Podcast – Ben East Books

Maybe Not so Mediocre

Dec 3, 2025

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in About, Editing, Inspiration, Nonfiction, Podcast, publishing, Reading, Virginia, Virginia Writers Club, Writing

An author revisits a languishing biographical sketch, finishes it, and wins a Golden Nib in the Virginia Writers Club statewide nonfiction category.

Down on Jupiter Wins 3rd!

Nov 16, 2025

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Ben East

in Christmas, Crime, Fiction, Holidays, Humor?, Inspiration, Podcast, Profiles in Service, publishing, Reading, Seasons, Short Story, Storytelling, Thanksgiving, Virginia Writers Club, Writing

Award-winning author reads from his short story Down on Jupiter. Who can resist Floridaman? Or rubber chickens? Or Marla Jean imagining her boyfriend’s back: “Tenderize me, baby.”

Backstory: Hope and Tragedy

Nov 11, 2025

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Ben East

in Blogs, Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, India, Movies, Mumbai, Music, Nonfiction, Podcast, Profiles in Service, Storytelling

Former diplomat Ben East tries his hand at podcasting when his nonfiction fails to take hold. Will fellow public servant Rob Batchelder bail him out? Can the Great Indian Bustard help?

Education in Cameroon and Mali

Nov 6, 2025

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Ben East

in Africa, Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Government Studies, Inspiration, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Podcast, Profiles in Service, Reading, Storytelling, Travel

Ambassador White’s story, and the energy with which she told it, revealed the first, cleanest line from Peace Corps service to successful diplomacy

Profile: Pamela White

Nov 4, 2025

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Ben East

in Africa, Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Government Studies, Inspiration, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Podcast, Profiles in Service, Recipes, Travel

Peace Corps taught Pamela White that learning English was no fun in Cameroon with Eurocentric texts filled with poodles. So she generated her own materials.

A Dumb Thing Walter Said

Oct 24, 2025

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Ben East

in Crime, Government Studies, history, News, Podcast, Politics, Trump, Washington

What Walter Kirn gets wrong about fascist protests: their cliches and tropes are all too easy to spot. Violence, racism, hate, tiki-torches, and insurrection.

Telling America’s Story to the World

Oct 17, 2025

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Ben East

in Blogs, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Peace Corps, Podcast, Storytelling

An author and former diplomat reflects on his hometown, his earliest career failure, and how Peace Corps helped him overcome it to tell America’s story abroad

Podcast Highlighting American Soft Power

Oct 16, 2025

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by

Ben East

in Africa, Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Podcast, Profiles in Service

Conversations with diplomats, development workers, PCVs, authors, and entrepreneurs, highlight how American soft power strengthens our global standing.