Ben Moore, once a US diplomat and now San Diego’s Global Affairs brain, joins me for a conversation about cat herding, goat rodeos, and why diplomacy still matters even when everyone pretends it doesn’t.
This episode is for the diplomats doing the hard, invisible graft.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ben Moore's Journey

04:52 Cultural Influences and Worldview

07:32 Early Career in Diplomacy

10:11 Engaging with Adversaries in Diplomacy

13:00 Experiences in New York and Syria

15:35 The Coalition Against ISIS

18:15 Bridging Civilian and Military Perspectives

21:08 Challenges and Successes in the Coalition

23:52 The Importance of Dialogue in Diplomacy

26:45 Field Experiences and Forward Deployment

28:15 Building Trust on the Ground

30:55 Understanding Local Needs

34:44 The Role of Diplomacy in Crisis

34:56 The Importance of Diplomacy for National Security

39:22 Long-Term Solutions to Migration Issues

40:32 Transitioning from National to Local Diplomacy

45:24 Engaging the Community in Global Issues

47:32 Skills from Diplomacy Applied Locally

52:54 Advice for Future Generations

I write more deeply about what I learn from my intervieweesalong with insights from 20+ years as a diplomat and army officer - in my weekly newsletter, Diplomatic Dispatches.

You can also find me here:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-s-uptonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtodiplomat/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@howtodiplomat

The views expressed in this episode are the personalreflections of the guest. They do not represent the official positions of the UK Foreign Office or any government.

This podcast shares human stories and transferable lessonsfrom diplomacy - not day-to-day operational details.