Episode notes
Embark on a journey into the realm of fringe diplomacy, where hidden negotiations and human connections help to secure the release of American political prisoners and detainees across the globe.
Mickey Bergman is the Vice President and Executive Director at the Richardson Center for Global Engagement. This nonprofit and NGO has orchestrated the return of more American detainees than any other private organisation, spanning from North Korea and Cuba to Myanmar, Russia, the Middle East, Venezuela, and Africa.
Mickey's efforts have garnered him and his colleagues two Nobel Peace Prize nominations (in 2019 and 2023), alongside a host of other notable distinctions.
In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Mickey recounts the intricacies of negotiations, shedding light on the years of dedicated engagement preceding each successfu ...