Best Writer Producer Laura Bennett Podcasts (2024)

1
AI - Demon Taking Over, or Tool for Diplomacy? 36:32

2h ago36:32

36:32

What does expertise look like in diplomacy with recent rapid changes in technology? Will AI replace diplomats? What is AI good at, and where is it dangerous? Large language models are great for brainstorming but can they replace relationships and judgment? Tune into Dan Spokojny, former diplomat, now Ph.D. and CEO of the nonprofit FP21, while he br…

51
Global Fragility Act 44:47

7d ago44:47

44:47

Finally, a home at State for what we have learned about global conflicts. Will it make us smarter? Will we demand deeper buy in from Allies and friends? Or do we continue to treat each conflict as a “one-off”? Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mark Iozzi joins us from State's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations to share his story from…

151
Geopolitics Thrills! 40:21

14d ago40:21

40:21

We talk about cultural diplomacy, but what about diplomacy in culture? Laura (MFA, Film and Television, NYU) loves movies and TV, and best of all, Laura loves movies and TV about geopolitics. What do the last fifty years of diplomacy in media tell us about diplomacy in society? About society more broadly? And why do so many movies about diplomats t…

1
From Harlem Hellfighters to the Jazz Ambassadors, A Leap of Faith 50:05

21d ago50:05

50:05

State Department lawyer Mike Peay traces how, during a time of deep racial conflict, black American jazz artists went overseas to promote the American experiment, winning the hearts of millions with their music and personas, but would it improve race relations at home?By Amb. (Ret.) Pete Romero & Writer/Producer Laura Bennett

1
Will Mexico Dodge the Bullet? 45:25

28d ago45:25

45:25

“Hugs, not bullets”, that is AMLO’s mantra for the cartels. This, while homicides have risen to historic highs. Our man in Mexico, retired Ambassador Tony Wayne, is back to discuss the good fight. Will democracy or autocracy win in the June 2 elections?By Amb. (Ret.) Pete Romero & Writer/Producer Laura Bennett

1
Two State Solution - Is the Perfect the Enemy of the Good? 46:14

1M ago46:14

46:14

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Fred Rudesheim unpacks the complexities of Gaza. Much is said of the very real moral outrages committed by Israel and Hamas. But what now? In the near term, how viable is a two-state solution? First let's look at what is and how we got here. Hint: what exactly does Biden mean when he speaks of a "revitalized Palestinian Au…

1
Russian Mercenaries' Regime Survival Kit 49:30

1M ago49:30

49:30

Out with Wagner, in with the Africa Corps. What will happen as mercenaries continue to offer attractive alternatives to vulnerable democracies like Niger, the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali? Ambassador Hank Cohen, whose new book "Africa, You Have a Friend in Washington", offers a vision of hope via economic self-determination. For …

1
100 Years old and Still Kicking It: The US Foreign Service 36:39

2M ago36:39

36:39

Tom Yazdgerdi, President of the American Foreign Service Association reaches back to illustrate how far the Foreign Service has come in the last 100 years and charts how it will meet the complex challenges of the next decades.By Amb. (Ret.) Pete Romero & Writer/Producer Laura Bennett

1
Shakespearean Tragedy: Cuba 37:43

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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…

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
AI - Demon Taking Over, or Tool for Diplomacy? 36:32

51
Global Fragility Act 44:47

151
Geopolitics Thrills! 40:21

1
From Harlem Hellfighters to the Jazz Ambassadors, A Leap of Faith 50:05

1
Will Mexico Dodge the Bullet? 45:25

1
Two State Solution - Is the Perfect the Enemy of the Good? 46:14

1
Russian Mercenaries' Regime Survival Kit 49:30

1
100 Years old and Still Kicking It: The US Foreign Service 36:39

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

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