The Tea Leaves Podcast

"He was the most famous, and arguably the most beloved man in the world in the decade of the 1950s. And yet he always found a way to say, 'your work is more important than what I’m doing.'” Sixty years ago, on December 11, 1959, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower during his historic visit to India gave a speech that makes reference to the world in 2019. This Tea Leaves episode covers a panel discussion commemorating that moment in history, co-hosted by The Asia Group at the Atlantic Council between Rich, Susan Eisenhower, president of the Eisenhower Group and President Eisenhower’s granddaughter, and Dr. Will Hitchcock, professor at the University of Virginia’s Department of History. The discussion reflects on the legacy President Eisenhower left on U.S. foreign policy and his role as a statesman, grandfather, and American. A link with audio of President Eisenhower’s speech set to footage of his historic visit in India is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLMnfKqYd6s&feature=youtu.be

Piper Stover, CEO and co-founder of BINC Technologies, sits down with Kurt and Rich in this latest Tea Leaves episode. The three discuss U.S.-China technological competition, domestic Chinese political sentiment, and Piper’s extensive career in the tech space in both China and the United States.

Amy Searight, Senior Advisor and Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), joins Kurt and Rich on this latest episode of Tea Leaves. Amy shares her observations about the geopolitical and macroeconomic dynamics that are animating the Southeast Asia region today. The three also discuss Southeast Asia’s evolving perceptions of Trump’s leadership, the future of ASEAN, and U.S. messaging to its strategic partners in the Pacific Islands region. Amy also shares her experiences serving as a woman in the national security field.

Originally aired on September 3, 2018.As chairman and CEO of Cisco, John Chambers guided the company to $47 billion in revenue and developed a reputation as one of the tech industry’s most successful and impressive leaders. In this episode, Rich joins Chambers in the heart of Silicon Valley to discuss Chambers’ upbringing in West Virginia and how he worked his way to become a tech titan. The two tackle questions related to how technology can transform communities and ways that countries can capitalize on the newest tech trends. Chambers also emphasizes the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific and how India, in particular, has prepared itself to benefit from emerging technology.

In this Tea Leaves episode, Kurt and Rich sit down with John Gans, Director of Communications and Research for Perry World House and former chief speechwriter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter at the Pentagon. Kurt and Rich chat with John about his new book, “White House Warriors: How the National Security Council Transformed the American Way of War” and dive into the inner workings of the National Security Council (NSC).

In this Tea Leaves episode, Kurt and Rich speak with the Asia Group Partner and U.S. Ambassador (ret.) Kurt Tong about his recent post as U.S. Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau. Kurt shares his thoughts on some of the forces behind the Hong Kong protests and helps untangle the city’s complex political and cultural dynamics.

In this episode of Tea Leaves, Kurt and Rich sit down with Dr. Michael Fullilove, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute, Australia’s leading think tank based in Sydney. Michael, a renowned expert on Australian foreign policy, discusses Australia’s complicated relationship with China, Australian domestic politics, and how Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison can establish a solid relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump while advancing Australia’s foreign policy interests.

In this episode of Tea Leaves, Kurt and Rich discuss the great unsolved mystery of the Pacific – the disappearance of famed explorer and aviator Amelia Earhart. Kurt also shares his involvement in the search for Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Electra plane as well as the mission that is currently underway on Nikumaroro Island.

In this episode of Tea Leaves, Kurt and Rich are joined by Julianne (“Julie”) Smith, an expert on transatlantic issues and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). The three discuss Julie’s experiences in the national security field as a woman, the complexities of Europe’s multifaceted relationship with Beijing, and the European perspective towards the Trump administration.

In this episode of Tea Leaves, Kurt and Rich continue the discussion with Jake Sullivan about U.S.-China strategic competition and where it’s headed, Jake’s travels with Secretary Clinton, his take on the 2016 campaign, and the Democratic Party moving forward.