Shining a light on the stars of American history is the focus of the Grateful American™ Foundation. In this podcast for David Bruce Smith’s Grateful American ™ Radio Show, Smith and co-host Hope Katz Gibbs interview John Gray, the director of the…more
John Gray has been the Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History since July 23, 2012. He oversees 234 employees, a budget of more than $34 million and the renewal of the museum’s 120,000-square-foot west exhibition wing. Prior to…more
A Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., a member of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, and a former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Those are just a few of the accomplishments of Bruce Cole. In this…more
How important are social security benefits for women? That’s the question Financial Adviser Carmen Wu discusses in this podcast, who explains, “Social Security Benefits may be the only source of retirement income for a large majority of…more
Colleen Mudlaff is the president of the DC-based Women’s Diplomatic Series (WDS), an organization that she and a handful other women founded in the fall of 2009. The goal is to encourage women to be better global citizens, through exposure to Washington’s…more
Gretchen Rubin was clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor when she realized that what she really wanted to be was a writer. Since then, she has written several books, including the best-selling “Forty Ways to Look at Winston…more
The white picket fence? The American dream? What about the drama of the student loan? That’s the topic college junior Eurah Lee tackles in this first episode of the Millennials Radio Show. “Sure, getting a loan was essential to me going to…more
Doug Bradburn is the founding director of Mount Vernon’s Fred W. Smith National Library. In this episode of the Grateful American™ Radio Show, co-hosts David Bruce Smith and Hope Katz Gibbs interview the specialist on George Washington, who provides…more
Howard Pressman, CFP® at the financial services firm Egan Berger & Weiner LLC says that like most people, he loves a good scare — especially at Halloween time. But when it comes to planning ahead for your financial future, the last thing he wants to be…more
Karen Hanrahan is an appointee in the Obama Administration serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Human Rights and Democracy. She has also worked with Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Karen has been the U.S.…more
Bringing visitors to the hallowed ground where the Founding Fathers and Mothers lived is the focus of most of the Grateful American™ Series. So it is pleasure today to be with Cate Magennis Wyatt, founder and president of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground…more
On this episode of Finance Rules, CFP Michael Egan shines a spotlight on a topic that is near and dear to the hearts of many parents and 20somethings: Millennials and Money. “People in their 20s and early 30s have a lot of distractions, from wanting to…more
When it comes to tapping into your intuition, it’s helpful to have tools that enable you to go deeper into the practice, knows Edemir Rossi, a Brazilian who for decades has been teaching what he calls “practical spirituality.” “It…more
What is the value of teaching more kids and adults about American history? That’s the question that Jim Basker asked GratefulAmericanFoundation.com founder David Bruce Smith. Basker clearly knows the value of having a comprehensive view of American…more
LSD? Ecstasy? Really? Yes, insists Tom Shroder, author of “Acid Test.” In his new book, he makes a convincing argument and encourages us to open our minds to the fact that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) can heal. The former Washington Post…more
When it comes to teaching American history, James G. Basker is known for being able to bring to life the stories, facts, and events of the past. As president of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History since 1997, Basker has overseen the development…more
Aging is inevitable, and how we handle the process depends on how we prepare for it, insists insurance agent Dave Beck, a partner at the financial services firm Egan, Berger & Weiner. “It’s a tough topic,” Beck knows, and one that he is…more
If you have an IRA, you might not be aware that changes have been made at the federal level regarding your account. In this podcast interview, CFP Bryan Beatty tells us that sometimes an IRA is not a retirement account. Specifically, Beatty explains: 1. IRAs…more
Did you know that women are twice as likely to live below the poverty line during retirement? “It’s shocking, and unfortunately it’s true,” shares Financial Adviser Carmen Wu of Egan, Berger & Weiner LLC. In this podcast interview…more
What were James and Dolley Madison really like? For insights into the lives of these founders of the country, we visited with Kat Imhoff, who has been president of The Montpelier Foundation since January 2013. You’ll be fascinated and delighted to learn…more
What happens when you are so successful in your business that you have all the financial security you worked so hard for — and now, anything is blooming possible? “The answer may be harder to come up with than you think,” admits Ana Dutra, 50, the…more
What do you know about the amazing Dolley Madison? If it’s cupcakes, you don’t know the real story, insists Dr. Catherine Allgor, a professor of history at the University of California and Yale Ph.D., who is now the director of education and the…more
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives,” President James Madison famously said in 1822. That quote is part of the inspiration for the…more
“To hear the financial services industry tell it, retirement looks like a distinguished gray-haired man and an attractive silver-haired woman walking hand in hand down a magnificent beach, enjoying the sunset while gazing lovingly and contentedly into…more
What inspired David Bruce Smith to write “Three Miles from Providence: The Tale of Abraham Lincoln and the Soldiers’ Home”? That’s just one of the questions that Angela Sontheimer, managing director of The Lincoln Leadership Institute at…more
On this episode of David Bruce Smith’s Grateful American™ Series, you’ll head inside the home of founding father Alexander Hamilton. The Hamilton Grange National Memorial is a National Park Service site in upper New York City. And to talk about…more
What do handstands and marketing have in common? That’s the question the yogi and serial entrepreneur Andrea Allen answers in her new series, “Do you ever wonder how yogis easily stick a handstand, meditate for long periods of time or effortlessly…more
When it comes to the Revolutionary era, there’s no better storyteller than best-selling author Tom Fleming. In fact, The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers, is most relevant for our Grateful American™ Series, and one of the books David Bruce Smith…more
With tax day looming, here are some tips to consider from CFP® Michael Egan, a founding partner at the Northern Virginia financial services firm, Egan Berger & Weiner, LLC. “In our financial planning practice we do not prepare tax returns, but we…more
We are here today with Clea Newman in Westport, CT. She is the Senior Director of External Affairs with the SeriousFun Children’s Network. Clea also serves as a spokesperson for the organization helping to elevate awareness of the brand and advance the…more
