The General & the Journalist

• The story of Ukraine's heroic 'Iron People'

  This week, Tom and Patrick take you inside Ukraine’s railways, the country’s lifeline since the full-scale Russian invasion began. With over 20,000 kilometres of track, they’ve evacuated millions, ferried troops and supplies to the front, and turned carriages into mobile hospitals. At the heart of this effort is Oleksandr Pertsovski, the CEO of Ukrainian Railways, who shares how his “Iron People” have kept the nation moving under daily bombardment. From evacuation scenes echoing Dunkirk, to VIP trains shuttling world leaders in and out of the capital, Kyiv, this is the untold story of logistics, resilience and national pride. The interview was recorded in July 2025.Guest: Oleksandr Pertsovskyi Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn & General Sir Patrick SandersPhoto: Getty ImagesGet in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Gen Sir Nick Carter: Trump doesn’t understand Putin

  Sir Patrick's away this week, so Tom persuaded another four-star General, the UK's former Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Nick Carter, to join him instead. They discuss whether, in the wake of the Alaska summit between Presidents Trump and Putin, and Europe's mad dash to DC to see off its worst effects, a so-called 'Non-NATO Article 5-style' security guarantee for Ukraine can be any such thing without US boots on the ground to back it up. Sir Nick thinks not, and draws parallels with the war Yugoslavia, when UN troops had to stand by and watch as Bosnian civilians were slaughtered by the Serbs. Speaking of history, Sir Nick gives a particularly revealing insight into Trump's own grasp of the subject, disclosed to him while with the President on the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019.Guests: General Sir Nick CarterHost: Tom Newton DunnClips: Fox NewsPhoto: Getty ImagesGet in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• What is the Israeli strategy for Gaza?

  Tom and Patrick discuss Israel’s new Gaza strategy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set a controversial new goal - the full occupation of Gaza, starting with Gaza City. His security cabinet has signed off on the first phase, but opposition is growing fast from the international community, and it seems from within Israel’s own military leadership. There are warnings that the plan will deepen Gaza’s already grave humanitarian crisis. Can the plan be achieved militarily? What political calculations are driving it? And could it push the IDF to the limit? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The future of war, with U.S. General James Rainey

  Patrick and Tom sit down with General James E. Rainey, the head of the United States Army Futures Command, to discuss what the wars of tomorrow will look like. Without doubt we are living through a period of rapid and often unsettling military transformation with everything from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 3D-printed drones to hypersonic missiles. The AI revolution paired with quantum computing is redefining what's possible on the battlefield, and at breakneck speed. The wars ahead will look nothing like the ones we've known, but does this change the rules of how wars should be conducted? The two generals and the journalist discuss the mechanics, logistics and ethics of future wars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Was British involvement in Afghanistan worth it?

  It’s been four years since the Taliban retook control of Kabul, marking the end of the UK’s 20-year military presence in Afghanistan. This week, Patrick sits down with James Cowan, CEO of the HALO Trust and a former army officer who led Task Force Helmand from 2009 to 2010. Together, they reflect on the 2021 evacuation, the recent Afghan data leak, their regrets, and whether Britain’s involvement in Afghanistan was, frankly, worth it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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