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Goalhanger

A history podcast that explores the narratives, turning points, and characters that shape conflicts, encompassing a blend of social and military history. Following on from the series on the Falklands War, best-selling military historians Patrick Bishop, Saul David, and Roger Moorhouse turn their attention every Friday to the war in Ukraine, and every Wednesday look back at the significant wars, events, and figures from conflicts around the world.Goalhanger Podcasts
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Battleground

In this episode of The Big Picture, Patrick speaks with leading religious and political journalist Catherine Pepinster to examine the soft power, geopolitics, and spiritual influence of Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost).

Episode Highlights

The Rise of Pope Leo XIV: • How the Augustinian friar and former missionary in Peru became leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, positioning him as a unique "American outsider" on the global stage.
Clashes with the White House: • An analysis of the high-profile disputes between Pope Leo, Donald Trump, and Vice-President J.D. Vance regarding foreign intervention, rhetoric on Iran, and controversial religious imagery.
Reinterpreting "Just War" & AI: • Discussion of the Pope's encyclical 
Magnifica Humanitas • , which tackles the ethics of artificial intelligence (developed with input from tech figures like Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah) and argues that traditional just war theory is outdated.
The Global Shift in Faith: • Examining religious trends across the globe, from youth curiosity in the UK to rapid church growth across the Global South and Pentecostal shifts in South America.
UK Politics & Vatican Diplomacy: • How new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Catholic upbringing influences his social values, and an insider look at Vatican diplomacy—including Archbishop Sir Paul Gallagher's mission to Moscow.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

426. The American Pope: Leo XIV, Trump, and the New Vatican Soft Power

We are currently on a very short summer break, so instead of our regular news update, hosts Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop are diving into listener questions for a special long-form Q&A episode. 

Don't worry—we will be back next week with all the latest news and updates from the ground. 

In this episode: 

Zelenskyy’s Post-War Legacy: • Drawing parallels to Winston Churchill’s defeat in the summer 1945 general election, the hosts explore whether President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should announce he won't stand for re-election post-war—and discuss Ukrainian adaptability in missile production. 
The Falklands Conflict War-Gamed: • Inspired by recent Argentine football celebrations and an analysis by military historian Mark Felton, Patrick reflects on his own time in Port Stanley in 1982. They examine Argentina's military rearmament plans and evaluate how modern drone and missile technology could alter a present-day conflict. 
Iran, Russia, and the 'Axis of Evil': • Is Iran seeking nuclear weapons as a security guarantee amidst attacks from Israel and the US? Roger and Patrick evaluate the likelihood of Russia or North Korea supplying nuclear tech and discuss the broader implications of this growing alliance. 
Crimean Strategy & The Kerch Bridge: • A listener asks why the Kerch Bridge remains open. The team discusses whether leaving an escape route for Russian civilians and troops might be a deliberate, ingenious strategy to help liberate the peninsula. 
Old Kit vs New Tech: • Are the 49 Abrams tanks donated by Australia actually useful, or are they obsolete in the age of drone warfare? 
Morality in the Caspian Sea: • The hosts tackle the ethical grey areas surrounding Ukraine's recent strike on an Iranian ship carrying arms in the Caspian Sea and discuss the rapid expansion of Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities. 
Is Russia Still a Threat to NATO? • As Western nations ramp up defence spending, Roger and Patrick examine whether Russia remains a credible military threat to NATO or if Western rearmament is strictly about deterrence. 

We'll be back next week with all the latest!

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

425. Summer Special: The Caspian Strike, Falklands 2.0 & Deterring Russia

In this episode of The Big Picture, host Roger Moorhouse is joined by Polish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Radek Sikorski for an in-depth discussion on European security, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the evolving threat posed by Moscow. 

Minister Sikorski assesses how the conflict has reshaped NATO’s eastern flank and forced Europe to confront years of strategic complacency, he addresses the realities of Russia’s military capabilities and hybrid warfare tactics, the challenges facing Ukrainian refugees, and the delicate path towards EU integration. 

Sikorski also offers a frank perspective on historical memory between Poland and Ukraine, the credibility of NATO’s Article 5 under a changing political landscape in Washington, and why Europe must urgently build its own core defence capacity.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

424. Radek Sikorski on Russia’s Evolving Threat, European Defence, and the War in Ukraine

Hosts Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse take a look at the latest shifting political dynamics surrounding US-Ukraine relations. They unpack the recent White House meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the potential transactional nature of future US support, and the growing role of Ukraine’s defence industry.

Then, Belgian journalist Arnaud De Decker joins the show for an extended interview to share his eyewitness perspective on the war. Returning from an embed with an FPV drone unit in the Donbas, Arnaud offers a vivid account of the reality inside the "kill zone", the rapid integration of ground drones and fibre-optic tech, and a harrowing close encounter with a Russian drone. He also breaks down the domestic fallout from high-level Ukrainian military shake-ups, the stark realities facing soldiers on the front lines, and briefly discusses his recent reporting on the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Key Topics Covered:

US-Ukraine Political Thaw: • Analysing Trump and Zelenskyy’s recent meeting, potential visits by US envoys, and the transactional framework of prospective peace and reconstruction deals.
Kyiv Military Shake-Up: • The public backlash and protests following the dismissal of Defence Minister Fedorov, the replacement of Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi with General Drapaty, and how leadership rivalries impact frontline operations.
Inside the Kill Zone: • Arnaud De Decker's firsthand experience embedded with the "Signum" drone unit in the Donbas, dodging fibre-optic Russian FPV drones, and relying on ground drones for logistical supplies.
The "Uber" for Drone Pilots: • A look inside the operations of the "Birds of Magyar" unit and how long-range, low-cost B2 strike drones are targeting multi-million-dollar Russian air defence systems.
Frontline Reality vs Strategy: • The widening gap between high-level strategic/mid-range strike successes and the deteriorating, high-pressure situation for ground troops and civilians near Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Spotlight on Sudan: • Arnaud shares insights from his reporting in Khartoum and Darfur, detailing the immense destruction, geopolitical influence, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

423. On the Front Line with Ukraine's Drone Units with Arnaud De Decker

In this installment of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Saul David sits down with Al Carns—Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, former Royal Marines colonel, SBS veteran awarded the Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order, and former Minister for the Armed Forces. 

Carns opens up about his transition from a stellar 24-year military career into politics, driven by the realization that modern technology—specifically AI, low-cost drones, and data integration—has fundamentally transformed the character of warfare. 

Drawing direct lessons from the battlefield in Ukraine, the former Defence Minister makes a compelling case for why Western defence forces must pivot away from slow, expensive, traditional hardware procurement and towards scalable, tech-enabled mass. 

The discussion also dives deep into:

The Defence Funding Gap: • Why Carns resigned from his post as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces over budget shortfalls and the urgent need for military transformation. 
Reforming Veterans' Policy: • His perspective on the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill and why a single, empowered truth-and-reconciliation body is required. 
National Resilience: • Why true national defence relies on industrial capacity, supply chain security, and societal unity rather than just frontline troop numbers. 
Hybrid Threats & Propaganda: • How foreign adversaries use social media and asymmetric tactics to sow division within Western democracies. 
The Trajectory of the Ukraine Conflict: • Insights into recent leadership reshuffles in Kyiv, the tactical reality of drone saturation on the front lines, and the strategic dilemmas facing Putin’s war-driven economy. 

Tune in for an unvarnished, highly knowledgeable perspective on modern warfare and the hard choices facing defence policy today. 

Coming up next: Look out for Friday's extended interview with Belgian war correspondent Arnaud De Decker on modern drone units in Ukraine, followed by Roger Moorhouse interviewing Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski next week!

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

422. Al Carns MP on Why Western Defence Policy Must Evolve

Hosts Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop return to discuss the latest critical developments in the war, starting with a major strategic shift in Ukraine's drone targeting. 

The hosts break down Ukraine's long-range strikes against distribution centres belonging to Wildberries—Russia’s largest online retailer—which have left facilities destroyed, killed nine people, and caused widespread economic disruption. While Russian sources denounce the strikes as terrorism, Ukrainian sources and President Zelenskyy maintain that the retailer forms a key part of Russia's military supply chain, distributing items like body armour, drone parts, and sanctioned electronics. 

The hosts also examine the ongoing political and military drama at the top of Ukraine's armed forces. Following public backlash over the sacking of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has also been removed and replaced by Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, a modern, reform-minded commander. 

Highlights:Strikes on Wildberries: • How Ukrainian drone attacks on major warehouses near Moscow, Tambov, and Podolsk hit Russia’s consumer economy and military logistics. 
Economic Backlash: • The financial strain on a million Russian entrepreneurs whose contracts failed to cover drone damage, driving up broader inflationary pressures. 
Oligarch Breaks Ranks: • Why Russian industrialist Andrei Melnichenko’s interview with 
The Economist • warning of looming disaster may actually be a Kremlin-approved piece of disinformation. 
Change at the Top: • The removal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and the appointment of Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, known for his actions in Mariupol and Kharkiv. 
French Cyber Warning: • France’s firm stance against persistent FSB cyberattacks on its institutions, authorizing active countermeasures ahead of its 2027 presidential elections. 
Listener Q&A: • Discussions on cyberattacks versus physical drone strikes on petrol stations, Western geopolitical moves in the Middle East, and the strategic leverage surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. 

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

421. Retail Under Fire: Drone Strikes, Oligarch Warnings, and a New Ukrainian Commander

Despite holding vast mineral wealth and being on track to represent 40% of the global population by the end of the century, Africa remains largely overlooked in global political and economic discussions. Why does a continent with such massive potential continue to be sidelined on the world stage? 

In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Patrick Bishop is joined by author, journalist, and former foreign correspondent Michela Wrong. Drawing on over 30 years of reporting on the continent, Michela breaks down the complex geopolitical forces shaping modern Africa: 

Economic Realities: • Why 54 nations collectively account for just 
2–3% of global trade • , and how past cold war dynamics contrast with today's landscape. 
The Chinese Investment Model & Looming Debt: • How "minerals-for-infrastructure" deals and opaque loans have left nations like 
Kenya • facing serious debt challenges. 
The Changing Western Footprint: • The dramatic fallout from the sudden withdrawal of 
USAID • , a reduction in European aid budgets, and Washington's pivot toward a transactional, business-led approach to diplomacy and peace deals. 
Regional Vacuum & "Middling Powers": • The limits of the African Union, South Africa's domestic focus, and how middle powers like the 
UAE • are shaping conflicts—such as the devastating crisis in 
Sudan • —for local resources like gold. 
Demographics & Gen Z Protests: • The dual challenges of climate change and rapid population growth, balanced against the energy, youth, and political frustration driving a new generation of Africans to demand change.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

420. 40% of the World by 2100: Why Is Everyone Ignoring Africa?

A week of major military successes for Ukraine is overshadowed by a self-inflicted political crisis in Kyiv. 

Hosts Saul David and Patrick Bishop break down President Volodymyr Zelensky's highly controversial dismissal of both his Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, and the young, popular, and deeply effective Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. The hosts explain why this move is being called Zelensky's "biggest mistake since the start of the full-scale invasion," sparking mass protests across Ukraine. 

On a brighter note, the hosts look at a massive new defence pact with France, which has handed Ukraine the blueprints to co-produce SCALP EG cruise missiles and Aster air defence missiles. Meanwhile, Ukraine's relentless drone campaign triggers a massive Russian fuel deficit, causing fistfights at petrol pumps and halting shipping routes. 

Quick Highlights:The Fedorov Sacking: • Why Zelenskyy ousted his widely praised defence minister over a rumoured power struggle and popularity jealousy, threatening Kyiv's international status. 
France's SCALP Blueprint: • The details of a major new pact allowing Ukraine to build French SCALP cruise missiles, Aster missiles, and precision-guided bombs domestically. 
Crimea Blockaded by Air and Sea: • How Ukrainian drones crippled 100 Russian tankers, shutting down seaborne shipping through the Don-Azov Canal. 
The "Freya" Initiative: • A look at Europe's new $700,000 anti-ballistic system, a highly cost-effective Ukrainian-led alternative to the multi-million-dollar Patriot system. 
The F-16s in Action: • An update on how Ukraine is successfully utilising its F-16 jets to knock down Russian cruise missiles and deliver precision-guided bombs. 
An Atomised Russian Society: • Why drone strikes on infrastructure might actually be degrading Russian public support for the war, challenging traditional WWII assumptions.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

419. Zelensky’s Spectacular Own Goal

"If Zelenskyy decides to remove Fedorov, it’s gonna be his biggest mistake during the war."

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, where we cut through the fog of information to bring you the unfiltered reality of global conflicts.

In this episode, we sit down with Oleksiy Sorokin, the co-founder and deputy chief editor of The Kyiv Independent.

Oleksiy pulls back the curtain on the immense pressures facing the free press in Ukraine, the shifting dynamics of power within the Zelenskyy administration, and the ground-level realities of combating sophisticated Russian disinformation. From the decline of oligarch rule to the critical military dependency on Western air defence, this episode offers an essential, clear-eyed look at the internal and external forces shaping the future of the region.

Highlights:

The Birth of The Kyiv Independent: • How a team of journalists took back control of their voices after being abruptly fired from the 
Kyiv Post • for refusing to silence their political reporting.
Inside the Russian Mindset: • An analysis of why domestic support for the war is shifting due to practical daily hardships—like fuel shortages and economic strain—rather than moral awakenings.
The Death of Oligarch Rule: • How the full-scale invasion inadvertently shattered the political and economic grip of Ukraine’s wealthy elite, consolidating unprecedented power within the government.
Political Tensions & Reshuffles: • The internal polling anxieties surrounding former Armed Forces Chief Zaluzhnyi and the potentially catastrophic stakes of moving the popular Defence Minister, Fedorov.
The Battlefield Truth: • Why long-range Ukrainian drone strikes are changing the narrative, but the critical depletion of Patriot air defence interceptors leaves major cities highly vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

418. Battleground Big Picture: Power Struggles in Kyiv - The Story Behind the Government Reshuffle

A major shift in Washington policy headlines a fraught NATO summit in Ankara. 

This week, Patrick Bishop and Saul David break down Donald Trump’s surprising warming of relations with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marked by a critical deal allowing Ukraine to co-produce Patriot missile interceptors to defend its cities from brutal Russian ballistic strikes. Meanwhile, JD Vance signals a massive change in American tone, acknowledging that Russian offensives are achieving almost nothing on the battlefield. 

The hosts also unpack the tightening noose around occupied Crimea as Ukrainian strikes trigger a full-scale logistics collapse, forcing Russia to take the drastic step of banning diesel exports to safeguard domestic fuel. Plus, a look at European defense gridlock, a massive hack by Ukraine's IT Army, and a philosophical dive into why Ukrainian democratic traditions breed out-of-the-box military ingenuity while Russia relies on rigid authority. 

Quick Highlights:The Patriot License: • Why Trump's allowig a localised Patriot interceptor manufacturing is a massive defensive game-changer for Kyiv. 
Crimea’s Fuel Crisis: • How intermediate and long-range drone strikes forced Russian Deputy PM Alexander Novak to halt seaborne diesel exports. 
European Disunity: • The collapse of the joint French-German-Spanish stealth fighter jet project, revealing deep fractures in European defence management. 
Cyber & Logistics: • The IT Army of Ukraine wipes 3,000 servers from a major Russian construction firm.
Introducing The Big Picture: • A sneak peek at Battleground's new midweek feature cutting through the fog of global geopolitics with genuine experts.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

417. "Make Your Own": Trump's Answer to the Patriot Interceptor Shortage

This week Patrick Bishop and Saul David examine a the latest news in week of deadly limbo in Ukraine as Donald Trump’s promised "energy truce" is shattered by a record-breaking Russian bombardment in -20°C temperatures. 

We analyse why Moscow’s advances are now slower than the Battle of the Somme and discuss Elon Musk’s latest move to block Starlink from Russian drones.

Later in the episode, we are joined by friend of the pod Julius Strauss, who discusses the crumbling of the post-imperial space in the South Caucasus's. Fresh from a recent trip to Azerbaijan, we explore the waning Russian influence in the region, and how the Kremlin is losing its grip on a key strategic partner.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

 

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369. Trump’s "Truce" and Russia's waning influence in Azerbaijan

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