U.S. Embassy NZ: Mission Waves

usembassynz

Kia-ora, Talofa, Fakalofa atu, hello and welcome to the official Podcast of the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in New Zealand, Samoa, Cook Islands & Niue

  1. 05/27/2025

    From Fossils to Flightless Birds: Julia Clarke on Dinosaurs, Kiwis, and… Pies?!

    What do a great pie and a career in science have in common? Paleontologist Julia Clarke, that’s what. As part of the U.S. Embassy Speaker Program, Professor Julia Clarke - one of the world’s top experts on bird evolution and vertebrate paleontology - visited Aotearoa New Zealand to connect with local scientists, students, and conservationists. Julia is a professor at The University of Texas at Austin, has led expeditions on multiple continents, and her work has been featured in Nature, National Geographic, and Science Friday. In this episode, Mike chats with Julia about the evolutionary mysteries of flightless birds like the kiwi and moa, what fossils tell us about resilience, and how science diplomacy builds bridges.  And yes, Mike drops the pie question as an analogy: What gives you comfort and satisfaction in your work? Julia’s answer? Listen to find out!  Science, laughs, and a side of pastry, served fresh from the US Embassy NZ.

    14 min

  2. 10/28/2024

    Campaigns, Challenges, and Leadership: A Conversation with Dr. Todd Belt

    In this episode, Dr. Todd Belt, Director of the Political Management Program at The George Washington University, discusses the key challenges and opportunities in modern political campaigns. From the rise of misinformation to navigating the 2024 U.S. election, Dr. Belt offers insights into the evolving political landscape, the skills future leaders need, and his reflections on New Zealand’s political system. Perfect for anyone interested in politics, media, and leadership in a rapidly changing world.

    12 min

  3. 09/30/2024

    AI Horizons: Ethics, Policy, and Indigenous Sovereignty with Jessica Zosa Forde & James Pavur

    In this episode, Mike from the US Embassy sits down with AI experts Jessica Zosa Forde and James Pavur to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, policy, and ethics. They dive into topics such as AI's role in preserving indigenous languages, the ethical challenges of large language models, and the importance of data sovereignty for indigenous communities. Their insights from their recent visit to New Zealand offer a unique perspective on the future of AI and its global impact.

    8 min

  4. 09/22/2024

    Mars Rovers & Curiosity: A Journey with Dr. Vandi Verma

    While in Aotearoa, New Zealand, for the Opportunity Rover replica and "Goodnight Oppy" movie tour, Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Dr. Vandi Verma, a leading space roboticist and chief engineer, sits down with Muna Shikaki from the American Film Showcase. In this episode, Dr. Verma shares her thrilling experiences driving the Opportunity Rover on Mars, the importance of inspiring the next generation of space explorers, and how advancements in rover technology are shaping the future of Mars missions. She also offers insights for young Kiwis looking to break into space tech and highlights the value of teamwork in large-scale space exploration projects.

    13 min

  5. 06/19/2024

    Democracy 2.0: Innovations with John Gastil

    Mike from the Embassy the privilege of sitting down with John Gastil, Distinguished Professor at Penn State and a leading expert on deliberative democracy. In this insightful episode, Gastil discusses his talk "Democracy 2.0," which he presented at the University of Auckland's symposium on "Reinvigorating and Reinventing Democracy for the 21st Century." Tune in as John explores innovative ways to strengthen democracy and deliberative politics, the concept of mini-publics, social media's impact on democracy, the rise of AI and its effects on democratic systems, and highlights from his book "Hope for Democracy." Don’t miss this engaging conversation! Listen now and join the discussion on the future of democracy. Views in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsement of the U.S. Government or the U.S. Department of State.

    27 min
  6. From Classroom to Cosmos: High School Student Interviews NASA's Brian Drouin

    06/11/2024

    From Classroom to Cosmos: High School Student Interviews NASA's Brian Drouin

    🚀 Tune in to "From Classroom to Cosmos: High School Student Interviews NASA's Brian Drouin"! We celebrate 150 years of U.S. – NZ scientific collaboration as Brian Drouin, Senior Research Scientist at NASA JPL, shared his journey and insights into space careers at Onslow College in Wellington. Discover how the Polar Radiant Energy in the Far InfraRed Experiment (PREFIRE) project is shedding light on the Arctic climate and the successful launch by New Zealand’s Rocket Lab. 🌌 Onslow College student Kyle Solomon had the stellar opportunity to interview Brian for this exclusive podcast episode. More about PREFIRE: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/missions-launched/ready-aim-prefire/ #ScienceCollaboration #USNZ150Years 🇺🇸🇳🇿

    12 min

  7. 02/21/2024

    Spacewalks & Pies: Chatting with Astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper

    Join us for a riveting episode as Mike from the U.S. Embassy sits down with Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, former NASA astronaut and US Navy captain, during her visit to Wellington in February 2024. From thrilling spacewalks to the lighter side of life in space, including haircuts and pies, Heidemarie shares insights from her stellar career and pioneering efforts in STEM and underwater salvage. This concise chat offers a unique glimpse into the life of an astronaut, blending significant achievements with delightful anecdotes. Don't miss this journey from ocean depths to outer space!   Photos from Heide's visit.

    22 min

  8. 11/14/2019

    Covert and Carter - why the U.S. is a great option for Kiwi entrepreneurs to look to for business opportunities.

    Deputy Chief of Mission, Kevin Covert, had a conversation with Political/Economic Officer, Nathan Carter, on why the U.S. is a great option for Kiwi entrepreneurs to look to for business opportunities. Covert and Carter briefly touch on the E-1 and E-2 Visas for business (and give examples of successful applicants), and the SelectUSA Investment Summit - what it is, and how Kiwi businesses can be involved. What are E-1 and E-2 visas? Treaty Trader (E-1) and Treaty Investor (E-2) visas are for citizens of countries with which the United States maintains treaties of commerce and navigation, including New Zealand. To find out if your business qualifies, what you need to apply, and how to apply, visit our overview page here. SelectUSA Investment Summit – what is it all about? Visit the Mission website to understand what the SelectUSA Summit is, and hear from two New Zealanders who traveled as part of U.S. Ambassador Brown’s delegation to SelectUSA Summit 2019. Did you know... In 2018 U.S. companies invested NZ$7.4 billion in New Zealand; There are over 300 U.S. companies with subsidiary branches in New Zealand; New Zealand companies are responsible for creating more than 30,000 jobs in the United States; We are seeing tremendous partnerships in the tech sector and the space sector in particular with Rocket Lab and LeoLabs; For Kiwi businesses, connecting to the US markets provides access to 330 million new customers as well as serving as a natural launching point for Canada and South America; Air-links are increasing with a recent direct route to Chicago added and a new direct route to New York beginning soon; U.S. tourism to New Zealand has grown by 9% this year with nearly 370,000 visitors and accounting for NZ$1.38 billion; We see a range of successful U.S. franchises in New Zealand. We encourage Kiwi entrepreneurs to attend an International Franchise Expo (IFE) held in a few U.S. cities each year.  They are a great way to learn about franchise opportunities to bring back to New Zealand. Listen to Covert & Carter below.... Transcript.

    10 min
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About

Kia-ora, Talofa, Fakalofa atu, hello and welcome to the official Podcast of the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in New Zealand, Samoa, Cook Islands & Niue

Information

  • Creator
    usembassynz
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    U.S. Embassy NZ: Mission Waves