Finding Direction Without a Map

Jan 14, 2026

Some people move through life by following a plan. Others move forward by paying attention to what holds their interest.

 

Today’s guest, David Litt, spent more than three decades in the U.S. Foreign Service, working and living around the world. Along the way, he built a life shaped by language, learning, and a deep interest in how people and cultures function.

 

After retiring from government service, David didn’t step away from engagement. Instead, he found new ways to teach, mentor, and share what he’s learned, proving that purpose doesn’t end when a career does.

 

In this episode, we covered:

 

• What first drew David toward languages and life abroad
  
  
• How curiosity shaped his path into the Foreign Service
  
  
• The realities of representing the U.S. in unfamiliar places
  
  
• One early experience that changed how he viewed diplomacy
  
  
• Why teaching became a natural next chapter after retirement
  
  
• David’s advice for staying intellectually engaged later in life