Retired, but never idle: Eleesha is retiring after 22 years of federal service, including 18 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State. Her job took her to India, Mexico, the Philippines, Bermuda, and Singapore, and now that she's back in the U.S., Eleesha is finding new ways to serve her community, and new inspiration for the next chapter of her career. Her transformative experience as a human rights officer in Manila inspired a commitment to human rights in every context, and she's making a surprising (even to me!) announcement about her next big adventure. Eleesha is serving up a healthy dose of her Mom's philosophy on forward motion, and we all stand to benefit.

If you’ve ever wondered what environmental justice has to do with national security - and with the pursuit of the American dream - then this is the episode fort you. Matthew Tejada was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, initially in a community lacking access to a healthy environment. Upon moving to a nearby community with totally different (and better) living conditions, he started to question why and how this unfairness in our society exists, and what he could do about it. In this episode, Matthew describes how low income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by a variety of threats, which exacerbate existing disparities in health, wealth, and lifespan. He reminds us that it’s a problem for everyone when huge swaths of society are at risk, and the work of addressing these disparities is essential to building resilience.

We also make a bit of time to freak out over the generational setback to our government through the hollowing out of the civil service. This isn’t one you want to skip.

Former Ambassador Chris Lu started his government career as a GS-2 and went on to serve in high ranking positions across the federal government. He is a the proud son of immigrants, and his parents continue to inspire a sense of duty and service to this country. Chris Lu is a true class act, and he is never giving up his seat at the table.

"If you can see it, you can be it."

Melissa Newberg has been a lot of things. She's an intelligence leader with over 15 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, and she began her career with the U.S. Air Force as a civilian, later serving as a Defense Fellow in the House of Representatives, before moving into the corporate world. Melissa isn't fearless - she's brave. And she isn't an extrovert - she's an extremely generous introvert. She's seeking and defining her own purpose, and sharing practical advice on translating skills, reaching for new opportunities, and finding mission-driven work outside of government.

Bill Russo is doing well, and doing good. He's deliberately made time and space for both. On his quest to leave the world a little better than he found it, Bill served in Senior roles in the Obama and Biden administrations, contributing to the Biden campaign's successful bid for the White House in 2020, and most recently leading the State Department's Bureau of Global Public Affairs as Assistant Secretary of State. Other experiences include a transformative trip abroad, a near miss with a career as a psychiatrist, and a brief (and unlucrative) stint as a barista.

Bill's commitment to service extends to the way he shows up for his family, friends, and colleagues. He did the work to peel the "burnout onion," finding his way to a new season of life and career, and now he's reflecting on the power of storytelling, the loneliness epidemic, and the magic of a sabbatical.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 week, Matt is resigning from the Foreign Service after 17 years of service, a stint as a Director at the National Security Council, and countless adventures. He's navigating his transition into the private sector with the same flexibility and optimism he brought to every new post. At the same time, he's saving space for all the feels: Grief, excitement, loss, and joy. This is Matt's story of service, faith, fatherhood, and a new journey into the unknown (any Frozen fans!?)... or more accurately, the private sector.

Last year,Matt shared his journey into the Foreign Service on the Careers Explained podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/careers-explained/id1638844293?i=1000615347063

Ned Price served most recently as Deputy to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and before that as State Department Spokesperson. He has also been the Director of Policy and Comms at National Security Action, a Special Assistant to President Obama, a CIA Senior Analyst and Spokesperson, and an NBC News Analyst and Contributor. That's not even his entire professional history, but you get the gist: Ned has lived a life of service, and he's built an incredible career navigating and talking about tough issues. In this episode, Ned reflects on being raised to seek adventure, being shaped by the experience of witnessing 9/11 unfold from his college dorm, and navigating his way from the CIA to Spokesperson - from Spook to SPOX. He encourages us to embrace imperfection as a feature of our democracy, as we endeavor to form a more perfect union, and he shares his optimism about the next generation of public servants.

Alexis is a retired Foreign Service Officer who is reflecting on his 30-year career, which took him to Posts throughout Europe, East Asia, and Latin America. In this episode, Alexis shares his thoughts on the beauty of language, the role of strategic empathy, and the essentiality of thoughtful questions in the work of diplomacy.

Zev is an empathy jedi and speechwriter extraordinaire. He's also the founder of Just Write Communications, building on a decade and a half helping leaders tell their stories and advance their agendas, from the C-suite to Capitol Hill and from the campaign trail to the White House. In this episode, Zev takes us back to where it all began, and then gets into the science of speechwriting, despite my best attempts to pretend it's all just art. He drops some nuggets of wisdom (like, if you're giving someone a shout out, make sure they're in the room!) and ponders the future of speechwriting in the era of AI.

Mike McCabe is an optimist, and it keeps him young at heart.

His parents opened his mind and heart to community service early on, leading him to embark on a beautiful, adventure-filled, 35-year career of service through international development with U.S. Government and UN agencies. Mike draws inspiration from his wife, Rosie, and a little bit from Martin Sheen in the West Wing. He's bridging all kinds of gaps as he continues to apply his passion and expertise to building robust, resilient communities at all levels.

Judd Devermont is well-known for his work as the Senior Director for African Affairs under the Biden Administration; author of the U.S. Strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa; Director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); National Intelligence Officer for Africa... the list goes on and on. He's a legit expert, right!?

Judd might be surprisingly uncomfortable with that title, because in addition to holding all these fancy titles, he's also a history nerd of the highest order. He's humbled by all that he has learned, and all that he has not yet discovered. He's spent his life and career (which are nearly inseparable) pursuing his curiosity and passion, and he never wants to stop.

Listen in for Judd's reflections on everything from PacSun and Tom Clancy novels to the evolving role of Africa on the global stage.

And check out Judd's new Substack, Post Strategy, for an honest discussion on the tools and mechanics that drive U.S. Africa policy: https://poststrategy.substack.com

Alia Awadallah is a former U.S. Government official and Policy Analyst focused on the Middle East and Defense Policy. Alia most recently served on Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo's senior leadership team, and before that, as Policy Team Lead and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army.

What's extra cool is the fact that Alia has not only worked for the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and State, but also worked on campaigns, at think tanks, AND she found time to create the NextGen Initiative of Foreign Policy for America, because she wants other young leaders to have what they need to launch careers in foreign policy, as well.

Alia is the quintessential public servant, and she's giving us a glimpse into the experiences that made her who she is.

Vedant Patel is a seasoned communications professional, most recently serving as a Spokesperson for the Department of State, and before that, for the White House. On this episode, Vedant walks us through his pivot from aspiring doctor into the world of politics, which initially stressed his parents as much as you'd imagine. He gracefully responds to my probing questions into the future of the Democratic Party, and then we spend some talking about the distinct (and ideally, mutually supportive) roles of political appointees and career public servants. Finally, I ask Vedant the question I have always wondered about being a spokesperson: Doesn't it totally suck being grilled by the press? His answer is unsurprisingly diplomatic.

On the final episode of Season 1, Dr. Dafna Rand (Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Fellow at MIT's Center for International Studies, and former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor) takes us on a journey through space and time, from Europe in the 1930s to Lexington, Massachusetts in the optimistic eras of the 1700s and the 1990s. Through her powerful storytelling, Dr. Rand offers her extensive foreign policy expertise, and a thoughtful, self-reflective, clear assessment of what could change and how if we were to do a little whiteboarding exercise for U.S. foreign policy. We talk about diplomacy as an art and a science, and the need for metrics to drive adaptive learning. Dr. Rand is brilliant, humble, and captivating, and she still believes so deeply in the American dream. This is the perfect end to this season, and bridge into the next.

In this episode, I'm talking with Greg Pollock: Adjunct Professor and former civilian leader at the Pentagon. He shares his thoughts on the implications of climate change on global security, the economic opportunities in climate adaptation, and the need for a clearer strategic vision guiding U.S. foreign policy. We touch on many doomy topics without losing hope that we can better align with our values, better design our vision, better innovate and adapt and practice what we preach.

Orna Blum is a recently retired Foreign Service Officer and strategic communications leader with expertise in public diplomacy, media relations, democracy building, and crisis management. She's a creative with #policycred, and she's here to share her own public service story, her thoughts on the ingredients required for a healthy democracy, and her advice on prioritizing and protecting your mental health - especially in public service careers. Listen up if you're mid existential crisis. I promise you'll feel inspired and seen.

D. Wes Rist is a kid from rural Pennsylvania who thought he'd be a doctor, but instead, decided to build a career and a life focused on atrocity prevention. He's worked everywhere from the American Society of International Law, to the Department of State, to the USC Shoah Foundation, and though his work may have taken him far from home, his public service journey has always been rooted in his family, his community, and his upbringing.

The world is currently experiencing the highest levels of armed conflict witnessed since the end of WWII, so we're lucky to have Wes here to tell us a bit about the factors that increase the risk of atrocities, and the resiliencies that prevent them. If you're into the idea of averting catastrophe, listen in.

I had the privilege of sitting down for the first LIVE recording of the Public Service Project at my alma mater, UNC Chapel Hill (GO HEELS!), with a fellow alum, the incomparably brilliant Jennifer Davis.

Jen is currently a Distinguished Professor of Practice at the University of North Carolina, and former Senior U.S. Diplomat and Attorney. In 22 years with the Foreign Service, Jen did everything from consular services for Americans abroad, to advising at NATO, serving as Special Assistant and Executive Assistant to Secretaries Rice and Clinton, to serving as Consul General in Istanbul. Jen has been generous with her time, her energy, and her wisdom as a public servant, and she continues her service as she guides and inspires the next generation of policy professionals at the University.

Nothing is off limits as we talk about Jen's early life in North Carolina, the sources of her ambition, and all the things she's reflecting on today.

Jose Mercado is a U.S. national security and foreign policy expert with 30 years of U.S. government service. He's a U.S. Air Force Veteran and Diplomatic Security Special Agent, specializing in democracy, human rights, and crisis response, and recently serving as Deputy Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. He's also a father, son, husband, friend, and a true public servant at heart.

Jose happily shares the twists and turns of the military and diplomatic chapters of his career, and bravely uncovers the many layers of his experience with service: uncertainty, inspiration, pressure, pride, imposter syndrome, and confidence. We talk about TV and movies, soft power and hard power, regional and functional bureaus, and so many other things.

This guy's family gave him roots and wings, and this episode is a bit of a tribute to them, to him, and to public servants everywhere.

Dylan Lang is a lawyer, social worker, and human rights activist with over a decade of experience working at the intersection of diplomacy, law, and social justice. Some may see these credentials and think, which is it? Lawyer? Social worker? Human rights advocate? And the answer is, exactly.

Dylan has pursued his career and life with passion and vision, and each facet of his experience has improved his effectiveness in all other areas. In this episode, he talks about what it was like being out in the workplace, and having the unique privilege of advocating for the rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world. As someone who has Zoomed with Senators, written and delivered his own remarks on the floor of the United Nations, and prioritized service in every chapter of his career, Dylan has proven himself to be a powerful advocate for human rights. And he wakes up every day seeking new, creative ways to continue the work, which he seems to view as both a privilege and a responsibility. He is a true public servant, and a gem of a human being.

Dr. Abir Aldhalimi is a true systems thinker, who helps individuals along their path to healing after trauma, while she simultaneously works to co-create systems and structures that support better mental health and wellness for everyone. Her resume is beyond impressive (highlights below), but it pales in comparison to her wisdom and generosity as she draws from her own refugee experience and training as a clinical psychologist to guide others along their own path to healing and thriving.

Dr. Aldhalimi specializes in psychotherapy and mental health policy. She's the Founder of Unknotted Mental Health, a Clinical Instructor at Yale School of Medicine, and a former Senior Mental Health Advisor for USAID. She's here to talk to us about trauma and healing, resilience, mental health policy and systems change, and so many other things.

Dr. Aldhalimi's practice, Unknotted, provides innovative, integrated, and individualized mental health services to individuals and organizations. For more on Unknotted, and to access self guided resources that are especially useful for recently separated feds but also for anyone navigating change, visit the site and reach out to Dr. Aldhalimi: https://www.unknotted.com

Paul Kruchowski is a former senior U.S. diplomat and career member of the Senior Executive Service. In his final role at the State Department, Paul served as the Chief Operating Officer for Public Diplomacy, managing a $1.5 billion budget, and 5,000 person global organization. He's also an accomplished cellist, and in his post-government era, he's helping organizations integrate AI in a way that is people-focused, collaborative, and productive.

In this episode, we talk about work life balance vs. integration; fractional work; personality and productivity; perfectionism; and what it takes to foster a healthy organizational culture. Paul also provides some unsurprisingly awesome advice for those navigating career transitions, and relays some wisdom about the efficient allocation of time and energy. He's an optimist, a pragmatist, a cellist... he's uncompromisingly honest and unfailingly kind.

Dr. Aubrey Paris is a national treasure, and that's fitting, since she is obsessed with the franchise. She's also a policy visionary (seriously), PhD scientist, author, and executive producer and creator of the award-winning podcast and community engagement series, National Treasure Hunt. You would think it would be intimidating to interview someone with this much #cred in this many areas (especially in podcasting) but if you spent 5 minutes with Aubrey, you would know that her wit and brilliance are only eclipsed by her kindness and authenticity. She is the queen of interdisciplinary thinking, a scientist who communicates and a communicator who... sciences? She's the poster child for Ursinus College and the manifestation of her parents' many defining qualities, all in one person - a realization that hit both of us on this show. She's never taken an IR or polisci class but she's out here crushing it, and not letting "it" crush her. Aubrey is a colleague turned friend, and by the end of this episode, you'll want her to be your friend, too.

For more on National Treasure Hunt, including the America 250 Tour, go here: https://nthuntpodcast.com/

Brad Brooks-Rubin is his own multi-stakeholder initiative. He's a sanctions lawyer, a radio DJ and musician, a father, a husband, and a public servant. He's a fascinating person, whose work is so cerebral, so technical, but whose approach to his work and life is dynamic and oftentimes, spiritual. On this episode, we talk about Brad's experience as a Jewish lawyer-in-training working on human rights issues in the West Bank and Northern Israel with the Palestine Peace Project, and I challenge Brad to make sanctions make sense for those of us who are not technical experts and lawyers. Brad is dynamic, honest, and cool, and he has big plans for the future. At the end of the show, Brad previews the Changemakers Retreat - a collaborative project with his wife (another public servant), Liana. For updates on the retreat, reach out to Brad on LinkedIn.

Ambassador Tim Davis' career and life have been extraordinary. He carries with him a collection of memories and experiences that are reminiscent of Forrest Gump, and he also shoulders the weight of loss, grief, and trauma. He's honest about all of it, and at the end of the day, the word he chooses to describe it is celebration. His career has been a celebration of life, a challenge, an adventure, and a profound expression of humanity.

His credentials are cool: Recent U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, former Executive Assistant to Secretaries of State Blinken and Pompeo, Consul General in Basra, Special Assistant to Secretary Clinton, Special Presidential Envoy to counter ISIL, and proud U.S. Marine, from a family of veterans. His experiences are unbelievable: from the great pirouette around President Obama, to meeting the late Pope Francis. But his honesty, courage, and vulnerability - particularly in sharing about his experience with trauma and the way it shaped his relationship with work - that's what makes this conversation special. My sincere thanks to Ambassador Davis for participating in this project, and for a lifetime of sacrifice, celebration, and service.

Christian Loubeau is a former U.S. diplomat, Teach for America public school teacher, and Associate Commissioner in NYC’s Department of Design and Construction. His diplomatic overseas postings included Haiti and Cuba, while his domestic postings included the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in NY, and the Office of Mexican Affairs in Washington, DC. His story is rooted in his multicultural upbringing, his experience being raised by parents in helping professions, and his perseverance - because if at first you don't succeed, apply, apply again! Chris is kind, funny, honest about the gifts and challenges that came along with his work, and clear-eyed about his personal goals and redlines. His warmth and humility are palpable, and he's openly sharing his public service journey, from his "aha" moment in the hills of Lebanon, to his current practice of service outside government. You'll want to be friends with Chris after listening to this one - and he'll probably welcome it!

Jessica Benton Cooney is a Senior Strategic Communicator and Storyteller who most recently ran the Communications team for USAID's Bureau of Democracy. Human rights, and Governance. She served with USAID overseas in Afghanistan and Liberia, and before that, with the Peace Corps in El Salvador. On this episode, Jessica is sitting down with us to share the tale of her near death experience in Liberia, her miraculous survival, and her decision to return to Liberia on her own terms. She's also passing along her wisdom on the art of storytelling, particularly when interviewing human rights activists and democracy defenders. AND her cat even weighs in on the power of intuition. We're just a couple of elder millennials, trying to make sense of the world. You don't want to miss this one!

For more on Jessica's experience with cerebral malaria and the importance of foreign assistance programs like the Presidential Malaria Initiative, read the article that prompted me to contact Jessica: https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/5265538-i-survived-cerebral-malaria-but-millions-of-others-wont-without-american-leadership/amp/

Brianna Clarke-Schwelm is the Executive Director of the North Carolina Global Health Alliance, a nonprofit organization striving to advance the state as a center of global health. Brianna has spent her career blending her love of rural communities (starting with the one that raised her) with her passion for access to public health as the foundation for a good life - one that includes safety, equity, and opportunity.

Our conversation touches on everything from birth order and sibling dynamics, to the college courses we loved and loathed, to motherhood, sacrifice, and social safety nets. We studied topics like religion and philosophy and politics to better understand how we organize ourselves and serve each other (especially in vulnerable moments), and then we had babies and got them through a global pandemic, so in many ways, every moment of this winding conversation is circling the same question: How do we want to live, and what can we do to get there?

Toward the end, Brianna tells us all about how NC is a center for global health, innovation, medicine and tech, and then she drops some wisdom about translating international experience to state and local contexts. Public servants from all walks, listen to that part twice!