This episode: Dave survived a cross-country move, Simon’s channeling ugly punk energy, and the crew gets real about one of the most critical parts of defense tech: systems integration. Who should actually own it? Legacy primes? New primes? The govvies? It’s complex, exhausting work. We dig into where smaller companies fit, and why integration and compliance remain two of the biggest hurdles in the space. Also on deck: virtue signaling in national security, Elon Musk reportedly cutting back on political spending, and why the integrators—ugly, proud, and essential—need to dial it in.

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:

Spotify: spoti.fi/3J1kGcO

Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3IdB9gA

YouTube: / @goatrodeopodcast

This episode: Les Craig, General Partner at Next Frontier Capital, joins the crew to talk defense venture trends, budget dysfunction, and whether innovation theater is masking a system in need of real change. From AI hype to institutional inertia, Les offers a candid look at how the funding landscape is shifting—and what startups (and policymakers) keep getting wrong. The crew also digs into defense budget priorities, including the controversial decision to move Army infrastructure funding to the border, and whether piling billions onto legacy systems actually gets better tech to the warfighter. Plus: “budget cannibalism,” callsigns, Congress as a herd, and the eternal fight between speed, scale, and reality.

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!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mTJ1oJEgB3rCbQouCL7XD?si=45c67d5954a443b5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/goat-rodeo/id1801310605

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@GoatRodeoPodcast

This episode: Rip-It still isn’t sponsoring us, Garrett’s got a new tattoo, and we’re talking punk shows, MARPAT pants, and startup knife fights.

This week’s guest is Brian MacCarthy, Senior Vice President of Ventures in the Chief Technology Office at Booz Allen Hamilton—a venture investor with TS/SCI clearance and a front-row seat to the shifting landscape of defense tech. Brian joins the crew to share sharp insight on how the momentum-funding frenzy looks from the inside, what startups often get wrong when chasing big rounds, and why integration still matters more than hype. We also dig into the Senate Byrd Bath, budget reconciliation mechanics, and what $14 billion labeled as “innovation for the warfighter” really means. From impatient capital and stalled buying cycles to China's IP theft and America’s scaling problem, this episode covers why our tech is better—but still not getting where it needs to go. Plus: Legacy primes vs. neo-primes, Halloween candy metaphors, and the gap between a tradeshow demo and operational relevance.

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!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mTJ1oJEgB3rCbQouCL7XD?si=45c67d5954a443b5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/goat-rodeo/id1801310605

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@GoatRodeoPodcast

This episode: It’s office-warming week, Garrett’s officially a Lieutenant Colonel, and Simon’s haircut is getting more attention than the President’s budget—which, by the way, still hasn’t shown up.

The team dives into the latest budget signals from Congress and the White House, including $100B in drone-related spending and a $2B boost to DIU’s budget. But will that money actually move the needle?

Garrett, Simon, and Dave unpack the tension between flashy funding announcements and the still-painful bottleneck of transition. Spoiler: more front doors isn’t the answer—better ones are.

They also get into venture studios, defense incubators, and whether the market is quietly building what government can’t.

Plus: DIU as a recruiting office, regional on-ramps, the myth of defense capitalism, and why trying to out-China China just won’t work. Oh, and SOF Week? Basically a 3-day frat party.

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!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/54Y55S1FkTrPOkKpjtSLi1?si=cAhKhYWhR6qej2A5L-MKTw

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/goat-rodeo-8-big-budgets-bigger-doors-and-the-new/id1801310605?i=1000705684559

Youtube: https://youtu.be/JAZtjdKnXXc?si=aUWUVwOUTWLS8Etn

This episode: Noah Sheinbaum joins the crew to talk Defense Gameday, trade show fever dreams, and what recent executive orders from the White House could mean for defense tech companies. With Simon out this week, Garrett, Dave, and Noah dig into how policy is shifting —and what founders should be doing right now to take advantage.

They break down the rise of “new primes,” why dual-use still matters, and why now’s the time to re-engage old leads, bid more COTS, and outmaneuver incumbents. The team also zooms out to look at the broader macro picture: venture capital uncertainty, tariffs, and whether free market optimism is enough to compete with authoritarian rivals who move top-down—and at scale.

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:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3XMsXDi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eS7-YHrb

Youtube: https://youtu.be/-60VlZCvr3E

This episode: Markets are bouncing, Bagram is trending (but not really), and defense venture funding is heating up—so what does it all actually mean? Simon was right about Bagram being fake news—but wrong about the tariffs. Classic. Garrett, Simon, and Dave unpack the recent surge in investor interest, why we haven’t seen big exits yet, and whether venture is really the right model for defense startups. They also break down the implications of a trillion-dollar defense budget: from aligning with modernization priorities to whether it finally makes shipbuilding realistic for small players. Plus, a look at DARPA’s shift in posture, bougie barracks, and whether engaging with the innovation community is a survival strategy or just lip service. 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.

This Episode: Ari Schuler drops in to share insights from his years inside DHS and what startups need to understand about entering the CBP and DHS markets. We talk go-to-market strategy, how authority is shifting across agencies, and what happens when O6s start writing their own requirements. There’s a deep dive into how DOD and DHS actually collaborate (or don’t), the risks of interoperability gaps, and what it takes to build a team that can navigate federal acquisition. Plus: international dynamics, dual-use dilemmas, and what VCs are actually interested in. 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: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3XMsXDi Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eS7-YHrb Youtube: https://youtu.be/KVC7Zanj-eA

This Episode: Garrett, Simon, and Dave dive into a whirlwind of leaked war plans, JD Vance’s rise as a meme-worthy main character, and why no one wants to work the southern border. They unpack what Signal leaks mean for national security, whether the innovation economy should treat DHS as a growth market, and how DoD’s slow roll on border support is reshaping interagency dynamics. Plus: DIU goes international, ITAR headaches, and why the GWOT retiree crowd isn’t signing up for Border Patrol.

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:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3XMsXDi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eS7-YHrb

Youtube: https://youtu.be/KVC7Zanj-eA