The STIMPACK Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

www.StimPack.org

https://www.instagram.com/stimpack_haiti/

https://www.youtube.com/@stimpack_haiti

Summary

Season three of the podcast is finally here after a long break. The host expresses gratitude for the patience of the listeners and their eagerness to contribute to making progress in Haiti. The podcast aims to educate and equip listeners to address the issues in Haiti, particularly child exploitation and critical poverty. The host shares stories of abandoned children and the challenges of development work in Haiti. He discusses the need for scalable solutions and the importance of influencing policy and foreign aid. The political situation in Haiti, including the power vacuum and the role of gangs, is also highlighted. The host reflects on the lack of a special envoy from the US and considers his own qualifications for the role. Jeff Frazier recounts his journey to secure the special envoy appointment for Haiti. He describes how he started calling around and gathered a small team to open doors for him. Jeff believed that if there was a dearth of qualified and willing candidates for the position, he could make a push in DC to get the appointment. He attended a gala where he had the opportunity to meet Brian Nichols, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere. Jeff approached Brian and asked for his support in obtaining the special envoy appointment, but they were not aligned in their views.

Keywords

season three, podcast, gratitude, patience, progress, Haiti, child exploitation, critical poverty, abandoned children, development work, scalable solutions, policy, foreign aid, political situation, power vacuum, gangs, special envoy, US, special envoy appointment, DC, support, gala, Brian Nichols, congressional support, Haiti caucus, politicians, leadership, constituents, State Department, Haiti policy, gangs, poverty

Takeaways

Season three of the podcast focuses on addressing the issues of child exploitation and critical poverty in Haiti.
Development work in Haiti requires scalable solutions and a focus on influencing policy and foreign aid.
The political situation in Haiti, including the power vacuum and the role of gangs, has contributed to the challenges faced by the country.
The lack of a special envoy from the US has hindered progress in Haiti, and the host reflects on his own qualifications for the role. Jeff Frazier embarked on a campaign to secure the special envoy appointment for Haiti, gathering support and opening doors in DC.
He attended a gala where he had the opportunity to meet Brian Nichols, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, but they were not aligned in their views.
Jeff realized that in order to obtain the appointment, he would need congressional support and began identifying legislators who cared about Haiti.
He observed the two-faced nature of politicians and the importance of constituents in influencing their actions.
Jeff's pursuit of the special envoy appointment led him to become involved in Haiti policy issues and contribute in less formal ways.
Through his research, Jeff and his team uncovered a grand unified theory of Haiti policy that they will explore in Season 3 of the podcast.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Season Three Kickoff
02:43 Child Exploitation and Critical Poverty in Haiti
07:02 Challenges Faced by NGOs and the Impact of Foreign Aid
13:39 The Assassination and Power Vacuum in Haiti
18:19 The Role of the International Community in Haiti
21:43 The Search for a Qualified and Willing Special Envoy
27:55 Making a Push in D.C. for the Special Envoy Appointment
32:09 A Conversation with Brian Nichols at the Gala
34:41 The Importance of Congressional Support
40:17 Observations on Two-Faced Politicians
44:23 The Power of Constituent Influence
47:33 Discovering a Grand Unified Theory of Haiti Policy
51:16 New Chapter 2

Summary

In the finale episode of the Stimpak podcast, Mary and Jeff Frazier discuss their homecoming and the emotional experiences they had during that time. They talk about their journey to the airport, the reunion at the car, and their first moments together in America. They share their feelings of excitement, nervousness, and relief. They also discuss the physical changes they both experienced, such as weight loss and the need to adjust to normal eating habits. The couple reflects on the parallel experiences they had during their separation and how it brought them closer together as a team. In this conversation, Mary and Jeff Frazier discuss their experience with therapy after Mary's kidnapping and the importance of healing and recovery. They highlight the specialized therapists available for kidnapping and hostage situations and the need for support in the aftermath of trauma. They also discuss the challenges of reintegrating into daily life and the triggers that can bring back traumatic memories. The Fraziers express their gratitude for the support they received from family, friends, and the community, and emphasize the importance of helping others who have experienced similar trauma. They conclude by announcing their plans for Season 3 of the Stimpak podcast, which will focus on solutions for Haiti.

Takeaways

The homecoming was a mix of excitement, nervousness, and relief for both Mary and Jeff.
They experienced parallel physical and emotional changes during their separation.
The couple bonded and became a stronger team through their shared experiences.
Adjusting to normal life and eating habits was a challenge for both of them. Specialized therapists are available for individuals who have experienced kidnapping and hostage situations.
Recovery from trauma takes time and may involve triggers that bring back traumatic memories.
Support from family, friends, and the community is crucial in the healing process.
The Fraziers express gratitude for the support they received and emphasize the importance of helping others who have experienced trauma.
Season 3 of the Stimpak podcast will focus on solutions for Haiti and how to lift the country out of its current situation.

Sound Bites

"We're at the end of this long and painful journey."
"I was just so excited to get to the airport."
"Your eyes looked a certain way for the first few days. I think it's gotta be a shock thing."
"This is just so, you in your situation, it's like a hundred percent recovery."
"Your subconscious mind associates the two and is worried that you are and doesn't know better, right?"
"We kept on getting healthier and realizing like, Oh, actually we weren't that healthy."

Daily life in captivity, Introduction to the guards, Gunny agrees to delevery ransom money

Escape concepts. Confusion. Cash.

Miscommunication abounds. Phone call with Mary

Not long after I finish my call and Kervins finishes translating, seven or eight kidnappers storm in the room and tell Stephanie and I to lay face down on two separate mattresses. Bad Cop is there. I don’t quite understand what he wants me to do. I ask him a question. He punches me in the ear. I lay down and put my arms behind my back not knowing what’s going on. Maybe the $100k wasn’t enough.

The downside of that arrogance (amongst many other things) is that I can become a DIY guy when I aught not. It had not even occurred to me on Day 3, that Mary might be putting together a team of highly qualified experts who were preparing to lead my negotiations. Think of all you’d need in order to help me. You’d need to speak Kreyol, be a skilled negotiator, know about this gang and their specific tactics, style, capabilities. You’d need to know my finances, where our money is, how to get it, how much I’d be willing to pay or not pay - and more!

At 6:54pm I call Bill through WhatsApp. He gives me the number of someone he trusts in Haiti and tells me “He’s going to help you”. I try to get him to elaborate. Who is this guy? Is he a gang leader? Is he a negotiator? Bill won’t elaborate.

The soldier reached over to my side of the truck and grabbed my hat and covered my eyes with it and pushed my head down in an effort to keep me from seeing where we were going. I was able to turn my head to the right enough to look out the window and did my best to remember the route. I counted the number of lefts and rights as we ascended the hill in hope of providing valuable intel to someone at sometime. I wouldn’t remember any of it. 

As we went to each location, I expected to see the desperate and dying like I had seen on previous visits to Jacmel. However, it became clear by the afternoon that in the few months that had passed since my previous visit to Jacmel that food security in the area was improving.