The Strategerist

Sep 21, 2026

Inside Air Force One: Reggie Dickson

Sep 8, 2026

Chris Meek: Telling the stories of "The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11"

Sep 2, 2026

The voice behind the podium: Ari Fleischer

Jul 30, 2026

Sara Armstrong: From the East Wing to the boardroom

Jul 14, 2026

Never stop serving: JoAnne Bass, 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force

Jul 8, 2026

Answering the call to public service with Rear Admiral John Kirby

Jun 16, 2026

Inside the lives of the world's greatest innovators with Walter Isaacson

Jun 3, 2026

Governor George Pataki and Allison Pataki: Public service, family, and leadership

May 27, 2026

Interfaith America’s Eboo Patel on pluralism in the United States

May 20, 2026

Purple State with Dana Perino

May 14, 2026

Kristen Silverberg: Business, Policy, and the U.S. Economy

May 5, 2026

‘Squeeze the Day’ with Momentous Institute’s Dr. Jessica Gomez

Apr 29, 2026

Texan by Nature with Joni Carswell

Apr 23, 2026

America's Best Idea – Jeff Reinbold of the National Park Foundation

Apr 3, 2026

Strategerist After Hours: Practicing pluralism

Mar 26, 2026

Dr. Victor Cha on China's Weaponization of Trade

Mar 19, 2026

Rick Atkinson: Perspective and History

Feb 27, 2026

Dirk Nowitzki: Dallas, Dedication, and Determination

Dec 19, 2025

Education accountability and innovation: Dr. Katie Jenner on Indiana’s success

Dec 9, 2025

Memories from the East Wing: Dori Thornton Waller & Susan Whitson

Dec 2, 2025

Jim Hake: The Spirit of America at home and abroad

Nov 25, 2025

Strategerist After Hours: Gratitude in a season of gathering

Nov 14, 2025

Dr. Marc Siegel — The miracles among us

Nov 10, 2025

Veterans Day 2025

We sit down with Leslie Zimmerman, Brian Flom, and Josh Stanwitz to hear about their experience as veterans and mountain biking with President Bush.

Nov 7, 2025

Stability and Education for Military Kids — Lisa and Francis Molinari

Oct 28, 2025

How North Korea’s “Zero Covid” Plan Backfired — Katrin Katz

Oct 16, 2025

The big impact of Little League: Patrick Wilson and Jim Wilkinson

Oct 9, 2025

Joe Buck: Family, Broadcasting, and the Power of Sports

Sep 26, 2025

Bob Costas: Beyond the broadcast

Sep 19, 2025

Vice President Mike Pence

Sep 15, 2025

Rushan Abbas — A Uyghur’s Fight for Freedom

Sep 3, 2025

Monica Paul on Making Dallas a Sports Capital

Aug 15, 2025

Texas de Brazil’s Salim Asrawi — Living the American Dream

Jul 16, 2025

Shawn VanDiver — Standing Beside Our Afghan Allies

Jun 27, 2025

Jessica Yellin — Independent Journalism

Jun 17, 2025

Rear Admiral Michael Giorgione, CEC, USN (Ret.) — Camp David and Beyond: From Military to Civilian Leadership

Jun 12, 2025

Blayne Smith — Perseverance, Endurance, and the Special Forces

Jun 11, 2025

Bringing Awareness to PEPFAR’s Life-saving Work Featuring Jenny Dyer and Charlie Peacock

Jun 9, 2025

Data Driven — Dr. Susan Urahn, President and CEO of Pew Charitable Trusts

Jun 6, 2025

Continuing the Legacy of Alexis de Tocqueville — Featuring Stéphanie and Jean–Guillaume de Tocqueville

Jun 2, 2025

Dr. R. Gerald Turner -- Shaping SMU's Legacy

May 8, 2025

Damon Wilson — National Endowment for Democracy President and CEO

Apr 22, 2025

Colonel Edna Cummings & Milauna Jackson — Advocating for “The Six Triple Eight”

Apr 22, 2025

Veteran Leadership Program’s Dennis Miller — Service and Story: Upholding the 6888 Legacy

Apr 21, 2025

Robert Edsel -- Remembering Our Fallen Service Members from WWII to Modern Times

Apr 10, 2025

SMU's Dr. Jeffrey Engel -- Insights into Presidential History

Mar 25, 2025

Captain Flo Groberg -- Leadership Lessons with a Medal of Honor Recipient

Mar 18, 2025

Chuck Todd -- Local Journalism and the State of News in 2025

Chuck Todd is an Emmy award-winning journalist while NBC’s Chief Political Analyst and former moderator for Meet the Press, which he stepped away from in September 2023. Although he stepped away from the moderator’s chair, he still covers politics this his podcast, "The Chuck Toddcast."

Mar 13, 2025

Jared Cohen — From Presidential History to Technology

Jared Cohen is a modern renaissance man as a businessman and presidential historian. He’s written several books for adults and children, the latest being “Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House.” Jared has served in the Bush and Obama Administrations on the Secretary of State policy planning staff; he was Google’s first Director of Ideas and Chief advisor to Google CEO Eric Schmidt; and he currently serves as the President of Global Affairs and co-head of the Goldman Sachs Global Institute at Goldman.

Mar 12, 2025

James D. Rodriguez -- Former Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training Service

Mar 5, 2025

Natalia Arno -- Fighting for a Democratic Russia

Natalia Arno is the founder and President of the Free Russia Foundation

Feb 27, 2025

Larry D. Thompson -- The Quiet Counsel

Larry D. Thompson is the John A. Sibley Chair of Corporate and Business Law at the University of Georgia School of Law

Feb 21, 2025

Ambassador Nicole Avant -- Think You'll Be Happy

Ambassador Nicole Avant is a critically acclaimed producer of the Netflix film The Six Triple Eight, bestselling author of Think You’ll Be Happy, and former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas under President Obama.

Jan 21, 2025

Mike Morath -- Texas Education Commissioner

As Commissioner of Education for the State of Texas, Mike Morath is ultimately responsible for the system that works to ensure a prosperous life for millions of kids every year. His path to the commissioner’s office started non-tradtionally as a tech entrepreneur, but is grounded in a passion for the development of the kids of Texas.

Dec 6, 2024

Madame President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf -- Africa's Iron Lady

Madame President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a true trailblazer — she served as the president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018 and was the first elected female head of state in Africa. And now she’s dedicated to helping other women ascend to leadership roles through her work at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development.

Nov 7, 2024

Mary Tobin -- Building a More Perfect Union

Mary Tobin is the Director of Brickyard Chapters and Programs for nonprofit More Perfect Union, which aims to bring people together through social connection, service, and civic engagement events in order to build stronger and more resilient communities.

Oct 31, 2024

Rena Pederson -- A Trailblazer in Journalism

Rena Pederson is a true trailblazer in journalism. During her storied career, she interviewed five U.S. presidents and countless history makers including Margaret Thatcher and Fidel Castro. Texas Monthly described her as one of the most powerful women in Texas during her time serving as vice president and editorial page editor at The Dallas Morning News.

Oct 26, 2024

Vladimir and Evgenia Kara-Murza -- Their Struggle for Freedom and Fight for Democracy in Russia

Oct 10, 2024

Ambassador John J. Sullivan -- Lessons Learned as a U.S. Diplomat in Moscow

Sep 27, 2024

John Blake -- Texas Rangers Baseball Executive and Bush Center Docent

John Blake is not only the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the 2023 world champion Texas Rangers, but he is also a docent at the George W. Bush Presidential Museum, where he has volunteered since the museum opened its doors in 2013.

Sep 20, 2024

How to Support Freedom in North Korea & Advocate for Escapees -- Expert Roundtable

The North Korean regime is one of the most brutal on Earth. Executions, torture, and arbitrary detention are commonplace. Many lose their lives attempting to escape. For those who do make it out of the hermit kingdom, many difficulties remain.

Sep 6, 2024

Robert “Navy Bob” Roncska -- From the Nuclear Football to Nuclear Submarines

During Dr. Robert Roncska’s impressive 28-year career in the Navy, he commanded a nuclear-powered submarine, led the largest submarine squadron in the U.S. fleet, and even carried the nuclear football for President George W. Bush, who affectionately named him “Navy Bob.”

Aug 30, 2024

Cullum Clark -- Innovation, Opportunity, and Economic Growth

Aug 13, 2024

Penelope Muse Abernathy -- The State of Local News

Jul 25, 2024

Pashtana Durrani -- Educating Afghan Girls Despite Taliban Rule

Pashtana Durrani is an Afghan feminist, activist, and educator. She founded Afghanistan’s first-ever digital school network, LEARN Afghanistan, and is still providing education for hundreds of girls in the country today despite being exiled after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

Jul 10, 2024

Ambassador Mark Green -- The Wilson Center, U.S. Foreign Aid, & Healthy Disagreement

Ambassador Mark Green serves as President, Director, and CEO of the Wilson Center — a nonpartisan organization that provides research, analysis, and independent scholarship on global affairs.

Jun 28, 2024

Brenda Ewing Snitzer -- Bush Institute Trailblazer Citation Recipient for The Stewpot

The Stewpot is a ministry that serves those in poverty or experiencing homelessness in Dallas. The organization was founded nearly 50 years ago and provides resources for basic survival needs as well as opportunities for the people they serve to start a new life.

Jun 18, 2024

Hannah Sklar -- Bush Institute Citation Recipient for Creamos

Creamos is a non-profit organization working to support the community surrounding Guatemala City’s garbage dump in achieving economic self-determination.

Jun 13, 2024

Thom Shanker -- The Role Journalists Play in the U.S. Military

Active duty military service members make up less than one percent of the U.S. adult population. For the other 99% of us, the actions and complexities of our nation’s Armed Forces can be hard to understand, which is why quality journalism on the military is essential.

Jun 6, 2024

Arthur Brooks -- The Science of Happiness

We all seek happiness, but few of us know the science behind it. Author, Harvard professor, and philosopher of happiness Arthur Brooks is changing that through his insights, teachings, and best-selling books on how we can all build happy lives.

May 30, 2024

Alice Albright -- 20 Years of the Millennium Challenge Corporation

2024 marks 20 years since the Millennium Challenge Corporation was signed into law by President George W. Bush. Since its inception, MCC has partnered with and invested in countries around the world that are committed to democracy and economic freedom.

May 23, 2024

Heather Morris -- Author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

When Heather Morris sat down with Holocaust survivor Lale Sokolov, she didn’t know what to expect. As she listened to his story, she knew that the world needed to hear his experiences of love and hope set in the midst of one of humankind’s worst moments.

May 16, 2024

Anita McBride & Gahl Hodges Burt -- Behind the Scenes of White House Events

Anita McBride, who served as chief of staff to Mrs. Laura Bush during her time as first lady, and Gahl Hodges Burt, who served as social secretary for President and Mrs. Reagan, recently visited Dallas for an Engage at the Bush Center event presented by Nexpoint.

May 16, 2024

Thomas Jefferson & Kurt Smith -- Lessons From Our Nation's Third President

Thomas Jefferson made a lasting impact on our country as the third president of the United States and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. He recently visited Texas and joined host Andrew Kaufmann, the Bush Institute’s Jason Galui, and students from Walnut Grove High School to discuss the birth of our nation, the lessons we can learn from our Founding Fathers, and his thoughts on the future of the United States.

May 3, 2024

Steve Ballmer -- Accountability, Democracy, and USA Facts

When Steve Ballmer retired from Microsoft after a long and storied career, he realized that he didn’t know exactly how and where U.S. tax dollars got spent. And it wasn’t as easy to find as he had hoped. So he set out to solve the problem — and founded USA Facts, which consolidates available data and makes it accessible to citizens.

Apr 24, 2024

David French -- On polarization, purpose, and America's future

David French is a writer and columnist for The New York Times – informed by a career that began as a litigator, turned to the Army as a JAG officer and then Bronze Star awardee after volunteering to deploy to Iraq as part of the Surge, and finally to journalism.

Apr 3, 2024

Amy Zantzinger & Jeremy Bernard -- White House Social Secretaries

Former White House Social Secretaries from multiple administrations recently traveled to Dallas for a special Engage at the Bush Center, presented by NexPoint event.

Mar 21, 2024

Chuck Salter -- News Literacy Project

Chuck Salter is the president and CEO of the News Literacy Project, an organization that’s on a mission to create better informed, more engaged, and more empowered individuals — and ultimately a stronger democracy.

Mar 13, 2024

Valerie Jarrett -- How Presidential Centers are Working Together to Affirm Democracy

Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, joined Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute David J. Kramer and host Andrew Kaufmann to discuss the collaboration between the Bush Center, the Obama Foundation, and 11 other presidential centers to affirm the principles of democracy.

Feb 23, 2024

Alexandra Hudson -- The Soul of Civility

Feb 14, 2024

Governor Spencer Cox -- How to Disagree Better

Governor Spencer Cox currently serves as the 18th governor of Utah and as chair of the National Governor’s Association, where he launched the Disagree Better initiative.

Feb 1, 2024

Democracy, Authoritarianism, and Foreign Affairs -- After Hours Roundtable

Three George W. Bush Institute experts gathered for a thought-provoking discussion on the state of democracy – both here at home and abroad.

Dec 21, 2023

Ambassador Michael Froman -- Trade, Globalism, and the U.S.-China relationship

Ambassador Michael Froman served as United States trade representative under President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017. Today, he’s the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan organization and think tank that aims to help leaders and citizens better understand the world and the foreign policy decisions facing the U.S. and other countries.

Dec 14, 2023

General David Petraeus — Conflict, Leadership, and Military Service

General David Petraeus rose the ranks to four-star general in the U.S. Army and led the CIA during his four-decade career in public service.

Dec 7, 2023

Tim Strong -- Opportunity International

Tim Strong is the head of agriculture finance for Opportunity International, a global nonprofit organization that uses financial services, training, and support to address some of the most pressing challenges facing those living in poverty around the world.

Dec 1, 2023

David Rubenstein -- The Importance of Artifacts, Books, and Learning Our History

David Rubenstein is a philanthropist, lawyer, businessman, and avid historian. Items from his rare collection of U.S. artifacts – including the Emancipation Proclamation, the Federalist Papers, and original works from abolitionists – are on display in the George W. Bush Presidential Museum’s special exhibit, Freedom Matters.

Nov 14, 2023

Michael G. Vickers -- His Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy

Society has long had a fascination with spies. Michael G. Vickers is as close to this world as anyone, having served as a Green Beret, an operator in the CIA, and a national security policy maker during some of the most pivotal moments in recent U.S. history.

Nov 7, 2023

Daniel Lubetzky – KIND Snacks Founder Talks Pluralism, Immigration, and Magic

Daniel Lubetzky, founder and executive chairman of KIND Snacks, envisions a world with more kindness and empathy. As the son of a Holocaust survivor, Daniel strives to channel business and citizenry toward building bridges rather than conflict.

Oct 27, 2023

Martha Washington & Katharine Pittman -- The First First Lady and the Nation Builder Who Portrays Her

The George W. Bush Presidential Center recently welcomed a very special guest: the first first lady of the United States, Martha Washington.

Oct 20, 2023

Garry Kasparov -- Ukraine, Putin, and How Life Imitates Chess

Garry Kasparov is a democracy activist and Russian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion. He is the founder and chair of the Renew Democracy Initiative, a nonprofit with the goal of uniting Americans across the political spectrum in defense of democratic ideals.

Oct 12, 2023

Sebastien Lai & Jonathan Price -- Jimmy Lai’s Struggle for Freedom in Hong Kong

Sebastien Lai is a democracy advocate and son of jailed Hong Kong businessman and publisher Jimmy Lai. He and Jonathan Price, a member of Jimmy’s international legal team, joined the George W. Bush Institute while in Dallas raising awareness about why Jimmy is jailed.

Oct 5, 2023

The Catalyst Explores Solutions to Problems Around the Globe — After Hours Roundtable

Problems and pessimism tend to overwhelm the daily news cycle. What gets less attention are the incredible solutions governments and organizations have devised to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues.

Aug 18, 2023

Hector Rodriguez -- Esports Star H3CZ on Gaming and Entrepreneurship

Hector Rodriguez, known online as H3CZ, is the founder and CEO of OpTic Gaming, an organization that maintains some of the most competitive esports teams in the world. Through video games, Hector became part of an online community and built something unique — and is now living the American Dream.

Jul 28, 2023

Daron Babcock -- Bush Institute Trailblazer Award Recipient for Bonton Farms

Daron Babcock is the CEO of Bonton Farms, an organization that started as a small garden serving the food deserts in South Dallas that has grown into a movement working alongside residents to transform the community.

Jul 25, 2023

Dan Bartlett -- Walmart EVP on Communication, Collaboration, and His Time in the White House

Dan Bartlett is the executive vice president of corporate affairs at Walmart and longtime key advisor to President George W. Bush.

Jul 12, 2023

Meghan Ogilvie -- CEO of Dog Tag Inc. on Leadership, Service, and Baked Goods

Meghan Ogilvie is the CEO of Dog Tag Inc., a non-profit with the goal of empowering veterans with service-connected disabilities, military spouses, and caregivers to find renewed purpose and community through an unexpected combination: a bakery and a classroom.

Jun 30, 2023

Manu Meel -- CEO of BridgeUSA on Pluralism, Polarization, and How to Disagree

Manu Meel is the CEO of BridgeUSA, a nonprofit organization that creates spaces on high school and college campuses where students can have open discussions about political issues.

Jun 23, 2023

Dave Copps -- Artificial Intelligence, Innovation, and Electric Guitars

Dave Copps is the CEO and co-founder of Dallas-based technology company Worlds, where they’ve created an artificial intelligence platform for building the industrial metaverse. He joined the George W. Bush Institute in April at the Forum on Leadership, where he participated in a conversation on the co-evolution of humans and machines.

Jun 21, 2023

Ambassador Shin-wha Lee -- North Korea, Denuclearization, and Human Rights

Ambassador Shin-wha Lee serves as South Korea’s ambassador for international cooperation on North Korean human rights. In her role, she coordinates international efforts to improve human rights conditions in North Korea and raise global awareness about the inhumane conditions faced by North Koreans.

Jun 16, 2023

Emily Hanford -- Our Nation's Reading Crisis

Emily Hanford is a senior correspondent and producer for American Public Media and the 2023 George W. Bush Institute Citation recipient for her coverage of our Nation’s reading crisis.

Jun 9, 2023

Scott Carpenter -- Technology's Role in Freedom and Democracy

Scott Carpenter is the managing director of Jigsaw, a unit within Google that explores threats to open societies, and builds technology that inspires scalable solutions to these threats.

Jun 9, 2023

Secretary Elaine Chao -- Transportation, Technology, and Public Service

Secretary Elaine Chao immigrated to the U.S. when she was just eight years old without knowing any English -- and with hard work and determination, went on to lead a distinguished career in public service.

Jun 2, 2023

Florencia Velasco Fortner -- Bush Institute Trailblazer Citation recipient for The Concilio

May 19, 2023

Mary Badham -- Oscar-Nominated Scout Finch

May 12, 2023

Masih Alinejad -- 2023 Time Woman of the Year and Iranian Freedom Fighter

Apr 28, 2023

Senator Rob Portman -- Public Service, Compromise, and Haunted Hotels

Apr 21, 2023

Ken Hersh -- The Fastest Tortoise

Ken Hersh, Bush Center President and CEO, discusses how he has never been afraid to take a leap.

Apr 14, 2023

Sharon McMahon -- SharonSaysSo and History, Teaching, and the Way of the Governerd

Sharon explains her origin story and shares how she approaches the art of teaching -- and how everyone has a role to play in our democracy.

Mar 31, 2023

Fran Townsend -- Opportunity, Security, and the American Dream

She discusses national security issues past and present – from terrorism to TikTok – and shares how she has gotten to live the American dream.

Mar 17, 2023

From Army Ranger, to CEO, to Public Service -- David McCormick

David McCormick discusses his personal journey, policy, and lessons in leadership.

Mar 10, 2023

Stephen J. Hadley -- Behind the Scenes of the Bush/Obama Foreign Policy Hand-Off

Feb 23, 2023

David J. Kramer -- On Russia, Putin, Bush Institute Policy Briefs, and Texas

Executive Director of the Bush Institute David J. Kramer joins the Strategerist podcast to discuss the war in Ukraine, Bush Institute policy recommendations, and more.

Jan 30, 2023

Hadassah Lieberman -- Her Family's Holocaust Remembrance

Hadassah Lieberman shares the perspectives she’s learned through her life as a successful businessswoman, the wife of a U.S. Senator, and immigrant

Dec 27, 2022

Ruslana - Ukraine is Alive

The war in Ukraine was started when Putin invaded Ukraine – but it's the people in the country who suffer. Ukrainian artist and singer Ruslana shares her experiences in Ukraine and why she's fighting for her home.

Dec 12, 2022

The Afghan Dreamers Robotics Team -- Roya Mahboob and Somaya Faruqi

Oct 7, 2022

Amb. Dr. John Nkengasong -- Continuing the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

PEPFAR, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has been credited with saving millions of lives in Africa. But as the new head of PEPFAR, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, explains, the impact of PEPFAR extends even further beyond those who received lifesaving treatment.

Sep 21, 2022

College Affordability and Debt Forgiveness -- After Hours Roundtable

We go behind-the-scenes of a Bush Institute policy discussion as four of our experts tackle college affordability, public policy, and the topic that's the subject of water-cooler talk everywhere: college debt forgiveness.

Jul 27, 2022

Alex Gorsky -- Encouraging Innovation at Johnson & Johnson

Creating a culture of trust is critical at any company, especially one focused on innovation. Alex Gorsky, April and Jay Graham Fellow at the Bush Institute and Johnson & Johnson Executive Chairman, discusses how J&J's COVID vaccine came to be, why asking for forgiveness not permission is critical to innovation, and how his parents shaped him into the leader he is today.

Jun 14, 2022

Yuval Levin -- Strength Through America's Democracy

America is a diverse country. Diverse in many senses of the word – from race, to regionality, to religion, to political views, and all points in between. Dr. Yuval Levin, Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at AEI, explains that from the inception of our government to today, this diversity has been both the fundamental challenge to solve as well as its fundamental strength.

May 13, 2022

Gary Cohn -- Overcoming Obstacles, Taking Risks, and Growing From Failure

Gary Cohn, the 11th Director of the National Economic Council, former president and chief operating officer at Goldman Sachs, and current Vice-Chairman at IBM, struggled as a student because of dyslexia. But he tells us how the challenges he faced helped him learn about risk -- and how to not fear failure.

May 6, 2022

Dr. Deborah Birx -- Leading the Pandemic Response

In 2019, as Dr. Deborah Birx was preparing PEPFAR budgets, she was looking at rich county-by-county infectious disease data in sub-Saharan Africa when word began circulating of a novel virus that could threaten the globe. A few months later, as she moved into her role as White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, she was able to take the lessons she learned from years of experience in global health and brought them to the U.S. pandemic response.

Apr 1, 2022

Gyasi Chisley - Health, Health Care, and Equity

Gyasi Chisley, 25-year health care executive, discusses health, health care, and equity -- and how we can all work together to build better health care in underserved zip codes.

Feb 18, 2022

Governor Bill Haslam -- Passion, Compromise, and Finding Solutions

As Americans, we're passionate about our country and its policies. We all want this to be the best place to live. And we might feel strongly that our solution or idea is the best one, leading to frustration when others don't see things the same way. Bill Haslam, the Sammons Enterprises Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute, often had to make difficult decisions and tackle complex problems as Governor of Tennessee -- and reminds us that "sometimes, the other fella might be right."

Jan 21, 2022

David Beasley -- The Mission Against World Hunger

As the Nobel Peace Prize recipient for 2020, the United Nations World Food Programme provides desperately needed rations to every corner of the globe, no matter how dangerous the situation. Executive Director David Beasley leads the organization and shares what he has seen on the ground, why he won't give up the hope of eradicating hunger, and why we should all be united in joining him on the mission.

Dec 6, 2021

Andi Ball and Suzy Fields -- Christmas at the White House

Suzy Fields, an interior designer who volunteered at the White House, and Andi Ball, Chief of Staff to Mrs. Laura Bush in the White House, sat down with us to talk about the hard work -- and beauty -- that is Christmas at the White House.

Nov 8, 2021

Major Matt Zeller -- Repaying a Life Debt

While Major Matt Zeller was deployed to Afghanistan, an Afghan interpreter named Janis saved his life in combat. Years later, Matt is still committed to the Afghan people, working to help as many people like Janis and his family as he can.

Oct 30, 2021

Jay Nordlinger -- Around the World

As senior editor for The National Review, Jay Nordlinger writes on politics, foreign affairs, and a variety of other topics on his mind. We discuss one of his biggest passions: hearing -- and sharing -- the stories of the people around the world fighting for freedom and human rights in their countries. We also dive into a number of other topics, including the state of conservatism, space travel, and more.

Oct 18, 2021

Nina Rees -- Giving Parents School Choices

Nina Rees and her family immigrated to the United States from Iran in large part because of the American education system. Now the president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Nina discusses charter schools and the power of choice for parents in determining their children's educational path.

Oct 7, 2021

Amy Webb -- Teaching Children to Love Differences

Author Amy Webb discusses her family’s experiences that inspired her books, When Charley Met Emma and Awesomely Emma, which address important lessons of diversity and inclusion – as well as kindness toward people who are different.

Sep 10, 2021

Secretary Donald Evans -- Remembering 9/11

20 years ago, then-Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans watched the terrorist attacks of 9/11 unfold alongside the rest of a shocked Nation. He shares his recollections from that day, and the ensuing the days, of a government mobilized against an active threat -- including his experience as the "designated survivor" in the presidential line of succession.

Jul 30, 2021

Spence Geissinger -- Behind the Scenes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

In 2008, President George W. Bush traveled to Beijing, China to support the athletes representing the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games. Spence Geissinger headed up the operations and logistics planning for that trip. Spence takes us behind the scenes of the extensive planning, negotiating, and improvising that goes into essentially picking up the White House and placing it in a foreign country -- and shares memories from that remarkable trip.

Jul 20, 2021

Evan Smith -- The Non-Profit Newsroom

Evan Smith, founder and CEO of the non-profit Texas Tribune, believes strongly that providing information to voters is critical to a healthy democracy. We discuss the constantly evolving media landscape and how the Texas Tribune has adapted as a newsroom and a business.

Jun 8, 2021

Speaker Paul Ryan -- Finding Common Ground

Paul Ryan, the 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, takes us behind the scenes of Capitol Hill and into the Speaker's chair -- discussing leadership lessons, legislative accomplishments and disappointments, and finding common ground.

May 4, 2021

Joseph Kim -- From North Korea to the Bush Institute

Joseph Kim shares with us the incredible hardships of life in North Korea, how he was able to escape to the U.S., and how he stays optimistic through it all.

Apr 22, 2021

Dina Powell McCormick -- From Cairo to the White House

Dina Powell McCormick's immigrant journey began when her parents moved their family from Cairo, Egypt, to the United States when Dina was a child, hoping to ensure that their daughter would have opportunities that weren’t possible in their native country. The sacrifices that came with moving to a new land paid off: Dina's journey took her to the White House, where she was a trusted advisor to President George W. Bush – who painted her for his latest project, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.

Apr 14, 2021

Ambassador Derek Mitchell -- Burma's Past, Present, and Future

Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute and former Ambassador to Burma, joins us to talk about this inflection point in Burma’s history.

Apr 6, 2021

Angela Dominguez -- Sharing the Immigrant Experience with Children

Children’s book author Angela Dominguez was born in Mexico City but grew up in the United States. Her childhood was in many ways shaped by that blending of cultures. In Stella Diaz Has Something to Say, she created a story that shares the immigrant experience in a way that children can relate to.

Mar 30, 2021

Bob Kendrick -- Lessons from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, explains that even though segregation and racism forced the formation of the league, the story is ultimately one of triumph. And the lessons we can learn from those baseball players are very much applicable today.

Mar 23, 2021

#ThisIsOurShot -- Drs. Sunny Jha, Loren Robinson, and Jay Bhatt

Doctors Sunny Jha, Loren Robinson, and Jay Bhatt are on the front lines in their communities in the fight against COVID-19. But thanks to vaccines that are now available, they see a light at the end of the tunnel. They've witnessed first hand the pain caused by COVID-19, the progress we’ve made in a short amount of time, and the fear in patients as vaccine distribution ramps up. But, the science is clear: the vaccines are safe, and #ThisIsOurShot to bring the pandemic under control.

Mar 16, 2021

Marissa Castro Mikoy and Haley Coates-Huseman - Jubilee Park and Community Center

Jubilee Park and Community Center is using innovative, cohesive methods to try to gain equal opportunity for South Dallas residents. Marissa Castro Mikoy and Haley Coates-Huseman join the Strategerist to discuss the work Jubilee Park and Community Center is doing in its community.

Mar 8, 2021

Aya Chebbi - International Women's Day

As a 22-year old, Aya Chebbi’s voice was at the heart of the democratic revolution in Tunisia in Northern Africa. Now, 10 years later, she is still committed to fighting for human rights — including gender equity here on International Women’s Day.

Dec 22, 2020

Nicole Bibbins Sedaca - Democracy's Strength

Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, Bush Institute Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow, discusses the principles of our democracy and how we can all work to ensure its health.

Dec 22, 2020

Wendy Kopp - Teach for All

Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America and co-founder and CEO of Teach for All, discusses her passion for maximizing the potential of kids worldwide.

Dec 8, 2020

Renée DiResta - How Online Content Finds You

Renée DiResta, Research Manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory, explains how algorithms try to deliver content that you’ll find interesting and relevant — and how that leads to your online world looking very different from your neighbor’s online world.

Dec 1, 2020

Roda Ahmed - Inspiring Young Readers

In 2018, Roda Ahmed published Mae Among the Stars — the story of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel to space. In the short time since then, the book has inspired countless children and taught them to always follow their dreams.

Nov 17, 2020

J.D. Crouch -- The USO's Continued Mission

For 80 years, the USO has worked to connect service members to family and home. CEO J.D. Crouch discusses the ongoing work of serving our nation's warriors -- and how the organization with a global footprint is adapting to a global pandemic.

Nov 11, 2020

Melissa Stockwell -- From Wounded Warrior to World Champion

In this Veteran's Day episode, we talk to U.S. Army Second Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell -- the U.S. first female to lose a limb in combat and now Paralympic Games medalist -- about her journey representing America both before and after active duty.

Nov 3, 2020

Hannah Song -- Liberty in North Korea

Hannah Song, CEO of Liberty in North Korea, dreams of a day when all of the people of North Korea can enjoy freedom -- and is doing everything she can to make that come true, one individual at a time.

Oct 27, 2020

Mark Cuban and Daymond John -- Inspiring a New Generation of Entrepreneurs

Mark Cuban and Daymond John are inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs. They sat down to trade laughs, behind-the-scenes stories, and business insights -- including how to adjust in the covid economy -- during the season four debut of The Strategerist.

Jul 21, 2020

Hector Barreto - Entrepreneurship and Immigrants

Hector Barreto grew up in an entrepreneurial immigrant family that believed in hard work — his father even enrolled him in his "executive training program," which early on consisted of waiting tables in the family restaurant. That training must have taken hold, as Hector eventually headed up the small business administration in the Bush Administration and today serves as Chairman of the Latino Coalition.

Jul 14, 2020

Bob Chapman - People-First Businesses

Many of us spend a majority of our waking hours at work -- and that stress often bleeds into our home lives. Bob Chapman, CEO of Barry Wehmiller ardently believes that business leaders do themselves a disservice when they don’t put employees first. And yes, that does mean forgoing the old adage that the customer is number one.

Jul 7, 2020

Dr. Juliet Garcia - The Richness of the Texas-Mexico Border

Dr. Juliet Garcia is a product of the Texas-Mexico border. She was born in Brownsville, Texas, to parents who diligently saved $10 at a time to make sure she got a college education. Not only did she get that education, she eventually became the first Mexican-American female to head a U.S. college or university.

Jun 30, 2020

Tom Luce - Education, Opportunity, and Civil Rights

Tom Luce's long career has taken quite a few turns: from private sector lawyer (where he once escorted the Magna Carta across the Atlantic as a carry-on), to state government, to national education policy, and now to the non-profit sector. At each turn, he has stayed committed to a core belief: all Americans deserve opportunities brought through a quality education.

Jun 18, 2020

Pastors Bryan Carter and Jeff Warren - A Conversation on Race

Pastors Bryan Carter and Jeff Warren represent churches from opposite sides of Dallas but have formed a friendship based on all the things that they have in common. And when their hometown has needed unifying voices, these two have stepped up — directly addressing race and equality.

May 26, 2020

Clayton Kershaw and Ellen Kershaw - Baseball, Leadership, and Giving Back

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and wife, Ellen, split time between their native home of Dallas and their adopted home of Los Angeles. And through the lens of their nonprofit, Kershaw’s Challenge, they’ve seen both communities rise up to try to help.

May 19, 2020

Mark Suzman - Leading the Gates Foundation Fight Against Coronavirus

Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is leading the organization as it goes all-in on helping find ways to fight the coronavirus — and he’s more than optimistic about the progress.

May 12, 2020

Anne Chow - Keeping People Connected

As CEO of AT&T Business, Anne Chow is leading an organization that is playing a big role in many of our daily lives. And she is doing so from a place of optimism about what the world can accomplish when we work together.

May 5, 2020

William McNulty - Veterans with a New Mission

Just because a veteran has left active duty military service doesn’t mean that they’ve given up their sense of duty. As communities struggle with the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, Team Rubicon volunteers are building field hospitals, delivering food to neighborhoods in need, and doing everything they can to help. Team Rubicon USA co-founder and Team Rubicon Global CEO William McNulty tells us more.

Apr 28, 2020

Sherrie Westin - Sesame Street's Work Around the World

Sesame Street has been using its special brand of magic to teach kids everywhere important lessons for decades. We go behind the scenes of Sesame Street with Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact and Philanthropy for Sesame Workshop.

Apr 21, 2020

Dr. Matt Mishkind - Mental Health Care Without Leaving Home

Sheltering in place doesn't mean you can't get mental health care -- in fact, we all likely need it more than ever. We talk to Dr. Matt Mishkind about the world of mental healthcare, delivered remotely.

Apr 14, 2020

Episode 06: Holly Kuzmich- Education in the COVID-19 Era

Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute Holly Kuzmich spent 7 years working on policy in the Bush Administration — particularly education policy. And as we wade into uncharted waters with so much classroom time being missed by students, she explains what federal, state, and district education leaders have to be thinking about — both for the future when schools reopen, as well as how to tackle problems in the here and now.

Apr 9, 2020

Episode 05: Get Shift Done - Innovation and Problem Solving

Americans everywhere are finding ways to help their communities during the coronavirus pandemic. And problem solvers like Anurag Jain and Patrick Brandt are even forming partnerships across industries — on the fly — to deliver solutions quickly. Get Shift Done pairs out of work hospitality workers with nonprofits who have lost their volunteer workforce.

Apr 7, 2020

Episode 04: Jan Langbein - Supporting Community Resources

Nonprofit organizations that directly help people in need are still tirelessly working to continue to support their communities. Jan Langbein, CEO of the Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support in Dallas, returns as a guest on the Strategerist to detail how increasingly dangerous the situation is for those in an abusive home. But she also reminds us how people and communities are pulling together to support each other.

Mar 31, 2020

Episode 03: Bill McKenzie — The Media's Role in a Crisis

Bill McKenzie’s career in journalism has taken him from the backroads of Texas covering George W. Bush’s gubernatorial campaign to a Pulitzer Prize-winning series of editorials on economic disparity in Dallas. Now a senior fellow at the Bush Institute, Bill was in the newsroom on 9/11 — and shares that experience as we face another national emergency.

Mar 24, 2020

Keith Hennessey — Leadership in Difficult Times

Keith Hennessey was director of the U.S. National Economic Council and a key advisor to the president as the financial crisis hit the U.S. economy in 2008. He’s been inside the White House during a major crisis — and has seen a recovery.

Mar 17, 2020

Jean Becker — Barbara Bush's Pearls of Wisdom

Jean Becker spent almost 30 years working alongside Mrs. Barbara Bush. She recently reached out to Bush family and friends to collect the advice that Mrs. Bush had given them over the years, which turned into Pearls of Wisdom.

Dec 10, 2019

Sgt. First Class Michael Rodriguez— From Special Forces to CEO

Sgt. First Class Michael Rodriguez is a Green Beret that grew up in a military family, is now a military parent, and is even a military spouse -- and he's currently President and CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation.

Dec 3, 2019

Episode 12: Mrs. Laura Bush

First Lady Laura Bush shares memories from her childhood that led to her passion for conservation, memories from Christmas at the White House, and her recent trip to Jordan.

Nov 19, 2019

After Hours: The Duties of Citizens

As a part of our democracy, our rights as citizens also come with responsibilities. How can we as individuals make our union a stronger one?

Nov 12, 2019

Episode 11: Alexander McCall Smith


 "Sandy" has taken millions of readers to the heart of Botswana through his best-selling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. We explore the beautiful African nation his characters live in and what book he considers a must-read. 
 

Nov 5, 2019

Episode 09: Dylan Tête— Building A Community of Resilience

Dylan Tête is building the Bastion Community of Resilience, a community in New Orleans where military families who need assistance can find the support they need.

Nov 5, 2019

Episode 10: Congressman Dan Crenshaw

Congressman Crenshaw went from Texas to Venezuela as a kid, the Middle East and Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL, and recently to SNL and Capitol Hill. We discuss Central America and his transition from the military.

Oct 29, 2019

Episode 08: General Peter Pace— Lessons in Leadership

General Peter Pace shares with us what he learned from the battlefields of Vietnam to his post as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

Oct 22, 2019

Episode 07: Margaret Spellings— A Life in Education Policy

Former Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings shares what she would focus on if she was running for president and the nickname she got saddled with in the 90’s.

Oct 15, 2019

Episode 06: Admiral James Stavridis— The Voyage of Character

What can we learn about ourselves in this era of social media by reading the stories of past admirals and seafarers? We talk leadership with Admiral James Stavridis.

Oct 8, 2019

Episode 05: Karen Hughes— Clarity, Conviction, and Compassion

Karen Hughes was a key counselor to President Bush, but is proudest of the titles wife and mother. She shares how she balanced it all and found ways to put family first.

Oct 1, 2019

Episode 04: Marne Levine— From D.C. to Silicon Valley

Facebook's Marne Levine shifted from D.C. to Silicon Valley in 2010 and had to learn to put her love of paper and memos aside. But her D.C. experience has helped her in the tech-driven world.

Sep 24, 2019

Episode 03: Justice Neil Gorsuch

Justice Neil Gorsuch takes us behind the scenes of the Supreme Court and discusses his New York Times bestselling book, A Republic, If You Can Keep it.

Sep 17, 2019

Episode 02: Ambassador Deborah Birx— Creating an AIDS-free World

Deborah Birx serves as the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator -- and talks about her unique career path and how the U.S. has helped save millions of lives in Africa.

Sep 10, 2019

Episode 01: Dana Perino

After her time at the White House, Dana Perino became comfortable speaking on behalf of others – including the 43rd president. But as she transitioned into TV roles, she had to develop her own voice.

Aug 15, 2019

After Hours: Technology for Good

Has technology revolutionized our education system and job market for the good? Bush Institute experts to discuss technology’s influential role in our everyday lives.

Aug 2, 2019

After Hours: Millennials— America’s Bridge Builders

A panel of Bush Institute millennials discuss how this generation wants to be bridge builders during a tumultuous time, and, of course, avocado toast.

Jul 5, 2019

Episode 29: Ed Lazear— America's Economy

We go in-depth on economic policy with Stanford economist Ed Lazear, who worked on the 2017 tax reform bill. He explains how it has helped put the country on a faster growth track.

Jun 28, 2019

Episode 28: Byron Sanders— Helping Youth Chart Their Path

After his time as a Presidential Leadership Scholar, Byron Sanders became CEO of Dallas nonprofit Big Thought. He tells us about Presidents Bush and Clinton’s visit to Big Thought -- and how PLS changed his life.

Jun 21, 2019

Episode 27: Ian Bremmer— Around the World


 On a college trip to Russia as a 16-year-old, Bremmer learned that the world is a complicated global community. We chatted about that trip, foreign affairs, his puppet side project. 
 

Jun 14, 2019

Episode 26: Dr. Robert Gates— Former Secretary of Defense

Dr. Robert Gates made history by serving as Secretary of Defense for both Presidents Bush and Obama. He talks about the transition and what he learned while serving under eight presidents.

Jun 6, 2019

Episode 25: Mark Updegrove— LBJ's Legacy

LBJ unexpectedly became 36th president at a pivotal moment in American history. We explore his leadership with the CEO of the LBJ Foundation Mark Updegrove.

May 31, 2019

Episode 24: Jan Langbein— CEO of Genesis Women's Shelter and Support

Jan Langbein discusses how she transformed Genesis from a seven-room shelter to a full-service response center for victims of domestic violence.

May 24, 2019

Episode 23: Nate Boyer – U.S. Army Green Beret and Former Football Player

Before famously suggesting to Colin Kaepernick that he kneel instead of sit for the national anthem, Boyer had been an actor, joined the military, and played football. We chat his life journey and taking risks.

May 17, 2019

Episode 22: President George W. Bush

We sat down with President George W. Bush to discuss leadership, humor, and even the arts – specifically, his painting and dancing.

May 13, 2019

Episode 21: Jimmy Walker

Six-time PGA Tour winner Jimmy Walker talks about his time playing at the Warrior Open and his passion photographing the night sky.

May 10, 2019

Episode 20: Medal of Honor Recipient Sal Giunta

We sat down with the Medal of Honor recipient and Team 43 golfer to talk about his experience at the Warrior Open and the unique healing properties of golf.

May 3, 2019

Episode 18: Secretary Michael Chertoff

What do companies do with data they collect? Former U.S. Secretary Michael Chertoff answered our questions, including why businesses are interested in your grocery shopping and fitness habits.

May 3, 2019

Episode 19: Richard Casper

Marine Richard Casper got in touch with his creative side to battle PTS and traumatic brain injury. The co-founder of Creativets talks veteran transition -- and performs a song.

Apr 26, 2019

Episode 16: Anne Finucane

Societies are stronger when women have access to the tools and financial resources they need. Bank of America's Anne Finucane is working to move the world toward that goal.

Apr 26, 2019

Episode 17: Dan Gilbert

Detroit native Dan Gilbert was forced to watch his hometown become a shell of its former self. But as his businesses saw success, he became a central figure in Detroit's revitalization.

Apr 19, 2019

Episode 15: Gary Sinise

Award-winning actor and director Gary Sinise, famous for his role as Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump, shares how he found his calling: to see that those who defend this country are never forgotten.

Apr 12, 2019

Episode 14: Joshua Bolten

Joshua Bolten served as White House Chief of Staff from 2006 to 2009. We chat about why laughter was key to making the job feel less heavy and how he decompressed after the White House.

Apr 5, 2019

Episode 13: #SabotagingDemocracy

We chat with the German Marshall Fund's Laura Rosenberger and Jamie Fly, who have done extensive research on why the U.S. and other countries are under attack from Russia and China.

Mar 29, 2019

Episode 12: Ambassador Roya Rahmani

We chat with the first female ambassador of Afghanistan to the U.S. about her childhood prior to Taliban rule and her optimism for a peaceful future for Afghanistan.

Mar 22, 2019

Episode 11: Congressman Will Hurd

We chatted with Congressman Will Hurd about immigration, the CIA, and why he decided to Facebook Live a 36 hour road trip with Democrat Beto O’Rourke.

Mar 15, 2019

Episode 10: A Chat with 41’s Personal Aides

As personal aides to President George H.W. Bush, Tim McBride and Tom Frechette came to personally know our 41st president. They share behind-the-scenes stories.

Mar 8, 2019

Episode 09: Connie Duckworth

In 2004, the former Goldman Sachs exec founded ARZU Studio Hope, an organization empowering women in Afghanistan by providing jobs, education, and healthcare.

Mar 1, 2019

Episode 08: Bill Browder

Bill Browder is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s number one enemy. We chat about his campaign to expose Putin and Russian government officials for corruption and human rights abuses.

Feb 22, 2019

Episode 07: Ambassador Antonio Garza

Former Ambassador to Mexico Garza discusses trade and immigration with our southern neighbor, having grown up along the Texas-Mexico border the grandson of Mexican immigrants.

Feb 15, 2019

Episode 06: Cokie Roberts

Cokie Roberts chats about the transformation of D.C. and journalism — for the better and worse — and how she ended up in Tanzania interviewing First Ladies Bush and Obama.

Feb 6, 2019

Episode 05: Henry Cisneros

Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros discusses what makes San Antonio special and how its welcoming culture can be a model for the nation.

Jan 23, 2019

The Strategerist: Introduction

Inspired by "strategery," a term coined by SNL and embraced by the George W. Bush Administration, The Strategerist podcast highlights leadership and compassion through thought-provoking discussions.

Jan 23, 2019

Episode 01: Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina rose from secretary to CEO of a Fortune 50 company. We discuss her childhood and how living in Ghana influenced her perception of democracy.

Jan 23, 2019

Episode 02: Harris Faulkner

Fox News' Harris Faulkner is a proud military brat. We chat about her father’s time serving in the Army, which included three tours in Vietnam, and how her mom was a pillar of support and strength.

Jan 23, 2019

Episode 03: James Farmer

The conservationist, interior designer and best-selling author is saving the world one plant at a time. We chat robotic bees, the beauty of native plants, and life as a business owner.

Jan 23, 2019

Episode 04: Niloofar Rahmani

Like all women under Taliban rule, Captain Rahmani was forbidden basic rights. But her story is one of courage, as she became the first female fighter pilot in the Afghan military after the fall of the Taliban.