I knew many of those killed and injured by the Taliban in this attack. I miss you Javed and Mehri. ❤️

https://twitter.com/MujMash/status/1484404881700323330

Dear Friends and Colleagues.

At the top of 2022, I want to take a moment and look back on the second year The Ask Podcast.

Reflecting on the second year of my podcast, I am again deeply grateful to every guest that showed up to take my questions on The Ask.

And I remain grateful to anyone that tuned into the episodes I have published so far, without you listeners this podcast could not exist. Thank you again for your time and interest in The Ask.

Looking ahead to this New Year, I am excited to continue to seek out extraordinary people and ask them the kind of questions that can provide you, the listener, with captivating answers.

I am not sure where we will go next on The Ask but I pledge to continue to try and produce episodes that entertain, captivate and inspire.

I look forward to inviting Co-Hosts such as my friend and colleague Cliff W. Gilmore, PhD for future episodes of The Ask and experimenting with the presentation and storytelling in the months ahead.

See you soon in the next episode of The Ask. ^_^

I could not bid goodbye to 2021 without acknowledging the impact my friend and colleague Cliff W. Gilmore had on my life this past year.

At the top of 2021, like many people here in America and around the world, I was looking for a career opportunity as the world was opening up. I applied to the Children Youth and Family Department of New Mexico to serve as a Digital Video Producer.

Cliff saw something in my past work and eventually extended a job offer to me. That job translated into months of valuable direct experience working with Cliff and a vital opportunity to provide support to my loved ones when they needed it the most. For Cliff’s belief in me, and this career opportunity, I will forever be grateful.

This work experience did not end as expected for either of us and that is well documented in newspapers here in New Mexico and websites available around the world. But this is not the time and place to reflect on that part of our lives.

Through it all, I have been proud to call Cliff a friend, mentor, and colleague. A year has passed, we spent that time reflecting on that chapter of our lives that saw us in Afghanistan – he as a Marine Corp Public Information Officer in Helmand, and myself working at Tolo TV in Kabul – and we wept together when the Taliban brought an end to a chapter in the American and Afghan story.

We exchanged notes on Dungeons & Dragons, shared a byline in the Albuquerque Journal highlighting the important shortcomings that we feel need to be redressed urgently at the CYFD and I had the opportunity to invite Cliff to join me as a guest co-host on my podcast The Ask.

This year would have been very different for me, absent his friendship. And I am thankful that I am heading into the New Year with someone I know will be a lifelong friend. Thank you Cliff. <3

Changing the climate at CYFD will take time

My experience at the Children Youth and Family Department of New Mexico was, at times, bizarre, disturbing, and disappointing.

I did however meet a handful of great human beings, among them my friend: Cliff W. Gilmore, retired Marine and former Public Information Officer for the CYFD, and conscience whistleblower.

If all I can take away from my seven months of time at the department is my friendship with Cliff, Debra, and Little Emma then I would argue it was all worth it.

Here, we share our thoughts on the needed steps to reform both the workforce and the treatment of the workforce. Secretary Vigil and her new Deputy Beth Gillia will face an uphill institutional battle, one that will need to be fought if vulnerable children here in New Mexico are to receive the care and support they deserve.

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/changing-the-climate-at-cyfd-will-take-time/article_47632464-596c-11ec-9341-9b6f20335e2b.html

And it goes without saying, in the near future I will have a few more words about my former colleague Charlie Moore-Pabst, my experience with him, his conduct, and his contribution to the Blalock-Locke legacy at the department.

How long have we known each other Richard Heydarian?

I have certainly known you long enough to recognize you as a leading voice on the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region.

My time living and working in the Philippines remains the most important chapter in my life and I want to see nothing more than the Filipino people rise to the greatness we all know is possible with good governance.

The Duterte chapter in Philippine history represented a clear step backward, to the days of strongman rule, and governance through violence and intimidation. And through it all, you have written fearlessly.

The Philippines either continues down this dark path or turns back and embraces a government accountable to the people and to the laws it purports to support.

This is, in my view, one of the most important articles you have written, on the eve of the most consequential elections in Philippine history. Well done brother.