Duologue with Leslie Heaney

They never appear in the photo. They never take the credit. But without them, there’s no flyover, no Brandenburg Gate speech, no “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” For sixty years, the people behind every presidential moment have operated under one unwritten rule: what happens on the road stays on the road. Jean Becker and Tom Collamore have finally convinced 96 of them to break it.Jean and Tom join me to discuss their new book Don’t Tell the President, a bipartisan collection of stories spanning LBJ through Obama. We get into the bicycle bell phone trick that conjured a fake presidential call, how Chelsea Clinton ended up chasing Air Force One through Moscow in a laundry van, what really went into making Reagan’s Berlin Wall speech historic, and why Bob Dole ended up being greeted by Daffy Duck and Frankenstein at what was supposed to be a campaign event.We also go to the serious side — 9/11, Sandy Hook, assassination attempts on Ford and Reagan — and what it means to be the person who has to put a president in the right place on the worst days in American history.Jean Becker served as Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush is the author of The Man I Knew and Character Matters. Tom Collamore is a senior advisor to the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, was Chief of Staff and assistant Secretary of Commerce in the George H W Bush Administration senior fellow at the Bush Presidential Library and a veteran of multiple presidential trips.(00:00:03) Introduction(00:01:50) How the book came to be(00:06:31) What does a presidential advance person actually do?(00:08:46) John the Baptist: the first advance person(00:10:43) The bicycle bell phone trick(00:13:00) Chelsea Clinton and the Moscow laundry van(00:15:27) How advance changed after the Reagan assassination attempt(00:17:44) The Secret Service relationship(00:20:08) Robert Gates as a pre-advance person(00:22:28) The nude beach in Martinique(00:24:48) George W. Bush, a safari, and elephant mating season(00:27:10) The Vatican vs. the Bush team over a backdrop(00:29:31) Two Clinton staffers, a locksmith, and a Texas standoff(00:31:48) The president as comforter in chief(00:34:12) 9/11 and the shoes Brian Montgomery still can't clean(00:36:39) Reagan's Berlin Wall speech almost happened inside(00:39:00) Obama at Sandy Hook(00:41:25) Bob Dole, Daffy Duck, and the campaign event from hell(00:45:59) OutroHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Most people think they’re protected... until the day they find out they’re not. In this episode, Leslie sits down with Julianna Obeid of Alliant Insurance Services to explain how homeowners and families become dangerously underinsured, and what “replacement value,” fine print, and policy language really mean when disaster strikes.Julianna also breaks down the hidden risks of modern life—from teenage drivers and social media to parties, contractors, Airbnb rentals, and everyday accidents—and how a single lawsuit can threaten everything if you don’t have the right liability and umbrella coverage.We also explore how floods, water damage, and climate risk are reshaping insurance, and why working with a true broker—not just buying a policy online—is now essential. Listen now to learn how to protect your home, your assets, and your family before it’s too late.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What does it really mean to own a song? In this episode of Duologue, Leslie sits down with Josh Gruss, founder and CEO of Round Hill Music, to explore the hidden business behind the songs we love. From Nashville songwriting rooms to global music catalogs, Josh breaks down how songs are created, who owns them, and how royalties actually work. They discuss the difference between songwriters and artists, why publishing rights matter, and how iconic songs can generate value for decades. The conversation also unpacks high-profile ownership disputes, including Taylor Swift’s rerecordings, and explains why music publishing is often described as the “real estate” of the music industry. Along the way, Josh shares his unconventional career path from finance to founding one of the world’s leading music publishing companies — and why great songs tend to stand the test of time.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Each year in New York City, thousands of young people in foster care face a life-altering transition: aging out of the system at 18—or 21 if they opt in—often without stable housing, financial support, or guidance into adulthood.This week, Leslie speaks with Nancy Jarecki, longtime board member of New Yorkers for Children (NYFC), and Eyhdi (Eydi) Osorio, NYFC Scholar, Youth Advisory Board Vice President, and aspiring mental-health professional, about what it truly means to age out of foster care—and how targeted support can change a life’s trajectory.Together, they explore the realities of aging out, the housing crisis facing foster youth, the critical role of emotional support and mentorship, and how NYFC builds community, confidence, and opportunity through programs like Career Choice, which funds trade and technical education and housing. This episode offers an honest, hopeful look at the foster care system—and the impact of investing in young people as they transition into adulthood.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this powerful and inspiring episode, Leslie sits down with Kate LaGere, co-founder of The Mahjong Line, the design-driven brand that transformed the look, feel, and cultural momentum of American Mahjong.Kate shares the real story behind how she and co-founder Annie O’Grady built one of the most recognizable modern game brands — from their first design prototypes and Pantone-specific tiles to their explosive growth across the South, college campuses, and nationwide Mahjong circles.But this episode goes deeper.Kate opens up about the unexpected viral backlash the company faced in 2021, when a wave of online criticism accused The Mahjong Line of cultural appropriation. She describes what it was like to become the center of a national firestorm overnight — the trolling, the threats, the media frenzy, and how she and Annie stayed grounded, responsive, and resilient.Kate also offers heartfelt advice for female founders, creatives, and entrepreneurs on taking risks, embracing discomfort, and building something meaningful — even when the internet comes for you.Whether you’re a seasoned Mahjong player, a new learner, or simply love a good story about grit and reinvention, this conversation is a must-listen.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.