From Madagascar to the U.S. State Department: Patriotism Is Public Service

In this episode of We Are the Government, host Dipka Hesse speaks with Gabriel Sandler, former spokesperson at the State Department, about his odyssey through the federal government, starting as a Peace Corp. volunteer in the country of Madagascar.

Gabriel left Madagascar during the Covid pandemic only to slide right into federal service at the Department of Transportation which led him to the Department of Agriculture, and finally to the coveted position as a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, in its now-eliminated Bureau of Energy Resources, where he worked on international energy communications.

Gabriel reflects on soft diplomacy, the role of civil servants across administrations, and why addressing baseline issues—such as food security, clean water, and reliable energy—creates the conditions for broader social and economic progress. 

The conversation also explores how federal experience continues to shape work in the private sector and why public service remains foundational to American governance.

This podcast is produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic.

• Host: Dipka Hesse 

• X: @DBHesse

• LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠

• YouTube: @theenergyodyssey 

Thank you to our great team who helped make this  episode possible. A special thanks to Mathew John for his creative counsel and support, without which this wouldn’t be possible.

• Executive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (richard@richardtaliaferro.com)

• Graphic Artist: David Zerba (zerba.david@gmail.com)

• Editor: Axel Soderland (axelfromdc@gmail.com )

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