American Ambassadors Live! Podcast
The American Ambassadors Live! Podcast (previously called CAA Live!) invites foreign policy experts and practitioners from the United States and around the world to share their perspectives on critical international issues. Disclaimer: Views expressed on this program are solely those of individual members and should not be construed as those of the Council of American Ambassadors, executive leadership, membership as a whole, or individuals or organizations that provide financial support to the Council of American Ambassadors.
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Mexico and Migration, Most Important Diplomatic Issue of the 21st Century
04/23/2024
Mexico and Migration, Most Important Diplomatic Issue of the 21st Century
"Migration issues are going be some of the most important diplomatic issues of the 21st century, whether we agree or disagree on them, I think we just have to at least start by acknowledging that they really are important, and that and it's going to be hard to talk about foreign policy without talking about these issues." ~ Ambassador Chris Landau Listen or watch the podcast interview to understand why these issues are going to impact foreign policy decisions in a global way in the coming years. served as the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico from 2019 to 2021. During his tenure at the helm of the country’s largest diplomatic mission, U.S.-Mexican relations reached historic highs with the entry into force of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement and unprecedented binational cooperation on migration. Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Landau practiced law in Washington, D.C., for thirty years. For most of that time, he was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and head of the firm’s appellate litigation practice. served as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania from 1998 to 2001 and is a member of the CAA Board of Directors. He currently is Chairman and CEO of Patuxent Capital Group LLC and serves in the Maryland State Senate.
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Assessment: Middle East Outlook
04/12/2024
Assessment: Middle East Outlook
Ambassador Ryan Crocker presents a frank assessment of the situation in the Middle East after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. He served as US Ambassador to 6 nations, (Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and Lebanon). He serves today on the Afghanistan War Commission. Former President George W. Bush called him “America’s Lawrence of Arabia” because of his extensive knowledge of the Middle East. Please note: this podcast was recorded before the events of April 1, 2024 that killed Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' overseas Quds Force, and six other officers as they attended a meeting in the Damascus embassy compound.
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Balkans Mission: A Perspective on Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia
08/30/2023
Balkans Mission: A Perspective on Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia
Join Ambassador G. Philip Hughes and Ambassador Thomas Riley on American Ambassadors Live! with host, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe in a debrief of the Council of American Ambassadors' recent Mission to the Balkans. The three countries visited during the Mission were: Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. Discussed in the podcast are the aspirations of each country to join the EU, the influence of China and Russia in the region, and key take aways from the trip. served as the U.S. Ambassador to Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 1990 to 1993. Prior his appointment, Ambassador Hughes served as Executive Secretary of the National Security Council during 1989 and 1990. was the United States Ambassador to Morocco from 2003 to 2009. Ambassador Riley was selected as the recipient of the State Department's 2009 Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, the only award given by the State Department to a political-appointee Ambassador. He joined BrightSource Energy, an Oakland, California-based global provider of utility scale solar technology, as senior adviser for International business development. served as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania from 1998 to 2001 and is a member of the CAA Board of Directors. He currently is Chairman and CEO of Patuxent Capital Group LLC and serves in the Maryland State Senate.
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Mastering the Art of Diplomacy: an Interview with Ambassador Sondland
01/11/2023
Mastering the Art of Diplomacy: an Interview with Ambassador Sondland
Join Ambassador Sondland on American Ambassadors Live! with host, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe discussing Ambassador Sondland's recent book, The Envoy. Ambassador Sondland shares his experiences while Ambassador to the EU, examining the real job of the ambassador, his relationship with President Zelenskyy, and the differences between career and political ambassadors. , the guest for today’s podcast is Ambassador Gordon Sondland. He is the Founder and CEO of Provenance Hotels, a national owner and operator of full-service boutique “lifestyle” hotels. In January 2022 he joined the Board of Directors at AHLA, the American Hotel & Lodging Association. In 2018, Sondland was appointed to serve as the 20th United States Ambassador to the European Union. As Ambassador, Sondland was one of the highest-ranking US officials in Europe and his portfolio included trade, energy, national security, defense agriculture and several other files. Sondland has held positions on Governor Kulongoski’s transition team, as well as on the Commission for White House Fellowships to which he was appointed by President George W. Bush. Most recently he wrote the book, The Envoy: Mastering the Art of Diplomacy with Trump and the World released in October of 2022. served as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania from 1998 to 2001 and is a member of the CAA Board of Directors. He currently is Chairman and CEO of Patuxent Capital Group LLC and serves in the Maryland State Senate.
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Sweden - Partnership for Peace to NATO
12/20/2022
Sweden - Partnership for Peace to NATO
Join Ambassador Siebert on American Ambassadors Live! with host, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe in a discussion of Sweden's history, partnership with Peace, and the path to joining NATO. , the guest for today’s podcast, was the Ambassador to Sweden from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, he served as Chairman of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference. The ITU---at the time comprised of representatives of 189 Nations---is the United Nations' specialized agency devoted to telecommunications matters and is the highest decision-making body made up of representatives of governments belonging to an international treaty-making organization. A Washington attorney with over 30 years of private sector experience and a diplomat during the Clinton Presidency in the 1990's, Thomas L. Siebert specializes in international business and governmental affairs related to telecom, IT, renewable energy and clean technology. served as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania from 1998 to 2001 and is a member of the CAA Board of Directors. He currently is Chairman and CEO of Patuxent Capital Group LLC and serves in the Maryland State Senate.
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Nuclear War: Very Real Threat
10/12/2022
Nuclear War: Very Real Threat
Joseph Cirincione joins American Ambassadors Live! host, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe discussing the current nuclear threat. What are the risks? What should be the appropriate response to each risk? How would nuclear war unfold in an isolated location and or globally? What response with inherent ramifications is warranted? Joseph Cirincione a national security analyst and nuclear security expert for the past 40 years. He is an adjunct faculty member at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He was appointed president of the Ploughshares Fund, a grant foundation focused on nuclear nonproliferation and conflict resolution. He has served on the International Security Advisory Board for Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is the author of seven books, the most recent title: Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before it is Too Late. Cirincione has also served as vice president for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress. Ambassador Jim Rosapepe served as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania from 1998 to 2001 and is a member of the CAA Board of Directors. He currently is Chairman and CEO of Patuxent Capital Group LLC and serves in the Maryland State Senate.
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Don't Poke the Russian Bear, but be Helpful
09/30/2022
Don't Poke the Russian Bear, but be Helpful
Ambassador Tod Sedgwick joins American Ambassadors Live! host, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe, considering a question for Slovakia and Europe, "What happens when, not if, Russia cuts it [gas] off?" Join them in a discussion of Slovakia's history to become the sovereign state it is now, Slovakia's military, and current energy situation. Also, learn how the Slovaks view the Russia/Ukraine war and what they are doing to supporting the Ukrainians. served as the former U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia (2010-2015). He serves on the board of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress along with the board of Foreign Policy 4 America. He is a member of the Ambassadorial Advisory Committee of the Atlantic Council and is on the board of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. In 2001, he founded IO Energy, an online energy information company covering the natural gas, coal, and electricity industries, and served as its Chairman from 2001 to 2004. He also founded Pasha Publications, a specialty publisher focused on energy, defense and environment markets, and served as the chief executive from 1978 to 1998. served as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania from 1998 to 2001 and is a member of the CAA Board of Directors. He currently is Chairman and CEO of Patuxent Capital Group LLC and serves in the Maryland State Senate.
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Poland: Tenacity, Courage, Leadership - Yet Still a "Step-Child"
09/19/2022
Poland: Tenacity, Courage, Leadership - Yet Still a "Step-Child"
Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher joins American Ambassadors Live! host, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe, to discuss Poland's tenacity, courage, and leadership in regards to the current Ukraine/Russia war, Ukrainian refugees, and energy. Ambassador Mosbacher then goes on to describe the relationship of the European Union with Poland. She describes the EU as viewing the relationship with Poland as a "step-child".
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Germany - A Look Inside: Energy, Ukraine, and China
09/07/2022
Germany - A Look Inside: Energy, Ukraine, and China
Ambassador John Emerson joins American Ambassadors Live! host, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe, to discuss Germany's perspective regarding the conflict in Ukraine, the energy challenges Germany faces, the impact of internal politics, and the Europe/China relationship. Ambassador John Emerson sees the Germany and Russia's relationship over the past 40-50 years as being schizophrenic. He goes on to explain what causes this type of relationship. One example being "...(German) admiration for the Russian spirit - the Russian soul, and interestingly enough - and this pertains to the current situation - the incredible ability of the Russian people to endure suffering for a long period of time." Ambassador Emerson is the former U.S. Ambassador to Germany (2013-2017). He currently serves as Chairman for the American Council on Germany and is the Vice Chairman for Capital Group International. He serves on the boards of the Pacific Council on International Policy and the German Marshal Fund. He is a long serving member on the Council on Foreign Relations.
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New Holistic Hiring Process for the Foreign Service - Jefferson Smith
07/18/2022
New Holistic Hiring Process for the Foreign Service - Jefferson Smith
Interested in joining the Foreign Service? Join Ambassador Rosapepe and Director of Talent Acquisition Jeff Smith as they discuss the updated hiring process. What is the Foreign Service? There was a change recently made to join the Foreign Service, what was it and what are the benefits? What are the opportunities and career paths for a Foreign Service officer? Learn the answers to these questions and fun facts. is a Senior Foreign Service Officer, currently serving as the Director of Talent Acquisition at the Department of State. Since joining the Foreign Service in 2000, Jeff has served overseas assignments in Kuwait City, Kuwait; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Dublin, Ireland; Yaoundé, Cameroon; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Kingston, Jamaica. He has also served in Washington, D.C. in four regional bureaus. served as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania from 1998 to 2001 and is a member of the CAA Board of Directors. He currently is Chairman and CEO of Patuxent Capital Group LLC and serves in the Maryland State Senate.
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James Gilmore: A Dangerous Continent
08/23/2021
James Gilmore: A Dangerous Continent
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and former Governor of Virginia, James Gilmore, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine and Russia's activities in the region.
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Gordon Sondland: Personal Diplomacy
07/19/2021
Gordon Sondland: Personal Diplomacy
Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss his experiences and the state of U.S. foreign policy.
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Crisis Across Borders
06/25/2021
Crisis Across Borders
Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ambassador Christopher Landau, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss Mexico's domestic policies and how the nation has handled the COVID-19 pandemic.
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With One Voice - NATO's Historic Alliance
06/14/2021
With One Voice - NATO's Historic Alliance
Former Permanent Representative of the U.S. to NATO, Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss the historic alliance and its current challenges.
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From the Sea to Seoul
06/08/2021
From the Sea to Seoul
Former Ambassador to South Korea, Harry Harris, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss his experience at post and the critical importance of the U.S.-South Korean partnership.
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A Perfect Storm - COVID and Crises in India
06/01/2021
A Perfect Storm - COVID and Crises in India
Former Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss the ongoing crises in India as the nation copes with a devastating wave of COVID cases.
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The Abraham Accords and the United Arab Emirates
05/14/2021
The Abraham Accords and the United Arab Emirates
Former Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, John Rakolta, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss his time at post and the efforts behind the Abraham Accords.
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Balancing Belgium and the EU
05/06/2021
Balancing Belgium and the EU
Former Ambassador to Belgium and former acting United States Ambassador to the European Union, Ronald Gidwitz, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Tom Korologos to share how he balanced his two critical roles overseas.
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Global Criminal Justice
05/03/2021
Global Criminal Justice
Former Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice, Morse Tan, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Louise Oliver to share the challenges of pursuing international justice.
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The Longstanding Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
03/15/2021
The Longstanding Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union and Azerbaijan, Richard Morningstar, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Philip Hughes to explore the history behind the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and the current instability in Nagorno-Karabakh.
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The Future of the United States' Yemen Strategy
03/01/2021
The Future of the United States' Yemen Strategy
Former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen, Gerald Feierstein, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host, Ambassador Philip Hughes, to discuss the ongoing crisis in Yemen and the future of U.S. policy in the region.
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The U.S. and Multilateralism
02/18/2021
The U.S. and Multilateralism
Former Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues at the UN, Kelley Currie, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Louise Oliver to discuss working with the UN and the challenges of multilateralism.
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Chinese and Russian Influence in Africa
01/15/2021
Chinese and Russian Influence in Africa
Former U.S Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Tom McDonald, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host, Ambassador Philip Hughes, to explore the influence of Chinese and Russian activities in Africa.
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Appointing Non-Career American Ambassadors
01/14/2021
Appointing Non-Career American Ambassadors
Former ambassador to Germany, John Emerson, and former ambassador for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations, Stuart Holliday, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe, to discuss the selection of non-career ambassadors for the United States.
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Sue Cobb: The Lady of Silk and Steel
12/09/2020
Sue Cobb: The Lady of Silk and Steel
Former U.S Ambassador to Jamaica Sue Cobb joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss foreign affairs, her time in office, and her new book, The Lady of Silk and Steel: From Everest to Embassies - now available for purchase.
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Capricia Marshall: Protocol
11/02/2020
Capricia Marshall: Protocol
Former Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Capricia Marshall, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to explore why diplomacy and etiquette matter - both in the global arena and in everyday life. Ambassador Marshall's new book, Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make it Work for You, is available now.
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Stavros Lambrinidis: Europe's Cooperation through Crises
10/26/2020
Stavros Lambrinidis: Europe's Cooperation through Crises
The EU Ambassador to the U.S., Stavros Lambrinidis, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, and the role of cooperation in times of crisis.
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Ashok Mirpuri: Singapore's Strengths in the Midst of COVID-19
10/07/2020
Ashok Mirpuri: Singapore's Strengths in the Midst of COVID-19
Singapore's Ambassador to the U.S., Ashok Mirpuri, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss Singapore's response to the COVID-19 crisis.
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Lebanon: Responding to Crises
09/03/2020
Lebanon: Responding to Crises
Former Ambassador to Morocco, Edward Gabriel, joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss the current circumstances in Lebanon and the response from around the globe. Ambassador Gabriel is President of the American Task Force for Lebanon.
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Italy's Transformation in the Age of COVID-19
08/28/2020
Italy's Transformation in the Age of COVID-19
Ambassador of Italy to the U.S. Armando Varricchio joined American Ambassadors Live! Podcast host Ambassador Jim Rosapepe to discuss Italy's response to the coronavirus outbreak and how the nation is moving forward and adapting. Ambassador Varricchio has previously served as Head of the Economic, Trade and Scientific Affairs Section of the Embassy.
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