Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight

In this episode, T. A. Mullis speaks with Ji Hyun Park, who escaped North Korea twice and went on to rebuild her life in the United Kingdom. (Sorry for the delay, recent family bereavements have left my schedule all out of whack)

Park describes her childhood under the Kim dictatorship, the famine, and the complete control the regime holds over information and daily life. She explains her first escape to save her younger brother, her experience of human trafficking in China, and the Chinese government’s practice of returning North Korean refugees to the regime. Sh...

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we speak with Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe, for a wide-ranging and unusually candid conversation about the state of democracy, the duty of military leaders, the future of Ukraine’s defence, and the global challenge posed by modern autocracies.

General Hodges reflects on the oath he took, how its meaning evolved across his career, and why he believes that oath is under greater strain today than at any time in his service. He discusses the pr...

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, host T. A. Mullis speaks with Zarina Zabrisky, an American war correspondent and filmmaker reporting from the frontlines of Kherson, Ukraine — a city living under daily Russian drone and artillery attacks.

Zabrisky, who has spent a decade documenting Russia’s hybrid war against the West, reveals the horror of what she calls a “human safari” — Russia’s use of FPV drones to hunt civilians for sport. She discusses the collapse of truth in the AI age, the Kremlin’s psychological warfare against democr...

Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight — Episode: American War Correspondent Phil Ittner

In this episode, host TA Mullis speaks with Phil Ittner, an American war correspondent with more than two decades of experience covering conflicts around the world — from Iraq and Afghanistan to Georgia and Ukraine. Now based in Kyiv, Ittner discusses the moral and historical battle lines between democracy and authoritarianism that define the 21st century.

Together, they explore journalism’s role in an age of disinformation, the impossibility yet necessity of striving for objectivity, and the philosophical divide...

American Azov: Vegas — The Firefighter Who Joined Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, host Theo Allthorpe-Mullis speaks with Vegas, an American firefighter and medic who left Texas to join Azov’s International Battalion in Ukraine.

From pulling people out of burning buildings to pulling wounded soldiers off the zero line, Vegas shares his journey from civilian life in the United States to the front lines of Ukraine’s war for survival.

He explains what compelled him to risk...

In this episode, host we speak with Nick Soutter — American author, philosopher, and journalist behind In Time Media and the dystopian novel The Water Thief. 

Soutter has spent years dissecting the moral and political decay of democratic societies and the slow rise of corporate authoritarianism.

Together, Theo and Nick explore the erosion of democracy in the United States and across the Western world, from the Trump phenomenon and “pay-to-play” corruption to the creeping power of corporations like Musk’s and Thiel’s techno-feudal empires. Soutter argues that what we are witnessing is not just politi...

In this episode, host Theo Allthorpe-Mullis speaks from Kyiv with Knight, a British volunteer serving in Ukraine’s Azov International Battalion.

Knight explains why he left the United Kingdom to join Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion, how he copes with fear and loss on the front line, and why he considers this war a just and necessary struggle. He describes daily life within Azov, the realities of combat in the Donbas, and the misconceptions surrounding the unit.

The discussion ranges from the practical and psychological demands of frontl...

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, host Theo Allthorpe-Mullis speaks with Oleg Magaletsky, a Ukrainian investor, strategist and one of the founders of the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum.

Oleg argues that true and lasting peace in Europe will only be possible through the decolonisation and disintegration of the Russian Federation. From the Caucasus to Siberia, dozens of captive nations remain under Moscow’s control. Their natural wealth is exploited and their people are used as expendable soldiers in wars of imperial expansion.

The conversation ex...

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, I speak with Lieutenant Colonel Andrii “Djakonda” Koval, head of the Unmanned Systems Battalion “Kondor” of the 1st Presidential Operational Brigade Bureviy in the Ukrainian National Guard.

Djakonda and his soldiers are on the cutting edge of modern warfare—fighting with drones and robotic systems that have reshaped the battlefield from the front line to hundreds, even thousands, of kilometres into enemy territory. From reconnaissance and FPV strike drones to robotic ground vehicles delivering supplies and evacuating the wounded, Kondor’s work is redefining how wars are fou...

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, I speak with Rosie Cecil — head of strategic partnerships for Mission Ukraine UK and a medic/ambulance driver with Mobile Medical Rescue (MMR). For three years, Rosie has volunteered in Ukraine, supporting frontline medics, delivering vehicles and aid, and driving into danger zones to evacuate the wounded.

We discuss her journey from delivering generators to war-torn villages in 2022 to running medical evacuations in the “grey zone” today. Rosie reflects on the realities of drone warfare, the deliberate targeting of medics and civilians, the trauma faced by Ukrainians, and wh...

On this unique episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, I speak with LK, a Hong Kong artist, puppeteer, playwright, and dissident now living in exile in France.

LK’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and defiance. We discuss how art can resist silence, the dangers and power of puppetry and object theatre, and the struggle to create freely under censorship. LK opens up about leaving Hong Kong in 2019, the wave of repression that followed the National Security Law, and the transnational threats they and their family continue to face.

We al...

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, I speak with Dr Mark Clifford President of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, journalist, academic, and author of The Troublemaker, a biography of Jimmy Lai.

Mark spent nearly three decades in Hong Kong, working as editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post and The Standard, and serving on the board of Apple Daily. He witnessed the city’s democratic flowering under Governor Chris Patten, its crushing under Beijing’s National Security Law, and the imprisonment of his colleague and friend Jimmy Lai who...

In this very special episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we are honoured to speak with General David H. Petraeus: former CIA Director, Commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and one of America’s most respected military leaders.

Across a remarkable career at the highest levels of military and intelligence service, Petraeus has had a front-row seat to the great struggles between democracy and dictatorship; from the Cold War to counterinsurgencies in the Middle East, and now to the rise of authoritarian powers in the 21st century.

...

“If you fire, fire at me.”

During Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution in 2014, Ray Wong saw an older man stand in front of armed police and offer his life to protect the crowd. That moment changed Wong forever, and set him on a path from student protester to activist leader, and finally into exile.

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, Ray — now policy and strategy advisor at Hong Kong Watch — tells his story: how the Umbrella Revolution brought together a generation, why “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times” became the def...

In this compelling episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we sit down with Professor Tim Wilson - academic, filmmaker, YouTuber, and former politician - in London to explore the crisis facing modern democracy and what we can do about it.

Professor Wilson brings a unique perspective, having taught in authoritarian countries including Russia, where he met Vladimir Putin in 2016 ("he emanates evil"), and having infiltrated UKIP from within before resigning over racism. Now through his daily YouTube channel, he offers uncompromising analysis that earns him criticism from both left and right - which he sees...

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we’re joined by Professor Mark Galeotti, one of the world’s leading experts on modern Russia, for a sweeping conversation on authoritarianism, democracy, and the future of Putin’s regime.

We explore:

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight we’re speaking with Jonathan Fink. He was a digital marketing strategist, then Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine changed everything. 

Now, he’s the creator of Silicon Curtain, a YouTube channel and podcast that battles Russian disinformation with facts, context, and strategic narrative warfare.

Be sure to check out his work through the link above!

In this episode, we dive deep into:

In this gripping episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight we sit down with award-winning journalist and war correspondent John Sweeney. 

With four decades on the frontlines from Grozny to Kyiv, Sweeney unpacks what he's learned about authoritarian power, the role of propaganda, and why telling the truth still matters.

From Chechnya to Ukraine, from the Taliban to Tommy Robinson, Sweeney reflects on how democracies are under siege from bombs and bullets, lies, nostalgia, and digital manipulation.

🔥 Highlights include:

In this powerful episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, We speak with Estonian MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson for an unflinching conversation about Russia’s imperial legacy, the modern authoritarian playbook, and what it takes to defend democracy today.

Drawing on decades of experience as a journalist and politician, Mihkelson shares eyewitness insights from the First Chechen War, the Kremlin’s early efforts to dismantle democracy, and how the West has enabled Moscow’s aggression through appeasement and inaction.

We explore:

In this episode of Why We Fight, I speak with Adil Raja, a former major in the Pakistani military who became one of its fiercest critics.

Now living in exile in the UK, Raja pulls back the curtain on how Pakistan’s military has dominated the country’s politics, enabled extremism, and violently suppressed dissent both at home and abroad.

We explore:

· His transformation from decorated officer to dissident journalist

· His firsthand account of how the military manipulates elections, courts, and media

· How the generals built and deployed jihadist militia...

In this powerful episode of Why We Fight, we speak with award-winning Pakistani investigative journalist Taha Siddiqui, who survived an attempted abduction by Pakistan’s military and now lives in exile in Paris. 

From exposing military human rights abuses to running The Dissident Club, a bar for global exiles and freedom fighters, Siddiqui shares how authoritarian regimes weaponise identity, faith and fear to silence dissent.

We discuss:
• How the Pakistani military suppresses press freedom and democracy
• The rise of transnational repression targeting dissidents abroad
• Why exile has made his journalism more impactful, not less<...

In this episode of Why We Fight we’re again recording in Kyiv, speaking to the legendary war correspondent Paul Conroy. 

He’s covered nearly every war since Kosovo: Libya, Iraq, Syria and now, Ukraine. He has brought back stories that have made an enormous difference; the human stories, the stories that mattered. 

We discuss what war is, where in the human spirit it comes from, what resistance can look like, how truth can survive autocracy and what the future may hold for the war correspondent. 

Enjoy!

Oh, and, this work is enti...

In this episode of Why We Fight we’re at the Estonian Embassy in Kyiv, speaking with Ambassador Annely Kolk, Estonia’s highest representative in Ukraine. 

She has had a storied career in the Estonian Foreign Service, previously serving as ambassador to Turkey, concurrently accredited to Iran and Azerbaijan. In 2017 she helped secure the release of Estonian security personnel in India, earning her the nickname ‘Lioness’

We discuss Estonia’s history with Russian imperialism and their fight for freedom, the importance of supporting Ukraine in its fight and what European partners should be doing to ensure that...

In this episode of Why We Fight we’re speaking with Jimmy Rushton, a British journalist and defence analyst. He has covered nearly every conflict in the 21st century. He is a geopolitical expert and has been living in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. 

We discuss what we can expect from the US in Ukraine, what China may do and the prospects for Ukrainian victory. 

Enjoy!

Oh, and, this work is entirely self funded, if you enjoy it please consider supporting me with a small donation or becoming a paid subs...

In this episode of Why We Fight we’re speaking with Marika Mikiashvili. She's a politician, an academic and an activist working to keep the flame of liberty alight in embattled Georgia, where the regime is trying to turn the clock back to older, darker times of tyranny and repression. 

We talk about how Georgian Dream stole the 2024 elections, what democrats in other countries can do to help protect Georgian democracy, how it feels to watch democracy slip away and how dictatorship is terrible for your skincare routine. 

Enjoy!

Oh, and, this work is e...

In this episode of Why We Fight we’re speaking with Freddie Steimler

A 27 year veteran of Norway’s military, he now serves again as a volunteer bringing vital vehicles and equipment into Ukraine for the charity Bergen Hjelper Ukraina.

We explore how a children’s theatre in Norway came to support Ukraine, and reflect on his wartime experience to assess how much warfare has changed — and how Russia’s war crimes undermine it both militarily and morally.

Paid subscribers can listen to the full episode here now!

Full release to all my oth...

In this episode of Why We Fight we’re speaking with Dr Alex Fergusson. He’s a British boffin in the highest and best tradition. 

A PhD in materials science from Imperial College London, he initially founded a green tech company: FAC Techonology. When Russia invaded Ukraine, he refocused his efforts on arming the Ukrainian military with the best drones he could design. 

We talk about his experience of repression in the 2019 protests in Hong Kong, what makes a good drone for the Ukrainian military and, of course, why he believes Democracy is worth fighting for. <...

In our third episode of ‘Why We Fight’ I am privileged to be talking with the filmmaker  Caolan Robertson. His films on Russia’s illegal and imperialist invasion of Ukraine have reached millions worldwide and he represents a new, young and vibrant type of conflict correspondent. 

We talk about how to combat disinformation, the fear you need to keep hold of when reporting war and what government needs to do to fight Russian psy-war efforts. 

Support my work: https://buymeacoffee.com/tamullis

Discord: https://discord.gg/qnYb8K9a

Dictators v Democrats...

In this episode of Why We Fight, I am speaking with Tamara, a woman protesting against Aleksandar Vucic’s corrupt and undemocratic government in Serbia. 

She is one of many protesting in the wake of a tragedy at a railway station in Novi Sad last year in which 16 people died. 

She speaks about feeling democracy slip away, about how corruption effects daily life and what she wants Serbia’s future to look like. 

Support my Work: https://buymeacoffee.com/tamullis

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/vsTNKRvy

Patreon: Awaits approva...

In our first episode of why we fight, we're talking with Sheikh Said Ismagilov. 

He is one of the most senior Islamic clerics in Ukraine and was Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine. 

When the Russians invaded in 2022, he signed up to fight as a combat medic, serving in Bakhmut and across the lines. He participated in the liberation of his hometown of Bucha, where the Russians had looted his home. 

Join me, as we find out what it was like for the Sheikh to defend both his faith and fre...