Episodios

  • #232 John Pennell on Russia's Actions in Ukraine and Syria

    #232 John Pennell on Russia's Actions in Ukraine and Syria
    Sep 16 2025

    The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

    During this episode, Dr. John Pennell discusses his book and Ph.D. research: Assessing Russia's Actions in Ukraine and Syria, 2014–2022 Implications for the Changing Character of War.

    Recording Date: 4 Sep 2025

    Research Question: John Pennell suggests an interested student or researcher examine:

    • How can we better inform the American public about the information space; focusing on informing the American public about threats from adversaries and discerning fact from fiction.
    • How Russian information operations has evolved since 2022; studying the evolving Russian information operations since 2014, including the shift in approach in 2022, as well as the influence of non-state actors like criminal syndicates and drug cartels in the information space.

    Resources:

    • Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
      • #151 Daniel Runde on Chinese Soft Power
      • #230 Randy Rosin on Warfare is Informational; the Case for a New DoD Information Paradigm
    • Assessing Russia's Actions in Ukraine and Syria, 2014–2022 Implications for the Changing Character of War By John A. Pennell

    Link to full show notes and resources

    Guest Bio:

    Dr. Pennell is a highly accomplished, retired US senior foreign service officer (Minister-Counselor rank), with 20+ years of executive-level experience leading multidisciplinary, interagency, and joint teams to oversee US cooperation programs across Africa, Eurasia, the Indo-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East. He has deep expertise in irregular warfare, strategic competition, public diplomacy, strategic communications, and countering hybrid threats including in high-threat, gray-zone, and/or active combat environments.

    He’s currently a Senior Diplomacy Fellow with Narrative-Strategies, Senior Strategic Advisor with Pax Strategies LLC, and Senior Practitioner (pro bono) with the US Department of Defense’s Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) in the intelligence, operations in the information environment, and emerging tech networks. He’s also a subject matter expert reviewer (pro bono) for National Defense University’s Joint Forces Quarterly (JFQ) and an International Advisory Board Member of Ukraine Foundation, a Swiss-based organization focused on peace processes and conflict resolution in Ukraine.

    In addition to being a lifetime member of the Information Professionals Association (IPA), he’s a member of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs (BCFA), Foreign Policy for America (FP4A), Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), and National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A).

    He has a PhD in War & Defense Studies from King’s College London and Masters degrees from the National War College and American University. His book on Russia’s irregular warfare activities in Syria and Ukraine is available from Bloomsbury, Amazon, Waterstones, etc. You can also visit his website.

    About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

    For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

    Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
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    50 m
  • 231 Tod Rathbone

    231 Tod Rathbone
    Sep 9 2025

    The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

    During this episode, Tod Rathbone discusses trends related to digital marketing and why it matters including: the evolution of live media, digital ad tracking, AI's impact on marketplaces and media, identity mapping and platform challenges, AI and online safety, challenges of digital information management, and infrastructure vulnerabilities.

    Recording Date: 2 Sep 2025

    Link to full show notes and resources

    Guest Bio:

    Tod Rathbone is a seasoned marketing strategist and agency leader with over four decades of experience guiding global brands and creative organizations through transformation and growth. He currently serves as a fractional Chief Strategy Officer for Infinity Marketing Team and Reed Art Department.

    Previously, Tod was Global Chief Strategy Officer at WONGDOODY, where he built and scaled the strategic offering that helped transform the agency from a $25M regional shop into a $200M global digital innovation company. He also served on the 4A’s Board of Directors, contributing industry leadership at the national level. His earlier leadership roles at Publicis Sapient, Razorfish, and Band Digital spanned brand strategy, digital transformation, and innovation for Fortune 100 clients including Samsung, Nestlé, and Apple.

    Known for shaping agencies into engines of growth and cultural relevance, Tod combines deep expertise in brand building, digital innovation, and creative strategy with a proven track record of scaling businesses, inspiring teams, and delivering award-winning client work.

    About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

    For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

    Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
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    57 m
  • #230 Randy Rosin on Warfare is Informational; the Case for a New DoD Information Paradigm

    #230 Randy Rosin on Warfare is Informational; the Case for a New DoD Information Paradigm
    Sep 2 2025

    The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

    During this episode, Randy Rosin returns to the Cognitive Crucible to support his assertion that warfare is informational and the US Department of Defense needs an entirely new information paradigm.

    Recording Date: 28 Aug 2025

    Resources:

    • Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
      • #7 Randy Rosin on Russia and Applied Cybernetics
      • #187 Randy Rosin on Reflexive Control
      • #125 Journey from conception through JP 3-04
    • Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine by Norbert Wiener
    • Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes On the Cosmos by Seth Lloyd
    • The Bit and the Pendulum: From Quantum Computing to M Theory--The New Physics of Information by Tom Siegfried
    • The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick

    Link to full show notes and resources

    Guest Bio: Dr. Randy Rosin was formerly a faculty member of the National Intelligence University in Bethesda, Maryland. He taught courses in propaganda, foreign information and cyber strategy, cyber threat intelligence, denial and deception, and leadership. He is a 32-year active-duty Army veteran who has served in combat arms, psychological operations, information operations, as a middle eastern foreign area officer, and in human intelligence operations. Notably serving as the information operations chief in Iraq, at US Central Command, and as the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché in Yemen. His research interests are in the intersection of technology and manipulative communication and on the development of information-based theoretical frameworks in military applications. Currently he teaches critical thinking courses in the Honors College at Montana State University.

    About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

    For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

    Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
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    1 h y 13 m
  • #229 David Cook on Digital Discipline

    #229 David Cook on Digital Discipline
    Aug 26 2025

    The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

    During this episode, David Cook discusses his recent article: When Cell Phones Kill: Digital Discipline and the Future of SOF Obscurity. In addition to digital discipline in a national security context, David discusses cyber and AI threats and practical mitigation practices that private sector companies and citizens should be aware of.

    Recording Date: 19 Aug 2025

    Resources:

    • Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
      • #222 JD Maddox on Emerging IO Opportunities
    • When Cell Phones Kill: Digital Discipline and the Future of SOF Obscurity by Dave Cook

    Link to full show notes and resources

    Guest Bio: David Cook spent a decade in the US Army in both conventional and special operations units focused on the Middle East. After his time in the Army, David joined Congressman Darrell Issa as a fellow then National Security Advisor who handled covered his Foreign Affairs and Judiciary portfolio. David co-authored several strategic documents at Army OSINT Office and the Defense Intelligence Agency along with contributing to the most recent OSINT Strategy released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Most recently, David led the go-to-market efforts of a leading OSINT software company.

    About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

    For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

    Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
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    36 m
  • #228 Torvald Ask on the UnCODE System

    #228 Torvald Ask on the UnCODE System
    Aug 5 2025

    The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

    During this episode, Torvald Ask discusses his 2023 co-authored paper: The UnCODE System: A Neurocentric Systems Approach for Classifying the Goals and Methods of Cognitive Warfare. The UnCODE System is an accessible and a practical tool for understanding and addressing cognitive warfare goals.

    Recording Date: 1 Aug 2025

    Research Question: Torvald Ask suggests an interested student or researcher examine how to measure the cognitive baseline of a population to figure out if they have been influenced positively or negatively.

    Resources:

    • Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
      • #227 Matthew Canham on Agentic AI and the Cognitive Security Institute
      • #223 Paul Buvarp on the Demand-side of Disinformation
      • #174 Kara Masick on Assessment Insights from Program Evaluation
    • The UnCODE System: A Neurocentric Systems Approach for Classifying the Goals and Methods of Cognitive Warfare by Torvald F. Ask, Ricardo G. Lugo, Stefan Sütterlin, Matthew Canham, Daniel Hermansen, Benjamin J. Knox
    • The Moloch Trap of Environmental Problems

    Link to full show notes and resources

    Guest Bio: Torvald F. Ask is a Neuroscientist and co-founder of Gonzo Solutions. His research is focused within the fields of human factors in cybersecurity, cognitive security and cognitive warfare, cognitive control, psycho-neuro-immunology, and neurodevelopment. Ask holds a PhD in Information Security and Communication Technology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He is currently affiliated with the Faculty of Health, Welfare and Organization at Østfold University College, Norway.

    About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

    For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

    Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
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    48 m
  • #227 Matthew Canham on Agentic AI and the Cognitive Security Institute

    #227 Matthew Canham on Agentic AI and the Cognitive Security Institute
    Jul 29 2025
    The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Matthew Canham discusses agentic AI's potential to boost productivity by automating tasks and its anticipated influence on user interfaces, potentially creating new security vulnerabilities and opportunities for user manipulation. Matthew emphasized the importance of robust security measures to counteract such threats. He also touched on the "meaning crisis" in modern society, attributing it to increased free time and mental bandwidth, and its connection to rising rates of drug overdoses and suicides. As executive director of the Cognitive Security Institute, Matthew discusses the Institute's growth since 2023, now with over 550 members, and its focus on community engagement and education. He highlighted initiatives like the Cyber Talent Exchange program, connecting job seekers with cybersecurity roles, and addressed AI's significant impact on the job market, leading to overwhelming application numbers. Recording Date: 22 July 2025 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #89 Ajit Mann and Paul Cobaugh on Narrative #138 Matthew Canham on Cognitive Security #212 Libby Lange on Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare #223 Paul Buvarp on the Demand-side of Disinformation #224 Jake Bebber on Cognitive Warfare #221 Carrick Longley on Influence Automation Cognitive Security Institute NYTimes: A.I. Sludge Has Entered the Job SearchThe Cognitive Attack Taxonomy (CAT)Crisis of Meaning John Vervaeke Youtube Series Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Dr. Matthew Canham is the Executive Director of the Cognitive Security Institute and a former Supervisory Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), he has a combined twenty-one years of experience in conducting research in cognitive security and human-technology integration. He currently holds an affiliated faculty appointment with George Mason University, where his research focuses on the cognitive factors in synthetic media social engineering and online influence campaigns. He was previously a research professor with the University of Central Florida, School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training’s Behavioral Cybersecurity program. His work has been funded by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), and the US Army Research Institute. He has provided cognitive security awareness training to the NASA Kennedy Space Center, DARPA, MIT, US Army DevCom, the NATO Cognitive Warfare Working Group, the Voting and Misinformation Villages at DefCon, and the Black Hat USA security conference. He holds a PhD in Cognition, Perception, and Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and SANS certifications in mobile device analysis (GMOB), security auditing of wireless networks (GAWN), digital forensic examination (GCFE), and GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC). About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
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    46 m
  • #226 James Giordano on Neurotechnology and Future Warfare

    #226 James Giordano on Neurotechnology and Future Warfare
    Jul 1 2025
    The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Dr. James Giordano discusses a broad range of topics related to national security from biopsychology to complexity to neurotechnology to enactivism. Recording Date: 25 Jun 2025 Research Question: James Giordano suggests an interested student or researcher examine: “How might the convergence of neurotech, big data, and AI lead to improved human and multinational relations, and in these ways, contribute to avoiding conflict and warfare?” Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #72 Noah Komnick on Cybernetics and the Age of Complexity James Giordano NDU WebsiteEnactivismArchitectonicsHeilmeier Catechism N3: Next-Generation Nonsurgical NeurotechnologyBioethics and Brains, published by MIT Press, which I co-authored with my longtime colleague Dr John ShookNeuroscience, Neuroculture and Neuroethics, published by Springer, which I co-authored with John Shook and Dr Roland Benedikter Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Dr. James Giordano is the Director of the Center for Disruptive Technologies and Future Warfare of the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. He is Professor Emeritus in the Departments of Neurology and Biochemistry, and Senior Scholar Emeritus of the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics of Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC. Dr. Giordano has served as Senior Scientific Advisory Fellow of the Strategic Multilayer Assessment Branch of the Joint Staff, Pentagon; Senior Bioethicist of the Defense Medical Ethics Center; Distinguished Fellow in Science, Technology and Ethics of the Stockdale Center for Ethics at the United States Naval Academy; and as an appointed member of the Neuroethics, Legal and Social Advisory Panel of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), and an appointed member of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Secretary’s Advisory Committee for Human Research Protections. Dr Giordano is internationally recognized for his research on the use – and ethical guidance and governance - of neurocognitive sciences and technology in military, intelligence and global security operations A widely published author of over 350 peer-reviewed papers in the international scientific literature, 25 governmental reports, 37 book chapters, and 10 books - which most recently include Bioethics and Brains; Neuroscience, Neuroculture and Neuroethics; and Neurotechnology in National Security and Defense: Technical Considerations, Neuroethical Concerns. Dr. Giordano is a former Fulbright Fellow; an elected Fellow of the Hastings Center for Ethics; the European Academy of Science and Arts; and the Royal Society of Medicine (UK); and frequently lectures in German and Italian. A former United States Naval officer, he was winged as a Naval Aerospace Physiologist, co-designated as a Research Physiologist and Psychologist, and served with US Navy and US Marine Corps. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
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    50 m
  • #225 Austin Branch, Dave Pitts, and Joe Miller on Cognitive Warfare and the Gray Zone

    #225 Austin Branch, Dave Pitts, and Joe Miller on Cognitive Warfare and the Gray Zone
    May 27 2025
    The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Austin Branch, Dave Pitts, and Joe Miller discuss cognitive warfare, the gray zone, and intensifying great power competition. The ultimate goal is to compete by gaining and maintaining information advantage without kinetic fighting. Recording Date: 28 Apr 2025 Research Question: Has Russian cognitive warfare, including the use of reflexive control, red lines and nuclear threats, influenced US policy decisions regarding weapon deliveries and restrictions to Ukraine? Similarly, has Chinese cognitive warfare impacted US policy and strategic outcomes concerning Taiwan and the Philippines? Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #24 John Davis on Modern Warfare, Teamwork, and Commercial Cognitive Security #62 Jonathan Rauch on the Constitution of Knowledge #222 JD Maddox on Emerging IO Opportunities Unrestricted Warfare by Qiao Liang and Wang XiangsuiThe Cypher BriefAntifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas TalebThe Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas TalebThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanScreenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd FieldSave the Cat Story Structure: Definition and Beat Sheet by Blake Snyder Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Austin Branch founded Crescent Bridge to help serve the Information technical and cognitive needs of the Federal Government. Additionally, Austin joined ARLIS to help support the evolution of the Defense and U.S. Government Operations in the Information Environment (OIE) enterprise. Previously, Austin served as OIE Technology & Strategy at Secretary of the Air Force Directorate for Concepts, Development and Management (Exec IPA) after several years in the private sector at COLSA Corporation as the Executive Director for Information Strategies and Programs (2015-2021) after serving 30 years in Federal service as an Army Officer and Senior Civilian. He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 1986 from The Citadel, Charleston S.C. and went on to serve in multiple Command and Staff positions in conflict and in peace becoming the Army’s first Information Operations Officer. Austin pioneered military operations in the information environment in key leadership positions in the Army, Joint Special Operations Command, Joint Staff, EUCOM, and deployed Joint and multinational Task Force Organizations across the globe. Upon retirement from the Army, Austin joined the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence as the Deputy Director and Chief of Operations for the Defense Policy Analysis Office with oversight of National special plans and technical operations. In 2008 was selected as a Defense Intelligence Senior Leader as Senior Advisor for Defense Information Operations focused on oversight, policy and support for Service and Joint Information Operations, and associated Special Access programs. In 2010, Austin was selected by the Secretary of Defense to lead the Information Operations and Military Information Support Defense Enterprise as the first Senior Director for this mission area in the Office of Policy and Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. In this capacity, Austin was DOD’s senior representative for IO, MISO, EW and special program oversight, policy and assessments. In 2013, Austin was selected by the Director for the National Counter-Terrorism Center and the DNI to establish and lead a new organization to address Domestic Counter Terrorism, Counter Violent Extremism, and Counter Terrorism Cyber Strategy and Policy in support of the National Security Council. In this capacity, he also served as the National Co-lead for countering ISIS propaganda and influence and associated IPC lead strategist for National Security Council. Austin is also one of the founder’s of a Non-profit, Information Professionals Association (IPA). IPA is a professional organization established to serve the interests of the broader Information community worldwide and for issues related to Cognitive Security. Austin also served on the Defense Science Board summer 2019 study focused on great power competition in the Information Environment and was recently was selected to join the University of Maryland Advanced Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS) to help lead development of their Cognitive Security & Information Portfolio. He also serves on various Advisory Board(s) and professional associations. Austin and his wife, Carol live in Bluffton SC and have three children. They have two serving in active duty in the Army and one in Medical School at Icahn School of Medicine, Mt Sinai, NY. Dave Pitts is a senior national security ...
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    57 m