Off Duty Diplomat

We're wrapping up the re-runs with this episode on International Agreements. Which treaties has the U.S. signed? Which haven't they? How are international agreements enforced? Listen and find out!

Hi all, I wanted to give an update on the status of the show. Thanks for all of your support!

We're re-running this episode because it's probably my most candid conversation on my tour in Israel- including all the things I *didn't* say during the normal season. Enjoy!

Okay, I realized after releasing this episode that it prbably should have been two... This was a particularrly dense explainer episode, but global political economy is important enough to warrant it. We cover exchange rates, monetary vs. fiscal policy, and much more! Iff you didn't listen the first time, it's worth trying again this go-around!

This is a lighter-hearted epsiode, all about the experience of traveling as a diplomat! One thing I really miss about being a diplomat was the freedom and ease of traveling with a diplomatic passport. I also share a few of my own travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!

I picked this episode to re-release because I think the complexity of our living arrangments in a war zone were a core part of the experience of working in Afghanistan. I think it's worth asking if we are safe, just because we're "secure". Enjoy!

This week's re-run is from the recaps of the Netflix series "the Diplomat". I go through what they right and wrong in the series, and give additional insight from my experience as a diplomat. If you haven't listened to the series, check it out. Enjoy!

Welsome to an epsiode from season two, all about my tour at the U.S. Embassy in Israel from 2016-2018. I wanted to revisit this episode becuase I think many people are suddenly thrust into management roles with no real warning or training. That was exactly my experience as the deputy spokesperson, responsible not only for my own work, but for that of my team. It was a high-octane job, with real-li...

I included this episode in the list because it is my favorite in the line of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict explainers. The global nuclear order is often invisible in daily life, but in this conflict it is front and center, even if no one says so. Hopefully you also enjoy it!

I really enjoyed this interview with Chuck Park, former diplomat. He and I briefly worked together at the Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, and he famously left the Foreign Service in protest of the Trump Administration and it’s policies. With the current election season raging, this seemed like a good time to revisit the episode. Enjoy!

I picked this episode to re-run because this is the first really reflective episode of the whole podcast. I go into the nexus between being a Black American and a diplomat. I also wrap up final thoughts on working through bias on the visa line. Hopefully you find this episode interesting!

Welcome to the final installment for part 1 of the "Conflicted" series! This week we are zooming in on one of the longest-standing conflicts in the modern world: India and Pakistan. This conflict ties together several concepts we have been discussing this season (and before); colonial aftermath, sectariansism, economic leverage, and nuclear balance of power. We close out with a general d...

Did you know the Angolan Civil War was one of the last Cold War proxy wars? It drew involvement from the U.S. and the USSR (as you might have expected), but did you know that China, the DRC, South Africa, and Cuba also got involved? The Angolan Civil War touched many major foreign policy movements and issues over the 25 years it lasted, and many people don't know anything about it. Hopefully,...

Alexis and Fallon go in on the Liberian Civil War in this episode of the Conflicted series. For those who don't know, Liberia has a long history with the United States and is one of the most direct examples of how damaging ethno-nationalism can be. Besides this, many aspects of international conflict came to the public consciousness because of the Liberian Civil War, which you may not know wer...

Welcome back for the next episode in the Conflicted series! This time we discuss the breakdown in Venezuela and how it fits into the larger global migrant crisis. Venezuela is also a clear example of how economic trouble can cause a political system to collapse. Hopefully, you find the episode educational and entertaining! Here is the video we watch in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Welcome to a new series from the Off Duty Diplomat Podcast! The 'Conflicted' series will cover conflicts you may have seen in the news. Alexis and Fallon offer details and context on what these conflicts mean for you as a global citizen. We start with the series of uprisings and revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa that began in 2011, commonly called “the Arab Spring”.

Alexis and Fallon dive into the "spicy" world of Sanctions! Several of the topics we discuss in the UN and global political economy epsiode make an appearance. Ever wonder what sanctions even are? Do they work? Why are they such a big deal?

Alexis and Fallon tackle THE international organization itself! What does the UN do? What are they good at? What are they NOT good at? Why do we even need an international forum for countries to work out their drama? What was it like to work there? Find out all of this and more! This episode engineered and mastered by Sam Regan

Alexis and Fallon dive into a discussion of the concept of international intervention. This one is a pretty interactive episode, so there are plenty of opportunities for you to think through when it should and shouldn't happen. We also try to re-imagine the concept more successfully than it was originally. This is a great one!

Alexis and Fallon talk about the money! How does the global financial system work? What are its roots? How can it be twisted and manipulated by politicians? Tune in and find out!

Alexis and Fallon discuss Alexis' vacations from Afghanistan, while stationed there from 2018-2020. This episode in the appendix series is meant to give even broader context to Alexis' overall experience as a diplomat. Where would you go if you had three weeks to go anywhere and do anything?

Alexis and Fallon discuss what it's like to "travel like a diplomat". What can you do with a diplomatic passport? Are there downsides to the privileges that go with diplomatic status?

Alexis describes her diplomatic security training. She and Fallon go through the long list of safety information Foreign Service officers need to know in the modern era. We discuss kidnapping, first aid, explosives training, and more!

Welcome to the Appendices! In this series, Fallon and I will go back and dive into some of the details of diplomatic life and work that we missed in the main seasons. In this episode, we revisit the basics of the U.S. Foreign Service history, and its evolution through time.

Alexis and Fallon reflect on season 3 and dive into the details we missed during the main season. We also tease a bit of our upcoming seasons and episodes!