Perspectives on America's Wars

Kieran Griss
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This podcast explores America's wars through the eyes of military experts and ordinary citizens. From the Revolutionary War to modern conflicts, each episode uncovers the strategic, political, and personal perspectives that shaped these wars. Hear from historians, veterans, and civilians as we analyze the motivations, consequences, and lessons learned from each conflict.

  1. Jun 23

    The Proxy War Era – Fighting Without Direct Conflict

    Episode 28 examines the rise of proxy warfare as a defining feature of modern international conflict. Instead of engaging in direct military confrontation, major powers increasingly support allies, partner forces, and local actors through weapons, funding, intelligence, training, and diplomatic backing. The episode explores how conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and various struggles across the Middle East have become arenas for larger geopolitical competition, allowing powerful nations to pursue strategic goals while avoiding direct war with one another. It also discusses covert operations, plausible deniability, information warfare, and the risks of escalation that accompany indirect involvement. Ultimately, the episode shows how proxy wars have become one of the primary ways nations compete in the twenty-first century, shaping global politics while blurring the line between war and peace.

    10 min

  2. Jun 12

    Economic Warfare – Sanctions, Currency, and Global Pressure

    Episode 27 explores how economic power has become a modern weapon of war. Instead of relying solely on armies and military force, nations increasingly use sanctions, trade restrictions, financial pressure, and currency dominance to influence rivals and achieve strategic goals. The episode examines the role of the U.S. dollar in global finance, the use of sanctions against countries such as Iran and Russia, the growing economic competition between the United States and China, and the rise of cyber threats targeting financial systems. It also explores the ethical and political challenges of economic warfare, asking whether financial pressure can truly serve as a peaceful alternative to military conflict. Ultimately, the episode shows how, in the twenty-first century, some of the most important battles are fought not on traditional battlefields, but through markets, banks, trade networks, and global economic systems.

    9 min

  3. Jun 1

    Space Warfare – The Militarization of Orbit

    Episode 26 explores the growing militarization of space and how orbit has become a critical domain of modern warfare. The episode examines the military importance of satellites for communication, navigation, intelligence gathering, and missile guidance, as well as the development of anti-satellite weapons designed to disable or destroy these vital systems. It also looks at the creation of the United States Space Force, the strategic competition between the United States, China, and Russia, and the risks posed by orbital debris and future conflicts in space. As humanity becomes increasingly dependent on space-based infrastructure, the episode asks whether outer space can remain a realm of cooperation—or whether it will become the next battlefield in the struggle for global power.

    9 min

  4. May 22

    America and China – The Cold War of the 21st Century

    Episode 25 explores the growing rivalry between the United States and China and why many experts describe it as the “Cold War of the 21st Century.” The episode examines the trade war, competition over advanced technology and semiconductors, military expansion in the Pacific, cyber warfare, and rising tensions surrounding Taiwan. It also explores how both nations are competing not only economically and militarily, but also for global influence and leadership over the future international order. Unlike the original Cold War, however, America and China remain deeply economically connected, making the rivalry both more complex and potentially more dangerous. The episode asks whether this competition can remain controlled—or whether it could eventually lead to a global conflict that reshapes the modern world.

    9 min

  5. May 16

    The Age of AI Warfare – When Machines Choose Targets

    Episode 24 explores the rise of AI warfare and how artificial intelligence is transforming the future of combat. The episode examines autonomous drones, machine-driven targeting systems, cyber warfare, and the growing fear that future battlefields may operate faster than humans can control. It also explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI weapons, including accountability, civilian casualties, and the possibility of machines making life-and-death decisions without human emotion or moral judgment. As the United States, China, and other global powers race to dominate military AI technology, the episode asks a chilling question: what happens when humans are no longer the ones truly deciding how wars are fought?

    7 min

  6. 11/11/2025

    The Burden of Power – America’s Role in a Fractured World

    This episode reflects on how the United States evolved from a revolutionary republic to a global superpower, exploring the moral and strategic tension of its dominance. It examines how America’s interventions, alliances, and ideals have shaped — and strained — its identity. The narrative portrays power as both responsibility and curse, emphasizing that America’s greatest challenge is not to win wars, but to reconcile its might with its moral purpose.

    5 min

  7. 10/29/2025

    The Cost of Victory – America’s Veterans and the Invisible Battles at Home

    This episode focuses on the human aftermath of war — the struggles of American veterans returning home. It traces the evolution of veterans’ experiences from World War II to the modern conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, exploring PTSD, suicide, homelessness, and the ongoing fight for mental health and reintegration. It highlights both the failures of government support and the resilience of those who find new meaning after service, emphasizing that the cost of victory is not paid in battle, but in the years that follow.

    6 min

  8. 10/23/2025

    Can War Ever End – The Ethics and Future of American Power

    This episode reflects on whether war can truly end or if it merely transforms with technology and ideology. It explores America’s evolving role as both global leader and perpetual combatant, highlighting how warfare has shifted from physical to digital and moral dimensions. The narrative examines autonomous weapons, the economics of conflict, and the human cost of endless war, concluding that true peace can only emerge from empathy, justice, and moral courage — not from dominance or deterrence.

    5 min
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About

This podcast explores America's wars through the eyes of military experts and ordinary citizens. From the Revolutionary War to modern conflicts, each episode uncovers the strategic, political, and personal perspectives that shaped these wars. Hear from historians, veterans, and civilians as we analyze the motivations, consequences, and lessons learned from each conflict.

Information

  • Creator
    Kieran Griss
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Perspectives on America's Wars
  • Show Website
    Perspectives on America's Wars