Episode Details

CrossPolitic 1v1 — Show Notes: Andrew Capshew, CEO of Red Balloon

On this episode of CrossPolitic 101, the Waterboy sits down with Andrew Capshew, CEO of Red Balloon, to talk about what happens when merit replaces DEI in hiring — inside corporations, inside the military, and now inside the U.S. Department of State. Andrew breaks down Red Balloon's acquisition of MilitaryHire.com, their new contract as the official recruiting arm for Foreign Service Officers, and why getting 500 to 1,000 cleared patriots into the State Department could have a generational impact on America and the world. Plus: why you should consider taking the Foreign Service Officer Test — and how classical education might be exactly the preparation you need.

Timestamps

00:00 — Intro & sponsors — Classical Conversations and Red Balloon Recruiter

02:22 — Red Balloon acquires MilitaryHire.com — why veterans keep getting rejected by AI gatekeepers

04:01 — Humans are made in the image of God — why AI shouldn't make hiring decisions

05:16 — New contracts: ICE, Border Patrol, and now the U.S. Department of State

06:53 — Rubio's State Department: less than 10% voted for Trump, DEI recruiting, and the house cleaning

09:37 — What a Foreign Service Officer actually does — and why it's one of the most influential jobs in government

11:41 — Why Christians should be applying: language intensives, global assignments, family-friendly benefits

13:31 — The FSO Test: 1–3% pass rate, how it works, and how to practice without burning your shot

15:40 — 17 specialist tracks for those who don't pass the general test

17:32 — What's next for Red Balloon — VA contract, new DC projects, and moving into the CrossPolitic building

Connect with Andrew Capshew

Company: Red Balloon

Website: redballoon.work

Military Hiring: militaryhire.com

FSO Recruiting: Department of State via MilitaryHire — link in show description

Fight Laugh Feast 2026: Holy Wars

Join us October 1–3 in Franklin, Tennessee at The Factory in Franklin for the Fight Laugh Feast Conference. This year's theme is Holy Wars — Just War, the Crusades, and the Christian Life. Featuring Doug Wilson, Joe Boot, George Grant, Jared Longshore, Joe Rigney, Ben Merkel, and the CrossPolitic crew. Early Bird pricing ends July 1st — nearly halfway sold out.

Tickets: https://tickets.flfnetwork.com/holy-wars-conference

This Episode's Sponsors

Classical Conversations

Homeschooling with a classical Christian model that teaches students how to learn and think — not just what to memorize. Join over 50,000 families in 60 countries who have chosen Classical Conversations.

Website: classicalconversations.com/flf

Red Balloon Recruiter

The right employee can grow your business by 5, 10, or even 25%. Red Balloon's personalized source-and-screen process connects business owners with top talent — increasing revenue and reducing