The Focus

Auscast Network
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The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank. Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst. Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

  1. 6 days ago

    25 YEARS AFTER 9/11

    On September 10, 2001, the United States stood at the height of its power. Twenty-five years later, what happened to the American moment? In this special 25th-anniversary episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni sits down with historian and political scientist Professor Roy Casagranda for a sweeping — and at times fiercely provocative — conversation about America before 9/11, the choices it made afterwards, and the world those decisions helped create. Was the invasion of Iraq the great strategic mistake of the post-9/11 era? Did two decades of war give China the time and strategic space it needed to catch up with the United States? How did Washington’s relationship with Vladimir Putin unravel? And is Donald Trump dismantling the post-9/11 order — or is he ultimately a product of it? From George H. W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin to George W. Bush, Iraq, Afghanistan, Putin, China, Trump, Iran and the remilitarisation of Germany, Casagranda challenges conventional accounts of the last quarter-century of American power. Some of his arguments are deliberately contentious. That is precisely the point of this conversation: challenge the assumption, test the argument, and examine the consequences. Twenty-five years after the attacks that changed America and the world, one question hangs over the entire discussion: DID THE UNITED STATES USE ITS EXTRAORDINARY POWER WISELY AFTER 9/11 — AND IF NOT, CAN IT RECOVER WHAT IT LOST? ABOUT PROFESSOR ROY CASAGRANDA Roy Casagranda is a Professor of Government, political scientist, historian, public lecturer and commentator on Middle Eastern affairs. He is widely known for his interdisciplinary approach, combining history, politics, economics, philosophy and culture to explain contemporary global events. He is also a Golden Narrative Laureate and a regular commentator on international affairs. ROY'S WORK BOOKS • The Blood Throne of Caria• Empire of the Nightingale CURRENT LECTURE SERIES Sessions from the Past — Museum of the Future, Dubai (2025–2026) Including: • The 1000-Year Legacy of Ibn Sina• The Roman Republic• The Great Library of Alexandria• The Reconquista• Modern Ideologies and Political Thought FOLLOW PROFESSOR ROY CASAGRANDA YouTube:Dr. Roy Casagranda YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@DrRoyCasagranda Apple Podcasts:Dr. Roy Casagranda Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/dr-roy-casagranda-podcast/id1837193563 X / Twitter:@RoyCasagranda Facebook:Roy Casagranda Books & Lectureshttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6157983973489 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 3 Sept

    RUSSIA’S REAL THREAT TO NATO: How Far Can Putin Go?

    What if Russia’s most dangerous weapon isn’t the one that starts a war — but the one that keeps us permanently on the edge of one? From drones over European airports and sabotage to cyberattacks, disinformation and military intimidation, Russia is testing NATO below the threshold of open conflict. But how far can Moscow push before someone miscalculates? In this episode of The Focus Podcast, Dr John Bruni speaks with leading German security expert Dr Karl-Heinz Kamp about Russia’s campaign of pressure against Europe, what Moscow is trying to achieve, and whether NATO is genuinely prepared for a confrontation that may never look like conventional war. Show Notes: About Dr Karl-Heinz Kamp: Dr Karl-Heinz Kamp is one of Germany’s leading experts on NATO, European security and nuclear deterrence. A former President of Germany’s Federal Academy for Security Policy and Research Director at the NATO Defense College in Rome, he has also served in senior roles within Germany’s defence establishment and advised NATO on its Strategic Concept. He is currently an Associate Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), specialising in transatlantic security, NATO and deterrence. Karl-Heinz’s top three publications: Nuclear NATO: How to Make it Credible and Efficient — German Council on Foreign Relations, 2024. A substantial examination of how NATO needs to adapt its nuclear deterrence posture to the changed European security environment.  Nuclear Implications of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict — NATO Defense College, 2015. An important early analysis of how Russia’s aggression against Ukraine brought nuclear deterrence back to the centre of Euro-Atlantic security.  NATO’s Nuclear Weapons in Europe: Beyond “Yes” or “No” — NATO Defense College, 2010. One of Kamp’s notable earlier studies of NATO nuclear strategy and the future credibility of the Alliance’s deterrent.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 20 Aug

    INDIA’S IRAN DILEMMA: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & the New Strategic Order

    India has spent decades pursuing strategic autonomy. But what happens when the world around it begins choosing sides? In this episode of The Focus Podcast, Dr John Bruni is joined by LTGEN (Ret.) Ravi Shankar to examine India's increasingly complex strategic position as instability surrounding Iran reshapes the Middle East and reaches deep into South Asia. At the centre of the discussion is a larger question: Can India preserve strategic autonomy as the international system becomes increasingly organised around competing security relationships and centres of power? Show Notes LTGEN (Ret.) Ravi Shankar brings a distinctly Indian military and strategic perspective to a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. LTGEN (Ret.) Ravi Shankar is a former Director General of Artillery in the Indian Army and a leading commentator on Indian defence, military strategy and regional security. He writes and speaks extensively on India’s strategic challenges, military modernisation, China, Pakistan and the changing character of warfare. 🔗 Contact Shankar, The Gunners Shot YouTube Channel:    / @gunnersshot    Website: https://gunnersshot.com/ LinkedIn:   / palepu-ravi-shankar-08480214 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. 6 Aug

    Seeing Around Corners - Why Strategic Surprises Keep Catching Us Off Guard

    From pandemics and wars to artificial intelligence, geopolitical rivalry, and presidential candidates, the pace of change has never been faster. Yet governments, businesses and intelligence agencies continue to be caught off guard by events they often should have seen coming. Why? In this episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni speaks with strategic foresight expert Patti Morrissey about why strategic surprises keep happening, how leaders can better prepare for uncertainty, and why the future isn't something we predict—it's something we prepare for. Show Notes: About PattiPatti Morrissey is the founder & CEO of Global Foresight Strategies. She has deep expertise in providing strategic planning and foresight analysis for government and non-government clients. Patti has 36 years of experience in government, national and international security policy and strategy, working for the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.   Global Foresight Strategies See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. 24 July

    How Colombia defeated the FARC | Part 2

    How did Colombia defeat the FARC—and what can other democracies learn from its experience? In Part 2 of my conversation with General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero, former Commander of the Colombian Armed Forces, we continue our examination of counterinsurgency, national resilience and the long campaign that transformed Colombia’s security environment. We begin with Colombia’s enduring urban-rural divide, and the way geography, uneven development and weak state presence helped shape decades of internal conflict. General Mejía then explains how the Colombian state adapted its military, political and institutional approach to weaken and ultimately defeat the FARC as a strategic force. Our discussion also covers: • The historical development of Colombia• The military and political campaign against the FARC• The continuing threat posed by the ELN• Venezuela’s support for armed groups• Security along the Colombia-Venezuela border• Regional security cooperation in Latin America• The credibility of US defence of the Western Hemisphere• The democratisation of drone warfare after Ukraine• How General Mejía would prepare the Colombian military today• America’s difficult relationship with counterinsurgency warfare• The impact of Venezuelan refugees on Colombia This is not simply a discussion about Colombia. It is a wider examination of how democracies confront insurgency, restore state authority and convert battlefield success into lasting strategic outcomes. Show Notes: About General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero is a retired Colombian Army officer who served as Commander of the Colombian Army and later as General Commander of Colombia’s Armed Forces. During his military career, he held senior operational and strategic appointments during Colombia’s campaign against the FARC and other illegal armed groups. Following his retirement from military service, he served as Colombia’s Ambassador to Australia. His career provides a rare perspective on counterinsurgency, military transformation, strategic leadership, civil-military relations and the changing security environment of Latin America. Glossary: ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) in English - the National Liberation Army See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. 17 July

    How Colombia Defeated the FARC

    How does a democracy defeat one of the world's longest-running insurgencies? For more than fifty years, Colombia fought a brutal conflict against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)—a war fuelled by ideology, narcotics trafficking and some of the most challenging terrain on Earth. Yet against the odds, Colombia changed the strategic balance.I n Part One of this special two-part conversation, Dr John Bruni speaks with General (Ret.) Alberto José Mejía Ferrero, former Commander of the Colombian Army and former General Commander of Colombia's Armed Forces, about the campaign that helped reshape Colombia's modern history.Drawing on more than four decades of military leadership, General Mejía explains what really weakened the FARC, why Plan Colombia became one of the most significant security partnerships of the 21st century, and whether military success alone is enough to secure lasting peace. In this episode, we discuss: • Colombia's decades-long campaign against the FARC 
• The turning points that changed the conflict
 • Plan Colombia and the role of the United States 
• Military leadership and strategic decision-making
• Counterinsurgency lessons for democratic governments
 • Why winning the peace can be harder than winning the war Whether you're interested in military history, counterinsurgency, international security or strategic affairs, this conversation offers rare insights from one of the commanders who helped lead Colombia through one of its defining conflicts. Part Two continues the discussion with Venezuela after Nicolás Maduro, organised crime, armed drones, emerging technologies and the future of security in the Western Hemisphere.If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and share it with colleagues and friends. Your support helps us continue bringing leading strategic thinkers from around the world to The Focus.What do you think is the greatest lesson other democracies can learn from Colombia's experience? Let us know in the comments below. Show Notes: About General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero  General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero is a retired Colombian Army officer who served as Commander of the Colombian Army and later as General Commander of Colombia’s Armed Forces.During his military career, he held senior operational and strategic appointments during Colombia’s campaign against the FARC and other illegal armed groups. Following his retirement from military service, he served as Colombia’s Ambassador to Australia. His career provides a rare perspective on counterinsurgency, military transformation, strategic leadership, civil-military relations and the changing security environment of Latin America.Glossary Operation Sword of Honour (Operación Espada de Honor) was Colombia's national counterinsurgency campaign launched in 2012 under President Juan Manuel Santos. It was designed to intensify military pressure on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) by concentrating operations against the group's strongest rural strongholds and leadership.Plan Colombia was a joint security, counter-narcotics and institutional reform initiative launched in 1999 by Colombian President Andrés Pastrana in partnership with the United States. The programme formally began in 2000 following approval of substantial U.S. assistance. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, commonly known by its Spanish acronym FARC, was a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla organisation founded in 1964. For more than five decades, the FARC fought the Colombian state through guerrilla warfare, bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and attacks on military and civilian targets. It financed much of its insurgency through narcotics trafficking, extortion, illegal mining and hostage-taking, eventually becoming one of the largest and most powerful armed groups in Latin America. The National Liberation Army, commonly known by its Spanish acronym ELN, is Colombia's oldest active guerrilla organisation. Founded in 1964, it emerged from a blend of Marxist ideology, Cuban revolutionary influence and liberation theology, seeking to overthrow the Colombian state through armed struggle. The Maoist way of war is a revolutionary strategy developed by Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong during the Chinese Civil War. It is based on the principle that a weaker force can defeat a stronger conventional military through a prolonged struggle that combines political mobilisation, guerrilla warfare and, ultimately, conventional military operations. Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open00:33 Introduction02:09 Understanding Colombia's Long War11:07 The Cocaine Economy: Why the War Endured17:00 How Colombia Built a Winning Counterinsurgency18:40 Rebuilding the Colombian Air Force19:20 The Role of the Colombian Marines19:57 The Controversial Crop Spraying Campaign23:57 Discipline, Ethics & Winning Public Trust34:22 Fighting an Enemy Without Rules of War44:13 The Toughest Command Decision59:43 Why Did the FARC Keep Recruiting? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. 10 July

    Jenny Gordon | Can Australia Afford the Future? Part 2

    In Part 2 of this in-depth conversation, Dr John Bruni continues his discussion with economist Dr Jenny Gordon to examine one of the defining questions of the 21st century: who shapes the global economic system in an era of great-power competition, technological disruption and growing public discontent? From the role of governments in setting the rules of the economy to the impact of artificial intelligence, inflation, immigration and the future of work, Dr Gordon offers a thoughtful and evidence-based assessment of the forces reshaping modern economies. The discussion also explores why many people feel economically left behind, whether Modern Monetary Theory can withstand scrutiny, the rise of populism, and how changing media dynamics are influencing public debate. Finally, the conversation turns to the outlook for the United States under President Donald Trump and the broader challenges confronting policymakers in an increasingly uncertain world. Whether you are interested in economics, geopolitics, public policy or Australia's place in the changing international order, this conversation provides valuable insights into the issues likely to shape the decades ahead. Show Notes: About Dr Jenny Gordon Dr Jenny Gordon is an economist, Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, former Chief Economist at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and Non-Resident Fellow at the Lowy Institute. She has held senior positions at the Productivity Commission and has spent her career advising governments on international trade, economic policy, productivity, migration and Australia's engagement with the global economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. 3 July

    Dr. Ramzy Baroud | What the World Gets Wrong About Palestine

    Few conflicts have shaped global politics as profoundly—or generated as much division—as the struggle between Israelis and Palestinians. Yet meaningful discussion is often replaced by slogans, outrage, and competing narratives. In this episode of The Focus Podcast, Dr John Bruni is joined by internationally renowned Palestinian journalist, historian, and author Ramzy Baroud for an in-depth discussion that goes beyond the headlines.  Whether you agree with every conclusion or not, this conversation offers historical context, strategic analysis, and a perspective rarely explored in mainstream Western media.If you're looking for a thoughtful, informed discussion rather than another shouting match, this episode is for you. Show Notes About our Guest Ramzy Baroud is a Palestinian-American journalist, historian, internationally syndicated columnist, author, and Editor-in-Chief of The Palestine Chronicle. Born in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in Gaza, he focuses his work on Palestinian history, international politics, and the lived experience of conflict. He has authored numerous books and writes extensively on Middle Eastern affairs for international publications.  Featured Books 📖 Before the Flood: A Gaza Family Memoir Across Three Generations of Colonial Invasion, Occupation, and War (2026)  📖 These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons (2020) 📖 The Last Earth: A Palestinian Story (2018) Learn More The Palestine Chronicle https://www.palestinechronicle.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Thinking Palestine https://thinkingpalestine.com/   Editor's NoteDuring the discussion (approx. 44:49), Ramzy Baroud refers to an Australian historian who argued that suicide bombings are closely linked to humiliation but could not recall the scholar's name.We were unable to verify the identity of this individual. Readers interested in this area may wish to consult the work of Robert A. Pape, whose research argues that suicide terrorism is closely associated with foreign military occupation, and Evelin Lindner, whose work explores humiliation as a driver of political violence. These scholars represent related, though not identical, schools of thought. Subscribe to The Focus Podcast for informed conversations on geopolitics, defence, security, economics and international affairs. 🌐 SAGE International https://sageinternational.com.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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About

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank. Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst. Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

Information

  • Creator
    Auscast Network
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Auscast Network
  • Show Website
    The Focus

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