This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
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Top 10 This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
‘Rising Lion’ – What Israel’s onslaught on Iran means
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
06/13/25 • 31 min
Israel’s unprecedented attack on over 100 targets in Iran – including nuclear facilities, missile sites, and military leadership – has stunned the region. But what does it mean? As Iranian state TV reports the deaths of key regime figures, and nuclear scientists, supreme leader Ali Khamenei promises heavy retaliation for “Operation Rising Lion”. Trump meanwhile warns “it will only get worse” for Iran unless they sign a deal over its nuclear programme.
On this special edition, conflict reporter Oz Katerji is joined by Shashank Joshi, defence editor at The Economist, to look at a potential turning point for the Middle East.
- This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to Incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan.
- Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this.
Written and presented by Oz Katerji. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production.
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🇺🇦 Putin’s Mobilisation Gamble
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
10/01/22 • 43 min
As Putin announces a military mobilisation and Russian men flee for the border, is his gamble of extra troops set to pay off on the battlefield? Ian Bond of the Centre for European Reform joins to discuss the Kremlin's call-up, and increasing nuclear sabre-rattling.
Plus, to make this a bumper edition China expert Rana Mitter talks to Arthur about how the war in Ukraine has affected Beijing's thinking over Taiwan.
We're taking a pause on our war bulletins, but don't worry. On October 12th our second 10-part documentary season is set to be released, so stay tuned for an in-depth look at the global threats of tomorrow.
Resources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/
- “We see a lot of people heading for the borders, but we shouldn’t mistake that for the majority of the country.” - Ian Bond
- “Sending a lot of men with rusty rifles into battle isn’t going to do the job.” - Ian Bond
- “Using nuclear weapons to attack a non-nuclear weapon state is a huge taboo, and the West needs to make that clear to Putin.” - Ian Bond
- “The Ukraine crisis is exponential for Europe. Whether it’s exponential for China is another matter.” - Rana Mitter
- “China cares more about visible international publicity than the Russians do. Comms management will have entered their minds over Taiwan.” - Rana Mitter
DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production
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New podcast: Mugshots with Michael Crick
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
02/13/23 • 13 min
New series preview: How much do we really know about the people who make the headlines? In a provocative new series the acclaimed journalist Michael Crick, formerly of BBC, C4 and Newsnight, delves into the backgrounds of the powerful and the influential.
In this first episode: Few newspaper editors wield as much power as the Daily Mail’s Paul Dacre. Feared and courted by politicians, he’s imposed his singular vision of Britain on successive governments – while sometimes stretching the law in pursuit of justice. But what makes Dacre tick? What does he want? And how might this epic career end?
Like this excerpt? Hear the complete episode on all platforms right now. And subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
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Dire Straits – After Taiwan’s election, could China attempt a stealth takeover?
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
01/17/24 • 39 min
Tensions are rising across the Taiwan Strait. China is enraged that the Taiwanese people have chosen a man Beijing calls a “troublemaker”, William Lai, as their President. Now Xi Jinping has become personally invested in regaining the territory. While a hot military conflict would be disastrous far beyond the region, China has many other options from trade blockades to naval harassment. So how far will Beijing go to achieve what it calls the “historical inevitability” of reunification with Taiwan?
Gavin Esler talks to journalist William Yang in Taipei and China expert Richard McGregor of the Lowy Institute in Sydney about a decades-old conflict that is heating up alarmingly.
• “China tried to drum up rhetoric that the election was a choice between war and peace... This sabre-rattling only worked among the older generation.” – William Yang
• “There’s not much the US could do in the short-term if China decided to move.” – Richard McGregor
• “Xi has a ton of enemies, from people whose careers he destroyed in his anticorruption campaign to more liberal Chinese... They are waiting for him to stumble.” – Richard McGregor
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Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Additional music by Simon Williams. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production
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The Israel/Hamas War: Netanyahu’s crisis, Iran’s opportunity
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
11/22/23 • 53 min
The Hamas atrocities of 7th October and Israel’s overwhelming retaliation have plunged the region into its worst chaos in 50 years. How deeply involved was Iran in the Hamas attacks? Did Netanyahu’s political desperation and strategic bungling really open the door to the most anguished day in Israel’s history? And is there a way to end the carnage before it spreads?
Gavin Esler looks for answers with author and journalist Kim Ghattas who is based in Beirut – a Hamas stronghold – and Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland, author of The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World.
Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon for early episodes, merchandise and more.
• “Iran has been using the Palestinian cause as a way to assert itself as a leader in the region for 45 years.” – Kim Ghattas
• “Netanyahu needs to be in the Prime Minister’s chair to stay out of prison.” – Jonathan Freedland
• “Hamas thought everyone would pitch in after their attacks, but there has been no uprising. In the Arab world you’re starting to hear ‘Iran will fight Israel to the last Arab... or to the last Sunni.’” – Kim Ghattas
• “Like most militaries, Israel does not want to see photographs of dead children. To Hamas, photos like those are an asset in the battle for world opinion.” – Jonathan Freedland
Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production
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Shadow war – Can Britain face down the Russian threat?
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
06/12/25 • 29 min
Launching the UK’s latest strategic defence review, Keir Starmer pledged renewed spending on defence and vowed “everything we do will add to the strength of NATO”.
Yet as NATO secretary general Mark Rutte calls for members to increase spending further to five percent of GDP on security, are Britain and its allies doing enough to secure the alliance’s future and deter the threat of an expansionist Russia?
In the latest episode of This Is Not A Drill, Gavin Esler is joined by Sir Richard Shirreff, former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, to discuss the recommendations and implications of the defence review.
• This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to https://incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan.
• Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this.
Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Can Britain win its race to rearm? – with Mike Martin MP
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
03/13/25 • 28 min
Whatever happens in the negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States, one thing is certain: Britain is now a key part of the European race to rearm. Military commanders, defence contractors, national security experts and politicians face a rush to fill in the gaps in European security left by an unreliable American president.
The proposed EU ReArm Europe plan outlines 800 billion Euros for defence spending – but how much time do we have to make it work? And where does Brexit Britain fit in with ReArm Europe?
Mike Martin is a former army officer and now Liberal Democrat MP who specialises in defence issues. He talks to Gavin Esler about the daunting task ahead.
• This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to Incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan.
• Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this.
Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll –https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
🇺🇦 The End of the Long Peace
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
07/05/22 • 32 min
As NATO leaders gathered in Madrid, what were the key moments and decisions from a historic summit? How are alliance members supporting Ukraine militarily? And following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is the "long peace" following World War Two now over?
Dr. Ulrike Franke, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and European defence expert, joins Arthur Snell for our latest war bulletin.
We're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. Thank you for backing us on Patreon, we really appreciate your support.
Resources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/
- “This summit was about NATO showing unity and that’s definitely what happened.”
- “The one thing everyone wants to avoid is a conflict between NATO and Russia. That leads to a full-scale global war.”
- “Germany has to re-learn a logic of military power that we’ve been deeply uncomfortable with for decades.”
DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production
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Trump vs NATO: Could Europe survive alone?
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
02/14/24 • 40 min
The fear that a re-elected Trump would pull the US out of NATO haunts European leaders. Now he says he’d actively encourage Putin to attack European countries who haven’t “paid their bills”. Could a second Trump presidency really open the door for war in Europe? What contingency plans is NATO making? Has Europe really underspent on defence? And is Putin exploiting cracks in the European hard right and left for his own ends?
Gavin Esler talks to historian and Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute Dr Helene von Bismarck and Peter Apps, author of Deterring Armageddon: A Biography Of NATO, about Trump’s dangerous ideas and populism’s Putin problem.
• “It would be incredibly naive to imagine that, if Trump is re-elected, Europe will simple reorganise itself to compensate... That takes time and it is time we don’t have.” – Helene von Bismarck
• “Regardless of whether we get another Trump presidency, the days in which Europe was America’s top priority are over.” – Peter Apps
• “In the next five to eight years it’s not impossible that Russia might attack a NATO state... We have to start preparing to prevent this worst-case scenario.” – Helene von Bismarck
• “The head of the Estonian military talks in terms of Russia being able to recharge enough to attack a NATO country within one year of fighting stopping in Ukraine.” – Peter Apps
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Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production
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🇺🇦 Where Will the War Go Next?
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
07/26/22 • 27 min
With the war heading into a sixth month, where will the conflict go next? How are both sides doing when it comes to ammunition? Is NATO really united in its objectives? And how Russia's rhetoric playing out in the Global South?
Dr Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at RUSI, joins Arthur Snell for the second of two war bulletins to look at the future direction of the conflict.
We're currently running a listener survey to hear what you think. Complete it to be in with a chance of winning a Doomsday Watch t-shirt: https://0jsbaoous3m.typeform.com/to/Nzg2KRQJ?typeform-source=t.co
We're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. You can support our work on the crowdfunding app Patreon: doomsdaywatch.co.uk
Resources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/
- “The Russians have plenty of unguided ammunition and they can manufacture more of it.”
- “Western sanctions will hamper Russia’s ability to manufacture certain weaponry.”
- “If I was watching this as China, thinking about Taiwan, I would be saying NATO lacks legs.”
- “What we’ve seen in Ukraine is how dangerous it is when the credibility of your deterrence fails.”
- “Just running the Ukrainian government is going to cost the EU and US a lot of money over the coming months.”
- “We can’t get too excited about Russian diplomacy.”
DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production
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FAQ
How many episodes does This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler have?
This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler currently has 181 episodes available.
What topics does This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler cover?
The podcast is about News, Society & Culture, Podcasts and Politics.
What is the most popular episode on This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler?
The episode title '🇺🇦 Putin’s Mobilisation Gamble' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler?
The average episode length on This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler is 40 minutes.
How often are episodes of This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler released?
Episodes of This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler?
The first episode of This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler was released on Nov 3, 2021.
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