One CA Podcast

Welcome to the One CA Podcast, a product of the Civil Affairs Association. As we take a brief pause this December to recharge, we’re revisiting some of our most impactful episodes; conversations that highlight the “last three feet” of U.S. foreign relations through the voices of military professionals, diplomats, development officers, and field agents.This month’s rerun features a standout discussion from this years episodes, selected for its enduring relevance and insight. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or revisiting a favorite, we hope these episodes continue to inspire your work in the human domain and beyond.To learn more about the show or get involved, visit civilaffairsassoc.org or email us at [email protected] all of us at One CA, thank you for listening—and we’ll see you with new episodes in January.

Welcome to the One CA Podcast, a product of the Civil Affairs Association. As we take a brief pause this December, we’re revisiting some of this year's most impactful episodes, conversations that highlight the “last three feet” of U.S. foreign relations through the voices of military professionals, diplomats, development officers, and field agents.This month’s rerun features a standout discussion from our archives, selected for its enduring relevance and insight. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or revisiting a favorite, we hope these episodes continue to inspire your work in the human domain and beyond.To learn more about the show or get involved, visit civilaffairsassoc.org or email us at [email protected] all of us at One CA, thank you for listening—and we’ll see you with new episodes in January.

Investigative journalist Sam Cooper returns to the One CA Podcast to expose how Iran weaponizes criminality to advance foreign policy goals. From Hezbollah’s business affairs unit to fentanyl super-labs in Canada, Cooper traces the global footprint of Iranian-linked networks—intertwined with Chinese triads, Mexican cartels, and diaspora businessmen operating across North America.In this gripping episode, we explore:​How underground banking and hawala systems fund terror proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas​The role of vape shops, car exports, and currency exchanges in laundering money​Why Canada’s outdated laws and Charter protections hinder transnational crime enforcement​DEA wiretaps revealing command-and-control links between Latin America and Canadian cities​The growing civil society push for reform—and the political resistance it facesCooper also shares firsthand insights into speaking engagements, commercial sector concerns, and the fragile hope for legal modernization in Canada. One CA Podcast is a production of the Civil Affairs Association, featuring voices from military, diplomatic, and development communities working at the human level of global engagement.📨 Contact us at [email protected]🌐 Learn more at civilaffairsassoc.org🎧 Ranked Top 10 Foreign Policy Podcast by Feedspot: See the list🎵 Music by Relax Café: Sunny Jazz Cafe & Bossa NovaSam Cooper posts on Iran criminality:https://samcooper.substack.com/p/iranian-criminal-networks-and-canadashttps://samcooper.substack.com/p/from-guangdong-peasant-to-funderhttps://samcooper.substack.comAddition: Whale Hunter article on Iran’s shadow fleet: https://whalehunting.projectbrazen.com/when-irans-invisible-fleet-lit-up-the-map/?ref=whale-hunting-newsletter#HumanDomain #IrregularWarfare #CivilAffairs #StrategicCoercion #TransnationalCrime #FentanylCrisis #InformationWarfare #SOFTraining #DefenseInnovation #OneCAPodcast

In this episode of One CA Podcast, LTC Brian Hancock sits down with Sergeant First Class Chase Penner—Information Operations planner at USAREUR-AF and former PSYOP Team Sergeant—to explore the art and science of military deception. From ambiguity techniques to tactical deception, SFC Penner's decision-making is from Moldova. With a background in strategic communication, Penner offers a rare look into the cognitive domain of modern warfare.Whether you're a Civil Affairs operator, strategic planner, or just curious about the "last three feet" of U.S. foreign relations, this episode delivers actionable lessons on influence, deception, and the human terrain.📌 Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the United States Army or Department of Defense.🔗 Learn more at civilaffairsassoc.org📧 Contact us: [email protected]🏆 Ranked Top 10 Foreign Policy Podcast by Feedspot🎵 Music Credit: Special Thanks to OriginalSoundtracks for the sample of Happy Thanksgiving Day. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/vJPDcL49578?si=-c2N_xkOc8WjfscS#PsychologicalOperations #MilitaryDeception #CivilAffairs #IrregularWarfare #InformationWarfare #HumanDomain #SOFTraining #DefenseInnovation #USAREURAF #USASOC #StrategicInfluence #TacticalPsychology #MissionPreparation#USASOC #SOCOM #SWCS #TRADOC #JKO #USAREURAF #CivilAffairsAssociation #PSYOPRegiment #353CACOM #2POG #20SFG #MSNationalGuard #IrregularWarfareCenter #NDU #OUSDIS #SpecialOperationsCommand #JointForceDevelopment #ArmyIO #SOFX

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joel Rubin joins host Jack Gaines to unpack the gritty realities of legislative diplomacy—from Benghazi testimony to budget battles. Rubin shares hard-won lessons on navigating Congress, shaping foreign policy, and building political will inside the State Department. This episode explores how political space becomes policy—and why human capital may be the missing link in America’s foreign affairs strategy.One CA is a product of the Civil Affairs Association and brings in people who are current or former military, diplomats, development officers, and field agents to discuss their experiences on the ground with a partner nation's people and leadership. We aim to inspire anyone interested in working in the "last three feet" of U.S. foreign relations.📨 To contact the show, email us at [email protected], or visit the Civil Affairs Association website: www.civilaffairsassoc.org🏆 Feedspot ranked One CA Podcast among the Top 10 Foreign Policy Podcasts:https://podcast.feedspot.com/foreign_policy_podcasts🎶 Music link: The Art of the Possible: Joel Rubin on Turning Political Space into Policy#ForeignPolicy #Diplomacy#Geopolitics#Congress#StateDepartment#InternationalRelations#PublicDiplomacy#GlobalSecurity#CivilAffairs#LegislativeAffairs#PoliticalStrategy#HumanCapital#PeaceCorps#ForeignAid#GlobalEngagement#PoliticalWill#InternationalDevelopment#PolicyMaking#GovernmentRelations#Benghazi#HarvardKennedySchool #GeorgetownSFS #JohnsHopkinsSAIS #ColumbiaSIPA #StanfordFSI #TuftsFletcherSchool #AmericanUniversitySIS #YaleJacksonSchool #OxfordPolitics #LSEIR #UCSDGPI #MITSecurityStudies #PrincetonSPIA #TexasA&MBushSchool #GWU_Elliott #SchillerInternationalUniversity #CarnegieEndowment #CSIS #BrookingsInstitution #AtlanticCouncil #USIP #WilsonCenter #CFR #HeritageFoundation #RANDCorporation #ChathamHouse #FriedrichEbertStiftung #MercyCorps #USAID #StateDept #PeaceCorps #UNDP #WorldBank #IFPRI #IRIglobal #NDI #OpenSocietyFoundations #EarthInstitute #Devex #InterActionOrg #GlobalAffairsCanada #DFIDUK #GIZGerman