The Inspired Service Podcast

Laura Mignott is a super-connector, and a maestro of creating fresh memorable experiences. So how does someone used to curating exquisite in-person events end up dealing in the world of PPE and covid testing? It's more straightforward than you think: it all starts by asking the question.   Join us, as we turn the mic around on the CEO of Dflash and host of the Reset Podcast, Laura Mignott.

As American swears in our next president, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on our country, and countries around the world. In this episode of the Inspired Service Podcast, Noah speaks with Yen Pottinger, senior lab advisor, ICAP at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and former HIV Incidence Team lead at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  They explore the brilliance of the virus itself, discuss places where the public sector is the first - and faster - mover, and discuss how to best harness the goodwill of the American people.  Yen's is a remarkable story of devotion to her craft, service, and science.   

When Ashley Gazich relocated to San Diego from Florida in the fall of 2019 for a sabbatical from Microsoft, a global pandemic was not the first thing on her mind. Just a few months later, she found herself aligned with the author of The Lean Startup and a coalition of the willing, who set out to increase the national supply of PPE, provide bridge financing for hospitals, and increase the availability of information through intelligence sharing.  This is the story of how Ashley forged meaningful partnerships across every layer of government, and between officials and industry partners who were willing to think boldly about how they might help... resulting in the successful delivery of over 1 billion units of PPE. For more Inspired Service: www.inspiredservice.org For more about the C19 coalition: https://c19coalition.org/

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the country this past Spring, Rich Sokolow sprang into action. As Managing Director and the Director of Research at Davidson Kempner Capital Management L.P., an independent global investment management firm, Sokolow knows people. And as a founding member and longtime Chair of the "All Stars" Board of Directors - a national leader in the field of Afterschool Development - Rich knows that "when asked to help, people say yes." This is an inspiring story of how a private citizen acquired PPE, convened people together, and made things happen in the tumultuous early days of the pandemic. It's also a reminder that we are all capable of much more than we think.   Listen and subscribe, wherever you get your podcasts! 

As COVID-19 spread across the United States this past spring, the call went out for medical professionals to come join the fight. Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson, led by CEO Steve Potter and COO Kennon Kincaid, answered the call. They mobilized their data resources, led by Javier O'Neil and Valeria Escamilla, their Healthcare practice, led by Maureen Ryan, and their executive search expertise, spearheaded by Jon Barney, to identify and mobilize healthcare professionals in collaboration with the U.S. Civilian Corps.   This is the story of a remarkable group of individuals, who answered the call to serve their country at a time when we needed it most.

Welcome to Season 2 of the Inspired Service Podcast. On the eve of America's election, our country is poised to select its leader the next four years. It's a stressful time, no matter what side you're on, and that's why now, more than ever, our country could benefit from a little inspiration.    www.inspiredservice.org

Jennifer Homendy is one of five presidentially-nominated and Senate-confirmed board members of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the organization charged with conducting independent investigations of all civil aviation accidents in the United States and major accidents in the other modes of transportation. Most recently, Member Homendy was the public face of the NTSB's investigation into the January 26th helicopter crash that killed 9 people, including former professional basketball player Kobe Bryant. In this episode, we go inside Member Homendy's role, her path to the NTSB, and the importance of knowing what you want -- and working hard to get it.

Ann Kellams is a pediatrician. A professor. A researcher. A volunteer. And a mother. Doctors believe in service to their core, but few do as many things as well as Dr. Kellams, the Vice Chair of the University of Virginia Department of Pediatrics. In a conversation that ranges from juggling hospital rounds, to cutting-edge breastfeeding research, to lessons on combating clinical detachment, we put on the white coat with one of America's most inspiring physicians and public servants. Follow The Inspired Service Podcast on Twitter, and subscribe on iTunes!

“The things that affect forests don't respect jurisdictional boundaries” - Jason Ko, Cross-boundary Collaboration, Climate Change and Ecosystem Services Program Lead, U.S. Forest Service Region 5 America's forests are under siege. It seems like very year, California's wildfires become bigger, stronger, and more destructive. Jason Ko is at the front of the fight to reverse that trend. Beginning with his time in the Peace Corps, Jason has pursued conservation of natural resources at home and abroad. Today, his work with the Forest Service is a labor of love for his daughter. This is his story.

“It really is the responsibility of a staffer on the hill – and I would say any public servant – to make sure you're listening to all of the voices." In this episode, we speak with Drenan Dudley, a professional staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, who is responsible for disaster relief and the cyber budget. We talked to her about how these crucial appropriations happen, the process of spending $230B in disaster response and relief since 2005, and what it's been like to oversee a Department of Homeland Security cyber budget that's grown from $92 million in 2007 to $1.1 billion today.  Drenan reminds us that to be an effective public servant, it's important to never lose focus on why you're there in the first place.

Tina Neal is the esteemed Scientist-in-Charge of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. She and her team oversaw the response to last year's eruption of Mt. Kilaueau, which lasted more than 100 days, destroyed more than 700 homes, and displaced thousands, but did not result in a single human fatality. That herculean effort has earned Tina a spot as a finalist for the 2019 Service to America Awards. In this episode, we discuss what it took to pull off such a miraculous response, the appropriate relationship between scientist and policymaker, and how the US Geological Survey assists U.S. development efforts around the globe.

In the wake of the Blue Button 2.0 Developer's conference, we sat down with Amy Gleason, co-founder of CareSync, and Product Owner of the new "Data at the Point of Care" initiative, to learn how the US Digital Service and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is using claims data to improve care for Medicare patients. Amy's nursing background, family experience with the medical system, and unique perspective on electronic health records have made her a uniquely qualified patient advocate and champion of data-driven care. Follow Amy (@ThePatientsSide) and Inspired Service (@InspiredServPod) on Twitter for more!

"We have to actually empower people when they show up." - Shannon Sartin Shannon Sartin didn't graduate high school. She didn't study computer science or engineering in college. So how did she end up as the Executive Director for the U.S. Digital Service at the Department of Health and Human Services?  Ahead of the Blue Button Developer's Conference, we sat down with Shannon to talk about her journey from high school dropout to frontline technologist driving accountability and innovation at the highest levels of America's healthcare system.  Whether you've heard of the Quality Payment Program, or haven't got the faintest clue about how America's Medicare/Medicaid systems work, Shannon's story is a powerful reminder that we can all do more to take our future into our own hands.

Hear the scoop from the inside of the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP), all the way from Bogota, Colombia, in this conversation with CBP attaché, Amy Cloud. In this episode of Inspired Service, Amy talks about her path from being a teacher to joining Customs and Border Protection. She discusses what it's like working for an agency that is receiving heavy news coverage, and the differences between working at home and abroad.

What's it like moving from Colorado to Washington, DC, to pursue a career in public service? What's the difference in mindset between the State Department and Department of Defense? Is tension and competition between departments helpful or harmful to the country? How can America leverage its powers of inspiration, intimidation, and innovation, to safeguard our interests and identity? We spoke with Matt Cordova, on the anniversary of D-Day, about his 22 years in the federal government. For more, follow Matt on LinkedIn, and follow us on Twitter!

What do faith and social justice have to do with the U.S. Department of Transportation? What's it like to enforce the Voting Rights Act in Mississippi? How is the dialogue about election security in the United States affecting voting rights? In this episode, hear about Yvette Rivera's journey through the Department of Justice and Department of Transportation, working to promote the values of fairness and equality of opportunity for all Americans.   For more Inspired Service, follow us on Twitter!

What is it like to represent the U.S. government in an official capacity overseas? How does working in the White House differ from working in an embassy? What is the real value of an interagency clearance process, and what purpose does it serve? What is the difference between a foreign service rank and position? Senior State Department official Annie Pforzheimer answers these questions and many more in this episode of Inspired Service.   Follow Annie on LinkedIn. For more Inspired Service, follow us on Twitter!

What does it look like to take a career risk within a bureaucracy? Should young people looking to enter government focus on substance, people, or processes? How can new entrants to government service and career folks work together in the best way possible? In this episode of the Inspired Service Podcast, Laura Hall, an accomplished career member of the State Department, shares advice on everything from seeking mentorship to all the exciting opportunities available to people looking to serve - in the federal government and beyond. Follow Laura on LinkedIn.  For more Inspired Service, follow us on Twitter!

What's the impact of seeing a sitting president live and in person at a young age? What's it like to be on the floor of a political convention? How does deal-making really take place in “the room where it happens? Get an inside peak at the secret language of congressional staffers as we head up to Capitol Hill to chat with Chip Walgren, a professional staff member on the House Appropriations Committee.   For more Inspired Service, follow us on Twitter!

How does a degree in sports marketing lead to a career in counterterrorism? Is networking a dirty word? And how do personal experiences with terrorism inform a young child's life choices and career priorities? Mike Brown, from the Department of Homeland Security, joins us to answer these questions, geek out about C-SPAN, and share some important career advice. Give it a listen!   Follow us on Twitter for more Inspired Service!

How can a small town upbringing inform an urban neighborhood advisory commission? What's the appropriate balance of outsiders vs. insiders in the government? What does IT modernization look like in the vast bureaucracy of the United States? Listen to one of the people responsible for building the government's crop of top digital talent answer these questions and more on this episode of the Inspired Service Podcast.   For more, follow Dom on LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter!

How does one man's blue-collar upbringing in Philadelphia inform the drive to serve? What's it like serving overseas when your college friends are being wined and dined by investment banks? What does the singer-songwriter Jimmy Croce have to do with U.S. national security? Joe Croce, of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, answers these questions and many more on this episode of Inspired Service. Follow Joe on LinkedIn, and follow us on Twitter!

What do mental models, innovation, and Star Wars have in common? In our first episode, we explore the career and motivations of one of the top innovators at the Department of Defense, Ben Bain. Listen for Ben's takes on culture in government, the relationship between public and private sectors, and what it's like to work inside the five-sided building on the other side of the Potomac. For more, follow Ben on LinkedIn, and follow us on Twitter!