Leadership depends not only on power and policy, but also on the stories that give them meaning. In this first episode of a two-part series, Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, and Danielle Pletka, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, dig into why America’s national narrative has fractured. They discuss how social media’s attention economy distorts foreign-policy debates and why fear-driven storytelling so often overwhelms clarity, purpose, and moral vision. Drawing on decades of experience in foreign policy analysis, they explore what effective leadership and compelling national narratives once looked like—and what it would take to recover America’s sense of “why” on the global stage. This energetic, thought-provoking conversation models how to argue, listen, and think across divides.

Host: Matthew Levinger – Host of the America’s Why Podcast and Professor of Practice of International Affairs at the George Washington University.

Guests

• Danielle Pletka – Distinguished Senior Fellow in Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute.
• Brian Katulis – Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute.

Explore Taking the Edge Off the Middle East, the Middle East Institute podcast hosted by MEI Senior Fellow Brian Katulis: https://mei.edu/taking-the-edge-off/

Visit our website to learn more about the America’s Why Project and join the conversation: americaswhyproject.com

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

The views expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those held by the America's Why Project team or the George Washington University. 

In the second half of our conversation with historian Jeremy Suri, we turn from America’s complex past to the pressing question of how leadership works today in a time of turbulence and distrust. From Lincoln’s unexpected transformation to the barriers that prevent capable leaders from rising, Suri explores what history can teach us about strengthening democracy. He examines the structural forces shaping our politics, the everyday acts of citizenship that still make a difference, and the ways hope endures even in difficult moments. This episode offers a candid and thought-provoking look at leading with clarity and purpose in a divided age—and serves as a powerful conclusion to his contributions to our exploration of America’s “why.”

Host: Matthew Levinger – Host of the America’s Why Podcast and Professor of Practice of International Affairs at the George Washington University.

Guest: Jeremy Suri – Professor of Public Affairs and History at the University of Texas at Austin.

Learn more about Jeremi Suri’s podcast This is Democracy and explore its episodes at: https://www.jeremisuri.net/this-is-democracy

Visit our website to learn more about the America’s Why Project and join the conversation: americaswhyproject.com

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

The views expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those held by the America's Why Project team or the George Washington University. 

 What happens when a country loses its unifying story? When the story of 1776 squares off against the story of 1619, when the smoldering legacies of the Civil War erupt into 21st-century culture wars?  In this episode, historian and bestselling author Professor Jeremi Suri joins host Matt Levinger to dig into the tangled roots of American identity. From 1619 to 1776, from Civil War legacies to today’s culture wars, Suri unpacks how competing origin stories shape our politics, our pride, and our fears. With his signature mix of honesty and hope, he explores how nations confront painful history without collapsing into shame or retreating into myth. This is the first of a two-part series that reframes the debate about America’s past and sets the stage for a deeper conversation about leadership in turbulent times.

Host: Matthew Levinger – Host of the America’s Why Podcast and Professor of Practice of International Affairs at the George Washington University.

Guest: Jeremi Suri – Professor of Public Affairs and History at the University of Texas at Austin.

Learn more about Jeremi Suri’s podcast This is Democracy and explore its episodes at: https://www.jeremisuri.net/this-is-democracy

Visit our website to learn more about the America’s Why Project and join the conversation: americaswhyproject.com

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

The views expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those held by the America's Why Project team or the George Washington University. 

Last week, Dr. David Rock showed us how fear hijacks the brain. This week, he flips the script by diving into the power of love. Host Matt Levinger and Dr. Rock looks into the high-reward states that unlock people’s capacity to care, create, and collaborate despite the presence of stress and social tension in our day-to-day lives. Through tiny shifts in status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness, our minds can find calm and focus. From defusing conflict at work to rebuilding trust in our political life, this episode offers a practical, science‑backed roadmap for working together when everything feels divided. 

Host: Matthew Levinger – Host of the America’s Why Podcast and Professor of Practice of International Affairs at the George Washington University.

Guest: David Rock – Co-founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute

​*SCARF is an acronym of the words "Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, & Fairness."​

​Dr. David Rock is the Co-founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute, which has partnered with more than 2/3 of the Fortune 100 corporations. With operations in 24 countries, the institute brings neuroscientists and leadership experts together to make organizations better for humans through science. David has written for and been quoted in hundreds of articles about leadership, organizational effectiveness, and the brain. He is the author of three books: Your Brain at Work, Coaching with the Brain in Mind, and Quiet Leadership: Six Steps to Transforming Performance at Work. Originally from Australia, David has been based in the United States since 2010. 

 Learn more about the NeuroLeadership Institute's mission, research, and global impact at: https://www.neuroleadership.com/

Visit our website to learn more about the America’s Why Project and join the conversation: americaswhyproject.com

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

The views expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those held by the America's Why Project team or the George Washington University. 

Modern life pushes our brains in ways they were never built to handle. In this episode, Dr. David Rock, neuroscientist, bestselling author, and the creator of the SCARF™ model*, joins host Matt Levinger to reveal why fear, uncertainty, and social threats so often hijack our thinking. Together, they unpack the hidden neural patterns that shape how we collaborate, lead, and respond to conflict, and explore practical tools for keeping calm in a world full of noise. This fast, insightful conversation sets the stage for a powerful two‑part series on fear, love, and how understanding the brain can help us work together more effectively.

Host: Matthew Levinger – Host of the America’s Why Podcast and Professor of Practice of International Affairs at the George Washington University.

Guest: David Rock – Co-founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute

​*SCARF is an acronym of the words "Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, & Fairness."​

​Dr. David Rock is the Co-founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute, which has partnered with more than 2/3 of the Fortune 100 corporations. With operations in 24 countries, the institute brings neuroscientists and leadership experts together to make organizations better for humans through science. David has written for and been quoted in hundreds of articles about leadership, organizational effectiveness, and the brain. He is the author of three books: Your Brain at Work, Coaching with the Brain in Mind, and Quiet Leadership: Six Steps to Transforming Performance at Work. Originally from Australia, David has been based in the United States since 2010. 

 Learn more about the NeuroLeadership Institute's mission, research, and global impact at: https://www.neuroleadership.com/

Visit our website to learn more about the America’s Why Project and join the conversation: americaswhyproject.com

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

The views expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those held by the America's Why Project team or the George Washington University. 

To solve America’s toughest challenges, we need to start by listening to each other’s stories. 

Visit our website to learn more about the America’s Why Project and join the conversation: americaswhyproject.com

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music