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The Cognitive Crucible: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Information Professionals Association
The Cognitive Crucible explores all aspects of our generational challenge: Cognitive Security. It is the only podcast dedicated to increasing interdisciplinary collaboration between information operations practitioners, scholars, and policy makers. Join the discussion forum each week with the Cognitive Crucible host, John Bicknell.
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- Mar 31, 202652 min
#245 Pat Roberson and Andrew Hallman on Arms and Influence: How information and influence operations are evolving in the modern security environment – and how the United States can regain the advantage
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Andrew Hallman and Pat Roberson from Leidos discuss information operations (IO) and influence warfare in the modern security environment. Adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran are using information campaigns to challenge U.S. dominance, targeting both American homeland audiences and global partners alike. They discussed how the United States needs to improve speed and agility in IO operations, suggesting that technology like Leidos' Imperium platform could help bridge the gap between military kinetic operations and information warfare through AI-powered marketing approaches and sentiment analysis. The conversation covered training challenges, cultural barriers within the national security community, and current examples from the Middle East conflict with Iran, particularly focusing on how Iran uses information operations to maintain regime survival despite military setbacks. Recording Date: 26 Mar 2026 Research Question: Guest suggests an interested student or researcher examine: Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #1 Rand Waltzman on Cognitive Security Leidos Imperium AI and Influence: The New 'Arms Race': U.S. adversaries heavily employ information operations; new technology and old-fashioned marketing acumen could help America recover the advantage Easier to Kill Than to Text: A Mandate for Information Warfare Reform by Robert W. White Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Andrew Hallman is Vice President and Strategic Account Executive for the Intelligence Community (IC). In this role, he leads Leidos' multi-year vision and strategy to develop and grow the company's business with the IC, delivering high-impact solutions to help optimize the Community's missions and safeguard the nation's interests. Prior to joining Leidos, Hallman was Vice President for National Security Strategy and Integration at Peraton, Inc., where he led campaigns to deliver transformative intelligence programs and drive business growth leveraging unique technical capabilities, emerging technologies and commercial ventures. Prior to joining Peraton in May 2022, he served with distinction for 33 years in the Intelligence Community, many of those years at the very highest levels. His final assignment was as Senior Advisor at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he advised CIA Leadership on strategy and organizational performance. In 2019-2020, Hallman served as Principal Executive, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, performing the duties of the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence and leading daily operations of ODNI, including oversight of the IC's $60 billion budget and strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the IC's ability to secure the nation. He served as a commissioner on the bipartisan Cyber Solarium Commission to strengthen the nation's cyber security. From 2015-2019, Hallman was Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation, where he stood up CIA's first new directorate in over 50 years to accelerate the integration of digital and cyber capabilities across all of CIA's mission areas. In his previous assignments he served in many analytic, operational, leadership, and policy assignments, including as daily intelligence briefer to the President of the United States. Hallman earned an MA in International Affairs from American University's School of International Service and a BS in Public Affairs Management from Michigan State University. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Pat Roberson, Leidos senior advisor, is a retired career U.S. Army Special Forces officer. Roberson spent more than 34 years in the Army leading units ranging from infantry rifle platoons to several Special Operations Task Forces. Roberson spent five years commanding U.S. and Allied Special Operations Forces in combat in Iraq
- Mar 3, 20261h 26m
#241 Andy Whiskeyman on Cognitive Intelligence
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Andrew Whiskeyman discusses his co-authored article: The Emergence of Cognitive Intelligence (COGINT) as a New Military Intelligence Collection Discipline. "COGINT" is the systematic mapping, safeguarding, and operational exploitation of decision-making architectures in the contemporary cognitive battle space. Topics include: understanding and protecting human decision-making processes from adversarial tactics, adversarial exploitation of technology and societal divisions to manipulate public opinion, and underscoring the vital need for critical thinking. Recording Date: 22 January 2026 Research Question: Andrew Whiskeyman suggests an interested student or researcher examine: When is a conspiracy theory no longer a theory? How does one build a culture of civil discourse and disagreement? Of mobs and men: how does individual behavior and decision relate to group dynamics? AI and human trust/decision dynamics. Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #62 Jonathan Rauch on the Constitution of Knowledge #119 Katherine Carman on Truth Decay #153 Andy Whiskeyman and Mike Berger on the Importance of Dedicated Resources The Emergence of Cognitive Intelligence (COGINT) as a New Military Intelligence Collection Discipline by Jorge Conde and Andy Whiskeyman S. Rept. 119-39 - National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 dated 15 July 2025 Salt Typhoon The Everlasting Man: A Guide to G.K. Chesterton's Masterpiece by Dale Ahlquist Aristotle's Rhetoric The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn Warhead: How the brain shapes war and war shapes the brain by Nicholas Wright Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Dr. Andrew Whiskeyman, COL (ret.), is the co-founder and CEO of JASSA Professional Services, which provides consulting and subject matter expertise on strategy, technology, predictive analysis, and people. He also teaches, writes, researches, and lectures internationally on the topics of information warfare, cognitive security, emerging technology, and strategic foresight. He is a Goodpaster Scholar, a non-resident senior fellow with the Global National Security Institute (GNSI) and former board member of the Information Professionals Association (IPA). Dr. Whiskeyman adjuncts with Catholic Polytechnic University, Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and the US Air Force's Air War College. He is a former Chair of the Cyber Strategy Department at the National Defense University's College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC) where he taught and researched on the nexus of information and national security. He previously served for 28 years in the US Army and deployed multiple times in support of combat operations. His final military assignment was as the Chief of the Information Operations Division (J39) within the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Operations Directorate J3 located at Macdill AFB, Florida. His previous assignment was as the Chief of Strategy for the CENTCOM Joint Cyber Center (JCC). His first assignment was to Misawa AB, Japan as an enlisted military intelligence Soldier. He then went to officer candidate school (OCS) and commissioned into the basic branch of Air Defense Artillery. In 2007, he transitioned to the Information Operations functional area (FA30). He has
- Mar 3, 202648 min
#242 Doug Wilbur on Propaganda
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Doug Wilbur discussed propaganda, information warfare, and strategic optimism–emphasizing society's capability for problem-solving. He defined propaganda as any communication intended to influence behavior in the propagandist's favor, distinguishing it from persuasion. Wilbur concluded the Vietnamese were the most successful propagandists, effectively delegitimizing the South Vietnamese government as a US puppet, which made the 1968 Tet Offensive a psychological victory despite military defeat. He explained that communism relies on a messianic eschatology, promising a utopian future. Wilbur also addressed modern threats, noting that AI increases the vulnerability of open societies to personalized disinformation, compounding the challenge of combating propaganda due to people relying on fast-thinking heuristics. Recording Date: 6 Feb 2026 Research Question: Doug Wilbur suggests an interested student or researcher examine what are the Chinese telling external audiences and what effect is it having? Resources: Blurring the Source: Information Laundering and the Cognitive Architecture of Modern Propaganda by Doug Wilbur Finding the Signal within the Noise: What Information Warriors Need to Know About Human Pattern Recognitionby Doug Wilbur Warfare of Position: When the Decisive Struggle Precedes the First Shot by Doug Wilbur Viet Cong: The Organization of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam by Douglas Pike Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Douglas S Wilbur, Ph.D. (University of Missouri, School of Journalism, 2019), is a communication scientist who specializes in propaganda, information warfare and strategic communication. He is also a retired U.S. Army Information Operations Officer with four deployments. He works full-time in the information technology industry but is an adjunct professor of Marketing at the University of Maryland Global Campus. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Mar 3, 20261h 4m
#243 Doug Abdiel on the New Fog of War–Navigating Through GPS-Denied and Degraded Environments
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Doug Abdiel discusses the vivid operational problem of GPS-denied or GPS-degraded environments and how Advanced Navigation is helping operators cut through the fog of modern warfare. Recording Date: 16 Feb 2026 Research Question: Doug Abdiel suggests an interested student or researcher examine the computationally challenging problem of peer-to-peer solutions for signals. Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #237 Josh Segal on Ukraine, Electronic Warfare, and Fast Battlefield Innovation Advanced Navigation P&G Purpose: We believe that every person deserves a chance to obtain long-term, sustainable employment for themselves and their families. For some people, this has never been a problem. For others, through circumstances outside of their control, be it war, famine, or countless other issues, they have never been able to have this sustainable employment. We aim to bridge that gap, helping those people obtain the job skills that they need to succeed. Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Inertial Navigation, and Integration by Mohinder S. Grewal, Angus P. Andrews, and Chris G. Bartone Battlefield Cellphone Usage Cigarette Lighter Airport Jammer Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Doug Abdiel is Global VP Customer Experience and Support at Advanced Navigation, a global leader in autonomous systems and navigation technology. In addition to being a Navigator, Doug is a U.S. Marine, and has served on active duty and in the reserves, where he is currently a Lieutenant Colonel, since 2003. Doug is an experienced leader with a record of driving change in the internet, defence, and social sectors for the past two decades. He has practiced in competitive intelligence, strategic/operational planning, and partnership business development across the Asia-Pacific. Doug is recognized for high-double-digit YoY growth and concurrent cost reduction on eleven-figure P&Ls. He is a community-minded founder, director, and chair of a multimillion-dollar social enterprise that provided over 50 people their first, and most importantly a pathway to their second, jobs in Australia. Doug's opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Department of War, Department of the Navy, or the US Marine Corps. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Mar 3, 202643 min
#244 Sean Guillory on Betting Intelligence and National Security
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Sean Guillory discusses the rapid ascent of prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi which are transforming global events into tradable assets. Recording Date: 23 Feb 2026 Research Question: Sean Guillory suggests an interested student or researcher examine: How appropriators fund research in this space Study feedback loops Incentive-based forecasting Political promises market Betting Reviewed vs. Peer Reviewed science Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #65 Sean Guillory on Cognitive Neuroscience Applications BetBreakingNews Website BetBreakingNews substack Proposal: Betting Reviewed vs. Peer Reviewed Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Dr. Sean Guillory is a nationally recognized expert in cognitive warfare, influence operations, and behavioral strategy. With over a decade of experience supporting U.S. defense and intelligence agencies, Sean specializes in understanding and shaping human decision-making at scale within the world's most contested information environments. A Dartmouth-trained Ph.D. cognitive neuroscientist, Sean pioneers cutting-edge tools for non-kinetic warfare at the volatile intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and national defense. His career has evolved from mapping brain functions in neurosurgery patients to prototyping behavioral tools for federal agencies. Today, he advises clients on how prediction markets are reshaping geopolitical security and how to navigate the emerging risks in these digital environments. Sean is the Co-founder and CEO of BetBreakingNews, which leverages prediction market intelligence to drive actionable decisions for corporate and national security clients. He is also the co-host of the MAD Warfare podcast, where he explores the nuances of unconventional conflict. Additionally, Sean serves on the boards of the Information Professionals Association and the Mind Science Foundation's Science Committee, fostering the research and practical applications necessary to protect the modern cognitive landscape. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Jan 13, 202644 min
#240 Anthony Vinci on the Fourth Intelligence Revolution
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Anthony Vinci, author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution, discusses how the battlefield has shifted from physical territory to the human brain. From China's influence within U.S. education and gaming to the subtle "mind hacking" potential of AI-generated misinformation, Anthony breaks down the strategic landscape of modern information operations. Join us for a deep dive into the risks posed by TikTok, the crisis of masculinity in the digital age, and how we can build individual resilience against an era of total surveillance. Recording Date: 8 Jan 2026 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #100 Rand Waltzman on the Metaverse and Immersive Virtual Reality #212 Libby Lange on Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America by Anthony Vinci The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power by Shoshana Zuboff Princeton Review Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Anthony Vinci is the author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America (Henry Holt, 2025). He served as the first Chief Technology Officer at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) where he was one of the first leaders to bring AI into intelligence. Earlier in his career he served in Iraq, Africa, and Asia. After leaving the world of intelligence, Vinci became an executive at a private equity firm and CEO of VICO, an AI company that is bringing the intelligence revolution to the rest of us by democratizing intelligence analysis. He is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and received his PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Jan 6, 202654 min
#239 Ian Brown on Snowmobiles and Grand Ideals
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. John Boyd is well known to have formally written down very little of his own theories on war and conflict, making researching his concepts challenging and leading many to infer meanings based on their own interpretations—or others'—of what little easily accessible evidence of his thinking remains. In Snowmobiles and Grand Ideals, Ian Brown unpacks Boyd in his own words delivered during his lectures. Recording Date: 9 Dec 2025 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #146 Sebastian Bae on Gaming Snowmobiles and Grand Ideals: John Boyd's Vision for Thriving in Chaos by Ian T. Brown and Frans P. B. Osinga A New Conception of War by Ian T. Brown YouTube: Steve Jobs Introducing The iPhone At MacWorld 2007 Destruction and Creation by John Boyd (1976) Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Ian Brown is a retired Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter pilot with multiple deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Pacific region. He has written dozens of articles, reviews, and short stories for a variety of defense-related publications, covering topics of military history, military theory, future war, and wargaming. His book A New Conception of War: John Boyd, the U.S. Marines, and Maneuver Warfare (Marine Corps University Press, 2018) was added to the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Professional Reading Program in 2019. He currently works as a wargame analyst for Group W and has designed several wargames independently. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Dec 30, 202540 min
#238 Bill Wall on AI in Information Operations
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Bill Wall discusses Accrete AI's comprehensive AI platform. The conversation explores the necessity for the U.S. to balance military focus with information strategies, diplomacy, and a deeper understanding of the populace to achieve success in modern conflicts. Recording Date: 9 Dec 2025 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #56 Bob Jones on Governance Accrete AI Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph by T.E. Lawrence The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media by P. W. Singer and Emerson T. Brooking Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Bill Wall is the CEO and Co-Founder of Accrete AI Government, an enterprise AI company helping government entities rapidly capture and analyze massive amounts of siloed data, providing analysts with deep insights that enable faster decision-making. Bill has a unique background, combining elite military service and deep experience in the sales and implementation of innovative solutions that drive business transformation. In the private sector, Bill has built technology teams across various industries. His professional experience includes leadership roles at companies like EMC, Praescient Analytics, Boundless Geospatial, and Flywheel Data, where he focused on IT solutions, big data analytics, and geospatial software. Before entering the corporate world, Bill retired from the Army as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel after twenty-two years in service. During his military career, he founded a computer network operations organization within the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and deployed multiple times to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen where he worked closely with the national intelligence community to transform the way intelligence was developed and shared. Academically trained in international relations, Bill holds a Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a Master of Arts in International Relations and Latin American Studies from the University of Miami. Beyond his professional achievements, he has been married to Francesca for 30 years and is a father to two sons, sharing his home with two dogs and a cat. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
About The Cognitive Crucible
The Cognitive Crucible explores all aspects of our generational challenge: Cognitive Security. It is the only podcast dedicated to increasing interdisciplinary collaboration between information operations practitioners, scholars, and policy makers. Join the discussion forum each week with the Cognitive Crucible host, John Bicknell.
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