American Diplomat Podcast

Real U.S. diplomats share the untold truths behind world events—what went right, what went wrong, and what you’ll never see in the news.

Want to know what it’s really like on the frontlines of international diplomacy?  Each week, Amb. (Ret.) Pete Romero and co-host Laura Bennett sit down with active and retired US diplomats to pull back the curtain on the gritty, human side of international affairs.  From dealing with foreign leaders to navigating the chaos of war zones, these diplomats share the stories that drive the headlines.  

#1 diplomacy podcast, FeedSpot
#1 international podcast, Goodpods
#5 all time top foreign, Goodpods
#10 all time top international, Goodpods

Latest Podcast Episodes

Kathleen Stephens, former ambassador to Korea, shares her perspective on how the culture of the US Foreign Service has changed, as have the cultures of Korea and the United States concurrently.  From cultures that favored workaholism to ones with greater gender equity, younger people have pushed for greater balance of...
Daren Nair, whose show
Ambassador Tony Wayne is back with a survey of trends, remaining challenges and reasons for optimism as we move from 2022 into 2023.  Trends include increased connectedness between domestic and international politics, ecomonmic localism and democractic backsliding, but we've also seen Western partnerships rally...
Pete botches up a boar hunt, drinks the mystery drink chicha, and receives upon his departure a marriage proposal, ambiguously addressed either to himself one of the other fine young gringos. Follows first episode, titled “Cowboys and Indian at the Embassy.”  Again, Pete wants to know what you think. Should he have...
From the archive, Pete tells the tale of his visit to the jungle to hang with the Huarini.  Did he do the right thing?  Pete actually wants to know!  Tell us what you think on facebook, at [email protected], or by voicemail (vm link on our website
Ambassador Peter Bodde shares a Christmas Eve tale of rescue and relief as the walls of Communism fell like snow in Eastern Europe, 1989.  
The authritarian psychology, with Ken Dekleva, our (fascinating) Foreign Service psychiatrist. Dictators respect only strength, negotiating with maximalist demands, getting as much as they can by giving as little as they can. As they grow older, they may become more rigid, threatening their grip on publics and...
Dr. Ken Dekleva, former foreign service psychiatrist, explains that for diplomats stressors are always high but especially so in places like China, where US diplomats are subject to Covid lockdowns that separate children from their parents, or war zones, or heavily surveilled postings like Moscow, and many more.  But...

The Podcast Team

Ambassador and Co-Host

Amb. Pete Romero had a twenty-five year career as a diplomat in the US Foreign Service. In his last three postings, he was head of our embassy in El Salvador, US Ambassador in Quito, Ecuador and Assistant Secretary of the Western Hemisphere Bureau at the US Department of State.

Producer and Co-Host

Laura Bennett has written, directed, produced and edited short films that have won 11 awards and screened at 35 festivals throughout the United States. Laura speaks Spanish, French and English and has traveled in five continents, often solo and working as a volunteer.

Sound Engineer

Lorenzo Wilkins heads SD33/Art Direction and Design, focusing on identity, publication and marketing design.  His client list includes the former UPN television, Fox television, PBS, Spike Lee's 40 Acres & a Mule, the NAACP, the National Society of Black Engineers, Jane Firor & Associates, City First Bank of DC, the Education Trust and several political campaigns.

Learn more

Related videos

U.S. Diplomacy & Development: A Call for Latino Leaders

A little music to go along with our episode “Corruption Vs. The Ambassador”.

Heroes of Diplomacy: Honoring Dr. Ralph Bunche

Our Sponsors