In this episode, old friends Patrick Wilson, President and CEO of Little League International, and Jim Wilkinson, former White House Deputy Director of Communications and senior advisor at the NSC, State Department, and Treasury sit down with Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann. Together, they talk tee ball on the White House lawn and why Little League matters — not just for kids, but for their parents, too.

From walk-off home runs to game-winning touchdowns, Joe Buck has narrated many of the defining moments in sports — and is a fixture in America’s living rooms. But broadcasting is a family business. Joe Buck is the also the son of the late Jack Buck, another iconic broadcaster. And following in his father’s footsteps wasn’t a coincidence: Joe Buck was raised in broadcast booths and locker rooms.

In this episode, Buck joins Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann and Bush Center President and CEO Shilo Brooks to explore what makes “greatness”, how competition brings people together, and how sports can teach us life lessons along the way.

Bob Costas is more than a sports broadcaster—he’s a storyteller and trailblazer who shaped how Americans experience sports. Having been voice of the Olympics, the World Series, and countless other events, he defined how we remember these moments --blending history, storytelling, and context, making sports feel bigger than the score.

In this episode, Costas joins Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann and Kevin “Sully” Sullivan, senior advisor at the Bush Center, to discuss what went on behind the scenes of those broadcast moments. He reflects on the art of the introduction and explains why sports continue to bring us together.

Vice President Mike Pence surprised guests at the Bush Center and sat down for a special taping of The Strategerist podcast before a live audience. He discussed his views on divisiveness in country, leadership, America’s role as a global leader, and his own new role as a professor.

Rushan Abbas is a leading Uyghur human rights activist whose exercise of free speech in the United States led to the imprisonment of her older sister in China, now for seven years. In response, she left her career to become a full-time activist and founded Campaign for Uyghurs — an organization nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice. Through her work, Abbas shines a light on the Uyghur genocide and the repression of the Chinese government.

Monica Paul has been a driving force in making sure the world knows Dallas as a premier sports destination. She led the bid strategies and marketing efforts for nearly 600 events in our region. These events generated $4 billion in economic impact.

Her leadership was key in securing Dallas as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dallas landed the most games—nine—of any host city. She joined host Andrew Kaufmann and Kevin “Sully” Sullivan, Senior Advisor at the Bush Center and former White House Communications Director. Together, they recorded a special live taping at the Bush Center. They discussed the countdown to the 2026 World Cup, the beginnings of her sports career, and her hopes for the metroplex region.

Salim Asrawi is President and co-founder of Texas de Brazil and appears on the cover of President George W. Bush’s Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants. Born in Lebanon, Salim immigrated to the United States at the age of 14, fleeing war in his country. He worked his way up at a hotel after getting his master’s degree in restaurant hotel management and later, with his family, invested in opening Texas de Brazil, now the largest steakhouse chain in the world.

Salim joined Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann and U.S. Navy Reserve Lieutenant Commander D’Juan Wilcher, Deputy Director of Veterans and Military Families at the Bush Institute, to discuss his journey from immigrant to successful entrepreneur, his dedication to community service and helping others, and his hope for the future.

Shawn VanDiver, founder and President of the Afghan Evac coalition, which works to build coordination and collaboration between civil society groups and U.S. government agencies in support of Afghan relocation and resettlement, joined Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann and Director of Global Policy, Natalie Gonnella-Platts to discuss the dire situation in country for at-risk Afghans, the expiration of TPS and other immigration challenges, and why all Americans should care about what is happening in Afghanistan today.

Jessica Yellin founded News Not Noise to do what the title implies separate the important news from the noise. Her goal is to “give information. Not a panic attack.” With over 193,000 Substack subscribers and 792,000 followers on Instagram, Jessica has become a trusted voice in a chaotic media environment—breaking down what matters, why it matters, and what you can safely scroll past. She’s part of a new movement of independent journalists that are taking advantage of platforms that allow individuals to build an audience of their own, without having to rely on traditional news networks.

At the Bush Institute’s 2025 Forum on Leadership, she joined Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann to unpack the evolving media landscape—and how to stay informed without getting overwhelmed.

Michael Giorgione joined Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann and Lieutenant Commander, USNR D’Juan Wilcher, Deputy Director of Veterans and Military Families at the Bush Institute, to discuss his time at Camp David and how his 29 years of military service helped him there and continues to inspire his teachings today.