The Joint Geeks of Staff

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Where science fiction and national security meet.

The Joint Geeks of Staff


    • May 9, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 57m AVG DURATION
    • 43 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Joint Geeks of Staff

    Season 3 Return

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 36:48


    The Joint Geeks are back to tell you exactly what they've been doing the last few months. Check out this article about on-orbit construction: https://www.space.com/space-force-picks-arkisys-to-build-satellites-in-orbit   Our thanks to the Naval Academy Museum for sponsoring us. Our intro and outro music was composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh. 

    History, Naval History, and Star Trek TOS

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 38:25


    Intro and outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh. The Joint Geeks of Staff is a podcast seeks to bridge the gap in understanding military and international affairs through the lens of science fiction.This podcast is sponsored by the U.S. Naval Academy Museum which also hosts the (almost) annual NavyCon.

    DIME on the Horizon

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 51:37


    On this week's episode of the Joint Geeks of Staff, Ian sits down with Dan Kimball for his NavyCon talk about lessons in leadership, policy, and consequences from the Horizon game series. They talk about some enduring lessons for leaders and great powers while exploring a world of giant robot dinosaurs that eat people for fuel! Come with us and enjoy the ride! Our thanks to the Naval Academy Museum for sponsoring us. Our intro and outro music was composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh.   Ian's black hole of the week can be found here: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/tiktok-marine-general-tryon-leadership/  Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ The Joint Geeks on this episode are Ian Boley (@ibboley). Our guest is Dan Kimball, who can be found on Instagram @therealdankimball

    Reagan's War Stories: Fiction and Policymakers

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 41:56


    Reagan's War Stories: Fiction and Policymakers On this week's episode of the Joint Geeks of Staff, Ian and Claude sit down with West Point professor Ben Griffin to discuss his new book, Reagan's War Stories: A Cold War Presidency. Together, we discuss how fiction shaped Reagan's policymaking, the role of science fiction authors in the missile defense debates of the day, and what place fiction can occupy in the midst of global turbulence. Also on this episode, Claude gives some crystal-clear advice to museums everywhere, and Ian sets up the next episode with a chilling preview of the world to come… Our thanks to the Naval Academy Museum for sponsoring us. Our intro and outro music was composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh.  Ben's book can be found here: https://www.usni.org/press/books/reagans-war-stories or on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Reagans-War-Stories-Cold-Presidency-ebook/dp/B09V33LLN8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

    No Disintegrations: Bounty Hunters in the GFFA

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2022 46:22


    On this week's episode of the Joint Geeks of Staff, hosts Cory Hollon and Thomas Harper welcome special guest Jason Beck. Jason is a DoD civilian working in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. With NAVYCON on hiatus this year for logistical reasons, we've decided to record a series of shows featuring the people you would have heard at the convention. Jason leads us off with his presentation, Fragmented Power: Bounty Hunters and State Sovereignty in Star Wars and The Mandalorian. We discuss the role of state legitimacy, the monopoly of violence, and the liminal state of bounty hunters in the galaxy far, far away. Jason's paper is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S6o9PyueWa4KvtUV0aD7lDL76J7puOmojFy7HLf68T8/edit?usp=sharing Our thanks to the Naval Academy Museum for sponsoring us. Our intro and outro music was composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh. Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are:  Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon on Twitter) and Thomas Harper (@thomasLharper on Twitter)  

    DragonCon 2022 Panel 2: Star Wars: The Law of War

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 58:52


    DragonCon 2022 Panel 2: Star Wars: The Law of War The Joint Geeks are back for Season 3, and this time we're live! This is our second panel from DragonCon 2022. Tom, Ian, and Cory are moderated by Clara and joined by a wonderful convention audience! We discuss the reasons for the law of war and delve into the case of the Death Star 2 plumbers. Legitimacy, proportionality, deterrence, and Cory's resemblance to R2D2 are all up for discussion!   Our thanks to the Naval Academy Museum for sponsoring us. Our intro and outro music was composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh.  Tom's contextual clips:  Toast to Operation Cinder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0urU5N5_OE&t=1sMon Mothma v. Saw Gerrera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYGhVX8VuQM Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ

    DragonCon 2022 Panel 1: Clones to Conscripts: Evolution of a Galactic Army

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2022 61:05


    The Joint Geeks are back for Season 3, and this time we're live! This is our first panel from DragonCon 2022. Tom, Ian, and Cory are joined by Will Hudson and Kent Newland and a wonderful convention audience! We discuss how the galaxy far, far away dealt with the challenges of fielding a military. From leadership to recruitment to clones to conscription, we dig into what worked, what didn't, and why things might have changed along the way. Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Tom Harper (@thomasLharper), Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon), Ian Boley (@ibboley). We're joined by Kent Newland (Insta: @justkentbob) and William Hudson (Insta: @hotdogAC92).  

    Burnout part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2022 40:01


    In the Season 2 finale, the gang sits down to review a difficult year and share what kept them going without burning out. Part 2 discusses the importance of faith, the need for authentic leadership, and times science fiction has helped the gang recover from burnout.  Reach out to us via Discord at:discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ  The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley), Clara Boley, Eric Muirhead (@Starfleethist), and Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon). 

    Burnout Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2022 42:35


    Burnout Part 1 In the Season 2 finale, the gang sits down to review a difficult year and share what kept them going without burning out. Part 1 discusses the portrayals of burnout in Strange New Worlds and Kenobi, the nature of mentorship, and the too-often toxic seductiveness of service for the national security community.   Reach out to us via Discord at:discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley), Clara Boley, Eric Muirhead (@Starfleethist), and Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon). 

    “Into the Garbage Chute, Flyboy!” Why You Don't See Air Forces in Science Fiction (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 42:49


    “Into the Garbage Chute, Flyboy!” Why You Don't See Air Forces in Science Fiction (Part 2) Ian and Cory sit down with Nick Narbutovskih for a two-parter about air power in science fiction and combined arms. In part 1 they talk about the high-level stuff–why does the Air Force exist? What makes AF special operations forces special? What does an air force do to help out on the ground? Part 2 gets into topics like operating with coalition partners, managing information flow in the air, and the need to rule the electromagnetic spectrum.   Also in this episode, Nick takes pity on Ian, Cory talks about why the Air Force loves his dissertation, and Ian calls Cory out for leaving his messages on read… Check out Nick's work and social media links here! https://narbutov.com/ Reach out to us via Discord at:discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley) and Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon). Nick Narbutovskih (@NNarbutovskih) was our guest.  

    “Into the Garbage Chute, Flyboy!” Why You Don't See Air Forces in Science Fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 42:37


    “Into the Garbage Chute, Flyboy!” Why You Don't See Air Forces in Science Fiction Ian and Cory sit down with Nick Narbutovskih for a two-parter about air power in science fiction and combined arms. In part 1 they talk about the high-level stuff–why does the Air Force exist? What makes AF special operations forces special? What does an air force do to help out on the ground? Part 2 gets into topics like operating with coalition partners, managing information flow in the air, and the need to rule the electromagnetic spectrum.   Also in this episode, Nick takes pity on Ian, Cory talks about why the Air Force loves his dissertation, and Ian calls Cory out for leaving his messages on read… Check out Nick's work and social media links here! https://narbutov.com/ Reach out to us via Discord at:discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley) and Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon). Nick Narbutovskih (@NNarbutovskih) was our guest.   

    Something Approximating An Episode: Proxy Wars and Sci-Fi

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022 51:48


    Ian, Eric, Annie, and Andy P. of The Great Derelict take a look at proxy wars--why they happen, what types of proxy wars are out there, and how sci-fi tends to portray these conflicts! Also in this episode, Annie reveals her true purpose, Andy plays his role as the EPH, Eric makes an unsurprising claim about the best sci-fi of all time, and Ian does something truly horrific...Reach out to us via Discord at:discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley) and Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHist). Our guests are Annie Muirhead (@LariaHoD) and Andy Poulastides (@Andy3E) of The Great Derelict podcast (@GreatDerelict).

    Belated April 1 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 25:52


    Clara and Ian broadcast a late 1 April episode after some technical issues that cropped up while they were on vacation. They break down the 13 Dimensions of a Foreign Service Officer using a case study from the Galaxy Far, Far Away! Learn about the rubric by which potential diplomats are judged through some absolutely fantastic examples taken from a unique life. Everything ends with Ian and Clara revealing their true source of marital angst....NavyCon 2022 has been postponed until this fall, but in the meantime, if you want to send us a proposal, please go ahead and do so!Reach out to us via Discord at:discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley) and Clara Engle Boley. No one else wanted anything to do with this episode. Except Tom. But he couldn't make it. The 13 Dimensions:  https://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/officer/13-dimensions/ The State Department's careers website--note that they hire both specialists (people with marketable skills) and generalists (diplomats). https://careers.state.gov/Clara's Lemon Cardamom Rolls recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019242-lemon-sweet-rolls-with-cream-cheese-icing 

    The Fall of Centauri Prime

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2022 55:30


    At the end of the episode, the Geeks gave their recommendations on how to help Ukrainian refugees. Here are the suggestions and links:IFRC Contribution page: https://donation.ifrc.org/?campaign=e8952a8a-5096-ec11-a2db-005056010027 (IFRC & ICRC have the lead on Ukraine efforts)ARC Information Page: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2022/ukraine-red-cross-delivers-aid-to-families.htmlICRC appeal page: https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ukraineHumble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com/stand-with-ukraine-bundleNational Bank of Ukraine for Humanitarian Assistance: NBU Opens Fundraising Account for Humanitarian Assistance to Ukrainians Affected by Russia's Aggression (bank.gov.ua)Voices of Children Finances and Donation – Voice of Ukraine (voice-of-ukraine.com)The Network for Animals Ukraine Crisis - Network For Animals

    You Can't Take the Sea From Me: The US Coast Guard's Role at Home, Abroad, and in Sci-fi

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 52:06


    You Can't Take the Sea From Me: The US Coast Guard's Role at Home, Abroad, and in Sci-fiIan interviews Linden, a Coast Guard officer, and Matt, a diplomat, to talk about the role of the US Coast Guard in science fiction! They talk about law enforcement, customs, lifesaving, and presence operations at home, abroad, and in sci-fi! It's all capped off by Ian sharing his secret standard for a truly great Joint Geeks episode….The NavyCon 2022 Call for Presentations is out, and the deadline is 3 April! Send us your proposals–we want to hear from you! Find it here: https://twitter.com/ANavycon/status/1488524790948265984Reach out to us via Discord at:discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley). Our guests are Linden Dahlkemper and Matthew Stannard, neither of whom want to be anyone's friend on social media.

    The Unprofessional: Why Boba Fett Is Bad at Empire-Building

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 58:57


    Tom, Clara, Ian, and Eric take a look at The Book of Boba Fett and break down the good, the bad, and the ugly! We talk about the true cultural home for the story, discuss why it's hard to tell who's a revisionist power and who's preserving the status quo, and explore how the Man in Green fails to make the transition from personal to organizational leadership. Also in this episode, Clara reveals her narco-Communist sympathies, Eric fights against his Trekkie typecasting, Tom talks about the time he underwent torture for trival reasons, and Ian wails about a Star Wars music genre…The NavyCon 2022 Call for Presentations is out, and the deadline is 3 April! Send us your proposals–we want to hear from you! Find it here: https://twitter.com/ANavycon/status/1488524790948265984Books referenced: Stranger in the Shogun's City: A Japanese Woman and Her World by Amy Stanley https://books.google.com/books/about/Stranger_in_the_Shogun_s_City.html?id=GH6UzQEACAAJTour of Duty: Samurai Military Service in Edo, and the Culture of Early Modern Japan by Constantine Nomikos Vaporishttps://www.google.com/books/edition/Tour_of_Duty/1MhapbtREgoC?hl=en&gbpv=0Francis Gavin, Nuclear Weapons and American Grand Strategy (Washington, D.C., Brookings Institution Press: 2020)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V2B7NVX/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1Reach out to us via Discord at:discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley) Eric Muirhead (@starfleethist), Tom Harper (@thomaslharper), and Clara Boley. 

    Q Ships, Colonialism, and Great Power Competition: An Expanse Retrospective

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2022 66:13


    The Joint Geeks of Staff are back from mid-season hiatus! Claude Berube (@cgberube) returns with historian of colonialism Annie Muirhead (@LariaHoD), cinematographer, sci-fi superfan, and podcaster extraordinaire Andy Poulastides (@Andy3E), and professor, historian, and merchant mariner Sal Mercogliano (@mercoglianos) for a retrospective look at the show “The Expanse.” What can we learn about competing great powers, the lawless seas, and the militarization of space from this great sci-fi franchise? Should merchant vessels be armed? How will non-state actors affect trade security and international cooperation moving forward? Check out Claude's new book On Wide Seas: The US Navy in the Jacksonian Era now available from the University of Alabama Press: http://www.uapress.ua.edu/product/On-Wide-Seas,7681.aspx Check out Andy's amazing podcast “The Great Derelict” for deep-dive discussions of all things science fiction: https://greatderelict.libsyn.com/ Can't get enough of “The Expanse”? Check out Andy's amazing in-depth podcast looking at the series “Into the Expanse”: http://roguetwomedia.com/show/into-the-expanse/ Check out Sal's YouTube channel, “What's Going on with Shipping?” for more information on global shipping and merchant mariners: https://www.youtube.com/c/WhatisGoingonWithShippingwSalMercogliano Recommended Reading: Requiem for Battleship Yamato by Yoshida Mitsuru: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Requiem_for_Battleship_Yamato/T1KQ-Ti99dEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Claude Berube (@cgberube), Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHIST), and Ian Boley (@IBBoley) “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett” are solely the property of Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company, all rights reserved. 

    Damage Control Mode

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 93:06


    Ian and Cory look to Mark Vandroff and Sal Mercogliano to tell them how to save a sinking ship!  The Joint Geeks cover damage control in the air, on land, on orbit, and at sea--what makes it necessary, how to do it, and how to make sure it's done with as little effort as possible. Buckle up, because this one is all about when things get bumpy!Also in this episode, Cory talks about his life choices, Mark goes into orbit, Sal tells us what happens when smoke gets in your eyes, and Ian celebrates an old friend's success…We'll be going on a 6-week hiatus after this, so end us a note in the Discord about what you'd like to see us cover when we get back! It's here: discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJEric Muirhead and Andy Poulastides on the Great Derelict podcast: https://greatderelict.libsyn.com/ground-forces-in-sci-fiSal's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/WhatisGoingonWithShippingwSalMercoglianoJames Hornfischer, Neptune's Inferno: https://www.amazon.com/Neptunes-Inferno-U-S-Navy-Guadalcanal-ebook/dp/B004C43FXE Fitzgerald/McCain collision report: https://www.secnav.navy.mil/foia/readingroom/HotTopics/CNO%20USS%20Fitzgerald%20and%20USS%20John%20S%20McCain%20Response/CNO%20USS%20Fitzgerald%20and%20USS%20John%20S%20McCain%20Response.pdf The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley) Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon); our guests are Mark Vandroff (@goatmaster89) and Sal Mercogliano (@mercoglianos). 

    Consuls and Anthros and Diplos, Oh My! Diplomatic, Historical, and Anthropological Views on First Contact

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 77:59


    Hey all! This episode has some audio issues due to recording space and microphone constraints. We've tried our best to clean it up, and we're trying to sack those responsible [Editor's note: Ian. We mean Ian]. Hope you enjoy!–IanClara and Ian explore the challenges and opportunities of first contact with three guests: NavyCon keynote speaker Abby Mullen, Foreign Service Officer and former journalist Matthew Stannard, and anthropologist Cecilee Jones! We talk about the theory of first contact, show the different routes it can take, and lay out the ways it can go wrong–past, present, and future.Also in this episode, Abby reveals why people should @ her, Clara pines for the glory of consular uniforms, Cecilee tells us how to infiltrate a Nepalese village, Matt quotes the teachings of a great sage, and Ian reverts to childhood…Listen to Abby Mullen's podcast, Consolation Prize, at https://consolationprize.rrchnm.org/! You can also hear her over on our sister podcast, Preble Hall, where she's one of the rotating hosts! https://www.usna.edu/Museum/PrebleHall/index.phpCheck out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley) and Clara Engle Boley; our guests are Abby Mullen (@abbymullen and @consolprize), Matthew Stannard, and Cecilee Jones. 

    Hit ‘Em With a Combo Move: Combined Arms Challenges, Opportunities, and Sci-Fi Representations

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 75:21


    Ian and Eric are joined by NavyCon presenters Andy Rucker and Bill Prom for a discussion of combined arms in sci-fi! They explore the challenges of combined arms in reality, the challenges of writing about combined arms in sci-fi, the importance of communications to those issues, and how different platforms contribute to all of the above. Also in this episode, Andy reveals the most accurate submarine movie ever, Eric talks about his latest Star Trek career field concept, Bill says what we're all thinking, and Ian sends everyone into orbit…For recommended reading this weeks, we have a ton of--what else?--doctrine! It's a bit of a slog at times, but critical to understanding how the concepts we discussed are supposed to work. As always, though, your mileage may vary.   First, though, we have the Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Manual - for those that love the Aliens series, this is a fun one to have (and a free pdf is available!) https://ia801900.us.archive.org/9/items/aliens-colonial-marines-technical-manual/Aliens%20-%20Colonial%20Marines%20Technical%20Manual.pdfJP 1: Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United Stateshttps://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp1_ch1.pdf JP 3-0: Joint Operations https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp3_0ch1.pdf ADP 3-0: Operations (2019) https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN18010-ADP_3-0-000-WEB-2.pdf FM 3-0: Operations (2021 Edition being reviewed right now at the US Army Doctrine Directorate) https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN6687_FM%203-0%20C1%20Inc%20FINAL%20WEB.pdf MCTP 3-10F Fire Support Coordination in the Ground Combat Element - The go-to pub for understanding fire support doctrine in the Marine Corpshttps://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/MCTP%203-10F.pdf?ver=2019-03-28-083848-523Force Design 2030 - This speaks to some of the divestment/investment in Marine Corps Artillery that Bill mentioned: https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Portals/142/Docs/CMC38%20Force%20Design%202030%20Report%20Phase%20I%20and%20II.pdf?ver=2020-03-26-121328-460 Check out the brand-new individual videos for Andy and Bill's presentations below! Andy's NavyCon presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXX7IEMzTjIBill's NavyCon presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGSQrpbupb4Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are: Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHIST) and Ian Boley (@IBBoley); our guests are Bill Prom (@wjprom) and Andy Rucker (@rucker_andy) of the Man Battlestations Podcast (https://manbattlestations.libsyn.com/).

    Godzilla, Gundams, and Ronald McDonald: History and National Security in Japanese Sci-Fi and Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2021 59:29


    On this week's new episode of the Joint Geeks of Staff, join hosts Eric Muirhead and Ian Boley as we welcome our guest, Dr. Nyri Bakkalian to discuss the role of history and national security in influencing Japanese science fiction and anime.  How did centuries of military dictatorship influence post-World War II movies, manga, and television? How do Kaiju represent Japanese fears of foreign invasion? When did Ronald McDonald first arrive in Japan? The answers might surprise you… Check out Nyri's weekly podcast Friday Night History at https://anchor.fm/fridaynighthistory Also, check out her appearance on Preble Hall with Claude, talking about the Shogunate Navy:https://www.owltail.com/podcast/7s9Ll-Preble-Hall/best-episodes Works cited: Learn more about how the “Closed Country” myth isn't really true with historian Ronald Toby:https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=3142 Did Early Modern Japanese always follow the rules and tell the truth to their superiors? Luke Roberts begs to differ:https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/performing-the-great-peace-political-space-and-open-secrets-in-tokugawa-japan/ Recommended reading for those interested in the more serious side of Japanese media and national security: First, above all else (Ian is embarrassed he didn't mention this on the show) check out Mobile Suit Gundam: the 08th MS Team on Hulu. Basically, this 12-episode series is a well-done Vietnam War movie with very realistically-portrayed giant robots. Themes explored include the inhumanity of war, the plight of the average soldier, and the challenges of mechanized war in a hostile environment. If you have ever enjoyed any Vietnam War movie and any sci-fi property, this one is easy to sink your teeth into.  After that, Ian suggests exploring one of two options. The first is Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, which is streaming on Netflix. Code Geass is about a high school prodigy who leads a Japanese ethno-nationalist insurgency against a globe-spanning superpower. Themes include political legitimacy, the nature of insurgencies, and the role of the individual actor in international affairs. Want to watch a rebellion in the 1984 world with giant robots? This might be your jam. Alternatively, you can check out Aldnoah.Zero on HBOMax. This show is about a war between a technologically superior Martian civilization and a more-or-less present-day Earth. This story follows a group of Terran high school students as they get swept up by the conflict and are forced to fight as part of a local militia force. Themes include Clausewitzian theories of war, political legitimacy, and the relative advantages of discipline vs firepower. Come for the incredible soundtrack, stay for the hard-sf battles in the Terran orbital debris belt.  These are some of the more accessible military sci-fi anime out there, but there are also other media to check out, like the light novels All You Need is Kill (the basis for Edge of Tomorrow) and Yukikaze (an aerial combat piece that has been compared to Starship Troopers in terms of its impact on Japanese sci-fi). Feel free to ask around in the Discord for more recommendations!  Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHIST) and Ian Boley (@IBBoley); our guest is Dr. Nyri Bakkalian (@riversidewings) 

    Dune it Joint Geeks Style!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 57:01


    Andy Poulastides returns, and Annie Muirhead joins us for the first time! We tackle the recent Dune movie with our unique Joint Geeks flair, examining the lessons the movie gives about human terrain, leadership, collective memory, and more.Also in this episode, Eric shows off his singing chops, Andy rhapsodizes about the Great Beard of the Galaxy, Annie gives us an Expansive black hole of the week, and Ian tells us why the Atreides really do count…We hinted at this concept in the episode, but if you've ever wanted a rigorous examination of why a stand-up fight between great powers is so different from an asymmetric conflict ala Dune, check out this fantastic book by Stephen Biddle on what he calls the modern system of warfare and how it works. Stephen Biddle, Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2010). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006YGDW6S/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1  Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are: Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHIST) and Ian Boley (@IBBoley); our guests are Annie Muirhead (@Laria HoD) and Andy Poulastides (@Andy3E) of the Great Derelict podcast (@GreatDerelict). 

    Attorneys in the Machine: Capabilities and Legality of AI in National Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 68:05


    Our guest this week is Chris Dailey, a NavyCon presenter! Chris brings a wealth of knowledge about AI and teams up with Tom and Eric to give us a fascinating overview of what AI really is, how it works, what it's used for, and what the legality of AI on the battlefield is. Check out his NavyCon presentation here: https://youtu.be/oPN9bEwJgQU Also in this episode, Eric reveals the ground truth, Tom lays down the LAWS, Chris explains why he went from waves to widgets, and Ian lives up to expectations…Thanks to Chris for a whole host of links exploring AI concepts! As he says, “it's never been easier to get into transformative tech. Unlike radar or nuclear or electricity or internal combustion, with ML you don't need heavy/dangerous/expensive equipment to learn and operate it--all the knowledge and tools are available for free online!”Q learning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__t2XRxXGxIImagenet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40riCqvRoMsNeural Networks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aircAruvnKkAlphaGo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgowR4pq3e8GPT-2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ypnLjwpzK8Early fire control: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwf5mAlI7UgAEGIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tJjjgFiDiACheck out the organization Tom mentioned here: https://www.stopkillerrobots.org/Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are: Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHIST), Ian Boley (@IBBoley), Tom Harper (@thomasLharper), and our guest is Chris Dailey (@dails08). 

    Science Fiction Doesn't Count: Censuses and National Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 74:05


    It's time to stand up and be counted! The gang tackles what censuses are all about, different types of censuses, what censuses can signal, and what censuses mean for national security. Ian Banks his Cultural knowledge, Clara reveals her love language, Tom bows to the superiority of Babylon 5, and Eric turns against The State…The book Clara mentioned is: Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson, The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty (New York: Penguin, 2020). Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJThe Joint Geeks on this episode are: Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHIST), Ian Boley (@IBBoley), Tom Harper (@thomasLharper), and Clara Engle Boley. 

    “I Got You, Baby Bear!”: Military Life and Mentorship in Star Trek: Lower Decks

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 52:06


    Recorded on 10 September, 2021. In this episode, Eric Muirhead(@StarfleetHIST), Ian Boley(@IBBoley), and Andy Poulastides (@Andy3E) discuss military life as portrayed by the new animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. The team tackles neglectful field grade officers, boring military schools, what makes good mentorship, and--naturally--chain-smoking house cats. Finally, Ian finally reveals how he truly feels about co-host Cory Hollon (but don't tell Cory). Check out Andy's Podcast The Great Derelict at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-great-derelict/id1080222616 or where you get your podcasts. Looking for amazing sci-fi reproductions and props? Check out the work of “Orbital Workshop” available at https://cosmicworkshop.co.uk/.   To Boldly Go is available for pre-order here:  https://www.amazon.com/Boldly-Go-Leadership-Strategy-Conflict/dp/1636240623 Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ

    To Boldly Go … on a podcast!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 55:00


     This episode we welcome Steve Leonard (@DoctrineMan), Kera Rolsen (@KeraRolsen), Kelsey Cipolla, and our very own Clara Engle Boley to discuss their soon-to-be released work To Boldly Go: Leadership, Strategy, and Conflict in the 21st Century. We discuss the genesis of the project, leadership, inclusion, interstellar norms, and why Poe Dameron was awful. The guests mutiny and gang up on Cory about the leadership of Han Solo. To Boldly Go is available for pre-order here:  https://www.amazon.com/Boldly-Go-Leadership-Strategy-Conflict/dp/1636240623Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon) and Clara Engle Boley. 

    The Joint Geeks Strike Back: Why Luke Skywalker Should Be in Space Leavenworth

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2021 41:15


    We're back! In this episode, the Joint Geeks reconvene to discuss their summers and whether or not Luke Skywalker ever did anything of note as an onscreen leader. Clara reveals her true power, Ian cuts loose with his most accurate impression yet, Eric recognizes he has a problem, and Cory tries something new… Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHIST), Ian Boley (@IBBoley), Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon), and Clara Engle Boley.

    The Great Debate: X-Wing, Y-Wing, or B-Wing?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 80:44


    From Thomas Harper: The American Red Cross will host a special Star Wars Day event on May 4th at 12pm eastern exploring the world of International Humanitarian Law through the lens of the galaxy far far away. If you've ever wondered about the legal issues in using the Death Star to destroy a planet or whether the Princess Leia was right to be angry about Darth Vader boarding her ship, this is the event for you! You can register free at:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckcemrqTIqHtOHDI-d_oXdso1_mSBeltDpFor those who can't make it live, the event will be recorded and posted to https://www.rulesofwar.org in the near future.

    Star Wars and the Laws of War

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 68:23


    From Thomas Harper: The American Red Cross will host a special Star Wars Day event on May 4th at 12pm eastern exploring the world of International Humanitarian Law through the lens of the galaxy far far away. If you've ever wondered about the legal issues in using the Death Star to destroy a planet or whether the Princess Leia was right to be angry about Darth Vader boarding her ship, this is the event for you! You can register free at:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckcemrqTIqHtOHDI-d_oXdso1_mSBeltDpFor those who can't make it live, the event will be recorded and posted to https://www.rulesofwar.org in the near future.

    Dank Memes, Merchant Marines, and Earth-Shattering Kabooms: The Asymmetric Threats Posed by Merchant Ships in Sci-fi and Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 70:36


    If you want to learn more about merchant shipping, but don't know where to start, this book is a good option. There are more in-depth pieces out there, but this is one of the best summaries for the layperson. Check out: Rose George, Ninety Percent of Everything: Inside Shipping, the Invisible Industry That Puts Clothes on Your Back, Gas in Your Car, and Food on Your Plate, (New York: Picador, 2014). Link here: https://www.amazon.com/Ninety-Percent-Everything-Shipping-Invisible-dp-1250058295/dp/1250058295/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=As always, follow us on Twitter @thejointgeeks, and look out for information on NavyCon 2021 from @anavycon! We've got some great speakers lined up for 10 June, at 1900 Eastern--we can't wait!Music intro and outro by Greg Mutersbaugh

    "You're Not my Space Dad! Edward Jellico and William Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 52:26


    Intro and outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh

    April 1 Special: Spring is Here!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 48:22


    If you're interested in going deeper into the theories we mentioned on the show, check out our works cited page: The origins of realist theory can be found in the works of Thucydides, but you don't have to read The Peloponnesian War to get a grasp on the basics of the topic. For defensive realism, a good starting place is: Kenneth N. Waltz, “The Origins of War in Neorealist Theory,” Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Vol. 18, No. 4 (Spring 1988). 615-628. Link here: http://www.columbia.edu/itc/sipa/S6800/courseworks/OriginsOfWar.pdfOffense-Defense theory is found here: Sean M. Lynn-Jones, “Offense-Defense Theory and its Critics,” Security Studies, Vol. 4. No. 4 (1995). 660-691. Link here: https://pages.ucsd.edu/~bslantchev/courses/pdf/Lynn-Jones%20-%20Offense-Defense%20Theory%20and%20Its%20Critics.pdfFor offensive realism, the foundational text is intimidating in size, but very well-written and a quick read. Check out: John J. Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, Updated Edition (New York, NY: Norton, 2014). https://www.amazon.com/Tragedy-Great-Power-Politics-Updated/dp/0393349276Liberalism as an international relations framework was first articulated by Immanuel Kant, but as with Thucydides, you don't need to read his work to understand the basic tenets of liberalism. Instead, go to: Michael W. Doyle, “Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs,” Philosophy and Public Affairs, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Summer 1983). 205-235. Link here: https://canvas.uw.edu/files/49769298/download?download_frd=1 (This article comes in 2 parts. The second part is more difficult to find without access to JSTOR or another database, but there are summaries available.) For a deeper dive, see: G. John Ikenberry, After Victory: Institutions, Strategic Restraint, and the Rebuilding of Order after Major Wars (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001). Link: https://www.amazon.com/After-Victory-Institutions-Strategic-Rebuilding/dp/0691050910The constructivist school offers some powerful explanatory tools to the study of international relations. Its breakthrough article is: Alexander Wendt, “Anarchy is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics,” International Organization, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Spring 1992). 391-425. Link here: https://courses.helsinki.fi/sites/default/files/course-material/4594742/Wendt.pdfThe Joint Geeks on this episode are Matthew Ader (@AderMatthew), Ian Boley (@IBBoley), and Clara Engle Boley. Check out the podcast Twitter @thejointgeeks, and go to our parent organization @anavycon for the NavyCon 2021 call for papers! Intro and outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh.

    Special Guests

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 61:43


    Books mentioned on the show:Campbell, Joseph and Bill Moyers. The Power Of Myth. New York, NY:  Anchor Books, 1991.Campbell, Joseph. The Hero With a Thousand Faces. New York, NY:  Pantheon Books, 1949.Brooks, Max and John Amble, ML Cavanaugh and Jaym Gates. Winning Westeros:  How Game of Thrones Explains Modern Military Conflict. Lincoln, NE:  Potomac Books, 2019.Clegg, Brian. Ten Billion Tomorrows:  How Science Fiction Technology Became Reality and Shapes the Future. New York, NY:  St. Martin's Press, 2015. Intro and Outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh.

    Episode 7: My Captain Could Beat Up Your Captain

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 72:57


    The Joint Geeks on this episode are Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon), Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHist), Matthew Ader (@AderMatthew), Ian Boley (@IBBoley), and Clara Engle Boley. Join the conversation on Discord (https://discord.gg/GzFcpRqV) or Twitter (@thejointgeeks). Our parent organization is NavyCon (@anavycon)Intro and outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh 

    Superweapons in Science Fiction and Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 72:17


    Several links for those who want to help with the recovery in Texas are here: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/how-to-help-texans-recover-from-the-winter-disaster/Works cited: For an example of what salami tactics are and how things could play out, see this clip from Yes, Prime Minister: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxbFk4viTSQThomas Schelling, Arms and Influence. Revised ed. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008) Free edition on JSTOR here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5vm52sVipin Narang, Nuclear Strategy in the Modern Era (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013)Francis J. Gavin, Nuclear Statecraft: History and Strategy in America's Atomic Age (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2012)If you're interested in learning more about the different schools of deterrence theory, check out Charles Glaser, Analyzing Strategic Nuclear Policy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990), especially chapter 2. Free edition on JSTOR here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt7zvvxjFor an overview of the history of nuclear thought (but one that deserves to be read with caution and compared to Gavin's work) check out Fred Kaplan, The Wizards of Armageddon. Reissued ed. (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1991)The Joint Geeks on this episode are Cory Hollon (@cory_hollon), Eric Muirhead (@StarfleetHist), Matthew Ader (@AderMatthew), Ian Boley (@IBBoley), and Clara Engle Boley. Check out the podcast Twitter @thejointgeeks, and check out our parent organization @anavycon for some exciting news soon! Intro and outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh

    Why Cory Won't Fly with Luke Skywalker: Training Challenges in Sci-Fi and Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2021 63:25


    The Joint Geeks are: Clara Engle, Ian Boley, Eric Muirhead, Matthew Ader, Cory Hollon, Thomas Harper, and Claude Berube.The Joint Geeks of Staff can be found on Twitter at @thejointgeeks.As several of the Joint Geeks are on active duty in the military or reserve or federal employees, the views expressed are their own and not those of the US government or Department of Defense.Intro and outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh. 

    Impact of the Clone Wars on Rebel and Imperial Doctrine in the First Galactic Civil War

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2021 69:35


    The Joint Geeksare:Clara Engle, Ian Boley, Eric Muirhead, Matthew Ader, Cory Hollon, ChrisWeuve, Thomas Harper, and Claude Berube.The Joint Geeks of Staff can be found on Twitter at @thejointgeeks.As several of the Joint Geeks are on active duty in the military or reserve or federal employees, the views expressed are their own and not those of the US government or Department of Defense.Intro and outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh. 

    Roll Pods: David Weber's Honorverse, the U.S. Navy, and China

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2021 63:29


    The Joint Geeks are: Clara Engle, Ian Boley, Eric Muirhead, Matthew Ader, Cory Hollon, Chris Weuve, Thomas Harper, and Claude Berube.The Joint Geeks of Staff can be found on Twitter at @thejointgeeks.As several of the Joint Geeks are on active duty in the military or reserve or federal employees, the views expressed are their own and not those of the US government or Department of Defense.Intro and outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh. 

    Science Fiction and the Storming of the Capitol

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 37:50


    The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Clara Engle, Ian Boley, Eric Muirhead, Cory Hollon, and Claude Berube.The Joint Geeks of Staff can be found on Twitter at @thejointgeeks.As several of the Joint Geeks are on active duty in the military or reserve or federal employees, the views expressed are their own and not those of the US government or Department of Defense.The next episode will be a bonus episode where the Joint Geeks discuss the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 within the context of civil-military relations.

    Reflections on January 6

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2021 48:40


    The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Clara Engle, Ian Boley, Eric Muirhead, Cory Hollon, and Claude Berube.The Joint Geeks of Staff can be found on Twitter at @thejointgeeks.As several of the Joint Geeks are on active duty in the military or reserve or federal employees, the views expressed are their own and not those of the US government or Department of Defense. 

    Military Leadership Development and Star Trek: Discovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 50:36


    Four of the Joint Geeks of Staff are on this episode.  The other Joint Geeks are: Clara Engle, Tom Harper, Chris Weuve and Matthew Ader.The Joint Geeks of Staff can be found on Twitter at @thejointgeeks.As several of the Joint Geeks are on active duty in the military or reserve or federal employees, the views expressed are their own and not those of the US government or Department of Defense.The next episode will be a bonus episode where the Joint Geeks discuss the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 within the context of civil-military relations.

    Episode 0: "Where do we go...from here?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2021 56:51


    The Joint Geeks of Staff:Clara "the Borg Queen" EngleIan "I'm Clara's husband" BoleyChris WeuveMatthew "Black" AderCory "I can paint my F-15 helmet now?" HollonEric "yes, I really speak Klingon" MuirheadTom "Y-wings blah blah blah" HarperClaude "call this NavyCon" Berube  

    Episode 1: Civil War and The Mandalorian

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2021 70:19


    The Joint Geeks of Staff discuss science fiction within the context of contemporary and historical national security issues. Intro and outro composed by Greg Mutersbaugh.

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