Coffee and Conflict brings you in-depth conversations with leading authors, offering fresh insights into today’s most pressing national security, foreign policy, and intelligence challenges. Hosted by Joshua Huminski, Senior Fellow at the National Security Institute and Senior Vice President for National Security and Intelligence Programs at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress, each episode delves into key global issues through the lens of recently published books.
In Season 1, Coffee and Conflict explores critical topics, including the war in Ukraine, the evolving defense strategies of the 21st century, and the intensifying rivalry between the U.S. and China. Tune in every two weeks for engaging discussions that unpack these complex dynamics and their impact on the global stage.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Coffee and Conflict brings you in-depth conversations with leading authors, offering fresh insights into today’s most pressing national security, foreign policy, and intelligence challenges. Hosted by Joshua Huminski, Senior Fellow at the National Security Institute and Senior Vice President for National Security and Intelligence Programs at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress, each episode delves into key global issues through the lens of recently published books.
In Season 1, Coffee and Conflict explores critical topics, including the war in Ukraine, the evolving defense strategies of the 21st century, and the intensifying rivalry between the U.S. and China. Tune in every two weeks for engaging discussions that unpack these complex dynamics and their impact on the global stage.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Coffee & Conflict, Joshua Huminski speaks with Kathleen McInnis, Director, Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about how her debut novel pulls back the curtain on the Pentagon—one of the most powerful yet misunderstood institutions in U.S. national security. Drawing from her background in defense policy, McInnis examines the personal and professional challenges faced by women navigating Washington’s corridors of power. They discuss how her experiences shaped the book’s exploration of Pentagon bureaucracy, moral dilemmas in warfare, and the toll of high-stakes decisions, while highlighting the humor, humanity, and resilience found amidst the chaos.
How did your experiences in defense policy shape The Heart of War, and what does it reveal about the Pentagon’s inner workings? How does its bureaucracy hinder innovation while balancing the need for efficiency in national security? How has the landscape for women in defense evolved, and what changes are still needed to meet today’s geopolitical challenges?
You can learn more about Heart of War: Misadventures in the Pentagon, and purchase a copy of the book, here: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-War-Misadventures-Pentagon/dp/1682616517
Check out today’s experts on Twitter:
@joshuachuminski from @CSPC_DC
Kathleen McInnis from @CSIS
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.