Diplomat Colin Leeman on Foreign Service, Travelling the World & Coming Out

Diplomat Colin Leeman on Foreign Service, Travelling the World & Coming Out

Author: Matthew Thompson October 2, 2023 Duration: 56:45

Colin Leeman is the British Consul General in Cape Town. Over the last twenty years in the British Foreign Service, he’s had postings to Iraq, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, the UAE, New Zealand — and now South Africa.

In today’s episode we talk about:

  • What a Consul General actually does/the perks of being a Foreign Diplomat
  • Rescuing Emma Little-Pengelly MLA from a kidnapping
  • Going from wanting to be a presbyterian minister to working for the British Government
  • Coming out as gay (and what it meant to him both personally & professionally)
  • His time in Iraq during the aftermath of the war
  • Helping thousands of British tourists escape New Zealand during the COVID lockdowns
  • Why he didn’t go to a barber for 19-years
  • How he’s seen Northern Ireland change over the years
  • Building community and relationships with people around the world
  • And advice he’d give to an 18-year-old version of himself

Check it out!

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https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/colin-leeman

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There's a deeper, richer narrative woven into the fabric of Northern Ireland, and Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast is where you'll hear it. Host Matthew Thompson sits down each week with the remarkable individuals who are shaping this place, moving the conversation far beyond familiar headlines. This isn't about nostalgia or simplified history; it's a living, breathing collection of over three hundred conversations that reveal the true pulse of the city and its people. You'll find a genuine connection here, a break from the noise, as you listen to stories from an astonishingly diverse range of voices. From NASA scientists and Oscar-winning artists to billion-dollar founders and nonagenarian athletes pounding the pavement at local park runs, the guest list is as unpredictable as it is inspiring. Tuning into this podcast feels like pulling up a chair in a Belfast pub for a fascinating chat you won't find anywhere else. It’s an ongoing exploration of society, culture, and place, dedicated entirely to the incredible things happening right now, hosted by someone who knows that the best stories are always told by the people who live them.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Best Of Belfast: Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast
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