Garrett Boorojian and NYT Bestselling Author, JFK Jr.'s friend, former The History Channel Scholar–in–Residence, University of Oklahoma Emeritus Professor, former University of Oxford Lecturer, former Yale University Associate Professor, Steve Gillon

Garrett Boorojian and NYT Bestselling Author, JFK Jr.'s friend, former The History Channel Scholar–in–Residence, University of Oklahoma Emeritus Professor, former University of Oxford Lecturer, former Yale University Associate Professor, Steve Gillon

Author: Garrett Boorojian October 28, 2025 Duration: 1:12:56

https://www.stevenmgillon.com/

"STEVEN M. GILLON

Historian | Author | Producer | Professor | Speaker

"History is not about memorizing facts. It’s about using facts to build an argument for interpreting the past." - Steven M. Gillon"

https://millercenter.org/experts/steven-m-gillon

"Fast Facts

  • Former Scholar-in-Residence at The History Channel
  • Written or edited nearly a dozen books
  • Professor emeritus, University of Oklahoma

Steven Gillon is the former Scholar-in-Residence at The History Channel and emeritus professor of history at the University of Oklahoma.

Gillon received his BA in history from Widener University, where he graduated summa cum laude with honors in history. He was named the recipient of the faculty prize for maintaining the highest undergraduate GPA. He went on to earn his MA and PhD in American civilization from Brown University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving his PhD, Gillon spent nine years teaching history at Yale University, where he won the prestigious DeVane Medal for outstanding undergraduate teaching. In 1994, he accepted a position as University Lecturer in modern history at Oxford University. Three years later, he returned to the United States at the invitation of the president of the University of Oklahoma to become the founding dean of a new Honors College.

Gillon is one of the nation's leading experts on modern American history and politics. He has written or edited nearly a dozen books including the New York Times e-book bestseller, The Pact: Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and the Rivalry that Defined a Generation (Oxford 2008). Among his many other books are: Boomer Nation: The Largest and Richest Generation and How it Changed America (Free Press 2004); 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America (Three Rivers 2006); Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation into War (Basic 2011); That’s Not What We Meant to Do: Reform and Its Unintended Consequences in Twentieth-Century America (W.W. Norton, 2000); The Democrats' Dilemma: Walter F. Mondale and the Liberal Legacy (Columbia University, 1992); and Politics and Vision: The ADA and American Liberalism, 1947-1985 (Oxford 1987). Gillon's next book, Presidents at War, will be released in early 2025.

Gillon's articles have appeared in both academic journals and popular newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Boston Globe. He is a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post. He has made appearances on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News as a commentator and expert on issues related to modern American history.

Over the past decade, Gillon has hosted a number of shows on The History Channel, including the network's flagship public affairs program, HistoryCenter. He has also hosted Our Generation, History vs. Hollywood, and Movies in Time. His last three books have been turned into prime time documentaries on the network: The Kennedy Assassination 24 Hours After, Pearl Harbor: 24 Hours After, and Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live.

In addition to his scholarly and television work, Gillon has served as a historical consultant for a number of prominent organizations. He was the chief historian for the Woodstock Museum in Bethel, New York. He spent two years as a consultant to News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch. In 2013, AARP chose him as one of ten “Thought Leaders” in the United States on issues related to the aging of the Baby Boom generation."


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 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 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 pro…
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…