We Are The Government

Dipka Hesse

We Are The Government is a collection of interviews from current and former federal employees that highlight their contributions to the Republic. The show unearths stories and unpacks the careers of U.S. civil servants and political appointees, and the policies they have shaped for the country and the world. This is a capsule for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America so future generations can see who built the federal government we rely on daily.

  1. Oct 22

    West Point Professor Challenges Tenure Loss Over Climate Change Curriculum 

    Former tenured West Point professor Dr. Adam Kalkstein is challenging the Trump administration’s restrictions on how climate change can be taught at the U.S. Military Academy, raising questions about academic freedom, constitutional rights, and military education. In this episode of We Are the Government, host Dipka Hesse speaks with Kalkstein about his 17-year career at West Point, the verbal orders that required him to stop teaching about any anthropomorphic impact on climate, and the circumstances surrounding the Academy's decision not to renew his contract. Kalkstein explains why he believes these restrictions undermine science education and military preparedness. He also discusses the Pentagon's changes to faculty tenure, his ongoing research to prevent heat-related injuries among soldiers, and the personal and professional consequences of challenging Academy leadership. The conversation looks at a key question: How should military institutions balance command authority, scientific evidence, and academic freedom? Topics include: West Point's restrictions on teaching about the human impact on climate change The First Amendment and academic freedom Changes to civilian faculty tenure at military academies Climate science and U.S. national security Research designed to protect soldiers from extreme heat —————— We Are the Government is a podcast produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our republic. Host/Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse  X: @DBHesse LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠ YouTube: @WeAreTheGovernment-250 Thank you to our great team who helped make this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Senior Adviser: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com) Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com) Cover Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com) #WestPoint #PeteHegseth #SecretaryofWar  #ClimateChange #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #MilitaryEducation #NationalSecurity #AdamKalkstein #WeAreTheGovernment

  2. Oct 8

    The Thrust Behind U.S. Energy Dominance: Majida Mourad on the Rise of U.S. LNG

    Before U.S. LNG became a major force in global energy markets, someone had to convince policymakers, regulators, investors and customers of the sizeable opportunity. Majida Mourad was part of that story. In this episode of We Are the Government, Mourad tells host Dipka Hesse her insider account of the rise of American LNG — from her years at the Department of Energy to senior roles at Cheniere Energy and Tellurian. As the U.S. prepares to build its first large-scale LNG export terminal on the West Coast with a $50-billion dollar investment from South Korea, Mourad takes listeners inside the early days of the shale revolution, the push to develop LNG export infrastructure, the financing challenges behind multi-billion-dollar projects and the negotiations that helped move U.S. natural gas into global markets to a place where the country is exporting to more than 40 allies. Mourad also discusses working with career civil servants, navigating Washington across presidential administrations, the upheaval surrounding Charif Souki’s departures from Cheniere and Tellurian, and what happened when Tellurian was acquired by Woodside Energy. The conversation closes on a more personal note as Mourad explains why family ultimately influenced the next chapter of her career — and whether public service could ever draw her back to Washington. We Are the Government is a podcast produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic. Host/Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse X: @DBHesseLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠YouTube: @WeAreTheGovernment-250Thank you to our great team who helped make this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John from the U.S. Interior Department for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Senior Adviser: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com)Cover Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com) #MajidaMourad #EnergyIndustry #LNG #USLNG #NaturalGas #EnergySecurity #CheniereEnergy #Tellurian #WoodsideEnergy #SabinePass #DepartmentOfEnergy #FERC #WashingtonDC #PublicService #EnergyLeadership #WeAreTheGovernment

  3. Sep 24

    From Capitol Hill to the Pentagon: Neal Urwitz on Public Service, Politics and National Security

    What does a career inside Washington actually look like?  How does a successful defense and national security executive traverse the gauntlet of Capitol Hill as an intern and ultimately serve inside a presidential administration to affect defense and national security policy? In this episode of We Are The Government, our guest Neal Urwitz takes listeners through his career from the Congress to Washington think tanks to presidential campaigns and the Department of War where he was the speechwriter and policy advisor to the U.S. Navy Secretary in the Biden administration. Urwitz is now CEO of Enduring Cause Strategies in Washington, D.C., where he advises and paves the way for multinational clients to work more easily in the U.S. defense space. Urwitz tells We Are The Government Host Dipka Hesse about what War Secretary Pete Hegseth is doing right and the blind spots impacting the U.S. race against China, defense operations and ultimately national security. From naval operations in the South China Sea, to shipbuilding, government contracting and the importance of political compromise, Urwitz delves into a spectrum of realities about the Department of War and government service among career civil servants, political appointees, and uniformed military personnel.  Urwitz also takes listeners behind the scenes of speechwriting for former U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro. He lauds the people who opened doors for him throughout his career and explains what public service looks like from inside one of the federal government’s most complex institutions. We Are the Government is a podcast produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic.  Thank you for subscribing and supporting our American patriots. If you like what you hear, please consider partnering, sponsoring or being a guest on the show.  Host/Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse X: @DBHesseLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠YouTube: @WeAreTheGovernment-250 Thank you to our great team who helped make this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John at the U.S. Interior Department for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Senior Adviser: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com)Cover Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com)#PublicService #GovernmentService #Pentagon #CapitolHill #NationalSecurity #FederalGovernment #USNavy #DefensePolicy #Speechwriting #WashingtonDC #Leadership #WeAreTheGovernment #China #SouthChinaSea #StraitofHormuz #NavalOperations #Shipbuilding #DepartmentofWar #TedKennedy #CarlosdelToro #HungCao #PeteHegseth

  4. Sep 10

    Could Military Technology and Mobile Voting Restore Trust in American Elections and in Those We Elect?

    Retired U.S. Air Force Major and AI expert Ramon Perez tells We Are The Government Host Dipka Hesse that existing secure proven military technology could underpin mobile voting in America to rebuild the public trust in our election system. Perez, founder of the Digital Democracy Project, explores with listeners the long existing structural deficiencies in the election system which are now fracturing the electorate and birthing movements such as MAGA and the Democratic Socialists of America.  Perez talks about the effects of gerrymandering, closed primaries, ranked-choice voting, the Electoral College, and uncapping the House of Representatives to comport with the U.S. Constitution’s Rules of Apportionment as the growing cacophony of frustrated voters hits a crescendo. Can technology create a stronger connection between citizens and their representatives, increase voter engagement and satisfaction? What reforms would make voters feel heard and properly represented? ********** We Are the Government is a podcast produced by the host, Dipka Hesse, as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those in the federal government who have helped build our Republic from the inside. Host/Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse X: @DBHesseLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠YouTube: @WeAreTheGovernment-250 Thank you to our great team who made this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John at the U.S. Department of the Interior for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Senior Adviser: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com)Cover Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com) Special thanks to DMV Productions: www.dmvproductions.com#ElectionReform #Democracy #MobileVoting #VoterTrust #Gerrymandering #ElectoralCollege #RankedChoiceVoting #IndependentVoters #USPolitics #MAGA #DSA #UncaptheHouse #DigitalDemocracyProject #WeAreTheGovernment

  5. Jun 18

    Former Justice Department Cybercrime Prosecutor on How to Take Down the World's Smartest and Worst Cybercriminals

    Brian Levine spent years at the Justice Department prosecuting cybercrime, intellectual property theft, and complex international Internet-based extortion rings.  In this episode, Levine talks with We Are The Government Host Dipka Hesse about the increase in cybercrime, how the U.S. Justice Department investigates and prosecutes scammers who stole more than $20 billion from Americans last year, and how Americans can protect themselves. The cases take years of intense collaborative investigation to resolve. Bringing criminals to justice and convincing a lay jury of their guilt on a subject matter esoteric to most people is Levine’s superpower. Levine delves into the notorious Bayrob takedown of Romanian cybercriminals, which he recently discussed on Darknet Diaries. He explains how cybercriminals operate and how the Justice Department, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security rely on international cooperation to take them down. Levine reveals how unwitting accomplices are also subject to prosecution. Today Levine is the founder of FormerGov.com,  a platform designed to increase the visibility of former federal workers and help companies mine high-level former federal professionals with precision. This podcast is produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic. Host: Dipka Hesse  X: @DBHesse LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠ YouTube: @theenergyodyssey  Thank you to our great team who helped make this  episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richardtaliaferro.com) Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com) Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com) #FormerGov #PublicService  #Government #CareerTransition #Cybercrime #Cybersecurity #JusticeDepartment #DOJ #FBI #DHS #FederalWorkforce #GovTech #PublicServants #WeAreTheGovernment #DarknetDiaries #hackers #breaches #EBAY #Bayrob

  6. Jun 5

    Rethinking America’s Social Welfare Programs: Clarence Carter on Empowering the Vulnerable and Curbing Fraud

    In this episode of We Are The Government, Clarence H. Carter, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, discusses with host Dipka Hesse how America’s safety net of social welfare programs enables, does not empower, the country’s most vulnerable–the elderly and the impoverished. About half of the U.S. federal budget is dedicated to social welfare programs that do not address or help eliminate the root cause of the vulnerability.   Drawing on decades of experience in federal, state and local government, Carter explains why he believes the nation’s safety net should be redesigned around a clearer goal: helping vulnerable Americans build capacity, increase self-sufficiency and move beyond dependency whenever possible. Carter provides a unique view of social program reform, and the impact of leaving millions of people dependent on government assistance indefinitely, without a path to their independence.  Carter describes how President Bill Clinton’s Welfare Reform Law became the scaffolding for the Bush and Trump administrations, where he served in both as an expert in social program management, reform and policy.  Carter shares anecdotes from his bestselling book, Our Net Has Holes In It, which also addresses the flaws and opportunities in U.S. foreign aid policy.    The conversation explores: Why the current safety net is made up of disconnected programsHow federal and state governments share responsibility for administering benefitsLessons from welfare reform efforts in Virginia and TennesseeThe role of SNAP and other public assistance programsFraud prevention, oversight and accountability This podcast is produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic. Host/Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse X: @DBHesseLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠YouTube: @theenergyodyssey Thank you to our great team who helped make this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richardtaliaferro.com)Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com)#SocialSafetyNet #WelfareReform #PublicPolicy #SNAP #Elderly #SocialSecurity #Medicare #Medicaid #FraudPrevention #FraudTaskForce #EconomicMobility #FederalGovernment #Tennessee #Arizona #Virginia #WeAreTheGovernment

  7. Apr 30

    Former ICE Director Talks Illegal Immigration and Public Safety

    In this episode of We Are the Government, Dipka Hesse speaks with Jonathan Fahey, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, about the flashpoint of immigration enforcement. Fahey discusses the impact of the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding gap on federal workers, their families, and public safety.  He explores the evolution of the Democratic party, which had prioritized deportations and illegal immigration enforcement during the Clinton administration.  Fahey shares stories about public safety challenges, prosecuting the country’s most heinous crimes in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the connection between progressive policies in the Commonwealth and the rise in violent crimes, and the vital role of lobbyists in a democracy. Fahey is a partner at Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak in Washington, D.C. and a lobbyist for its partner firm, the Vogel Group.  Hashtags: #ImmigrationPolicy #ICE #DepartmentOfHomelandSecurity #DHS #JonathanFahey #HoltzmanVogel #TheVogelGroup #JusticeSystem #FederalService #PublicSafety #LawEnforcement #Trump   #WeAreTheGovernment This podcast is produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic. Host/Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse  X: @DBHesse LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠ YouTube: @theenergyodyssey  Thank you to our great team who helped make this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richardtaliaferro.com) Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com) Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com)

  8. Apr 16

    The Energy Transition, War and Diplomacy: Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, on Dynamics of the New Wars

    Energy, global conflict and diplomacy are inextricably linked. In this episode of We Are The Government, Host Dipka Hesse speaks with Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt about the new forces shaping geopolitics. From Russia’s weaponization of energy to the rapid quest for critical minerals, Pyatt explains how global competition for resources is influencing international alliances, military planning, trade and diplomacy at every level. Pyatt, who led the now-largely-defunct Bureau of Energy Resources at the State Department among his other roles, discusses the future of U.S. energy diplomacy, the consequences of losing institutional knowledge inside the government, and why the wars in Ukraine and the Gulf cannot be viewed in isolation. This episode offers an inside look at how American foreign policy works when global stability, energy access, and market power are all on the line — and why diplomatic experience still matters in moments of crisis. This podcast is produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic. Host and Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse  X: @DBHesse LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠ YouTube: @theenergyodyssey  Thank you to our great team who helped make this episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richardtaliaferro.com) Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com) Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com) #EnergyDiplomacy #GeoffPyatt #Ukraine #MiddleEast #CriticalMinerals #Diplomacy #EnergyTransition #GlobalAffairs #GovernmentPodcast #federalgovernment #InternationalRelations #EnergyPolicy #Iran #Iraq #Qatar #UAE #Russia #USStateDepartment #McLartyAssociates

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4.7
out of 5
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About

We Are The Government is a collection of interviews from current and former federal employees that highlight their contributions to the Republic. The show unearths stories and unpacks the careers of U.S. civil servants and political appointees, and the policies they have shaped for the country and the world. This is a capsule for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America so future generations can see who built the federal government we rely on daily.

Information

  • Creator
    Dipka Hesse
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dipka Hesse
  • Show Website
    We Are The Government