LUNCH! with Shelley

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's special guest Josh Kraushaar, the editor-in-chief of Jewish Insider.  Josh has a track record of identifying election trends before they become conventional wisdom, and therefore is one of Washington's leading political analysts. Josh frequently appears on television and radio. He is often on Fox News Radio and is a frequent panelist on “Fox News Sunday,” “Special Report” with Bret Baier,  and a regular guest on “America's Newsroom” with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer. He is the author of Axios' weekly Sunday Sneak Peek newsletter, and in addition to his editor duties, he writes a weekly column for the Jewish Insider as well,  analyzing the latest political developments. Join us at our booth at the great Black Salt restaurant for terrific food and a fascinating conversation about global and domestic politics, antisemitism on U.S. college campuses, election trends for 2026 and beyond, Josh's summer plans and much much more! Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime and as always, Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's special guest Arielle Elliott.  Arielle is the Chief Executive Officer of NOTUS – which is an intriguing and new media group affiliated with the Albritton Journalism Institute. NOTUS has such an interesting niche, so join us at our sunny table at L'Ardente to learn more about this new media organization, and listen in on other fun topics as well, including what might be the real secret to sales, Arielle's experiences at Bloomberg and the National Journal, her involvement in two really meaningful philanthropic endeavors, and of course where she would have lunch! Arielle clearly knows her way around a newsroom, and that enthusiasm shines through to make a for a fabulous episode – so check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and in the meantime and as always, Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley for a very special Mother's Day episode featuring my Mom Isobel Clearfield Slomowitz!  My Mother is a very beautiful, glamorous, smart, kind and super fun person, and she is a wonderful mother to me and my two sisters Nina and Nan, a terrific grandmother to Amanda, Max, Rebecca, Dani and Sam, and a devoted wife to my father Marvin.Join us at my mom's kitchen table in Palm Beach for the best tuna fish ever for a wide-ranging conversation about my mother's love of dancing, how she met my father, and fun stories about fashion and famous people spanning her decades in PA, NYC, Capri and all over the world.So check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and as always and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!  

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's special guest Sara Taylor Fagan! Sara, aside from being my birthday buddy, is a true data whiz, a serial entrepreneur, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tunnl, and a regular contributor on NBC's Meet the Press. Join us and Claude at the always fun and delicious Café Milano for a really interesting conversation that includes chats about polls, microtargeting, behind the scenes in the green room, and memorable stories from Sara's White House Days. Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest Teresa Carlson.  Teresa is the founding President of the General Catalyst Institute, where she leverages her decades of leadership experience as a visionary industry builder.  She also serves as an international advisor and board member for General Catalyst and is a veteran executive of several large tech companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Splunk and Flex port.  Not surprisingly she's been referenced often as one of the most influential women in technology! Teresa is a fellow Café Milano aficionado - so join us at our corner table for a delicious conversation about fascinating career stories, good business practices, the arc of technologies over the past few decades, and really interesting personal insights at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Shelley gets you ready for another season of great food and wonderful conversion at the best restaurants in Washington DC. It's Lunch with Shelley!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest John Feehery. John is a sought-after political communications strategist – columnist -- television pundit – author - and a longtime dear friend.  John has had an incredible career in the nation's capital – starting as a researcher and speechwriter for House Minority Leader Bob Michel, to a communications director for House Majority Leader Tom Delay, and then as a press secretary for Speaker Dennis Hastert. Fast forward to several private sector jobs, and now John is a partner at EFB Advocacy - a boutique lobbying and communications shop.  John has consistently been rated as one of the top lobbyists by The Hill newspaper -- and is widely quoted around the world because of his deep knowledge of the legislative process -- crisis communications - and politics. He blogs at the Feehery Theory and is also a columnist for The Hill newspaper.Join us at the delicious Claudio's Table for a very fun and wide-ranging conversation about John's start in DC, Capitol Hill, policies, politics, covid, Ireland, and much much more!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts and, in the meantime, Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's special guest Harry Schnipper.  Harry is the owner of Blues Alley, the world renowned and oldest continuously operating Jazz Supper Club in America!  Nestled in the heart of Georgetown, Blues Alley – which is celebrating its' 60th anniversary - has been referred to as the house that Dizzy built, (that would be Dizzy Gillespie of course), and it has hosted some of the most notable jazz musicians in the world, as well as many favorite local musicians too. At its helm, Harry is an expert producer, lecturer, educator and presenter of nightly nightclub entertainment. Over the course of many decades, he has perfected the art of curating his nightclub calendar while simultaneously fulfilling the role of his own non-profit jazz music education organization. We are at Harry's and my frequent lunch spot – the dug out at Billy Martins - so join us for a conversation about all things Jazz, great DC venues, famous artists, great music and more at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring the great Claudio Pirollo, the owner, Chef and delightful personality behind the Et Voila restaurant. Along with fellow Et Voila Chef Alex Malaise, they have created and recently released a wonderful cookbook called “The Essentials of Belgian Cuisine,” and the book is true to its name!Join us for a very fun conversation with Chef Claudio about his favorite foods, famous chef's and the joy of Belgian cooking at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's special guest Jennifer Griffin, the very well-respected national security correspondent for FOX News.  Since 2007 Jen has reported daily from the Pentagon where she questions senior military leaders, travels to war zones with the Joint Chiefs and Secretaries of Defense, and reports on all aspects of the military.  Join us at the always wonderful Et Voila while Jen shares incredible stories about her reporting from all over the world, starting as a budding journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, to the Middle East, Moscow, and then her very impactful recollections from her seven years in Jerusalem.  Jennifer is an avid supporter of veterans, a member of the board of directors for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, and a co-author, along with her husband, of This Burning Land: Lessons from the Frontlines of the Transformed Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – a book about their time together in Jerusalem which I highly recommend.  She is also credited with saving her Fox colleague Ben Hall's life, and her re-telling of that story is like listening to a movie script, but better because it's true!Give this a listen at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and in the meantime and as always, Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's special guest, Ambassador Audra Plepyte, the Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States of America and to the United Mexican States. As a career diplomat with over 30 years of experience, Ambassador Plepyte has held numerous positions within the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dealing with bilateral and multilateral issues, heading the European Union Department, the Personnel Department, and the International Missions and Conflict Prevention Division. She has also served as Lithuania's ambassador to Spain and the World Tourism Organization, and is now the first female Ambassador of Lithuania to the U.S.Throughout our discussion, we talk about growing up in Vilnius under Soviet control, the importance of freedom and the beacon of hope that the United States played during those years, how modern and welcoming Lithuania is with a very happy young population, music, history, and of course food and lunch!We're dining at the lovely and historic Lithuanian Embassy in Washington DC, which is celebrating its 100th year of being in this exact location, so join us over salmon, bagels, Lithuanian cheeses, and amazing desserts for a very delightful and enlightening lunch! Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and as always and in the meantime, Peace Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our very special guest Billy Martin!  As anyone from Washington knows, Billy is the owner of Martin's Tavern and shares his iconic name with 4 other Billy Martins – two of whom started this great restaurant in 1933.  This Billy Martin is a 3rd generation Georgetowner and a 4th generation restauranteur - who took over this iconic spot with his wife Gina almost 25 years ago.Martin's Tavern is truly a marvel.  Since William S Martin and his son William G Martin opened Martins Tavern in this exact location on N and Wisconsin, Martin's has been a go-to spot for Washington's movers and shakers, Hollywood stars, Broadway legends, and regular folks like us!  Come join us in the Madeleine Albright booth for Welsh Rarebit, great entrees and perfect Bloody Mary's as we discuss the history of the restaurant, famous encounters, Valentine's Day, and all things Georgetown!  Billy tells funny stories galore so check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and as always Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the first in person episode of Lunch with Shelley in 2025! We're at the chic and celebratory Café Milano with my super fun and super fundraiser guest Lisa Spies.  Lisa is the President and Founder of The LS Group, a political and non-profit fundraising and development firm.  She has years of experience raising high national dollars and PAC contributions for campaigns and organizations and directs multi-million-dollar national fundraising efforts, including major donor events, PAC events and conferences of all sizes.During the last election cycle Lisa served as the Director of Donor Coalitions for the Trump 47 Campaign and led efforts with Jewish Leadership, Women, Veterans and Farmers & Ranchers. Lisa's other current clients include Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman John James.Come join us with Cleavon and our new intern Diego as we talk about how Lisa came to DC and became the prolific fundraiser that she is, the state of fundraising and who does it best, how she met Charlie, shopping, food and lots more rambling hilarity that makes this lunch a can't miss!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest 2025 episode of lunch with Shelley with today's very special and award winning guest Mike Curtin, Jr.  Mike is the Chief Executive Officer of DC Central Kitchen (DCCK), which is an iconic  nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. Mike has led DCCK through the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and significant periods of organizational growth and expansion. His focus on ‘good business' solutions that create meaningful careers for their culinary graduates is both fascinating and innovative,  so join us at the very delicious L'Ardente restaurant for incredible pasta, bowlfuls of relentless optimism and creativity, and hefty side dishes of community, inspiration, joy and a love of food.Check out this episode at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime, Peace, Love and Lunch!

Hello and welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's very special guest Wendy Rabin! Wendy is a fashion industry veteran and a passionate wardrobe stylist who helps clients curate a signature personal style so that getting dressed every day is a pleasure!Wendy knows what she's talking about!  She is the Founder, Buyer and Creative Director of the WRABYN Boutique – a very chic store in Annapolis, in addition to previously owning the critically acclaimed Sitting Pretty boutique, and serving in several other capacities in the fashion industry.  Wendy is an empowered woman who cares about empowering other women through fashion!Cuddle up with us over the perfect French onion soup, mussels and grilled salmon salads at the cozy and delicious Et Voila restaurant and join in our fun as we discuss holiday fashion, the latest runway shows, the power that your wardrobe can have in every aspect of your life, and outfit ideas for Claude and Abby!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our two special guests Harley Adsit and Sarah Geary! Harley and Sarah are the terrific hosts of their own podcast called Crime in Congress, which is a crime show that examines the shockingly true crimes and scandals of America's elected officials throughout history.  This is such a cool idea and a really interesting program, and Claude and I now consider ourselves crimestituents – which is their nickname for their listeners.Join me, Claude and our wonderful intern Abby at the always cozy and yummy Martins Tavern on a grey and spooky day for a great conversation about all things crime, including crimes that each of us have experienced, the downlow on their Chandra Levy episode in particular, and why in fact people are so drawn to crime programs at all!   You'll walk away appreciating both life and death, with a smile on your face!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with special guest Jim Geraghty. Jim is a National Review Senior Correspondent, and writes the “Morning Jolt” newsletter, as well as for National Review's magazine and  web site. He is aptly considered one of today's must-read journalists. He is the author of "Heavy Lifting" with Cam Edwards, the satirical novel "The Weed Agency" (a Washington Post bestseller), the nonfiction study of the 9/11 attacks on American elections entitled "Voting to Kill", and an ongoing series of thriller novels.AND he is a professional podcaster!  He appears weekly on "The Editors," National Review's podcast discussing current events with Rich Lowry, Charles Cooke and Michael Brendan Dougherty. He co-hosts "The Three Martini Lunch" podcast with Greg Corombos of Radio America, which is a fast-paced weekday podcast examining all the day's headlines, and he co-hosted a syndicated pop culture podcast with Mickey White called “The Jim and Mickey Show”.Grab a seat at our booth for a proper drink, a fabulous meal, and a wide-ranging conversation that includes international politics, domestic politics, 9/11, covid, Bob Costas, hilarious impressions and of course where Jim's favorite lunch spot might be!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Shelley gets you ready for another season of great food and wonderful conversion at the best restaurants in Washington DC. It's Lunch with Shelley!

Hello and Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's special guest Daniel Lippman.  Daniel is a very well-known reporter for Politico, covering the White House and Washington.  In this position, he is in the know about all the headline-grabbing events shaping our nation's political landscape, which is especially helpful to his audience as we're all trying to wade through and make sense of this very dramatic time in American history. Daniel is widely respected as an investigative researcher and journalist, and he is a sought-after voice sharing key insights on the country's top stories as well as the inner workings of DC's political scene.  While he shares his insights daily with political insiders and the nation in general – grab a seat at our table while he shares his professional and personal insights directly with us!Join us for pasta, tuna tartare and a deliciously interesting conversation at Café Milano that covers Daniel's start in journalism, trust in the media, our upcoming election, favorite foods, movies, family history and so much more!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's special guest and my good friend Tevi Troy.  Tevi is the Director of the Presidential Leadership Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center, he's a best-selling presidential historian, a former White House aide and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a member of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense since 2016. His latest book is titled “The Power and the Money – the Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry” and it is a fascinating read that I highly recommend!  Join us Char Bar, DC's best kosher restaurant, for an always interesting and fun conversation with Tevi that includes a deeper dive into his newest book, how Tevi met his wife, truly interesting facts surrounding Covid and the Biodefense Commission, thoughts on the first anniversary of October 7th, Israel and America, the Jewish high holy days, and decades of friendship.Grab a Reuben sandwich or the chicken stir fry and check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our very special guest Katie Pavlich! Katie is an incredibly talented commentator, author, blogger, podcaster, and an all-around awesome person!Katie is the editor for Townhall.com and a Fox News contributor who serves as a rotating co-host on one of my favorite programs, The Five.  She is a frequent guest host on more programs than I can list here, she serves as a columnist for the Hill, and she is a regular speaker on college campuses across the country for Young America's Foundation.  She is also the award-winning author of Assault and Flattery: The Truth About the Left and Their War on Women, and the New York Times Best Seller, Fast and Furious: Barack Obama's Bloodiest Scandal and Its Shameless Cover-Up. We're recording for the first time from the wonderful L'Ardente restaurant – so join us for some amazing pasta and a fantastic and fun conversation that ranges from how Katie came to DC, to journalism today, politics, the U.S. border, Katie's bestselling books and lots more!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest Matt Swift.  We're hosting today's episode at the great Bombay Club, which always gives off a very classy and international vibe, and it makes perfect sense to be here today because Matt also gives off a very classy and global vibe! Matt is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of Concordia, the largest and most inclusive nonpartisan forum alongside the UN General Assembly.  He's also the Founder and Managing Partner at Montfort Advisory - a public relations and business development firm that provides bespoke executive advisory services – and he is the host and interviewer of The Swift Hour, a series of short video interviews with prominent government, non-profit, and business leaders. Grab some Naan and join us for a fun and fascinating conversation that ranges from what navigating a new era will entail, Prince Harry, the next generation of AI, the importance of face-to-face interactions, life after Covid, resiliency, the do's and don'ts of bloody Mary's and what Matt's last meal might be! Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our very special guest Elaine Chao.  Among many titles, Elaine is the former U.S. Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, a trailblazer as the first Asian American and/or Asian American woman in many and various significant roles, an inspirational leader, and someone I'm proud to call a mentor and a friend.Join us at our booth at the great Capital Grille over fabulous salads and fries for a truly unique, authentic and candid conversation about growing up Asian American, interesting observations from her storied career, and the importance that her upbringing and her family continue to have on her life and her outlook.Check us out atwww.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today's special guest Elli Benchimol.  Elli is the owner of Apero and La Boheme – she is an Advanced Sommelier - and most recently a RAMMY winner for best wine program of the year! Join us for a delightful and delicious conversation about caviar, wine and champagne, automatic gratuity, the restaurant biz, and the importance of staying joyous!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our super special guest Lynda Erkiletian.  Lynda is a mother of four, the founder and CEO of THE Artist Agency, and was famously a Bravo star on the Real Housewives of DC.  She is an avid philanthropist, a lifelong entrepreneur and a really joyful and engaging person!Join us at the always fabulous Café Milano for a fantastic LUNCH conversation that covers her fascinating life, her experiences on Bravo, her thoughts on fashion in DC and in general, love and loss, and much much more. Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to a very special Lunch with Shelley podcast featuring my Dear Ole Dad – who just turned 95 years old! My father is my hero – my mentor – one of my favorite people on the planet – and the greatest Dad and Poppy in the world! He is also a decorated vet, an accomplished and successful businessman and entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a father of 3, a grandfather of 5 and beloved by so many! Join us as we discuss lessons learned, his views on the state of the world, and his advice for every generation.Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with Barbara Langley, the Director of the Center for Women's Economic Empowerment at CIPE, the Center for International Private Enterprise. Barbara and I have a wonderful time discussing the importance of Gastro Diplomacy, which is a super cool way to connect with other cultures through food, her incredible experiences supporting and promoting democracy abroad, the import of being active and participatory in our own democracy at home, exotic lunches and much more! It's another beautiful day outside at Et Voila so pull up a seat and join our discussion at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest Darrell Henry.  Darrell has sincere and historical experience with all thing's Convention, so during a lovely outdoor lunch at the delicious Claudio's Table, we go into a deep dive on the importance of conventions in general, some very funny memories, and of course the lay of the land for Milwaukee and Chicago!!We're talking about the Superbowl of Politics, so grab some bruschetta and join us as we get the inside scoop on the parties taking place, the security situations, what you might want to eat and where, and lots more!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and, in the meantime, Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring Susan Page - journalist, biographer, political commentator, Washington DC Bureau Chief for USA Today and author of the fabulous NYT best seller Rule Breaker, the Life and Times of Barbara Walters. Susan is an incredible woman who writes about incredible women – so join us at the always delicious Peacock Café as we discuss all things Barbara Walters, plus sexism, journalism, politics, food and much more!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring our very special guest Beth Solomon – founder of the Georgetown Dish and author of the very fun read Dishy Dollups from the World's Most Important Neighborhood. Along with Claude we're at the iconic Martin's Tavern tucked into the Madeleine Albright booth, and we have a very joyous lunch to share with you!Pull up a seat and try some bubbling Welsh Rarebit as we discuss all things Georgetown, travel, the importance of friendships and even a love story!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime, Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the 2nd Mother's Day episode of Lunch with Shelley!  It's one of my very favorite episodes of the year, and to celebrate this special holiday we have my beloved son Sam for his second appearance on the show, our fabulous producer and friend Claude, and making his debut we've included the wonderful and always entertaining Jerry the dog to ‘dine' with us! It's hard to say who had the most fun during this episode!Pull up a chair at our sunny outdoor table at the always delicious Et Voila as we chat about sports, the many attributes of DC, Chipotle, fond memories and new endeavors!   Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch! 

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our very special guest Kellyanne Conway, the first woman in US history to successfully helm a presidential campaign, one of the top pollsters and cultural anthropologists in the nation, a bestselling author, and a joyful Mom of four teenagers!Kellyanne is her usual delightful and insightful self, so join us at the always delicious Café Milano as we discuss politics, cultural anthropology, what people do when no one is looking, motherhood, being intentional, and of course the Eagles!!Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring this week's very special guest Doris (RIS) Lacoste.  RIS is an American chef, restaurateur, philanthropist, and community leader and owns RIS, a GREAT American bistro. RIS has one of those life stories that are so varied and fascinating you won't want this lunch to end! Tune in while we enjoy the magnificent food at her restaurant and chat about everything from Paris and French cooking to Nantucket and the DC restaurant scene, Hot Air ballooning, Julia Childs, what her last meal would be and much, much more! RIS is smart, delightful, authentic, and full of great stories, so join us at our sunny table for great food and great conversation at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest - the sunny and brilliant Margaret Spellings!  Margaret is a nationally recognized leader in public policy - and currently serves as President & CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center.  Her remarkable and extensive leadership experience in both state and federal government includes service as a U.S. Secretary of Education, White House Chief Domestic Policy Advisor, Senior Policy Advisor to then-Governor George W. Bush, President of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and President of the 17-institution University of North Carolina System.Margaret is both funny and insightful while discussing a wide range of topics, including her service during the George W. Bush years and 9/11 - COVID-19 - the state of education policy – and of course the glories of Texas and Mambo Taxis. Join us for a deliciously fun and patriotic lunch discussion at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with this week's special guest Dr. Lee Morgan.  Dr. Morgan is my dog's beloved veterinarian and a member of the elite veterinarian corps that contributes to the storied Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which he portrays in his newly released book “Four Thousand Paws.” Join us for a truly unique conversation ranging from language acquisition in dolphins - to working with NASA - to the heroic dogs and mushers who participate in the Iditarod.  Dr. Morgan (Lee) entertains us with descriptions of the distinct personalities and complex group dynamics of these remarkable canine athletes with riveting imagery.  His tales also include extraordinary first-hand accounts of all the majesty and frigid weather of the Alaskan experience, as well as profound faith lessons from his journeys there.We're looking forward to dining with you at the perfect table at Peacock Café, so check out this episode at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime Peace, Love, and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring our new friend and strategic communications maven Alex Rosenwald.  We're dining at Georgetown's iconic Peacock Café, and we're at the perfect table in the corner for Alex's first visit here! Alex is the Senior Director of Communications at The Hill and Talent Relations for News Nation.  He oversees communication strategy and execution for two leading political news outlets in the US, utilizing his more than 15 years of experience in public relations, media relations, and corporate communications, working with diverse and high-profile clients across various sectors and industries.Alex is passionate about leveraging new media platforms and technologies to amplify both the Hill's and News Nations' brand and reach, as well as to showcase their talented journalists and analysts.So, grab a seat at our table to learn more about what's cutting edge in the media world, the significance of intellectual curiosity and the importance of being a good person.We throw in a bit about dogs and LUNCH too of course, so we're looking forward to dining with you at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with special guest Susan Holt.  Aside from being a great friend and superb neighbor, Susan is a very accomplished chef and culinary teacher, so we take her to LUNCH at Claudio's table for her very first dining experience there!After graduating with honors from L'Academie de Cuisine, one of the top culinary art schools in the country, Susan worked in various Washington, D.C. restaurants, most notably Georgetown's famous 1789 restaurant, where she was the executive sous-chef, and for The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton for two-star Michelin chef Gerard Pangaud.  From there she went back to teaching at L'Academie de Cuisine and then exercised her entrepreneurship muscle and opened CulinAerie, a D.C. based and very popular recreational cooking school that offered cooking classes to people of all skill levels. Join us over pasta and wine as we discuss the importance of pivoting, what it's really like in the front and back of a restaurant ‘house', and her new endeavor as a budding author of an historical, epicurean romance novel!  And as a BONUS – we get a fantastic soup recipe too!We laugh and chat over our delicious LUNCH – and we think you will too! So go to www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast and, in the meantime, peace, love and lunch!!

Welcome to the latest episode of the Lunch with Shelley podcast, featuring this week's special guest Vin Weber, my longtime friend and the second Weber to be on the show! Vin is a Partner at Mercury in Washington, D.C. and is one of the most prominent and successful strategists in the Republican Party, enjoying strong bipartisan relationships across the legislative and executive branches of government. He formerly served in the House of Representatives representing Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District from 1981 to 1993, where he was a member of the Appropriations Committee and an elected member of the House Republican Leadership.Join us over a fun and always delicious lunch at Et Voila for a wide-ranging conversation that includes the importance of leadership, the joys of Leech Lake, Minnesota, international and national politics, AI, and a special recipe! We'd love to dine with you, so listen to this fun, thought-provoking conversation at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime peace, love, and lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring this week's special guest Bruce Mehlman, a partner at Mehlman Consulting, the author of very popular quarterly decks focused on political and policy trends, and despite his best efforts, a pretty optimistic guy!Bruce is a highly sought-after keynote speaker who regularly headlines  business conferences and strategic planning sessions.  While we get a personal rundown from Bruce, his quarterly infographic analyses are consistently picked-up by national media and eagerly consumed by tens of thousands of readers worldwide.Prior to leading one of the most respected and effective bi-partisan government relations firms in DC, Bruce previously served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy under President George W. Bush and also worked as a senior leadership aide in the House of Representatives, general counsel to a national political party committee and policy counsel to Cisco Systems.Join us as we discuss all things 2024 and beyond – what to be concerned about, reasons to be relatively optimistic, how to best be prepared for what's coming down the pike, and our mutual love of lunch! We maintain a good sense of humor throughout the podcast even when we're about to go down a pessimistic rabbit hole, so join us for salads, a few big gulps, and a fascinating conversation at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime peace, love and  lunch!

Welcome to the first episode of Lunch with Shelley in 2024!! I have a super awesome guest to kick off this year with, my very dear friend Jane Adams, and we dine at the fabulous Palm restaurant with terrific sound engineer Blanca Vega, so this is a really fun and fascinating LUNCH to join and listen to!Grab a seat at our booth and listen in as we discuss how Jane started singing in a band, how she created the Blame it on Jane Band and found her soulmate and lead guitarist in the process, her career changes from the Cattleman's association to J&J, her childhood diabetes diagnosis and her incredible passion for patient advocacy. Taking a chance and throwing out the checklists are big lessons from lunch today as well as food for thought for the new year, so check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime, Peace, Love, and Lunch!!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley recorded for the first time from one of our new favorite lunch spots Claudio's Table.  Our special guest is my friend and colleague Anita McBride.  Anita is the Executive in Residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies in the school of Public Affairs at American University.  She is also one of the longest tenured women that has served in the White House, having served three Presidents in personnel and management capacities, as well as serving First Lady Laura Bush as her chief of staff.  She is a frequent speaker, print source, contributor and commentator, and she is the co-author of the nation's first textbook on the transformational legacies of the wives of America's Presidents called U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies.Join us as we learn truly fascinating details about many of America's First Ladies, discuss Anita's Italian heritage (we even hear her speak Italian!), hear fun anecdotes about her consulting work for the HBO show Veep, and her take on the current state of kids, colleges, and education. Join us for lunch at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with my great pal and very fun guest Julie Chase.  Julie is the President & CEO of ChasePR, a full-service national media relations and marketing communications firm based in Washington, DC.  She is also a fellow frequent diner at Café Milano, so join us over pasta, burrata, prosciutto and vitello tonnato while we discuss everything from philanthropy, to art, to all things Georgetown and DC sports! We also highlight our long term bi-partisan friendship, and as always encourage everyone, no matter their politics or differences, to sit down and just have LUNCH together!Join us for lunch at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts and in the meantime Peace Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of LUNCH with Shelley featuring special guest Matt Brooks, the Chief Executive Officer of both the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), an organization dedicated to enhancing ties between the Jewish community and the Republican Party, and the Jewish Policy Center, a think-tank that examines public policy from a Jewish perspective.Join us as we sit in “Matt's Booth” at the Capital Grille restaurant and digest the current political situations around the world and domestically, and then move on to lighter fare as we talk about the Eagles, what Matt's ‘last meal' might look like – and an incredible gift he received that got him cooking at the Inn at Little Washington.I have loved all of the lunches we've had over so many years – but this one definitely tops the list!  We cover the serious to the sublime, so tune in for this wide-ranging conversation at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts and in the meantime Peace Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley! Our super interesting guest is Delayna Watkins, who is the CEO of Total Woman Wellness, Inc., a comprehensive health enterprise dedicated to women's midlife wellness and healthy aging. As a board-certified registered nurse with extensive clinical and leadership expertise, she has gained recognition in the health and wellness industry, earning numerous community and national awards, including the prestigious Governor's Citation award for her unwavering commitment to healthcare.​She is also a three-time Amazon Best-selling author and the national TV Show Host of the Women's Wellness Lounge Show. Her influence extends beyond written work and TV, since she has been featured in People Magazine (where I first learned about her), The Steve Harvey Morning Show, the Dr. Oz Show, Fox 45, and numerous other local and national platforms.In her most recent endeavor, the "Menopause Experience" program, Delayna is determined to empower women to embrace their femininity during this natural life stage. Her presentation style is not only engaging but also highly educational, embracing a holistic approach that deeply resonates with audiences, providing a truly transformative experience. Join us at our booth at the delicious Black Salt restaurant for this very empowering episode as we delve into lots of issues surrounding women's health and wellbeing, our mutual passion for destigmatizing menopause and adding some levity around it, and lots of other tidbits and laughter about everyday life and love.   Check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime, Peace Love and Lunch!

Join us for a behind the scenes conversation about all the thought that went into creating the new and delicious Claudios Table – and a mouthwatering description of some of the new dishes you can look forward to!

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest Shawn Townsend, President and CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.  Claude and I tucked into our favorite table at Et Voila to meet Shawn for the first time, since LUNCH is always perfect for meeting a whole spectrum of acquaintances, and in this case to make a new friend!Clearly Shawn runs an organization that is dear to our hearts, so join us as we discuss the DMV restaurant scene, how its doing and why it's so important to continue to support it.  We also delve into some of Shawn's very interesting previous jobs, including one of my favorites as DC's Director of the Office of Nightlife and Culture, so we definitely dive into some stories about that!Add in a little romance while we hear a great story about Shawn's pretty recent nuptials, and we serve up a really fun, interesting and informative LUNCH episode to dig into.  Give this a listen at  www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace Love and Lunch!!  

WELCOME to the NEW season of LUNCH with Shelley featuring our very special guest Marlene Colucci, CEO of the Business Council, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for GXO Logistics, and a very dear friend of mine!Join us as we dine at the fabulous Café Milano over lots of seafood and champagne while we discover how and why Marlene came to DC, what it's like to be on a publicly traded Board, fond memories over our enduring friendship, and one of the greatest lunches EVER with our Moms at Le Grenouille.Marlene is a warm, smart, and wonderful guest and we hope you'll enjoy spending your lunch or some free time with us! Check out this latest episode at www.lunhwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcast, and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Season 2 of LUNCH with Shelley is ready to launch!

Dine with us during the last dog days of summer with the super fun and accomplished Lisa Camooso Miller and guest producer Cleavon Davies at the ever fabulous Et Voila! In our last summer episode we talk about everything from how Lisa got to DC from NJ, to the trials of teaching teens to drive, to how to get your creative flow going. WARNING - this episode might make you extra hungry since we also discuss favorite family Camooso meals and best recipes! Relax and dine with us at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts and in the meantime Peace, Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the ONE YEAR Anniversary episode of the Lunch with Shelley podcast!  Claude and I celebrated together at the ever fabulous Cafe Milano - just us - for  a fun, relaxing lunch together on a beautiful summer day.  We chat about how we first met and how the show began, along with just regular lunch conversations  that range from going to the movies and trips to McDonalds to the intricacies of self care and the importance of being nice.We hope you'll enjoy listening to this very special episode at www.lunchwithshelley.com - we thank you for LUNCHING with us this past year - and as always - Peace Love and Lunch!

Welcome to the latest Lunch with Shelley podcast featuring our uplifting and fascinating guest Michael Petricone, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).  While dining at our favorite booth at the Palm over salads, shrimps and truffle pasta,  we talk all things tech – what's the latest in tech, what Michael's favorite new tech is and also what's cool and coming down the pike.While Michael assures us that there's no need for techno panic (a new phrase we love) we discuss the glory of innovation and his infectious optimism for the technology industry and our country as a whole.  It is easy to see why Michael is a beloved, happy tech warrior, so check us out at www.lunchwithshelley.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts, and in the meantime, Peace Love and Lunch!