Rephonic
Artwork for American Diplomat
United States
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Venezuela
Diplomacy
Arizona State University
Russia
China
Ukraine
Democracy
U.S. Foreign Service
Foreign Service
Iran
Cuba
Disinformation
Israel
Gaza
Tariffs
Mexico
Carnegie Corporation Of New York

American Diplomat goes behind the scenes to hear real stories from diplomats who lived newsworthy events overseas. Experience the Cuban revolution, Central American insurgencies, the end of apartheid and more through the eyes of those who were there. A project of Arizona State University.

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Artwork for American Diplomat

Latest Episodes

Why can't we just bomb our way to victory in Iran? Listen to Lt. General Karen Gibson, former Director of Intelligence for U.S. Central Command, tell tales of the three-legged stool of military, intel and diplomacy in Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq – wh... more

Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Todd Robinson spent much of his career under fire, of one kind or another. Listen to his candid views on corruption in Guatemala, blowing up ships without due process... more

Is it Burma, or is it Myanmar? Did its former leader Aung San Suu Kyi bring democratic reform or did she commit genocide? Both? Chris Milligan, former Agency Counselor for USAID, highlights breathtaking human resilience and the strategic value of for... more

What was USAID? How did DOGE destroy it, and with what impacts to global health and stability? Nick Enrich's book "Into the Wood Chipper" details the demolition of the agency that for less than 1% of the US budget saved 92 million lives globally. Lis... more

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Recent Guests

Todd Robinson
Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
U.S. Department of State
Episode: Persona No Deseada
Chris Milligan
Former USAID official, highest-ranking career official and counselor to USAID
USAID
Episode: "This Golden Land"
Nicholas Enrich
Acting Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID at the time
USAID
Episode: USAID: Into The Wood Chipper
Judy Reinke
Ambassador, former Deputy Director General of the US Foreign Commercial Service
U.S. Department of Commerce / Foreign Commercial Service
Episode: The Case of the Powdered Orange Drink
Madeleine Yang
Barrett Honors Senior, student participant in the Diplomat Lounge
Barrett Honors College, ASU
Episode: Diplomat Lounge: Iran, A Way Out of the Mess
Arooz Setpathy
Barrett Honors Senior, student participant in the Diplomat Lounge
Barrett Honors College, ASU
Episode: Diplomat Lounge: Iran, A Way Out of the Mess
Gary Grappo
Ambassador with career in Near East Bureau
U.S. Embassy/State Department
Episode: Diplomat Lounge: Iran, A Way Out of the Mess
David Kostelancik
Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis; former career Foreign Service Officer
Center for European Policy Analysis
Episode: Remember the Old Days (Say, 2020)?
Kurt Volker
Ambassador
U.S. Department of State (former)
Episode: The Rise and Demise of The House of Orban

Hosts

Dan Rosenblum
Host of the show with extensive background in American Diplomat and related ASU projects.
Laura Bennett
Co-host and host with a focus on diplomacy storytelling, often guiding interviews.
Pete Romero
Host of The Diplomat's Lounge segment, brings practical diplomacy perspectives.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 387 ratings
  • Great and insightful!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Victor A.
    a month ago
  • Watch your language

    Dirty language and curse words in the December 18 episode — should have had an explicit language warning. As a professional podcast I expected better from the hosts and editor /producer.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Sarita7981
    United States6 months ago
  • Getting dull…

    The podcast is starting to get a little dull and more partisan political focused. I now put off listening in favor of more relevant, less partisan and more timely episodes about current foreign affairs issues. Maybe time for some new (guest) hosts to mix things up a little.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Sarita7981
    United States8 months ago
  • Lost its way…

    I used to really love this podcast and enjoyed hearing the “war stories” from our foreign service professionals. Unfortunately, this show has become yet another political program. This program used to rise above it all. It would be well served to return to that.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Yes, it's me.
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love this podcast

    Most unique podcast with colorful insights into the lives of foreign service officers. Love the banter and tone of the episodes- I’ve learned so much about the inner workings of foreign service and intelligence.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Samj246
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A recurring critique centers on host interruptions and pacing
Positive sentiment about deep, insider diplomat stories and mentorship
Guests and topics are generally praised for breadth and relevance
Some listeners feel the format can be repetitive or partisan

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"This Golden Land"
Q: And what was your reason for joining aid as a younger person starting your career?
Milligan explains a mix of purpose, duty, and a sense of adventure—wanting to see the world, understand other cultures, and believe development is a solvable challenge that can improve the human condition.
Persona No Deseada
Q: So tell us about that exciting time in Venezuela and what made it so intense?
The six-month assignment in Caracas involved navigating a regime that controlled many aspects of diplomacy, facing mandatory briefing constraints, and dealing with media and public messaging while trying to support U.S. policy, which ultimately led to expulsion in a dramatic confrontation with the Maduro regime.
USAID: Into The Wood Chipper
Q: Can you give us a brief on what drew you to public service and how you ended up at USAID?
I was drawn to public service from a young age, had a college experience in Kenya studying development and health, and eventually joined USAID through the Presidential Management Fellows program, aiming to contribute to global health and American leadership in development.
The Case of the Powdered Orange Drink
Q: Can you give an example of a case where you helped a company and it got complicated?
A major case involved a large multinational orange powdered beverage shipment in the Philippines where tariffs and sugar cartels complicated the issue; through use of precedents from international bodies and targeted advocacy with the Finance Ministry, the ruling was changed in favor of the American company, illustrating how careful, evidence-based advocacy can resolve complex trade hurdles.
The Case of the Powdered Orange Drink
Q: So Judy, you mentioned advocacy for businesses before. How do you advocate it in practice, and are there different types of advocacy? How do you define an American business?
Advocacy is about helping American companies grow their international footprint by engaging with host-country officials to create a fair, stable, and transparent business environment, using tools like Big A Advocacy to pursue national-interest considerations and leveraging local partners to address specific barriers.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About American Diplomat

What is American Diplomat about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program offers insider-facing conversations with veteran diplomats and policymakers, often centering on real-world crises, diplomacy strategy, and the inner workings of U.S. foreign policy. Episodes frequently explore how diplomacy, aid, and international institutions intersect with current events—from humanitarian missions and Western Hemisphere policy to Europe's democratic trajectory and Middle East dynamics. A notable strength is its blend of firsthand career stories with expert analysis, yielding practical lessons for aspiring diplomats and policymakers alike while highlighting mentorship and career pathways within the Foreign Service and related fields.

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Which podcasts are similar to American Diplomat?

These podcasts share a similar audience with American Diplomat:

1. The President’s Inbox
2. Net Assessment
3. NatSec Matters
4. The Lawfare Podcast
5. The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer

How many episodes of American Diplomat are there?

American Diplomat launched 9 years ago and published 467 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on American Diplomat?

Recent guests on American Diplomat include:

1. Todd Robinson
2. Chris Milligan
3. Nicholas Enrich
4. Judy Reinke
5. Madeleine Yang
6. Arooz Setpathy
7. Gary Grappo
8. David Kostelancik

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