Welcome to Underground Strategy
Where military tactics, leadership, and real-world strategies meet a whole lot of banter. Hosted by Max Lauker (ex-Swedish Special Operations, Intelligence, and Private Security) and Tony Garcia (ex-SANDF with extensive field experience and academic insight), we break down the latest in military strategy while keeping things real, candid, and fun.
Whether you're into the latest military insights or just here for smart conversations (and a few laughs), we've got you covered.
Tune in for weekly episodes packed with expert breakdowns, candid chats, and a fresh take on what's happening in the world of strategy.
It's all about staying sharp, having fun, and thinking a few moves ahead.
No fluff, just real talk.
Helion Talks – Bold in Battle: South African Stories from World War II
In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with historian Karen Horn, author of Bold in Battle: South African Stories from the Second World War. Karen shares how her work brings to life the overlooked experiences of South African volunteers who served across Africa and Europe — men and women whose stories have long remained in the margins of military history.
Drawing on personal diaries, letters, and firsthand accounts, Karen discusses the human side of war — from the courage of ordinary soldiers and POWs to the quiet sacrifices of families back home. She also reflects on South Africa’s complex culture of remembrance, the challenges of commemoration, and the importance of preserving these voices for future generations.
Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world.
Links:
Bold in Battle: South African Stories from the Second World War (http://helion.co.uk/military-history-books/bold-in-battle-south-african-stories-from-the-second-world-war.php)
Karen Horn on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/karen_horn_author/)
Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ (https://www.helion.co.uk/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ (https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/)
X: https://x.com/Helionbooks (https://x.com/Helionbooks)
Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com (https://undergroundstrategy.com)
Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au (https://www.scottbuckley.com.au)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
22 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Helion Talks – Whiskey on the Rocks
In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with historian and author Michael Fredholm von Essen about his new two-volume series Whiskey on the Rocks — an in-depth exploration of a tense Cold War standoff between the Soviet Union and Sweden.
Michael recounts the extraordinary events of October 1981, when a Soviet Whiskey-class submarine ran aground near a major Swedish naval base, sparking a ten-day diplomatic and military crisis. He explains how misunderstandings, high-stakes decisions, and Cold War paranoia shaped the incident — and how newly declassified documents reveal what really happened beneath the surface.
The conversation also looks ahead to his sequel volume, which follows the continuing confrontation and near-miss moments that could have drawn both sides into open conflict. Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring discussions with leading military historians and authors.
Links:
Whiskey on the Rocks Vol. 1 – A Soviet Submarine Stranded in Swedish Waters (1981) (https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/whiskey-on-the-rocks-volume-1-a-soviet-submarine-stranded-in-swedish-waters-1981.php)
Whiskey on the Rocks Vol. 2 – The Swedish–Soviet Confrontation (1981) (https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/whiskey-on-the-rocks-volume-2-the-swedish-soviet-confrontation-1981.php)
Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ (https://www.helion.co.uk/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ (https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/)
X: https://x.com/Helionbooks (https://x.com/Helionbooks)
Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com (https://undergroundstrategy.com)
Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au (https://www.scottbuckley.com.au)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
22 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Helion Talks – The Road to Helion
In this inaugural episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia sits down with Helion & Company founder and CEO Duncan Rogers to explore the origins of one of the world’s leading military history publishers. Duncan shares how his lifelong passion for military history evolved into the founding of Helion in 1996, and how that passion continues to drive the company today.
They discuss the evolution of Helion’s hallmark series — from Century of the Soldier to At War — and how these collections have built a global readership across eras and regions. Duncan also talks about Helion’s commitment to giving voice to overlooked stories, from South Africa to Sweden, and fostering international collaboration through partnerships like the new Underground Strategy series.
Helion Talks will release new episodes once a month, featuring conversations with authors and historians from around the world.
Links:
Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ (https://www.helion.co.uk/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ (https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/)
X: https://x.com/Helionbooks (https://x.com/Helionbooks)
Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com (https://undergroundstrategy.com)
Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au (https://www.scottbuckley.com.au)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Inside a recent episode
Helion Talks – Bold in Battle: South African Stories from World War II
Published 20 Nov 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Could you perhaps give a bit of the context around South Africa in the second world war? Well, the South Africans, I think the most important thing to remember about them is that all of them who went to war were volunteers. Young smuts didn't want to have conscription again because in the first world war, it led to a rebellion. So he wanted to avoid that and ask for volunteers. But at the same time, there was a big section of the South African population who were totally against the war. And he had this propaganda balancing act between the home front and the battle front throughout the war with the country being quite divided, you know, pro -war and anti -war. […]
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