School of War

173
History #147

This podcast seeks to learn what war teaches. There has been a steady decline in the study of military history and its associated theoretical discipline, strategy.This podcast seeks to fill that gap through in-depth interviews on military and diplomatic history. Our guests have included former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Cold War historian John Lewis Gaddis, and former China Select Committee chairman Mike Gallagher. We discuss the battlefield commanders, diplomats, strategists, policymakers, and statesmen who have had to make wartime decisions in the ancient and modern eras. The subject of an episode may be an historical battle, campaign, or conflict; the conduct of policy in the course of a major international incident; the work of a famous strategist; the nature of a famous weapon; or the legacy of an important military commander or political leader.  Aaron MacLean is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He has worked as a foreign policy advisor and legislative director to Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and spent seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps.Visit our Substack for episode transcriptsFollow along on Instagram

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Recent Reviews
  • dennis.karpf
    Dennis Karpf
    Scholarly yet practical and pragmatic analysis of a necessary aspect of human aggression and our national interests, sovereignty and our persistent enemies of liberty.
  • dentalO
    Excellent podcast on war
    Aaron has incredible and uncanny abilities to really delve into topics on war and has numerous acclaimed speakers. My only critique is that he will occasionally give hints of his political leanings, which I feel detracts from the overall podcast a bit. Once politics gets involved, it becomes more difficult to remain more fully objective on topics, especially war and the DoD. Although politics is “war by other means…” I think he could do better by giving a more balanced view of each political party’s influence on war past and present. Cheers!
  • Suphronia
    I have learned so much and I have enjoyed every minute.
    My daughter shared this podcast with me and I have listened to almost every episode. Aaron is a terrific interviewer and each episode tells a story of history or current events that is integral to understanding events both past and present. I really enjoy listening to this program. I have to say the interview with Uncle Frank is my favorite that you have done. He has more than repaid America, we are the ones that owe him.
  • wvkid1
    Great show
    Love the show. It’s very easy to listen to and interesting. I love the variety of experts that you bring on. Everything is a great listen, zero skips. The draft and crusades episodes are my two favorite so far. Love hearing about war in the Middle Ages. Look forward to your future episodes.
  • Elpasoid
    Insightful
    I really enjoy listening to the varied topics covered concerning military affairs.
  • SeegarAR
    Recycled stuff- uninspired
    Frankly I think having my iPhone read me Wikipedia articles would be both more interesting and more accurate. Skip it- others doing this much better.
  • Chris Kevorkian
    Learn about Hezbollah
    The guest knew very little about Hezbollah and its dynamics. Read about Lebanon’s history especially since 1975. Btw the soccer field killings were likely the result of an Iron Dome interception or misfired interceptor. Get better educated guests. Goldberg is spouting AIPAC talking points not reality on the ground. As a vet of US intel community, i am very disappointed in hearing his ignorance on the subject.
  • Russ - Marcia
    Great pod cast
    Wonderfully well done and insightful. The production values are excellent.
  • WchBlok
    Excellent
    Generally great guests, great questions and conversations. My only quibble would be that the intro could/should be much shorter.
  • Fhchmf
    John Spencer
    Fantastic info. Terrible delivery. Almost impossible to follow. Needs public speaker training. Talks way too fast. Jumps around way to much. Figure out key points. Slowly, clearly, lay out key points. Stop with fast forward stream of consciousness.
  • ksenia Wall
    Informative and educational Podcast
    I have learned so much from this Podcast regarding Military History and how things work in this arena. Thank you!
  • Charge HR angry
    Informative and interesting
    I always walk away from this with something to think about.
  • Alexy Dub
    Hit or Miss
    At its best, this podcast offers a platform for some serious strategic thinkers to outline how they assess the various actors in a given strategic context. At its worst, whole episodes are given over the partisan shills scoring points on current domestic US politics. Maddeningly, host can go either way - asking probing questions of the strategists or lolling around in couch potatoe politics for an hour at a time depending on the guest. Just listening to the first five minutes gives a pretty clear indication whether the episode will be a deeper dive or just more talking heads on current affairs. I’d unsubscribe entirely but for the occasional gem.
  • Peb Pab
    Interesting and informative
    Smart guests and knowledgeable interviewer. Never disappointing. Aaron MacLean has really come into his own with choice of topics and guests.
  • Churchilladmirer
    School of War
    Just recently started listening and it’s instantly my favorite podcast. Always learn so much. Not only are the guests and books discussed super interesting, but MacLean is a provocative commentator and excellent interviewer with deeply insightful questions. Thank You and, while it will take me some time to listen to all the back-episodes, please keep the great content coming!
  • Prtr8r
    This is the only podcast that I have listened to every episode
    Excellent and informative just listen to Paul fever on wokeness in the military. I’m a conservative, but I don’t care if you are transgender or not. However, selective surgery degrades your readiness and should not be performed in the military.
  • Spanish Origin
    Could benefit from better talking style
    That Paul Edgar repeated himself at least twice per most sentences. Probably had 4 minutes of actual content. Someone should edit and be the quality control person. This basic problem appears in some other episodes too with different speakers using that same style which doesn’t work well for me.
  • Philip Heard
    Informative
    Enjoying this podcast, very educational, interesting guests covering helpful topics.
  • LlDoone
    Superb podcast
    Just listened to episode with Edward Luttwak. Had to buy the book immediately.
  • NavySteve87!
    Need more shows like this
    Great show with a great premise; need to re-invigorate and popularize the value of military history. Absolutely fantastic guests - please include more ONA alums. Dr. Jerry Hendrix would be a great guest
  • Chuckles Marx
    Top notch
    Great show! You help dispel the fog of war.
  • zackvogt
    Unrated
    The interviews are well recorded, great questions, and otherwise well produced. As a Naval War College student, and USMC infantry officer, this is the podcast for me. Thanks Aaron and team.
  • iheartthebish
    Awesome
    Love this podcast!
  • achimmer
    Favorite military and strategy source
    I can’t count how many books, articles, videos that this podcast has prompted me to read. I can’t wait for more. Each episode has caused me to challenge my previous understandings and assumptions about current events, geo politics, and historical theories. Thanks for shining light on complicated subjects. Easily my favorite podcast.
  • jgregadd
    A blessing for thoughtful people
    Just finished most recent episode on Korean War. Great explanations of both history and WHY this podcast is so valuable providing “school” for current issues. Also enjoyed episode on Boyd and OODA. Episodes like this are a blessing for thoughtful people. Insights that are both intriguing and “walk” forward providing insights and thoughts for life as well as scratching the history itch. Thank you!
  • Ben F Jones
    The best military history podcast
    Aaron’s guests and the topics he discusses are insightful, interesting and respectful of the listener's time. Wonderful conversations.
  • öäblel
    The hate is too much
    All the people in the reviews who leave one star and say this is a waste of time are completely wrong. There are some episodes which are a bit much especially the one on Sparta, but in general this is a great podcast. It is very insightful and ties historical events to current issues. This is honestly the best military history podcast I have heard so far.
  • Ck21666
    Great show- sometimes too political
    Incredible show. I have really appreciated this show striving to be neutral in the political divide that exists today despite the political nature of war and foreign policy. That’s why I was disappointed by episode 47 because of the Republican senator’s politically charged and blatantly one-sided view on the history of U.S foreign policy that was not moderated properly by the host in order to maintain a semblance of neutrality. I hope future episodes are not similarly politically charged. However, it is an overall excellent podcast.
  • Great45742
    Great interviewer
    Aaron is such a great host. He always has clearly read what his guest has written and asks compact intelligent questions.
  • Political Centrist
    A Much-Needed Resource & Great Show
    Aaron taught at the Naval Academy while I was there. He’s a fantastic host — incisive, eloquent, and genuinely interested in giving his guests a platform to communicate their ideas, insights, and views. This show is a great resource for anyone interested in the contemporary geo-strategic landscape, as well as public policymakers actively grappling with the challenging issues relating to military and grand strategy. One of my favorite weekly listens!
  • SaxonRules
    War movies
    You guys missed a bunch of important films. Apparently you both need to watch more TCM. The fact that neither of you have seen The Buccaneer with Charlton Heston as Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, made me stop listening. You both sound like you seen nothing.
  • qwqqqqqwwww
    Myke Cole
    Myke cole historian no ,political hack yes … let’s take the Spartans and judge them by 2023 woke standards .., BYW foul mouth for effect, sad to waste ink on his books
  • Hewhite
    Great podcast
    I enjoy the podcast. But, the last one about Sparta had too much cursing. The author did not help his case with all the foul language. Sounds like a smart guy with interesting points, but I can’t listen with my kids if he talks like that.
  • seancall84
    Best military history podcast since Thucydides
    Would you please publish a reading list based on all the authors you’ve interviewed. Would love to have one place to reference all the topical books as well as others mentioned as great or must reads mentioned during interviews Thank you
  • fhzndbrjfj
    It was good
    I was really enjoying this show until the ridiculous episode with Tom Cotton. Turned it off with five minutes to go b/c I couldn’t take the vitriol that man was spewing. Sorry, won’t be back.
  • gundo2
    One of the best podcasts of its type!
    As someone who listens to many different podcasts dealing with history, military affairs, and warfare in general, this podcast ranks among the best. Always interesting, the quality of those interviewed is excellent. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone who wishes to discover new insights and ideas about a very important topic.
  • E1001@@@
    Just Amazing
    I wish the show was 2 hours long.
  • HerRoyalNotness
    *Enter title*
    Long podcasts very cool
  • ScottB6866
    Amazing insights
    Live this show! The insights and analysis of what it like to serve and how so much has changed over the centuries but has also stayed the same in many was is fascinating
  • Helimanipulator
    Fascinating perspectives
    I’ve been listening for a while, but the recent episode with Andrew Lambert discussing the Crimean War, the the echoes of history to the current war in Ukraine was absolutely top notch. Couldn’t recommend it any more.
  • Ohio Doug
    Crimean War episode is outstanding
    The interview with Andrew Lambert on the Crimean war is one of the most insightful podcasts I have ever heard. The historical ties between them and today’s war incredibly useful.
  • DOD Poet
    Informed, insightful inquiry
    I just listened to the interview with Fred Kagan about the situation in Ukraine, and thought it was exemplary. The way that the two of them moved from the granular details of unit organization to policy implications for Taiwan, from the present moment to the extended timeline, was fluid, insightful, and nuanced. Here and elsewhere, MacLean sets up his guests with good, open questions, and gets out of their way. Such a deep commitment to inquiry, to acknowledging one’s own error while providing it with rational context, to admitting to limitations in one’s thought while still striving to make testable hypotheses— this dialogue is done in a spirit of truth-seeking that is sorely missing from critical discussions today.
  • DocBarx936
    Beyond stupid
    Awful in every possible way. The creators should stop making episodes and get real jobs.
  • TLS47630
    Great Military History Lessons
    Lesson from the past: both successes & failures.
  • Cullen@theCauldron
    Guy Knows His Stuff - Excellent Listen
    I thoroughly enjoy this show! It’s fantastic, the host, the guests, the topics, and the production are all excellent. A must listen!
  • Monte 46580
    Looks Good
    Based on the first episode, this looks to be a good series. Hope they can keep it up.
  • Prince Estabrook
    Andrew Roberts
    I listened to the interview of Andrew Roberts’s interview on King George III with great interest. While I think it would be difficult to follow the discussion without a fairly complete understanding of the War of Independence and the major players, I thoroughly enjoyed the podcast. I don’t understand the negative reviews. I am left with the assumption that people lack a basic knowledge of major events in world history and therefore have no basis upon which to fairly evaluate the programs. My personal belief is that most educational systems do students a tragic disservice. Due to that they are doomed to swallow every social narrative pushed by media and politicians. “Those who ignore [or are ignorant of] history are doomed to repeat it.”
  • Christiangonzo
    Horrible
    Not worth a minute of anyones time.
  • 👆✊
    High & Tight
    Mind numbing droll
  • Jgf1600
    Been looking for this
    I’ve been looking for a show like this for a while. Can’t wait to see who the next guests are!
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