Best Writer/Producer Laura Bennett Podcasts (2024)

1
Shakespearean Tragedy: Cuba 37:43

1h ago37:43

37:43

Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, author of “Our Woman in Havana”, unpacks the dire circumstances in Cuba driving hundreds of thousands to flee the island and parses the impacts of South Florida exile politics on US diplomacy: the hammer is the only tool left in the box.By Amb. (Ret.) Pete Romero & Writer/Producer Laura Bennett

1
Data Saves Lives 38:56

6d ago38:56

38:56

What does it mean when open-source data show that huge populations have moved? Natural disaster? An attack? Relocation of children, forced passportization? Non-classified satellite imagery, cell phone photos, video, GPS and other puiblicly available information is critical to modern diplomacy and democracy. Susan Wolfinbarger, geographer, data scie…

1
Professional Peacemaker 29:54

8d ago29:54

29:54

Meghan Stewart, head of the Negotiations Support Unit in State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, knows the peace process – its structures, its history, the perspectives of combatants. Her team uses its specialized knowledge to help diplomats get peace agreements over the line, saving thousands and thousands of lives each time. Who …

1
Will Biden Listen to His Base? 39:54

16d ago39:54

39:54

Many diplomats urge what the vast majority of voters, including American Jews, want – a restrained Israel and a place for Palestinians. Former Assistant Secretary Eric Schwartz discusses the letter that he and 67 senior foreign policy professionals recently sent to the White House. Now in the aftermath of the killing of the World Central Kitchen vo…

1
The Next Thousand Years 37:39

22d ago37:39

37:39

Our climate: What we do during this decade will determine our climate for a millennium to come. Diplomats not only negotiate multilateral agreements that protect the earth but, even more so, work with nations to follow through on their commitments. But what is the surprising dynamic of domestic politics and global climate policy? And by what mechan…

1
Inked 34:20

1M ago34:20

34:20

Pete unpacks the antecedents of modern-day gangsterism, going back to his days as Assistant Secretary. What were the unintended consequences of sending Central American gangsters back “home” to a country they did not know, where their best chance of fitting in was with ex-guerillas? Boom. Not even the tattoo removal machines can save this combustib…

1
The Fire Was Even Hotter 37:17

1M ago37:17

37:17

General and Ambassador Doug Lute puts Sweden’s recent NATO membership in context: Has Putin accomplished his goals, or has it all backfired? What is the diplomatic solution to this war? And what should we expect at this year’s 75th NATO anniversary in the US?By Amb. (Ret.) Pete Romero & Writer/Producer Laura Bennett

1
Never in My Parents’ Wildest Dreams 26:33

2M ago26:33

26:33

For Women’s History Month, young diplomat Mary Vargas joins us to share her story as the daughter of an immigrant family of farm workers in Fontana, CA, to life as an American diplomat. How did she achieve her lifelong dream, and why does she seek assignments working with refugees, the incarcerated, and Gazans?…

1
One Million!!! 24:12

2M ago24:12

24:12

We just cleared our millionth download! Or, you did! Pete and Laura reflect on early days and share their favorite episodes of the 350 that they have broadcast over the years – the tomfoolery of cybercriminals, the economic party at the border, the astonishing takeover of an African nation by bunch of Wagner guys in flip flops, and the redemption o…

1
Out To Get Us 51:41

2M ago51:41

51:41

Tribalism: Who is "other"? Ambassador Bob Beecroft recalls the atrocities in the Balkans of the late ‘90s, after which DNA tests revealed that the victims and the perpetrators of “ethnic cleansing” were no different from one another genetically. The question then becomes, who do we see as “other”, and why do we see them as threats? Does any of this…

1
Crowing about President Crow 30:17

2M ago30:17

30:17

A Million Downloads! Yes, you did it for us. Here to celebrate with us is ASU President Michael Crow. Think vision meets design meets global reach. The goal? Access and energize the full level of human potential.By Amb. (Ret.) Pete Romero & Writer/Producer Laura Bennett

1
"You're Calling Us Global Terrorists? Oooh, Scare Me." 45:41

2M ago45:41

45:41

The Houthis: Who actually are these people? And Yemen: What is this place? Is it really a country? Yemen is engaged in a two-fronted, 10-year civil war, and this began long before the war in Gaza. Does Iran control the Houthis? (Hint: far from it.) And why this business with the shipping lanes? Join us as Ambassador Jerry Feierstein brings us up to…

1
A Rangel Fellow’s Journey to Service - BHM 46:45

3M ago46:45

46:45

Young foreign service officer Hermanoschy Bernard joins us in honor of Black History Month to share his story of flight from his native Haiti as a child to life in the US as a political asylee, where he turned obstacles into opportunities and achieved his dream of becoming a public servant, inspired originally by the consular officer who listened t…

1
Don't Poke the Panda - Taiwan's Election 37:15

3M ago37:15

37:15

Ambassador Richard Boucher joins us to contextualize Taiwan's recent election in its deliberately ambiguous relationship with mainland China. No big news is good news as Taiwan preserves its integrity by not declaring its overt independence, a lesson learned in Hong Kong. The wild card? Xi Jinping.By Amb. (Ret.) Pete Romero & Writer/Producer Laura Bennett

1
No More Funny Business in Guatemala (For Now) 35:32

3M ago35:32

35:32

Frank Mora, US Ambassador to the Organization of American States, helps us understand a diplomatic win: the (barely) peaceful transfer of power following Guatemala’s election of an outsider who is a threat to the corrupt establishment. Expectations are high, that the new president will both confront those who resist change - who have done much to t…

1
The Border, Part 2: This is North America’s Moment 29:05

3M ago29:05

29:05

Amb. Tony Wayne is back to go into depth on the US-Mexico border’s two greatest challenges. How did drug trafficking become even more sinister than it was before? And can we improve the immigration crisis ahead of the upcoming US election? What is at stake and what will it take, diplomatically and otherwise, to solve these issues?…

1
Zone of Opportunity: Trust at the Border 31:42

4M ago31:42

31:42

Did you know that $1.5M dollars in trade cross the US/Mexico border every single minute? Did you know that 5 million US jobs depend on the trade that takes place there? Ambassador Tony Wayne explains that the border is a living membrane and trust is the crux of managing conflicting interests and mutual challenges. Lethal synthetic drugs are very sm…

1
Cybercrime: Everybody’s a Target 48:13

4M ago48:13

48:13

Cybercrime has many names but what, actually, is it? Jim Lewis, former Foreign Service Officer, now Senior Vice President and Director of the Technology and Public Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, gives us a candid description of cybercrime's mechanics: who does it, why, how, and what is the impact of these acti…

1
It Wasn't All Bad, Was It? 10:15

4M ago10:15

10:15

Pete and Laura close the year with reflections on the diplomatic successes in 2023 that helped create a more peaceful and sustainable world. Global events have offered up a lot to fear recently, but it wasn't all bad! Happy New Year from American Diplomat.

1
You Are Stuck and Trapped 32:27

4M ago32:27

32:27

Psychiatrists David Charney and Ken Dekleva are back to discuss in depth what makes a person into a traitor. Start with an intolerable sense of personal failure. Then think of parties in Santiago with music, liquor, cigarettes, beautiful women and dancing (a happy hunting ground for spy recruiters). Then, one mistake and you are in for life. There …

1
Betrayal and Treason - Why? 30:39

4M ago30:39

30:39

Pete's old friend Manuel Rocha is in the news - but in jail as a spy for the Cubans! Imagine the shock. You trust someone, and wow. Psychiatrists David Charney and Ken Dekleva help us understand the mind of the turncoat: the greatest threat of them all is the male ego. We are gobsmacked.

1
How Corruption Destroys Democracy 35:36

5M ago35:36

35:36

Ambassador Mark Schneider, former director of the Peace Corps and an expert on corruption in the Western Hemisphere unpacks the August election in Guatemala. Juan José Arévalo was elected on an anti-corruption platform in a 61-39 percent win – bad news for the ruling elites who now seek to overturn the election results before inauguration in Januar…

1
A Win for Democracy in Poland! 46:11

5M ago46:11

46:11

The authoritarian government of Poland has just been voted out through free and fair elections. Dan Fried, former US Ambassador to Poland and Assistant Secretary of State for Europe, has met with the highest officials of both incoming and outgoing governments and helps us understand how it is that Poles view democracy and nationalism as two parts o…

1
Thanksgiving with Thievery Corporation: Unity, Love, Positivity 34:41

5M ago34:41

34:41

Jeffrey Franca, the drummer for DC's own world music icon Thievery Corporation - the band that generously allows us to use its music to open our show each week - shares with us the value of unity, love and positivity in his work, which is influenced by musical styles found worldwide. Franca also discusses his work outside of Thievery, in the band C…

1
Dissent and Its Consequences 27:26

5M ago27:26

27:26

What do you do if you have a severe crisis of conscience over a policy that you cannot support? Do you speak up? Or do you keep your head down and do your job? If you use State's established Dissent Channel, are you bound by its rules to keep your views in that channel? Do you go public? What is the patriotic thing to do? What is the morally right …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Writer/Producer Laura Bennett Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
American Diplomat

Ambassador (Retired) Pete Romero and Writer/Producer Laura Bennett

1
Project Blue Book: The Official Podcast

SYFY WIRE

1
Shakespearean Tragedy: Cuba 37:43

1
Data Saves Lives 38:56

1
Professional Peacemaker 29:54

1
Will Biden Listen to His Base? 39:54

1
The Next Thousand Years 37:39

1
Inked 34:20

1
The Fire Was Even Hotter 37:17

1
Never in My Parents’ Wildest Dreams 26:33

1
One Million!!! 24:12

1
Out To Get Us 51:41

1
Crowing about President Crow 30:17

1
"You're Calling Us Global Terrorists? Oooh, Scare Me." 45:41

1
A Rangel Fellow’s Journey to Service - BHM 46:45

1
Don't Poke the Panda - Taiwan's Election 37:15

1
No More Funny Business in Guatemala (For Now) 35:32

1
The Border, Part 2: This is North America’s Moment 29:05

1
Zone of Opportunity: Trust at the Border 31:42

1
Cybercrime: Everybody’s a Target 48:13

1
It Wasn't All Bad, Was It? 10:15

1
You Are Stuck and Trapped 32:27

1
Betrayal and Treason - Why? 30:39

1
How Corruption Destroys Democracy 35:36

1
A Win for Democracy in Poland! 46:11

1
Thanksgiving with Thievery Corporation: Unity, Love, Positivity 34:41

1
Dissent and Its Consequences 27:26

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