Strategic Simplicity Podcast

Pranay Vaddi

Russia

China

Arms Control

Nuclear Deterrence

Extended Deterrence

Nuclear Strategy

Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty

Ukraine War

Nuclear Policy

Euro Deterrent

Biden Administration

NATO

Australia

U.S. Nuclear Posture

Defense Industrial Base

Strategic Defence Review

United States

Nuclear Disarmament

Operation Midnight Hammer

Foreign Affairs

Trying to explain new and old, arcane and obscure international security issues in a conversational format. strategicsimplicity.substack.com

10 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	34	Founded	9 months ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

Part III of our series on New START

To close out (for now…) our three part series on New START and its pending expiration, Rebeccah Heinrichs and Frank Miller join Vipin, Austin, and I to explain why they think the United States should let the agreement expire without a continuation of... more

28 Jan 2026 • 58 min

Part II of our three part series on New START

Arms control diplomacy is, like many other areas of government policy-making, hard to understand without experiencing directly. How defense strategy, political science, technology, and area studies combine with personalities, time pressure, and inter... more

24 Jan 2026 • 1 hr 9 min

Part I on New START Expiration with Rose Gottemoeller

Rose and I covered the landscape related to New START and more:

* Her experience as chief negotiator - managing Russian interlocutors, an interagency delegation in Geneva as well as the one back home,

* the role of the President and other very se... more

19 Jan 2026 • 57 min

Shibboleths or Not? Introducing Matthew Sharp to the Pod

Before the holiday break, Vipin contributed a new post to the Strategic Stability Substack (I know, two in one year, how can he keep up this lightning pace) titled “Four Shibboleths of Nuclear Strategy.” In the post, Vipin asks whether we should take... more

10 Jan 2026 • 1 hr 6 min

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Recent Guests

Rose Gottemoeller

A key negotiator for the New START Treaty and senior fellow at Stanford University

Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation

Episode: Part I on New START Expiration with Rose Gottemoeller

Tong Zhao

Senior fellow with the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Episode: Tong Zhao helps unpack China's new arms control white paper

Charlie Glaser

A knowledgeable figure in nuclear strategy and policy discussions.

Episode: Debating Damage Limitation

Francesca Giovanni

Executive Director at the Belfour Initiative on Managing the Atom at Harvard University.

Harvard University

Episode: "Preventing an Era of Nuclear Anarchy: Nuclear Proliferation and American Security"

Eric Brewer

Deputy Vice President for NTI's Nuclear Material Security Program.

NTI

Episode: "Preventing an Era of Nuclear Anarchy: Nuclear Proliferation and American Security"

Toby Dalton

Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment.

Carnegie Endowment

Episode: "Preventing an Era of Nuclear Anarchy: Nuclear Proliferation and American Security"

Taylor Fravel

Professor of Political Science, Director of the Security Studies Program at MIT

MIT

Episode: Part I of a (more) definitive conversation about China

Caitlin Talmadge

Associate Professor of Political Science at MIT, Senior Non-Resident Fellow at Brookings

MIT, Brookings

Episode: Part I of a (more) definitive conversation about China

Alexandra Bell

President and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Episode: A Conversation with Alexandra Bell

Hosts

Pranay

Host of discussions focusing on international security issues and nuclear strategy, often providing insights into complex geopolitical dynamics.

Prane

Co-host engaged in conversational analysis of international security strategies, sharing expertise on military and nuclear issues.

Austin Vippen

Co-host who discusses various international security topics alongside expert guests, and responds to listener questions.

Vipin Narang

Co-host involved in discussions about nuclear policy and security strategies, contributing analytical perspectives to enhance listener understanding.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#186	Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#219	Finland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Part I on New START Expiration with Rose Gottemoeller

Q: What do you make of the argument that the United States should find ways to pressure Russia into a better deal or a more comprehensive agreement?

It's a no-brainer that we're going to seek limits on non-strategic nuclear weapons and on rough and so-called exotic systems in the next negotiations.

Part I on New START Expiration with Rose Gottemoeller

Q: What was your main message to senators on both sides of the aisle, knowing that, you know, February 5th, the New START is going away and we're entering a really new world?

I wanted the senators to understand that there is an offer on the table that President Putin laid out to extend the New START Treaty limits by one year.

Debating Damage Limitation, Again (Pt. II in a series)

Q: How important is damage limitation compared to other long-standing objectives in US nuclear strategy?

Damage limitation can be seen as a means to enhance extended deterrence, but other objectives may be equally important depending on the scenario, including ensuring the survival of the political entity of the nation.

Debating Damage Limitation, Again (Pt. II in a series)

Q: How comprehensive does damage limitation need to be to be considered meaningful?

Damage limitation capability needs to offset the bargaining advantage an adversary has due to stakes, requiring a higher effectiveness to be meaningful as the stakes difference increases.

Debating Damage Limitation, Again (Pt. II in a series)

Q: How important is it to have retention of damage limitation as an objective in our nuclear strategy for US extended nuclear deterrence?

While damage limitation capability is not necessary for an adequate extended deterrent, there are exceptions where having a damage limitation capability may be required.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Strategic Simplicity Podcast

What is Strategic Simplicity Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on international security, the content engages listeners with discussions that break down complex geopolitical issues and nuclear strategy into relatable dialogue. Typical topics include U.S.-China relations, nuclear proliferation, arms control, and the evolving military strategies of both superpowers. With notable emphasis on nuclear deterrence and the implications of military strategies on global stability, the discussions feature insights from a range of experts and scholars, making it a valuable resource for those interested in understanding pressing global security threats. The accessible conversation style makes intricate topics digestible for listeners who might not have a specialized background in international relations.

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Which podcasts are similar to Strategic Simplicity Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Strategic Simplicity Podcast:

1. Net Assessment
2. War on the Rocks
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. School of War
5. In Moscow's Shadows

How many episodes of Strategic Simplicity Podcast are there?

Strategic Simplicity Podcast launched 9 months ago and published 34 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Strategic Simplicity Podcast?

Recent guests on Strategic Simplicity Podcast include:

1. Rose Gottemoeller
2. Tong Zhao
3. Charlie Glaser
4. Francesca Giovanni
5. Eric Brewer
6. Toby Dalton
7. Taylor Fravel
8. Caitlin Talmadge

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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