The Public Service Project

People have all kinds of reactions to a radical upset to their lives and careers, and they're all valid. But I'm always especially fascinated with people who not only find new avenues, but who create new paths, learning to pave as they go.
Deborah Cook Kaliel is that kind of person. Following the dismantling of USAID and the abrupt end of that nearly 20 year chapter in her career, Debbie moved quickly to form Crisis in Care - an organization dedicated to filling the gaps left by USAID by supporting lifesaving HIV services across the globe. On this episode, she's sharing her background, her path into public service, her experiences working as a Senior Local Partnerships advisor for USAID, and her journey into the brave unknown as a former fed and Co-Founder of Crisis in Care. Listen in for important tips on creating a nonprofit, finding funding, and getting creative about spreading the word.
If you're interested in learning more about Crisis in Care, or better yet, supporting their work through Global Giving, visit their site or reach out to Debbie: https://www.crisisincare.org/our-team

We're here as Ambassadors for the Normies.
Just two sisters, from a working class family that celebrated wit and cultivated irreverence, and above all else, primed us to be as constructive as we are critical. We're talking about the American Dream (myth or not?); socioeconomic status, privilege, and opportunity; career pathways; odd jobs and big goals; idealism and practicality and the call to serve; environmental justice; frustration and mistrust of government; and our basic customer service expectations. We're recapping Shan's journey from riding on sedated sheep (for science!) to combatting lead poisoning in underserved communities, with a lot of academic milestones along the way.
This is the episode for govvies AND non-govvies. It's the story of a middle class American family, striving to make ends meet and do a little good along the way. And I'm biased, but Shannon Wolf has navigated every step with authenticity and courage. There's just something cool about her.

Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau is a career diplomat, previously serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, as Senior Advisor and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy Kyiv, and in several other overseas postings. She has served on the National Security Council and NATO's international staff, and now she's the Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy at the Bush Institute in Texas. Elizabeth originally trained as a journalist, and then, following 9/11, answered the call to public service. She continues to engage with the tough issues in a way that empowers leaders to make informed decisions, and citizens to hold informed views. Elizabeth is sharing her reflections on an amazing career, her tips on coping with stress (snacks!), and her vision for this next chapter in her service story.

Annie Leverich is the Founder of First Light Coffee, a Maryland-based coffee company rooted in giving back. She also runs First Light Media, which offers Communications and Consulting services, drawing on her extensive experience leading the press team for USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance; in Comms roles with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and UN World Food Programme; and before that, as a journalist.
Annie's story - and the soulful work she's doing every day - speaks to the power of service as a mindset, not just a job. Now she's serving up delicious coffee, with a side of thoughtful reflections and a dash of community reinvestment. She's my favorite kind of entrepreneur.
Access First Light Coffee, First Light Media, and Sunrise Dispatch: https://sunrisedispatch.substack.com/
Listeners of the Public Service Project can use the following discount code for 15% off their first order of First Light Coffee: PSP2026

The Honorable Alex Wagner is a recent Air Force Assistant Secretary, a former Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Army, an expert on nuclear and conventional weapons policy, a current Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, a recovering lawyer, a South Pole adventurer, a Californian by birth and Washingtonian by choice. Today's conversation, recorded mid-December 2025, is an honest reflection on topics ranging from calculated career risks to military misconceptions, and the essential functions carried out by the National Guard. Alex's clarity, wisdom, and humor are not to be missed. Tune in to hear from the "high flying lawyer and human capital hero" (AI's perfect summary) - the one and only Alex Wagner.