Posh Corps Podcast - Posh Corps

This episode of the Posh Corps Podcast features two stories. The first segment takes place on Rabi Island, one of the easternmost islands of Fiji. It is one of the most remote places on earth, but even Rabi is not completely isolated from the global network that connects us all. Even at the ends of the earth, connections can tether Peace Corps Volunteers to their lives at home while distracting from service at site. The second segment features a discussion between a mother and daughter, both of whom were Peace Corps Volunteers. Alex Matthews served in Peace Corps Morocco. Her connection to her life in the United States was both a blessing and a distraction. She sat down with her mother who served in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and discovered that disconnection has its own benefits.

Siobhan Neela-Stock served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mozambique. After listening to a previous Posh Corps podcast, in which nobody fell in love, Siobhan was inspired to find and interview volunteers who married host country nationals. This episode tells the stories of two married couples who met in Lesotho and Mozambique, and the challenges they faced in making their relationships work.

The election of Donald Trump for President of the United States has already had affected the countries where Peace Corps volunteers serve, and Trump will very soon be setting policy at Peace Corps itself. Trump’s divisive rhetoric and much of his proposed agenda directly contradict the mission of the Peace Corps. Despite this, some returned volunteers supported Trump. Others initially opposed Trump’s statements, only to reverse course after the election. The National Peace Corps Association, for instance, recently applied to march in the inaugural parade for President-Elect Trump on January 20th. There was a time when Returned Peace Corps Volunteers did not so easily acquiesce to power. Before the National Peace Corps Association there was the Committee of Returned Volunteers (CRV). It was the first national Peace Corps alumni organization, and it was specifically created to oppose U.S. foreign policy. The committee’s key opposition came on May 8th 1970. Several CRV members walked into Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington D.C., kicked the staff out of the building, and hung a Vietcong flag out of the window in protest of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. They occupied the office for two days. Elaine Fuller was one of the returned volunteers who occupied Peace Corps headquarters in 1970. She tells her story in this episode of the Posh Corps podcast. In addition, two returned volunteers on opposite sides of the political spectrum discuss their reactions to the election of Donald Trump.

Peace Corps Volunteers have served in many nations that have endured revolution, war, and turmoil, but Kiribati may be the first Peace Corps country to simply cease to exist. Like many Pacific island nations, Kiribati (Keer-ree-bahss) is threatened by climate change and sea level rise. Though the 33 islands of Kiribati may not be completely submerged for another fifty years, the islands may prove to be uninhabitable within the next five years. Mike Roman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kiribati from 2000 to 2002. In this episode of the Posh Corps Podcast, Mike explains the challenges facing his adopted country, and what he's doing to help Kiribati and other Pacific island nations.

This episode of the Posh Corps Podcast investigates a fundamental flaw in Peace Corps policy which prevents the agency from embracing reform. This story is the fourth segment in The Reform Series, a four-part series about Peace Corps reform efforts. A provision within the Peace Corps Act limits employment at Peace Corps to a term of five years. This provision is known as "the Five-Year Rule." Numerous assessments have found that the Five-Year Rule creates serious disincentives toward high employee performance. The dynamic between the Five-Year Rule and a high number of political appointees at Peace Corps produces a fundamental flaw in Peace Corps policy. Chuck Ludlam and Paula Hirschoff served as Peace Corps volunteers in the Sixties, and they served again as volunteers in Senegal from 2005 to 2007. They found that Peace Corps had not matured as much as it should have over the years. They are among the very few volunteers who have successfully advocated for Peace Corps reform.

This episode of the Posh Corps Podcast investigates Peace Corps' use of the anti-malarial drug Mefloquine. This story is the third segment in The Reform Series, a four-part series about Peace Corps reform efforts. Mefloquine, also known by the brand name Lariam, is an anti-malarial drug that has been prescribed to Peace Corps Volunteers since 1989. Mefloquine is effective at preventing malaria, but some believe that the adverse side effects of the drug may be just as dangerous as malaria itself. Sara Thompson served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso from 2010 to 2012. She experienced serious adverse side effects of Mefloquine use during service, and the side effects did not end when she stopped taking the drug.

This Episode of the Posh Corps Podcast investigates Peace Corps' mismanaged implementation of the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act. This story is the second segment in The Reform Series, a four-part series about Peace Corps reform efforts. Kate Puzey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin. She was murdered after blowing the whistle on sexual misconduct by a part-time Peace Corps contract employee. Kate Puzey's parents worked with the members of the advocacy group First Response Action to advocate for the Kate Puzey Volunteer Protection Act. The Kate Puzey Act required Peace Corps to implement new procedures for volunteer victims of sexual assault, and whistle-blower protections for volunteers. The Kate Puzey Act also required Peace Corps to hire a victim advocate to help volunteer victims and agency management understand the rights of victims. Kellie Greene was the first victim advocate hired by Peace Corps. Kellie says that Peace Corps was resistant to the reforms mandated by the Kate Puzey Act, and that agency management tried to force her out of her position at Peace Corps.

This Episode of the Posh Corps Podcast investigates the complex, frustrating, dysfunctional health care system available to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. This episode is the first part of a four-part series which investigates Peace Corps reform efforts. Nancy Tongue, who served in Chile from 1980 to 1982, struggled to get serious illness covered through the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA). FECA, which is administered by the Department of Labor, is the only way for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers to get compensation for their service-related medical issues. FECA is so dysfunctional, that many Returned Peace Corps Volunteers with serious post-service medical conditions are trapped in a medical limbo, unable to get the treatments they need, and unable to work due to illness. Nancy Tongue started a support group for these volunteers called Health Justice for Peace Corps Volunteers.

This episode of the Posh Corps Podcast is a discussion with five BPCV's (Black Peace Corps Volunteers) as they open up and pick apart the impact of race/physical appearance on their service.

This episode of the Posh Corps Podcast is about Peace Corps relationships. Lauren Schwartzman chose not to date during her two years of service in Panama. She wondered if her decision was common, or if most volunteers dated during service. She interviewed volunteers from the Dominican Republic, Ukraine, and South Africa - hoping to discover whether or not there is such a thing as a typical Peace Corps relationship. Lauren also recorded one of the first dates she went on after returning to the United States.

This episode of the Posh Corps Podcast is the story of Socorra Camposanto’s tour of Morocco. Socorra is a singer/songwriter who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco from 2010 - 2012. She returned to Morocco in November of 2015 to perform in seven cities across the country.

Episode 9 of the Posh Corps Podcast is about the service of Peace Corps volunteer Nick Castle. Nick passed away in China after a brief serious illness. We interview one of Nick's Peace Corps friends as well as Nick Castle's family members. We discuss the lackluster response by the Peace Corps community following Nick's passing.

This episode features an interview with an RPCV who served in Panama. She discusses her re-adjustment to living in the United States during the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Socorra performs a song from her new album, and discusses her upcoming national tour of Morocco.

In this episode, we explore the relationship between Peace Corps and Star Trek. A volunteer from Nepal discusses her experiences during the recent earthquake. A volunteer from Malawi tests the Peace Corps non-interference policy.

Episode 6 of the Posh Corps Podcast takes place in Jamaica. We learn about a community of entrepreneurs outside of Kingston, who are being cast as victims. We also discuss the process of shooting interviews with Peace Corps volunteers.

Episode 5 of the Posh Corps Podcast is about frustration. Jessica DeNisi served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Jordan. She discusses her frustrations with harassment, and her experience serving in Jordan on September 11, 2001. Conner Hunihan served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador. He told his story of frustrating public transportation at a volunteer story slam.

Episode 4 of the Posh Corps Podcast focuses on a popular trend, the Peace Corps live story slam. Three volunteers tell true stories of life lived in developing nations. Karen Drachler served as a volunteer in Honduras. She tells her story of a beloved pet and an unfortunate yoga accident. Jonny Styron served as a volunteer in China. He discusses a language faux pas. Justina Wu served as a volunteer in Kenya. She tells a story of World AIDS Day.

Episode 3: Evacuation Episode 3 of the Posh Corps Podcast is about the biggest volunteer fear of all, evacuation. This episode features interviews with volunteers evacuated from two Ebola affected countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone. After 6 months in production, our report on the evacuation of Peace Corps volunteers from West Africa in 2014 is finally complete. We interviewed volunteers evacuated from Liberia about their experiences serving in an Ebola affected country. We also got a report on the situation in Sierra Leone from a former Peace Corps volunteer who joined the Ebola relief efforts in that country.

Episode 2 of the Posh Corps Podcast is about perception. We talk with a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in Haiti. She tells us her story of revolution, assassination, and zombies. Alan and Socorra discuss their perceptions of Africa before service, and how service affected their perceptions of America. Socorra performs her new song, Stranger which is based on her experiences returning home after service.

This Episode of the Posh Corps Podcast asks the question "What is Work?" It is the fundamental question for Peace Corps volunteers when they return to the United States.