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183 episodes

War Stories, Episode 1: A British Infantry Officer in Afghanistan, 2007
26/03/2026 | 1h 26 mins.
In the inaugural edition of the War Studies War Stories podcast series, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (War Studies, 2002-2005), Ru and Nick briefly explain what they’re looking to achieve in this series, through the use of King’s own unique resource - its alumni and their experience of war (built on King’s War Studies ‘Experience of War’ module).

Ru and Nick then take a deep dive into the life of a Platoon Commander in the high intensity counter-insurgency conflict in Helmand, Afghanistan, 2007, through the eyes of co-host Nick’s own experiences, serving with the Royal Anglian Regiment in Nowzad.

Ru delves into the challenges Nick’s unit faced fighting the Taliban in the Afghan summer covering the experience of warfare, through tactics, morale and combat, working in a hostile environment with a civilian population just trying to survive.

Further Reading
• News clip: https://youtu.be/hTH0yMuc3pQ?si=c2jC_nz2vF6Ck4_v
• Press: https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/aug/05/military.afghanistan
• Podcast 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/961057/episodes/16085942-afghanistan-nick-denning-royal-anglian-regiment-you-want-to-feel-worn-in-and-seasoned-and-up-to-speed-as-quickly-as-you-can
• Podcast 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nick-denning-captain-royal-anglian-regiment/id1799202777?i=1000710546820
The Helsinki Brief, Episode 2: Intelligence Culture in Finland
11/03/2026 | 49 mins.
In the second episode of The Helsinki Brief: Inside Finnish Intelligence and Security, the focus is on intelligence culture in Finland, explored within the wider context of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) and how it operates.

Dr Paul McGarr of King’s College London is joined by Hannamiina Tanninen, an analyst at the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, to discuss the evolution of Finland’s intelligence culture, Supo’s role within the national security framework, and how intelligence practices have adapted to contemporary security challenges.
Leadership in a divided world
25/02/2026 | 59 mins.
In this episode, Dr Nafees Hamid speaks with Michael Shipler, King’s College London War Studies alumnus and Vice President of Leadership Development & Partnerships at Search for Common Ground (SFCG), the world’s largest dedicated peacebuilding organisation.

With global cooperation declining and populism and authoritarianism on the rise, Nafees and Michael explore how those on opposite sides can be brought together. Drawing on SFCG’s work in conflict‑affected regions around the world, their conversation covers topics from moral injury to the use of art in peacebuilding, and why conflict itself isn’t the problem - it’s how we choose to manage it. Learn more about SFCG and their work here: https://www.sfcg.org/

This episode is produced as part of the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme, which seeks to understand the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict‑affected populations and to support practical solutions for peace. Learn more at www.xcept-research.org.
Does the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank pose a threat to long-term peace for Palestine and Israel?
03/02/2026 | 30 mins.
Dr Nils Mallock joins Dr Rajan Basra to discuss his research on the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and the effect their presence has on political protest behaviour. These settlements are widely considered to be illegal under international law, but successive Israeli governments have allowed them to grow, and expansion has accelerated following Hamas' attack on 7th October 2023.

In this episode, Dr Mallock explores how the presence of settlements can fuel cycles of reciprocal violence, the way in which they complicate the geographical layout of a two-state solution, and what continued expansion means for the long-term future of Palestine and Israel.

Read Nils’ journal article, ‘Proximity to settlements in the West Bank shifts protest behaviour toward higher-risk actions and increases perceived collective injustice’, here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pops.70068

This episode has been produced as part of the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme. XCEPT aims to understand the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations – and to find solutions that support peace. Find out more at www.xcept-research.org
24 Hours at the Capitol: Nora Neus on January 6, the Far Right and American Nationalism
06/01/2026 | 47 mins.
In this episode, Dr Pablo de Orellana, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, is joined by journalist and Emmy-nominated producer Nora Neus to discuss her book "24 Hours at the Capitol: An Oral History of the January 6th Insurrection".

Drawing on hundreds of interviews and primary sources, Neus reconstructs the “minute-by-minute” experience of 6 January 2021 – from elected officials to frontline staff – and argues the attack cannot be understood as a one-off event, but as the culmination of a longer movement that gathered momentum after Charlottesville and accelerated through the pandemic era.

Their conversation explores how far-right coalitions form and fragment; the role of social media platforms and online ecosystems in mobilisation; and the political power of mythic nationalism – from “1776” iconography to competing claims about American exceptionalism. They also examine the wider relationship between ethnic nationalism and religion, as well as the implications for future episodes of political instability.

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About War Studies

Welcome to the War Studies podcast. We bring you world-leading research from the School of Security Studies at King’s College London, the largest community of scholars in the world dedicated to the study of all aspects of security, defence and international relations. We aim to explore the complex realm of conflict and uncover the challenges at the heart of navigating world affairs and diplomatic relations, because we believe the study of war is fundamental to understanding the world we live in and the world we want to live in. If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, please rate and review us on your preferred podcast provider – it really helps us reach more listeners. The School of Security Studies harnesses the depth and breadth of expertise across War Studies and Defence Studies to produce world-leading research and teaching on issues of global security that develops new empirical knowledge, employs innovative theory, and addresses vital policy issues. Visit our website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/security-studies Sign up to our mailing list: https://kcl.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cc0521a63c9b286223dea9d18&id=730233761d DISCLAIMER: Any information, statements or opinions contained in these podcasts are those of the individual speakers. They do not represent the opinions of the Department of War Studies or King's College London.

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