What does it mean to lead with service, not fear?

In this episode, former USAID Democracy and Governance Director Jeremy Williamee shares how investing in local governments and community stability helped address the root causes of migration—long before people reached the border. From small-town New York to Central America, his story is a quiet reminder that lasting security comes not from walls or fear, but from opportunity, dignity, and trust in the places people call home.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe on Substack for more stories from Global Development Interrupted.

When USAID was dismantled, Ashley Vij was mid-call planning the rollout of one of the most promising HIV prevention tools in decades — Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection that could revolutionize access for women and hard-to-reach communities. In this episode, Ashley reflects on her path from Tucson to USAID, the power of unsexy investments like policy reform, and how she’s channeling loss into action through Root to Rise. A story of science, resilience, and the fight to keep lifesaving innovations within reach.

If you would like to learn more about the organization Root to Rise that Ashley co-founded with her former USAID colleagues check out her website HERE.

Annē Linn, a sixth-generation Montanan, shares how her faith and early exposure to child mortality statistics led her into global health. From Peace Corps Senegal to serving as a USAID Community Health Advisor with the President’s Malaria Initiative, she reflects on the simple, proven tools—bed nets, indoor residual spraying (IRS), medicine—that cut malaria deaths in half across 30 countries. For Annē, that achievement is the very definition of American greatness: saving lives.

Thanks for listening! This post is public so feel free to share it.