Defence Connect Podcast Network

Momentum Media

The Defence Connect Podcast Network hosts a unique series of podcasts, featuring discussions with key enablers from across the Australian defence industry. The podcasts provide the perfect blend of business intelligence and insights from a range of guests, which include government officials, ADF personnel, industry stakeholders, and members of the academic community. By aligning ourselves with the ADF and the Commonwealth government, we are uniquely placed to deliver a dynamic 360° platform that bridges the gap between the customer (Defence) and industry. We split our focus not just into the traditional sectors of Land (Army), Air (Air Force) and Sea (Navy), but into the six new Capability Streams: - Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare and Cyber - Key Enablers - Air and Sea Lift - Maritime and Anti-Submarine Warfare - Strike and Air Combat - Land Combat and Amphibious Warfare As Defence moves to ensure the Force Structure Review and the First Principles Review: Creating One Defence plans are met, Australian industry involvement is critical for mission success. The Defence Connect Podcast Network will provide you and your business with valuable lessons, tips and insights into the industry, putting your company in the best position to take part in the increased Defence spending. We’ll cover every aspect of doing business in the defence industry, from the tender process to recruitment, success stories, access points to Defence, smart business strategies, and geopolitical insights. Subscribe to the Defence Connect network and be part of this exciting and innovative industry. read less

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CONTESTED GROUND: Regaining the qualitative advantag

CONTESTED GROUND: Regaining the qualitative advantag

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Liam Garman and Phil Tarrant unpack the latest in the AI race, and how the United States is seeking to use tariffs to regain the economic edge. They begin the podcast examining the DeepSeek phenomenon, why Nvidia share prices took a hit, and looking under the hood to see if the tech is as good as advertised.They then look at the recent threats and imposition of tariffs and how this will impact the US, and whether a strengthening US dollar is indicative of growing consumer optimism.The podcast wraps up examining the relationship between foreign aid and national security and moves in the US to suspend aid. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

Episodes

CONTESTED GROUND: Regaining the qualitative advantag

CONTESTED GROUND: Regaining the qualitative advantag

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Liam Garman and Phil Tarrant unpack the latest in the AI race, and how the United States is seeking to use tariffs to regain the economic edge. They begin the podcast examining the DeepSeek phenomenon, why Nvidia share prices took a hit, and looking under the hood to see if the tech is as good as advertised.They then look at the recent threats and imposition of tariffs and how this will impact the US, and whether a strengthening US dollar is indicative of growing consumer optimism.The podcast wraps up examining the relationship between foreign aid and national security and moves in the US to suspend aid. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

PODCAST: Threats, theatre and tariffs in Trump’s world, with the Defence Connect team

PODCAST: Threats, theatre and tariffs in Trump’s world, with the Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Steve Kuper, Robert Dougherty and Liam Garman unpack the fast moves and overall strategy being employed by the new US administration, led by returning US President, Donald Trump. The podcast commences with an analysis of the opening salvo of US tariffs on Canada, Mexico and Panama under America's new "carry a big stick" policy.Kuper, Dougherty and Garman then differentiate fact from fiction in the new US President's economic and international strategy.The podcast wraps up with a brief look on internal policies being undertaken, the border control in relation to national security and possible outcomes under Trump's reinstallation of the America first, last and always approach. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

CYBER UNCUT: The meteoric rise of DeepSeek, Clop ransomware goes wild, and a hacker retires

CYBER UNCUT: The meteoric rise of DeepSeek, Clop ransomware goes wild, and a hacker retires

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft look back on their week reporting on cyber crime in Australia and abroad. Croft opens the show with a round-up of the biggest story of the week - Chinese AI platform DeepSeek. From how it works, why it's trashed NVIDIA's stock, and the very real security concerns, DeepSeek is going to be a story for some time.Hollingworth then looks at the recent spate of ransomware posts made by the Clop gang - it promised last year that it had stolen a lot of data via vulnerabilities in Cleo's file transfer software, and over the weekend, the gang posted the details of 60 victims, including three Australian firms.Finally, after talking about the dangers of mistaken identity in cyber crime reporting, the pair talk about infamous hacker IntelBroker and his decision to retire from the role of admin on a popular hacking forum. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025? Part 2

CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025? Part 2

As the global economy and political environment continue to become increasingly unpredictable, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack what’s in store for 2025 using diplomacy, information, military and economic (DIME) analysis. This podcast represents the second of two episodes, where the hosts provide insight into the latest military and economic events, and how they impact us at home in Australia. The trio begin examining the recent appointment of Pete Hegseth as the US Secretary of Defense and how the incoming administration will shape the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.They then look at the global economy, and whether the US economy will undergo a resurgence with a strengthening US dollar and an ambition to reduce the government’s $36 trillion debt. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

Boosting women’s involvement in defence industry, with Rachel Falzon, Women in Defence Association

Boosting women’s involvement in defence industry, with Rachel Falzon, Women in Defence Association

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper speaks with Rachel Falzon, founder and national president of the Women in Defence Association, to discuss the important role women play in boosting outcomes for defence and defence industry. The pair also discuss: Falzon's inspiration for launching the Women in Defence Association and the challenges facing women involved in boosting representation in Defence and defence industry.The rapid growth of the association and its ambition to engage with women across the nation who are interested in supporting national security.The benefits provided by boosting diversity across defence industry, in the boardroom and throughout the process regardless of the role. Enjoy the Podcast, The Defence Connect team

SPOTLIGHT: Delivering a sovereign small arms and load carriage capability, with Aquaterro’s Graeme Bulte

SPOTLIGHT: Delivering a sovereign small arms and load carriage capability, with Aquaterro’s Graeme Bulte

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, the team from Defence Connect travel to Victoria to sit down with Graeme Bulte, chief executive officer and founder of Aquaterro. They discuss developing a sovereign uniform and load carriage capability, and how Aquaterro is delivering for Defence and law enforcement.The podcast then turns to unpacking the latest innovations in small arms, in particular, the new innovative range of SIG Sauer weapons and how this will impact sovereign readiness and combat capability. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

CYBER UNCUT: JB Hi-Fi not hacked, hacktivists keep at it, and Trump trashes cyber security

CYBER UNCUT: JB Hi-Fi not hacked, hacktivists keep at it, and Trump trashes cyber security

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft look back on their week reporting on cyber crime in Australia and abroad. Croft and Hollingworth talk about a hack that really wasn't - the 2023 Dymocks data breach is commonly resold on hacking forums, and Croft has found another instance of an enterprising type trying to make money from a previous compromise, and it did not end well for them.Finally, the pair discuss how hacktivists crave publicity in return for very little actual hacking and Hewlett Packard Enterprise's (HPE) most recent investigation into another alleged data breach, before talking about the state of cyber crime reporting in the first month of 2025. Buckle in; it's going to be one heck of a year. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025?

CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025?

As the global economy and political environment continue to become increasingly unpredictable, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack what’s in store for 2025 using diplomacy, information, military and economic (DIME) analysis. This podcast represents the first of two episodes, where the hosts provide insight into the latest diplomatic and information events, and how they impact us at home in Australia. The trio begin by examining the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and whether it will likely hold in the current environment.They then turn to the Ukraine War and Britain’s 100-year pledge.They then look at the incoming White House’s approach to TikTok, and whether information should be considered a military domain. Stay tuned for the next episode, where the trio unpack military and economic power. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

Royal Australian Navy minehunters’ new purpose after service, with Frank van der Linde

Royal Australian Navy minehunters’ new purpose after service, with Frank van der Linde

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by travellers and entrepreneurs Frank van der Linde and Kerry Leach. The pair are the new owners of two decommissioned Royal Australian Navy minehunters - HMAS Norman and HMAS Hawkesbury. The former military vessels have been towed more than 3,800 nautical miles from Newcastle, Australia, to Cebu, Philippines, as they prepare for a new lease on life as private superyachts. The trio discuss: The origins of the two minehunter vessels, how the sale was completed and some complications along the way.The challenges of using former military equipment in the commercial industry and documenting their journey via the YouTube channel, Living the Oneironaut Life.The plans for the vessels and the construction efforts still to come. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

Building a robust, fit for purpose ADF, with Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh MP

Building a robust, fit for purpose ADF, with Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh MP

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by the Honourable Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs, to discuss the latest developments shaping the Defence workforce. Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh MP to discuss the latest developments shaping the Defence workforce. The pair also discuss: The major milestones in the government’s efforts to build the uniformed Defence workforce through 2024, including the release of the 2024 Defence Workforce Plan and Strategic Review of the Australian Defence Force Reserves.The key work done to overhaul Defence recruiting and ensure that the recruitment process is fit for the contemporary labour market and to the standards expected by Australian taxpayers.The life-long training and professional development opportunities available with a career in the Australian Defence Force, and the efforts being made to ensure that veterans have a seamless transition into the broader economy when they leave the ADF. Enjoy the Podcast, The Defence Connect team

CYBER UNCUT: Cyber attacks increased year on year in 2024 and the latest in cyber security news

CYBER UNCUT: Cyber attacks increased year on year in 2024 and the latest in cyber security news

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft take yet another look back at a year of cyber incidents and talk about how 2024 saw incidents rise by almost half again. The pair also look at a hacktivist group targeting Australian websites, the still ongoing UnitedHealth saga, a dangerous hacking that may be on the horizon, and the latest in ransomware attacks on Australian organisations. Hollingworth and Croft kick off the chat with Check Point Software Technologies' look back at the year that was, with 2024 seeing 44 per cent more cyber incidents than the previous year. The pair talk about how that matches their expectations, from nation-state actors to hacktivists and, of course, ransomware and cyber crime.Croft then goes into his own investigations into the RipperSec hacktivist group, while Hollingworth looks into vulnerabilities impacting a popular firewall device that has been extensively exploited in the past and could well be about to be hacked en masse again.Finally, Croft looks at the latest chapter in the UnitedHealth hack from last year and some rather disturbing allegations that the giant insurance company is not entirely being above board with its reporting. The pair then look back at the week that just passed and the nearly half-dozen ransomware attacks targeting organisations in the ANZ region. It's been a busy start to the year. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

CONTESTED GROUND: What Trump’s Panama Canal comments mean for maritime law

CONTESTED GROUND: What Trump’s Panama Canal comments mean for maritime law

How might the recent threat from US President-elect Donald Trump impact practitioners in this space? In this recent crossover episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Jerome Doraisamy, editor of Lawyers Weekly, sat down with The Shipping Lawyer, Alison Cusack, to discuss the shipping law landscape in 2024 and what was learnt from that year, the recent threat from Donald Trump to take back control of the Panama Canal and the history of the canal (and lessons from the Suez Canal experience). Cusack also discusses the frequency with which shipping lawyers have to adapt to geopolitical shifts and navigate client expectations. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

SPOTLIGHT: How AIR 6500 will defend Australia’s shores, with Lockheed Martin Australia’s Liam Catterson

SPOTLIGHT: How AIR 6500 will defend Australia’s shores, with Lockheed Martin Australia’s Liam Catterson

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Liam Catterson, business development manager Integrated Air and Missile Defence Lead, Rotary and Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin Australia, joins host Liam Garman to lift the hood on AIR 6500. The two Liams begin the podcast discussing how the Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS), AIR 6500 Phase 1, will protect Australia’s shores and what’s been delivered on AIR 6500 to date.They then unpack how Australian industry capability fits into AIR 6500 and the benefits that it will offer the Australian Defence Force.The pair then turn to what next-generation technologies the JABMS will utilise to provide air and missile defence to the Australian Defence Force, and what the end game looks like. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

CYBER UNCUT: UN aviation authority hacked and the EU fines the EU

CYBER UNCUT: UN aviation authority hacked and the EU fines the EU

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft wonder if they can fill a podcast with just four days of news in the new year, and of course, they can. From a hacker with a habit of going after big political targets to some of the big numbers of the previous year to geopolitics and terrorist data breaches, 2025 has kicked off with a bang. Hollingworth starts things off with notorious hacker Natohub’s latest exploits – leaking the recruitment data of around 42,000 recruitment forms belonging to the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization. It’s far from the hacker’s first rodeo, so Hollingworth and Croft go over some of past exploits as well.Croft talks up the curious case of the hacker who managed to breach the terrorist organisation ISIS. Meanwhile, Hollingworth goes over some cyber incident statistics from 2024, including the fact that Europe was the most hacked region on the planet, mostly driven by the war in Ukraine. The pair also discuss a Ukrainian success story following the total disruption of a Russian ISP by Ukrainian hackers.The pair round things up with a playful look at a recent case of the European Union fining itself over a GDPR violation, and some exciting news for the Cyber Daily website. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

CONTESTED GROUND: Picking up where we left off, 2025 shapes up to be a disruptive year

CONTESTED GROUND: Picking up where we left off, 2025 shapes up to be a disruptive year

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman are joined by Momentum Media’s senior defence and national security analyst and government relations manager, Steve Kuper, to discuss the latest geopolitical developments. The trio discuss the key developments over the Christmas and New Year period that are setting the scene for a truly transformative midway point for the 2020s. They also discuss: Ongoing diplomatic efforts by the incoming Trump administration to resolve the Russia–Ukraine war and the situation on the ground.The Boxing Day revelation of apparent sixth-generation fighter aircraft by the People’s Republic of China and Beijing’s ambitious ship commissioning schedule for 2025, which will dramatically reshape the balance of power.The implications of the incoming Trump administration on the global geopolitical and economic environment. Enjoy the podcast,The Contested Ground team

SPOTLIGHT: Engaging with Australia’s next-generation Defence STEM workforce, with DSTG’s Dr Carolyn Patteson and Dr Mike Wilson

SPOTLIGHT: Engaging with Australia’s next-generation Defence STEM workforce, with DSTG’s Dr Carolyn Patteson and Dr Mike Wilson

In this episode of the Defence Connect ADSTAR series, Dr Carolyn Patteson, Chief Science Strategic Planning & Engagement within the Defence Science and Technology Group, and DSTG’s Dr Mike Wilson sit down with host Liam Garman to discuss the unique opportunities that lie ahead for young Australians studying STEM. Dr Patteson begins by unpacking her own employment history, and how a love of maths kick-started a career that spanned cyber security, cryptography and even modelling for traditional warfighting. The podcast continues with Dr Wilson unpacking how Defence is engaging the next generation to encourage a career in STEM and showcase the exciting pathways that await them. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

CONTESTED GROUND: Iran’s collapsing sphere of influence

CONTESTED GROUND: Iran’s collapsing sphere of influence

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret’d) Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman discuss the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. They begin the podcast debating whether the unfolding Israel–Hamas conflict will have the same level of strategic significance for Israel as the Yom Kippur War or the Six-Day War.Tarrant, Thompson and Garman then discuss how the conflict has altered the balance of power in the Middle East, severing Iran’s crescent of influence by weakening Hamas and Hezbollah, coupled with the fall of Assad.They wrap up the podcast examining what nations, if any, might assume the role of a security benefactor in the Middle East with a weakened Iran, and emerging open-source intelligence (OSINT) collection vectors. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

CYBER UNCUT: The year in review and a look at the year ahead

CYBER UNCUT: The year in review and a look at the year ahead

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft take a look back at some of the biggest and most intriguing stories of the year, from CrowdStrike’s outage and amazing response to the takedown of ransomware giant LockBit. Croft kicks off with the epic story of the Change Healthcare hack, which saw the data of about a third of the population of the United States compromised. But it wasn’t just the scale of the hack; it was also the behind-the-scenes manoeuvering between greedy ransomware-as-a-service operators, hacker affiliates just wanting to get paid, and a company realising that it really does have to pay an exorbitant ransom.The pair then discuss the takedown of ransomware giant LockBit and the remarkably sassy response of the law enforcement agencies behind the operation, before looking back at another ransomware operation that turned out to be nothing but an extensive scam.Lastly, Croft and Hollingworth look back at July’s CrowdStrike outage, both its wide-ranging impact and what turned out to be an excellent and comprehensive response from CrowdStrike itself, before turning the gaze forward to wonder what they might see in 2025. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

DEFENCE PROPERTY PODCAST: Understanding the ever-changing landscape of regional property investment

DEFENCE PROPERTY PODCAST: Understanding the ever-changing landscape of regional property investment

Understanding the dynamics of regional areas in Australia can offer lucrative opportunities for investors. In this episode of the Defence Property Podcast, co-hosts Liam Garman and Discover Buyers Agency’s Kane Dury sit down with Morgan Oliver, director and sales agent of JMO Property Group, to unpack the ins and outs of property investment in the town of Gatton. Gatton, in regional Queensland, is poised for economic growth with major infrastructure projects underway, such as a medium-security prison and a high-speed rail, creating thousands of stable government jobs, which the trio highlight as appealing for property investors. The group also discusses how investors in the defence sector can focus on regional areas to grow their portfolio by buying property at each posting, leveraging grants like Home Purchase Assistance Scheme (HPAS) and Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS) to gain financial benefits, and then rent-vest to foster cash flow and long-term portfolio growth.

A proud history of providing debate and connecting sailors, with Mark Schweikert, federal president, Navy League of Australia

A proud history of providing debate and connecting sailors, with Mark Schweikert, federal president, Navy League of Australia

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by the newly confirmed federal president of the Navy League of Australia, Mark Schweikert, to discuss the proud history of the league in supporting the mission of the Royal Australian Navy. The pair discuss the long-standing history of the Navy League and its earliest days supporting public interest in and engagement with the Royal Australian Navy dating back to its foundation in 1901. They also discuss: The services the league provides to current and former naval personnel, including the opportunity to discuss and deliberate on the issues facing the nation’s sea power.The importance of the Royal Australian Navy and naval sea power for Australia and critical capabilities worth considering further development on, including fixed-wing naval aviation.The role the league plays in working with Defence and naval cadets to encourage more Australians into the Navy.Schweikert’s long history of association with the Navy and the league and his ambitions for the future of the league. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team