As Director General of the Foreign Service and ambassador to three countries in three different bureaus (Philippines, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe), and having served in DC leadership positions on the 7th floor and White House, Amb. Thomas saw U.S.

Amb. Liliana Ayalde reflects on mentorship, interagency collaboration, and how to improve the U.S. position in the Western Hemisphere

Jun 22nd, 2022 39m 28s

Liliana Ayalde reflects on a long and accomplished career in assistance, public health, and diplomacy. Beginning with her first posting with USAID in Bangladesh, Amb. Ayalde traces lessons learned and her abiding contributions to international

Three filmmakers talk about three outstanding African-American ambassadors – Edward Dudley, Terence Todman, and Carl Rowan

May 25th, 2022 39m 59s

Leola Calzolai-Stewart, Rachell Shapiro, Kiley Kraskouskas talk about the careers of three outstanding African-American diplomats – ambassadors Edward Dudley, Terence Todman, and Carl Rowan – as well all that was involved in bringing the story

Amb. Ryan Crocker looks to the future, analyzes U.S. experience in conflict zones, and shares his thoughts on diversity, mental health, and work-life balance

May 18th, 2022 50m 59s

Six-time U.S. Amb. Ryan Crocker (Career Ambassador and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient) looks back on his experience working with the military in some of toughest assignments and most fraught conflict zones ever. He also looks to the fu

Amb. Deb Malac on Leading, Constantly Improving, Serving in Africa, Fighting for Rights, and Tackling Public Health Crises

Mar 29th, 2022 40m 44s

She has fought Ebola in Liberia, sexism in the State Department, and the closing of political space in Uganda. U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac talks about problem-solving, leadership, multi-functionality and clarity. She begins with her serendip

CG Lawrence Randolph Talks About Showing Up as a Diplomat – Authentically Engaged and Open

Feb 25th, 2022 44m 45s

U.S. Consul General to Casablanca Lawrence Randolph talks about being a sincerely interested diplomat and using diversity as our strength. In his growth as a leader, he emphasizes mentorship and sponsorship, learning local languages and culture

Amb. Herro Mustafa talks about resilience, rejecting limitations, and adapting as a diplomat – part of her journey from Kurdish-Iraqi refugee to a young, female U.S. ambassador.

Feb 17th, 2022 46m 24s

Amb. Herro Mustafa explains her love of diplomacy, underscores the need for emotional intelligence and adaptability, and cites her sources of support and resilience. She talks about rejecting limitations and developing her own “card” full of le

Amb. Ron Neumann on Afghanistan, Diplomacy, and the Big Picture

Jan 26th, 2022 29m

Amb. Ron Neumann, President of the American Academy of Diplomacy and a three-time former ambassador, discusses everything from his time in Vietnam as a soldier to current events in Afghanistan. He gets into details of refugee policy and women's

Amb. Ted Osius discusses his love of Southeast Asia, experiences as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, leadership, moral courage, and the nexus with diplomacy and private sector

Dec 3rd, 2021 43m 58s

Amb. Ted Osius discusses his love of Southeast Asia, experiences as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, moral courage, and public diplomacy (on a bicycle). He talks reconciliation between U.S. and Vietnam, leaving the State Department in protest, worki

Amb. Bill Taylor discusses Ukraine, impeachment, Afghanistan and Foreign Assistance

Sep 15th, 2021 38m 55s

Amb. Bill Taylor -- our first political appointee as a guest -- discusses Ukraine, impeachment, "irregular channels," public diplomacy, the nature of conflict, Afghanistan, foreign assistance and being an interagency team player. *Brought to yo

Amb. Roberta Jacobson talks about reestablishing U.S. ties with Cuba, forging a path as America’s first female and civil servant ambassador to Mexico, enjoying Latin America, and dealing with populism throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Aug 31st, 2021 34m 57s

Amb. Roberta Jacobson talks about reestablishing U.S. ties with Cuba, becoming America’s first female and civil servant ambassador to Mexico, and dealing with populist leaders. Ambassador Jacobson also discusses reestablishing diplomatic ties

Amb. Lino Gutierrez discusses his path from Cuban immigrant to two-time U.S. ambassador. He shares lessons on leadership, managing up, negotiating with Cubans in Grenada, navigating Washington politics, Hurricane Mitch, and political change in Argentina.

Aug 13th, 2021 33m 56s

Amb. Lino Gutierrez served as Ambassador to Argentina as well as to Nicaragua, and as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau. In this episode, Amb. Gutierrez discusses his experience from Cuban immigrant to diploma

Senior Foreign Service Officer Tim Davis shares lessons learned on leadership, diversity, managing State Department principals, closing the U.S. Consulate in Basra, and navigating Secretary Clinton’s email controversy

Jul 22nd, 2021 30m 45s

Tim "Timmy" Davis is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. In this episode, Tim shares lessons learned on leadership, building strong teams, encouraging diversity, and increasing recruitment. Mr. Davis also shares lessons learned clo

Amb. Chris Hill discusses growing up in the foreign service, working with Amb. Holbrooke and Sec. Eagleburger, his ambassadorship in Iraq, and leading Six-Party talks with N. Korea

Jun 5th, 2021 35m 26s

Ambassador Chris Hill discusses growing up in the foreign service, working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, and formative experiences working with Secretary Eagleburger and Amb. Holbrooke.Ambassador Hill also discusses leading Six-Part

Amb. Beth Jones discusses growing up in the Foreign Service, her first tour in Afghanistan, Amb. Arnie Raphel's death, and Benghazi

Mar 17th, 2021 28m 43s

Ambassador Beth Jones discusses attending local schools in Moscow and Berlin, her first tour in Afghanistan, and working as a control officer for Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Ambassador Jones also discusses rising to the top of the For

Amb. Nancy Jo Powell discusses growing up in rural Iowa, first tours in Ottawa and Kathmandu, ambassadorships in India and Pakistan, and pandemic lessons learned during Avian Influenza and Ebola

Feb 4th, 2021 29m 10s

Ambassador Nancy Jo Powell discusses her childhood in rural Iowa, gender discrimination at the State Department in the 1970's, and her first big break as Acting Consul General in Lahore, Pakistan in 1988.Ambassador Powell also discusses culti

Amb. William Brownfield discusses growing up in West Texas, his first tour in Maracaibo, claims of Venezuelan interference in the U.S. presidential election, and the importance of hiring the right mid-level managers.

Dec 21st, 2020 30m 38s

Ambassador William Brownfield discusses his family's history in West Texas, life as a Junior Officer in Maracaibo, how to engage with the media, his tumultuous years as U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, and accusations of Venezuelan involvement in

Amb. Marc Grossman discusses his first tour in Islamabad, working as an NEA staffer, testifying before Congress, and the morning of 9/11

Oct 14th, 2020 30m 49s

Ambassador Marc Grossman discusses life as a Junior Officer in Islamabad, his tumultuous year as an NEA staffer, tips for testifying before Congress, lessons learned from the morning of 9/11, and answering the call to return to service.

Amb. Steve Mull discusses life as a Junior Officer, apartheid South Africa, communist Poland, Indonesia post-9/11, and the Iran deal

Aug 17th, 2020 29m 9s

Ambassador Stephen D. Mull discusses life as a Junior Officer in The Bahamas, reporting tours in apartheid South Africa and communist Poland, and life on seventh floor.Ambassador Mull also discusses his first DCM tour in post-9/11 Jakarta, th

Amb. Tom Shannon discusses the importance of strategic thinking, Covid-19 and globalization, and the future of U.S. diplomacy

Jul 9th, 2020 23m 28s

Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. discusses the importance of history and strategic thinking in the practice of diplomacy, and the social, economic and political forces likely to shape the future.Ambassador Shannon also discusses his multiple

Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield discusses segregation, Liberia, succeeding as a tandem, the killing of George Floyd, and strengthening management through diversity

Jun 19th, 2020 30m 4s

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield discusses growing up in the segregated south, succeeding as a tandem couple, and raising kids in the Foreign Service, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield also discusses her tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, pro

Amb. Bill Burns discusses Putin, Iran, NATO expansion, 9/11, President Trump's foreign policy, and the future of U.S. diplomacy

Apr 28th, 2020 46m 48s

Ambassador Bill Burns discusses visiting Putin in the Kremlin, negotiating the JCPOA in Muscat, and the U.S. government's response to 9/11.Ambassador Burns also discusses the complexities of NATO expansion, attributes of a good diplomat, and

Amb. Tony Wayne discusses Argentina, Mexico, Afghanistan, economics, and raising a family in the Foreign Service

Apr 6th, 2020 27m 26s

Ambassador Tony Wayne discusses economic crisis in Argentina, interviewing KISS in Buenos Aires, the illegal drug trade in Mexico, health and education in Afghanistan, and raising a family in the Foreign Service.Interview excerpted from the f

Amb. Kristie Kenney discusses breaking barriers, The Philippines, career management, Thailand, diversity, and life as a tandem

Mar 17th, 2020 31m 10s

Ambassador Kristie Kenney discusses growing up in Washington D.C., life as a Junior Officer in Kingston, and the importance of hard work in diplomacy.Ambassador Kenney also highlights her barrier-breaking assignments as the State Department's

Amb. Thomas Pickering discusses Kissinger, Syria, Amb. Yovanovitch, leadership, and succeeding in the Foreign Service

Feb 20th, 2020 26m 4s

Ambassador Thomas Pickering shares tips on managing an embassy, serving in hardship posts, and navigating a life and career in the Foreign Service. Ambassador Pickering also discusses working for Secretaries Rogers and Kissinger, the Trump admi