What does it take to win the next war before it's ever fought?
This week, Garrett Smith, Dave Caudle, and Simon Coon sit down with Aaron Flint—Army combat veteran, longtime radio host, and candidate for Congress—for a wide-ranging conversation on defense technology, military leadership, and the future of American deterrence.
Drawing on his experience serving in Ramadi during the height of the Iraq War and later supporting special operations missions, Aaron reflects on how technology has transformed the battlefield—from sensitive site exploitation to AI-powered tools that put capabilities once carried in backpacks into the hands of individual operators.
The crew also explores the accelerating race for AI, quantum computing, autonomy, and defense innovation, why America's greatest military advantage remains its empowered junior leaders and NCOs, and how veteran-led startups are reshaping the national security ecosystem. Along the way, they unpack defense venture capital trends, the changing relationship between startups and traditional defense primes, and why technological superiority remains the foundation of peace through strength.
Whether you're building defense technology, serving in uniform, or following the future of American national security, this episode explores the people, technology and ideas shaping tomorrow's battlefield.
In this episode
- Aaron Flint's journey from Capitol Hill staffer to Army infantry officer after 9/11
- Combat lessons from Ramadi and the evolution of sensitive site exploitation (SSE)
- Why AI, quantum computing and autonomy represent the next strategic competition
- How companies like Reveal are shrinking battlefield capabilities from backpacks to handheld devices
- Why empowered NCOs remain America's greatest military advantage
- Peace through strength—and why better technology helps prevent wars before they begin
- Defense bureaucracy, acquisition reform and empowering operators instead of organizations
- Veteran entrepreneurship and the growing defense innovation ecosystem
- Defense venture capital, autonomous systems and the rise of next-generation prime contractors
- Boeing, Archer Aviation and what the future relationship between startups and traditional defense companies could look like
Featured Guest
Aaron Flint
- Army Combat Veteran
- Former Special Operations Officer
- Radio Host
- Candidate for U.S. Congress (Montana)
- Former U.S. Senate Staffer
@AaronFlintMT
Chapters
00:00 Cold open: military culture, tattoos & life after 9/11
05:20 Aaron Flint's military background and service in Iraq
12:05 AI, quantum computing and the next space race
18:10 Why America's NCO corps remains a decisive advantage
24:15 Peace through strength and preventing future wars
31:00 Government bureaucracy, empowering operators and getting out of the way
36:40 Defense venture capital, autonomy and the future of military technology
47:40 Congress, veteran leadership and solving national security challenges
54:50 Closing thoughts & Fiddlehead shirt defense
Connect with Goat Rodeo
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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.
Listen on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/GoatRodeoPodcast
