Model United Nations Podcast by Best Delegate

In this episode, Ryan continues his interview with Felix Knoebel (@FelixKnoebel), a MUN Mentor at Best Delegate's Model United Nations Institute and the former Head Delegate of Cornell's Model UN Team. Ryan and Felix discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion at Model UN conferences. They examine Model UN's past as a privileged activity, where students and schools with financial means could travel to multi-day, hotel-based Model UN c...

Felix Knoebel (@FelixKnoebel) is a 23-year old from Sarasota, FL, who's been involved in Model UN for 10+ years, including serving as Head Delegate of Cornell's Model UN Team and Secretary-General of the Cornell International Affairs Conference. Felix is also one of the most fun and engaging Mentors we've had at Best Delegate's Model United Nations Institute!

In this episode, we talk about how Felix got started in Model UN as a hig...

Caucusing, lobbying, informal consultations -- what's the difference? Well, it depends on where you do Model United Nations: the United States, Europe, or the real United Nations.

Ryan concludes his interview with John Remmell, the MUN Director at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, by discussing:

• The different styles of Model UN around the world
• How Model UN differs from the real UN
• A conference that Best Delegate helped...

Most Model UN conferences in the United States give out awards. Most MUN conferences internationally do not. In SoCal's competitive high school MUN circuit, students receive extra credit for winning awards. Should we have awards in Model United Nations? In this episode, Ryan continues his interview with John Remmell, the MUN Director at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, by debating the hotly contested subject of whether we shou...

In this episode, Ryan continues his interview with John Remmell (@munsm), the MUN Director at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Ryan and John talk about SOCOMUN, Santa Margarita's one-day MUN conference every September that is attended by 1,400+ students a year. SOCOMUN is the first MUN conference of the year -- and their first MUN conference, period -- for many students in Southern California.

Ryan also asks John why he contin...

John Remmell (@munsm) is a social studies teacher and the MUN Director at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Orange County, California. They host SOCOMUN every September, which is the first MUN conference of the year for many students in Southern California -- including Ryan! It was the first MUN conference he attended over 20 years ago as a high school freshman growing up in SoCal.

In this episode, Ryan and John talk about So...

In this episode, Ryan concludes his interview with Georgina (Geo) by discussing gender imbalances at Model UN conferences. Geo shares her experience going into committees with way more boys than girls, especially military-themed committees, and the challenges she encounters. Ryan and Geo describe what MUN conferences are doing to be more inclusive.

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The Model United Nations Podcast is brought to you by Best Delegate -- ...

In this episode, Georgina (Geo) shares her experiences teaching Model UN after she graduates from Georgetown University. She teaches Model UN in India with a company called Worldview Education and their "MUN for India" initiative. Afterwards, Geo joins the Peace Corps, where she's stationed in Thailand and starts teaching Model UN to local students there -- until the 2020 covid pandemic begins, and she promptly returns stateside. B...

Georgina Kenchington, affectionately known by her students as "Geo," is a 26-year old from New York City who has participated in Model UN for over 12 years. She graduated from Georgetown University, where she was Head Delegate. She's currently studying international education at New York University. And she's a Mentor for Best Delegate's Model United Nations Institute.

In this episode, Ryan asks Geo how she got started in Model UN,...

Miles shares his experience attending Best Delegate's Model United Nations Institute summer programs, including what he learned from his MUN Mentors, and how the MUN Institute helped him grow as a student and as a person. At the end of the interview, Ryan pulls up an essay that Miles wrote as a 13-year old high school freshman, about how Model UN inspires him to change the world.

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The Model United Nations Podcast is bro...

In this episode, Ryan continues his interview with Miles, who shares his experience attending his first Model UN conference and delivering his first speech. Miles feels the fear of public speaking -- but after giving his speech, realizes that public speaking is not so bad. Miles dedicates himself to improving at Model UN -- and ends up winning an award at one of the biggest Model UN conferences in the United States.

If you're new t...

Miles Nabritt is a 23-year old young professional from Booklyn, New York. Miles started doing Model UN in high school, and he attended Best Delegate's Model United Nations Institute summer programs for 3 years. He went Bates College, where he led their Model UN program, and this past summer, Miles came back to the Model United Nations Institute as a MUN Mentor.

In this episode, Ryan asks Miles, "What convinced you to join your high...

Ryan concludes his interview with Natalie by asking her, "What are your favorite topics in Model UN? And is that something you're interested in studying in college, or pursuing a career in?" Ryan is mind-blown by Natalie's answer, which weaves together nuclear weapons, economics, the Prisoner's Dilemma, and impact investing.

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The podcast is brought to you by Best Delegate -- we make it easy to learn Model United Nations! Start y...

Ryan continues his interview with Natalie, asking her, "What's the biggest challenge you've faced so far in Model UN?" Natalie shares her story of competing at NAIMUN, the Model UN conference hosted by Georgetown University. Natalie works really hard to win the top award - Best Delegate - but not everything goes as planned. Ryan prompts her to reflect on what she learned from the experience, and what it means to really win in Model...

Natalie is a high school junior and the founder of MiniMUN, a Model UN program for elementary school students. In this episode, Natalie shares how she got started in Model UN despite being extremely shy, and why she was inspired to partner with her local elementary school, start MiniMUN, and teach students as young as the 2nd grade.

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The podcast is brought to you by Best Delegate -- we make it easy to learn Model United Nations!...

Welcome to the Model United Nations Podcast by Best Delegate! I'm your host, Ryan Villanueva, and my job is to show you how Model United Nations brings out the best in students around the world.

Every week, I ask students, teachers, and parents to share how they got started in Model UN -- why they do Model UN --  and how Model UN inspires them to make a difference in their lives and in their communities.

Whether you are new to...