The Public Service Project
- Épisodes
- 70
- Parution
- hebdomadaire
- Dernier épisode
- 11 Nov 2026
À propos du podcast
Seeking wisdom, celebrating service.
Licence : Cait Dallaire 2025
Épisodes 70
On Being Mayor of Lima, Ohio with Sharetta Smith
Mayor Sharetta Smith is a public servant, lawyer, and native of Lima (pronounced like the bean, not the Peruvian city!) Ohio. A highlight of her tenure is the successful impact of her city's Better Together …
Notes de l’épisode
Mayor Sharetta Smith is a public servant, lawyer, and native of Lima (pronounced like the bean, not the Peruvian city!) Ohio. A highlight of her tenure is the successful impact of her city's Better Together Plan, a holistic set of initiatives that address economic, community, and infrastructure challenges. Her commitment to sustainable community development has inspired her to undertake the role of Vice Chair of the United States Conference of Mayors' Women Mayors Alliance, and to serve as a member of Mayors & CEOs for the U.S. Housing Investment Board.
Mayor Smith is an eternal optimist and a problem solver, and this conversation reveals the roots of her belief that with the right support, anything is possible. She is deeply connected to the community she serves - the community that raised her - and she's committed to leaving it better than she found it.
On Homelessness and Human Connection with Kevin Adler
Kevin Adler is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author, and sociologist focused on homelessness and human connection. He’s the founder and board chair of Miracle Messages, a nonprofit that has reunited …
Notes de l’épisode
Kevin Adler is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author, and sociologist focused on homelessness and human connection. He’s the founder and board chair of Miracle Messages, a nonprofit that has reunited more than 1,200 unhoused neighbors with loved ones. He's also the author of When We Walk By, and his work has been featured everywhere from The New York Times and The Washington Post to the George W. Bush Presidential Center and the Clinton Foundation.
Nearly every mayor and community leader featured on the show this season has highlighted housing affordability and economic uncertainty as persistent challenges, and with the cost of living outpacing wages across the country (and other factors exacerbating that trend) we need to better understand the factors that drive homelessness, and the interventions that are most helpful to our unhoused neighbors.
I knew Kevin would bring the expertise, and I hoped to discover what fuels his mission when things get hard. This conversation surpassed my expectations as we veered into the spiritual and philosophical roots of Kevin's work, his thoughts on spiritual gifts and "self interest, rightly understood" (#Tocqueville FTW!) and the discoveries he's made along his journey to address relational poverty. This is a soul deep conversation about humanity and dignity, and though the topic is difficult, the vibes are immaculate.
On Portland and Sustainability with Vivian Satterfield
Vivian Satterfield has over fifteen years of experience working to make people and planet based-change. She's an organizer, policy maker, and coalition builder currently serving as Chief Sustainability Officer …
Notes de l’épisode
Vivian Satterfield has over fifteen years of experience working to make people and planet based-change. She's an organizer, policy maker, and coalition builder currently serving as Chief Sustainability Officer for the city of Portland, Oregon. The impact of her work has been recognized nationally, including being featured on Marketplace Weekend, The New York Times, and Science Friday on National Public Radio.
Vivian joined us to talk about Portland's historic transformation to a new form of government and the community's role as a national and global leader in sustainability and climate action. Vivian also shares what's shaped her: from her Chinese-American roots, to her mother's work ethic, her love of her first home (the great city of Chicago), and her passion for her chosen home, Portland. Listen in for a dynamic conversation about people, power, and change.
Yes, we can.
ENCORE: On Youth and Social Movements with Sarah Sladen
This episode originally aired June 10, 2026.In light of the recent wave of youth protests across the globe, we are re-airing this highly relevant episode.Sarah Sladen is a Senior global leader with 20+ years …
Notes de l’épisode
This episode originally aired June 10, 2026.
In light of the recent wave of youth protests across the globe, we are re-airing this highly relevant episode.
Sarah Sladen is a Senior global leader with 20+ years developing and implementing strategies at the intersection of social impact, youth and community development, economic opportunity and wellbeing across government, philanthropy, and civil society. As a current Senior Fellow at Georgetown University and the most recent Senior Advisor for Youth at USAID, Sarah knows what she's talking about when it comes to implementing a Positive Youth Development framework, leading everything from training and coalition-building to grant-making, and so many other tasks that I will probably never understand.
As the granddaughter of a South African anti-apartheid activist and the child of parents with a serious case of wanderlust, Sarah brings a unique perspective to all the big questions: How are young people impacted by conflict and politics? How are brains shaped by trauma? How useful and responsible is the CVE lens? And how can we all live our best lives? It's a special gift to spend time with Sarah, and to trace the threads of conscience and courage in her family across time and place.
On Being Mayor of Arvada, CO with Lauren Simpson
Mayor Lauren Simpson is the first directly elected female Mayor of the City of Arvada, Colorado. She’s also a Mom to a human daughter and countless foster kittens, all of whom benefit from her unique brand of …
Notes de l’épisode
Mayor Lauren Simpson is the first directly elected female Mayor of the City of Arvada, Colorado. She’s also a Mom to a human daughter and countless foster kittens, all of whom benefit from her unique brand of curiosity and compassion. An international relations and comms expert by training and a true diplomat by nature, Mayor Lauren sat down to talk with us about a life and career that took her from Texas to DC to Colorado, and that challenged her to not only make sense of a complicated world, but help others make sense of it, too. She’s a community builder, a relationship manager, and she delights in winning over the naysayers. She’s also chosen to take the deeply personal experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, and use it to motivate others to listen to their bodies and keep up with regular screenings. Lauren wants us to know that democracy is a contact sport, and despite the polarized political environment, we can find our way to each other if we embrace the power of positive assumption.
Listen in for kittens and puns and a healthy respect for both hard and soft shell tacos, and check her out in People magazine (!!!) here: https://people.com/colorado-mayor-reveals-breast-cancer-diagnosis-during-city-council-meeting-11924500
On Working for America with Shifra Goldenberg
Shifra Goldenberg is Chief Program Officer at Work for America, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to make public service a more desirable, accessible, and stable career path. Think matchmaker for aspiring public …
Notes de l’épisode
Shifra Goldenberg is Chief Program Officer at Work for America, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to make public service a more desirable, accessible, and stable career path. Think matchmaker for aspiring public servants and city, state, and county employers. It's been their mission since 2024 to keep public servants in public service, and on this episode, Shifra makes an exciting ANNOUNCEMENT: WfA's Civic Match program is expanding eligibility and bringing new public servants into service, too!
Listen to Shifra's episode to learn more about her path from art history and anthropology --> leading the launch of NYC's Covid vaccination sites --> thinking big about revitalizing public service. And enjoy pitstops, like the one where we ponder whether anthropology might actually be the most practical degree in today's topsy turvy AI saturated world.
Shifra's a delight, WfA is insanely cool, and their link is here. If serving your community sounds cool, check it out: https://www.workforamerica.org/civicmatch?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24036667436&gbraid=0AAAABEOWF1kypO5_fyMqD0DI36Rfv_hqH&gclid=CjwKCAjww-3VBhAcEiwAwUUIu48FcOLOw7xt6szdjRmsah44LGpuplwgijjnBX_St7742fTmGE5X3RoCe90QAvD_BwE
On Being Mayor of Canton, NC with Zeb Smathers
Homegrown Mayor Zeb Smathers loves tending to his backyard in Canton, North Carolina. Before assuming office, he started as a community advocate at his family-run legal practice, Smathers & Smathers. Since …
Notes de l’épisode
Homegrown Mayor Zeb Smathers loves tending to his backyard in Canton, North Carolina. Before assuming office, he started as a community advocate at his family-run legal practice, Smathers & Smathers. Since 2013, he's represented Canton through numerous challenges, including a global pandemic, economic transition, and, more recently, Hurricane Helene. As we enter another hurricane season, we're sitting down with Mayor Zeb to find out what animates him, and how he’s learned to “GSD” (get shit done) in small town North Carolina. He shares his thoughts about why hopelessness is one of the greatest dangers to our democracy, and where he spots the greatest displays of courage, decency, and respect.
On Being Mayor of Chapel Hill, NC with Jess Anderson
Jess Anderson is Mayor of Chapel Hill.Many know her as a public policy analyst, a Professor, a Mom, a wife, a friend, etc. but she's also the child of two clinical psychologists. After her own little …
Notes de l’épisode
Jess Anderson is Mayor of Chapel Hill.
Many know her as a public policy analyst, a Professor, a Mom, a wife, a friend, etc. but she's also the child of two clinical psychologists. After her own little demi-rebellion in high school, she tapped into her innate curiosity about people (again, psychologist parents!) and decided to explore how systems make life better or worse. Listen in for highlights from the journey, insights into the job of being mayor (spoiler: collaboration is mandatory, and failure to pass a budget is not an option), and reflections on career and life and being many things to many people - especially as a Mom.
You'll leave this one wanting Jess to be your friend.
On City and State Diplomacy with Ambassador Nina Hachigian
Nina Hachigian was the first U.S. Ambassador for City and State Diplomacy from 2022-2025, the first Deputy Mayor for International Affairs in the City of Los Angeles, and she currently leads the Alliance for …
Notes de l’épisode
Nina Hachigian was the first U.S. Ambassador for City and State Diplomacy from 2022-2025, the first Deputy Mayor for International Affairs in the City of Los Angeles, and she currently leads the Alliance for Local Leaders International (ALLIES), which is a nonpartisan nonprofit that brings together professionals from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to solve the big challenges facing our cities, our country, and our planet. So naturally, Ambassador Hachigian is the perfect person to help us kick off Season 4 of the Public Service Project, where we will spend time exploring what diplomacy looks like at the state and local levels. She's here to explain why American cities benefit from diplomatic expertise, and how diplomats can grow enormously from serving communities across America.
On Care and Community and Modern Masculinity with Gary Barker
Gary Barker, PhD, is President, CEO and Co-Founder of Equimundo Center for Masculinities and Social Justice. A quick Google search reveals how wildly impressive Gary is, so we'll skip the recap and go right …
Notes de l’épisode
Gary Barker, PhD, is President, CEO and Co-Founder of Equimundo Center for Masculinities and Social Justice. A quick Google search reveals how wildly impressive Gary is, so we'll skip the recap and go right into the questions driving this conversation: Why and how is Gary Barker so compassionate, resilient, and deeply principled? Where did that come from? How did his childhood experience witnessing gun violence shape how he thought about safety, and what predisposed him to look upstream for the causes of violence in communities? How do we all experience gender dynamics in our homes and in society, and how does economic pressure exacerbate the frailties baked into rigid norms around what is expected of men and women? What is equality, and how is a focus on care central to understanding that we are all underserved by the status quo? This episode weaves its way through Gary's life and somehow answers all of these questions, and that is why he's the best.
For more on Equimundo, head here: https://www.equimundo.org/
And for Gary's TED talk on revolutionizing the role of men in dismantling gender inequality: https://www.ted.com/speakers/gary_barker
On Grief and Moxie with Maryum Saifee
Maryum Saifee is living, becoming, rethinking and rewriting the American dream. She is her parents' greatest wish come to life, and she holds herself to the highest possible standard when it comes to serving …
Notes de l’épisode
Maryum Saifee is living, becoming, rethinking and rewriting the American dream. She is her parents' greatest wish come to life, and she holds herself to the highest possible standard when it comes to serving the country that made her. She challenges herself, and all those around her, to face each day with conscience, courage, and moral clarity, and she does it with humanity and grace. Her credentials are impressive, from time spent serving with PeaceCorps to AmeriCorps to the U.S. Foreign Service. She experienced the Arab Spring up close in Cairo. She witnessed the impacts of the U.S. troop withdrawal from her post in Baghdad. She helped shape the State Department's approach to tech and diplomacy, and she is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, but what comes to the surface in this conversation is not just where she's been - it's how it has changed her. Despite being separated from her vocation against her will one year ago, Maryum is not done. She's not looking away from the many contradictions that make us who we are. She continues to hold us all accountable: to ourselves, to each other, and to the promise we made to form a more perfect union.
Stick around at the end of this episode for a special visit from Maryum's mom, whose relentless courage and incomparable work ethic have rippled throughout her community and across the globe through her own service, and her daughter's.
On Policy and Public Affairs with Jeffrey Levy
Jeffrey Levy served the public in the U.S. federal civil service for 31 years, through 21 years at EPA and 5 each at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department. With a background in …
Notes de l’épisode
Jeffrey Levy served the public in the U.S. federal civil service for 31 years, through 21 years at EPA and 5 each at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department. With a background in Physics and Environmental Policy, his digital communications career came as a surprise. His impulse to embrace the web as a powerful tool for connecting the American public with the agencies that serve them became a life and career defining choice, and now one year into retirement, Jeffrey is sharing stories from the early days of the interwebs; insights into the role (and value) of public affairs work; and deep reflections on ethics, integrity, and personal redlines. His wisdom and sincerity are unmatched.
On Human Rights and Civilian Security with Uzra Zeya
Uzra Zeya is President and CEO of Human Rights First, and former Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Human Rights, and Democracy - the pillar tasked with advancing human rights, strengthening the …
Notes de l’épisode
Uzra Zeya is President and CEO of Human Rights First, and former Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Human Rights, and Democracy - the pillar tasked with advancing human rights, strengthening the rule of law, supporting refugees, elevating the fight against corruption, and combatting transnational crime and human trafficking. Her distinguished diplomatic career has included assignments in France, India, Syria, Egypt, Oman, and Jamaica, as well as roles advising Secretaries of State Rice and Clinton. In this episode, Uzra shares a bit about the family that raised her, and the experiences (like motherhood) that shaped her. She reflects on the challenging decisions she's faced in her life and her career, and offers her thoughts on what it means to be an American today, and always.
Access Human Rights First's recent report (referenced in the show) here: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/human-rights-first-and-raices-release-new-report-exposing-systemic-due-process-violations-and-cruelty-at-dilley-ice-family-prison/
On Youth and Social Movements with Sarah Sladen
Sarah Sladen is a Senior global leader with 20+ years developing and implementing strategies at the intersection of social impact, youth and community development, economic opportunity and wellbeing across …
Notes de l’épisode
Sarah Sladen is a Senior global leader with 20+ years developing and implementing strategies at the intersection of social impact, youth and community development, economic opportunity and wellbeing across government, philanthropy, and civil society. As a current Senior Fellow at Georgetown University and the most recent Senior Advisor for Youth at USAID, Sarah knows what she's talking about when it comes to implementing a Positive Youth Development framework, leading everything from training and coalition-building to grant-making, and so many other tasks that I will probably never understand.
As the granddaughter of a South African anti-apartheid activist and the child of parents with a serious case of wanderlust, Sarah brings a unique perspective to all the big questions: How are young people impacted by conflict and politics? How are brains shaped by trauma? How useful and responsible is the CVE lens? And how can we all live our best lives? It's a special gift to spend time with Sarah, and to trace the threads of conscience and courage in her family across time and place.
On Dignity and the Rising Tide with Christina Sass
Christina is a powerhouse. She has spent over two decades tackling challenges in global development through an ever-sharpening focus on youth employment. She's here today to share the why and the how - from her …
Notes de l’épisode
Christina is a powerhouse. She has spent over two decades tackling challenges in global development through an ever-sharpening focus on youth employment. She's here today to share the why and the how - from her father's improbable capture of the American dream, to her own journey as a co-founder and CEO. She believes with a fiery passion that identifying and upskilling young talent and aligning their potential to the needs of industry is the most direct way to solve for so many problems that derive from high youth unemployment. Her methods reveal her business savvy, but her mission comes straight from her life and her love of philosophy. She's committed to helping raise the tide and lift all ships.
On Philanthropy and Enlightened Self Interest with Gil Gillenwater
Gil Gillenwater is the founder of the award-winning Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation, which has reimagined border philanthropy, empowering communities through reciprocal giving and shared dignity since 1987 …
Notes de l’épisode
Gil Gillenwater is the founder of the award-winning Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation, which has reimagined border philanthropy, empowering communities through reciprocal giving and shared dignity since 1987. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards for volunteerism and philanthropy, and one of his projects was selected by former President Bill Clinton as a featured initiative at Clinton Global Initiative, a gathering of the world’s leading thinkers, philanthropists and changemakers.
Gil is an Arizona native, a lifelong student of Eastern philosophy and meditation, a black belt in Kenpo Karate, and a wilderness adventurer reaching 75 countries. His time spent studying with remote Tibetan lamas and mystics inspired a philosophy of enlightened self-interest that now guides his approach to social change with Rancho Feliz.
Gil is joining the show to share his personal philosophy around Service, including the parts he thinks we generally misunderstand. He's telling is what he means by "enlightened self-interest," why he thinks we fall victim to misguided compassion, and how he is reimagining development with dignity.
Learn more about Rancho Feliz here: https://ranchofeliz.com/
And check out Gil's new book, Hope on the Border: https://ranchofeliz.com/hope-on-the-border/
On Culture and Conflict (and sexy policy work) with CJ Pine
CJ Pine is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, teaching about the United Naitons Security Council. He previously worked as a civil servant at the U.S. Mission to the UN, and at the State …
Notes de l’épisode
CJ Pine is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, teaching about the United Naitons Security Council. He previously worked as a civil servant at the U.S. Mission to the UN, and at the State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.
CJ is here to dispel myths about peace studies, explain how (and why) countries negotiate at the UN, and tell us all about his childhood misadventure selling lemonade in China. His experiences as a "third culture kid" shaped the way he looks at the world, and approaches conflict management. This is a master class in multilateralism and a delightful chat with a person whose brilliance is only surpassed by his kindness.
On Courage and Vocation with Ambassador Barbara Leaf
Ambassador Barbara Leaf is a career public servant with over 3 decades of experience, most recently serving as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, where she was responsible for the U.S …
Notes de l’épisode
Ambassador Barbara Leaf is a career public servant with over 3 decades of experience, most recently serving as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, where she was responsible for the U.S. relationship with 18 countries from Morocco to the Arabian Peninsula. She's a frequent guest on media outlets as an expert on the Middle East, but she's here to speak candidly about her life and career. She shares a bit about her childhood, reflects on experiences (and moments of career malaise) that taught her important things about herself, and describes how healthy relationships with other countries directly benefit Americans. In a parallel universe, she may have opened a little book shop, but it's hard to even imagine her not crossing the globe and meeting with foreign dignitaries. She is whip smart, serious about her work, and refreshingly open about the reality of life in the Foreign Service.
On Fatherhood, Friendship, and Fine Living with Dr. Corey Holmes
Dr. Corey Holmes is a diplomat, an academic, a father, an author, a friend. He is here to talk less about his achievements (there are many!) and more about the questions, observations, and new discoveries that …
Notes de l’épisode
Dr. Corey Holmes is a diplomat, an academic, a father, an author, a friend. He is here to talk less about his achievements (there are many!) and more about the questions, observations, and new discoveries that are shaping this chapter in his life. We discuss male friendships and vulnerability, the divine (and exhausting) experience of fatherhood, the exercise of writing, and the moments that shift your course in life.
His book (Golf, Cigars, and Scotch: Balancing Fatherhood, Friendship, and Fine-Living) is a tribute to his friends and a gift to his son. It's available through Kindle Unlimited, and in Paperback and Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Golf-Cigars-Scotch-Fatherhood-Fine-Living/dp/1535601418
On Democracy and Subnational Diplomacy with Jon Temin
Jon Temin works across government, research and the non-profit sector to advance democracy, good governance, conflict resolution, and US-Africa relations. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Johns Hopkins …
Notes de l’épisode
Jon Temin works across government, research and the non-profit sector to advance democracy, good governance, conflict resolution, and US-Africa relations. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University SNF Agora Institute, where he is researching the future of U.S. democracy assistance. Previously, he was the Director of the Africa programs at Freedom House and at the US Institute of Peace, a member of the US Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff, and Vice President of Policy & Programs at the Truman National Security Project. He shares his thoughts on what makes good writing, what we should know about truth and reconciliation, why the crisis in Sudan has not received the attention it deserves, and why he's spending his time thinking about sub-national diplomacy and democratic resilience.
On History and Context with Amanda Van Dort
Amanda Van Dort is a McCain Institute American Democracy and Technology Fellow, and an Adjunct Professor for Johns Hopkins and GWU teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on issues related to Women, Peace …
Notes de l’épisode
Amanda Van Dort is a McCain Institute American Democracy and Technology Fellow, and an Adjunct Professor for Johns Hopkins and GWU teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on issues related to Women, Peace, and Security. She's also a former diplomat, most recently serving the Department of State as Chief of Staff in the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues, building on her background advancing the rights of women globally and addressing the needs of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Amanda is spending her post gov era hitting the books and thinking big thoughts on the roots of American democracy, revisiting documents drafted by the founding fathers, and studying their cultural influences to better understand not just what they said, but what they meant. We're talking about her path into government service, her thoughts on what it means to go "back to basics," her elevator pitch for why gender matters, and our shared assessment of whether the public education system prepares kids to engage with the most critical questions of our time.
Links to a few of Amanda's top reads:
First Principles by Thomas Ricks: Buy on Thriftbooks
Our Declaration by Danielle Allen: Buy on Thriftbooks
Sex and the Constitution by Geoffrey Stone: Buy on Thriftbooks
On Peace and Propportunities with Kat Fotovat
Katrina "Kat" Fotovat is Co-Founder of Peace Pays, a global initiative that harnesses artificial intelligence to prevent violence, strengthen democratic resilience, and advance women-led peacebuilding …
Notes de l’épisode
Katrina "Kat" Fotovat is Co-Founder of Peace Pays, a global initiative that harnesses artificial intelligence to prevent violence, strengthen democratic resilience, and advance women-led peacebuilding worldwide. Kat is a former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues with over 30 years of experience in fragile settings, overseeing more than $5 billion in programs supporting democracy, human rights, and marginalized populations. Today, she's harnessing her wildly impressive experience, her incredible network, and her indomitable spirit to tackle old challenges with new tools - and as always, she's turning problems into propportunities.
On Techxiety and Corporate Social Responsibility with Russell York
Russell York is the Founder and CEO of Cosmo Technologies - one of the fastest growing family tech brands, creating purpose-built, safe devices that help kids stay connected, while giving parents peace of mind …
Notes de l’épisode
Russell York is the Founder and CEO of Cosmo Technologies - one of the fastest growing family tech brands, creating purpose-built, safe devices that help kids stay connected, while giving parents peace of mind.
Russell joined me for a conversation about tech, parenting, and the public good. We discuss the pervasive techxiety that is driving our parenting strategies; the need for ethical tech leadership and real solutions; the essential nature of an outdoor childhood; cultivating resilience; creating a values-first business model; and so many other topics that are top of mind for parents, policymakers, and people interested in the public good. Join me for an honest and reflective chat with this homeschooled 4H kid, who blazed his own trail from intel analysis in Afghanistan to building a kid-safe smartwatch.
On Pivots and Portfolios with Kristen Cordell
Kristen Cordell serves as Grand Challenges Canada's inaugural Senior Director for Policy and Learning. Before joining GCC, she held senior roles at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the …
Notes de l’épisode
Kristen Cordell serves as Grand Challenges Canada's inaugural Senior Director for Policy and Learning. Before joining GCC, she held senior roles at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Department of State, and USAID. Her commitment to service and support of U.S. geopolitical objectives has earned her awards from the Secretary of State, and USAID Administrator. She's a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a true thought leader, an innovator, and a creator. Kristen joins us to talk about lessons learned from the many seasons of her career (from the field, to the halls of the White House) and to share her thoughts on the future of service. She's thinking through how to create productive and satisfying portfolios, how to build resilience into public service careers, and how to live in alignment with your values. And she's also here to help me convince Dr. Becky to join me on the show :)
On Tax Negotiations and Citizen Diplomacy with Alexa Dominique Pascual
Alexa Dominique Pascual is a Sustainable Development Goals Global Ambassador with the UN Association of the United States of America, and the DMUN Foundation's Head Observer to the UN, World Bank, and IMF …
Notes de l’épisode
Alexa Dominique Pascual is a Sustainable Development Goals Global Ambassador with the UN Association of the United States of America, and the DMUN Foundation's Head Observer to the UN, World Bank, and IMF. That's a lot of acronyms. What does it mean? It means Alexa leads American youth delegations weighing in on topics like global governance, economic cooperation, and AI regulation. She's participated in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on International Tax Cooperation and spoken at high level UN events. She's shattering assumptions about how and where young people can shape policy by demonstrating that young leaders are not just activists; they are negotiators and researchers and... tax experts!
And what prepared Alexa to engage in citizen diplomacy and multilateralism? Why of course, her background as an acrobat with Cirque du Soleil!
Listen in to learn how she moved from literal tightropes to metaphorical ones, and follow Alexa for a steady stream of inspiring content and sound advice for young leaders!
On Crisis in Care with Deborah Cook Kaliel
People have all kinds of reactions to a radical upset to their lives and careers, and they're all valid. But I'm always especially fascinated with people who not only find new avenues, but who create new paths …
Notes de l’épisode
People have all kinds of reactions to a radical upset to their lives and careers, and they're all valid. But I'm always especially fascinated with people who not only find new avenues, but who create new paths, learning to pave as they go.
Deborah Cook Kaliel is that kind of person. Following the dismantling of USAID and the abrupt end of that nearly 20 year chapter in her career, Debbie moved quickly to form Crisis in Care - an organization dedicated to filling the gaps left by USAID by supporting lifesaving HIV services across the globe. On this episode, she's sharing her background, her path into public service, her experiences working as a Senior Local Partnerships advisor for USAID, and her journey into the brave unknown as a former fed and Co-Founder of Crisis in Care. Listen in for important tips on creating a nonprofit, finding funding, and getting creative about spreading the word.
If you're interested in learning more about Crisis in Care, or better yet, supporting their work through Global Giving, visit their site or reach out to Debbie: https://www.crisisincare.org/our-team
On the (Mis)Education of Shannon Wolf
We're here as Ambassadors for the Normies.Just two sisters, from a working class family that celebrated wit and cultivated irreverence, and above all else, primed us to be as constructive as we are critical …
Notes de l’épisode
We're here as Ambassadors for the Normies.
Just two sisters, from a working class family that celebrated wit and cultivated irreverence, and above all else, primed us to be as constructive as we are critical. We're talking about the American Dream (myth or not?); socioeconomic status, privilege, and opportunity; career pathways; odd jobs and big goals; idealism and practicality and the call to serve; environmental justice; frustration and mistrust of government; and our basic customer service expectations. We're recapping Shan's journey from riding on sedated sheep (for science!) to combatting lead poisoning in underserved communities, with a lot of academic milestones along the way.
This is the episode for govvies AND non-govvies. It's the story of a middle class American family, striving to make ends meet and do a little good along the way. And I'm biased, but Shannon Wolf has navigated every step with authenticity and courage. There's just something cool about her.
On Relationships and Values with Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau
Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau is a career diplomat, previously serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, as Senior Advisor and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy Kyiv, and in several …
Notes de l’épisode
Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau is a career diplomat, previously serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, as Senior Advisor and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy Kyiv, and in several other overseas postings. She has served on the National Security Council and NATO's international staff, and now she's the Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy at the Bush Institute in Texas. Elizabeth originally trained as a journalist, and then, following 9/11, answered the call to public service. She continues to engage with the tough issues in a way that empowers leaders to make informed decisions, and citizens to hold informed views. Elizabeth is sharing her reflections on an amazing career, her tips on coping with stress (snacks!), and her vision for this next chapter in her service story.
On Creativity and Coffee with Annie Leverich
Annie Leverich is the Founder of First Light Coffee, a Maryland-based coffee company rooted in giving back. She also runs First Light Media, which offers Communications and Consulting services, drawing on her …
Notes de l’épisode
Annie Leverich is the Founder of First Light Coffee, a Maryland-based coffee company rooted in giving back. She also runs First Light Media, which offers Communications and Consulting services, drawing on her extensive experience leading the press team for USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance; in Comms roles with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and UN World Food Programme; and before that, as a journalist.
Annie's story - and the soulful work she's doing every day - speaks to the power of service as a mindset, not just a job. Now she's serving up delicious coffee, with a side of thoughtful reflections and a dash of community reinvestment. She's my favorite kind of entrepreneur.
Access First Light Coffee, First Light Media, and Sunrise Dispatch: https://sunrisedispatch.substack.com/
Listeners of the Public Service Project can use the following discount code for 15% off their first order of First Light Coffee: PSP2026
On Civ-Mil Relations and Arctic Adventures with Alex Wagner
The Honorable Alex Wagner is a recent Air Force Assistant Secretary, a former Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Army, an expert on nuclear and conventional weapons policy, a current Senior Fellow at the …
Notes de l’épisode
The Honorable Alex Wagner is a recent Air Force Assistant Secretary, a former Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Army, an expert on nuclear and conventional weapons policy, a current Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, a recovering lawyer, a South Pole adventurer, a Californian by birth and Washingtonian by choice. Today's conversation, recorded mid-December 2025, is an honest reflection on topics ranging from calculated career risks to military misconceptions, and the essential functions carried out by the National Guard. Alex's clarity, wisdom, and humor are not to be missed. Tune in to hear from the "high flying lawyer and human capital hero" (AI's perfect summary) - the one and only Alex Wagner.
Voici les 40 derniers épisodes sur 70. Les épisodes plus anciens se trouvent dans le flux du podcast.
Podcasts similaires
Plus de podcasts : Culture et société
C’est votre podcast ?
Confirmez-le avec une entrée dans votre flux : vous recevez ici un code, vous l’ajoutez comme podcast:txt dans le canal de votre flux, et nous le vérifions. Votre podcast apparaît ensuite comme « vérifié » sur SoundNode.