On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Shane Townsend, a storyteller, diplomat, and lifelong public servant whose career has been guided by a deep commitment to helping others. His advice? Write down what you truly want, not what others expect of you. Then go after it with intention.

Shane says he feels most alive when he's listening to or sharing stories—and he's built a career doing exactly that. Growing up in a close-knit community that valued storytelling and mutual support, Shane developed strong values that carried him into college, where studying anthropology gave him a powerful lens for understanding how culture shapes everything we do. More importantly, it connected him with a mentor who helped him turn those values into action.

Shane has held a wide range of roles—from Peace Corps volunteer to Foreign Agricultural Service Officer. In the Peace Corps, he received intensive language and cultural training that prepared him to live and work in communities around the world, building lifelong friendships and learning to adapt with care. As a Foreign Service Officer with the USDA, Shane listens to the needs of communities abroad and works to match local challenges with U.S. policy solutions—guided always by the stories people share.

Tune in to hear how anthropology, storytelling, and a heart for service shaped Shane’s global journey.