Another great episode. Mike is a great host and never disappoints.

Former USN and been in semiconductor industry since. Beyond the cool technology, there are great discussions about innovation and the bureaucracy that prevents it. Definitely applicable to all industries.

I am fascinated by the content that is provided by Paco and his crew. It’s been quite an education on our defense industrial complex and frankly it scares the &$?! out of me. Thanks for all you do fellas

Really appreciate the coverage Pako provides each week. The newsletter is easy to digest and always a quick and easy read to keep me updated! Keep it up

So glad I found this podcast. Mike “Pako” Benitez has found the way to package DoD related news into an entertaining and informative podcast….a great addition to his newsletter. The show makes me think of sitting in a booth in a bar behind a bunch of smart, witty, in-the-know friends hanging out and swapping tales about the day’s work…if the day’s work involved screaming through the skies in F-15E’s, F-16’s or F-35 fighters. You know you shouldn’t be listening, but you just can’t help it…it’s too interesting. All of his guests are well-read and down-to-Earth. A great podcast if defense related news is where you go to relax. 5 out of 5 all day long.

Very good coverage of the military industrial complex.

I never miss The Merge podcast or the newsletter. Mike Benitez has one of the best defense podcasts going. He always drives right into the heart of a topic — exploring the intersection of technology and operational concepts. — John Knowles

As always, great, pertinent information delivered in a straightforward timely manor! Thank you…

Pack is a great dude and borderline genius. The podcast always has interesting and relevant info that keeps even those in the fast jet community informed of what the commercial sector is up to.

Love this podcast! Highly recommended and very informative!

I have followed several podcasts where Mike Benitez has been interviewed where he has shared the depth of his experience as a war fighter and technology ace. On the Merge, Mike is leveraging those skills in his current product development role to bring remarkable, insightful, and helpful interviews. I am amazed at the guests Mike is getting on this new podcast. It shows that the the defense and tech industry has great respect for him.

Great balance of technology, politics and best of all simplification of complicated matters. Thanks for this!

Through unique interviews and impeccable research, the Merge delivers in depth knowledge of the intersection between the DoD and the politics/businesses that drive it, helping you to navigate the daily news headlines with deeper insight, resulting in a deeper sense of the role of the United States Military in geopolitics.

These guys are the best. Wish they could run DoD!

I really do enjoy this podcast as well as the emails. It gives a good take on things that are not /not much in the news.

Perhaps a tad esoteric to the defense industry. But this is a good show on the subject. Audio quality is superb, guests are interesting and the information provided is top notch.

Pako is is great. Enjoy listening to him on bro chats and more recently combat stories. Super funny and super smart. Great dude.

The pace is perfect. Good mix of deep learning on a topic and fun personal stories

Top of my shortlist for podcasts.

Better than the Army, Navy and Air Force Times. A one stop shop for US Military news.

Great show that gets into the details and really make a difference on how to look at an issue.

Excellent job by Mike to break things down and get great interviews.

I really like the new audio rundown of their newsletter!

The Merge is a spectacular download of intel and information on all things military. Easy listen, straightforward explanations, and no irrelevant chatter. Thanks for the excellent work and keep it up! The Merge Newsletter is just as good!

I am not aware of anywhere else where a person can learn so much detail of all things defense in a manner that is easy to digest. The wide range of topics and guests make each episode so captivating.

As a flyer and a technology nerd I looks forward to every episode of the most mediocre and informational podcast the world has seen. Fly. Fight. Win.

Loving the content and insight from you guys and gals.

There isn’t much content out there focused on defense innovation and navigating the business ecosystem around the Pentagon. This delivers it in an entertaining, super interesting format.

Did not think it was possible for a single podcast to clarify the full chain of defense innovation from congress to the war fighter. Great Job!

Great show. Looks at the needed details with a practical take on the topic

I found this podcast through Ward Carroll on YouTube (tell Ward to publish his audio as a podcast!). This podcast is the most approachable way to keep up with US defense trends and learn a little recent history. It is also a great way to keep up with general technology trends with more substantial analysis. Most tech podcasts are superficial and newsy. Here we have co-hosts and guests who take turns dissecting defense and tech stories from specific angles like resourcing/deployment, leadership and other political context, and geographic reality. It makes a big difference hearing things from people who were there, and as a regular taxpayer without any military background, I appreciate the care taken to explain the jargon, equipment, and methods – all in an accurate but friendly, no-stress way. This podcast is hopefully the start of a broader trend, of knowledgeable people speaking calmly about technology with an eye to impact around the world, rather than fear and hype.

I work in defense contracting and this show has helped me get up to date on some bigger-picture issues in the DoD and tech space. Love the deep dive format! I would enjoy a bit more of an introduction on the hosts/guests backgrounds and bios at the beginning of each episode.

If I’m in the middle of another podcast and a new Merge episode comes up, I switch immediately. Subject matter is superb and hosts are knowledgeable and entertaining! So The Best fits quite nicely!

The worst thing about this show is that the intro/outro music make my 1y/o start dancing and she gets upset when they end. I guess you could say this show is pretty okay.

Great podcast going into how US military systems are created, funded, approved which is insanely complex. Also some good leadership hits from aviators

If you enjoy an intelligent host with insightful thoughts military aviation, then this show will be highly enjoyable for you!

Touches on interesting defense topics in an engaging and amusing way. Definitely recommend to those interested in US defense topics.

This is a refreshingly light listen about severe, serious, and important things. Perfect for the former USAF O-2 who now works at a brewery, like me.

It’s a great behind the scenes view of the US military

Love this podcast (and newsletter). Makes me think about defense topics from different angles and helps me challenge my team to do the same. Also Mike is pretty damned funny.

All Heros in my book. This podcast makes me smarter and I enjoy the no-nonsense approach, with sprinkles of aviator wit.

Great real-time honest briefs from a humble, approachable and credible man that has lived the life and served honorably

Fantastic roll up of a complex requirement that few fully understand Great podcadt and fully enjoyable.

Keep up the good work. Really enjoy the podcast. I’ve enjoyed learning how the acquisition process works in the DoD. The latest episode about hypersonic flight was great too.

Informative, very entertaining… And all lies! Fighter pilot standard.

Awesome content. Maybe explain some of the acronyms a little better so civilians can understand what is going on.

The Merge is the best of aviation centric .MIL content in newsletter form factor, and now podcast. Highly recommended.

Show content is great, and a good insight into the morass that is DC. However… the host and guests constantly talk like they are muttering into their ale and don’t want anyone to overhear them. Holy smoke! Talk louder, like you have a pair! Were you never taught how to properly project your voices? Maxing out the volume on headphones or in the car barely makes the words intelligible. A seven-year old girl in church choir knows how to project her voice better then you. Listen to the Fighter Pilot Podcast for proper intonation and voice projection. If I cannae hear what’s being said, the greatest content in the world is worthless.

As an out-to-pasture greybeard, great keeping up with developments in the CAF and beyond with The Merge. Remembering how that old drunk in Independence Day jumped into a Hornet and splashed an alien deathstar, I’m trying to keep sharp. But it’ll take an alien invasion or a really bad bio-weapon before they get far enough down the list to give me a set of keys to the mighty-mighty. Fingers crossed …

Pako…Chat GPT likes your podcast! The Merge Podcast is a great national security podcast. It covers topics such as global conflict and terrorism, as well as interviews with leading security practitioners and experts. It provides timely, comprehensive coverage of national security issues and provides valuable perspectives on potential solutions and strategies.