Sports, Diplomacy, and the American Sports Decade: Travis Murphy, Founder and CEO of Jetr Global Sports & Entertainment

00:00

Dave Almy

Travis, I gotta ask you right off of the gate, so how exactly does a kid from Kansas find himself helping to run a US Embassy in West Africa? I realize that's a journey and not a destination, but what led you there? How did this interest of yours in diplomacy really start formulating luck?

00:25

Travis Murphy

A lot of luck, I would say, was interjected into the process, but it was certainly not where I expected to be. My high school graduating class was 10 people. So a tiny school in western Kansas.

00:40

Dave Almy

I've heard of small schools. That might be the new record for smallest graduating class.

00:46

Travis Murphy

It certainly made you knew everybody in your class in your homeroom, that's for certain.

00:52

Dave Almy

But 10. And most people stayed local to the school. Did people go, did people off to.

00:58

Travis Murphy

Other places you often, I mean, I think generationally it's changed somewhat. I think that, you know, the people I grew up with, their parents were probably, you know, also graduates. Mine certainly were of the same high school. But you know, as there were less and less economic opportunities there in small town America outside of agriculture and you know, a couple local jobs. Yeah, you saw people start to migrate away. But I, I certainly have been very fortunate in my career to have opportunities to travel and, and go around the world for a kid that didn't grow up in an environment that necessarily lent itself to that.

01:31

Dave Almy

So did you always have like a wanderlust kind of aspect to yourself? Were you always interested on things on a global scale or did it cause you went and worked in politics for a while, you were chief of staff at, for House of Representatives from Kansas. Did the, did the globalization and then sort of the big State Department Foreign Service pieces always appeal to you or did you kind of lead that way? You spoke of luck, but you know, it's sort of putting yourself in position to be lucky type stuff.

01:56

Travis Murphy

Sure. Yeah. Well, you know, we'll talk more about Jetter Global. And you know, I, I like to say people we get a lot of credit for being a bit of an overnight success and it is in some respects it only took 20 years to get there.

02:09

Dave Almy

Yeah. Overnight, just I guess they're Jupiter years kind of thing.

02:14

Travis Murphy

No, I, I think, you know, to the extent that I understood a global environment, you know, growing up in a pretty sheltered place.

02:21

Dave Almy

Sure.

02:21

Travis Murphy

I, I, yeah, I think there was a desire to kind of get out and do more. You know, I say that somewhat tongue in cheek about luck. I think it's probably more just having really good people in my life and my Background that saw potential in me that maybe I didn't even see in myself. That opened doors for me that allowed me to progress and move down this path. But to your point, you know, I got a job in radio is where I started my career, but through that really got an interest in politics. I had, you know, I had interest in it, but didn't really know what jobs in that space look like. And so I had a weekly show with my home state congressman who kind of represented the western 2/3 of Kansas. And just through that, we developed a good rapport.

03:07

Travis Murphy

And he asked if I'd be interested in coming to D.C. And so moved to D.C. Became his press secretary and then just kind of moved up the chain there. But even then I think there was a desire to kind of, you know, you get to D.C. From Kansas, but then from there's a big world out there. And so I had a real desire to do it in a fashion that was, you know, still service oriented, if you will. You know, I still wanted to. I really enjoyed my time in government and you know, things have evolved a bit since I was a US government employee in terms of, you know, how one might measure the service aspect of the federal government.

03:45

Travis Murphy

But be that as it may, I joining the foreign service was an amazing experience of becoming a diplomat and service, you know, living in countries for two, three years at a time and serving around the rural world really helped shape to, you know, everything that I am today.

04:00

Dave Almy

Yeah, I can only imagine, right. Those kind of experiences, you go from a 10 person high school to running a embassy in Quito. I mean, that's a different experience for most people, but so you're in foreign service and then you get your sort of first job in sports when you serve as a, you're a senior officer in the State Department in the sports diplomacy. That's right, division. So can you scratch the surface a little bit on what that role entailed, but also partner with that? How did it, in terms, how did it start to change your thinking in terms of where your career was headed? Because it clearly led to some big things.

04:41

Travis Murphy

Yeah, yeah, no, I, I appreciate that. I, I, you know, I. Sports had always been growing up in a, you know, going back to the 10 kids in class, you know, I, I was a starter on the football team and the basketball team and the drink team.

04:56

Dave Almy

Yeah, you got offense and defense on everything.

05:00

Travis Murphy

There you go. Yeah, eight man football. Yeah. Went two ways. So, you know, it was always a part Of. Of my life and my upbringing, but it really wasn't my. My first tour, as you mentioned, was in Quito, Ecuador. So I lived two years in the city there. And for a flatlander from Kansas, living at 9,300ft was really amazing experience.

05:20

Dave Almy

That'll change. You get some great cardio right there, though.

05:24

Travis Murphy

That's right. That's right. You walk out the door on a Friday afternoon and you can hit a 14 or before dinner. But yeah, there was a moment where, you know, I think it was. So I was working in consular, which is. Means you're either serving as, you know, American citizen services, so providing the services of the US Government to American citizens in a given country, in this case Ecuador, or you're doing visas, which is interviewing people from Ecuador and other countries who might live there as to whether or not they warrant or deserve to be approved to have a visa to come to the United States. So I did both of those roles in my time there. But there was at one point a donation of softball equipment. Baseball, Softballs, primarily softballs, but had come into the embassy from a company.

06:09

Travis Murphy

And the embassy needed to do an event where they donated these balls to kids in the big park on a Saturday afternoon. So they asked if I would be interested. And I, I was like, sure, that'd be great. That sounds cool. And so what I didn't realize is that they then put me on the spot and said, can you please explain baseball to the kids? I found myself in this moment where my Spanish was. It was okay, but it was kind of limited to like, what is the reason for your visitors? Unidos.

06:37

Dave Almy

And so you had to tap into a whole new Spanish strikes balls, like.

06:44

Travis Murphy

Strikes, only on the first two strikes, but then if you foul on the third strike, you have to sw. I, I. I quickly buried myself and just like a palpable look of confusion across.

06:54

Dave Almy

Thank God they didn't send footballs. Try to explain that one dirt down.

06:59

Travis Murphy

But yeah, I struggle with that in English to my kids today.

07:03

Dave Almy

I know, right? Well, the reason is, see, yeah.

07:06

Travis Murphy

And so, but, but it was that moment, you know, because there was. It was. So it's just like, okay, I'm. I'm done here. I'm cooked. I've lost these kids. But you open the box and there's these balls inside and it's like, you know, the white ball, the leather with the red stitching, and then it's just like beckon to a girl and then you throw her the ball and she catches it. And just like that instinct Connection. Aha. That's in. That, to me, is like, so. So it's such a great way to illustrate what sports does, what it is to us as a global society, and the way that a connection can happen in a. In a millisecond. The moment you kick, you throw, you toss a ball to someone, suddenly you're engaged, a bridge is built, and you're.

07:48

Travis Murphy

You're working together to create something beautiful.

07:50

Dave Almy

And language almost becomes irrelevant at that point. Right.

07:53

Travis Murphy

Because there is religion, race, politics, any of it. Right.

07:56

Dave Almy

You can.

07:56

Travis Murphy

You can. It really transcends so many of those things that divide us.

08:00

Dave Almy

There's really not that many things can actually, do you think, music, potentially, but everybody's kind of got their own sort of. I kind of like that, and I don't like that. So it can be a little bit. But sports, everybody's caught something, everybody's thrown something. It does create that sort of universal language. And so you're in. You have that experience. Did you start pursuing the sports diplomacy division, or is it something that happenstance kind of ended up taking you that way?

08:27

Travis Murphy

A little bit of both. I was certainly interested and was fortunate enough to get a role in that office. So I was in Ecuador, Suriname, both in South America, then in Cote d'ivoire for a number of years, serving as a spokesperson for the embassy, and then got the tour back in D.C. In sports diplomacy. And that was really where I saw kind of the. You know, because we would get proposals from embassies all over the world. There's 200 and I think 72 currently embassies and consulates. So we did a basketball program in Cambodia. We did a soccer program in China. You know, were. We were doing programs all over the world. And so any given day, you're like, okay, we got this one in Senegal, but also this one in Argentina. And so it was just.

09:08

Travis Murphy

Yeah, I think there I really started to understand the universality and just the global appreciation for the American sports landscape. And this is also in late. It was late in Obama's second term, and in that time, you know, they were. They were thawing relations with Cuba, and, you know, were they in there with good governance and rule of law and democracy and you need to do this way? No, they were in there with baseball. Right. And so being able to be there and to kind of see how baseball served as that portal through which they could have those conversations was just. It really brought it home.

09:42

Dave Almy

Yeah, it's interesting. Sometimes it's hard when you look at something like, why are we Spending, you know, a tax dollars on baseball in Cuba. But it's because it's a means to an end.

09:52

Travis Murphy

Right. It's not on the dollar, on the return we get in terms of relationship building.

09:57

Dave Almy

Yeah, absolutely. So you have this experience, you start to get a good sense of how sports work on an international scale. The power of the soft power associated with them, the bridge building that goes on between cultures that you don't even have to like. We talked about speak the language, but you'd been all government to this point. They're working for the US Government, been working for representatives in different embassies around the world for the State Department. At what point did the NBA get on your radar screen?

10:28

Travis Murphy

So it was really through that office. We actually, speaking of Cuba, we did a program where I helped lead that sent Shaquille O'Neill to Cuba. And you know, that sounds like a mad lib, I realize that, but.

10:43

Dave Almy

Yeah, it does.

10:45

Travis Murphy

But he spent an amazing couple of days in Havana and the outlying areas. And just, you know, it was. It was Shaq doing Shaq things. It's funny because a reporter went with him and at one point asked him during the trip just like, why did you do this? And he's like, oh, Obama called and asked me to go. Which is not true at all, but that's okay, right?

11:06

Dave Almy

In Shaq's world, it probably did happen.

11:11

Travis Murphy

ty. So I came into the NBA in: 2016

11:54

Travis Murphy

And, you know, the list of kids who went through that program who are now in or previously, you know, played in the NBA is a very long list.

12:04

Dave Almy

Yeah.

12:05

Travis Murphy

And so it was just. And obviously, you know, that was the time that Antetokounmpo was coming up and Joel Embiid and, you know, shortly after I got there, Doncic was drafted, Jokic was in. So it was like all of these international guys that we now see are the MVP winners Year after year, the face of the NBA right there. Yeah.

12:23

Dave Almy

Was it hard to go from working for a monolithic enterprise like the US Government to something that, frankly, is comparatively small like the NBA? Did you have to relearn anything about how to work, what that environment was going to be like? Someone who was used to working in government?

12:43

Travis Murphy

ause when I got to the NBA in: 2016

13:28

Travis Murphy

And it was really valuable, I think, to kind of be a bridge between NBA, one of the most global, if not the most global American sports league, and the State Department to understand, okay, what are the needs of an evolving NBA globally and what is it the State Department can do to help, and vice versa. So really working on building out that relationship a little bit more, I want.

13:50

Dave Almy

You to, if you could peel back the curtain a little bit on the process that goes into, you know, quote, unquote, internationalizing the NBA. Right. Because, you know, clearly, as we just discussed, it's become a much more international league. Like, the players you just reeled off are now sort of the face of the NBA, all of which are international plants. Something like six of the last MVPs have all been international players.

14:16

Travis Murphy

Yep.

14:16

Dave Almy

But it's not just as simple as, oh, I'm going to draft a Serbian player and he's going to come over, hop on a plane, and now he's in the NBA. So can you talk about kind of what goes into that as the. In your role as the NBA does look and to expand upon, it's already pretty considerable international footprint?

14:36

Travis Murphy

Bohune. Kim joined the NBA in: 1990

15:20

Travis Murphy

And so I came in and worked under Kim and she is just a masterful global leader. And just her ability to work behind the scenes, build relationships is just, it really is stunning. And so, you know, it took. It's not anything like you said, it's not something. It's just about drafting this one player or, you know, there was these generational players. You think of Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, manage Nobley. The guys who came into the spurs, like, yes, those were, you know, Steve Nash, they were prominent international players. But all of those were kind of the foundation that built to where we are today. And you know, the NBA's doing. Been doing games internationally for more than 30 years. Just that, you know, now the NFL is obviously starting to adopt that model a little more.

16:10

Travis Murphy

But the NBA has been doing this for decades and it's just now you're starting to see the result of really a globalization of the Sport.

16:18

Dave Almy

So in: 2000

16:44

Travis Murphy

I am not an entrepreneur. I, I don't. I guess I, I am now, I guess. So. I don't consider myself one, I'll say it that way, but I did see an opportunity and you know, it really. So kind of two things. One, I would say the pandemic is where I, you know, I started getting calls from other sports leagues saying, you know, whether it was, you know, like they were wanting to hold the US Open or the different bubble sort of leagues that they were wanting to do in the United States. And we had to get players back from Europe or participants from other countries. So were working closely with DHS and the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State. And so that was really where it's like, there's really a need here for coordination across sports.

17:28

Dave Almy

Right.

17:29

Travis Murphy

Because while the NBA is, is, is a bit of a trailblazer and probably the gold standard, you know, NFL, mlb, mls, all these leagues are international in nature, but don't necessarily have that. That geopolitical component or background that I think is becoming increasingly important.

17:47

Dave Almy

So.

17:47

Travis Murphy

No.

17:48

Dave Almy

No playbook, per se.

17:49

Travis Murphy

That's right. That's right. So it was. It was. It was really that. And then I also was behind the scenes throughout the process of the negotiations around Brittney Griner being released from Russian prison. And. And again, that was kind of right place, right time. I had worked at the State Department. I worked at the NBA. I kind of knew the actors that were involved behind the scenes. And it really could serve as. As. As. As a collator in terms of bringing people together. But also just some of it was just being a translator, just like, okay, here's the perspective of a big major sports agency that represents this individual. Here's the perspective of the wnba, a global sports league and the NBA. Here's the perspective of the State Department, what they can and cannot do in this situation.

18:33

Travis Murphy

And so really, it was again, there that it just. Okay, I think there's something here that you could build upon.

18:40

Dave Almy

I want to talk about Brittney Griner for just. Just a minute because, like you just said, you played a key role in helping get her out of the Russian prison, which she had been in for. For 10 months. I feel like the majority of your job takes place in quiet areas, right? It's a lot of making sure this person is connected to this thing and these papers are filled out. Like, there's a lot of operational things that you need to consider, but it kind of happens behind the scene. The Brittney Griner's imprisonment was anything but behind the scenes. It played out very publicly. It was a geopolitical issue at the highest ends of it. So it played out really publicly. So for someone who I was more or less working in the. In the background, you're kind of thrust into something that's very public.

19:33

Dave Almy

Did it change your approach to diplomacy when it's played out that loudly?

19:42

Travis Murphy

Yeah, that's a good question. I mean, you know, the. The best diplomacy nobody hears about, right, that is what's done behind the scenes. You know, we. We've done our jobs properly. If nobody knows. I mean, not nobody knows, but, you know, we're. We're not in the public eye. You don't necessarily want to be thrust into that space because it does. It becomes a different environment for having sensitive conversations. And can your interlocutor, the person you're speaking to, trust that this won't also be leaked into the media? So, you know, I was very careful. You know, I can talk about it now as in the past tense, but at the time, you know, I certainly didn't speak to any media. And. And, you know, there were those that were responsible for that, and that was very much their job.

20:26

Travis Murphy

And, you know, had the outcome been different, perhaps it would be a very different story. It's. It's kind of easy to say, yeah, I was. I was. I played a small role in this because Brittany came home two weeks before Christmas. And as a true testament to her resilience, she was right back in the wnba, which is absolutely crazy to think about four months later. And, you know, I had a great outcome. And. And we got, you know, at the end of the day, she was an American citizen unlawfully detained abroad, and she. She made it home. And that, at the end of the day, is what's. What's really important.

20:58

Dave Almy

You've been talking a lot, not specifically to this point, but kind of. You can hear the threads of it throughout the conversation, the idea of negotiation. And, you know, everybody's life has so much of it going on, and it's happening so much. Obviously, we don't sometimes even realize that we're doing it. But that doesn't mean that people always look forward to a negotiation, whether it's, but I'd like two cookies instead of one, or going to the car dealership or your business or your personal relationships. So, as someone who has spent much of his life working in a negotiating session, I'm wondering how you could describe your approach to entering into that. Like, what skills do you bring to the table that you think. Think really serve you well in that particular regard?

21:53

Travis Murphy

That's. That's a really insightful question. I'm not. I've not thought of it that way. You know, I. I mean, I. I have to think that just. I know I keep going back to this idea, but when. When I. When I worked on Capitol Hill, I worked for a member of Congress who was very much of the mindset, the mentality that people had voted for him to serve in this capacity, and therefore, he had an obligation, you know, to do the best job that he could. And so certainly, as a young, impressionable Hill staffer, that. That really inspired me. And so I think that, you know, this is a different time on Capitol hill. This is 20 plus years ago at this point. And so, you know, there was a little bit more of a.

22:36

Travis Murphy

Of a sense of, like, okay, we have, yes, there's conservatives and there's liberals, but there's also a. You know, it's a spectrum. Right. There's a big middle ground here where you're more collegial. Yeah, yeah. Your moderate Republicans and your conservative Democrats can come together and then, you know, work. Work together holistically to figure they can battle during the day, but at night, kind of figure out what the best outcome is and reach solutions. And so I. I think seeing how that's evolved now and how it's so much less about negotiation and more about kind of the grandstanding, kind of bombast. Yeah, yeah, exactly. But. And then in the foreign service, you know, I was. I was working in really challenging environments, like being in Ecuador.

23:21

Travis Murphy

I was working in American citizen services and ended up having to work on a couple of different murder cases, which is. I'm a poli sci major. And you certainly had moments where I was just like, I don't. How what happened with my life in a hotel room because an American citizen had been you know, involved. Yeah. And so. And, you know, and you're at a disadvantage already because you're not a native speaker of the language. And so it just. It puts you in a position where you have to look at things from the other person's point of view.

23:53

Dave Almy

Bring a softball out of your pocket at that point.

23:55

Travis Murphy

I got nothing here. But yeah, so I think it's. It just, you know, putting. Putting me in really uncomfortable places. You got to figure out a way through that. Right. And kind of putting yourself in a position where it's like, okay, this is. I have nothing in common with these people, but I got to find out what that is and let's figure out how to get to. Get to.

24:17

Dave Almy

Yes, but isn't that the point? Right? It's.

24:20

Travis Murphy

That's diplomacy.

24:21

Dave Almy

That's diplomacy.

24:22

Travis Murphy

Right.

24:22

Dave Almy

It's all about finding out what other people's perspective are like, what. And you mentioned. You actually mentioned it earlier, too. It's like, okay, what is the NBA's position and whether they need to get out of this. What's. What's that sports agency's position or what do they need to get out of this so much? It's the simplest thing. It's almost embarrassing. I'm going to say this out loud, but I'm going to go ahead and do it anyway. It's like, literally that ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes to see their perspective is kind of integral to at least getting the negotiation off to a position where you understand what the outcome can be or at least have that destination in mind. You talked about Today we're kind of in a more polarized environment than when you were in.

25:00

Dave Almy

So those kinds of things can be a little bit more difficult. But it's kind of the root of where Jetter and you have to find success, isn't it?

25:08

Travis Murphy

Yeah, I think that's a really good way to circle back to this, is that, you know, and I'll kind of shift this to the landscape that I, I see, the opportunities that I see that lie before us as a country. You know, there, there's no shortage of things that divides us, whether that's politics, you know, or any number of views on issues of the day as a global society. But sports, as we've said from the top here, is something that really can bring us together. And we have such a unique position here in the United States with what's coming our way. It's happening. And so how we decide to collectively deal with and accommodate these coming events and what I'm referring to is the following lineup, which is not inclusive of every event because there is so much that's coming over the next decade.

25:56

Travis Murphy

ory. Two years after that, in: 2028

26:47

Travis Murphy

They're showing that we're a responsible, safe destination for people to travel to. But there's also just the role that sports can play, I think, in, in instilling positive messages. So much of that is intrinsic in there, right? You know, whether it's the, the kids in Ecuador or, you know, NBA players. It's, it's teamwork, it's respect for diversity, it's inclusion. I know these are buzzwords we're shying away from, but we need that if we are going to coexist on this planet together. And so I just, I think there's a real opportunity for us as a country, but we've got a lot of work to really embrace and take advantage of these opportunities.

27:29

Dave Almy

Yeah, I'm going to quote from the SBJ article you wrote right, on this very topic because you said at a government level, we are simply not prepared and the logistical challenges could prove disastrous for the United States. Now those, that's, those are big, bold, underscored words. So when you think about it from a practical standpoint, where are the concerns and what needs to be done to address them in your mind?

27:58

Travis Murphy

I increasingly am hearing, you know, so I'm based in Washington, D.C. And I, you know, I spend a lot of time with embassies, with government officials, and in meetings on these topics. And increasingly I'm hearing this kind of sentiment that like, well, you know, they'll happen. I mean, we'll get there.

28:14

Dave Almy

But.

28:14

Travis Murphy

And it's just like, well, that's fine if it's the family reunion this summer. That's, you know, like literally everybody who.

28:22

Dave Almy

Works in major events right now is just, literally fell out of their chair.

28:28

Travis Murphy

Unbelievable. And yeah, we're going to get there. You know, the clock will keep turning, the sun will set and rise, and we will arrive at the time in which these events are taking place. But that's different than planning and executing and really taking advantage of the full breadth of opportunities economically, culturally, that are, that are standing, that are right there in front of us. You know, I have long said that we need some form of individual or office that is a coordinating body at the federal level. We in a global, you know, looking globally, we are one of the few countries in the world that does not have a Ministry of sports. We do not have a cabinet level agency that has the convening power to bring together other agencies and say, hey, this is something we need to work on together.

29:15

Travis Murphy

Because what needs to happen right now is the Department of State, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Commerce, the National Security Council, a lot of different entities, DoD plays a role here, all need to come together and say, all right, here's our plan, here's what needs to be done, here's how we're doing it. And there's just not that coordinating individual or office that has the mandate to do that. And now, you know, when I wrote those words you quoted, that was a number of months ago, and unfortunately, my sentiment still is pretty much the same. I don't think we're any closer to really seeking resolution to the challenges that are out there and really proactively dealing with what's to come.

29:58

Dave Almy

I feel it's particularly robust, not just from the timing of the upcoming World cup, but also from the standpoint that we're co hosting it with Canada and Mexico to countries.

30:08

Travis Murphy

Frenemies, I think, is what I saw recently.

30:11

Dave Almy

I guess, frenemies, you know. But suffice to say, relations are not right, rosy right now between those three companies, because it's going to be interesting to see how that plays out. Which kind of leads to the final question I have for you, which is kind of following on that point, which is like, we're at this period where the US Seems to be undergoing a certain amount of retreat on the global stage. So I'm interesting, I'm interested as we wrap up, as a former State Department guy and someone who's literally founded a company, Jetter, that is focused on these ideas of diplomacy and using sports as soft power, I'm wondering if you have an idea on what's gained or lost by the seeming retreat from global investments in these kinds of programs.

31:03

Travis Murphy

global society that exists in: 2025

32:04

Travis Murphy

And it is nuanced in the way that, you know, our relationships with our family are nuanced. It just, it just is. But, you know, it's the same way you can say, you know what, my family's changed too much. I don't want to deal with them. I'm not speaking to any of them, and I'm going to charge them to come over to my house. Like you can do that. The fact that, you know, yes, you may be. Your rules have changed and how you engage, but you still do it because you're part of this Overarching family, and you want to be a part of that. And the whole family is served by everybody being together around the table on Thanksgiving. I haven't workshopped this analogy, so I'm not sure if it's completely apt.

32:41

Travis Murphy

I'm sure you could poke holes in it, but I'll tell you, we'll do it.

32:44

Dave Almy

We'll do a fan poll at the end of the podcast to see if that's. These words work.

32:48

Travis Murphy

s really just possible in. In: 2025

33:16

Dave Almy

A little counterintuitive in that regard. I'm with Travis Murphy. He is CEO of Jetter Global Sports and Entertainment. Travis, this is conversation that I feel like could go on and on, but unfortunately, we have things we have to get to, and the first and foremost of those is the lightning round. These are several questions that are going to come out of nowhere.

33:36

Travis Murphy

Okay.

33:36

Dave Almy

And your job is to answer them with the first thing that comes to your mind. Are you ready?

33:42

Travis Murphy

I am ready. I feel like you have to be like.

33:45

Dave Almy

I feel like your whole sort of career trajectory has prepared you for this moment in particular. Okay, first one.

33:52

Travis Murphy

Now.

33:52

Dave Almy

The Foreign Services officers test is notoriously challenging. What was one question that made you think, come on. I mean, that's just not fair.

34:06

Travis Murphy

There is a written exam, and then there is an essay question portion that has to be submitted. And then the third component is an oral exam. I know this isn't a lightning answer, but the oral exam is bringing everybody together in Washington, D.C. Complete strangers. You're then thrust into a room and handed a piece of paper that says you're the Department of Agriculture and you're at the country all hands meeting at a country team. You have to advocate for your priorities, and $80,000 worth of funding is necessary. But seven other agencies are competing for this funding. Go.

34:39

Dave Almy

I just broke out in a sweat even thinking about that. That is hardcore. Okay. Like I said, it's notoriously challenging. All right. You served in places like Cote d'ivoire, Suriname, Ecuador. What was the best food you had?

34:58

Travis Murphy

I. You know, we. We talked about the mountains earlier. I did a lot of mountaineering, a lot of hiking in Ecuador summited two peaks. I have done Kilimanjaro, but two peaks higher than Kilimanjaro in Ecuador. You are not in Kansas anymore, Chimborazo. And any food coming off a mountain where you're at 19,000ft is the best meal. But Ecuador had this eloquo was like this potato soup, warm. Coming off the mountain.

35:26

Dave Almy

Coming off the mountain.

35:27

Travis Murphy

Yeah. I don't ever want to go back and have it again because I just. My memories of it are so great.

35:32

Dave Almy

Just leave it alone. Just leave it alone. You can't go home again. Types off Okay. I recently got a speeding ticket driving in Italy. Can you help me get out of it?

35:41

Travis Murphy

Diplomacy at its finest. I got a guy.

35:43

Dave Almy

You got a guy. This guy. Got a guy is another one. Okay, last one. You're fluent in French and Spanish. Please pick one and say, my goodness, what an enjoyable podcast interview this has been.

36:07

Travis Murphy

Opportunity.

36:09

Dave Almy

Okay, so I'm gonna have to go back to Google Translate and see what you actually said, but Travis Murphy, really appreciate the time. Thanks so much.

36:16

Travis Murphy

David, thanks so much for the opportunity. This was great.