Women, Peace and Security: Voices of Change

Welcome to Women, Peace & Security: Voices of Change, a podcast produced by the Inter-American Defense College that delves into the critical intersection of gender, peace, and security across the Western Hemisphere. Each episode brings you closer to the forefront of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda through insightful conversations with leading experts, practitioners, gender advisors, and academics.

Join us as we explore the latest trends, policies, and research shaping the WPS landscape. From groundbreaking initiatives and policy shifts to real-world case studies and practical applications, our guests share their knowledge and experiences on advancing gender equality and ensuring a more secure and inclusive world.

Whether you’re a policy-maker, academic, practitioner, or simply passionate about gender justice and global security, Women, Peace & Security: Voices of Change offers valuable perspectives and actionable insights to drive meaningful progress. Tune in to stay informed, inspired, and engaged in the ongoing dialogue for a more equitable and peaceful future.

Created and Produced by Frieda Garcia Castellanos, WPS Gender Advisor at the Inter-American Defense College.

Contributors

Host

Frieda Garcia Castellanos

With twelve years of experience at the Inter-American Defense College, Ms Frieda Garcia Castellanos has honed a comprehensive skill set for implementing high-level strategies. As the first gender focal point for SOUTHCOM and NORTHCOM at the IADC, Frieda raised awareness through podcasts and workshops on WPS, later becoming the first Gender Advisor at the College, advising her leadership on the best COAs for WPS mainstreaming in Professional Military Education. Outside of her professional pursuits, Frieda finds fulfillment in volunteering as a pro-bono interpreter for unaccompanied minors and families seeking asylum in the United States. Additionally, she serves as Producer and Editor at Forged in Fire LGBTQ Leadership podcast, which she co-created with the hosts

Guests

Guest

Robert Clifford

Robert F Clifford is a contract Special Advisor to the US Department of Justice, International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP). He has been with ICITAP since 2019, serving as Program Director and Mission Advisor to Somalia (2019-2021) and Ukraine (2021-2024).

Mr. Clifford retired from the FBI after a career of twenty-four years and serving on five different continents. He rose from Special Agent to Senior Executive, with responsibilities that specialized in international terrorism, counterespionage, nuclear proliferation, and violent transnational criminal gangs. His assignments included FBI field offices, FBI Headquarters, the Iraq combat theater, and international and diplomatic postings throughout the world, including US embassies, the European Union, and NATO.
He also served in the US Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer and was later designated a Naval Intelligence Officer. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Guest

Vanessa Duboulay

Vanessa DuBoulay serves as a Program Officer with the US Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program. Working under the Global Programs & Women, Peace, and Security unit, Vanessa coordinates implementation of foreign assistance programs that strengthen international police services in building capacities to detect, disrupt, and deter terrorist activity. Vanessa's academic and professional interest lies in the nexus between development and international security, having a particular passion for the implementation of strategies and programs to integrate gender perspectives in the security sector. With 8 years of experience in the field, Vanessa has developed expertise in topics such as transnational organized crime, terrorism, conflict resolution, and peace operations, as well as assisted with the design of foreign assistance programming solutions to more widely promote the tenets of the WPS Agenda.