This episode: Dave survived a cross-country move, Simon’s channeling ugly punk energy, and the crew gets real about one of the most critical parts of defense tech: systems integration. Who should actually own it? Legacy primes? New primes? The govvies? It’s complex, exhausting work. We dig into where smaller companies fit, and why integration and compliance remain two of the biggest hurdles in the space. Also on deck: virtue signaling in national security, Elon Musk reportedly cutting back on political spending, and why the integrators—ugly, proud, and essential—need to dial it in.

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:

Spotify: spoti.fi/3J1kGcO

Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3IdB9gA

YouTube: / @goatrodeopodcast

This episode: Les Craig, General Partner at Next Frontier Capital, joins the crew to talk defense venture trends, budget dysfunction, and whether innovation theater is masking a system in need of real change. From AI hype to institutional inertia, Les offers a candid look at how the funding landscape is shifting—and what startups (and policymakers) keep getting wrong. The crew also digs into defense budget priorities, including the controversial decision to move Army infrastructure funding to the border, and whether piling billions onto legacy systems actually gets better tech to the warfighter. Plus: “budget cannibalism,” callsigns, Congress as a herd, and the eternal fight between speed, scale, and reality.

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!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mTJ1oJEgB3rCbQouCL7XD?si=45c67d5954a443b5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/goat-rodeo/id1801310605

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@GoatRodeoPodcast

This episode: Rip-It still isn’t sponsoring us, Garrett’s got a new tattoo, and we’re talking punk shows, MARPAT pants, and startup knife fights.

This week’s guest is Brian MacCarthy, Senior Vice President of Ventures in the Chief Technology Office at Booz Allen Hamilton—a venture investor with TS/SCI clearance and a front-row seat to the shifting landscape of defense tech. Brian joins the crew to share sharp insight on how the momentum-funding frenzy looks from the inside, what startups often get wrong when chasing big rounds, and why integration still matters more than hype. We also dig into the Senate Byrd Bath, budget reconciliation mechanics, and what $14 billion labeled as “innovation for the warfighter” really means. From impatient capital and stalled buying cycles to China's IP theft and America’s scaling problem, this episode covers why our tech is better—but still not getting where it needs to go. Plus: Legacy primes vs. neo-primes, Halloween candy metaphors, and the gap between a tradeshow demo and operational relevance.

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!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mTJ1oJEgB3rCbQouCL7XD?si=45c67d5954a443b5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/goat-rodeo/id1801310605

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@GoatRodeoPodcast