On March 15, the Peace Corps announced it would temporarily suspend Volunteer operations and begin evacuating Volunteers from all posts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On this episode, five volunteers share their story of evacuation in the time o

Happy National Peace Corps Week – Return of the Podcast

Mar 1st, 2020 20m

Happy National Peace Corps Week! This episode marks the return of the My Peace Corps Story podcast. After taking a few months off, I'm starting the show up again. This week, in honor of National Peace Corps Week, I would like to share three spe

COSing – Tyler Lloyd, Peace Corps Podcast Host

Oct 29th, 2019 23m 30s

After 27 months of the My Peace Corps Story podcast, I'm closing this chapter of the podcast. The podcast isn't over though. I plan to come back to the show with a new format. Producing weekly podcasts was an ambitious undertaking but immensely

Teaching in the Bush – Katie McNamara, Namibia 2016-18

Oct 22nd, 2019 30m 53s

Inspired by a former teacher, Katie set off to Peace Corps for an adventure and a chance to prove herself. She did both and more. This week, I talk with Katie McNamara about her time in Namibia, a country that's twice the size of California whi

101 Arabian Tales – Randy Hobler, Libya 1968-1969

Oct 15th, 2019 45m 54s

Photos from Randy’s Service Randy Hobler’s Peace Corps Story Where and when did you serve? What did you do? Served in Libya from October 1968 thru most of October 1969. I, like all my colleagues, was a TEFL (Teaching English as a Second L

From Small Town to Smaller Town – Sharelle Ahrens, Mongolia 2018-2020

Oct 8th, 2019 55m 41s

Photos from Sharelle’s Service Sharelle’s Peace Corps Story Where and when did you serve? What did you do? Ghana, 2010-2012. Primary Assignment was Biology Teacher – also ended up being head of the ICT department at my school and training new

Health Resource Partners – Britany Ferrell, Ghana 2010-12

Oct 1st, 2019 41m 54s

Health Resource Partners (HRP) founder, Britany Ferrell, decided to join the United States Peace Corps during her last year of college at the University of Alabama. Shortly after her graduation in June 2010, she learned that she was going to be

Serving in the First Year – Addis and Jim Chapman, West Pakistan 1961-63

Sep 24th, 2019 52m 33s

Photos from Addis and Jim’s Service Addis and Jim Chapman’s Peace Corps Story Where and when did you serve? What did you do? We served in what was then West Pakistan from 1961-63. Ours was the first multidisciplinary project in PC — nurses, t

Tough Cookie – Tasha Prados, Peru 2011-2013

Sep 17th, 2019 48m 23s

Since leaving Peru, Tasha Prados founded Duraca Strategic, a business and marketing strategy company. Tasha wants organizations that are doing good for the world to have access to expertise from a skilled partner that can help those organizatio

Climbing Cotopaxi with the Warmis – Dana Platin, Ecuador 1997-2000

Sep 10th, 2019 1h

In 2001 the first expedition of indigenous women reached the summit of Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world just shy of 20,000 feet. Four Andean women (Warmis) and two American women all joined together to climb in celebration of w

Peace Corps Host Family – David Hernandez, Ecuador 2013-15

Sep 3rd, 2019 46m 40s

Photos from David’s Service David Hernandez’s Peace Corps Story Where and when did you serve? What did you do? I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador from 2013-2015. I worked as an Environmental Education/Business volunteer. This sect

Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen, Tunisia 1966-1968

Aug 27th, 2019 1h 3m

Jody Olsen first heard of the Peace Corps during a presentation from a recruiter attending a sorority dinner. The following day she informed her fiancé that they were going to join the Peace Corps and 18 months later they were headed to Tunisia

Pathogenic E. Coli – Podcast News and Excuses

Aug 20th, 2019 13m 17s

For the past two weeks I've been either rushing to the bathroom, doubled over in pain, or both. It reminded me a lot of Peace Corps actually. This was the first time I've had any major GI issues since Peace Corps, which I assumed hardened my gu

A Towering Task – Alana DeJoseph, Mali 1992-94

Aug 13th, 2019 46m 37s

Being a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer herself, she couldn't help but think that just such an in-depth, comprehensive documentary was needed for the Peace Corps. Alana says: "In a time when the American public either has a very antiquated notio

From Volunteer to Emmy-Winning Filmmaker – Bryn Mooser, The Gambia 2001-04

Aug 6th, 2019 51m 23s

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in The Gambia, Bryn worked to rehabilitate the country's highly deforested environment. But Bryn’s drive to serve didn’t end with the Peace Corps.

The Land of Dragons – Abraham Kahasay, Indonesia 2016-2018

Jul 30th, 2019 39m 4s

Abraham served in Indonesia from 2016-2018 as an education volunteer where he taught at a local Madrasah middle school on the island of Java. This is his Peace Corps story.

Fresh off the Island – Chad Beatty, Vanuatu 2016-19

Jul 23rd, 2019 44m 29s

Chad only recently returned home from his Peace Corps service in Vanuatu. With the sand barely out of his shoes, he talks about living two years on a remote island followed by a third year in Port Vila.

From Volunteer to Ambassador – Kathleen Stephens, South Korea 1975-1977

Jul 16th, 2019 55m 56s

Korea has been part of Ambassador (retired) Kathleen Stephens’ life and career since she served in rural Korea as a Peace Corps volunteer and trainer, 1975-1977.

Back to the Beginning – Episode 1 Rebroadcast

Jul 9th, 2019 41m 40s

This week, I go back to the beginning. Two years ago I recorded this intro episode with a friend, before the podcast had launched and before I knew what it would grow into. Hopefully you enjoy this return to the start as much as I did.

Leaving her Fiancé for the Peace Corps – Jane Hale, Chad 1970-72

Jul 2nd, 2019 2h 12m

Jane Hale left her fiancé for Peace Corps service in Chad--where she was the only person to actively choose Chad as a country of service. She has numerous great stories that make this interview seem too short, even though it's the longest one y

Not all Green Hills and Fresh Coffee – Jane Haines, Colombia 2018-Present

Jun 25th, 2019 48m 46s

Americans have a lot of preconceived thoughts about Colombia, which range from drug running narcos deep in the jungle to rolling verdant hills filled with coffee plantations. Yet, as with many things, Colombia is far more complex and dynamic th

Dating after Peace Corps – Michelle Long and Tyler Lloyd

Jun 18th, 2019 38m 9s

Michelle Long did not serve in the the Peace Corps. Yet, Peace Corps has become a big part of her life because she said yes to marrying me, Tyler Lloyd: RPCV and Peace Corps podcast host! We explore dating and relationships after Peace Corps, w

Not Beach Corps – Megan Bordi, St. Lucia 1999-2001

Jun 11th, 2019 56m 51s

While some may think serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Caribbean is all white sandy beaches and coconuts, that's not the case. On this week's episode I talk with Megan Bordi about her service in St. Lucia. While she served 20 years ago,

Partying with Janis Joplin – Alan Dockterman, Brazil 1968-70

Jun 4th, 2019 1h 34m

Alan Dockterman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in northeast Brazil from 1968 to 1970. He discusses his opposition to the Vietnam War as a primary motivation for joining the Peace Corps.

Call Home – Staying Connected with Your Community After Service

May 28th, 2019 15m 38s

This episode is something a little different. Today, I talk about calling your friends and family in your community of service once you become an RPCV.