For fourteen years, I’ve lived and worked in policy and politics in Washington—across government, think tanks, campaigns, and more. I’ve observed some of its most influential people up close, interrogated their journeys, sought their advice, and worked alongside them. I’ve had hundreds of mentorship coffees, read dozens of biographies, and sat as a fly on the wall in countless high-powered meetings. In that time, I’ve seen firsthand the unspoken rules, norms, and expectations that quietly govern how people operate in this space. I’ve also spent a lot of time with my own inside voice—the internal commentary that narrates mistakes, interpersonal tensions, failures, loyalty tests, criticism, and pressure. That combination is what led me to launch Inside Voice, a podcast about the world of ultimate insiders, and about bringing those internal monologues out into the open. The show follows a loose format that’s part cultural discourse, part conversations with friends, part advice, and part therapy. We’ll talk about ambition and difficult choices, generational divides, loyalty and disillusionment, and what it really means to be in the room where it happens—and how it feels once you’re there.I was thrilled that my friend Corey Broschak agreed to be my first guest and help me pilot the show. If you’ve spent time with Corey in the workplace you undoubtedly know him as supremely thoughtful, intelligent, and poised. If you’re personal friends with Corey, I’m certain you enjoy his inside voice, in all its color and hilarity, as much as I do. During the filming process I learned two important things. * My old MacBook Pro isn’t quite up to the task of filming the best quality video and audio. * I’m a little rusty when it comes to running a serious discussion intended for a public audience - especially with a friend. I’ll work on both of those things for future episodes, but for now I hope you’ll enjoy the bloopers at the end of the pilot around 38:40) . There are certainly a lot of them. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aliaawadallah.substack.com
