Goat Rodeo

Goat Rodeo #47 - Joe Kent Resigns, Anduril’s $20B Bet, and the Future of Defense Software

This Episode:This week on Goat Rodeo, Garrett Smith and Dave Caudle cover a mix of Washington dynamics, defense acquisition, and industry shifts.The conversation starts with the resignation of Joe Kent and what it reflects about internal disagreement and pressure inside the national security apparatus.They also touch on recent time on Capitol Hill and how members and staff are thinking about defense priorities and execution.The episode then turns to Anduril’s $20B Army contract and what it signals about software-defined warfare, faster acquisition, and the role of nontraditional defense companies.Our Podcast: National security, defense tech, and geopolitics; serious topics, but that doesn’t mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare. Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take, because let’s be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo.Listen on other platforms:https://linktr.ee/GoatRodeoPodcast

Goat Rodeo #46 - Iran School Strike, the Anthropic Ban, and the AI Killchain

This Episode:This week on Goat Rodeo, Garrett Smith, Dave Caudle, and Simon Coon dive into the intersection of the Iran war, artificial intelligence, and the politics of modern warfare.The conversation begins with the controversy surrounding a school strike in Iran and what it potentially reveals about AI-assisted targeting entering real combat operations. The crew explores how systems like Maven are accelerating the kill chain and what that means for decision-making in war.They also unpack the growing clash between the Pentagon and Anthropic after the company’s models were banned from government systems, and what that fight signals about the future relationship between Silicon Valley and the national security state.Finally, the discussion turns to the defense tech market, where massive venture rounds and rising valuations are reshaping the defense innovation and investing landscape.Our Podcast: National security, defense tech, and geopolitics; serious topics, but that doesn’t mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare. Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take, because let’s be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo.Listen on other platforms:https://linktr.ee/GoatRodeoPodcast

Goat Rodeo #45 Ft. Chris Booth - The Iran War, Don't Touch Our Boats, and Phil Collins in the CIA

This Episode:This week on Goat Rodeo, Dave Caudle and Simon Coon are joined by Chris Booth, a former CIA officer with more than two decades of experience working Middle East and Iran-related issues.The conversation focuses on the rapidly evolving conflict with Iran, including the decapitation of senior leadership, the uncertainty surrounding Tehran’s internal power structure, and what a potential collapse or fragmentation of the regime could mean for the region.They also explore how the conflict is playing out operationally, from drone exchanges and maritime risk in the Strait of Hormuz to the economics of modern munitions and the limits of U.S. and allied stockpiles.Finally, the discussion turns to Washington, where war powers debates, a DHS shutdown, and looming midterms are shaping how Congress responds to the conflict and what it could mean for defense spending and U.S. strategy going forward.Our Podcast: National security, defense tech, and geopolitics; serious topics, but that doesn’t mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare. Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take, because let’s be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo.Listen on other platforms:https://linktr.ee/GoatRodeoPodcast

Goat Rodeo #44 ft. Chris Naganuma- Four Years of Ukraine: Lessons from the Front

This Episode:Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Garrett sits down with Chris Naganuma for a frontline look at how the war has evolved and what it means going forward. They walk through the arc of the conflict, from the early days of trench assaults and artillery dominance to a battlefield now shaped by drones, jamming, and constant technological adaptation. The discussion covers how casualty patterns have shifted, how supply chains matured from improvised imports to domestic production, and how movement on the frontlines has changed as automation and electronic warfare intensified.The episode also examines morale, negotiation dynamics, and what the West should realistically be learning from Ukraine, including the role of decentralized innovation and the growing importance of a professional NCO corps in modern warfare.Our Podcast: National security, defense tech, and geopolitics; serious topics, but that doesn’t mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare. Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take, because let’s be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo.Listen on other platforms:https://linktr.ee/GoatRodeoPodcast

Goat Rodeo #43 - El Paso Airport Air Defense, Allies Spending Big, and APFIT in Action

This Episode:This week on Goat Rodeo, Garrett, Simon, and Dave cover a wide-ranging set of defense and national security topics that all point back to one question: what happens when military capabilities, politics, and public space start colliding closer to home.The conversation moves from airport air defense and domestic security friction, to allies accelerating defense spending and industrial activity in response to growing pressure and uncertainty.They also dig into how acquisition and execution are adapting to these shifts, including what APFIT looks like in practice and what it says about the Pentagon’s push to move faster when the stakes are rising.As always, the discussion sits at the intersection of geopolitics, defense technology, and the realities of fielding real capability in an increasingly contested world.Our Podcast: National security, defense tech, and geopolitics; serious topics, but that doesn’t mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare. Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take, because let’s be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo.Listen on other platforms:https://linktr.ee/GoatRodeoPodcast