The Summer of the Cockroaches
Pardis Mahdavi relays her experience of the Iranian sexual revolution and similar movements in the Middle East, including Afghanistan. Why was the summer of the cockroaches her favorite? There weren't...
1 Okt 202134min
9/11, Personal Inventory and a New Career
Nancy Ostrowski experienced the events of 9/11 first-hand, which inspired her to embark on a journey to a more satisfying, new career with USAID. See also her article in the Sept 2021 Foreign Service...
23 Sep 202137min
The Last Officer at Abbey Gate
Consular officer Alan Eaton helped scores of Afghans at risk evacuate from Kabul, working from inside the Abbey Gate at the airport at exactly the moment when our friend Toobah was on the other side o...
16 Sep 202134min
The Future of American Diplomacy
Eric Rubin sums it up with one word. If we want to be successful in our diplomacy, we need to adopt a position of humility with respect to the rest of the world.
9 Sep 202132min
Toobah Evacuation Update
Our friend is still there, fearing for her life. What is going on in Afghanistan right now? Laura shares Toobah's most recent experience as evacuations stall and no one really knows why. Pete helps ...
7 Sep 20219min
These Are Not My Beautiful Feet
For Pride Month (belatedly posted due to events in Afghanistan and our coverage of those), Austin Richey-Allen recounts his story of gender transition in the Foreign Service. A trans kid, he discover...
3 Sep 202139min
This Didn't Have to Happen
Our disastrous departure from Afghanistan. Hugo Llorens shares his knowledge of the Taliban's subgroups (hint: none abide by the Geneva Convention), his perspective on US domestic politics and its imp...
30 Aug 202129min
And What of Our Friend Toobah?
Wouldn't we all like to know. She's alive, at least. Bad luck becomes good luck as she is turned away on her way to the airport just before the bombs go off.
27 Aug 20212min
