Sensing the Signal

Atreides

Sensing the Signal is a bi-weekly podcast produced by Atreides. In conversations with expert practitioners, we discuss the overlap between data, technology, intelligence, and national security and what it all means for analysts everywhere. How do we know AI is trustworthy? Can battlefield debris hunt down weapon transfers? How is technology transforming national intelligence? Find out answers to these questions and more from leaders in the field.

  1. Why is climate change our biggest security challenge?

    30 Jun

    Why is climate change our biggest security challenge?

    In 2026 wars and small conflicts seem endemic around the world and threats to international security appear to be increasing. Yet, there remains a lack of discussion on the role of climate change in driving conflict. With food security becoming an urgent priority around the globe, while melting glaciers reshape our geography, and the competition for natural resources heats up, there is an urgent need to better understand the climate crisis as an international security issue. The first quarter of the twenty first century has already shown that drought is a leading indicator of conflict. What other threats can we anticipate by monitoring our rapidly deteriorating climate? We discuss this question and the topic of why climate change is our biggest security challenge with Arthur Snell, an expert on geopolitics and author of the book ‘Elemental: The New Geography of Climate Change and How We Survive It’.  Episode Outline 01:24 — Arthur's background: Foreign Office postings in Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan, and how he came to write about climate and geopolitics 05:25 — The Sahel: the role of climate alongside other factors in regional instability 07:15 — Perceptions of climate change and why some politicians question it 13:23 — The challenge governments face in communicating the costs of climate policy and defence 16:40 — COP summits, the 1.5°C target, and what has and hasn't been achieved internationally 22:52 — Climate as a catalyst in conflict 26:34 — Different energy strategies 30:17 — Climate change as a national security consideration 32:31 — Ukraine: critical minerals and agricultural land as factors in the conflict 33:51 — The relationship between aid budgets, defence spending, and stability 36:40 — The global food system: supply chains, agricultural yields and trade dependencies 39:45 — Water: shared river basins, dam building and displacement from rising sea levels 44:10 — Developments in renewable energy costs and scale 50:47 — Consumer-led adoption of solar power in South Asia and Africa 53:49 — AI data centres and future energy demand 59:27 — Arthur's book and his podcast Behind the Lines Resources and Links Elemental: The New Geography of Climate Change and How We Survive It by Arthur SnellBehind the Lines with Arthur Snell - https://www.playpodcast.net/podcast/behind-the-lines-with-arthur-snell/

    1hr 3min
  2. How is Russia's war machine building an entire AI-driven drone ecosystem?

    29 May

    How is Russia's war machine building an entire AI-driven drone ecosystem?

    Russia's military is rapidly overhauling its capabilities through the adoption of new technology, specifically by enhancing command and control functions, while also building an entire ecosystem for advanced drone development adopting military AI. This is giving Russia's military the ability to field test and iterate autonomous drones with the potential to take humans out of the loop for targeting. We talked to a returning guest on the podcast, Kateryna Bondar, a Senior Fellow at the Wadwhani AI Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C. about her research into these developments in Russian military capability that are already having a direct impact on the battlefield in Ukraine. In this episode, Kateryna explains how Russia has pivoted it's approach to defence technology and industrial development, employing greater flexibility and incorporating more dual-use technology, while also driving the development of the human capital necessary to deploy a mass of drones.

    1hr 19min

  3. 17 Apr

    What can Defence learn from F1?

    Speed + technology + innovation + faster adaptation = high performance in engineering, all ultimately underpinned by intelligent decision making. These are all concepts we associate with Formula 1, but there is so much more that we perhaps don’t readily consider when we think of the top level of motorsport. For example, the terabytes of data that are generated by each car during a race and then processed and analysed by a team of engineers and data scientists to inform decisions around how to improve performance and gain an advantage over competitors who are all doing the same. In this context, we talked to Mark Mathieson MBE, the founder of Purple Sector about his experience in F1 and more broadly in rapid delivery of engineering solutions on nationally significant projects such as the UK’s COVID Ventilator Challenge. The concept created by Purple Sector – Industrial Racecraft – has the potential to bring better connection and alignment into organisations, which is vital to improve the use of massive-scale data to speed up innovation and deliver intelligent decision advantage.  And of course, we asked Mark for his thoughts on the new era of F1 that has launched in 2026 and what it tells us about technology and innovation, both within the sport and beyond.

    1hr 14min
  4. What can data insights reveal about people and their potential?

    18 Mar

    What can data insights reveal about people and their potential?

    As the impact of 'AI' tools on the workforce continues to grow and information becomes harder to trust, manage, and analyse, organisations increasingly need people to adapt new tasks and changing environments. But are we doing enough to make the most of the skills and expertise of the people around us? How do we really see people and their potential? And how can data help us to create a better future for humanity? These are huge questions that we tackle on this episode of Sensing the Signal, with two wonderful guests: Cia Kouparitsas, a leader in developing human capability, and Sally Walker, an expert in the interface between humans and information. As the CEO of Greenbeam, Cia has pioneered a data-driven approach to helping ex-military personnel, among others, to find more fulfilling careers, while Sally's experience in national security has seen her lead organisations that brought together diverse thinkers to tackle intelligence challenges.

    58 min
  5. What will be the Real Impact of Quantum Computing?

    27 Feb

    What will be the Real Impact of Quantum Computing?

    Whenever we hear about quantum computing, it's usually in relation to how it will fundamentally change the world once it hits the mainstream. But what is quantum computing? What will it enable us to do that conventional computing can't? And what is the reality behind the hype? On this episode of Sensing the Signal, we were privileged to be invited to peek behind the scenes at the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) where we discussed these topics with our guest, Michael Cuthbert, Director of the NQCC. In this conversation we covered the physics behind quantum computing, the potential technology and geopolitical impacts we might see in the future, and the role of the NQCC in advancing the UK's quantum computing capabilities.

    1hr 6min
  6. How can we defend against disinformation?

    12/12/2025

    How can we defend against disinformation?

    Disinformation presents a pervasive and growing threat that is increasingly undermining our fundamental security, affecting us in ways that might not be obvious. More than ever we need to address the vital question: how do we defend our national security (and our own minds) against disinformation? In this episode of Sensing the Signal we talk to Rachele Gilman, an expert who has investigated cases of disinformation and is developing standards and frameworks that help us better understand and analyse the threat.

    53 min
  7. How is data used to stop human trafficking?

    18/10/2025

    How is data used to stop human trafficking?

    Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar illegal industry that operates in plain sight. Yet most people very rarely notice the signs, let alone consider how this criminal activity can be stopped. Fortunately, one organisation is dedicated to uncovering and preventing human trafficking. In this episode, we talk to Neil Giles and Alice Nottage from Stop the Traffik and delve into the work of this small yet remarkable organisation, which has built an innovative and unique data analysis and intelligence-sharing capability. By understanding the lived experience of victims, Stop the Traffik creates a rich data picture that results in positive real-world impact across the globe, with many people freed from exploitation.

    1 hr

  8. 27/09/2025

    What did we learn about intelligence and defence technology at DSEI UK 2025?

    For this episode, we took the show on the road - to DSEI UK 2025, 'the flagship defence event for the UK' which is a global platform for the entire defence industry. This year saw an expanded Tech Zone that gave us several indicators of how defence tech is developing, particularly driven by current wars in Ukraine and elsewhere. We took the opportunity of having thousands of interesting people in the same place to talk to a selection of expert guests: Clay Hicks from Zignal Labs, Enrique Oti from Second Front Systems, Tony Reeves from Maiar, and Neil Sinclair, spokesperson for DSEI.

    38 min
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About

Sensing the Signal is a bi-weekly podcast produced by Atreides. In conversations with expert practitioners, we discuss the overlap between data, technology, intelligence, and national security and what it all means for analysts everywhere. How do we know AI is trustworthy? Can battlefield debris hunt down weapon transfers? How is technology transforming national intelligence? Find out answers to these questions and more from leaders in the field.

Information

  • Creator
    Atreides
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Sensing the Signal

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