The Strategerist

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.