What happens when one of the world's leading cybersecurity entrepreneurs argues that we're already in a new Cold War?
This week, Garrett Smith, Dave Caudle, and Simon Coon sit down with Dmitri Alperovitch—CrowdStrike co-founder, Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, bestselling author of World on the Brink, investor, and host of Geopolitics Decanted.
The conversation explores why Dmitri believes strategic competition with China has already become "Cold War II,"why Taiwan sits at the center of the 21st century geopolitical landscape, and what winning the AI race will require. Along the way, the crew dives into the rapidly evolving defense technology ecosystem, venture capital's growing appetite for national security startups, Pentagon acquisition reform, and the emerging role of AI in cyber conflict.
Whether you're building defense technology, serving in government, or simply trying to understand where global security is headed, this episode offers a wide-ranging discussion on the forces reshaping warfare.
In this episode
- Why Dmitri believes the U.S. and China are already engaged in Cold War II
- Why Taiwan remains the most consequential strategic flashpoint of the century
- The race for AI leadership—and why compute, semiconductors, and export controls matter
- China's cyber capabilities and the future of digital conflict
- What defense startups get right—and wrong—during today's investment boom
- Lessons from building CrowdStrike into a category-defining cybersecurity company
- Why solving real problems matters more than chasing defense tech hype
- Pentagon procurement reform and how incentives shape acquisition outcomes
- AI agents, autonomous cyber operations, and accountability in the age of intelligent software
- Recent trends in defense venture capital, European investment, and emerging military technologies
Featured Guest
Dmitri Alperovitch
- Co-founder, CrowdStrike
- Chairman, Silverado Policy Accelerator
- National bestselling author of World on the Brink
- Host of Geopolitics Decanted
- Investor in defense technology and emerging technologies
- @DAlperovitch
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction & Dmitri Alperovitch's background
- 01:15 Why we're already in "Cold War II"
- 13:25 Taiwan, AI and winning strategic competition
- 20:59 Defense tech investment and venture capital trends
- 24:43 Building CrowdStrike and creating a new category
- 31:07 Reforming Pentagon acquisition
- 36:14 AI agents and the future of cyber warfare
- 42:03 Closing thoughts
Books & Resources Mentioned
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Our Podcast
National security, defense tech, and geopolitics; serious topics, but that doesn't mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare.
Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take, because let's be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo.
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