Facing Coming Storms: Talking International Defence

Conversation with Ari Ratner, Liisa Past & Brigadier Robbie Boyd .

Curious about the world of government, military, and global decisions, where power weighs a ton yet slips away?

In this Facing Coming Storms episode, we’re joined by Ari Ratner, ex-Obama State Department insider turned D.C. sceptic; Liisa Past, Estonia’s former cybersecurity chief and NATO pro; and Brigadier Robbie Boyd, retired British officer with NATO and UN battle scars. 

 
We uncover the gritty truth of crisis leadership — creaking systems, gut-wrenching calls, and the razor’s edge of slashing red tape without sparking chaos. From D.C. to Tallinn to Brussels, it’s a no-filter take on uncertainty, rigid institutions, and humility as our last stand. 

Key moments 

10:51 - Military Perspectives on Governance 

15:20 – The Balance of Military and Civilian Roles 

22:27 - Navigating Bureaucracy in Government 

40:40 – Power Dynamics and Insecurity in Washington 

45:03 - Understanding Context in Global Governance 

53:41 – Hope and Challenges in Military Reform 

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

Podcast also available on PocketCasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and RSS.

Leave a Reply

The Podcast

Facing Coming Storms is the new international defence podcast from the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research and the Project for the Study of the 21st Century.
From confrontation to conflict, join us each Monday for insightful discussions, conversations, and expert analysis.

Facing Coming Storms is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Discover more from Project for the Study of the 21st Century

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading