We Are The Government

Dipka Hesse
  • 5.0 (12)
  • GOVERNMENT
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

We Are The Government is a collection of short stories from federal employees who are either still in the government, or who have left of their own volition, or otherwise. 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.

Episodes

  1. 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@richard.taliaferro.com) Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com) Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com)

    52 min

  2. 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@richard.taliaferro.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

    1h 7m

  3. APR 2

    Neil Chatterjee on Working With Mitch McConnell, Traversing Political Partisanship and FERC’s Role in the AI Race

    Former FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee tells We Are the Government Host Dipka Hesse about his journey from House Ways and Means to serving one of the most prominent Senate leaders in U.S. history–Mitch McConnell.  Chatterjee shares some riveting stories about how he came to lead FERC twice, including during the global pandemic, with an unmatched style and success. As a political appointee during President Trump’s first term, Chatterjee shares how he governed the independent agency in an era of acute political partisanship. He reflects on taking the helm from his friend, the late FERC Chairman Ken McIntyre. This is a candid, thoughtful conversation about public service, Chatterjee’s legacy, lessons learned, and his lasting impact on energy policy. 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. If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on We Are The Government, please reach out.  Host and Executive Producer: Dipka Hesse (wearethegovernment250@gmail.com)  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@richard.taliaferro.com) Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com) Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com ) #Podcast #WeAreTheGovernment #NeilChatterjee #FERC #EnergyPolicy #PublicService #FederalGovernment #GovernmentLeadership #EnergyMarkets #GridReliability #ClimateTech #CapitolHill

    1h 9m

  4. MAR 19

    From Combat Pilot to the White House and Back: Ravi Chaudhary on the Opportunities in Military Service, the Essence of Patriotism, and Energy Efficiency 

    From Combat Pilot to the White House and Back: Ravi Chaudhary on the Opportunities in Military Service, the Essence of Patriotism, and Energy Efficiency  In this episode of We Are the Government, veteran United States Air Force pilot and decorated officer, the Honorable Dr. Ravi Chaudhary shares his remarkable story of courage in the skies over enemy territory and his experience in the Pentagon as a political appointee. Dr. Chaudhary tells WATG host Dipka Hesse how he expanded energy innovation and resilience across American installations in his recent post as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force for Energy Installations, and the Environment. Dr. Chaudhary is the first and only Indian-American to have served in that leadership role. He was also appointed by President Obama to join the White House Initiative and President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.  Dr. Chaudhary reflects on his catalysts–his grandfather who served in the Indian Army during WWII, his father who dedicated his career to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and his mother, who founded a leading non-profit supporting underrepresented communities in Minnesota. #DrRaviChaudhary #WeAreTheGovernment #FighterPilot #Pentagon #AviationInnovation #AirForceVeteran #ServingAmerica #NationalSecurityLeadership #PublicServicePodcast #DefenseInnovation #MilitaryInfrastructure #FederalLeadership Host: 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@richard.taliaferro.com)Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com)

    1h 10m

  5. MAR 5

    Behind the Scenes of America250: Inside the Programs and Plans Powering America’s Semiquincentennial

    On July 4, 2026, the country will commemorate 250 years since the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia establishing the United States of America. But events and engagement that have already started, will continue into, and long after, the holiday weekend.  In this episode, Jen Condon, Executive Vice President and Executive Director of America250.org, tells We Are The Government host Dipka Hesse about the development of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, and how its supporting nonprofit continues to prepare for a national and international celebration designed to educate, engage, and unite 350 million Americans.  Jen outlines the strategy behind America250’s major program pillars and how this patriotic moment unites all Americans, regardless of race, color, creed, or generation. Jen also discusses her journey as a federal civil servant and her ascent to this pivotal role.  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@richard.taliaferro.com) Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com) Editor: Axel Soderlund (axelfromdc@gmail.com) #America250 #Freedom250 #Semiquincentennial #July4th2026 #AmericanHistory #CivicEngagement #Education #Patriotism #Volunteerism #AmericaGives #CommunityService #PublicPrivatePartnership #GovernmentLeadership #AmericanStories #GenZ #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #NonprofitLeadership

    1 hr

  6. FEB 19

    Powering America from Washington: A Federal Worker’s Quest for Grid Reliability Through National Transmission Expansion

    In this episode of We Are the Government, host Dipka Hesse sits down with energy policy expert Poonum Agrawal to explore one of the most critical—and least understood—issues facing the United States: electric grid reliability and transmission expansion. From her early days as a Presidential Management Fellow in the George W. Bush administration to leading the Department of Energy’s groundbreaking National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors study, Agrawal shares what it takes to modernize America’s power grid under intense political, legal, and budgetary pressure. The conversation covers grid congestion, energy affordability, microgrids, Puerto Rico’s grid insecurity, AI-driven electricity demand, and the real challenges of implementing energy policy inside the federal government. This is a behind-the-scenes look at how federal workers navigate complexity, politics, and public scrutiny to strengthen America’s energy future. 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: @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@richard.taliaferro.com)Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com )#EnergyPolicy #ElectricGrid #TransmissionExpansion #GridReliability #FederalGovernment #EnergySecurity #PublicService #Infrastructure #AIandEnergy #DOE

    32 min

  7. FEB 5

    From Madagascar to the U.S. State Department: Patriotism Is Public Service

    In this episode of We Are the Government, host Dipka Hesse speaks with Gabriel Sandler, former spokesperson at the State Department, about his odyssey through the federal government, starting as a Peace Corp. volunteer in the country of Madagascar. Gabriel left Madagascar during the Covid pandemic only to slide right into federal service at the Department of Transportation which led him to the Department of Agriculture, and finally to the coveted position as a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, in its now-eliminated Bureau of Energy Resources, where he worked on international energy communications. Gabriel reflects on soft diplomacy, the role of civil servants across administrations, and why addressing baseline issues—such as food security, clean water, and reliable energy—creates the conditions for broader social and economic progress.  The conversation also explores how federal experience continues to shape work in the private sector and why public service remains foundational to American governance. 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@richard.taliaferro.com) Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com) Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com ) #PublicServiceStories #FederalCareers #Diplomacy #ClimateAndEnergy #CivilServants #GovernmentLeadership #PolicyCareers #PublicImpact #WeAreTheGovernment

    26 min

  8. JAN 22

    From Brownfields to Boomtowns: How an EPA Urban Planner Helped Drive Economic Recovery and Environmental Protection

    What do brownfield sites, zoning codes, school siting rules, and post-disaster rebuilding have in common?  According to Dr. Matthew Dalbey, former senior advisor to the Environmental Protection Agency and founder of Corner Shop Strategies, they’re all issues he had to confront to help protect the environment and inspire economic growth in communities across the country as land use decisions shape public health, economic opportunity, and long-term risk. In this episode, Dalbey unpacks 20 years at the EPA. He talks about EPA’s “Smart Growth” work: helping communities redevelop underused sites, modernize zoning barriers, and design safer, more walkable places.  Our conversation also explores how interagency collaboration works in practice, including EPA–FEMA partnerships after recurring floods and storms—where “build back” can unintentionally rebuild vulnerability unless local planning aligns with mitigation.  Finally, Dalby offers an insider view of how shifting federal priorities across administrations can change what’s possible, and why certain climate-finance implementation choices created major operational challenges inside government. 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 inaugural episode possible. A special thanks to David Padrusch and Mathew John for their support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com) Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com) Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com ) #Brownfields #SmartGrowth #EPA #FEMA #DisasterRecovery #ClimateResilience #LandUsePlanning #ZoningReform #CommunityDevelopment #PublicHealth #EconomicDevelopment #InfrastructurePlanning #FederalPolicy #InteragencyCollaboration

    1h 1m

  9. JAN 8

    From Innovation to Implementation: David Nemtzow on Clean Energy Policy, Technology, and the Federal Playbook

    In this episode of We Are the Government, host Dipka Hesse speaks with David Nemtzow, a longtime clean energy technology and energy efficiency expert whose leadership at the U.S. Department of Energy has left an indelible footprint in the American clean energy sector. David left the DOE in April 2025 after a decade in the federal government. During his tenure as a career civil servant, he managed the Virtual Power Plant program in the Department’s Loan Program Office and ran the Department’s Building Technologies Office, which aimed to make U.S. buildings more energy efficient. David discusses how energy efficiency and clean energy policy move from ideas to execution inside the government. He shares his experience as a civil servant and the delicate dance that is working with political appointees from the Obama, Biden and Trump administrations. David discusses his experience leading the Alliance to Save Energy in a much more cordial Washington of the 1990s, and he brings a twist of color to the conversation sharing his experience as a political appointee in Australia. Spoiler alert: America and Australia’s federal system work very differently. #WeAreTheGovernment #EnergyPolicy #CleanEnergy #EnergyEfficiency #PolicyImplementation #PublicService #GovernmentInnovation 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: @DBHesseLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠YouTube: @theenergyodyssey Thank you to our great team who helped make this inaugural episode possible. A special thanks to David Padrusch and Mathew John for their support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com)Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com )

    43 min

  10. 12/18/2025

    An Education in American Governing: Clarence Edwards on Policy, Politics, and Public Service

    In this second episode of We Are The Government, host Dipka Hesse sits down with Clarence Edwards, a D.C. insider who served as a political appointee in the Clinton administration before he joined the U.S. Energy Department years later as a career civil servant.  Clarence’s experience, knowledge and unshakeable nature powered his ascent into his current role as Executive Director of the U.S. office of E3G, an international think tank that operates at the intersection of environmental issues, geopolitics and international economics. Clarence is optimistic with a uniquely bipartisan posture as he reflects on how his early political work, international interests, and unexpected opportunities led him into public service—and how those experiences continue to shape his perspective on policymaking. Clarence shares stories from his time as a special assistant at the U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. State Department during the Clinton administration when the White House was shrinking the federal workforce through a plan called Reinventing Government. Clarence returned to the federal government years later as a career civil servant at the Department of Energy. With three decades in Washington, Clarence shares insight into the appropriations process, its evolution, the inner workings of federal budgeting and the relationship between political appointees and career civil servants. Clarence speaks to the value of staying nonpartisan and why he remains cautiously optimistic about America’s democratic future despite the current climate of political polarity on steroids. 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: @DBHesseLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠YouTube: @theenergyodyssey Thank you to our great team who helped make this inaugural episode possible. A special thanks to David Padrusch and Mathew John for their support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richard.taliaferro.com)Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)

    32 min

  11. 12/03/2025

    Inside the Capitol Police OIG with Auditor Howie Simanoff

    Join host Dipka Hesse for the premiere episode of We Are the Government, a podcast celebrating federal workers and their contributions to America's 250-year history.  In this episode, we sit down with Howie Simanoff, an auditor for the U.S. Capitol Police in its Office of the Inspector General. Howie shares what led him into the federal government after a 25-year career as an auditor for U.S. accounting giant KPMG where he was also a federal contractor for 15 years. In a twist, Howie was laid off from KPMG just before he could collect his pension. He delves into his empathy toward many long-time civil servants now forced to leave their posts as the federal government shrinks. Howie discusses what it's like to be a "cop" looking for waste, fraud and abuse but also efficiencies and effectiveness inside the operations of the Capitol Police long before the development of the Department of Government Efficiency. Topics Covered: Federal workforce reductions, Capitol Police careers, Inspector General audits, KPMG contractor experience, government efficiency, financial statement audits, federal hiring process, Washington DC government jobs, DOGE impact on federal workers, career transitions from private sector to government, the life of a civil servants About your host: Dipka Bhambhani Hesse is an award-winning Washington, DC-based reporter who distills global energy policy and illustrates its impact on the business of energy and innovation. She has been writing for Forbes since 2018. Dipka started her energy career as a daily reporter 20 years ago where she covered the federal government. That work invited global opportunities in energy public affairs, advance operations and executive support, including as a speechwriter for the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Subscribe & Follow Don't miss future episodes of We Are the Government!  Subscribe now to hear more stories, insider perspective on working for the U.S. government in Washington. 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: @DBHesseLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠YouTube: @theenergyodyssey Thank you to our great team who helped make this inaugural episode possible. A special thanks to David Padrusch and Mathew John for their support, without which this wouldn’t be possible. Guest: Howie Simanoff, Auditor, U.S. Capitol Police, Office of the Inspector GeneralExecutive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (⁠https://www.richardtaliaferro.com⁠)Graphic Artist: David Zerba (⁠zerba.david@gmail.com⁠)

    31 min
  • 11 Episodes

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

We Are The Government is a collection of short stories from federal employees who are either still in the government, or who have left of their own volition, or otherwise. 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
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dipka Hesse
  • Show Website
    We Are The Government

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