Ructions | Problems come in battalions

On this episode of Ructions with Ross + Ashley, Marc Ross + Gerald Ashley discuss the Bank of England and the UK's mortgage madness, inflation and french fries, 2024 elections in the UK and US, Brexit's 7th anniversary, the history of 1848, the upcoming NATO summit meeting, Narendra Modi's state visit to DC, plus what they are reading and watching.

Timestamps:

1:05 | Bank of England + UK's mortgage madness

9:00 | Inflation

13:39 | 2024 UK Elections

17:15 | Brexit's 7th anniversary

21:25 | 2024 US Elections

24:00 | The history of 1848

25:05 | NATO summit meeting

29:32 | India + Modi's DC state visit

35:18 | Reading + Watching

Reading + Watching List:

Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by Ed Conway

The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance by Henry Petroski

Tour de France: Unchained on Netflix

Eat. Race. Win. on Amazon Prime

The Docks by Bill Sharpsteen

What It Takes: The Way to the White House by Richard Ben Cramer

ITK Radio | Tracy MacDonald | Carpe Diem Creativity

On this episode of ITK Radio, a conversation with Tracy MacDonald.

Tracy is a Southerner from Columbus, Georgia, who holds a BA from Wesleyan College in behavioral sociology.

She is a fraud and risk consultant and public speaker, drawing on her experience as a former special agent with the US Secret Service and from her critical roles as a counter-terrorism instructor for the Defense Intelligence Agency, and as a lead associate in counter-illicit finance for Booz Allen Hamilton.

She has gained a unique perspective from living and working abroad in several countries. She is currently posted with her husband, son, and Golden Retriever "Biscuit" as diplomats supporting the US Embassy's mission in Libreville, Gabon.

Tracy loves nature photography, beach walks, and writing. She captures her travels and life as an ex-pat on her blog, Carpe Diem Creative.

She's an active Women's Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) member and has recently completed the first draft of her debut fiction novel, Becoming Agent McKenna.

Her freelance articles have been published in Bella Grace Magazine and on Stampington & Company's official blog, Grace Notes.

You can find Tracy on LinkedIn here.

Insights + Ideas:

+ Gabon - The World Factbook

+ United States Secret Service

* Error: On March 1, 2003, the Secret Service was transferred from the Department of the Treasury to the new Department of Homeland Security.

+ The Secret Service is responsible for detecting, investigating, and arresting any person who violates specific laws related to financial systems.

+ Using the skills as an investigator to weave a story and be an author of fiction

+ Chuck E. Cheese - Fandom

+ Experience being a spouse on a foreign diplomatic assignment

+ The power of awe + being in nature

+ Carpe Diem Creative: A soulful explorer living an inspired life - Blog

+ A soulful explorer living an inspired life as an expat

+ Third Culture Kids (TCKs) are people who spend a significant part of their childhood living outside their passport countries. They are raised in a culture other than their parents or the culture of their country of nationality.

+ A conversation with Ann Carpenter on ITK Radio

+ Book: The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy: An Economist Examines the Markets, Power, and Politics of World Trade by Pietra Rivoli

+ To be more creative: "turn off your mind monkeys" + "enjoy the process"

+ Creativity can just be for you

+ Planet Word: A language arts museum in Washington, DC, "where language comes to life" and features interactive exhibits dedicated to topics such as the history of the English Language, how children learn words, languages around the world, humor, poetry, and how music and advertising use words.

ITK Radio | Aimee Carter | Cultivating Strategic Partnerships

On this episode of ITK Radio, a conversation with Aimee Carter.

Aimee is the vice president of development and engagement at the Alliance for Health Policy.

She leads efforts to advance the financial foundation and multistakeholder relationships of the Alliance.

Working with the president & CEO, she stewards current partnerships, cultivates new relationships and resources, and ensures engagement across stakeholders and communications platforms.

She has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and international affairs and leading business development and engagement across many issue areas. Previously, Aimee led development and membership at Business Roundtable and the Council on Foreign Relations and international outreach at AARP.

She holds a master’s degree in international relations from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Virginia. She serves on the board of iMMAP, the advisory council of Global Kids DC, and is an alumnus of the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP).

You can find Aimee on LinkedIn here.

Insights + Ideas:

+ "...how I think about partnerships. For me, there isn't one single organization or one single sector that has the absolute answer for any issue."

+ Fostering safe and collaborative environments for the exchange of ideas and priorities

+ Developing public-private partnerships to harness corporate expertise

+ Making sure the right people and the right mix are at the table to discuss a policy issue

+ How to decide who should be at the table to make sure you have a productive exchange of ideas

+ Keeping the conversation on track and focused on a complex public policy discussion

+ Using experience from working in a developing emerging market economy to remain humble and remember we don't know everything

+ Being intentional about what you are trying to accomplish

+ The value of after-action reports

+ Pursuing an internship and maximize your internship experience