BoomerLennials

A career foreign service officer chosen to be US Ambassador to Venezuela during Trump’s first term. A Marine veteran providing humanitarian and medical aid to front-line Ukrainian troops. A Navy veteran leading the national charge to save and protect Afghan allies who served alongside US troops in Afghanistan. An American father and scholar who lived and worked in Gaza. Join Josh and Doug in discu...

2025. A Wicked year of bipartisan assassinations, bookended by an air crash over the Potomac and the desecration of the living national monument to a fallen young president who inspired a nation with a call to “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” But also a year For Good, in which John F Kennedy’s challenge still resonated across the decades for many Am...

A young TV/film star, a retired government official and a GenZ poet walk into a bar, and — no, wait; not a bar. They’re on a Zoom call marking milestones that converged this year: family milestones, birthday milestones, relationship milestones, career milestones, life milestones. Oh, and podcast milestones, too. Pull up a chair and join Josh, Doug and producer Jon for BoomerLennials. This is a pub...

From postwar and post-Cold War universal dominance to China’s rise, Russia’s belligerence and uncertainty on the parts of adversaries and allies alike, America’s roles and directions in international engagement need significant and pro-active re-examination. How to most effectively dealing with an increasing number of autocracies? How to better and more effectively use American power without aband...

Jews around the world will celebrate Rosh Hashana, the beginning of the Jewish New Year. The recent global rise in anti-Semitism and events in Israel and Gaza have created new and unexpected contexts for Jewish men and women as they focus on annual reflections, religious upbringings and Jewish identities. Josh and Doug - joined by Stanford senior Theo Baker, the youngest-ever winner of the George...

Not so long ago, the United States was seen by millions around the globe as their aspirational goal – the symbol of freedom, compassion for others, aid and assistance for those who desperately needed it, and a beacon for those who wanted to make a better life for themselves and their families. It has become increasingly clear that that is no longer the case. Does America’s reputation, values and s...

What happens when an industry town loses its industry? America saw it happen with auto manufacturing in Detroit in the 20th century, and now, it appears something similar may be happening to the film and television industry of Los Angeles. Once synonymous with the biz itself, "Hollywood" is rapidly losing its status as the entertainment capital of the world. As film and TV productions flee to chea...

Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the Right, Here I am, Stuck in the Middle with You. These lyrics from the Stealers Wheel ‘70’s hit seem to summarize what an increasing number of Americans feel about our politics today. But is that where disillusioned Americans are? Stuck in the middle? Or looking for alternatives to politics and politicians as channels for change? No Labels’ Holly Page and col...

Pete Buttigieg joins Doug and Josh to discuss his vision for America, his take on the politics of today and the challenges of tomorrow. Together, we'll discuss everything from climate change, school shootings, and AI to the current threats against democratic norms, the economy, and America's institutions of higher learning. Hosts: Doug Wilson and Josh Brener Guest: Pete Buttigieg Producer: Jonatha...

“ Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free .” The words of Emma Lazarus, mounted on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Lest we forget the faces of immigration – our grandparents, parents, friends and family, who built this country – at a time when immigration has now become miscast as synonymous with fentanyl, Venezuelan gangs and unsecured borders. On today’...

Golden Globe-winning and four-time Academy Award nominated Canadian-American director Jason Reitman ( Thank You For Smoking; Juno; Up In The Air; Saturday Night ) and former US Ambassador to Canada and former Governor of Michigan James Blanchard join Josh and Doug to discuss “WTF Are We Doing Turning One Of Our Best Friends Into An Enemy?” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss thi...

New York Times political reporter Tyler Pager , author and activist Rosa Brooks and former Yahoo and CBS executive Brian Goldsmith bring talking point-free and platitude-free insights into the “WT#!* Do Democrats Do Now?” discussion with Josh and Doug. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit boomerlennials.substack.c...

Josh Brener and Doug Wilson discuss the origins, framework and focus of their new podcast, BoomerLennials and talk about the roads that brought them together. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit boomerlennials.substack.com

Former Assistant Defense Secretary Doug Wilson was Pentagon senior spokesman under President Obama, and advisor to White House hopefuls from Gary Hart to Pete Buttigieg. He’s a Baby Boomer. Film and television actor Josh Brener starred in HBO’s acclaimed series Silicon Valley and played a young Doug in The Front Runner, the Hugh Jackman movie about Gary Hart. He’s a Millennial. Now, together, they...