Hey all! This episode has some audio issues due to recording space and microphone constraints. We’ve tried our best to clean it up, and we’re trying to sack those responsible [Editor’s note: Ian. We mean Ian]. 

Hope you enjoy!

–Ian

Clara and Ian explore the challenges and opportunities of first contact with three guests: NavyCon keynote speaker Abby Mullen, Foreign Service Officer and former journalist Matthew Stannard, and anthropologist Cecilee Jones! We talk about the theory of first contact, show the different routes it can take, and lay out the ways it can go wrong–past, present, and future.

Also in this episode, Abby reveals why people should @ her, Clara pines for the glory of consular uniforms, Cecilee tells us how to infiltrate a Nepalese village, Matt quotes the teachings of a great sage, and Ian reverts to childhood…

Listen to Abby Mullen’s podcast, Consolation Prize, at https://consolationprize.rrchnm.org/! 

You can also hear her over on our sister podcast, Preble Hall, where she’s one of the rotating hosts! https://www.usna.edu/Museum/PrebleHall/index.php

Check out our Discord at discord.gg/6xg2sApfGJ

The Joint Geeks on this episode are: Ian Boley (@IBBoley) and Clara Engle Boley; our guests are Abby Mullen (@abbymullen and @consolprize), Matthew Stannard, and Cecilee Jones.