Perception Reception with Advanceman Rick Jasculca

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on an issue plaguing America for far too long - healthcare disparities. In this episode, Rick sits down with Dr. David Ansell, a leader in community health equity and co-founder of Equal Hope, a Chicago-based non-profit focused on saving women’s lives by eliminating health disparities in Illinois. Together they discuss how health inequity is directly tied to systemic racism--leading to a lack of access and quality healthcare in BIPOC communities, and how his work at Rush University Medical Center, as well as Equal Hope, employs a grassroots ,community-based approach to help close the disparity gap.

 Back by popular demand - it's another episode of the Advance Files. Today, Rick is joined by the power team that made up the Scheduling and Advance operation of the Clinton White House - Stephanie Street, Aviva Rosenthal and Rob Rosen. Together they talk about being the “producers and directors” of bringing a President's vision to life and how every moment on a President's schedule is an opportunity to connect with, and have an impact on people from all over the world.  

Joint Force Headquarters National Capitol Region / Military District of Washington. Bet you can't say that five times fast.  On today's episode, Rick sits down with Mike Wagner, Chief of National Events Planning for the JFHQ-NCR/MDW to talk about the important role they play in support of our nation's most historic events - including Presidential Inaugurals and state funerals, just to name a few.  Listen in as Mike breaks down the how the many pieces come together to bring these events to life - their meaning for America's current and former leaders - and the nation as a whole. 

On today’s episode, Rick sits down for a conversation with award-winning journalist, Carol Marin, whose career spans nearly 50 years as both a Chicago and national reporter and anchor for NBC, CBS and WTTW, and who now serves as the Director at the Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence at DePaul University. They discuss a wide range of issues facing today’s news media practitioners, including how “menu journalism” and social media have blurred the lines of trust between the public, government and media--and how putting a renewed emphasis on civics education and news literacy at a young age can help restore critical thinking, trust and the pillars of democracy.

Lilly Weinberg, Senior Director of Community and National Initiatives at the Knight Foundation, joins the podcast this week. She and Rick talk about the national replication of the “On the Table” initiative and the importance of civic engagement to help inform the future of our communities and how small conversations can lead to BIG ideas. They also discuss how the disruption of COVID in our lives has lead to innovative new solutions that not only help break down barriers, but sustained positive impact in our communities.

It's time for another Advance Files. In this episode Rick is joined by a new generation of advance folks , Grant O'Brien and Andrew Jasculca , as they discuss the roles they have played in Presidential Inaugurals. Andrew, as the lead advance for former President Carter at the Inauguration of President Trump, and Grant, fresh of his role as the Associate Director of Inaugural Events and Ceremonies for the historic Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Listen in as they discuss how the Inauguration is an important symbol of unity and inclusivity for our nation, and the privilege of getting to be behind the scenes for these historic moments.  

Welcome to 2021. In the first episode of season 2, we barely scratch the surface on all  that has happened in the first days of the new year. Washington Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun-Times, Lynn Sweet, joins Rick to talk about the insurrection at the US Capitol, the ever-present challenges journalists face in the age of misinformation and the 24-hour news cycle, and even a few thoughts about Illinois politics. 

What the heck is advance anyways? For our season finale of Perception Reception, we're diving into the Advance Files, and Rick and four of his longtime friends from the world of advance reminisce about the their days "on the road".  Listen in as they talk about what it is like to be the eyes and ears behind the scenes helping to shape the world's perceptions of some of America's most prominent public figures. 

What the heck is advance anyways? Tune in this Thursday to find out! 

In this never ending election cycle,  there is no such thing as too much analysis about the state of public opinion polling. So, today Rick is joined by Geoff Garin, president of Hart Research, who along with Public Opinion Strategies has conducted the NBC News/Wall Street Journal political poll since 1989. Beyond what the heck happened on November 3 in the Presidential election and across the nation, Geoff and Rick also cast an eye towards the double US Senate run-offs in Georgia. Importantly, they'll also discuss where public opinion stands on Americans' ability to come to a consensus on key issues - climate change and healthcare. 

Ambassador Jim Collins is no stranger to foreign relations, intelligence and international diplomacy, having served in the U.S. foreign service in multiple capacities in Russia, including as U.S. Ambassador from 1997 to 2001, as well as diplomatic postings in Amman, Jordan and the Consulate General in Izmir, Turkey.  In DC, at the Department of State, he served as deputy executive secretary for Europe and Latin America; director of the Department of State's Operations Center.  In 1987 to 1988, he served as a staff member of the National Security Council as director for Intelligence Policy.In today's episode, Rick and Ambassador Collins discuss the end of the Soviet Union in the early 90's, Putin's push to "Make Russia Great Again", and America's role on the world stage as we gear up for the Biden Administration.

Today's episode features Mark Sullivan, former director of the United States Secret Service and until 2017, was a principal at GSIS, a global security consulting and business advisory firm. Rick and Mark discuss the pressing national and international security issues of the day, including increased cyber threats, home grown terrorists groups, as well as the importance of pandemic planning and creating a continuity of business plan post-COVID. 

Acceptance. Hope. Transformation. In this powerful episode, Rick is joined by critically acclaimed author, Michael Tyler, who, among many accomplishments, wrote the children's book, "The Skin You Live In.”  Michael discusses the indoctrination of racism in America and how "isms" are an adult problem often imposed on children; why “tolerance” may  not be a virtue; how good intentions are nothing without conviction; and the difference between equality of humanity vs. equality of society.

On this special episode of Perception Reception, Rick is joined by longtime friend and Representative for IL-17, Cheri Bustos. The Congresswoman and Rick reflect on the 2020 election, goals for improving the brand of the Democratic Party, the importance of "showing up and listening" to constituents, and why she has hope for democracy with a Biden/Harris Presidency.  

The election is over... or certainly should be. And today Rick is joined by Anna Greenberg, Managing Partner of GQR, one  of the nation's most respected public opinion research firms. Listen in as Anna and Rick unpack all the latest headlines about the veracity of election polls, including the  difference between private candidate polls and public media polls, an analysis of the hot Senate races in Arizona and Colorado, thoughts about Mitch McConnell and Trump voters.

This week, Rick is joined by the political jack of all trades, John Podesta. Among serving as special counsel on climate policy to President Obama; he was the Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton; was a member of the U.N. Secretary General’s High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda; and chaired Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential Campaign. Listen in as Rick and John discuss the origin of polarization in the U.S., the work of the Center for American Progress, and John's thoughts on the role of the White House Chief of Staff. 

This week, Rick is joined by Bill McInturff, managing partner of the “GOP powerhouse” Public Opinion Strategies, one of the nation’s largest political and public affairs survey firms. Bill, along with Hart Research Associates, conducts the NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll. Listen as Rick and Bill break down the most recent poll numbers leading up to the November 3rd election and where the public stands on all the latest issues from COVID, the media, and what local elections to keep an eye on.

Kicking off the series, a conversation between Rick Jasculca and his longtime friend, former Clinton White House Press Secretary, Mike McCurry, who also had a long tenure as Co-Chair of the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. Mike is now a distinguished professor and director of the Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary, where his work focuses on the intersection of faith, politics and public affairs. Mike also serves “of counsel” at Public Strategies Washington, where he provides counsel on communications strategies and management to a wide range of corporate and nonprofit clients.