Show Notes
Join hosts Sean Corbett and Cristina Varriale as they wrap up another great year for The World of Intelligence podcast. In this special episode, they look back on 19 thought-provoking discussions that explored global security trends, hard-to-reach intelligence targets, and the evolving role of open-source intelligence in modern analysis.
From North Korea’s opaque dynamics to NATO’s defence pledges, predictive intelligence models, and the rise of hybrid warfare, Sean and Cristina share their personal highlights and lessons learned. They also reveal what’s next for 2026, expect timely “shorts”, new studio recordings, and deep dives into China, Russia, Iran, forgotten conflicts, and cutting-edge technologies such as Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Whether you are an analyst, policymaker, or simply curious about how intelligence shapes global affairs, this episode offers a candid, insightful, and forward-looking conversation on tradecraft, technology, and the challenges ahead.
🎧 Listen now and discover why OSINT remains one of the most powerful tools in understanding today’s complex security landscape.
More from The World of Intelligence
The conflict in Yemen has entered a new and dangerous phase, with renewed fighting between Ansar Allah (the Houthis) and Saudi-backed government forces. But this is more than a localised conflict. From threats to global shipping routes and energy supplies to shifting regional power dynamics, developments in Yemen have far-reaching implications. In this episode of the World of Intelligence podcast, Sean Corbett, Cristina Varriale are joined by Janes analysts Daniel Burge, and Jack Nicholls to examine the latest developments on the ground, assess Ansar Allah's military capabilities and strategic ambitions, explore the complex relationship with Iran, and discuss what may come next. They also share how intelligence analysts navigate one of the world's most challenging information environments to separate fact from narrative.
As tensions across the Middle East continue to reshape regional security dynamics, what does the conflict involving Iran reveal about China's strategic ambitions?
NATO allies have committed to ambitious defence spending goals, but funding alone does not create military capability.
In this episode of World of Intelligence, Cristina Varriale and Sean Corbett are joined by Major General Dominic Goulet, Deputy Director for Commonwealth Integration at the US Defense Intelligence Agency, and retired Major General John Howard, former Chief of Defence Intelligence for the New Zealand Defence Force. Together, they explore the future of intelligence, the role of AI in analysis, the growing importance of unclassified intelligence, and what intelligence leaders must do to adapt to an era defined by disruption, speed and information abundance.
In this episode of The World of Intelligence, we delve into the pressing issue of energy security in the context of recent global disruptions.