In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric put quantum computing on the table—what quantum computers are, why “harvest-now, decrypt-later” raises the stakes for your data, and what a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) world will look like. Plus: China’s threats to restrict rare-earth exports, partnership opportunities in AI-enabled open-source intelligence (OSINT), and the implications of the well deserved Nobel Peace Prize recognition for María Corina Machado of Venezuela.

Programming note: After a two-week break following Sue’s surgery, catch the next UI Podcast release on October 28, 2025.

Timestamps:

01:20 Halloween Candy Choices

04:30 China's Rare Earth Restriction

08:37 The Rise of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

13:28 Counterintelligence in the Modern Era

21:19 Nobel Peace Prize

26:31 Quantum Computing Basics

29:24 Quantum Computing and Cryptography

39:38 Quantum Computing in Finance and Medicine

41:26 Future of Quantum Computing

44:07 What We’re Watching

Article Links:

OSINT OpED:

Kahn Academy Quantum:

Federal Reserve HNDL Paper:

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
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New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric unpack Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s fiery Quantico address—why it was a tactical speech to a strategic audience, how it missed the mission, and what its message signals for women and talent across the country. They examine the tension between unity and conformity, leadership and loyalty, and the risk of mistaking discipline for devotion. Plus: SWIFT moves onto blockchain, Beijing’s use of organized crime to expand influence in Taiwan, Netanyahu’s rare apology to Qatar, and the real-world fallout of a U.S. government shutdown on small defense innovators.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

01:30 Super Bowl Halftime Show Discussion

03:39 SWIFT's Blockchain Initiative

06:28 Gangland Geopolitics in Taiwan

13:15 Netanyahu's Apology to Qatar

16:35 Government Shutdown on Defense Startups

23:02 Shutdown Game: What's Funded?

26:52 Military Leadership and Diversity

46:25 What We're Watching

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Send us a text

New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric discuss President Erdoğan’s visit to the White House and analyze Turkey, a necessary NATO ally, through Umberto Eco’s ‘ur-fascism’ lens. They examine the SIM farm operating near the U.N. and how cybercriminals are shifting from endpoints to the telecom infrastructure layer. Plus: quick updates on the real-world impacts of a U.S. government shutdown, former FBI Director James Comey’s indictment, the TikTok executive order, and a diplomatic letter from Venezuela.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

03:07 Government Shutdown

09:41 James Comey Indictment

13:20 TikTok and National Security

20:19 Venezuela’s Letter to the US

26:56 Telecom Threat at the UN

32:27 US-Turkey Relations: A Strategic Alliance

35:53 Erdogan's Ur-Fascism Shift in Turkey

44:00 Closing Thoughts and Current Events

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Send us a text

New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.