Armchair Diplomat

The Armchair Diplomat
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Politics

Foreign policy is made by people, not just governments. On Armchair Diplomat, we look at today’s global events through the eyes of the career diplomats who lived them. Hosted by Michael Eddy, we trade talking points for real stories. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of overseas negotiations, on-the-ground relationships, and what it actually takes to represent the U.S. abroad. In 30 minutes, we go beyond the cable news headlines to decode current realities and answer the only two questions that matter: Why does this matter? And why should you care? Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armchairdiplomatpodcast

Episodes

  1. Sep 29

    What Venezuela Teaches Americans About Democracy with with the last U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela

    The conversation features Ambassador James Story discussing U.S. diplomacy in Venezuela, focusing on the mass migration crisis and the efforts to support Venezuelan refugees in neighboring countries like Colombia and Brazil. He emphasizes the importance of building democratic institutions and the challenges faced by the Venezuelan opposition in their struggle against the Maduro regime. Takeaways Mass migration crisisImportance of democratic institutions Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back: A Quarter of a Country Walks Out 01:08 "Imagine 80 Million Americans Walking to Mexico": Latin America's Largest Migration 07:09 Operation Welcome: Brazil's Remote Border Response 08:52 Plan Colombia's Payoff: Why Colombia Took In 3 Million Venezuelans 14:30 Barbecue Diplomacy: Uniting Venezuela's Opposition 18:24 The Tascón List: When Voting Is an Act of Courage 21:53 Hope Is the Last Thing to Die 25:52 The Next 18 Months: Elections, Oil, and Lost Leverage 28:59 Three Reasons Americans Should Care

  2. Sep 29

    A More Profitable Dictatorship: Venezuela After Maduro with the last U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela

    The conversation explores the complexities of U.S. diplomacy with Venezuela, focusing on the recent oil deal and the political landscape following the removal of Nicolás Maduro. Ambassador James Story shares insights from his tenure, emphasizing the need for a democratic transition and the rebuilding of Venezuelan institutions. The conversation delves into the complexities of U.S. diplomacy in Venezuela, focusing on the economic implications of the country's debt, the mass migration crisis, and the challenges faced by the democratic opposition. Ambassador Jimmy Story shares insights on the geopolitical landscape, the humanitarian response, and the importance of building democratic institutions in the region. Takeaways U.S. diplomacy in Venezuela is complexRebuilding institutions is crucial Impact of Venezuela's debt on U.S. investorsMass migration crisis and regional diplomacy Chapters * 00:00 Maduro's Gone, the Oil Deal's Signed, the Election Isn't * 01:44 Meet Jimmy Story * 02:31 What an Ambassador Actually Does (and Who Brought Gelato to Charleston) * 05:09 An Ambassador Without an Embassy: Holding Caracas, Then Running Venezuela from Bogotá * 09:54 "Cooking an Egg with a Blowtorch": The Maduro Raid * 15:54 What a Real Transition Looks Like * 16:47 "Capital Is a Coward": How Venezuela's Institutions Were Gutted * 22:52 Fish or Chicken? Inside the 100-Year Oil Deal * 28:10 Why Change Horses? Does Oil Delay Democracy? * 30:58 China, Russia, Iran, and Your Retirement Account

  • 2 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Foreign policy is made by people, not just governments. On Armchair Diplomat, we look at today’s global events through the eyes of the career diplomats who lived them. Hosted by Michael Eddy, we trade talking points for real stories. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of overseas negotiations, on-the-ground relationships, and what it actually takes to represent the U.S. abroad. In 30 minutes, we go beyond the cable news headlines to decode current realities and answer the only two questions that matter: Why does this matter? And why should you care? Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armchairdiplomatpodcast

Information

  • Creator
    The Armchair Diplomat
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Armchair Diplomat

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