Underground Strategy

Underground Strategy
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Welcome to Underground Strategy Where military tactics, leadership, and real-world strategies meet a whole lot of banter. Hosted by Max Lauker (ex-Swedish Special Operations, Intelligence, and Private Security) and Tony Garcia (ex-SANDF with extensive field experience and academic insight), we break down the latest in military strategy while keeping things real, candid, and fun. Whether you're into the latest military insights or just here for smart conversations (and a few laughs), we've got you covered. Tune in for weekly episodes packed with expert breakdowns, candid chats, and a fresh take on what's happening in the world of strategy. It's all about staying sharp, having fun, and thinking a few moves ahead. No fluff, just real talk.

  1. Helion Talks - Point of Failure

    4D AGO

    Helion Talks - Point of Failure

    In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with historian and former civil servant Phil McCarty about his new book Point of Failure: British Brigadiers in France and Norway, 1940. Drawing on decades of government service and years of academic research, McCarty examines the careers, decisions, and battlefield experiences of the brigadiers who led the British Army through one of its most challenging early-war crises. The conversation explores how McCarty identified and analyzed every brigadier who served in the 1940 campaigns, revealing a complex picture of middle-management command at a moment of strategic collapse. He discusses why “failure” is an unavoidable part of the story, how interwar career structures shaped wartime performance, and why First World War service was far less of a predictor of success than commonly assumed. McCarty also shares insights on the evolution of brigade-level command, the lessons drawn (and ignored) from the 1940 defeats, and the officers whose leadership in chaos left lasting impressions. From forgotten figures like Archibald Bowman to later luminaries such as Montague Stopford, the episode illuminates the human dimension behind operational history. Finally, McCarty offers a look at his forthcoming projects—including a regimental history, a study of the Western Desert on film, and a monograph on the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War. Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world. Links: Point of Failure: British Brigadiers in France and Norway, 1940 Phil on LinkedIn Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ X: https://x.com/Helionbooks Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

    19 min
  2. Helion Talks – Infantry in Battle 1733–1783

    MAR 19

    Helion Talks – Infantry in Battle 1733–1783

    In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with historian and author Alexander S. Burns about his book Infantry in Battle, 1733–1783. Burns challenges the long-standing myth that 18th-century infantry were rigid automatons following rote drill. Instead, his work reveals a far more dynamic reality — one where soldiers and officers constantly negotiated tactics, adapted to terrain, and shaped the outcome of battles from the ground up. The discussion spans from the battlefields of northern Italy to the American War of Independence, tracing how ordinary soldiers fought, took initiative, and learned within the chaos of war. Burns also shares insights from rare soldier letters uncovered in archives across Europe, illustrating how men thought, moved, and survived under fire. Finally, he previews his upcoming projects, including new studies on George Washington’s army and the Duke of Cumberland’s campaigns. Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world. Links: Infantry in Battle 1733–1783 Blog: Kabinettskriege X: https://x.com/kkriegeblog Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kabinettskriege.bsky.social Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ X: https://x.com/Helionbooks Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

    28 min
  3. Helion Talks – The Last Men Standing

    FEB 19

    Helion Talks – The Last Men Standing

    In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with writer and historian Gabriel Neville, author of The Last Men Standing: The 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution. Gabriel shares the remarkable story of one of Virginia’s most distinctive regiments — a force shaped by frontier experience, cultural diversity, and the harsh realities of early American warfare. Drawing on two decades of research, Neville discusses how he pieced together a narrative many believed impossible to write, uncovering forgotten diaries, service records, and pension accounts to tell the full story of the 8th Virginia. From brutal frontier battles and disease-ravaged campaigns to the human cost of revolution, the conversation brings to light a side of the war rarely seen — one defined not by founding fathers, but by the ordinary soldiers who endured it. Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world. Links: The Last Men Standing: The 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution Gabriel Neville — 8thVirginia.com Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ X: https://x.com/Helionbooks Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

    20 min
  4. Helion Talks – Air-to-Air Missiles

    JAN 22

    Helion Talks – Air-to-Air Missiles

    In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with aerospace engineer, pilot, and author Bill Norton about his groundbreaking new series Air-to-Air Missiles: Development and Combat Across 80 Years. Drawing on decades of experience in flight testing and aeronautical engineering, Bill explores the evolution of guided air combat weapons—from their World War II prototypes to the latest fifth and sixth generation systems shaping modern aerial warfare. The discussion breaks down how air-to-air missiles work, why they sometimes miss, and how human factors, technology, and combat conditions interact in the chaos of real engagements. Bill also reflects on current challenges, from counter-drone warfare to escalating defense costs, and previews the six-volume series that comprehensively covers eight decades of innovation, testing, and combat experience. Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world. Links: Air-to-Air Missiles Vol. 1: Technology, Development and Operation Air-to-Air Missiles Vol. 2: First Generation and Early Experiences 1944–1967 Bill Norton on LinkedIn Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ X: https://x.com/Helionbooks Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

    19 min
  5. Helion Talks – Soldiers and Civilians: Logistics in the British Civil Wars

    12/25/2025

    Helion Talks – Soldiers and Civilians: Logistics in the British Civil Wars

    In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with historian Glenn Price, author of Soldiers and Civilians, Transport and Provisions: Early Modern Military Logistics and Supply Systems during the British Civil Wars 1638–1653. Glenn discusses the often-overlooked world of logistics and supply during the British Civil Wars, exploring how armies were fed, equipped, and kept moving amid the chaos of seventeenth-century warfare. The conversation sheds light on the human and operational realities behind campaigns — from food shortages and transport systems to regional supply variations and the civilian toll of sustaining armies in the field. Glenn also explains why the Royalists’ logistical struggles may have been overstated and how supply lines, local productivity, and coastal transport shaped the outcome of these conflicts. Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world. Links: Soldiers and Civilians, Transport and Provisions: Early Modern Military Logistics and Supply Systems during the British Civil Wars 1638–1653 Glenn Price on X Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ X: https://x.com/Helionbooks Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

    19 min
  6. Helion Talks – Bold in Battle: South African Stories from World War II

    11/20/2025

    Helion Talks – Bold in Battle: South African Stories from World War II

    In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with historian Karen Horn, author of Bold in Battle: South African Stories from the Second World War. Karen shares how her work brings to life the overlooked experiences of South African volunteers who served across Africa and Europe — men and women whose stories have long remained in the margins of military history. Drawing on personal diaries, letters, and firsthand accounts, Karen discusses the human side of war — from the courage of ordinary soldiers and POWs to the quiet sacrifices of families back home. She also reflects on South Africa’s complex culture of remembrance, the challenges of commemoration, and the importance of preserving these voices for future generations. Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world. Links: Bold in Battle: South African Stories from the Second World War Karen Horn on Instagram Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ X: https://x.com/Helionbooks Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

    17 min
  7. Helion Talks – Whiskey on the Rocks

    10/22/2025

    Helion Talks – Whiskey on the Rocks

    In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with historian and author Michael Fredholm von Essen about his new two-volume series Whiskey on the Rocks — an in-depth exploration of a tense Cold War standoff between the Soviet Union and Sweden. Michael recounts the extraordinary events of October 1981, when a Soviet Whiskey-class submarine ran aground near a major Swedish naval base, sparking a ten-day diplomatic and military crisis. He explains how misunderstandings, high-stakes decisions, and Cold War paranoia shaped the incident — and how newly declassified documents reveal what really happened beneath the surface. The conversation also looks ahead to his sequel volume, which follows the continuing confrontation and near-miss moments that could have drawn both sides into open conflict. Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring discussions with leading military historians and authors. Links: Whiskey on the Rocks Vol. 1 – A Soviet Submarine Stranded in Swedish Waters (1981) Whiskey on the Rocks Vol. 2 – The Swedish–Soviet Confrontation (1981) Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ X: https://x.com/Helionbooks Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

    21 min
  8. Helion Talks – The Road to Helion

    10/22/2025

    Helion Talks – The Road to Helion

    In this inaugural episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia sits down with Helion & Company founder and CEO Duncan Rogers to explore the origins of one of the world’s leading military history publishers. Duncan shares how his lifelong passion for military history evolved into the founding of Helion in 1996, and how that passion continues to drive the company today. They discuss the evolution of Helion’s hallmark series — from Century of the Soldier to At War — and how these collections have built a global readership across eras and regions. Duncan also talks about Helion’s commitment to giving voice to overlooked stories, from South Africa to Sweden, and fostering international collaboration through partnerships like the new Underground Strategy series. Helion Talks will release new episodes once a month, featuring conversations with authors and historians from around the world. Links: Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helionbooks/ X: https://x.com/Helionbooks Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

    12 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Underground Strategy Where military tactics, leadership, and real-world strategies meet a whole lot of banter. Hosted by Max Lauker (ex-Swedish Special Operations, Intelligence, and Private Security) and Tony Garcia (ex-SANDF with extensive field experience and academic insight), we break down the latest in military strategy while keeping things real, candid, and fun. Whether you're into the latest military insights or just here for smart conversations (and a few laughs), we've got you covered. Tune in for weekly episodes packed with expert breakdowns, candid chats, and a fresh take on what's happening in the world of strategy. It's all about staying sharp, having fun, and thinking a few moves ahead. No fluff, just real talk.

Information

  • Creator
    Underground Strategy
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Underground Strategy
  • Show Website
    Underground Strategy

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