The Cognitive Crucible - Information Professionals Association

Latest Episodes:

#216 John Cappello on the Balkan Security Network Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

During this episode, John Cappello emphasized the importance of collaboration and sharing experiences in the Western United States to combat disinformation and influence social dynamics. He suggested several research areas, including the use of disinformation in the Western Balkans, the impact of disinformation on trust in institutions, and effective strategies for countering disinformation. John also encouraged interested students or researchers to reach out to him for potential collaboration. He recommended the book "Parting the Curtain" by Walter Hickson for a better understanding of the challenges faced in the region.

Recording Date: 11 Feb 2025

Research Question: John Cappello suggests an interested student or researcher examine the disinformation tactics actors use within the Balkan region and which strategies have been successful to counter these efforts.

Resources:

Balkan Security Network
Halyard Mission Foundation
Parting the Curtain: Propaganda, Culture, and the Cold War, 1945-1961 by Walter L. Hixson
Balkan Ghosts: A Journey Through History by Robert D. Kaplan
Tim Judah
Noel Malcolm

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio: John Cappello, a 25-year veteran of the United States Air Force, is a founding partner and Chief Operations Officer of the Balkan Security Network (BSN). Specializing in defense and security issues, with a focus on hybrid warfare and information operations in the Western Balkans, his experience includes serving as Defense Attaché in Belgrade, Serbia, and U.S. Air Force Attaché in Tel Aviv, Israel. The Balkan Security Network specializes in defense and security information projects and disinformation analysis in the Western Balkans, providing fact-based news and analysis on these issues. BSN's content is published across the region. John is also the president of the Halyard Mission Foundation. Founded in 2015 the goal of the Foundation is to educate, commemorate, and increase awareness of the Halyard Mission, the rescue of over 500 US airmen during WWII, and the role the Serbs played in the success of the mission.

About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

#215 Brian Hamel on the Special Operations Forces, Cyberspace, and Space Triad Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

During this episode, Brian Hamel discusses his 2023 Army Command and General Staff Theses entitled: Reframing the Special Operations Forces-cyber-space triad: Special Operations' contributions to space warfare. Brian delves into the complex and evolving landscape of modern warfare, focusing on the intersection of Special Operations Forces (SOF), cyberspace, and space. The "Triad" emphasizes the synergistic relationship between these domains to achieve strategic objectives. Those interested in military strategy, national security, and the future of warfare will enjoy this one.

Recording Date: 16 Dec 2024

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
- #124 Dean Cheng on China, Space, and Information Operations
- #130 Teasel Muir-Harmony on Spaceflight, Foreign Policy, and Soft Power
Command and General Staff Thesis: Reframing the Special Operations Forces-cyber-space triad: Special Operations' contributions to space warfare by Brian Hamel
Army University Press Article: Reframing the Special Operations Forces-Cyber-Space Triad by Brian Hamel
Supporting Warfare in the Indo-Pacific Through Space-Based Sustainment by Maj. Brian E. Hamel
Bowen, Bleddyn E. War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2020.
Carlson, Joshua P. Spacepower Ascendant: Space Development Theory and a New Space Strategy. Independently Published, 2020.
Drew, Jerry: The Battle Beyond
Gallegos, Frank. "After the Gulf War: Balancing Space Power's Development." In Beyond the Paths of Heaven: The Emergence of Space Power Thought, edited by Bruce M. DeBlois, 63–102. Maxwell AFB, AL: Air University Press, 1999.
Klein, John J. War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics. New York: Routledge, 2006.
Klein, John J. Understanding Space Strategy: The Art of War in Space. London: Routledge, 2019.
Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space by Namrata Goswami and Peter A. Garretson

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio: Maj. Brian E. Hamel is a space operations officer assigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies, the Information Advantage Scholars Program, and the Red Team Leader course. Brian has multiple rotations to the Middle East and South America with special operations units. He has a Master of Art from Northeastern University, and recently wrote a thesis detailing special operations' contributions to space warfare as part of the Information Advantage Scholars Program at the Command and General Staff College, Kansas.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

#214 Jon Roginski and Stephanie Jaros on Insider Threat and Workforce Protection Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

During this episode, Jon Roginski and Stephanie Jaros discuss the strategic landscape for insider threat and workforce protection programs, emphasizing the need for a more holistic approach that considers both technical and human factors. They also explored the importance of balancing the use of analytics with human involvement in decision-making processes, and the need for organizations to be proactive in minimizing risks. Lastly, they discussed "Project Beyonce" and the importance of cultural development within organizations for workforce protection, and recommended groups for private sector involvement in security.

Recording Date: 15 Jan 2025

Research Question: Stephanie Jaros suggests an interested student or researcher examine: How do organizations not leak highly sensitive information? (For example: "Project Beyonce")

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
- #123 Jonathan Roginski on Insider Threats
- #73 Ori Brafman on The Starfish, Spider, and Resilient Societies
Workforce Protection: The Next Generation of Insider Risk Programs
On the Right Track: Worker-on-Worker Violence ("Project Beyonce") by Stephanie L. Jaros, Katlin J. Rhyner, & Erik R. Gregory
INFRAGARD
Legacy: What The All Blacks Can Teach Us About The Business Of Life by James Kerr
The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jon Roginski is the Program Manager for the West Point Insider Threat Program, which serves as the "research arm" for the Pentagon-administered Army Insider Threat Program.

Stephanie Jaros is an insider risk expert with 15 years of experience in program design, implementation, assessment, and research across government and industry. Currently, she is a Visiting Research Scientist and the Lead Scientist for Personnel Security Research at the University of Maryland's Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS).

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

#213 Sviatoslav Hnizdovskyi on Countering Authoritarian Influence Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

During this episode, Sviatoslav Hnizdovskyi Sviatoslav discusses propaganda and disinformation in society and the challenges of discerning truth in the age of social media. OpenMinds' specific expertise lies in working with hard-to-reach regions, including occupied territories, closed platforms, and authoritarian or restricted societies.

Recording Date: 14 Jan 2025

Research Question: Sviat Hnizdovskyi suggests an interested student or researcher examine:

What are the key motivational drivers behind the mobilization of Russian soldiers?
How can we establish a link between changes in social media sentiment and real-world behavior?
What are some effective approaches to measuring impact and outcomes of counter-influence campaigns?

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
- #62 Jonathan Rauch on the Constitution of Knowledge
Openminds website
Openminds: Russian Threat Index
How to Win an Information War by Peter Pomerantsev
Awakening from the Meaning Crisis by John Vervaeke and Christopher Mastropietro
Zombies in Western Culture: A Twenty-First Century Crisis by John Vervaeke, Christopher Mastropietro, Filip Miscevic

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio: Sviatoslav Hnizdovskyi is a CEO and Founder of OpenMinds - a cognitive defence tech company countering authoritarian influence in the battle for free and open societies. Renowned for its ability to access hard-to-reach areas through technology and leveraging deep local expertise, OpenMinds collaborates with Ukrainian and NATO-member governments, leading communication agencies, and think tanks. In the past two years, OpenMinds has executed 380+ counter-disinformation campaigns and conducted over 55 research projects on societal resilience and effects of propaganda, with a particular focus on the Russo-Ukrainian war. The company's work has been featured in leading global media outlets, such as The Economist, CNN, The Times, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

#212 Libby Lange on Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

During this episode, Libby Lange discusses her recent article: Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare: The Next Frontier in China's Quest for Global Influence.

Recording Date: 9 Dec 2024

Research Question: Libby Lange suggests an interested student or researcher:

Take the concept of Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare from the hypothetical and theoretical into the real world and find evidence of Chinese researchers who are actually retrieving data from data brokers.
Investigate how Russia is pursuing adjacent or complementary Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare capabilities.

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
- #210 Paul Groestad on Cognitive Warfare
- #187 Randy Rosin on Reflexive Control
Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare: The Next Frontier in China's Quest for Global Influence by Libby Lange
Decoding China's AI-Powered 'Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare' by Libby Lange
Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP)
Active Measures by Thomas Rid

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio: Libby Lange is a Director of Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, Libby worked as an Intel Analyst at Graphika, where she focused on Chinese state-linked influence operations and public health misinformation. Prior to Graphika, she served as a speechwriter and communications manager for Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, accompanying the President on multiple state visits. Libby holds an M.A. in Global Affairs from Yale University and a B.A. in Political Science from National Taiwan University.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

#211 Michelle Ciulla Lipkin on Media Literacy Education Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

During this episode, Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education, discusses the importance of media literacy in today's world, emphasizing its role in developing critical thinking, effective communication, and active citizenship. Michelle highlights the challenges of navigating the vast and complex information landscape, the need for community involvement in addressing media literacy issues, and the importance of supporting foundational work in this space. Learn about the complexities of the current media ecosystem, the shift from a consumer-centric to a participatory culture, and the challenges this presents for understanding and processing information.

Recording Date: 5 Dec 2024

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
- #107 Vanessa Otero on News Ecosystem Health
National Association for Media Literacy Education
Join NAMLE here
Assessment: IREX Learn to Discern
Journal of Media Literacy Education
News Literacy Project
Sam Wineburg's group, formerly Stanford History Education Group, now Digital Inquiry Group
Invisible Rulers by Renee DiResta
Growing Up Public by Devorah Heitner
News Literacy Now, How to Read the News by Bobbie Eisenstock

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio: Michelle Ciulla Lipkin has served as Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education since 2012. Michelle has helped NAMLE grow to be the preeminent media literacy education association in the U.S. She launched Media Literacy Week in the U.S. now in its 10th year, developed strategic partnerships with companies such as Thomson Reuters, Meta, YouTube, and Nickelodeon, and restructured both the governance and membership of NAMLE. She has overseen seven national conferences, created the National Media Literacy Alliance for teacher membership organizations, and done countless appearances at conferences and in the media regarding the importance of media literacy education. Michelle was the recipient of the 2020 Global Media and Information Literacy Award given by UNESCO.

Michelle is an alumni of the U.S. Dept. of State's International Visitors Program (Australia/2018). She regularly serves as Adjunct Lecturer at Brooklyn College where she teaches Media Literacy. She sits on the Advisory Council for the ML3: Librarians as Leaders for Media Literacy initiative led by Project Look Sharp.

Michelle began her career in children's television production, in various roles on both corporate and production teams. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from New York University. Michelle focused her grad work on children and television where she caught the "media literacy bug". After graduate school, Michelle worked as a facilitator for The LAMP (Learning about Multimedia Project) teaching media literacy and production classes for Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade students.

Her passion for media literacy education stems from a very personal place. Learn more about Michelle's story here.

When not thinking about media literacy, Michelle is either sitting at home in Brooklyn with her dog and husband, most likely reading, or at one of her kids' music gigs somewhere around the country.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

#210 Paul Groestad on Cognitive Warfare Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

During this episode, CDR Paul Grostad discusses the emerging threat of cognitive warfare, emphasizing the importance of information in modern societies and the potential for it to be weaponized. Until recently, Paul led Cognitive Warfare concept development for the NATO strategic warfare development command, HQ SACT, in Norfolk Virginia. NATO defines cognitive warfare as: the deliberate, synchronized military and non-military activities throughout the continuum of competition designed to shape the information environments and affect audience, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors to gain, maintain, and protect cognitive superiority.

Recording Date: 29 Nov 2024

Research Question: Paul Groestad suggests an interested student or researcher examine:

How can we ethically gain situational awareness and monitor the Information Environment without negatively impacting values like freedom of speech and freedom of the press?
How can we effectively deter against non-attributable hostile acts in the Grey Zone, or below the threshold of armed conflict?
AI powered influence is on the rise, what are different ways to utilize AI to defend, counter or respond?

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
- #33 August Cole on FICINT and the Cognitive Warfighting Domain
- #180 Tanna Krewson on Cognitive Warfare
Cognitive Warfare Products on the NATO Innovation Hub
Cognitive warfare: a conceptual analysis of the NATO ACT cognitive warfare exploratory concept by Christoph Deppe and Gary S Schaal. (FYI: This report is an analysis of an earlier draft version of The Cognitive Warfare EXPLORATORY Concept, which was shared with nations for comments in April 2023. Significant review, analysis and experimentation has gone into the document since then.)
Allied Command Transformation develops the Cognitive Warfare Concept to Combat Disinformation and Defend Against "Cognitive Warfare"
"Data is the new oil" Clive Humby
On Geopolitics:
- New Cold Wars by David Sanger (2024)
On the changing character of warfare:
- The Dragons and the Snakes by David Kilcullen (2020)
- New Rules of War by Sean McFate
- The Weaponisation of Everything by Mark Galeotti (2022)
On Russian Strategic Culture and Information Warfare:
- The Russian Understanding of War by Oscar Jonsson (2019)
- Unmasking Maskirovka by Daniel Bagge (2019)
- The Story of Russia by Orlando Figes (2022)
On Technology:
- Our Next Reality by Alvin Graylin and Louis Rosenberg (2024)
- The Battle for your Brain by Nita Farahany (2023)
- Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (1992)
- Daemon by Daniel Suarez (2009)

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio:

CDR Paul Groestad is a Norwegian naval officer with 30+ years experience in Signals, C4ISR, Cyber Operations and Information Warfare at all levels of the Norwegian Armed Forces and the NATO Command Structure.

His current position is with the Norwegian Ministry of Defense at the Department for Security Policy and Operations where he is desk officer for Hybrid threats and Malign Influence.

In his previous position at NATOs Warfare Development Command, HQ SACT in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, he was the Deputy Branch Head for Concept Development and led the project for NATOs Cognitive Warfare Concept.

He is a graduate of the Norwegian Naval Academy and Joint Command and Staff College, holds a Masters degree in Military Art and Science from the Norwegian Defence University College and a Bachelor's degree in Information Science from the University of Bergen.

His 2017 Master's thesis was on the topic of Russian Influence Operations.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

#209 John Kinder on World War Zoos and Propaganda Nov 26, 2024

Show notes

During this episode, John Kinder discusses his new book: World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age. This discussion focused on the historical use of animals in international diplomacy and wartime propaganda. Pandas, initially unknown outside China, became popular after being brought to the US in the 1930s. They were used as symbols of friendship and diplomatic gestures between countries. During World War II, zoos and animals played a significant role in propaganda efforts. The evacuation of a panda from the London Zoo boosted morale, while in the United States staged photographs of animals performing patriotic tasks were used to inspire support for the war. In contrast, the Tokyo Zoo euthanized animals to demonstrate sacrifice, and the Soviet Union's efforts to keep animals alive during the siege of Leningrad symbolized resistance. John highlights how different countries utilized animals in zoos during wartime, reflecting their varying approaches to propaganda and morale-boosting.

Recording Date: 19 Nov 2024

Research Question: John Kinder suggests an interested student or researcher examine

What roles can zoos play in 21st century conservation efforts? What are zoos' limitations?
How do we limit the suffering of zoo animals caught up in contemporary military conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Gaza?
To what extent do contemporary governments continue to use institutions like zoos to leverage their power and influence on the global stage?
For the longest time, Americans have tended to view World War II as the "Good War"? Is that changing? Should we criticize World War II's reputation, in historian Michael C. C. Adams' words, as the "best war ever"?
Increasingly, scholars argue that we need to seek out "multispecies" solutions (involving humans, animals, plants, bacteria, fungi, etc.) to solve 21st century problems such as climate change. Do you think that's the case? How might multispecies perspectives help us see the world—and its problems—in new ways?
War is not the only danger facing zoo animals. In recent years, zoo animals have died in floods, wildfires, earthquakes, droughts, famines, and periods of social, economic, and political unrest. How does society manufacture "vulnerability," and what are some of the ways we can ensure that the most vulnerable—human and animal—don't bear the brunt of disasters?

Resources:

John Kinder Oklahoma State University
World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age by John M. Kinder
Paying with Their Bodies: American War and the Problem of the Disabled Veteran by John M. Kinder
Panda Diplomacy
Ping-pong diplomacy
Whipsnade Zoo near London
Haus des Meeres zoo/aquarium in Vienna Austria

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio: John M. Kinder is director of American Studies and professor of history at Oklahoma State University. He is the author of Paying with Their Bodies: American War and the Problem of the Disabled Veteran, published by the University of Chicago Press, and coeditor of Service Denied: Marginalized Veterans in Modern American History.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

#208 Rand Waltzman on Disinformation 101 Nov 20, 2024

Show notes

During this episode, Rand Waltzman returns to the Cognitive Crucible to discuss his famous Disinformation 101 series.

Recording Date: 18 Nov 2024

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
- #1 Rand Waltzman on Cognitive Security
- #100 Rand Waltzman on the Metaverse and Immersive Virtual Reality
Disinformation 101 LinkedIn Posts:
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio: Dr. Rand Waltzman has 40 years of experience performing and managing research in Artificial Intelligence applied to domains including social media and cognitive security in the information environment. He is former Deputy Chief Technology Officer and currently an Adjunct Senior Information Scientist at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, CA. He is also a founding board member of the Information Professionals Association.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

#207 Kay Nissen on Second Mover Advantage Nov 12, 2024

Show notes

During this episode, Kay Nissen discusses her Army's Command and General Staff College thesis entitled: Second Mover Advantage In The Military Information Environment. This thesis examines second-mover advantage theory within the military information environment. It aims to offer military planners alternative strategies beyond the traditional emphasis on seizing the initiative, proposing a secondary response framework. The research explores how to create a second-mover advantage, focusing on response timing and type through a mixed-methods approach.

The conversation also touched on the challenges of implementing theories in practice, the importance of cooperative partners, consistency, and information tempo, and the potential research areas in this field.

Recording Date: 8 Nov 2024

Research Questions: Kay Nissen suggests interested students examine:

What makes a cooperative partner in order to create a second mover advantage?
How does information tempo compare to influence timing?
How do second mover advantages appear in different information functions?

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
Kay Nissen's thesis: Second Mover Advantage In The Military Information Environment will be available here
Rebels to Reels: A biography of Combat Cameraman Daniel A. McGovern USAF by Joseph McCabe
Nobody Is Coming to Save You: A Green Beret's Guide to Getting Big Sh*t Done Hardcover by Scott Mann

Link to full show notes and resources

Guest Bio:

Maj. Kay M. Nissen is the commander, 2d Audiovisual Squadron, at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. As the commander, she oversees the squadron's mission to create effective audiovisual productions on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense. She is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Total Force Airmen and Government Service civilians to operate an Air Force level production center and employ the Air Force's only live broadcast truck.

Maj. Nissen received her commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in May of 2011. She has served as a public affairs officer for both fighter and airlift wings, as well as in support of NATO and Major Command staffs. She has also deployed as a media engagements officer for the NATO Resolute Support mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, and as a Chief of Public Affairs for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing in the United Arab Emirates. Prior to this position, Maj. Nissen was a student and Information Advantage Scholar at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

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