Advertise on podcast: Overheard at the Bush Center

In this special Engage at the Bush Center event presented by NexPoint, Dori Thornton Waller, former White House Deputy Social Secretary, Sara Armstrong, former Deputy Chief of Staff to Mrs. Laura Bush, and Susan Whitson, former Press Secretary to Mrs. Laura Bush, shared memorable stories and cheerful moments from their holidays in the People’s House.

Keith Hennessey, the Bush Institute’s David Rubenstein Fellow, Kristen Silverberg, Business Roundtable President and COO, and Marc Sumerlin, former Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, joined Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative Cullum Clark for a thought-provoking and timely conversation on the condition of the U.S. economy, the role of the Federal Reserve, the relationship between the U.S. government and private businesses, the impact of tariffs, the state of international trade, technology’s impact on the economy, and more. Related:  Watch the NexPoint Lecture: America's Economic RealignmentRead the "America the Exceptional" series

As part of our Engage at the Bush Center series presented by NexPoint, legendary sportscasters Bob Costas and Joe Buck came to the Bush Center and shared unforgettable stories, reliving the most transformational and unifying moments in sports history. Related:  Watch the Engage at the Bush Center program presented by NexPoint hereView special exhibit Game Changer: United by Sports, presented by Garry Weber

The Seventh Annual Laura Bush Book Club proudly featured Amor Towles. One of Mrs. Bush’s favorite authors, Towles’ novels Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Lincoln Highway, and his collection of shorter fiction Table for Two have all been New York Times bestsellers.

The Bush Center held its eighth annual Forum on Leadership, a landmark event that develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues. Freedom of the press is foundational to our nation. Martin Baron, Former Executive Director of The Washington Post, and Jessica Yellin, Founder of News Not Noise; joined in discussion with the Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, the Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow at the Bush Institute, to dive into the challenges facing media in America and its role for a thriving democracy.   Related:  2025 Forum on Leadership Restoring Trust in the Media Panel Discussion

The Bush Center held its eighth annual Forum on Leadership, a landmark event that develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues. Dr. Ben Sasse, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska and former President of the University of Florida; Dr. R. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University, and Dr. Melva Wallace, President and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University, discussed the role of higher education within American democracy. Moderated by Robin Berkley, the Ann Kimball Johnson Director of Education at the Bush Institute, the conversation focused on how colleges and universities are vital to preparing young adults to contribute to society.  Related:  2025 Forum on Leadership Higher Education and Democracy Panel Discussion

The Bush Center held its eighth annual Forum on Leadership, a landmark event that develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues. In a panel discussion, entrepreneurs Salim Asrawi, Co-Founder and President of Texas de Brazil, and Daniel Lubetzky, Founder of Builders Movement and KIND, shared how they’ve made the most of opportunities in America with moderator Anne Wicks, the Don Evans Family Managing Director of Opportunity and Democracy at the Bush Institute. They discussed the American Dream and how giving back strengthens our democracy. Related:  2025 Forum on Leadership 

Topics of geopolitics have been increasingly prominent in the U.S. government in recent years, and no one knows the struggles of maneuvering through these discussions better than a member of the United States Congress. The Engage at the Bush Center program presented by NexPoint brought Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and former Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) to discuss these topics and get their thoughts on not only navigating policies, but the challenges they may bring.  Related:  Navigating Turbulence: Senatorial Insights on Geopolitics & Foreign PolicyPolicy Recommendations from the Bush Institute

The incredible story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, nicknamed the Six Triple Eight, recently came to the Bush Center. The program followed the release of Netflix’s The Six Triple Eight, a film that tells the story of WWII’s only Women’s Army Corps unit of color.  The Engage at the Bush Center program presented by NexPoint featured, former U.S. Ambassador Nicole Avant, best-selling author and critically acclaimed producer of the Netflix film; Milauna Jackson who portrays Captain Campbell in the Netflix film; and Retired Army Col. Edna Cummings, a passionate advocate whose work led to two important recognitions: the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Monument and the Congressional Gold Medal. Related:  Watch the Engage at the Bush Center program presented by NexPoint hereRead The Unsung Story of the Six Triple Eight from a Veteran Leadership Scholar's perspective 

Ree Drummond, star of the long running hit Food Network show, The Pioneer Woman,  joined us for a festive Engage at the Bush Center event presented by NexPoint.  In a conversation with lifestyle expert Kimberly Schlegel Whitman,  Drummond shared stories about her favorite family traditions, tips for gift giving, and of course, the right food for every holiday occasion.   Related: Food, Family & Holiday Fun: A Conversation with The Pioneer Woman, Ree DrummondThe Pioneer Woman Cooks – A Year of Holidays

As part of the Engage at the Bush Center series presented by NexPoint, Jared Cohen, author of Life After Power, and Jeffrey Engel, founding David Gergen Director of the Center for Presidential History at SMU, headlined a conversation on the post-presidency. The conversation, moderated by Freddy Ford, President Bush’s Chief of Staff, featured insights from history and memorable stories.

Russia and China are closer allies than at any time in the two countries’ modern history. In an Engage at Bush Center conversation presented by NexPoint, a panel of distinguished experts discussed how the United States should deal with Moscow and Beijing. Krys Boyd, Host and Managing Editor of KERA Radio’s award-winning national program, Think, led the conversation featuring John J. Sullivan, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and deputy Secretary of State and author of Midnight in Moscow, a memoir of his experiences in Russia; Dan Schulman, former President and CEO of PayPal; and Ellen Bork, Fellow at the Bush Institute. Related: Engage NexPoint Lecture: The Russia-China ChallengeThe China challenge: How the U.S. can counter Beijing's authoritarian ambitions

Sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch returned to the Bush Center as part of the Engage at the Bush Center series presented by NexPoint. Justice Gorsuch discussed his new book, Over Ruled: The Human Tool of Too Much Law, and the complex role laws play in Americans lives. Related:  A Conversation with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch - Engage at the Bush Center, presented by NexPointThe Strategerist podcast with Justice Neil Gorsuch

Recently, the Bush Center hosted author Heather Morris for the Laura Bush Book Club as part of Engage at the Bush Center series presented by NexPoint, with support from H-E-B.  In her conversation with Bush Institute’s Anne Wicks, Morris discussed her No. 1 international bestselling novel and new original series, The Tattooist of Auschwitz – a story about hope and love, based on interviews conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov.  Related:  Laura Bush Book Club with “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” Author Heather MorrisMrs. Laura Bush's 2024 Summer Reading List 

While foundational to the beliefs of our nation, religious freedom is still denied to many around the globe. This conversation dives into the global significance of this liberty and its domestic importance for our pluralistic society. Panelists: Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director, Campaign for UyghursDavid French, Opinion Columnist, The New York TimesJonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director, ADLChris Walsh, Director, Global Policy, George W. Bush Institute (Moderator)Related:  2024 Forum of Leadership