USAID Policy Analyst Lauren Baker talks about her time shaping international development policy as a subject matter expert; promoting indigenous rights in the aid and development process; the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in policymaking; and her hopes for the future of aid in a time of tumult.

Tune in to learn more about one of the many dedicated civil servants who chose helping others as the guiding light in their career path.

Special thanks to Open Gov Hub in Washington, DC for providing the studio space for recording!

Former Program Manager at the NGO and USAID implementing partner CARE, Liz Noznesky, shares the story of her work helping provide maternal care and public health in Chad and civil war-torn Sudan, her career path, and what she hopes to see in the future.

Join us to learn more about what USAID actually did, how the United States helped people in need around the world, and who actually helped drive America's international development programming.

In February of 2025, the White House unilaterally decreed that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would cease to exist as the world knew it. This pivotal event was the start of a series of sweeping and chaotic cuts that continue to deeply impact the government – and people – of the United States.

I was just one of thousands of people who lost their jobs as a result of these deep cuts, and sadly I’m far from the last.

While most Americans only learn about these developments through brief coverage on the news or social media, living in Washington, DC and being at the center of the slash and burn campaign has given me a personal perspective on how impactful - and harmful - these cuts are.

Please join me, Eric Smith, in listening to the stories of people who worked with or for the government in pursuit of public service, only to be cut off by a whim. Upcoming guests include a foreign service officer committed to ending violence, a civil servant who shaped key policies, and a foreign service national bringing life changing opportunities to local communities.