Free Daily Podcast Summary
American Diplomat: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Ambassador (Retired) Pete Romero and Writer/Producer Laura Bennett
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.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 1 weeks ago37 min
"This Golden Land"
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 foreign assistance.
- 2 weeks ago38 min
USAID: Into The Wood Chipper
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. Listen to him tell the tale.
- 3 weeks ago34 min
The Case of the Powdered Orange Drink
What is "dumping"? How does it hurt us? Who comes to the rescue? The Foreign Commercial Service! Judy Reinke, after leading the FCS, became Ambassador to Montenegro. Listen to her tales of service near and far.
- 4 weeks ago44 min
Loose Nukes
How to get bomb-ready uranium out of the wrong hands? It's the mid-90s. The Soviet Union just fell. Andrew Weber, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs, tells of moose hunts, wild turkey, black ice and convoys under cover of night. How does past diplomacy help us understand the nuclear situation in Iran today?
- Apr 30, 202638 min
Diplomat Lounge: Iran, A Way Out of the Mess
Can the US get out of its own way and turn this into a win? Ambassador Gary Grappo tells us how to do that, in a conversation with Pete and ASU Barrett Honors students. And yes, the solution involves diplomacy with a touch of humility. The Diplomat Lounge is a spinoff project of American Diplomat. This is its third of its three pilot episodes.
- Apr 23, 202630 min
Remember the Old Days (Say, 2020)?
By what dirty tricks exactly did Orban seize control of his country? And how then did his rival Magyar beat him? And between those bookends, we offer a look at what it was like to run the embassy in Budapest under Trump I. Could it be any more different than Trump now? Dave Kostelancik, former Chargé d'Affaires, regales us.
- Apr 16, 202626 min
The Rise and Demise of The House of Orban
AMB Kurt Volker, who has known Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban for 30 years, helps us understand the man, his early vision for Hungary, how his quest to "never lose another election" led him to become the model for would-be authoritarians everywhere — and also led to his downfall in last Sunday's election. Things are never quite as simple as they may appear!
- Apr 9, 202657 min
"That Devil Feltman"
After a long and successful career as a U.S. diplomat, AMB Jeff Feltman went on to places where no US official has ever gone before, as the UN's Under Secretary General for Political Affairs. What was it like to meet with Ayatollah Khamenei or Iranian President Ahmadinejad? Or to visit Pyongyang and relay messages from the US president to the North Korean leadership? When is the UN at its most effective? Plus a bonus discussion of the best way to evacuate US citizens when their lives are in danger.
Get American Diplomat summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
One Decision
Former intelligence leaders and journalists examine high-stakes decisions that shaped global events.
The Steady State Sentinel
Former national security professionals analyze threats to democracy and the Constitution with expert guests.
In the Room with Peter Bergen
Peter Bergen examines global news stories through interviews with experts and firsthand reporting on national security, technology, and conflict.
Americast
A weekly analysis of US politics and social media's influence on American life, featuring BBC correspondents and guest experts.
CONFLICTED
Two former insiders—one a spy, one a filmmaker—analyze Middle East conflicts, extremism, and global impacts through personal experience.
The Rest Is Classified
A deep dive into real spy operations, intelligence agencies, and covert global events from the Cold War to today.
The Real Story
Experts and decision makers analyze and debate major news stories.
The Global Story
A daily look at global politics, business, and foreign policy through the lens of US decisions and their worldwide impact.
NatSec Matters
Former national security officials interview top leaders on critical security challenges and U.S. policy responses.
The Foreign Affairs Interview
Conversations with global leaders and experts on international relations, geopolitics, and foreign policy issues shaping the world.
The Team House
Deep-dive conversations on national security with special operations veterans, intelligence professionals, and frontline reporters.
Economist Podcasts
Global news, business, finance, science, and technology explained through insightful reporting and analysis.
About American Diplomat
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.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from American Diplomat in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's American Diplomat daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of American Diplomat as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the American Diplomat podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official American Diplomat product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Ambassador (Retired) Pete Romero and Writer/Producer Laura Bennett.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does American Diplomat release new episodes?
American Diplomat publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does American Diplomat cover?
American Diplomat covers topics including News, Business. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting American Diplomat summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.