Life Stories Interviews

David Brooks: How To Live A Meaningful Life

David Brooks opens up about the importance of vulnerability, attempting to lose ego, commitment, and reliability as a writer. He explores how American culture has changed over the past 60 years and why trust's been lost in our institutions and each other.

Gary Player: A Life of Golf, Triumph, and Giving Back

Retired Golf champion Gary Player reflects on his life of legacy, sharing his journey from a childhood of hardship in South Africa, to a professional athlete inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame. He shares how he has coped with adversity, determination, and loss to live a life of love and gratitude. “Golf, Grace and Giving Back” is part of The Thread Documentary series by Life Stories, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing inspiring stories on social justice, history, and culture.

Yo-Yo Ma Interview: Finding Connection Through Music

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma chronicles his life as a musician, from traveling the country and performing as a child prodigy, to becoming a 19-time Grammy Winner. Ma shares his passion for anthropology and nature, which has led to Our Common Nature, his initiative to re-connect nature with culture, and his title of United Nations Messenger of Peace.

Ken Chenault Interview: Former American Express CEO on Leadership in the Wake of 9/11

Former CEO of American Express Ken Chenault reflects on his life and career, sharing moments of adversity and lessons from his childhood that have shaped his approach to business: prioritize people first, then profit. Chenault discusses growing up amidst the Civil Rights movement, leading a company in the wake of 9/11, and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Laurence Tribe: On Justice, the Supreme Court, and Teaching Obama

Legal scholar Laurence Tribe reflects on his career as a Harvard Law professor teaching U.S. Constitutional Law. Tribe shares stories from when today’s political leaders were his students, including Ted Cruz and Barack Obama, and explains how different interpretations of the Constitution have informed many landmark cases of the Supreme Court.