The Battle Rhythm podcast, co-hosted by Stephen Saideman and Stéfanie von Hlatky, is co-produced by the CDSN and the CGAI. Battle Rhythm is released every second Wednesday and features timely discussion on the defence and security issues of the day, as well as feature conversations with academics and practitioners. Battle Rhythm has a sister podcast in French called Conseils de Sécurité, the result of a partnership between the Network for Strategic Analysis and the CDSN.
Hosts
Stéfanie von Hlatky: Co-Director of CDSN-RCDS and the Network for Strategic Analysis, Associate Professor of political studies at Queen’s University and Director of the Queen’s Centre for International and Defence Policy (CIDP). Her research focuses on NATO, armed forces, military interventions, and defence policy.
Stephen M. Saideman: Director of the CDSN-RCDS and Paterson Chair in International Affairs at Carleton University. His research focuses on NATO, civil-military relations, and international security.

Episode 71: Eating the Elephant One Bite at a Time
- Major-General Lise Bourgon
- April 27, 2022
In the 71st episode of Battle Rhythm, guest host Anessa Kimball and Steve talk about Finland, Sweden and NATO, US assurances, Ukraine’s…
Episode 70: Police Responses
- April 13, 2022
In the 70th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about NATO expectations & 2% aspirations, the defense review announcement and…
Episode 69: OSCE’s special monitoring mission to Ukraine (SMMU)
- March 30, 2022
In the 69th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the ISA, Steve’s appearance in a parliamentary hearing with discussion…
Episode 68: Talking to the Civilian in Canada’s Civ-Mil
- March 16, 2022
In the 68th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the Conference of Defence Associations Institute's annual Ottawa Conference, Russia,…
Episode 67: NATO (eFP) Battle Group Latvia
- March 2, 2022
In the 67th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today’s feature interview is with…
Episode 66: Saving Democracy
- Ben Rowswell
- February 16, 2022
In the 66th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the internationalization of the trucker convoy and the impending Russian…
Episode 65: It’s Not Just 700
- February 2, 2022
In the 65th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about Civ-Mil protocol when it comes to domestic protests and Canada’s…
Episode 64: The 2021 Class of the Halifax Peace With Women Fellowship
- January 19, 2022
In the 64th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Russia. Today’s feature interviews are with The…
Episode 63: Leadership Strategy & Gendered Perspectives
- December 15, 2021
In the 63rd episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the Summit of Democracies, Ukraine’s border politics and the Canadian…
Episode 62: Feminist Solutions in the Year Ahead
- December 1, 2021
In the 62nd episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the Throne Speech, CAF’s domestic operations in BC and our…
Episode 61: Hearts and Minds
- November 17, 2021
In the 61st episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about CoP26, Three Amigos Summit, and Belarus. Today’s feature interview is…
Episode 60: Canadian Intelligence Analysis
- November 3, 2021
In the 60th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about Cabinet appointments, and Gen. Eyre’s keynote speech at KCIS. Today’s…
Episode 59: Joint Command and Staff Programme
- October 22, 2021
In the 59th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about a meeting Steve had with Gen. Eyre on personnel issues,…
Episode 58: Moral Injury
- October 6, 2021
In the 58th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the state of Canada – China relations with the release…
Episode 57: No Credible Evidence
- September 22, 2021
In the 57th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about #Elxn44 with a recap on former General endorsements and the…
Episode 56: Future Thinking Resilience & Sustainability
- September 9, 2021
In the 56th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about personal lessons learned from 9/11 and Federal Election 2021. Today’s…
Episode 55: Canada’s top female military officer
- August 25, 2021
In the 55th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about Afghanistan hot-takes and consultations with CAF/DND on sexual misconduct reporting.…
Episode 54: Pandemic Modelling
- August 18, 2021
In the 54th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about family vacations and regulations across the US border, planning a…
Episode 53: Making the Best of It: Canadian Forces Military Police Group
- July 29, 2021
In the 53rd episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about a recent Defence SMRC Roundtable, cyber attacks and Great Power…
Episode 52: Emerging Technologies and Escalating Security Problems
- July 14, 2021
In the 52nd episode of Battle Rhythm, our guest host and Co-director, Erin Gibbs Van Brunschot and Steve talk about the new…
Episode 51: Military Justice Reform
- June 18, 2021
In the 51st episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the terrorist attack in London, Ontario, the NATO Summit, and…
Episode 50: The CDSN Podcast Network
- June 4, 2021
In the 50th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the discovery of the Kamloops Residential School burial site, latest…
Episode 49: Healthy Tension
- May 26, 2021
In the 49th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve reflect on today’s Feature Interview with guests Deputy Minister of the Department…
Episode 48: Operation Reassurance
- May 5, 2021
In the 48th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the external review into sexual misconduct in the military, the…
Episode 47: Security – Policy Nexus of Emerging Technology
- April 23, 2021
In the 47th episode of Battle Rhythm, Stef and Steve talk about the House Committee meetings on sexual misconduct in the CAF,…