Podcast
Books to Battles
Hosted by School of Advanced Air and Space Studies · EN
Books to Battles is the official podcast of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS), where rigorous academic thought meets real-world military application. In each episode, we'll take you inside our school to explore its courses, students, and faculty. We'll show how foundational ideas—from classic works of strategy to cutting-edge scholarship—inform the development and execution of air and space power in today’s complex strategic environment. Join us as we bridge the gap between theory and practice, bringing deep intellectual insight to the art of war in the air and beyond.
All views expressed in this series are the speakers' own and are not necessarily reflective of the Department of Defense, the US government, or any other affiliated organizations.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Artemis
Apr 100:41:32Summary readyOn this episode of Books to Battles, we explore NASA’s Artemis program and the upcoming Artemis II mission. We discuss its strategic significance, technological milestones, and implications for sustainable lunar return and great power competition, highlighting how Artemis shapes the future of human spaceflight and international partnerships beyond Earth orbit.
Summary
SAASS 665 Space Power
Mar 2500:34:58Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Books to Battles, we explore SAASS 665, Space Power, with Dr. Jim Tucci and Dr. Derrick Frazier. The episode examines how the course bridges theory and practice, tracing the evolution of military space thought, key strategic debates, and the role of space in modern warfare.
Transcribe →
Thesis Update
Mar 1800:31:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Books to Battles, Dr. Whitman Cobb and Col Hollon welcome Dr. Paige Reid to discuss the SAASS thesis process and where students currently stand in the project timeline. The conversation explains how students move from an initial research puzzle to a refined strategic argument through research, writing, and faculty mentorship. The hosts explore common challenges in the thesis process—including writer’s block, research rabbit holes, and refining an argument—as well as the academic skills students develop along the way. The episode also highlights how completed theses contribute to the broader body of professional military education scholarship and occasionally evolve into published research.If you have questions, comments, or episode recommendations, please email us at bookstobattles@au.af.eduThe opinions expressed here are those of the hosts or the guests and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Air Force, the Depart of Defense, or the United States Government.
Transcribe →
Air University Press and Journals
Mar 1100:30:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Books to Battles, hosts Dr. Wendy Whitman Cobb and Col. Cory Hollon speak with Air University Press editors Michael Tate and Megan Hohen about the role of military academic journals in shaping professional debate within the Air Force and Space Force. The discussion explores how the Air University journals support warfighter education by publishing research on airpower, spacepower, deterrence, and multi-domain operations. Tate and Hohen explain the submission and peer-review process, the challenges facing academic publishing, and recent efforts to consolidate Air University’s journals while maintaining high-quality scholarship. The conversation also highlights opportunities for military professionals to publish articles or book reviews as a form of professional development.If you have questions, comments, or episode recommendations, please email us at bookstobattles@au.af.eduAU Press SitesMain press website: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress/ Email for submissions: aspj@au.af.edu Main Air and Space Power Journal Site: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/ASPJ/ Submission guidelines: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/ASPJ/Submission-Guidelines/ Book review site: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/ASPJ/Book-Reviews/Books-for-Review/ The opinions expressed here are those of the hosts or the guests and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Air Force, the Depart of Defense, or the United States Government.
Transcribe →
The 2026 National Defense Strategy
Feb 2500:49:46Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Books to Battles, Dr. Wendy Whitman Cobb and Col. Cory Hollon examine the 2026 National Defense Strategy through the lens of international relations theory and contemporary events. They discuss the document’s emphasis on realism, homeland defense, deterrence of China, increased burden-sharing with allies, and revitalization of the defense industrial base. The hosts analyze notable departures from previous strategies, including the reframing of border security as a national defense mission and the articulation of a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. Throughout the conversation, they connect the strategy’s themes to current events and explore the implications for U.S. grand strategy and civil–military roles.If you have questions, comments, or episode recommendations, please email us at bookstobattles@au.af.eduBooks MentionedPeter Hegseth, The 2026 National Defense Strategy (Department of War, 2026), https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/2003864773/-1/-1/0/2026-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY.PDF.Christopher Hemmer, American Pendulum: Recurring Debates in US Grand Strategy (Cornell University Press, 2015).Robert Pape, Bombing to Win: Airpower and Coercion in War (Cornell University Press, 1996).The opinions expressed here are those of the hosts or the guests and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Air Force, the Depart of Defense, or the United States Government.
Transcribe →
SAASS 667: Information and Cyber Power
Feb 1800:33:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Wendy Whitman Cobb and Col. Cory Hollon are joined by Lt Col Rachel Reynolds and Lt Col Ben “Hojo” Heidenreich to discuss SAASS 667, Information and Cyber Power. The conversation explores how the course examines influence, subversion, cyber operations, and the role of narratives in contemporary competition, drawing on historical and current case studies such as Ukraine and great-power rivalry. The guests describe how the course connects theory to practice, helping students think strategically about information and cyber effects rather than focusing solely on technical details. The episode also highlights the course’s innovative AI-based evaluation exercise, which challenges students to critically assess the strengths and limitations of large language models in strategic analysis. If you have questions, comments, or episode recommendations, please email us at bookstobattles@au.af.edu Books MentionedJennifer Yoder, WWII Memory and Contested Commemorations in Europe and Russia (Oxford University Press, 2024)Kenneth Alan Osgood, Total Cold War: Eisenhower’s Secret Propaganda Battle at Home and Abroad (Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas, 2006). Andreas Krieg, Subversion: The Strategic Weaponization of Narratives, (Georgetown University Press, 2023) Daniel Moore, Offensive Cyber Operations: Understanding Intangible Warfare (Oxford University Press, 2021). Jon R. Lindsay, Age of Deception: Intelligence and Cybersecurity in an Era of Information Warfare (Cornell University Press, 2025). Nicole Perlroth, This is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyber-Weapons Arms Race. (New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021). Michael P. Fischerkeller, Emily O. Goldman, Richard J. Harknett and Paul M. Nakasone. Cyber Persistence Theory: Redefining National Security in Cyberspace. (Oxford University Press, 2022). The opinions expressed here are those of the hosts or the guests and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Air Force, the Depart of Defense, or the United States Government.
Transcribe →
Special Operations Success
Aug 20Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Books to Battles, Dr. James Kiras discusses his influential book Special Operations Success. Drawing on historical case studies and strategic theory, Dr. Kiras examines what makes special operations effective—and when they fall short. He explores the balance between tactics and strategy, the importance of context, and the enduring lessons for modern military professionals seeking to understand the true value of special operations in contemporary conflict.All views expressed are the speaker's own and do not necessarily represent the Department of Defense, the US government, or any other affiliated organization.
Transcribe →