Drone Wars Podcast
The Drone Wars Podcast covers all things defense and geopolitics. Created by Dan Magy, the show aims to serve warfighters, builders, and innovators in the defense ecosystem. Dan speaks with defense tech industry leaders, military leaders, venture capital experts, and engineers. Each episode dives into critical topics about getting the best technology to the frontlines.
Episodes
Cyber Attacks Are Coming: Bohdan Volyanyuk
Bohdan Volyanyuk is the co-founder and COO of Autonomous Cyber, a defense technology startup building machine intelligence for cyber advantage to ensure U.S. and allied dominance in the fifth domain.He is a generation-zero immigrant from Ukraine and a former U.S. Army infantry officer. His experience spans from the physical battlefield to cyber operations, to building technology for national secur
The Most Valuable Currency in Defense Tech: Nico Roe
Nico Roe is Founder and CEO of Reach Defense, a private proving ground built to serve the defenders of freedom by providing secure, efficient environments where agencies and innovators can safely test, train, and advance America’s readiness. A former Navy SEAL with twelve years of service and multiple deployments across the globe, he held leadership roles including Squad Commander, Platoon Comman
How Humanoid Robots Will Change Warfare: Mike LeBlanc
Mike LeBlanc is the co-founder of Foundation Robotics, a defense-focused humanoid robotics company that recently made history by deploying the world's first humanoid combat robots to an active war zone.He’s the and the author of What If Anger Is the Answer: A Harvard Marine’s Guide to Shaping Aggression. He previously co-founded Cobalt Robotics and served for 13 years as a U.S. Marine Corps o
Russia Technology Expert Says Ukraine's Drone War Erased the Front Line: Sam Bendett
Sam Bendett is an adviser with CNA's Russia Studies Program, an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, and a Senior Associate with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program. His work centers on Russian military technology, uncrewed and autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence. He is also an honorary "Mad Scientist" with the U.S. Army's Mad Sc
Why America Can't Build Drone Batteries Without China...Yet: Trent Clawson
Trent Clawson is the Founder & CEO of Titan Batteries, a U.S.-based custom battery pack manufacturer headquartered in Pocatello, Idaho. Titan has grown into a leading source of NDAA-compliant power solutions for defense and unmanned systems, with over 1,000 custom pack designs spanning multiple chemistries and applications. Trent's a vocal advocate for battery standardization in the defe
Attritable Drone Systems Explained
Host Dan Magy, Founder and CEO of Firestorm, dives into the origin of "attritable systems" by the DOW and how this concept has completely shifted the defense tech landscape in the last decade. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder
One Mine Could Shut Down the Strait of Hormuz for Months: Matthew Walther
Matthew Walther is a decorated Special Operations veteran who spent 21 years in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), one of the most specialized and high-stakes career fields in the military. He's seen the full evolution of battlefield threats from the inside. He also happens to be Director of Manufacturing Logistics and Operational Planning here at Firestorm. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Pod
What 80 Years of Peace Does to a Country's Defense Mindset: Rachel Costello
Rachel spent 30 years in the U.S. Navy and now leads The FORGE at UC San Diego, an initiative that bridges academia, industry and government to strengthen the regional defense industrial base. She's a central figure in the Southern California defense innovation community — leading the Innovating for National Security (i4NS) program, DefenseInnovation Community of Entities (DICE) Alliance and
35,000 Cartel Drone Flights Across the U.S. Border A Year: Robert Almonte
Robert Almonte spent 25 years at the El Paso, Texas Police Department and was appointed by President Barack Obama as the United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas in 2010 where he served until 2016.He spent most of his career in narcotics investigations and retired as a Deputy Chief in 2003. He has consulted for several prosecutors and law enforcement agencies regarding Mexican Cart
HIs Autonomous USV Ran Into Chinese Warships in the Taiwan Strait: Mike Flanigan
Mike Flanigan is co-founder and CEO of Seasats, a San Diego-based company building long-range autonomous surface vessels for commercial and defense missions. This is his second time on Drone Wars — and he came back with stories.We get into how Seasats recently sailed a Lightfish autonomous boat through the Taiwan Strait and found themselves tracking Chinese Navy warships along the way. Mike breaks
Putting a Pyramid on the Moon and Spreading Life Beyond Earth: Ben Haldeman
Ben Haldeman is a space entrepreneur and engineer who founded LifeShip in 2019 — a company building monuments of Earth across space. LifeShip made history by placing the first-ever Pyramid on the Moon, carrying a seed bank, DNA archive, and cultural record for all of humanity. Before that, he was an early engineer at Planet Labs, launching hundreds of spacecrafts. He's on a mission to make hu
How a Fighter Pilot Is Disrupting Electronic Warfare Training: Clark "Slider" Haymond
Clark "Slider" Haymond is A former F-15E pilot with the U.S. Air Force and currently COO of Disruptive Electronic Warfare Machines (DEWM), taking the industry by storm with the DART system (DEWM's Attritable Radar Target).Slider and Dan cover why the EW training gap is a real problem, the AI wingman question, and whether China is as big of a threat as we think. Check out https://dew
Comms is the Backbone of National Security: Omar Javaid
Omar Javaid is a veteran tech executive with decades of experience scaling companies across semiconductors, software, AI, and communications. Before joining Rampart Communications as CEO in October 2025, he led Spectra7 as CEO and served as President of API Platform at Vonage where he helped drive a $6.2 billion acquisition by Ericsson. He has also held senior roles at Qualcomm, Motorola, Google,
The Unglamorous Tech Powering the Drone Revolution: Rob Sladen
Rob Sladen is Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Zulu Pods, developing advanced fluid delivery systems for aircraft, drones, and high-performance platforms. Check out zulupods.com to learn more. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO o
The Warfighter is the Ultimate Innovator: Adam Fife
Adam Fife is the Founder and CEO of Cencore Group, providing secure edge communications, physical security, and containerized solutions for global operations.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all thin
Inside Ukraine's Hidden Drone Factories: Brian Streem
Brian Streem is founder and CEO of Vermeer, a company pioneering vision-based navigation systems for drones and autonomous platforms operating in GPS-denied environments. He transitioned from Hollywood drone cinematography to defense tech, leading Vermeer to secure millions in non-dilutive government contracts and expand operations into active conflict zones like Ukraine.About Drone WarsThe Drone
Why 9 Out of 10 Drones in Ukraine Miss Their Targets: John Dulin
John Dulin is Founder and CEO of Modern Intelligence, empowering defense withresponsible A.I. to outsmart, outpace, and overwhelm the enemy.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geo
Tesla Invented the Drone in 1898 and We're Still Copying It: George Dougherty
George Dougherty is a scientist, business strategist, senior military leader, and author of Beast in the Machine. Dan and George cover: - Why the largest tank battle in history (1943) was spearheaded by robot tanks. - How Ukraine's FPV drones wiped out a British armored brigade in 2 days. - Why Tesla invented the drone in 1898 and we're still copying it. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars
Frontline Ukrainian Drone Operator Speaks Out and Warns America: Illya Sekirin
Illya Sekirin is a Ukrainian Canadian who volunteered to fight for Ukraine in 2022 and was trained as a drone operator. In addition to frontline service, he worked as a translator for the Ukrainian General Staff and became an unofficial advisor to several members of the Stavka [Ukrainian High Command], a body chaired by President Volodymyr Zelensky. He advised on multiple operations; on drone str
Ukraine's Elite Drone Unit Explains 65KM Bombers & Mothership FPVs: Major Yurii "Phoenix"
Yurii “Phoenix” is a Major and the commander of the training group of the legendary UAV unit Lasar’s Group (National Guard of Ukraine). He is one of the key representatives of the unit, responsible for the search, implementation, and combat testing of engineering solutions. Phoenix also regularly takes part in interviews and expert discussions focused on the development of defense technologies in
The Pacific War Plan, Information Warfare, and Leading Marines Into Battle: Duane Blank
Duane Blank is a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he held multiple command roles including Commanding Officer of Company C, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. He previously served as a Marine Officer Instructor of Military Science and Leadership at Pennsylvania State University. This convo covers: • His journey from a Iraq machine gunner to developing tactics for the next
We Need to Treat American Warfighters Better: Joe Musselman
Joe Musselman is the Founder and Managing Partner of Bravo Victor Venture Capital (BVVC), an early-seed and series A venture capital fund. He also led the firm’s creation and backing of School House, a unique venture capital/ private equity platform that offers experiences dedicated to serving national security founders and broader ecosystems of support. Joe and Dan discuss America's manufac
New Wave of Consolidation in Defense Tech? Garrett Smith
Garrett Smith is the Founder and CEO of Reveal Technology, delivering a suite of AI products that generate critical intelligence, autonomy and decision dominance for tactical military and public safety users. Garrett and Dan cover Reveal's AI-powered defense products, predictions of a new wave of consolidation in defense tech, and transitioning from the military to founding a startup.About Dr
Fiber Optic Drones in Ukraine Could Shape America's Future of Warfare: Troy Smothers
Troy Smothers is a former U.S. Marine Corps infantry sergeant who had the opportunity to train alongside Ukrainian soldiers and develop a deep appreciation for the people and culture of Ukraine. Following Russia’s invasion, he traveled to Ukraine to assess the situation and consider how he could best help. He founded American Made Freedom, a non-profit that assists Ukrainian troops with fiber-op
This is the Drone Wars Podcast
This podcast was started to give a voice to small defense companies in an industry dominated by massive primes. Our platform has now evolved into something more multifaceted. We’ve expanded our conversations into a space where global geopolitics, culture, entrepreneurship, venture capital, history, military and government all intertwine. Our mission remains the same: serve the warfighters, the
What Defense Gets Wrong About C-UAS: Nathan Mintz
Nathan Mintz is Co-Founder and CEO of CX2, fighting to deliver spectrum dominance for the United States and our Allies.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts
The Frontlines Need this Contested Logistics Solution: Ian Muceus
Ian Muceus is our Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer here at Firestorm. He started his career: - Studying under the “father” of the F-22 (Bruce Wright). - Designing aircraft for NASA’s Ames Research Center. - Obtaining his private pilot’s license. - Developing a sUAS for aerial data collection. Since then, he has: - Supported federal agencies with tech consulting. - Obtained numerous 3D
Recoverable Systems Are The Future of Drone Warfare: Jeff Wright
Jeff Wright is the Founder and CEO, SplashOne Robotics, the world’s first technology company to develop and dominate low-altitude air superiority. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense
Data Overload Can Be Deadly: Jackie Barbieri
Jackie Barbieri is the CEO and co-founder of WhiteSpace, a defense tech company applying advanced AI to real-world national security and operational challenges. Her work bridges AI, defense innovation, and operator-informed design, building systems that perform in contested, real-world environments. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all sha
Stanford Dropout Turned AI Founder at 20: Jarren Reid
Jarren Reid is the CEO and Co-Founder of Usul, an AI platform that helps companies win government contracts across 60+ nations. Its goal is to build a global marketplace for governments to buy products quickly, starting with defense. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the f
The AI Arms Race with China: Andy Markoff
Andy Markoff is a former Special Operations Officer in the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, and currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Smack Technologies, which uses deep reinforcement learning and machine learning to accelerate critical decision-making from the command center to the front lines. Dan and Andy discuss speeding up military kill-chains and command decisions for better "decision dominan
Ukraine Has the BEST Drones in the World: Lito Part IV
Lito Villanueva is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a communications specialist, and was most recently a combat drone pilot in Ukraine. Born in the Philippines and raised in a military family in California, he served in the Air Force before working with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and supporting Joint Special Operations Command through a Special Missions Unit. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Uk
Combat Drone Pilot in Ukraine Speaks Out: Lito Part III
Lito Villanueva is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a communications specialist, and was most recently a combat drone pilot in Ukraine. Born in the Philippines and raised in a military family in California, he served in the Air Force before working with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and supporting Joint Special Operations Command through a Special Missions Unit. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Uk
Arriving On the Frontlines of Ukraine: Lito Part II
Lito Villanueva is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a communications specialist, and was most recently a combat drone pilot in Ukraine. Born in the Philippines and raised in a military family in California, he served in the Air Force before working with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and supporting Joint Special Operations Command through a Special Missions Unit. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Uk
How He Ended Up Fighting in Ukraine: Lito Part I
Lito Villanueva is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a communications specialist, and was most recently a combat drone pilot in Ukraine. Born in the Philippines and raised in a military family in California, he served in the Air Force before working with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and supporting Joint Special Operations Command through a Special Missions Unit. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Uk
A Century of Drone Wars: Most Prominent Shifts in UAV Combat History
This episode dives into the most prominent shifts in the combat history of UAVs. Dan covers UAV tech from the following eras: Radio-Controlled Aerial Weapons (WWI 1917). Reconnaissance UAVs (Cold War & Vietnam1950s-1970s). UAVs in the 90s (Desert Storm). UAVs in Iraq and Afghanistan (2001-2021). Mass-Scale, Low-Cost Drone Warfare (Russia-Ukraine War, 2022 - Present). About Drone WarsThe Drone
The West’s New Defense Marketplace: Mike Sims Part II
Mike Sims is the Co-Founder and CEO of Empirium, a unified marketplace platform connecting verified buyers and suppliers across aerospace, defense and manufacturing. This convo covers: Why China dominates 45% of global manufacturing & how we became dangerously dependent. Building a trusted defense/aerospace marketplace. Amplifying the voices of end-users. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podc
Becoming a Marine Raider Post 9/11: Mike Sims Part I
Mike Sims is the Co-Founder and CEO of Empirium, a unified marketplace platform connecting verified buyers and suppliers across aerospace, defense and manufacturing. This episode covers: 9/11 moment that made him drop everything to join the fight. Arabic language mastery. Becoming a Marine Raider. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all s
Taiwan’s Strategy and Scaling Tech for Modern Conflict: Ellen Chang Part II
Ellen Chang is a deep-tech investor focused on the maritime and space domains. She is Managing Director at CapZone Impact Investments, and Co-Founder and Co-President of Wharton Aerospace.She served the U.S. Navy as an Intelligence Officer, later working on JP Morgan’s aerospace team and founding a B2B aviation parts sourcing startup. She spent 12 years at Northrop Grumman, holding leadership role
Taiwan, China and the Future of Drone Wars: Ellen Chang Part I
Ellen Chang is a deep-tech investor focused on the maritime and space domains.She is Managing Director at CapZone Impact Investments, and Co-Founder and Co-President of Wharton Aerospace.She served the U.S. Navy as an Intelligence Officer, later working on JP Morgan’s aerospace team and founding a B2B aviation parts sourcing startup. She spent 12 years at Northrop Grumman, holding leadership roles
Winning the Pacific with xCell: Chad McCoy
Chad McCoy is a Co-Founder and the Chief Growth Officer at Firestorm Labs. He’s a Special Operations Veteran and retired Chief Master Sergeant from the United States Air Force’s 24th Special Tactics Squadron.The convo covers:-Importance of a military background as a defense tech founder.-Speeding up DoD adoption.-Firestorm’s strategy.-Winning the Pacific.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serv
Most Viral Drone Moments of 2025
Dan reacts to his 12 most viral drone moments on LinkedIn of 2025. Check out his top posts below:12. Counter UAS Fishing11. Chinese Robo-Cop Drone10. Counter UAS Fishing Nets9. Autonomous Aerial Construction8. Russia’s Pearl Harbor7. Tempest in a Suitcase6. The Quad Bomber5. Balloon-Launched 'Eagle'4. Robo Dog Drone3. Liaowan-12. Narco Sub1. Chicken droneAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Po
3D Printed Drones, Ukraine Lessons & Fixing DOD Lag: Joslyn Tarr
Joslyn Tarr is a seasoned UAS engineering leader with deep expertise in aircraft development and systems engineering. She’s worked for several defense companies including Kratos and General Atomics, loves all things aviation and is currently pursuing her private pilot's license. Not to mention she’s our very own Senior Vice President of Engineering here at Firestorm Labs. This convo covers:
Jamie Dimon Drops a Bombshell for U.S. Defense: Dan Reacts
Jamie Dimon is the CEO of JP Morgan Chase, a global financial services firm with assets of $3.2 trillion and operations worldwide. He’s been one of the most influential voices on Wall Street for the last 2 decades.JP Morgan Chase recently announced the Security and Resiliency Initiative (SRI), a $1.5 trillion, 10-year plan to facilitate, finance and invest advanced manufacturing, defense, energy,
The Truth About Being a Defense Entrepreneur: Larsen Jenson Part II
Larsen Jenson is a 2x Olympic medalist, former U.S. Navy Seal and founder of Harpoon Ventures and Vector Defense.Their convo covers:- Founders must thrive in discomfort.- Startup failure in the U.S. vs other countries.- Why Harpoon invested in Firestorm.00:00 – Intro.01:41 – The Origin Story: From almond farming to Olympic Silver and Bronze medals.04:10 – Joining the Navy SEALs: Seeing the technol
America’s Defense Tech Revolution: Larsen Jenson Part I
Larsen Jenson is a 2x Olympic medalist, former U.S. Navy Seal and founder of Harpoon Ventures and Vector Defense.They dive into:- Founding one of the first defense tech VCs before anyone in Silicon Valley cared.- Geopolitical urgency and rapid tech progress.- VC trends: why physical products are making a comeback.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: The "Tequila Story" and the shift in defense inve
Defense Tech Founder Reacts to Palmer Luckey on Rogan
Founder of Anduril, Palmer Luckey recently appeared on the #1 podcast in the world, the Joe Rogan Experience.Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, Dan Magy reacts to key moments of the show.Topics include:- Dan Driscoll’s AUSA talk.- National security and private companies.- China’s commercial vessels building to military standards.- Should the U.S. become the world’s gun store?About Drone WarsThe Dr
What We Can Learn From Defense Tech Primes: Brandon Florian
Brandon Florian has over 20 years of experience in aerospace and defense at Northrop Grumman and Starburst. He’s the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Grid Aero, building rugged, long-range autonomous aircrafts to revolutionize cargo logistics at scale. They cover: Grid Aero is building a “pickup truck of the skies”. Which top defense primes work the best with startups? What separates su
Defense Is An Away Game, Stephen Rodriguez Part II
“Defense is an away game; we’re not going to be able to fight our way in” Stephen Rodriguez is the Founder of One Defense and an Operating Partner at DCVC. He invests in and serves on the boards of leading defense-tech companies, including Applied Intuition, Firestorm, Ursa Major, Mach Industries, and ZeroMark. He chairs Booz Allen’s Defense Technology Board, leads Blue Forge Alliance as Chairman
Defense Investor Insights, Stephen Rodriguez Part I
Stephen Rodriguez is the Founder of One Defense and an Operating Partner at DCVC. He invests in and serves on the boards of leading defense-tech companies, including Applied Intuition, Firestorm, Ursa Major, Mach Industries, and ZeroMark. He chairs Booz Allen’s Defense Technology Board, leads Blue Forge Alliance as Chairman and serves as a Commission Director at the Atlantic Council. This episode
Former SpaceX Lead and Tech Founder, Karthik Gollapudi Part II
Ex-SpaceX Dragon Capsule software lead, Karthik Gollapudi, built two-fault-tolerant systems that flew astronauts to the ISS. He left to found Sift, an AI platform that automates testing, manufacturing and observability for rockets, rovers and autonomous fleets. This episode covers: How Sift reduces cognitive load and speeds up manufacturing. Simplifying complex cloud IT infrastructure. Hire for t
Former SpaceX Lead and Tech Founder, Karthik Gollapudi Part I
Ex-SpaceX Dragon Capsule software lead, Karthik Gollapudi, built two-fault-tolerant systems that flew astronauts to the ISS. He left to found Sift, an AI platform that automates testing, manufacturing and observability for rockets, rovers and autonomous fleets. This episode covers: - SpaceX’s young staff & the push for automating everything. - Same job in 12 months = failure. - Bootstrapping
Big Jobs, Less Gov in Defense Tech: Hamlet Yousef Part II
A VC pro covers AI ethics, a boom of domestic jobs in tech, and why the gov needs to get out of the way. Hamlet Yousef is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Irongate Capital Advisors, where he leads investments in early-stage technologies that strengthen national defense. He has worked with organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies across disruptive and emerging technology se
Ukraine, Drones and VC: Hamlet Yousef Part I
A VC managing partner discusses lessons from Ukraine, UAS disrupting warfare economics and “venture tourists”. Hamlet Yousef is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Irongate Capital Advisors, where he leads investments in early-stage technologies that strengthen national defense. He has worked with organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies across disruptive and emerging technol
Former Combat Pilot Lt. Col. Josh (Cabo) Gunderson, PART II
Are our adversaries building ethical AI? Dive into it on the pod with Lt. Col. Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, former combat pilot, and former Commander of the Air Force F-22 Demo Team. Since leaving active duty, he serves in the Nevada Air National Guard as an F-22 Subject Matter Expert, works for a private company as a corporate pilot flying the Challenger 300 aircraft, and consults for aviation client
Former Combat Pilot Lt. Col. Josh (Cabo) Gunderson, PART I
Are our adversaries building ethical AI? Dive into it on the pod with Lt. Col. Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, former combat pilot, and former Commander of the Air Force F-22 Demo Team. Since leaving active duty, he serves in the Nevada Air National Guard as an F-22 Subject Matter Expert, works for a private company as a corporate pilot flying the Challenger 300 aircraft, and consults for aviation client
General David H. Petraeus, PART II
General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.), is a Partner in the global investment firm KKR; Chairman of the KKR Global Institute; and Chairman of KKR Middle East. He is also a member of the boards of Optiv and OneStream; a Strategic Advisor for Semperis, Advanced Navigation, and Ontic; a personal venture investor; the Kissinger Fellow at Yale's Univ's Jackson School; a speaker with the Wa
General David H. Petraeus, PART I
General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.), is a Partner in the global investment firm KKR; Chairman of the KKR Global Institute; and Chairman of KKR Middle East. He is also a member of the boards of Optiv and OneStream; a Strategic Advisor for Semperis, Advanced Navigation, and Ontic; a personal venture investor; the Kissinger Fellow at Yale's Univ's Jackson School; a speaker with the Wa
Zane Mountcastle, CEO and Co-Founder of Picogrid
CEO and Co-Founder of Picogrid, Zane Mountcastle is a key member of the emerging El Segundo defense tech scene. Him and Dan discuss the tough questions facing founders today. Find Zane and Picogrid online:www.picogrid.comhttps://x.com/picogridhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/picogrid/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanemountcastle/About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders
What if the First Responder Wasn't Human? - Brett Kanda | Part II
In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy continues his conversation with Brett Kanda, Director of DFR Sales at Flock Safety. In Part II, Brett offers his expert predictions on the future of the drone industry, the emerging threat of nefarious drone use, and what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur in deep tech.Brett shares his candid thoughts on the drone industry's biggest surprises,
What if the First Responder Wasn't Human? - Brett Kanda | Part I
In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with Brett Kanda, Director of DFR Sales at Flock Safety. Brett pulls back the curtain on the revolutionary "Drone as a First Responder" (DFR) program, explaining how automated drones are transforming law enforcement and public safety.Brett shares his unique journey from being one of the original pioneers in the drone industry back in
What Top VCs Look For in Defense: Beyond Just Great Tech | Aaron Jacobson
In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with Aaron Jacobson, Partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and the lead investor in Firestorm's Series A. Aaron pulls back the curtain on what top-tier venture capitalists look for when investing in the future of robotics, autonomy, and defense technology.Aaron shares his unique journey from a young gamer obsessed with StarCraft and
Warfare Rewritten: From DIY Drones to State-Scale Swarms - Sam Bendett | Part II
In Part II of our interview with Sam Bendett, Dan Magy continues the deep dive into how unmanned systems are transforming modern warfare—this time, focusing on the maritime domain. Sam explores how commercial tech is enabling smaller nations to rival traditional naval powers, why large legacy systems like aircraft carriers may soon be vulnerable, and how even civilian cargo ships could be weaponiz
Warfare Rewritten: From DIY Drones to State-Scale Swarms - Sam Bendett | Part I
Today, Dan Magy welcomes back Sam Bendett, open-source intelligence expert and senior fellow at CNA, for a hard-hitting breakdown of how drone warfare is evolving at breakneck speed. Sam explains how Ukrainian innovation and Russian industrial adaptation are reshaping military doctrine, what happens when thousands of drones are unleashed in a single night, and how the rise of unmanned systems is e
Breaking Free from GPS - Shaun Moore & Brett Harrison | Part II
In the second half of this Drone Wars conversation, Dan Magy continues with Brett Harrison and Shaun Moore to dig into what sets Turn AI apart from defense incumbents and Silicon Valley hopefuls alike. This episode shifts focus from tech specs to team dynamics, culture, and strategic edge—how a fast, focused startup can outmaneuver giants.They explore what it takes to build critical infrastructure
Breaking Free from GPS - Shaun Moore & Brett Harrison | Part I
In this episode of Drone Wars, Dan Magy is joined by Brett Harrison and Shaun Moore, co-founders of Tern AI, for a deep dive into one of the biggest hidden vulnerabilities in modern life—our overdependence on GPS. Drawing from elite military operations and hard-earned lessons in AI innovation, they lay out why signal-based navigation is no longer reliable—and what it means for warfighters, civilia
Inside the Machine: How Venture and Defense Collide - Chris Donaghey & James Cross | Part II
In Part II of this candid Drone Wars conversation, Dan Magy is joined once again by James Cross and Chris Donaghey to dig into one of the most pressing problems in modern warfare: how to scale effective defense technologies fast enough to matter.From next-gen laser systems to why small companies rarely survive the primes, this episode explores the gritty realities behind mission kills, demo cultur
Inside the Machine: How Venture and Defense Collide - Chris Donaghey & James Cross | Part I
In this episode of Drone Wars, Dan Magy is joined by defense investors and Silicon Valley Defense Group founders James Cross and Chris Donaghey for a high-octane discussion on the present and future of military innovation. From production bottlenecks to geopolitical realignments, the trio explores what it will take to actually deliver at scale—and at speed.They talk about why hardware is hard, the
Manufacturing the Future: Defense Innovation and Autonomous Infrastructure - Travis Demeester
In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with a leading voice in the defense innovation space to unpack the future of military manufacturing. From flying CH-53 helicopters in the Marine Corps to pioneering advanced industrial capabilities at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), our guest shares a compelling journey through aerospace, entrepreneurship, and public service.Together, they
Boots, Boards & Breakthroughs - Jake Windle | Part II
In Part II of our interview with Jake Windle, we zoom out from battlefield innovation and into the bigger picture: how the defense ecosystem is evolving, and why venture capital is now a critical tool for national security.Host Dan Magy and Jake explore what defines "Defense Tech 2.0," how bureaucratic gridlock stalls promising solutions, and why the military must rethink how it evaluat
Boots, Boards & Breakthroughs - Jake Windle | Part I
In Part I of this special two-part episode, host Dan Magy reconnects with an old friend—Jake Windle, former Master Chief at Naval Special Warfare and now a partner at Harpoon Ventures. The conversation kicks off with Jake's transition from elite military operations to early-stage tech, and how he became one of the first to identify drones as a rising threat on the battlefield.Jake shares the
Ukraine's Spiderweb attack. | Sam Bendett
CNA Researcher Sam Bendett. Talk about the recent attack on multiple airbases conducted by Ukraine.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry.
Founding the Fight: Startups and the Future of Defense - Nathan Mintz | Part II
Part II: Autonomy, Spectrum Warfare, and the Next Generation of DefenseIn this special two-part edition of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy continues his conversation with Nathan Mintz, defense tech entrepreneur and CEO of CX2, exploring the tactical and strategic frontiers of modern warfare. This episode focuses on the rising importance of human-machine teaming, drone autonomy in GPS-denied environments
Founding the Fight: Startups and the Future of Defense - Nathan Mintz | Part I
Part I: From Defense Primes to Deep Tech StartupsIn this special two-part edition of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with defense tech entrepreneur Nathan Mintz, CEO of CX2, for a wide-ranging conversation on innovation, autonomy, and the evolving front lines of national security.Nathan reflects on his early engineering work at Boeing and Raytheon, then dives into his transition into the start
Drone Dominance: Inside Ukraine and Russia’s Tech Arms Race - Sam Bendett | Part II
Part II: Attritable Warfare, UGVs, and the Future of CombatIn Part II, Sam Bendett returns to break down the real-time innovation shaping Russia and Ukraine's unmanned arsenals.We examine the shift to fiber optic-controlled drones, the rising role of attritable assets, and how military bureaucracies are struggling to keep up with front-line innovation. Sam explains how Ukraine’s “Brave One” p
Drone Dominance: Inside Ukraine and Russia’s Tech Arms Race - Sam Bendett | Part I
Part I: OSINT, Telegram Warfare & Tactical InnovationIn Part I of our conversation with Sam Bendett, we dive deep into how the war in Ukraine is being shaped not only on the battlefield—but online.Sam, a leading expert in open-source intelligence and Russian military adaptation, breaks down how Telegram and other platforms have become real-time war theaters. He explains how grassroots innovati
What It Takes to Build a War-Ready Drone - Florian Seibel | Part II
Autonomous Frontlines and the Rise of Stark: Florian Seibel on the Future of Drone WarfareFlorian Seibel returns for part two of our Drone Wars conversation to unpack the deeper implications of autonomy in warfare and the launch of his new company, Stark. He discusses why gamified training, fast software cycles, and modular drone design are critical to staying ahead. Dan and Florian also explore E
What It Takes to Build a War-Ready Drone - Florian Seibel | Part I
From Startup to Battlefield: Florian Seibel on Building Drones That Actually Work in WarIn this episode of Drone Wars, Dan Magy sits down with Florian Seibel, CEO and co-founder of Quantum Systems, to talk about what it takes to build drone systems that actually survive in combat. Florian shares the journey from struggling startup to a critical player in Ukraine’s defense, the lessons learned from
Defense at the Edge of Innovation | Part II
In the second half of their conversation, Dan Magy and Eric DeMarco look ahead. As CEO of Kratos Defense, Eric reflects on how preparation and urgency are now colliding—and the future is no longer theoretical.They dig into drone swarms, hypersonics, and the role of AI in modern conflict, along with the ethical dilemmas those technologies bring. Eric speaks not only as a builder of systems, but as
Defense at the Edge of Innovation | Part I
This episode marks the beginning of a powerful two-part conversation between Dan Magy and Eric DeMarco, CEO of Kratos Defense. As they reflect on over a decade of strategic growth and technological advancement, Eric shares what it takes to build resilient defense systems in a world facing fast-evolving threats. It’s not just about innovation—it’s about anticipating future conflicts and having the
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