American Diplomat

Latest Episodes:

Here I Am, Now What? May 02, 2019

Show notes

What happens when Fulanita arrives? And what is this wall, really? And what do drugs have to do with all of this? Bill Brownfield and John Feeley, together with Pete, unpack the deets in our second of three episodes on the border. Plus, a barnyard narco song you do not want to miss.

Fulanita's Progress, An Immigration Tale Apr 25, 2019

Show notes

Episode One, in which John Feeley, Bill Brownfield and Pete lay it all out: How and why does Fulanita, our Guatamalan every-gal, end up at the US border with young son Javier, delivered by the cartels' fancy coach service?

Plastics Apr 18, 2019

Show notes

Remember the movie The Graduate? Fifty-two years on, here's where we are with plastics. It ain't pretty, but Bob Blake is on the job.

Quick Bonus ep! Future of the Foreign Service Apr 16, 2019

Show notes

Miss us? Here's a midweek extra: Ashley Inman, a master's student at Georgetown who will become a US diplomat upon completion of her studies, shares her passion for service and her reasons for joining. Go, Ashley!

The Diplomat Environmentalist Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

The life and (near) death of Indonesia's Palm Oil Pledge, a guy named Anderson and an air pollution monitor in Jakarta. Bob Blake works with private industry and government to foster lasting change in Indonesia.

Ever Hear of Ebenezer Bassett? Apr 04, 2019

Show notes

Me, neither. Chris Teal, filmmaker, author and diplomat, shares the little-known tale of integrity and courage of the first African American diplomat, appointed 1869, preceding longtime friend Frederick Douglass by 20 years.

Immigration Made Simple Mar 27, 2019

Show notes

Michele Bond parses immigration and solves the whole conundrum. So what's the problem? (Hint: Pete thinks it's us.)

And How Long Will You Be Staying? Mar 21, 2019

Show notes

Courtesy, respect, denial (painful, but often true). Tourist visas to visit the US, with Michele Bond, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. Can you guess why Pete is admitted and Laura is not?

Remember Ron Brown? Mar 15, 2019

Show notes

In case you don't (say, you were born after 1960), Lauri Fitz-Pegado remembers him for us: his vision, his vim, his leadership, his significance to our participation in the worldwide economy. With bonus continuing comment from Pete on Venzuela.

Wonderful, Weird, Incredibly Dangerous Naples Mar 07, 2019

Show notes

Pete explains "the Neapolitan solution" in this love letter to his first European posting. Plus, he connects this to gangland diplomacy today.