The Focus
The Focus
The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical think tank. Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Aus…Social links:
Hitting Russia Harder—But What Does Victory Look Like? | Ben Hodges
Hitting Russia harder might inflict more damage. But what turns that damage into victory—and what would victory actually look like? Former US Army Europe commander Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges joins Dr John Bruni on The Focus Podcast to examine Ukraine’s options, Russia’s vulnerabilities a…
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Trump’s November Nightmare? | Scott Lucas
Could the November 2026 US midterms reshape Donald Trump’s presidency—and how far would the consequences travel beyond America? Dr John Bruni welcomes Professor Scott Lucas to The Focus for a discussion of the prospect of a Democratic “blue wave”, the pressures facing the Republican Party, and th…
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Strategy in the 21st Century
Can military superiority compensate for bad strategy? In this special episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni speaks with Sir Lawrence Freedman—one of the world’s foremost authorities on strategy and war—about the strategic failures shaping today’s increasingly interconnected conflicts. Using the I…
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The Multicultural Myth
Australia is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse societies—but is it truly multicultural? In Episode 116 of The Focus, Dr John Bruni speaks with Associate Professor Salvatore Babones, political sociologist at the University of Sydney, about immigration, assimilation and what he calls “the m…
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25 YEARS AFTER 9/11
On September 10, 2001, the United States stood at the height of its power. Twenty-five years later, what happened to the American moment? In this special 25th-anniversary episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni sits down with historian and political scientist Professor Roy Casagranda for a sweeping —…
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RUSSIA’S REAL THREAT TO NATO: How Far Can Putin Go?
What if Russia’s most dangerous weapon isn’t the one that starts a war — but the one that keeps us permanently on the edge of one? From drones over European airports and sabotage to cyberattacks, disinformation and military intimidation, Russia is testing NATO below the threshold of open conflict.…
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INDIA’S IRAN DILEMMA: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & the New Strategic Order
India has spent decades pursuing strategic autonomy. But what happens when the world around it begins choosing sides? In this episode of The Focus Podcast, Dr John Bruni is joined by LTGEN (Ret.) Ravi Shankar to examine India's increasingly complex strategic position as instability surrounding Ira…
1:16:30
Seeing Around Corners - Why Strategic Surprises Keep Catching Us Off Guard
From pandemics and wars to artificial intelligence, geopolitical rivalry, and presidential candidates, the pace of change has never been faster. Yet governments, businesses and intelligence agencies continue to be caught off guard by events they often should have seen coming. Why? In this episode o…
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How Colombia defeated the FARC | Part 2
How did Colombia defeat the FARC—and what can other democracies learn from its experience? In Part 2 of my conversation with General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero, former Commander of the Colombian Armed Forces, we continue our examination of counterinsurgency, national resilience and the long campai…
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How Colombia Defeated the FARC
How does a democracy defeat one of the world's longest-running insurgencies? For more than fifty years, Colombia fought a brutal conflict against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)—a war fuelled by ideology, narcotics trafficking and some of the most challenging terrain on Earth. Y…
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