About this episode
Sean Corbett and Cristina Varriale reflect on the year's discussions and share insights on global security and intelligence trends.
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.
People in this episode
Hosts: Sean Corbett, Cristina Varriale
Topics covered
- global security trends
- open-source intelligence
- hybrid warfare
- predictive intelligence
- intelligence analysis
- defense pledges
Keywords
- intelligence
- security
- OSINT
- UAVs
- hybrid warfare
- North Korea
- NATO
- China
- Russia
- Iran
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NATO
Places: North Korea, China, Russia, Iran
More episodes of The World of Intelligence
- The New Battleground: Grey Zone and Hybrid Warfare Explained · April 21, 2026 · 46 min
- Arctic Realities: The High North’s Strategic Balance and Why it Matters · March 30, 2026 · 53 min
- Blurred Frontlines: Why Overlooked African Conflicts Matter to Global Security · March 6, 2026 · 31 min
- Operational lessons from Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign · February 2, 2026 · 28 min
- Iran’s Unrest, Decoded: Protests, Power, and the Nuclear Trajectory · January 22, 2026 · 42 min
- Fundamentals first: The case for foundational intelligence today · November 17, 2025 · 27 min
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