American Diplomat

American Diplomat goes behind the scenes to hear real stories from diplomats who lived newsworthy events overseas. Experience the Cuban revolution, Central American insurgencies, the end of apartheid and more through the eyes of those who were there. A project of Arizona State University.

I'm Going to Kathmandu - Encore 10/31/2024

I'm Going to Kathmandu - Encore Oh, the stress of the election! We're feeling the strain! So we thought we could all use a little break. Here's one of our earliest, most fun episodes. Larry Dinger regales us with tales of tires on fire, pollution, trekking, and one of the most bizarre episodes in monarchy in the world. Now Laura wants to join the Foreign Service and all of us want to go to Kathmandu. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33705942

War Criminals Held to Account 10/24/2024

War Criminals Held to Account David Scheffer, our country's foremost diplomat on war crimes, reveals the unstoppable forces seeking justice. The bad get badder and the good get better. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33597887

There Is Always Hope – Encore 10/17/2024

There Is Always Hope – Encore An inspirational story of personal redlines and resilience that has stuck with us: Ambassador John Feeley left a beloved job as US Ambassador to Panama, at the pinnacle of his career. Why? He could in good conscience act as the personal representative of a particular US President. John Feeley shares candidly the painful but surmountable experience of depression and recovery upon departure from the Foreign Service. May we all share as generously as our friend John. There is always hope. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33498642

Just Don’t Call Them, “the Baltics” 10/10/2024

Just Don’t Call Them, “the Baltics” Soviet occupation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania ended 30 years ago but to many, it could have been yesterday. How secure are these states, and what will happen to them if Ukraine falls? Is there any change in security policy, in case of a Trump victory in the US? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33406517

Viva la Presidenta! 10/03/2024

Viva la Presidenta! Out with the old, in with the new? Will Claudia Sheinbaum, new (and first female) President of Mexico, allow the departing leader AMLO to control her presidency, as designated successors of autocrats often do, or will she govern on her own terms? What will happen with all of those door-to-door check giveaways? Sheinbaum does not tip her hand. Amb. (Ret.) John Feeley guides us through Mexico’s new frontier. We watch with interest. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33314132

Benghazied! 09/26/2024

Benghazied! And what does Behghazi have to do with our withdrawal from Afghanistan, and why are people investigating our exit from that country on the third anniversary of the withdrawal, not, say, on the first or second anniversary? Ambassador Dennis Jett has a thing or two to say about this. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33225512

Digital Militias and Collective Delusion 09/19/2024

Digital Militias and Collective Delusion Prominent Brazilian journalist Cecilia Tornaghi shares the major struggle between Elon Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, after the judge shut down X. The episode begs the question: Since these platforms have become a public service, do they bear responsibility for who uses them? Who decides what is truth, disinformation, or that which is likely to incite? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33126117

War Game – See this Film! 09/13/2024

War Game – See this Film! Janessa Goldbeck, ex-Marine, CEO of Vet Voice Foundation and producer of the new film War Game, explains what a war game is and how it became the basis for this unusual and highly effective film. What will happen if we experience another insurrection at the coming inauguration? Why are vets and servicemembers special targets of foreign disinformation campaigns? Join us and learn in depth what the Insurrection Act is, why it exists, and how powerful and potentially dangerous it is. Now in theaters, streaming on September 27. Go to for more info. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33039402

The World Is Burning 09/05/2024

The World Is Burning FSO Chad Houghton takes us back to 2020 when John Kerry, the first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, brought the US back into the Paris agreement. Quiz: Which is worse, methane or CO2? Also, what argument won people over diplomatically (hint – not the moral or scientific angle)? And how do we work with adversaries like China to cool things down? And why would a petrostate like the UAE host a global climate conference? Join us, and see also this month’s for more. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32908397

Trade is Leaving the Planet 08/29/2024

Trade is Leaving the Planet David Thomas, Executive Director of ASU’s Milo Space Science Institute, describes the global stability benefits of providing countries of the world access to space through education (what’s it like to mine ice water on the shadow region of the moon?) and ridesharing (yes, ridesharing) to space. Prada is making space suits and Hilton is designing crew quarters. Milo fosters global opportunity to join the space economy and in so doing, fosters the creation of values-based laws and policies. Prepare to be inspired. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32794897

Attempted Takeover of Voice of America 08/23/2024

Attempted Takeover of Voice of America Steve Herman, author of , is back to tell the tale of the time the Trump administration tried to seize editorial control of the Voice of America and turn it into a propaganda agency. Why is it in our interests as Americans for VOA to remain an independent, credible source worldwide, even covering negative events in the US? What are the risks to those, like Steve, who resisted the takeover? See also a review of his book in /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32712402

This Steal Was For Real: Venezuela 08/15/2024

This Steal Was For Real: Venezuela The Maduro regime told breathtaking lies about voting tallies, but the opposition has proof. What are diplomats doing to promote a democratic outcome? Keith Mines, Vice President of the Latin America Program at the US Institute for Peace, explores the options and shares first-hand tales of similar instances in the region. Over seven million Venezuelans have fled poverty and mass misery already. What will happen if no one can help? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32591997

Behind the White House Curtain 08/08/2024

Behind the White House Curtain Journalist and FSO (you read that correctly!) Steve Herman’s new book delves into the balance between, as Pete says, being the pitcher and the umpire at the same time. Especially during the Trump White House, what was it like to be “the enemy of the people”? Trump’s priority was to feed his base red meat, was he really out of control? Join us to hear Steve talk about his experience in this extraordinary dual role. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32498837

Rivalry on Earth, Rivalry in Space 08/01/2024

Rivalry on Earth, Rivalry in Space General Brook Leonard is back to focus on China as our competitor in space. What is rivalry in space – economic, military, both? And what can we learn from China’s holistic approach to space? The technological environment is rapidly changing and the stakes are very high. We are not the leader. How does diplomacy address this? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32378462

Space Diplomacy 07/25/2024

Space Diplomacy Major General Brook Leonard joins us to parse “coopetition” in the 3rd space age. With vital interests ranging from movement of money to food security, space technology is moving faster than rules and norms. What are the red lines? There is no geographic separation in space as on earth, and no way to be sure what a communications satellite in space is actually doing. Will global powers follow the law of the jungle or establish rules of the road? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32280337

NATO Summit: Too Hot, Too Cold or Just Right? 07/18/2024

NATO Summit: Too Hot, Too Cold or Just Right? NATO celebrated its 75th year anniversary last week. It doubled down on Ukraine support and the Alliance now sees Itself as the bulwark against growing anti-democratic regimes. Ambassador Kurt Volker, a Trump appointee, provides insight into what his former boss might do if re-elected. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32201037

Cognitive Warfare 07/11/2024

Cognitive Warfare Tricks, tricks, tricks. General Robert Schmidle, expert in cognitive warfare, helps us understand that although this has gone on for centuries, what’s different today is the scope and scale. How do you fight it? Bonus question: What famous statesman said, “a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on”? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32099872

More Travels With Pete – Huarani Part 2 07/04/2024

More Travels With Pete – Huarani Part 2 Recently the indigenous of the Amazon have been gifted with Starlink, but to what effect? Years ago, Pete visited a similar community, botched up a boar hunt, drank the mystery drink chicha, and received upon his departure a marriage proposal, ambiguously addressed either to himself one of the other (finer?) young gringos. Which is worse, Pete or the Internet? Give us your thoughts on whether Starlink is a gift or curse for the Marubo via our socials or via voicemail on our . /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32013527

Starlink in the Amazon? Uh-oh. 06/27/2024

Starlink in the Amazon? Uh-oh. Years ago, Pete visited the Amazon and made friends with some very remotely located people. His visit raised questions: Did he do the right thing? Now others, far more remote, have been visited by Elon Musk’s Starlink – by their own request! With an updated perspective, we repost this gem from our early days recording American Diplomat. First of two in a series. Give us your thoughts on whether Starlink is a gift or curse for the Marubo people via our socials or via voicemail on our . Enjoy! /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/31898837

AI - Demon Taking Over, or Tool for Diplomacy? 06/20/2024

AI - Demon Taking Over, or Tool for Diplomacy? What does expertise look like in diplomacy with recent rapid changes in technology? Will AI replace diplomats? What is AI good at, and where is it dangerous? Large language models are great for brainstorming but can they replace relationships and judgment? Tune into , while he breaks it down for us. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/31824852

Global Fragility Act 06/13/2024

Global Fragility Act Finally, a home at State for what we have learned about global conflicts. Will it make us smarter? Will we demand deeper buy in from Allies and friends? Or do we continue to treat each conflict as a “one-off”? Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mark Iozzi joins us from State's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations to share his story from concept to implementation of the innovative Global Fragility Act. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/31717832

Geopolitics Thrills! 06/06/2024

Geopolitics Thrills! We talk about cultural diplomacy, but what about diplomacy in culture? Laura (MFA, Film and Television, NYU) loves movies and TV, and best of all, Laura loves movies and TV about geopolitics. What do the last fifty years of diplomacy in media tell us about diplomacy in society? About society more broadly? And why do so many movies about diplomats turn into spy movies before the second act? Funny you should ask! Here's a for superfans like us, and once you listen to our episode, you may love movies as much as Laura does. Get thee to the cinema! /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/31624802

From Harlem Hellfighters to the Jazz Ambassadors, A Leap of Faith 05/30/2024

From Harlem Hellfighters to the Jazz Ambassadors, A Leap of Faith State Department lawyer Mike Peay traces how, during a time of deep racial conflict, black American jazz artists went overseas to promote the American experiment, winning the hearts of millions with their music and personas, but would it improve race relations at home? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/31523932

Will Mexico Dodge the Bullet? 05/23/2024

Will Mexico Dodge the Bullet? “Hugs, not bullets”, that is AMLO’s mantra for the cartels. This, while homicides have risen to historic highs. Our man in Mexico, retired Ambassador Tony Wayne, is back to discuss the good fight. Will democracy or autocracy win in the June 2 elections? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/31424042

Two State Solution - Is the Perfect the Enemy of the Good? 05/16/2024

Two State Solution - Is the Perfect the Enemy of the Good? Lieutenant General (Ret.) Fred Rudesheim unpacks the complexities of Gaza. Much is said of the very real moral outrages committed by Israel and Hamas. But what now? In the near term, how viable is a two-state solution? First let's look at what is and how we got here. Hint: what exactly does Biden mean when he speaks of a "revitalized Palestinian Authority"? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/31297937

Russian Mercenaries' Regime Survival Kit 05/09/2024

Russian Mercenaries' Regime Survival Kit Out with Wagner, in with the Africa Corps. What will happen as mercenaries continue to offer attractive alternatives to vulnerable democracies like Niger, the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali? Ambassador Hank Cohen, whose new book "Africa, You Have a Friend in Washington", offers a vision of hope via economic self-determination. For added context, we append our earlier episode on the Wagner Group's activities in the Central African Republic. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/31204322

100 Years old and Still Kicking It: The US Foreign Service 05/02/2024

100 Years old and Still Kicking It: The US Foreign Service Tom Yazdgerdi, President of the American Foreign Service Association reaches back to illustrate how far the Foreign Service has come in the last 100 years and charts how it will meet the complex challenges of the next decades. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/31074793

Shakespearean Tragedy: Cuba 04/25/2024

Shakespearean Tragedy: Cuba Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, author of “Our Woman in Havana”, unpacks the dire circumstances in Cuba driving hundreds of thousands to flee the island and parses the impacts of South Florida exile politics on US diplomacy: the hammer is the only tool left in the box. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/30977678

Data Saves Lives 04/19/2024

Data Saves Lives What does it mean when open-source data show that huge populations have moved? Natural disaster? An attack? Relocation of children, forced passportization? Non-classified satellite imagery, cell phone photos, video, GPS and other puiblicly available information is critical to modern diplomacy and democracy. Susan Wolfinbarger, geographer, data scientist and the vision behind the Conflict Observatory at State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, walks us through her dream: big data saves lives. Welcome to 21st Century diplomacy's newest tool. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/30879213

Professional Peacemaker 04/11/2024

Professional Peacemaker Meghan Stewart, head of the Negotiations Support Unit in State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, knows the peace process – its structures, its history, the perspectives of combatants. Her team uses its specialized knowledge to help diplomats get peace agreements over the line, saving thousands and thousands of lives each time. Who knew you could devote your legal career exclusively to ending global conflict? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/30770258

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