Best George Waller Podcasts (2025)

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The Lawson Family Murders 1:09:07

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2d ago1:09:07

1:09:07

Episode 205: The Lawson Family Murders Charles “Charlie” Lawson and his wife Fannie married in 1911 and went on to start a large family. In 1929, the Lawsons had a successful tobacco farm and a little cabin that housed their family of 9. For unknown (but debated) reasons, Charlie Lawson murdered 7 of his 8 children on Christmas Day before taking hi…

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Education accountability and innovation: Dr. Katie Jenner on Indiana’s success 48:47

7d ago48:47

48:47

Dr. Jenner joined the Bush Institute’s Robin Berkley, the Ann Kimball Johnson Director of Education, and Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann to discuss Indiana’s innovative leadership in education reform. The state’s record gains in reading and college credit achievement showcase how community collaboration and bold policies are driving significant i…

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The Watts Family Massacre (Part 4) 2:11:10

10d ago2:11:10

2:11:10

Episode 204: The Watts Family Massacre (Part 4) In our fourth and final part covering this case, we conclude our deep dive about the murders of Shanann, Bella and Cece Watts by husband and father Chris Watts. We discuss Chris’ experience in prison, love interests, and recent interviews as well as discuss some of the possible related psychology as i…

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Memories from the East Wing: Dori Thornton Waller & Susan Whitson 44:35

15d ago44:35

44:35

From state dinners with the Queen of England or the Pope, to regular meetings with our nation’s leaders, to special events inviting hundreds of guests like the Easter Egg Roll, and to memorable moments for presidential pets like Barney Bush, the White House is always abuzz with activity. This week, The Strategerist meets with a couple of people who…

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The Watts Family Massacre (Part 3) 1:17:23

17d ago1:17:23

1:17:23

Episode 203: The Watts Family Massacre (Part 3) In part 3 of this series, we unpack what was believed in 2018 to have really happened the day Shanann, Bella, and Cece disappeared up to and including the discovery of their remains. (TW: murder of children, miscarriage, etc.) Tune in to this episode to learn more! Email us at: [email protected] …

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Jim Hake: The Spirit of America at home and abroad 35:36

23d ago35:36

35:36

Founder of Spirit of America, Jim Hake, joined Strategerist host Andrew Kauffman and the Bush Institute’s Director of Veterans and Military Families, Jason Galui, to discuss the spirit of the American people that comprises the heart of Spirit of America.By George W. Bush Presidential Center

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The Watts Family Massacre (Part 2) 2:05:38

24d ago2:05:38

2:05:38

Episode 202: The Watts Family Massacre (Part 2) In part 2 of this series, we take a deeper dive into the final months prior to Shanann’s disappearance. Her six week trip to North Carolina to visit family, and what Chris was up to for the five weeks before he joined them. After his family’s disappearance, Chris’ strange behavior set alarm bells off …

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Strategerist After Hours: Gratitude in a season of gathering 42:26

1M ago42:26

42:26

As we gather, travel home, or pause for a quiet moment, Thanksgiving reminds us to slow down and focus on what matters most.In today’s Strategerist After Hours episode, we’re embracing the spirit of gratitude — not just during the holidays, but as an everyday practice of noticing the good, acknowledging the people who lift us up, and finding meanin…

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The Watts Family Massacre (Part 1) 1:37:28

1M ago1:37:28

1:37:28

Episode 201: The Watts Family Massacre (Part 1) Happy Thanksgiving! For Part 1 of a multipart Deep Dive, Abby covers the background and surface information known between Chris, Shanann, Bella and Celeste (“Cece”) Watts. In 2010, Shanann Rzucek met Chris Watts and the couple instantly hit it off. After marrying in the fall of 2012, they soon welcome…

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The Murder of Terry Dolowy 1:24:29

1M ago1:24:29

1:24:29

Episode 200: The Murder of Terry Dolowy In 1985, Terry Dolowy was only 24 years old when her decapitated remains were found set ablaze. Investigators combed over the scene and the very little evidence available to them, but her case quickly grew cold. DNA technology was minimal at best, and much of the evidence in her case had to wait decades befor…

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Dr. Marc Siegel — The miracles among us 31:11

1M ago31:11

31:11

Fox News senior medical analyst and NYU clinical professor of medicine, Dr. Marc Siegel, joins The Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann to share the inspiration behind his latest book, The Miracles Among Us. Dr. Siegel explores the intersection of faith and medicine, reflecting on how true healing engages both body and soul. He introduces the idea of …

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Roundtable: The Perfect Neighbor 1:55:21

1M ago1:55:21

1:55:21

Episode 199: Roundtable: The Perfect Neighbor In this episode, we have a chatty roundtable and debrief about the hit Netflix documentary “The Perfect Neighbor” in which Ajike “AJ” Owens is shot and killed by her neighbor Susan Lorincz through a closed door. After more than a year of tension between the two, and several calls made by Susan to 9-1-1 …

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Veterans Day 2025 23:03

1M ago23:03

23:03

Every year, President Bush invites some of the men and women of our armed forces to his ranch in Crawford, Texas to spend Veterans Day in nature and on mountain bikes. The weekend of camaraderie is a celebration of the brave folks who raised their hand to defend our nation. Minutes after they got off their bikes, we sat down with three of those vet…

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Stability and Education for Military Kids — Lisa and Francis Molinari 41:00

2M ago41:00

41:00

On this episode of The Strategerist, Lisa and Francis Molinari joined host Andrew Kaufmann and Jason Galui, director of veterans and military families at the Bush Institute, to discuss how their family’s own journey sparked the idea of Orion Military Scholars. Together, they talk about seeing the difference stability made in their own family, and w…

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Omaima Nelson and the murder of Bill Nelson 1:23:11

2M ago1:23:11

1:23:11

Episode 198: Omaima Nelson and the murder of Bill Nelson Omaima was born in the late 1960s and was raised in Cairo, Egypt as one of 16 children. After her parents divorce, she went with her mother to live in an impoverished part of the country. She moved to America at 18 when she married an American man, but she was divorced and working as a model …

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Teresita Basa: The Voice from Beyond 1:26:52

2M ago1:26:52

1:26:52

Episode 197: Teresita Basa: The Voice from Beyond In February 1977, the 15th floor of an apartment building on the north side of Chicago filled with smoke. Neighbors called for help and firefighters arrived to the scene, where they found the smoke coming from a single apartment. Once inside, they found a mattress in flames. Once the flames were ext…

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How North Korea’s “Zero Covid” Plan Backfired — Katrin Katz 26:14

2M ago26:14

26:14

In this episode of The Strategerist, Katrin Katz, Adjunct Fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies Korea Chair, joined host Andrew Kaufmann and Joseph Kim, the Bush Institute’s program manager of global policy, to unpack the research behind her COVID-19 report on North Korea. Joseph, himself a refugee from North Korea, offers …

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The big impact of Little League: Patrick Wilson and Jim Wilkinson 26:32

2M ago26:32

26:32

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 Leag…

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Joe Buck: Family, Broadcasting, and the Power of Sports 40:42

3M ago40:42

40:42

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 w…

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Dean Corll: The Candy Man (Part 4) 1:23:19

3M ago1:23:19

1:23:19

Episode 196: Dean Corll: The Candy Man (Part 4) Welcome to the fourth and final part of our Dean Corll series! With Dean dead, the investigators turned to David and Wayne to fill in the blanks. Wayne led investigators to the boat shed and other dump sites, revealing the mass graves and levels of depravity they inflicted on their victims. We discuss…

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Bob Costas: Beyond the broadcast 47:40

3M ago47:40

47:40

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…

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Dean Corll: The Candy Man (Part 3) 1:41:27

3M ago1:41:27

1:41:27

Episode 195: Dean Corll: The Candy Man (Part 3) In part 3, we continue discussing the series of horrific crimes Dean committed with the help of David Brooks, and now Wayne Henley. We cover Wayne’s introduction, early life, his role in the crimes, and how he ultimately ended Dean’s life. We compare and contrast David Brooks and Wayne Henley, and how…

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Vice President Mike Pence 30:47

3M ago30:47

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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.By George W. Bush Presidential Center

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Dean Corll: The Candy Man (Part 2) 1:00:42

3M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

Episode 194: Dean Corll: the Candy Man (Part 2) In part 2 of this series, we discuss the development of Dean’s relationship with David Brooks, the psychological impacts of this, and the first several murders committed after David became his accomplice. Dean’s hold over David proved itself useful as David would lure victims to Dean, for Dean. Tune i…

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Rushan Abbas — A Uyghur’s Fight for Freedom 28:02

3M ago28:02

28:02

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…

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Dean Corll: The Candy Man (Part 1) 53:27

4M ago53:27

53:27

Episode 193: Dean Corll: The Candy Man (Part 1) Dean Corll was a prolific serial killer, rapist, and monster. He preyed on young boys and men and used a friendly demeanor to gain access to and build trust with those he abused. In this episode, we discuss Dean’s early life, young adulthood, and the ways in which he was able to connect with his desir…

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Monica Paul on Making Dallas a Sports Capital 30:11

4M ago30:11

30:11

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…

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The Murders of George and Catherine Peacock 1:11:07

4M ago1:11:07

1:11:07

Episode 192: The Murders of George and Catherine Peacock On September 17, 1989, George and Catherine Peacock were found brutally murdered in their Vermont home. The attacks on this elderly couple shook their community and left many wondering why someone would want to hurt the sweet couple, and who could possibly have done it. Their case remained un…

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The Murder of Jacque Rawson Waller 1:09:52

4M ago1:09:52

1:09:52

Episode 191: The Murder of Jacque Rawson Waller On the outside, Jacque and Clay’s marriage might have seemed idyllic; beautiful couple, precious triplets, support around them. But behind closed doors, their relationship was marked with abuse and violence. Jacque did all the right things-- documented the abuse, told loved ones, and made her plans to…

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The Disappearance of Nicholas Barclay (Part 2) 2:04:20

4M ago2:04:20

2:04:20

Episode 190: The Disappearance of Nicholas Barclay (Part 2) When DNA tests confirmed that not-so-Nicholas was, in fact, not Nicholas at all, they also confirmed his identity- Frederic Bourdin; a 23 year old French conman. Frederic, also known as The Chameleon, was a serial impostor who created more than 500 identities before he made his way to Texa…

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Texas de Brazil's Salim Aswari -- Living the American Dream 26:40

4M ago26:40

26:40

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 h…

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The Disappearance of Nicholas Barclay (Part 1) 1:20:49

5M ago1:20:49

1:20:49

Episode 189: The Disappearance of Nicholas Barclay (Part 1) In 1994, 13 year old Nicholas Barclay disappeared from San Antonio, TX. His mother and older siblings kept up the search, but it yielded nothing. Nicky was a troubled kid and was quickly believed to be a runaway. The family lost hope of finding him alive and hoped to one day find his body …

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Attack at the Mansion 1:29:42

5M ago1:29:42

1:29:42

Episode 188: Attack at the Mansion In Hillsboro, California on February 2, 1985, teenagers Laurie McKenna and Jeanine Grinsell were curious about the local, vacant mansion nearby. They had heard from other classmates that they could go for a secret tour; a security guard offered them if you showed up at the front gates. On that Saturday, Laurie and…

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CJ Short: Tactics of Surveillance 1:36:37

5M ago1:36:37

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Episode 187: CJ Short: Tactics of Surveillance Welcome to another CJ short! In this episode, we talk about different law enforcement and independent agencies’ tactics and approaches to surveillance. We discuss how they work, who can be surveilled, and the ethical considerations for all included. Tune in to this episode to learn more! Email us at: a…

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The Kidnapping and Disappearance of Angela Hammond 1:10:57

5M ago1:10:57

1:10:57

Episode 186: The Kidnapping and Disappearance of Angela Hammond Angela Hammond was only 20 years old when she disappeared. Angie and her fiance Rob were excited for the next chapter in their lives; they were having a baby. On the night of April 4, 1991, Angie made a phone call from a payphone in Clinton, MO to Rob while she was less than 10 blocks …

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Shawn VanDiver — Standing Beside Our Afghan Allies 29:01

5M ago29:01

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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 situat…

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Karen Read and the Death of John O’Keefe (Part 3) 1:48:12

5M ago1:48:12

1:48:12

Episode 185: Karen Read and the Death of John O’Keefe (Part 3) In the third part of this series, we focus on the conclusion of the trial, and all of the aftermath. With Karen acquitted, we talk about what might be next for her, and what, hopefully, is next for the investigation into John’s death. We talk about the press, the spectacle that has surr…

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Karen Read and the Death of John O’Keefe (Part 2) 1:48:29

6M ago1:48:29

1:48:29

Episode 184: Karen Read and the Death of John O’Keefe (Part 2) In this episode, we focus on the trials. We discuss the investigation further, the evidence presented, and the theories put forth by both the prosecution and defense. We look at many of the players involved the night before and the day that John died, their movements, statements and the…

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Karen Read and the Death of John O’Keefe (Part 1) 48:28

6M ago48:28

48:28

Episode 183: Karen Read and the Death of John O’Keefe (Part 1) In the first episode of this series, we go over the very basics: John O’Keefe and Karen Read, their backgrounds and early dating. We discuss the general events of the night in question and set the scene to discuss all the players, pieces of evidence, and testimony in part 2. *please exc…

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Jessica Yellin — Independent Journalism 21:56

6M ago21:56

21:56

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,…

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The Murder of Gianni Versace 1:17:58

6M ago1:17:58

1:17:58

Episode 182: The Murder of Gianni Versace Gianni Versace is a household name in the fashion world; he was an out queer man who built a fashion empire from the ground up. Gianni’s life was cut short when he was gunned down on the front steps of the Miami home he shared with his life partner in 1997. His killer was on a killing spree, and was a gay m…

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Rear Admiral Michael Giorgione, CEC, USN (Ret.) — Camp David and Beyond: From Military to Civilian Leadership 39:25

6M ago39:25

39:25

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.…

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The Unsolved Murder of Judy Smith 1:28:24

6M ago1:28:24

1:28:24

Episode 181: The Unsolved Murder of Judy Smith In April 1997, Judy Smith accompanied her husband on a work trip to Philadelphia, PA. While he attended meetings, she planned to sight see and they’d join up in the evening. On the second day of their trip, Judy never came back to the hotel room. She was unreachable. Months long searches came up empty …

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Blayne Smith — Perseverance, Endurance, and the Special Forces 34:39

7M ago34:39

34:39

As a young officer in the U.S. special forces, Blayne Smith faced the difficult realities of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. And while not everyone will experience war first-hand, the lessons that Blayne learned apply to all of us.Today, he’s helped build the Bush Institute Veteran Wellness Alliance’s Check-In program that helps veterans get connec…

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Bringing Awareness to PEPFAR’s Life-saving Work Featuring Jenny Dyer and Charlie Peacock 35:39

7M ago35:39

35:39

Jenny Dyer, founder of the 2030 Collaborative and artist and music producer Charlie Peacock were part of a coalition of experts, artists, and policymakers such as Bono, Senator Bill Frist, and many others that were instrumental in building the awareness around the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and the consensus needed to keep the President’s Emergency f…

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Diane Zamora 1:21:14

7M ago1:21:14

1:21:14

Episode 180: Diane Zamora & David Graham Diane Zamora and David Graham were teenagers with shared interests and goals, and fell in love. Diane fell hard for him, but David’s eyes wandered. When Diane learned the name of the girl David had cheated on her with, Diane decided the only way he could make it up to her was to kill her. Adrianne Jessica “A…

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Data Driven — Dr. Susan Urahn, President and CEO of Pew Charitable Trusts 19:49

7M ago19:49

19:49

Learn about the Bush Center's Forum on Leadership: https://www.bushcenter.org/events-and-exhibits/forum-on-leadership-2025By George W. Bush Presidential Center

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Continuing the Legacy of Alexis de Tocqueville — Featuring Stéphanie and Jean–Guillaume de Tocqueville 32:08

7M ago32:08

32:08

To learn more about the work the Tocqueville Foundation does, click here.By George W. Bush Presidential Center

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The Horrific Murder of Reagan Tokes 1:24:27

7M ago1:24:27

1:24:27

Episode 179: The Horrific Murder of Reagan Tokes Reagan Tokes was a 21 year old senior in college, eager to graduate and excited to begin the next chapter of her life. Reagan was beautiful, energetic, hard working, kind and motivated; she was such a bright light. But sometimes the brightest of lights draw attention from all kinds of people, and not…

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Dr. R. Gerald Turner -- Shaping SMU's Legacy 23:19

7M ago23:19

23:19

Dr. Turner served as SMU’s president for 30 years. During his impressive career, he achieved significant milestones from being a key player in bringing the George W. Bush Presidential Center to SMU’s campus to getting SMU into to the ACC. He has left quite a legacy.Dr. Turner visited the Bush Center for the annual Forum on Leadership and met with S…