In episode #10 of Roots of Humanity, Drew and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. put this small island nation on the map. But there is nothing small about the culture here, which traces all the way back to BC times, followed by Spanish imperialism in the 1500s and culminating in the Second World War. With a vibrant indigenous soul, and a politics of the future, Palau is soon to be one of the world’s top tourist destinations, and it’s already starting its recovery after COVID. Drew asks Surangel what it’s like to be President, and what are the big issues Palauans face today. Climate change is at the center of this podcast, because it is at the center of Palau. Help Palau, help the world, is the President’s message, as he strives to preserve Palauan culture and language on top of coral reefs. The ocean is the engine that drives the economy, so let’s dive into it and find out why this freely associated state of America is the new land of opportunity.