Garrett Boorojian and Bloomberg News Political Contributor, Political Science / International Studies Professor at Iona University, Visiting Fellow at Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Author, Pollster, Jeanne Sheehan Zaino

Garrett Boorojian and Bloomberg News Political Contributor, Political Science / International Studies Professor at Iona University, Visiting Fellow at Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Author, Pollster, Jeanne Sheehan Zaino

Author: Garrett Boorojian February 19, 2026 Duration: 1:20:38

Garrett Boorojian and Jeanne Sheehan Zaino discuss relationship building in a team environment.

Garrett and Dr. Zaino, who's a Bloomberg News contributor, an Iona University political science and international studies professor, a book author, and a pollster, analyze the current state of our nation during these polarizing times where the federal government under both Trump Administrations have been sowing doubts in our free and fair democratic elections, undermining democratic norms, and dismantling democratic institutions. Dr. Zaino believes, and Garrett concurs, that the constructs of Congress and The White House need to be reimagined (redesigned) to prevent any future unconstitutional and authoritarian-style overreach originating from the Executive Branch.

Garrett and Dr. Zaino also speak about the political fallout of President Trump's role on January 6th, 2021, the immigration policy during President Biden's Administration, and the 2010 BP Oil spill during President Obama's first term.

Garrett believes that the federal government under Trump hasn't employed as many of the best and brightest compared to America's academic, financial, and corporate institutions. He further adds that not every leader at the federal level, although previously accomplished in the private sector, are effective, qualified, and competent. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are cited as examples.

https://jeannesheehanzaino.net/

https://ash.harvard.edu/people/jeanne-sheehan-zaino/

https://www.iona.edu/faculty/zaino-jeanne

"JEANNE SHEEHAN ZAINO, PH.D.

PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Phone:

(914) 633-2252

Email:

jzaino@iona.edu

Degrees:

  • Ph.D., Political Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • MA, Political Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • MPA, Survey Research & Data Analysis, Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut, Storrs (now Cornell University)
  • BA, University Scholar, Political Science & Mass Communications, University of Connecticut, Storrs

Biography

Dr. Jeanne Sheehan Zaino is a professor of Political Science & International Studies at Iona University (NY, USA). A pollster by training, she is also political contributor with Bloomberg News, a Senior Democracy Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress [CSPC], an affiliated faculty member with the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies (ITPS), a member of the International Advisory Board for South Asia Research, and author of several books and articles, including her most recent book Sikander Hyat-Khan: Collected Papers of The Premier of United Punjab, 1928-1942 (Primus 2024) and the forthcoming America Democracy in Crisis: The Case for Rethinking Madisonian Government, Post-January 6 (Palgrave MacMillian 2025). Along with four colleagues at Iona who form the Data Science working group she was recently awarded a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Division of Undergraduate Education for a project entitled "Data Science for Future Leaders."

More on Dr. Sheehan Zaino and her work can be found on www.jeannesheehanzaino.net."


Garrett Boorojian hosts WaveCapital's Guest Speaker Series on Relationship Building in a Team Environment, a podcast that digs into the human dynamics behind high-stakes success. Each conversation moves beyond typical interviews to explore how trust, communication, and genuine connection are forged under pressure. The guest list is a testament to the universal application of these principles, featuring Hall of Fame athletes from football, basketball, and baseball, Olympic medalists, Emmy-winning media figures, and top coaches and executives. These are individuals for whom "team" is not a corporate buzzword but the fundamental mechanism of achievement. You'll hear firsthand accounts of navigating locker rooms, boardrooms, and creative collaborations. The discussions are grounded in real stories-from the tension before a championship game to the delicate negotiations of a major business deal-revealing the practical methods these professionals use to build cohesive units. This isn't abstract theory; it's lived experience dissected to uncover what actually works. Whether you're leading a sports team, a business department, or any collaborative project, this podcast offers a rare look at the relational craftsmanship required to excel. Garrett guides these explorations with a focus on actionable insight, making each episode a masterclass in the subtle art of working with others.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

WaveCapital's Guest Speaker Series on Relationship Building in a Team Environment
Podcast Episodes
Garrett Boorojian and Women's Pro Baseball League Co-Founder, Counsel at Dentons, former Counsel at Heenan Blaikie, former Corporate Counsel at Toyota Canada, Canadian businessman who met with John F. Kennedy Jr. before JFK Jr.'s passing, Keith Stein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:32
Women's Pro Baseball League Co-Founder Keith Stein:Served as Corporate Counsel for Toyota Canada, learned Japanese, and "created a Japanese North American Friendship Foundation for Young Professionals."Served as "the rig…
Garrett Boorojian and Chief Content, Communications, and Marketing Officer at the Clinton Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative; Founder and President of Minassian Media; Assistant Press Secretary in the Clinton – Gore White House, Craig Minassian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:38
Garrett Boorojian and Craig Minassian discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.clintonfoundation.org/about-the-clinton-foundation/leadership#leadership-team/"CRAIG MINASSIANCHIEF CONTENT, COMMUNICA…
Garrett Boorojian and Chief Service Officer in the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Mayor of Novato (California) and City Council Member, former U.S. Navy Lt. Commander (JAG Corps), 2026 Lt. Governor Candidate (CA), Josh Fryday [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:40
Garrett Boorojian and Josh Fryday discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://serve.ca.gov/josh-fryday-bio/"Josh FrydayGO-Serve Director and California Chief Service OfficerAs a member of the Governor Gav…
Garrett Boorojian and Founder of DC Student Defense, former Assistant U.S. Attorney and Counsel to former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, CNN Legal Analyst, Alumnus of Vassar College, Sarah Lawrence College, and Georgetown Law Center, Shanlon Wu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:40
Garrett Boorojian and Shanlon Wu discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.shanlonwu.com/about/"About Shan WuShanlon “Shan” Wu is a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer whose practice areas include white-c…
Garrett Boorojian and 4x Pro–Bowler, 2x All–Pro, 1999 AFC Champion, Super Bowl 34 Runner–up, Ball State Athletics Hall of Famer, Tennessee Sports Hall of Famer, Indiana Sports Hall of Famer, Senior Bowl Hall of Famer, Radio Co–Host, Blaine Bishop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:22
Garrett Boorojian and Blaine Bishop discuss relationship building in a team environment.Blaine was a 4x Pro–Bowler and 2x All–Pro (1995, Pro Football Writers; 2000, Associated Press).Note: During my interview with Blaine…
Garrett Boorojian and Podcast Host of The Social Contract with Joe Walsh, former U.S. Congressman (R–IL), former Tea Party Movement Activist, former friend and political mentor of the late Charlie Kirk, Book Author, Democrat, Joe Walsh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:52
Garrett Boorojian and Joe Walsh discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-contract-with-joe-walsh/id1590913798"The Social Contract with Joe WalshAboutAmerica, we…
Garrett Boorojian and 1995 National Champion (Assistant, UCLA), OVC and SEC Coach of the Year, 438 NCAA Division I Wins (Head Coach, Murray State, Alabama, NC State, Cal State Northridge), Leadership and Motivational Coach, Podcaster, Mark Gottfried [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:01
Garrett Boorojian and Mark Gottfried discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.coachmarkgottfried.com/meet-mark"Hi, I’m Mark. Let’s Talk About What It Means to “Get It Done.”For more than three deca…
Garrett Boorojian and Partner at Pinnacle Collective Public Affairs, former Special Assistant to former President Joe Biden and former Chief Speech Writer to former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, former Senior Advisor in the U.S. Senate, Kristin Lynch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:13
Garrett Boorojian and Kristin Lynch discuss relationship building in a team environment.As the former Special Assistant to former President Joe Biden and former Chief Speechwriter to former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Kri…
Garrett Boorojian and Associate Professor of Surgery (Vascular) at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Vascular Surgery Fellow at Stanford Health Care, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer at Major Medical Devices, Anahita Dua [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:52
Garrett Boorojian and Anahita Dua discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/20714/anahita-dua"About Anahita Dua, MDDr. Dua is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Massach…
Garrett Boorojian and CNN / MS NOW Legal Analyst, Contributor at Vox Media, former Chief / Assistant U.S. Attorney for the SDNY, former D.A. of Westchester County D.A.'s Office, Adjunct Professor at Fordham University School of Law, Mimi Rocah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:46
Garrett Boorojian and Mimi Rocah discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.fordham.edu/school-of-law/faculty/directory/adjunct/miriam-e-rocah/"Miriam E. RocahAdjunct Professor of LawMiriam E. Rocah…