Building The Base
The ultimate podcast at the nexus of entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, and our National Security

New Miniseries: Maintaining the Edge in the DoD
We are proud to be hosting a new miniseries with the leaders in the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD-R&E) team. In this multi-part miniseries, you'll hear from leaders in the DoD research and engineering community discuss the innovative ways they are leveraging new tools to ensure DoD can maintain the edge in development and deploying war winning technologies.
Our first episode in this series features Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under
Secretary of Defense for R&E. Listen in as she frames the vision for this series at
the top of this episode, and follows with some keen insights in the important work going on within the Department to more quickly adopt new technologies from wherever it comes from.

Leveraging America's Capital Advantage to Enhance National Security
In this episode of Building The Base our Host Lauren Bedula
and Hondo Geurts dive into a compelling conversation with Dr Jason Rathje, Director of the DoD Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) as part of our mini-series with DoD's Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering team. In this episode Jason discusses the recent stand up of the first direct credit program in the DoD, and the availability of nearly $1B in available credit to support competitiveness of our US industrial base. On the show he notesm "And we're starting to see the market shift in ways already, just
by the announcement today, of folks responding with eagerness to be
able to receive a loan to expand the production equipment that's
required to grow industrial capacity in areas that they weren't able to
grow prior to OSC’s existence.”
In this episode of Building The Base our Host Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts dive into a compelling conversation with Dr Jason Rathje, Director of the DoD Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) as part of our mini-series with DoD's Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering team. In this episode Jason discusses the recent stand up of the first direct credit program in the DoD, and the availability of nearly $1B in available credit to support competitiveness of our US industrial base. On the show he notesm "And we're starting to see the market shift in ways already, just by the announcement today, of folks responding with eagerness to be able to receive a loan to expand the production equipment that's required to grow industrial capacity in areas that they weren't able to grow prior to OSC’s existence.”

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Latest Episodes
Driving Comprehensive Defense Acquisition Reform with Eric Lofgren
In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren and Hondo sit down with Eric Lofgren, a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Eric provides an insider's perspective on the need for comprehensive acquisition reform. He discusses his unexpected path to this role, initially jo...
Bipartisan Breakthroughs: Rep. Pat Ryan, House Defense Modernization Caucus
In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18). Rep. Ryan represents a diverse district of 800,000 in upstate New York, which includes his alma mater, West Point. An Iraq war veteran, Rep. Ryan transitioned from active duty, to defens...
Next-Gen Defense: AI on the Frontlines with Thomas Robinson, COO Domino Data Lab
This episode of Building the Base features an interview with Thomas Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of Domino Data Lab, who has an interesting background in finance and a strong passion for contributing to national security. Hosted by Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts, the conversation dives into Th...
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Driving Comprehensive Defense Acquisition Reform with Eric Lofgren









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One of a kind!
An amazing dialogue with some of the most interesting guests in technology and national security. A must listen for entrepreneurs, innovators, government leaders, and anyone who wants to learn more about how technology will impact our future security and prosperity
Best Podcast re: NatSec / Defense tech innovation
Lauren & Hondo co-host the best Podcast that I’ve been exposed to re: National Security & Defense technology innovation (and Gov / Defense acquisition reform). Well done Lauren, Hondo, all the Podcast guests, and Business Executives for National Security (BENS) for producing this valuable series.
More discussion of this topic needed
The hosts do a excellent job of bringing important topics in national security and technology to the forefront, in both an interesting and informative way. Keep it coming.
The one podcast that brings together the tech, financial, entrepeneur, and national security communities
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