The Strategerist

One of celebrated traditions in the White House is the annual transformation that takes place to celebrate the holiday season. 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. Related Plan Your Visit to the Bus...

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. Resources How to Support Afghanistan Refugees in North Texas Afghanistan Relief and Resources No One Left Behind

As senior editor for the National Review, Jay Nordlinger writers 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,...

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. Related National Alliance for Public Charter Schools George W. Bush Institute Ed...

Amy Webb's life changed in unexpected ways when her daughter was born with disabilities. Like every mother, she wants her child to grow up experiencing all the things a child should: playing on a playground with friends, exploring a museum, going on a family vacation.  She learned, though, that not every experience is created with accessibility in mind, and that even interactions with friends can...

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. He also reflects on the strength he drew fro...

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 coun...

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. Related The Texas Tribune Point of Order podcast with Evan Smith Engage at the Bush Center, presented by Highland Capital Managem...

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. Related Resources American Idea Foundation The Catalyst -- State of the American Dream 2021 Forum on Leadership

Joseph Kim -- painted by President Bush in Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants -- was born in North Korea, one of the least free places on earth. But unlike so many of his fellow North Koreans, he was able to escape the brutal dictatorship. Joseph 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 throu...

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 Pre...

For the past several years, Burma had been transitioning toward a democratically elected, civilian-run government.  That progress came to a sudden halt in February when the military enacted a coup.  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. Related National Democratic Institute Bus...

Children’s brook 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. Shop the Stella Diaz series Follow Angela Dominguez on Twitter Learn more about the Laura Bush Found...

The history of our nation is often reflected in the history baseball.  In the 1920s, racism and segregation meant that elite black and Latin athletes couldn’t play Major League Baseball — despite their unquestionable skill and talent.  Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, explains that even though that ugly chapter of American history forced the formation of the league, th...

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, 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...

Where you’re born often plays a significant role in the path your life takes.  This is true on an international level as well as a local level. In Dallas, I30 marks a barrier between North Dallas and communities like Jubilee Park in South Dallas. Nonprofits like the Jubilee Park and Community Center are using innovative, cohesive methods to try to gain equal opportunity for South Dallas residents....

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. Related: Aya Chebbi on Twitter Aya Chebbi on Instagram About the Bush Institute's Women's Initiative

The Constitution opens, “we the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union”. It doesn’t say that we will always be perfect, but rather we’ll will strive to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty for generations to come. Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, Bush Institute Kelly and Dav...

Wendy Kopp had an idea.  She wanted to borrow a tactic from other industries: if she could convince students fresh out of college to commit to teaching for two years in communities that desperately needed teachers, she could really make an impact in education and broaden the perspectives of the young adults before they move into their planned careers.  Thus, Teach for America was born.  Today, Wen...

When you’re browsing for something to read or watch online , algorithms usually decide what content will be put in front of you. Whether that’s what search result shows first, or what news stories are in your social media feed, somewhere a computer is following a complex but predefined set of rules to decide what content you’ll see first. Renée DiResta, Research Manager at the Stanford Internet Ob...

Roda Ahmed is the author of Mae Among the Stars , the critically acclaimed children’s storybook which is a selection on Mrs. Bush’s 2020 reading list for kids. Born in Somalia and raised in Norway, Roda speaks five languages — and has now founded her own publishing company. We talked to her on Zoom from her home in Oslo this summer about about why she wrote Mae Among the Stars, and how important r...

Thanksgiving always looks different for men and women deployed through our armed services. And this year, even more so. 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. Dr. Crouch also discusses his optimist...

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. Purchase Melisssa's book, The Power of Choice: From Wounded Warrior to World Champion Learn more about the Tokyo Paralympic Games Learn more about the...

Hannah Song, CEO of Liberty in North Korea, envisions a world where North Korea isn’t the worst place on earth. LiNK supports the people of North Korea in their attempts to escape, helps them resettle in free countries, and is working to change the narrative around the country that is known as the worst place in the world to live. Learn more about the Liberty in North Korea organization Learn abou...

Two stars from the ABC hit show Shark Tank -- Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, and Daymond John, founder and CEO of apparel company FUBU -- aren't just successful on the balance sheet.  They're inspirational figures for American entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. We cover serious topics such as: How businesses can adapt to disruptive events like the coronavirus How money has (or h...