On Crisis and Multilateral Diplomacy with Josh Black
Josh Black is not just the "UN Guy" - he's a true believer in the art of multilateral diplomacy. His resume is too long and his career too storied to summarize here, but the through-line is his persistent belief in our collective ability (and shared responsibility) to work together as a global community to address the worst crises we face.In this episode, Josh shares his journey from Toledo, Ohio, to Kosovo, to exhausting nuclear talks in poorly ventilated spaces, to the private sector, and then back to the White House in his dream job as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs on the National Security Council.If you're genuinely wondering why it's still in the U.S. national interest to engage with the United Nations, look no further. And if you're already a multilat nerd, then listen for a refresher on how we can try to avoid the scourge of war.
--------
42:41
On Costco and Brain Waves with Maggie Feldman-Piltch
Maggie is a self proclaimed "bedazzled cockroach for democracy." She's a unicorn. She's all about connection - connecting skilled people to amazing experiences; connecting those less interested in foreign policy with relevant policy conversations through weirdly effective analogies; and connecting seemingly disparate ideas inside her unique, inspired brain. Maggie is an advocate for competent diversity in the field of national security and she's happy to talk about what she means by that.She's fun and real and you honestly never know what she's going to say, so buckle up for a little ride to Costco and leave with the appropriate degree of reverence for first chair clarinet.
--------
37:38
On Resilience and Existential Dread with Jill
Jill is a current public servant with a story to tell. She's sharing her winding path to service, her experiences with truly terrible bosses and wonderful bosses, and her persistent existential dread - a delightfully surprising discovery based on the stark contrast with her sunny disposition, which you can even hear in her voice. Together, Jill and I contemplated the definition of resilience, the gap between our national values and interests, and the possibility that we're in the middle of a great big national adolescence. We're just a couple of Deeply Feeling Kids, sorting through it together.
--------
41:19
On Curiosity and Beer with Farrell Styers
Farrell has done everything from driving a forklift, to teaching English in Egypt, to advising a four-star General and briefing the future Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to founding his own research agency in Bishkek, to creating and running his own brewery in Belgium. His curiosity has taken him around the world, and he's concluded that an investment in community on any scale is always worthwhile - especially when it can be done over a cold pint. Join us as we reconnect for our first live chat in 19 years and talk about imposter syndrome, math, project management, and pursuit of ikigai. You, too, will want to be friends with Farrell by the end.
--------
37:37
On Polarization and Paella with Enrique Roig
Enrique Roig is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the Department of State. He's spent his career learning from human rights defenders around the world, and advocating for freedom and democracy. He brings empathy, curiosity, and an entrepreneurial spirit to everything he does, and I hear he makes a mean paella. Invite him to your potlucks!
This is a really hard time to be an American public servant. This is the place where we get to know who they are, what experiences shaped them, why they chose a path of service, and how they're continuously reimagining their lives and careers. We want to know them on a deeper level, and maybe learn a thing or two about ourselves.
USA