. But behind the polished production lines and bold promises lies a deeper set of questions about scale, readiness, and whether Europe’s industrial base can actually deliver what its strategic environment now demands. After the tour, the panel sits down to discuss the specifications, the doctrine, and the role this new generation of tanks is likely to play in Europe’s military posture. - James Ker-Lindsay (Prof. James Ker Lindsay) - David Schroeder (The Cold War) Follow the show on https://x.com/TheRedLinePod Follow Michael on https://x.com/MikeHilliardAus Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/theredlinepodcast Submit Questions and Join the Red Line Discord Server at: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/discord For more info, please visit: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3. 

   17 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   136 - The Middle Corridor: Reality Vs. Rhetoric

   S. Frederick Starr, Bruce Pannier, Peter Leonard, and Eric Rudenshiold analyze the Middle Corridor's potential and challenges as a vital Eurasian trade route.

Inside a recent episode

138 - Could Europe Defend Itself Without the US?

Published 22 Jun 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] You've got this massive signals intelligence collection capability of the National Security Agency. You've got large numbers of photoreconnaissance satellites. You've also got the full resources of the CIA. And clearly that's been used to good effect by Ukraine during the war. […]

Who has been a guest on The Red Line

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ruben Stewart
• Ben Barry
• Neil Melvin
• Philip Breedlove
• S Frederick Starr

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

14,467,985

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

369 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

1,231 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 82 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

88

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

98

Contact The Red Line

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about The Red Line