#diplomatic-protocol
50 episodes
#5577: When the UN Goes Viral: Pitchers, Shoes, and 6-Second Clips
A six-second clip of a man drinking from a pitcher resurfaces as if it's new — inside the long history of the UN's most meme-able moments.
#5567: The Sinai Crossing Where a Stamp Draws the Border
A 24-hour pedestrian crossing between Eilat and Taba, where a free stamp, a one-kilometer fee waiver, and four treaty zones shape every trip into S...
#5548: Hasbara: Explanation or Policy Problem?
Israel's Foreign Minister says embassy moves matter as much as the battlefield. A listener in Jerusalem says the problem isn't PR — it's policy.
#5531: Crayon Lines and Custom Posts: How Border Precision Creates Absurdity
A wax pencil drawn across a 1948 map became Jerusalem's binding border. Ghajar's line is precise but unmarked. What makes a border real?
#5527: Seven Ways to Measure a Country's Isolation
Netanyahu's quick UN trip sparks a bigger question: how do you actually measure a country's isolation? We build seven heuristics.
#5510: Six Churches, One Roof, 270 Years of Deadlock
Six churches share Jerusalem's holiest sites — and none can move a chair without the other five agreeing. Here's how that happened.
#5500: Eight Consulates That Answer to No One
Eight countries keep consulates in Jerusalem that bypass their own Tel Aviv embassies. The reason goes back four centuries.
#5497: Mandelbaum Gate: Inside Jerusalem's Divided Crossing
For 19 years, one narrow seam connected two hostile halves of Jerusalem. Here's how the Mandelbaum Gate actually worked.
#5347: What "On the Sidelines" Actually Means in Diplomacy
A "sidelines" meeting sounds casual. It's actually a fully scripted format with its own rules — and the Greenland signing shows why the label matters.
#5346: Why the UN's Biggest Week Is All About the Sidelines
The UN General Assembly meets year-round — so why do heads of state fly in for one frenzied week each September?
#5310: Who's Actually Allowed Into North Korea?
North Korea keeps no public visitor statistics — so who actually gets in, and why have the diplomats who lived there said almost nothing?
#5308: Can You Legally Call Yourself "The Most Noble"?
Diplomats assume "Excellency." So why can't anyone claim "The Most Noble"—and would Amazon deliveries make it stick?
#5248: Why HF Radio Beats Fiber When Governments Pull the Plug
HF loss doesn't scale with distance — it scales with ionospheric hops. And that changes everything about embassy comms.
#4936: The 4,000-Year History of International Law
From a stone treaty in Mesopotamia to the UN. How did promises between states become law?
#4892: The Art of the Personality Dossier
How foreign ministries build personality profiles on world leaders — and what we can learn from the practice.
#4891: Decoding Diplomatic Language: What "Frank" Really Means
What does "frank" actually mean in a diplomatic readout? We decode the secret language of chairs' summaries.
#4888: Action Minutes: The Meeting Tool That Forces Clarity
How a diplomatic note-taking technique eliminates vague language and forces real commitments in meetings.
#4887: How to Throw a State Dinner Prank for Your Friends
A deep dive into real diplomatic protocol and how to parody it for an unforgettable dinner party.
#4882: How to Run a Diplomatic Summit at a Bar
Importing the full diplomatic apparatus into a casual drink with a friend — agenda, run of show, briefing books, and all.
#4622: Embassy Registration and Travel Prep for Risky Regions
How to layer diplomatic contacts, STEP registration, and paper backups into a pre-travel protocol that works when networks fail.
#4556: How Embassies Decide When to Say "Leave Now
Travel advisories aren't just warnings—they're diplomatic signals, legal triggers, and operational plans. Here's what happens before you see them.
#3552: Jerusalem Luxury Tower Math: Sell, Rent, or Airbnb?
A developer with 20 empty luxury units in Jerusalem faces four paths. Which one wins?
#3537: What an MOU Actually Means in Diplomacy
MOUs are non-binding but powerful. Here’s how they work in diplomacy, from Iran talks to inter-agency deals.
#3415: What a UN Security Council Seat Actually Buys You
No army, no police — so why do countries spend billions for a seat at the table?