CNA Talks: A National Security Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Russia's Shadow Fleet Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

This episode explores how Russia uses shadow fleet tactics to avoid Western sanctions, and the complexities of countering these tactics under maritime law.

Guest Biographies

Cornell Overfield is a specialist in the relationship between maritime law and foreign policy. At CNA, he has worked on projects covering Arctic security and economic activity, improved engagement with allies and partners, and data analytics.

Further Reading

CNA InDepth: The Shadow Fleet's New Flags Challenge Order at Sea

CNA's Partnership with The National Mass Violence Center Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

The directors of the National Mass Violence Center join the show to discuss their work helping communities prepare for and recover from mass violence incidents.

Guest Biographies

Dr. Alyssa A Rheingold, Director of Response, Recovery, and Resilience at the National Mass Violence Center.

Dr. Angela Moreland Director of the Improving Community Preparedness Division at the National Mass Violence Center.

Lindsey Clancey, Research Scientist with CNA's Center for Justice Research and Innovation and an expert in crime, justice and victimology.

Further Reading

National Mass Violence Center

Center for Justice Research and Innovation

Oregon's Worst Wildfire Season on Record Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

This episode covers Oregon's wildfire season and how a CNA tool provides a new resource for state emergency managers.

Guest Biographies

John Kearse III is a senior research specialist in CNA's Center for Emergency Management Operations. He has supported more than 10 critical incident analyzes, ranging from wildfires and floods to active shooters.

Shaun Williams is an expert in geographic information systems (GIS) and data science, specializing in geospatial artificial intelligence, accessibility modeling, crime analysis, and environmental analytics.

Further Reading

CNA InDepth: Carey Whitehair-Conde on Using AI to Pinpoint Transportation Wildfire Risk

CNA InDepth: Unique Challenges of Wildfire Cleanups Confront Los Angeles

CNA Release: CNA Secures Second Place in Global Spatial AI Challenge for Wildfire Threat Detection

CNA Report: Best Practices in Social Media Crisis Communications for State and Local Emergency Management Agencies

CNA Talks: How Can Emergency Managers Best Utilize Social Media?

The Drone Blockade of Crimea Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

This episode explores how Ukraine is using unmanned systems to disrupt Russian logistics on the Crimean Peninsula, and how this campaign is impacting the Russia-Ukraine war.

Guest Biographies

Dmitry Gorenburg is an expert on security issues in the former Soviet Union, the Russian military, Russian foreign policy, and ethnic politics and identity.

Samuel Bendett's research focuses on Russian defense and technology developments; uncrewed, robotic and autonomous military systems; artificial intelligence; and Russian military capabilities.

Further Reading

CNA's Russia Studies Program

Joshua Tallis: Director of CNA's Ally and Partner Security Affairs Program Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Joshua Tallis joins the show to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, his time as CNA's Scientific Analyst to the Chief of Naval Operations, and CNA's new Ally and Partner Security Affairs Program.

Guest Biographies

Joshua Tallis is the director of CNA's Ally and Partner Security Affairs program, where he oversees research on foreign government strategies, operations, and capabilities to support US national security objectives.

Further Reading

CNA's Ally and Partner Security Affairs Program

How Can Emergency Managers Safely Integrate AI Tools? Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

This episode examines how emergency managers can reap the benefits of AI tools while avoiding some of their pitfalls, like hallucinations.

Guest Biographies

Jamie Biglow is a Project Manager with CNA's Center for Emergency Management Operations. She'll be speaking at the 2026 National Homeland Security Conference.

Gregor Goodman is CNA's chief AI officer, acting as the end-to-end technology interlock between study sponsors and CNA on the largest high-impact projects. He works together with business and research leaders to build a technology partnership, ensuring that offered technical solutions deliver exceptional results for clients.

China's Influence in Pacific Island's Media Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Over the past decade, China sought to deepen its ties with the Pacific Islands. This includes an effort to expand its footprint in the region's media landscape.

Guest Biographies

Heidi Holz is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA's China Studies Program. Her research focuses on People's Republic of China (PRC) strategic communications, propaganda, disinformation, and other global influence efforts.

Genevieve Collins is a Senior Research Specialist in CNA's China Studies Program.

Further Reading

CNA Report: Understanding China's Footprint in the Pacific Islands' Media Landscape

Analyzing Hollywood Portrayals of Emergency Management Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

This episode examines various depictions of emergency management in Hollywood movies and asks what the consequences are of inaccurate portrayals.

Guest Biographies

Heather Marshall is a Senior Research Specialist with CNA's Center for Emergency Management Operations.

Sydney Stewart is an expert in emergency management and homeland security, specializing in large-scale incident planning and response and resilience of critical community lifeline networks and infrastructure systems.

Further Reading

House of Dynamite Trailer

Twister (1996) Trailer DON'T LOOK UP trailer

The Strait of Hormuz: A Maritime Chokepoint May 20, 2026

Show notes

This episode examines the effort to revitalize America's shipping and shipbuilding capacity in the context of the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

Guest Biographies

Bill Komiss is an expert in economic analysis of operational energy and infrastructure. He specializes in statistical modeling of military construction projects and facility life cycles, as well as structural modeling of energy supply and demand in wartime scenarios.

Josh Tallis is CNA's Future Fleet Coordinator and Director of CNA's Ally and Partner Affairs Program. He previously served as the scientific analyst to the Chief of Naval Operations.

Further Reading

The Economic Implications of Disruptions to Maritime Oil Chokepoints

The End of Orban's Regime May 13, 2026

Show notes

With the inauguration of Péter Magyar, Hungary has a new prime minster for the first time in 16 years. This episode explores what this means for the nation and for Europe.

Guest Biographies

Julian G. Waller is an expert in Russian political-military affairs, elite strategic decision-making, adversary systems of governance, and civil-military relations outside the West. He is also a scholar of the politics of authoritarian rule, authoritarian political and social orders, and illiberal/postliberal ideologies globally.

Further Reading

Julian's Substack: Political Order(s)

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