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United States
Donald Trump
Diplomacy
Trump Administration
Venezuela
Russia
Arizona State University
China
Ukraine
Democracy
U.S. Foreign Service
Foreign Service
Disinformation
Iran
Cuba
USAID
Israel
Afghanistan
Gaza
Tariffs

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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Latest Episodes

What do the number 8 dictator, a democratic leader with a wartime past, and an African civil war all have in common? Amb. Tracey Jacobson. By what methods, both time-tested and totally on-the-fly, did she succeed in tricky moments? Tune in and find o... more

Kyrgyzstan: A charred White House (they have one, too), riots and pogroms, plus a problematic human rights award. Why doesn't the need for diplomacy ever stop? Our very own Amb. Dan Rosenblum saw it all while overseeing aid in Central Asia and shares... more

Multiple choice: Energy is (1) how we heat our homes, (2) a tool of malign influence, (3) an instrument of statecraft? And what about all those increasingly necessary critical minerals? Amb. Geoffrey Pyatt, top energy diplomat, helps us understand th... more

Former Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton joins us with tales of negotiations to disarm North Korea's nuclear arsenal – What could go wrong? Could anything go right? After chairs have been thrown, after the all-night negotiations, what was r... more

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Recent Guests

Geoffrey Pyatt
Ambassador with 35-year Foreign Service career; former Assistant Secretary of State for Energy and Natural Resources
McClardy Associates; Atlantic Council; Miller Center
Episode: Energy is Life (and Death?)
Susan Thornton
Senior fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center, Yale Law School; former U.S. Foreign Service official with extensive experience in the Soviet region and East Asia
Former U.S. State Department, Senior Fellow at Yale Law School
Episode: Deep in the Hermit Kingdom
Alan Eaton
Evacuations specialist; former consular officer
U.S. Foreign Service
Episode: Last Officer at Abbey Gate (Encore)
Ken Handelman
Career civil servant with the Defense Department; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade Controls; later Director of Defense Intelligence for Warfighter Support
U.S. Department of Defense; State Department
Episode: Civil Servant Dons Body Armor
Bill Burns
Former U.S. Ambassador and senior State Department official; former head of CIA? (as discussed in episode)
Former U.S. Secretary of State/State Department roles; Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (per intro)
Episode: Bill Burns on Public Service (Encore)
John Bass
Ambassador to Afghanistan (2017-2020), former Undersecretary for Management, senior diplomat
U.S. Foreign Service
Episode: High School Reunion in Kabul
Daniel Remler
Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security
Center for a New American Security
Episode: AI Diplomacy: Dueling Banjos?
Robert Holley
Former Foreign Service Officer with extensive involvement in Morocco relations
U.S. Department of State
Episode: And in Other News…The Western Sahara
Kathy Kavalec
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Russia; first female U.S. ambassador to Romania
U.S. Department of State
Episode: Diplomacy is Empathy

Hosts

Laura Bennett
Co-host of the show; guides conversation and interviews with guests; long-standing host with focus on diplomacy and public service.
Dan Rosenblum
Host of the show; co-leads interviews and discussions on diplomacy, policy, and national security.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 392 ratings
  • Great and insightful!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Victor A.
    5 months 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 States9 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years 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 bit critique-heavy on host interruptions, but substantive and insightful.
Thoughtful, real-world diplomacy stories with strong guests.
Diverse guest mix and deep policy context make it valuable for practitioners and students.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Energy is Life (and Death?)
Q: How did LNG help during the Russian gas cutoffs in 2022?
American LNG scaled up under policy support, becoming the backbone to stabilize prices, reduce dependency on Russian gas, and provide energy security to Europe and Ukraine.
Energy is Life (and Death?)
Q: When did energy begin to be treated as a strategic asset in diplomacy?
It became central during the Bush-era India nuclear deal and evolved through Ukraine energy security challenges, then became a formal focus with ENR, as alliances and energy policy intertwined with national security.
Deep in the Hermit Kingdom
Q: What lessons does this experience offer for ongoing diplomacy with North Korea?
Maintain dialogue to prevent misperceptions, align interagency goals, manage incentives and verification transparently, and be prepared for long timelines where breakthroughs may come late or not at all, but ongoing engagement remains necessary for stability and potential threat reduction.
Deep in the Hermit Kingdom
Q: What was the Agreed Framework intended to achieve and why did it face challenges?
It aimed to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions by offering alternative energy sources and humanitarian aid in exchange for dismantling the weapons program, but it faced trust deficits, verification hurdles, and shifting political dynamics that undermined sustained compliance.
Deep in the Hermit Kingdom
Q: Why is North Korea such an enduring focal point for U.S. national security interests?
Because of its history as a nuclear weapons-hostile regime, its fraught relationship with South Korea, and the larger geopolitical implications of how major powers influence the Korean Peninsula, requiring long-term engagement and nuanced diplomacy.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About American Diplomat

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

This show pulls back the curtain on real-world diplomacy through long-form conversations with career foreign service officers, policymakers, and development professionals. Episodes frequently center on high-stakes decision making, interagency dynamics, and the human side of diplomacy—from public messaging and crisis management to aid governance and technology policy. A standout feature is the consistent willingness to tackle both contemporary hot topics (AI governance, public diplomacy, and regional conflicts) and enduring questions about leadership, ethics, and the craft of public service. The format often blends historical anecdotes with lessons for future diplomats, making it a strong fit for listeners who want practical insights, career... more

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1. Throughline
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. Sources & Methods
4. 1A
5. Radio Atlantic

How many episodes of American Diplomat are there?

American Diplomat launched 9 years ago and published 482 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. Geoffrey Pyatt
2. Susan Thornton
3. Alan Eaton
4. Ken Handelman
5. Bill Burns
6. John Bass
7. Daniel Remler
8. Robert Holley

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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