Podcast appearances and mentions of Cody Keenan

This interview was actually most recently broadcast a week ago, on November 22nd. Cody Keenan served for a time as head speech writer for former president Barack Obama. In this interview, he discusses his remarkable book "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America."

Ryan Hawk discusses the impact of external scoreboards on our sense of self-worth and the importance of distinguishing between external validation and internal fulfillment. He explores how societal norms often dictate how success is measured and how this can limit our potential for growth and excellence.Using examples from Serena Williams to Thomas Edison, Hawk challenge the conventional definition of success and encourages listeners to pursue excellence on their own terms. We examine common pitfalls in how society measures success and offer insights into unlocking one's highest potential.On the topics of self-awareness and excellence, Hawk emphasizes the role of self-awareness as the foundation for excellence, highlighting the difference between success and excellence. We discuss the importance of introspection and continuous improvement in the pursuit of personal and professional growth. Drawing from a story about President Obama's speechwriter, Cody Keenan, listeners can explore the nature of fear and strategies for overcoming it.In the tradition of stoicism, Hawk discuss the significance of contemplating mortality as a means of living a more fulfilling life, including the exercise of writing one's own eulogy. Listeners will learn how confronting the reality of death can cultivate a sense of urgency and clarity in pursuing meaningful goals.The E + R = O Formula. Hawk unpacks the formula introduced by performance coach Tim Kight, emphasizing the importance of focusing on one's response to events. We review practical applications of the formula in personal and professional contexts, highlighting the power of mindset in shaping outcomes.Hawk shares a personal anecdote from caddying for his brother at the Tahoe Celebrity Golf Tournament, emphasizing the importance of focusing on one's own journey. We introduce the concept of Level 5 moments, defining them as transformative experiences that reveal one's true character and explore the significance of these moments in shaping personal and professional development and offer strategies for recognizing and embracing them.Join us for this thought-provoking exploration of excellence, self-awareness, and the pursuit of meaningful success. Hawk and Cupps provide actionable insights and inspiring anecdotes that challenge listeners to redefine their approach to personal and professional growth.***The Burleson Box is brought to you by Retainer Club:Realize new revenue in your practice this year with Retainer Club! Upgrading your retainer program has never been more straightforward. Patients want online and easy. You want simple and profitable. Retainer Club gives you both. Built by dental professionals, Retainer Club's technology platform is built to manage everything about your retainer program including billing, retainer fulfillment, KPI data and more.Retainer Club's customized Smile Care Plan allows you to offer a flexible membership program that brings 5 new revenue streams to grow your practice. Retainer Club's platform gives patients access to easy, fast, affordable online retainer ordering 24/7, and regular retainer replacement without ever having to call your office.On average, a Smile Care Plan can increase your practice revenue by $100,000 annually. We have built our program with first-hand industry insights to support the needs of practices and DSOs from the ground up. From on-boarding and client success planning to tech-enabled marketing solutions to support new patient growth, Retainer Club has you covered. Get started today at RetainerClub.com***Resources Mentioned in the Episode with Ryan Hawk:Tim Kight: [Focus3]Steven Pressfield: Do The Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own WayRyan Hawk: The Learning Leader ShowTasha Eurich - Insight: Why We're Not as Self-Aware as We Think ***Go Premium: Members get early access, ad-free episodes, hand-edited transcripts, exclusive study guides, special edition books each quarter, powerpoint and keynote presentations and two tickets to Dustin Burleson's Annual Leadership Retreat.http://www.theburlesonbox.com/sign-up Stay Up to Date: Sign up for The Burleson Report, our weekly newsletter that is delivered each Sunday with timeless insight for life and private practice. Sign up here:http://www.theburlesonreport.com Follow Dustin Burleson, DDS, MBA at:http://www.burlesonseminars.com

Anton reflects on the 15th anniversary of President Barack Obama's historic election, revisiting the hope and promise encapsulated in his electrifying victory speech. Joining him is Cody Keenan, who served as the Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama.Cody Keenan is an NYT Bestselling Author of "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America."

This week Andrew talks with former Chief White House Speechwriter Cody Keenan. Cody went from a campaign intern in Chicago to President Barack Obama's chief speechwriter at the White House. Post-presidency, the two continued to collaborate and today Cody is a sought after expert on politics, communication, & current affairs. Cody is also the author of the instant New York Times bestseller "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America." In this conversation, Cody shares what it's like to get feedback on your work from Barack Obama — and how to “manage up” when your boss is the President of the United States. You'll also hear powerful lessons on how to grow your career, navigate times of crisis, communicate ideas that stand the test of time, & more. This episode is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to work alongside a U.S. President and shape the ideas & moments forever cemented in our history books. Show Highlights:(0:00) - Intro(2:47) - Cody's childhood(3:49) - Reading as a kid(7:15) - Interning for Senator Ted Kennedy(9:31) - Powerful early career feedback(13:49) - “I'll always be a career staffer”(14:48) - Getting into speechwriting(16:27) - Joining Obama campaign(16:48) - Preparing to be Obama's speechwriter(17:52) - Meeting President Obama for the first time(20:16) - Planning for Presidential speeches(21:52) - Getting edits from President Obama (23:10) - “For him it was like sheet music”(26:18) - Managing up to the President(29:05) - Life lessons from President Obama(30:53) - Communication lessons from jazz music(32:46) - Cody's bestselling book(38:50) - Chicago Cubs White House visit** Follow Andrew On Social Media **Twitter: @andrewhmosesInstagram: @AndrewMoses123Sign up for e-mails to keep up with Andrew's podcast at everybodypullsthetarp.com/newsletter

I read Barack Obama's memoir A Promised Land when it first came out in November of 2020. That time was filled with rampant polarization, multiple quaratines, alternative realities, an insurrection, and politics that was so messy it was near impossible to find any hope and see America as this Promised Land that Obama wrote about.  Thinking about the American Project is quite difficult in today's contested landscape. Zooming out to find moments that define the beauties of American Democracy, amidst the onslaught of political punditry, and a seemingly catatonic congress, is a constant struggle. But sometimes the key is to look for moments of GRACE, within the chaos; little signs that reaffirm that America is indeed A Promised Land.  Cody Keenan's new book does just that. Cody was a Speechwriter in the Obama White House, and joined the campaign in 2007. He was later promoted to Director of Speechwriting, and held the position through the end of Obama's second term. Cody is now working as a Partner at Fenway Strategies, a speechwriting and communications firm, and also teaches at Northwestern University.  His book GRACE: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, which is out in paperback today, details 10 days in 2015 that give us a vivid picture of America: the wonderful highs, the horrific lows, and all the beautiful strangeness in between. The ten days begin with a racist massacre on June 17th at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, which led to 9 dead, including the church's pastor.  The central question in the book is whether or not Barack Obama should speak at the Pastor's Funeral.  However the ten days also included decisions from the Supreme Court, which decided the fates of Marriage Equality and the Affordable Care Act. Everything changed in the White House when a few days after the shooting, the families of the victims, decided to forgive the killer in open court, which was broadcast on live TV. These ten days tested the strength of the American Project, and Keenan's book explores the ways in which they found grace amidst the chaos and the ways in which we can continue to find grace in politics.  Our conversation started with Keenan's beginnings in politics, working in the mailroom for Senator Ted Kennedy. But we jump between the past and the present, the events of the book and issues still plaguing us today such as gun control and climate change, in an attempt to find moments of Grace in our politics today and reaffirm America as The Promised Land that it can be.  Cody's Website Recommendations Surrender by Bono The Bear The Diplomat

JessK and JessB are taking the day off- but they do have a few reflections to share regarding patriotism, America, and the distinction between patriotism and politics. And this is just the intro! The rest of this episode shares a highlight interview with the incredibly intelligent and open, Cody Keenan who rose from a campaign intern in his hometown to become the chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator.  We are sharing this conversation again, in celebration of Memorial Day, to reflect, in particular, on the this conversation regarding the ten days in June of 2015, following the mass murder of nine Black worshipers in a Charleston, South Carolina by a white supremacist.  This conversation centers around the days that followed America – and its first Black president – and the profound reckoning with race and the legacy of the Confederate flag, while the families of the victims perform an extraordinary act of grace.In this episode, Cody shares his front seat reflections on what has always meant to craft and collaborate on work with President Obama, and how it has shaped how he sees himself, his work, and his country.A different conversation, but authentic and curious, Jess and Jess are able to reminisce some incredible "Glory Days" with the person who helped pen them.Meet Cody:Born and raised in Chicago, Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in hishometown to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama'spost-presidential collaborator. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, andcurrent affairs, he is now a partner at leading speechwriting firm FenwayStrategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting toundergraduates at his alma mater Northwestern University. Cody lives in NewYork City with his wife Kristen and their baby daughter Grace.Support the show

Speech writer Cody Keenan talks about his experience of working at the White House with Barack Obama.

Cody Keenan, former chief speechwriter for President Barack Obama, joins Daniella to discuss what goes into the State of the Union, key takeaways from President Joe Biden's address, and what the speech revealed about this political moment. Daniella and Colin also talk about the strength of the U.S. economic recovery and highlights from the Center for American Progress' recent summit, where governors and mayors discussed how they're implementing the president's economic agenda.

Joe spoke with Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California on the debit ceiling and police reform, Cody Keenan, Former Chief Speechwriter for President Barack Obama, on crafting a State of the Union speech. Plus, our politics panel, Bloomberg Politics Contributors Rick Davis and Jeanne Sheehan Zaino on what President Biden will touch on in his speech, the Republican response, and George Santos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now, here's today's question. If you had to pick the most pivotal 10 days of your career, what would they be? Ten days that, either looking back or in the moment, felt like everything had been leading you to this point. Perhaps it was the lead-up to a landmark decision, a moment in the spotlight to either make an impact or publicly fall short, or a crisis you could have never foreseen.These are the moments that usually decide who we become as leaders, communicators, and influencers.A few years ago, I had the genuine pleasure of interviewing someone whose work and career I have admired for a very long time. That person is Cody Keenan, chief speechwriter for President Barack Obama. We talked about the structure of a powerful speech, and what it really takes to forget the critics and show up as a fearless communicator. If you haven't already, you can follow the link at the end of these show notes.At the end of that conversation, Cody mentioned he was writing a book about his experiences in the White House. I asked him to let me know when you're ready to talk about it. Two years and one pandemic later, here we are.His new book, ‘Grace: Ten Days in The Battle for America,' arrived on my doorstep and instantly became a NYT best-seller. Grace covers 10 pivotal days during June of 2015, when President Obama and Cody had to compose a series of speeches, to meet a succession of stunning developments in American history. These included a white supremacist shooting, an astonishing act of forgiveness, a national reckoning with race and the confederate flag, the fate of marriage equality, and a vital decision on the Affordable Care Act.How do you find the words to describe a time where there are no words? In this episode we dive into his 10 day journey in doing exactly that.Today's Guest Cody is a professional speechwriter who, as Director of Speech Writing for President Obama – has written or edited more than 2,000 speeches for his boss. Including the historical March 2015 speech, when Obama spoke in Selma, Alabama marking 50 years since “Bloody Sunday”. Most recently he has become a New York Times Bestselling author for his book ‘Grace: Ten Days in The Battle for America'.Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn: @codykeenanYou'll LearnCody's hopes and fears for the next generation of communicators.How to move past those moments where you are frozen, staring at a blank page and feeling like an imposter.And finally, the difference between taking a half swing and a full swing as a communicator.A loving warning, this conversation discusses both the act and details of mass shootings on American soil. As you'll hear, this conversation also heartbreakingly took place just days after the Colorado Springs shooting on November 19th, 2022, a fact that was very much on everybody's heart during this recording. Please do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself and any ears that may be listening.If you liked this episode, you might also enjoyMy first interview Cody Keenan – Finding your voice as a leaderThanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Inside Influence Podcast! Please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave an honest review. Also, don't forget to hop on my website juliemasters.com and download my new ebook The Influencer Code or become an insider by signing up to my newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A truly great speech can change the world. We all know Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have A Dream.” As we reflect on King's legacy, MPR News is revisiting a conversation about a memorable speech from 2015. In June 2015, President Barack Obama sang Amazing Grace during a eulogy for a Black reverend killed in a horrific hate crime. Last fall, MPR News host Angela Davis spoke with President Obama's chief speechwriter Cody Keenan about that moment.    Guest:   Cody Keenan was the Senior Advisor and Director of Speechwriting for former President Barack Obama. He is the author of the new book “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America” Here are five key moments from the conversation. The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Click the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Why write about those memories now? Cody Keenan: There are two answers to that. The first is I was still working for President Obama until last year, so I didn't feel right to write a book that was largely about him while I was on his payroll. The second is I think the book it's timeless and to be honest, it's it was the Trump years that actually solidified the book in my mind. When we were living through those 10 days in the White House, it became clear in retrospect, that we were living through the opposite of grace. I first thought up the idea for the book in 2017 and I just let it marinate for a while until it crystallized, and I was ready to sit down and write it. Obama was into it. He's still working on the second volume of his memoirs, which will cover these 10 days. So he said, “just don't take all my good stuff.” To give him a draft of any speech is frightening enough, to give him a draft of my book was completely terrifying. But I also knew he's competitive, so I knew he'd want to read something about himself and he read it pretty quickly and responded with some very nice words and just one edit to the entire book that made it better. Could you share the story about writing a State of the Union address for Barack Obama? Cody Keenan: running the State of the Union address is something every young speechwriter dreams of doing until you actually do it. We would always sit down every year and say we're going to do it differently but you just don't quite get there. So I sent him my draft eight days early. Everything was in there. I was really proud of it. He said: “it's great in that, we're in the best shape we've ever been in a week out, but we still have a week, so we can make it better. The entire speech is at a 10, but I need some quiet moments, some emotional moments. “You ever listened to Miles Davis?”, he said. “The thing about Miles Davis is the notes he doesn't play. It's the silence. So tonight, I want you to go home, don't do any work, pour yourself a drink and listen to some Miles Davis. And then come back here tomorrow and find me some silences.” The centerpiece of that State of the Union address was a young woman from Minneapolis named Rebeka, who had written a letter to the president in 2014. It was about her life, her family's life and what they've been through since the great recession. We wrote the speech around Rebecca's letter, and the President spent a good 10 minutes in the speech, telling her story and tying it to specific policies that would help, and it was just beautiful. Tell us the story about writing the eulogy for the Reverend Clementa Pinckney Cody Keenan: That was one of the more difficult ones we had. There was a lot of drama that week about whether or not Obama would give the eulogy at all. He didn't want to, and I didn't want to write it. It was actually because we had done 14 eulogies after mass shootings. It was the families and what they did by forgiving the killer that made him give the eulogy. Watching those families was extraordinarily both painful and hopeful, and I really struggled through writing it. We had a pretty heated debate in the Oval Office about whether or not to do it. And when he finally agreed to do it, he told me: “Talk about guns, talk about race, talk about the Confederate flag, and wrap it all up in grace.” I had written the phrase “Amazing Grace” in the eulogy and then he added the lyrics and built the entire second half of the speech, which is more of a sermon than a eulogy around the lyrics to Amazing Grace. So, right after he spoke in the Rose Garden on Friday morning, we boarded the helicopter five minutes later to go to Andrews Air Force Base. He was still working on the eulogy, and he handed it back to me. When we landed, he stood up and said: “you know if it feels right, I might sing it.” And that hadn't even occurred to me. What do you think Barack Obama wanted to communicate by singing? Cody Keenan: It's this leap of faith that he took to expose himself in that way. I wouldn't know that this was an AME church service. It just happened to be in an arena at a eulogy. And he knew that they would be there to join him and sing and you could hear how the whole band jumped. It was just a remarkable moment. How often does the entire country see a Black church service with a Black president adopting a preacher's cadence tying together American exceptionalism and progressive theory? As soon as I saw him take the stage and saw everybody there, I just knew he was gonna sing. There was no question. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S58k3ZXRJJc Credit: MNSBC Tell us about your perspective on American politics There's the story of America as a story of progress and backlash to that progress. And one of the reasons I wrote this book was that those 10 days were just this extraordinary burst of progress. The progress belonged to people who had marched and organized for decades for universal health care, marriage equality, for all these things. Progress is fragile, it takes a long, time and it's very easy to undo. It's much easier to destroy than it is to build. We're living through one of those times of backlash. The country is still changing rapidly, I think for the better, but a lot of people don't share that sentiment. The thesis of this book I took from President Obama's speech in Selma in 2015, on the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery, and it says: “Selma was not a clash of armies, but a clash of wills”, and I just apply that to our politics. Are we a country that stands up for our founding ideals and tries to make them real in our time? I think it'd be better to finally live up to our obligations to be a truly multiracial, multi-everything democracy. Your questions Listeners called into the show and asked some questions. Here is a couple of them. What was your experience, particularly about race? — Amy from Roseville Cody Keenan: To write on race I wanted to make sure that whatever draft I gave him, did right by him, I didn't want to make a fool of myself. You know, even as a white progressive, you can think you're on the right side of every issue, but you haven't necessarily lived the same life as your audience. There are limits to empathy. I'll never know what it's like to be a Black man in America. And for all the things that Barack Obama and I have in common: we're from different parts of Chicago that are just a few miles away, but worlds apart. Fortunately, even though I was the chief speechwriter, he was our chief speechwriter. I would sit down with him on the front end and prod him with questions, trying to understand what he wants to say and why. But the reason these were more difficult is that you knew that audiences wanted to hear certain things from him, and sometimes they would be diametrically opposed to what other audiences wanted to hear. Part of the challenge of writing about race is just we can do our best and we may not get quite there, that was all him. As you wrote for the President, did you hear in your mind the president speaking notes words? — Pat from Duluth Cody Keenan: My first two years as a speechwriter for him as a junior speechwriter. I didn't meet him until we were in the Oval Office. You only get inside someone's head and understand their voice after working with them one on one closely, and it took me some to understand him and hear him in my head. And yes, when I would write, I could hear him in my head, I could hear his cadence. I teach speech writing now at Northwestern University, and I tell my students to read it out loud because that's the whole point of it. A speech is meant to be delivered, you will hear in your head, and the President was good at this. He would practice on the day of a big speech and he'd say: “that sentence needs one more syllable or one less syllable.” It gets to the point where, once you're past the big picture edits, you're working it into sheet music.

We finish out this week of repeats of notable 2022 author interviews with these three: 1) Cody Keenan, head speechwriter for former President Barack Obama, talking about his new book "Grace." 2) Steve Binder, producer of the historic Elvis Presley comeback TV special in 1968 (he has written a new book that takes us behind the scenes) and 3) Andy Saunders, talking about "Apollo Remastered: The Ultimate Photographic Record."

To celebrate some of the most influential and impactful speeches ever made, we invited Barack Obama's director of speechwriting, Cody Keenan and Tony Blair's former speechwriter, Philip Collins, to discuss the power of the spoken word. Our host was journalist and presenter Emily Maitlis, with actors including Jeremy Irons and Carey Mulligan joining us to reenact speeches that have defined pivotal moments in history.  ... Did you know that Intelligence Squared offers way more than podcasts? We've just launched a new online streaming platform Intelligence Squared+ and we'd love you to give it a go.  It's packed with more than 20 years' worth of video debates and conversations on the world's hottest topics. Tune in to live events, ask your questions or watch back on-demand totally ad-free with hours of discussion to dive into for just £14.99 a month. Visit intelligencesquaredplus.com to start watching today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life inside the White House during some of the most critical moments in American history. In this episode, he talks to Sorcha Pollak about those ten years spent working alongside one of the most important and recognised people on earth, the long days and nights spent crafting the former US president's statements and the pressure, self-doubt and ultimate sense of accomplishment of holding “the best and the worst job in the West Wing”. This episode was originally published in November 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have reading resolutions for the new year? Whether you want to focus your efforts on reading outside your comfort zone or simply want to read more, check out these suggestions from librarians Katie, Meagan and Sarah. They also talk about book discovery resources and what they're looking forward to reading next. Titles mentioned in this episode include: Empire of Pain and Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe; Rust Belt Femme by Raechel Anne Jolie; Olga Dies Dreaming by by Xochitl Gonzalez; The World Record Book of Racist Stories and You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin; The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas; My First Popsicle, edited by Zosia Mamet; The Song of the Cell and The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee; The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty; Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan; A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny; and Now Is Not the Time to Panic, The Family Fang and Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. Also mentioned: Archive of Our Own Check out books and movies at countycat.mcfls.org, wplc.overdrive.com and hoopladigital.com. For more about WAPL, visit westallislibrary.org. Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan From Barack Obama's chief speechwriter Cody Keenan, a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions put the character of our country on the line, and a president's words […] The post Chris Voss Podcast – Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan appeared first on Chris Voss Official Website.

Hard NOC Life will eventually go on hiatus. However, Britney and Keith couldn't avoid talking about THR's bombshell report that James Gunn and Peter Safran might be blowing up the current DC Universe after all. Later, Keith is joined by President Obama's former chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan, about his new White House memoir, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. Cody talks about his time in the White House and his love for Superman -- including the commonalities his favorite superhero shares with his former boss. He also shares his thoughts on the current state of the DC Universe and what his ideal Superman movie would be. Watch Keith's interview with Cody Keenan in its entirety on our YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/uQWEQBSJV2s This episode is also sponsored by Goli. Use the code HARDNOC to get 10% off and Free Shipping on your order at https://go.goli.com/hardnoc All this and more on Hard NOC Life! Watch it on your screen, hit "play," and check this. Subscribe to all of the podcasts in the Hard NOC Media family on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, NPR One, Spotify, and now on Stitcher Radio! Support us on GoFundMe and Patreon! Buy merch on TeePublic! Subscribe to our YouTube channel! As always, our official theme music is brought to you by the super team of Adam WarRock and Chops.

Language has always been an important tool in American politics. It allows politicians to communicate their ideas and visions to their constituents and persuade them to support their policies. The power of words is so great that politicians often have teams of speechwriters to help craft their messages. These writers often work closely with the politicians to understand their vision and goals, and help express them in a way that resonates with the public. In his book GRACE, Cody Keenan writes about his experiences as President Obama's chief speechwriter during a critical ten-day period in June 2015. Through Keenan's perspective, we see the inner workings of the Obama administration and the challenges they faced in trying to pass legislation and shape the future of the country. His book offers a unique insight into the role of language in American politics and the way it can be used to shape history. My conversation with Cody Keenan:

Today on Vermont Viewpoint, Kevin Ellis hosts! First up, he'll speak with Cody Keenan who was Obama's Chief Speechwriter. During the second half of the show, he'll speak with Ken Russell the Executive Director of Another Way in Montpelier.

“This is the make-or-break decade, but what we have in front of us is not enough of a step forward for people and the planet.” That's the verdict of the European Union's climate policy chief Frans Timmermans, after an underwhelming COP27 in Egypt. He joins the show from Strasbourg.  Also on today's show: President Obama's former speechwriter Cody Keenan on his new book Grace; Gun safety and LGBTQ activist Brandon Wolf on the Colorado Springs shooting; LGBTQ Australian football player Josh Cavallo on the World Cup.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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In this edition of What's at Stake, Penta Senior Director Rebeca Buck and Managing Director Michael LaRosa sit down with Cody Keenan, former Director of Speechwriting for President Obama and author of "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America." Cody speaks about his experiences in the Obama White House during some of the administration's most pivotal days. Ten days in particular saw several historic moments unfold, including the shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, and landmark Supreme Court decisions on marriage equality and the Affordable Care Act. Cody draws connections from President Obama's style to those of President Biden and others. Cody also shares advice for aspiring speechwriters and political operatives. How do you keep it together when the leader of the free world is your boss? And what was it like to write some of President Obama's most memorable speeches? Tune in to find out.Check out Cody Keenan's new book here.Read more about Cody here.

When a young Illinois state senator named Barack Obama addressed the 2004 Democratic Convention, he vaulted onto the national stage through the power and grace of his words. In that speech, he challenged Americans to have “the audacity of hope.” President Obama went on to become one of the greatest political orators of our time.Obama has had a silent partner in crafting his oratory. In 2006, a novice speechwriter named Cody Keenan joined his team. Keenan wrote alongside Obama for 14 years, rising to become the chief White House speech writer. He continued collaborating with Obama, spending four years helping the former president write his memoir, “A Promised Land.” Keenan now runs a speechwriting and communications firm and teaches a popular undergraduate course on speechwriting at Northwestern University, his alma mater.Obama's silent partner is now telling his story. Cody Keenan has a new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.” The book focuses on a fraught period in 2015 during which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on marriage equality and the Affordable Care Act, and a white supremacist murdered nine people in a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Obama delivered the eulogy at the church following the massacre, famously singing Amazing Grace.The power of Obama's oratory, Keenan said, is his ability to reach “into the American people and just talking to folks where they are. That's something too many politicians don't do.”Keenan described writing for Obama as “f-ing terrifying.” “I was never nervous being around the most powerful man in the world,” he said. “I was nervous being around a damn good writer, especially when it's your job to write for him when he is on record saying I'm a better speechwriter than my speechwriters.”Obama's presidency ended with another famous presidential speech, President Donald Trump's inaugural “American Carnage” address, which laid out a dark vision of crime and white grievance. “What a way to set the tone for the next four years, not only just with a president who kind of picked at our wounds until they reopened, but then a pandemic that was mismanaged to the point where it killed more than a million Americans,” Keenan said.“President's words matter,” Keenan continued. “If you ever need evidence of that, President Trump's probably your best evidence because his words unleashed something primal … and created a permission structure for political violence — to the point where sitting elected officials are advocating for it. It opened up the floodgates to something like Jan. 6. You had people marching with torches in Charlottesville with their hoods off. All this stuff is only possible because of the president's words.”

Imagine being the speech writer for the most powerful person in the world. That was Cody Keenan's job. He was the chief speech writer for former President Barack Obama during some of the most pivotal times in modern American history. Keenan looks back on those days in his new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.” It takes readers behind the scenes of the Obama administration during ten days in June 2015, after a horrific shooting at a Black church in Charleston, South Carolina. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Keenan about his new book. Guest:   Cody Keenan was the Senior Advisor and Director of Speechwriting for former President Barack Obama. He is the author of the new book “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America”

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email from me... Each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12    https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Cody Keenan has written with President Barack Obama since 2007, working his way up to chief speechwriter. He's been named the “Springsteen” of the Obama White House, even though he can't play an instrument, and Obama calls him “Hemingway." His first book, Grace, became an instant New York Times Bestseller.  Notes: The use of productive paranoia. Cody said, “I was so afraid to fail that I would do anything to succeed.” – We can use fear as fuel… Storytelling – As a speaker, it is our job to help the people in the audience see themselves in the place of the hero in the story. When you're preparing for your next team meeting or town hall address, think about that and how you tell the stories that you do. Singing at the Eulogy in Charleston - If you want an A+ performance, you have to choose to go for it. You can get a B by playing it safe, but you won't perform with excellence unless you have the courage to go for it. In less than 10 years, Cody went from mailroom intern in Congress to chief speechwriter in the White House. My goal is to "write a speech that sings."  ‘In less than 10 years, I went from mailroom intern in Congress to chief speechwriter in the White House,' President Obama said he relied “on Cody not just to share my vision, but to help tell America's story.” “He's a brilliant writer. He's relentless.” The first speech Cody wrote was for Senator Ted Kennedy. Right after President Obama's 2004 Democratic convention speech that put him on the map. You write: “To see someone else speak words I'd written sent electricity right up my spine and out my hair.”

Join us for this bonus Friday edition of Takin A Walk with Cody Keenan. Cody was speechwriter for President Obama and has a new book called “Grace”.

In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life inside the White House during some of the most critical moments in American history. In this episode, he talks to Sorcha Pollak about those ten years spent working alongside one of the most important and recognised people on earth, the long days and nights spent crafting the former US president's statements and the pressure, self-doubt and ultimate sense of accomplishment of holding “the best and the worst job in the West Wing”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few people probably remember that in 2015, the Supreme Court's decisions on same sex marriage and the Affordable Care Act, as well as the racist shooting rampage that killed nine African Americans at a Charleston church all happened within 10 days. Cody Keenan remembers. He was former President Barack Obama's chief speechwriter, which meant he had to craft the right words for Obama to deliver. In his new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America,” Keenan details his struggle to write speeches about those events and outlines how he collaborated with the country's first Black president.  Remember, Election Day is tomorrow. Find your polling place or nearest drop box. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GRACE: PRESIDENT OBAMA AND TEN DAYS IN THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA (Mariner Books, October 4, 2022) is the riveting story of the most exhilarating and emotional stretch of the Obama presidency, told by the man Obama calls his "Hemingway," his longtime collaborator and chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan. GRACE is a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the Obama presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions (the right to health care for working families and the right for same-sex couples to marry) put the character of our country on the line. Cody Keenan takes the readers deep inside the White House to offer the most intimate glimpse into process, procrastination, and crafting speeches at the highest level with Barack Obama

GRACE: PRESIDENT OBAMA AND TEN DAYS IN THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA (Mariner Books, October 4, 2022) is the riveting story of the most exhilarating and emotional stretch of the Obama presidency, told by the man Obama calls his "Hemingway," his longtime collaborator and chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan. GRACE is a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the Obama presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions (the right to health care for working families and the right for same-sex couples to marry) put the character of our country on the line. Cody Keenan takes the readers deep inside the White House to offer the most intimate glimpse into process, procrastination, and crafting speeches at the highest level with Barack Obama

GRACE: PRESIDENT OBAMA AND TEN DAYS IN THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA (Mariner Books, October 4, 2022) is the riveting story of the most exhilarating and emotional stretch of the Obama presidency, told by the man Obama calls his "Hemingway," his longtime collaborator and chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan. GRACE is a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the Obama presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions (the right to health care for working families and the right for same-sex couples to marry) put the character of our country on the line. Cody Keenan takes the readers deep inside the White House to offer the most intimate glimpse into process, procrastination, and crafting speeches at the highest level with Barack Obama

GRACE: PRESIDENT OBAMA AND TEN DAYS IN THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA (Mariner Books, October 4, 2022) is the riveting story of the most exhilarating and emotional stretch of the Obama presidency, told by the man Obama calls his "Hemingway," his longtime collaborator and chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan. GRACE is a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the Obama presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions (the right to health care for working families and the right for same-sex couples to marry) put the character of our country on the line. Cody Keenan takes the readers deep inside the White House to offer the most intimate glimpse into process, procrastination, and crafting speeches at the highest level with Barack Obama

Our guest, Cody Keenan, had a front row seat to history, serving as President Barack Obama's Chief White House speechwriter and post-presidential collaborator.  Cody has written about the experience in the New York Times bestseller, "Grace:  President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America".   It's a fascinating account of what he considers to be the ten most dramatic days of the Obama presidency.  His website is codykeenan.com     Thanks to our sponsors of this episode!: Our sponsor, Blissy, sells 100% Mulberry silk pillowcases, sleep masks and other products to help you get a great night's sleep!  Silk is what's best for your hair and skin. It reduces frizz, tangles and prevents breakage. You'll love the way your skin looks and the way your hair feels after sleeping on a Blissy pillowcase.  Blissy's pillowcases regulate temperature keeping you cool at night.  They're hypoallergenic, machine-washable and durable.  They're available in many different prints and colors and make great gifts because there's an option for everyone, even kids. With the holidays just around the corner, why not give the gift of better sleep? Blissy products come in gift-ready packaging!  Sleep better with Blissy and use code NOBODY to get an additional 30% off at blissy.com/NOBODY     Our sponsor, Ritual's Essential Protein, is a delicious, plant-based protein powder with three distinct formulas designed to meet the body's changing protein needs during different life stages.  There's Daily Shake 18+, Daily Shake 50+ and Daily Shake Pregnancy and Postpartum. Each of these three thoughtful formulas contains 20 grams of pea protein per serving. Ritual's Essential Protein powder is a good foundation for your health that's easy to incorporate into your daily rituals—just add water, shake and sip! Ritual offers a super flexible subscription service with free shipping for subscribers, free, easy cancellation and a money-back guarantee within the trial period. Ready to shake up your protein Ritual? Our Nobody Told Me! listeners get 10% off during your first 3 months at ritual.com/NTM.

A white supremacist shooting and an astonishing act of forgiveness. A national reckoning with race and the Confederate flag. The fate of marriage equality and the Affordable Care Act. Cody Keenan shares his book GRACE, the propulsive story of ten days in June 2015, when Obama and his chief speechwriter Cody Keenan composed a series of high-stakes speeches to meet a succession of stunning developments. GRACE also delivers a fascinating portrait of White House insiders like Ben Rhodes, Valerie Jarrett, Jen Psaki, and the speechwriting team responsible for pulling it all off during a furious, historic stretch of the Obama presidency Join us when Cody Keenan takes us inside the craft of speechwriting at the highest level for the most demanding of bosses, the relentlessly poetic and perfectionist Barack Obama, on this installment of Leonard Lopate at Large.

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Cody Keenan, author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in Chicago to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he is a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting at his alma mater Northwestern University. He lives in New York City with his wife Kristen and their daughter Gracie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is it like to be the mouthpiece for the President of the United States? You or I may have found ourselves stressed about writing an essay or sending a letter, but imagine having to craft sentences that the entire nation — and much of the world — will hear. Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America is the latest release by Cody Keenan, Barack Obama's chief speechwriter. The book features an account of what were arguably the ten most dramatic days of the presidency: the Charleston church massacre, the fate of marriage equality, the outcome of the controversial Affordable Care Act, to name a few. In response to these events, Keenan composed a series of speeches in rapid succession to contend with these and other challenges — all while facing additional pressures to consistently please the POTUS with his writing. Grace explores not only the political, but the personal as it paints an intimate picture of White House insiders like Valerie Jarrett, Ben Rhodes, Jen Psaki, as well as the speechwriting team who worked together during this historic stretch during the Obama administration. The writing takes readers behind the scenes, revealing personal details and retracing the rhetorical tightrope walked by the first Black president, culminating with the unforgettable and unprecedented: President Obama's stunning act as he took a deep breath and led the country in a chorus of Amazing Grace. This event will be a testament to the power of words: how they help shape the character of our country, and how they are capable of bringing a nation together — or tearing it apart. Born and raised in Chicago, Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in his hometown to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he is now a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting to undergraduates at his alma mater Northwestern University. Cody lives in New York City with his wife Kristen and their baby daughter Grace. Marcus Harrison Green is the publisher of the South Seattle Emerald and a columnist with The Seattle Times. Growing up in South Seattle, he experienced first-hand the impact of one-dimensional stories on marginalized communities, which taught him the value of authentic narratives. After an unfulfilling stint in the investment world during his twenties, Marcus returned to his community with a newfound purpose of telling stories with nuance and complexity with the hope of advancing social change. This led him to become a writer and found the South Seattle Emerald. Marcus was the Northwest African American Museum's inaugural James Baldwin Circle Fellow in 2022, honored by the King County Library System Foundation as a Literary Lion, and awarded the Seattle Human Rights Commissions' Individual Human Rights Leader Award for 2020. Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America (Hardcover) Third Place Books

Words matter. Coming from the highest office, they have the power to bring the nation together or tear it apart. Andy speaks with Barack Obama's chief speechwriter Cody Keenan about some of the most high-stakes speeches Obama gave during his presidency, from the aftermath of a white supremacist shooting to the fate of marriage equality, and why his message of redemption resonated so strongly with the American people. Cody also reacts to the pendulum swing that brought us Trump's hateful language and Biden's propensity for unscripted remarks. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow Cody Keenan on Twitter @codykeenan. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    Support the show by checking out our sponsors! CVS Health helps people navigate the healthcare system and their personal healthcare by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. At CVS Health, healthier happens together. Learn more at cvshealth.com. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/    Check out these resources from today's episode:  Order Cody's book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America”: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/grace-cody-keenan?variant=39970831597602 Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy's book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165  Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Monday, October 24 and reports on the midterms as early voting is setting records and as fears of voter intimidation spread. Officials in Arizona releasing images after complaints of armed people stationed outside a ballot box. Plus, President Obama's former top speechwriter Cody Keenan on Obama's message for the midterms. James Carville, Neal Katyal and Juanita Tolliver join.

  Join Michael in his discussion with Cody Keenan as they discuss his book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.  The book recounts the most remarkable eulogy delivered by President Obama in Charleston, South Carolina after the hate crime murders of Reverend Pickney and eight parishioners in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Guest Cody Keenan Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in Chicago and deputy pirate to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator. He's been named the “Springsteen” of the Obama White House, even though he can't play an instrument, and Obama calls him “Hemingway” for reasons that have little to do with his talent or seasonal beard (ask him sometime). Even British GQ once named Cody one of the “35 Coolest Men under 38 (and a Half),” ahead of Ryan Gosling, but behind Tom Hardy. n truth, Cody is more comfortable behind the scenes, helping to shape the stories of our time. He got his start as a young aide to the legendary senator Edward M. Kennedy before earning a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he is now a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting to undergraduates at his alma mater Northwestern University.  Born in Wrigleyville, Cody finally got to write his dream speech just four days before Obama left office—one welcoming the World Champion Chicago Cubs to the White House. To his wife Kristen's enduring embarrassment, their White House courtship was documented on CNN. Today, they live in New York City with their daughter, Grace. Host Michael Zeldin Michael Zeldin is a well-known and highly-regarded TV and radio analyst/commentator. He has covered many high-profile matters, including the Clinton impeachment proceedings, the Gore v. Bush court challenges, Special Counsel Robert Muller's investigation of interference in the 2016 presidential election, and the Trump impeachment proceedings. In 2019, Michael was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he taught a study group on Independent Investigations of Presidents. Previously, Michael was a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as Deputy Independent/ Independent Counsel, investigating allegations of tampering with presidential candidate Bill Clinton's passport files, and as Deputy Chief Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives, Foreign Affairs Committee, October Surprise Task Force, investigating the handling of the American hostage situation in Iran. Michael is a prolific writer and has published Op-ed pieces for CNN.com, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Hill, The Washington Times, and The Washington Post. Follow Michael on Twitter: @michaelzeldin Subscribe to the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-said-with-michael-zeldin/id1548483720

Former Barack Obama speechwriter Cody Keenan joins Richard to discuss the ten crucial days that marked Obama's presidency and how he played a part in telling the story of America in his new book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/grace-cody-keenan?variant=39970831597602).

  Join Michael in his discussion with Cody Keenan as they discuss his book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.  The book recounts the most remarkable eulogy delivered by President Obama in Charleston, South Carolina after the hate crime murders of Reverend Pickney and eight parishioners in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Guest Cody Keenan Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in Chicago and deputy pirate to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator. He's been named the “Springsteen” of the Obama White House, even though he can't play an instrument, and Obama calls him “Hemingway” for reasons that have little to do with his talent or seasonal beard (ask him sometime). Even British GQ once named Cody one of the “35 Coolest Men under 38 (and a Half),” ahead of Ryan Gosling, but behind Tom Hardy. n truth, Cody is more comfortable behind the scenes, helping to shape the stories of our time. He got his start as a young aide to the legendary senator Edward M. Kennedy before earning a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he is now a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting to undergraduates at his alma mater Northwestern University.  Born in Wrigleyville, Cody finally got to write his dream speech just four days before Obama left office—one welcoming the World Champion Chicago Cubs to the White House. To his wife Kristen's enduring embarrassment, their White House courtship was documented on CNN. Today, they live in New York City with their daughter, Grace. Host Michael Zeldin Michael Zeldin is a well-known and highly-regarded TV and radio analyst/commentator. He has covered many high-profile matters, including the Clinton impeachment proceedings, the Gore v. Bush court challenges, Special Counsel Robert Muller's investigation of interference in the 2016 presidential election, and the Trump impeachment proceedings. In 2019, Michael was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he taught a study group on Independent Investigations of Presidents. Previously, Michael was a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as Deputy Independent/ Independent Counsel, investigating allegations of tampering with presidential candidate Bill Clinton's passport files, and as Deputy Chief Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives, Foreign Affairs Committee, October Surprise Task Force, investigating the handling of the American hostage situation in Iran. Michael is a prolific writer and has published Op-ed pieces for CNN.com, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Hill, The Washington Times, and The Washington Post. Follow Michael on Twitter: @michaelzeldin Subscribe to the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-said-with-michael-zeldin/id1548483720

President Barack Obama delivered over 450 speeches during his tenure, but one of his most famous was entirely unscripted. Back in 2015, as the country mourned the victims of Charleston church shooting, the president spontaneously began to sing. And for longtime staff speechwriter Cody Keenan, Obama's famous “Amazing Grace” speech epitomized the power of oration to guide Americans in times of immense national crisis.    This week, Keenan joins Ray to discuss his new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.” In it, he pulls back the curtain on the presidential writers' room, and how the administration strove to bring a country together.    Guest:   Cody Keenan, partner at Fenway Strategies and former White House Director of Speechwriting   Host:  Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and want to support the work we do, please consider making a donation to World Affairs. We cannot do this work without your help. Thank you.

Cody Keenan is an American political advisor and speechwriter who served as the Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama. Keenan studied political science at Northwestern University.

Former Director of speechwriting for President Obama, Cody Keenan talks about his new book 'Grace':-President Obama and working with the 44th President -Writing a speech after a mass shooting-Behind the scenes with the Obamas in the White House-The Chicago Cubs visiting the White House... and so much moreFind Cody's book here 

Stephen welcomes former White House speechwriter Cody Keenan for a chat about his time writing for President Obama, and learns the “dirty little secret” of how he earned his nickname. Cody's new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America,” is available now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A white supremacist shooting and an astonishing act of forgiveness. A national reckoning with race and the Confederate flag. The fate of marriage equality and the Affordable Care Act. "Grace" is the propulsive story of ten days in June 2015, when Obama and his chief speechwriter Cody Keenan composed a series of high-stakes speeches to meet a succession of stunning developments.

In high school, Cody Keenan wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. But a challenging college chemistry course led him to pursue a degree in political science instead. He got his start working in the mailroom for Sen. Ted Kennedy, eventually becoming chief speech writer for President Barack Obama. Cody joined David to talk about the challenges of speech writing, battling imposter syndrome, the joys and frustrations of working in politics, and a whirlwind 10 days chronicled in his new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.”To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

David Shuster hosts. Former Obama speechwriter Cody Keenan describes the moments that lead up to President Obama singing "Amazing Grace" and giving one of the most important speeches of his career. NYC Gun Violence Prevention Czar Andre T. Mitchell discusses the resources communities need to prevent gun violence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special bonus episode of Northwestern Intersections, join us for an account from Barack Obama's chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan '02, of the 10 most dramatic days of the presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions put the character of the US on the line and a president's words could bring the nation together or tear it apart. Authored by Keenan, GRACE is an intimate writing on the rhetorical tightrope America's first Black president had to walk, culminating with an unforgettable high point: Obama stunning everybody by taking a deep breath and leading the country in a chorus of “Amazing Grace.”

Often, politics can feel like a thankless and often futile undertaking.  But White House chief speechwriter Cody Keenan tells his readers that occasionally, through long and sustained effort, the world moves. Keenan began his political career as an intern and legislative aide to senator Edward M. Kennedy.  He earned a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he studied speechwriting and delivery.  After a speechwriting internship on Barack Obama's presidential campaign working under White House Director of Speechwriting Jon Favreau, Keenan returned as a full-time staffer on Obama's presidential campaign.  In 2013, Keenan took the lead in writing the State of the Union Address just prior to Favreau's departure from the White House.  He became the White House Director of Speechwriting in March 2013.  Among his many notable speeches, Kennan wrote Obama's speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in 2015.  An expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he now serves as a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches political speechwriting at his alma mater Northwestern University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Matters Most podcast host Paul Samuel Dolman speaks with President Obama's chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan, on Keenan's new book, Grace. The post Cody Keenan #1062 appeared first on Paul Samuel Dolman.

Ten very important days in American history and you are the one writing the presidential speeches...

Ten very important days in American history and you are the one writing the presidential speeches...

ABOUT CODY KEENAN AND GRACEGRACE: PRESIDENT OBAMA AND TEN DAYS IN THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA (Mariner Books, October 4, 2022) is the riveting story of the most exhilarating and emotional stretch of the Obama presidency, told by the man Obama calls his "Hemingway," his longtime collaborator and chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan.GRACE is a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the Obama presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions (the right to health care for working families and the right for same-sex couples to marry) put the character of our country on the line. Cody Keenan takes the readers deep inside the White House to offer the most intimate glimpse into process, procrastination, and crafting speeches at the highest level with Barack Obama, including:· What happens inside the West Wing after a mass shooting, from someone who's written more eulogies after such tragedies than anyone else on the planet· Heated Oval Office debates over how and whether to speak that week at all· A late-night writing session in the First Family's private residence· Obama's innermost thoughts on race and his use that week of the one word you can't say· And the moment on Marine One when Obama decided to take a leap of faith in a soaring sermon and surprise everybody by leading the country in a chorus of "Amazing Grace."In the rarest of White House memoirs, Keenan masterfully narrates the propulsive story of those ten days and offers an intimate look at where we've been and where we can go on our American journey toward progress and hope.ABOUT CODY KEENANCody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in Chicago to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, and current affairs, he is a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway Strategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting at his alma mater Northwestern University. He lives in New York City with his wife Kristen and their daughter Gracie.Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-President-Obama-Battle-America/dp/0358651891

Cody Keenan, President Obama's chief speechwriter, talks about Barack Obama as a leader, how we can engage our kids in the political process so they'll feel empowered, and how to write a great speech. Cody's new book is Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.

Guy Kawasaki is on a mission to make you remarkable. His Remarkable People podcast features interviews with remarkable people such as Jane Goodall, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Marc Benioff, Woz, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Bob Cialdini. Every episode will make you more remarkable.With his decades of experience in Silicon Valley as a Venture Capitalist and advisor to the top entrepreneurs in the world, Guy's questions come from a place of curiosity and passion for technology, start-ups, entrepreneurship, and marketing. If you love society and culture, documentaries, and business podcasts, take a second to follow Remarkable People.Listeners of the Remarkable People podcast will learn from some of the most successful people in the world with practical tips and inspiring stories that will help you be more remarkable.Listen to Remarkable People here: https://wavve.link/remarkablepeopleText to get notified of new episodes: https://joinsubtext.com/guyLike this show? Please leave us a review -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!Thank you for your support; it helps the show!

Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America by Cody Keenan From Barack Obama's chief speechwriter Cody Keenan, a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions put the character of our country on the line, and a president's words could bring the nation together or tear it apart. A white supremacist shooting and an astonishing act of forgiveness. A national reckoning with race and the Confederate flag. The fate of marriage equality and the Affordable Care Act. GRACE is the propulsive story of ten days in June 2015, when Obama and his chief speechwriter Cody Keenan composed a series of high-stakes speeches to meet a succession of stunning developments. Through behind-the-scenes moments—from Obama's suggestion that Keenan pour a drink, listen to some Miles Davis, and “find the silences,” to the president's late-night writing sessions in the First Family's residence—Keenan takes us inside the craft of speechwriting at the highest level for the most demanding of bosses, the relentlessly poetic and perfectionist Barack Obama. GRACE also delivers a fascinating portrait of White House insiders like Ben Rhodes, Valerie Jarrett, Jen Psaki, and the speechwriting team responsible for pulling it all off during a furious, historic stretch of the Obama presidency—including a gifted fact-checker who took Keenan's rhetoric to task before taking his hand in marriage. GRACE is the most intimate writing that exists on the rhetorical tightrope our first Black president had to walk, culminating with an unforgettable high point: Obama stunning everybody by taking a deep breath and leading the country in a chorus of “Amazing Grace.”

Donald Trumps asks if Mitch McConnell has a death wish, Republican Senate candidates are polling better while the House is still in play, and Cody Keenan joins to talk about speechwriting for Obama and his new book Grace.

Hello Show Noter ! Thank you for reading this ! I wont take up much of your time because the show today is my interview with a really cool guy who has had a really cool job for the past 14 years.  I think you will love it!  Stand Up is a daily podcast that I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 800 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more Cody has written with President Barack Obama since 2007, working his way up from deputy pirate to chief speechwriter. He's been named the “Springsteen” of the Obama White House, even though he can't play an instrument, and Obama calls him “Hemingway” for reasons that have little to do with his talent or seasonal beard (ask him sometime). Even British GQ got in on the action, naming Cody one of the “35 Coolest Men under 38 (and a Half),” ahead of Ryan Gosling, but behind Tom Hardy.  In truth, Cody is more comfortable behind the scenes, shaping the stories of our time—whether moments of national tragedy or expansions of civil rights. He served as a young aide to the legendary senator Edward M. Kennedy. Cody holds a master's degree from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and a B.A. from Northwestern University, where he now teaches a popular course on speechwriting. His own commencement addresses at NYU in 2015 and Northwestern in 2018 were highlighted as some of the year's best. Born in Wrigleyville, Cody finally got to write his dream speech just four days before Obama left office—one welcoming the World Champion Chicago Cubs to the White House. To his wife Kristen's enduring embarrassment, their White House courtship was documented on CNN. Today, they live in New York's West Village, where they just had their first child.  Cody's first book, Grace, will be published by HarperCollins in October 2022. Check out all things Jon Carroll Follow and Support Pete Coe Pete on YouTube Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page

This week on the podcast, Angela welcomes Cody Keenan, author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. This book is a special one for Angela and Sugar23, as we are publishing this book in partnership with Mariner at HarperCollins. Cody spent years as President Obama's speechwriter, a position he held during some of the greatest moments and darkest days of Obama's presidency. Angie and Cody talk about meeting Obama for the first time, writing speeches for the first Black president, falling in love with a fact checker (his now wife), and how to free yourself when you're stuck as a writer (tip: read Baldwin or listen to Taylor Swift). Grace is available at the link above or wherever you get your books. Next week on the podcast: Laura Warrell, author of Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president of the United States stood at the podium, faced members of a Black church who had just lost nine parishioners in a racist attack, and offered comfort, not only with words, but with silence. After twelve seconds, Barack Obama sang the hymn that had been a comfort in moments of crisis for generations. Amazing Grace.In his new book, "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America," former White House Chief Speechwriter Cody Keenan recounts how he and the president collaborated on writing what would become the 44th president's most memorable speech. He describes how he worked with Obama to "find the silences," and how he spent several long days crafting the eulogy for Clementa Pinckney, Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton and Myra Thompson.Cody is also filled with nuggets about what it was like to work closely with the president, and has numerous insights into how his mind worked. My favorite question: what were the two souvenirs he took from the White House after working there for eight years? (Hint: they weren't physical objects!) And wait until you hear how the speech lives on in the life of his family... Keenan's website can be found at https://codykeenan.comHe is on social media at https://twitter.com/codykeenanMore information about his book, "Grace," can be found at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/grace-cody-keenan?variant=39970831597602Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy** "Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory https://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Adam's guest today is the Former Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama, Cody Keenan! Adam and Cody discuss Cody's new book, "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America", key points during and after the most consequential ten days of a presidency, what it takes to be a speechwriter for a president, and what Miles Davis taught him about finding the quiet moments. Pick up Cody's book by clicking here, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Special thanks to The Dugout - customized and vintage apparel. Use promo code FOUNDATION at checkout and receive 15% off of your entire order! Don't forget to follow them on Instagram. Special thanks to 10th Ward Barbershop - Proudly serving the historic 10th Ward in Lawrenceville and surrounding areas, 10th Ward Barbershop is a full service barbershop offering quality haircuts, beard trims, and hot shaves. Schedule your appointment with "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and Corey Graves' favorite barbershop today! Find the show online here, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Follow Adam on Twitter here, and on Instagram here. Advertising requests can be sent to adam@foundationradio.net. Hosted and produced by Adam Barnard Executive Producers: Adam Barnard and Sam Krepps Engineer: Carl Pannell Special Thanks: Greg Mead, Joe Keane, Geoff Quinn, Dr. Ruth Almy Intro Music: "Ugly" by Dumb Ugly Outro Music: "Rug Burn" by Dumb Ugly Musical Accompaniment: Enrichment --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/foundationradio/support

This week on the podcast, Angela welcomes Cody Keenan, author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. This book is a special one for Angela and Sugar23, as we are publishing this book in partnership with Mariner at HarperCollins. Cody spent years as President Obama's speechwriter, a position he held during some of the greatest moments and darkest days of Obama's presidency. Angie and Cody talk about meeting Obama for the first time, writing speeches for the first Black president, falling in love with a fact checker (his now wife), and how to free yourself when you're stuck as a writer (tip: read Baldwin or listen to Taylor Swift). Grace is available at the link above or wherever you get your books. Next week on the podcast: Laura Warrell, author of Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in his hometown to become the chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama's post-presidential collaborator- and he is here to share his experiences with Jess and Jess. In particular and of most interest in this conversation are the ten days in June of 2015, following the mass murder of nine Black worshipers in a Charleston, South Carolina by a white supremicist.  In the days that followed, America – and its first Black president – went through a profound reckoning with race and the legacy of the Confederate flag, while the families of the victims perform an extraordinary act of grace. Meanwhile, two consequential Supreme Court decisions loomed that would decide more than the fate of a presidency, but the fate of millions: the right to health care for working families and the right for same-sex couples to marry. In this episode, Cody shares his front seat reflections on what has always meant to craft and collaborate on work with President Obama, and how it has shaped how he sees himself, his work, and his country. A different conversation, but authentic and curious, Jess and Jess are able to reminisce some incredible "Glory Days" with the person who helped pen them. Meet Cody:Born and raised in Chicago, Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in hishometown to become chief speechwriter at the White House and Barack Obama'spost-presidential collaborator. A sought-after expert on politics, messaging, andcurrent affairs, he is now a partner at leading speechwriting firm FenwayStrategies and teaches a popular course on political speechwriting toundergraduates at his alma mater Northwestern University. Cody lives in NewYork City with his wife Kristen and their baby daughter Grace.Support the show

Cody Keenan started working in the White House at the age of 28 and rose up to the role of Chief Speechwriter for President Barack Obama. In terms of his chosen profession, he was at the top of the mountain at a very young age. But after eight years, the Obama Presidency ends. What does he do next? After the White House, Cody has accomplished a lot. He has collaborated with Barack Obama on his best-selling, presidential memoir, A Promised Land. He's now completed his own book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, which debuts on October 4, 2022. He has joined Fenway Strategies, a strategic, communications firm that helps write speeches for others. But according to Cody, the most rewarding part of his second act is teaching the next generation of political speechwriters in a small class at his alma mater Northwestern University. “It's the best thing I do. It pays the least but it's the most fun. I get to watch these students grow and improve and get excited about politics and its possibilities." In this episode of Second Act Stories, we go behind the scenes at the White House to learn the story of the eulogy which President Obama and Cody wrote for the funeral of Reverend Clementa Pinckney and eight other congregants at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. During the service, President Obama surprised the congregation by signing Amazing Grace.

Mediaite editor in chief Aidan McLaughlin speaks with Cody Keenan, chief speechwriter to President Barack Obama during his second term in office, about his new book. "Grace: President Obama And Ten Days In The Battle For America" recounts 10 days in 2015, a shocking period of tragedy and progress that started with the horrific mass shooting at a Black church in Charleston, South Carolina and ended with the Supreme Court upholding marriage equality and much of the Affordable Care Act. McLaughlin and Keenan discuss writing for Obama, how the former president reacted to the rise of Trump, and what he thinks of Biden's approach to the opposition.

Bakari Sellers is joined by the political adviser and former director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama to discuss writing for the first Black president as a white man (3:19); his new book, ‘Grace,' and reliving 10 pivotal days in the presidency (8:43); and predicting the Trump backlash (19:22). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Cody Keenan Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Regular hosts Haitch and Jason are joined by President Obama's chief speechwriter, and the author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America and DC comics super fanboy, Cody Keenan. Chapters Introduction (00:00:00) Dune News (00:29:58) Superman III Roundtable Discussion (00:31:14) Your Letters (01:15:32) Notes and Links Cody's Upcoming Book Tour. Cody is embarking on his national tour for his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America where he will have special guests and great discussions. Check out his website here. Check out the Dune Pod Merch Store! Great swag and every order includes a free Cameo style shoutout from Haitch or Jason. Browse our collection now. Read our episode transcripts! Check out our transcripts every week on the Dune Pod Medium page. Join the Dune Pod Discord Server! Hang out with Haitch, Jason, and other friends of the pod. Check out the invite here. Dune Pod is a TAPEDECK Podcasts Jawn! Dune Pod is a member of TAPEDECK Podcasts, alongside: 70mm (a podcast for film lovers), Bat & Spider (low rent horror and exploitation films), The Letterboxd Show (Official Podcast from Letterboxd), Cinenauts (exploring the Criterion Collection), Lost Light (Transformers comics and more), Will Run For (obsessed with running), and Film Hags (a podcast about movies hosted by four hag friends). Check these pods out!. See the movies we've watched and are going to watch on Letterboxd Dune Pod's Breaking Dune News Twitter list Rate and review the podcast to help others discover it, and let us know what you think of the show at letters@dunepod.com or leave us a voicemail at +1-415-534-5211. Dune Pod: your one stop shop to enjoy the new Dune movies by delving into the books, as well as the films directed by Denis Villeneuve and featuring the cast and crew of the new film, as well as just awesome movies that we think you'll enjoy. Follow @dunepod on Twitter and Instagram Music by Tobey Forsman of Whipsong Music Cover art by Haitch Transcripts by Sophie Shin The episode was edited by Megan Hayward of EditAudio and produced by Haitch Dune Pod is a TAPEDECK Podcasts Jawn Dune Pod is a production of Haitch Industries

Cody Keenan talks to NPR's Tamara Keith about writing for Barack Obama, the impact of Donald Trump's rhetoric and whether a president needs to be a compelling speaker to be an effective leader.He's the author of a new book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America.This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith.Learn more about upcoming live shows of The NPR Politics Podcast at nprpresents.org.Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription to The NPR Politics Podcast Plus. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics Connect:Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.orgJoin the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

Brian Noyes was an art director for 30+ years with top publications like The Washington Post, Smithsonian, Architecture and House & Garden. He loved his work. But he also loved baking. And he regularly took week-long courses at schools like the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY and L'Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, MD. After the September 11th attack, he decided to buy a weekend house in rural Virginia -- an escape from his design work in Washington, DC. As a hobby, he started making jams and pies for a local country store under the name the Red Truck Bakery. He quickly developed a devoted, local following. His big break came in 2008 when legendary New York Times food columnist Marian Burros tried some of his baked goods at a friend's 4th of July party. She later wrote in a holiday, round-up article: “One of my favorite discoveries is Brian Noyes, the owner of the Red Truck Bakery in Virginia, who has a deft hand with pastries and an unerring sense of flavor balance.” Brian's website went from less than 25 visitors per day to 57,000 visitors on the day the article appeared. And it was the push he needed to quit his job as an art director and open the Red Truck Bakery in Warrenton, Virginia in 2009. Today he has stores in both Warrenton and Marshall, Virginia and a staff of 50 people. He ships dozens of pies, cakes and granola each day. He also has a devoted fan in former President Barack Obama who wrote a salute to the Red Truck Bakery in his final year in office. Special thanks to Cody Keenan, President Obama's chief speechwriter, for coming on the podcast and sharing this story with us. You can sample their baked goods for yourself by visiting www.redtruckbakery.com. You can also order Brian's first book “The Red Truck Bakery Cookbook” and his second book, “The Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse Cookbook” (which comes out on August 2, 2022). And if you find yourself passing through Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, make it a point to drop by one of their stores. You won't be disappointed.    

Over the Christmas break, we're looking back at some of the big events of 2021. The year started with the inauguration of President Joe Biden - an event that arguably became better known more for the break-out performance of poet Amanda Gorman. On the 21st of January we spoke to Barack Obama's former speechwriter Cody Keenan. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You'll be blown away with this interview with speechwriter Cody Keenan, former Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama. President Obama said he relied “on Cody not just to share my vision, but to help tell America's story.” “He's a brilliant writer," Mr. Obama added. “He's relentless.” Listen in as Guy Kawasaki talks to Cody about his years working at The White House this week on the Remarkable People Podcast.

Barack Obama has been called one of the great American Orators and his ability to capture an audience was widely recognised when he held office. Dave chats to Cody Keenan who became White House Director of Speechwriting in 2013!

Cody Keenan, Barack Obama's former speechwriter who contributed a chapter to the book "From Whence I Came: The Kennedy Legacy, Ireland and America"

Every year on March 17th, the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) visits the White House and presents a bowl of Irish shamrock to the U.S. President. It is a tradition that dates back to the 1950's and is a highlight on the Irish American calendar. But what really happens in the White House on St. Patrick's Day? We speak to two former Irish Taoisigh (PM's) Enda Kenny and John Bruton, Barack Obama's speechwriter Cody Keenan, historian Dr. Michael Kennedy and broadcaster and author Dearbhail McDonald.

Cody is an American political advisor and speechwriter who served as the Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama. Described as the "Springsteen" of Obama's White House. He helped President Obama craft remarks on every topic for every audience – from tiny backyards in Iowa to the biggest stadiums in the country; from sermons on the National Mall to the State of the Union Address. Cody chats to us about his Irish west coast road trip and writing the perfect speech with Barack Obama. He also tells us about his upcoming memoir 'Grace', which will focus on 10 days in Obama's presidency, during which he helped write addresses for the president dealing with everything from a public debate on the Confederate flag to Supreme Court rulings on healthcare and gay marriage.

Today’s we’re going to dive into that last word – Nation.What does it take to write a speech so captivating - so compelling – that it has the ability to stop a Nation in its tracks? Make the planet literally sit up and pay attention – or define an entire moment in history for generations to come. Would it be fair to say that the writing of that speech would take a level of mastery that’s worth knowing?I’ve worked with speakers and presenters for twenty years. And this bit, the crafting of the story itself – what’s too much – what’s not enough – what’s too simple – what’s too complex – what does justice to the ideas – and what will just get lost amongst the noise. That’s always the most underestimated part. Presentations skills you can learn – an instinct for the unparalleled power of words – that’s a level of mastery that takes years or decades to develop. Unless… of course… you learn from the best.My guest today is exactly that. Someone I have admired for years as THE master of the craft. Keenan is a professional speechwriter who, as Director of Speech Writing for President Obama - has written or edited more than 2,000 speeches for his boss. Including the historical March 2015 speech, when Obama spoke in Selma, Alabama, marking 50 years since "Bloody Sunday". More recently he also worked on Obama’s Democratic National Convention speech, which is still being described by many pundits as a ‘historically unprecedented’. So what does that take? Where do you start? What words do you use when there are no words? Or – in moments when every single word counts so much – that each will be dissected a million times by the media. What you’re about to hear is basically a masterclass in compelling communication. In this conversation, we dive into… One of the most powerful questions I have ever heard when it comes to owning your space in a room – or an arena… ‘Why are you the only one who can tell this story?’ The importance of starting and ending a speech on purpose - how to grab the audience’s attention from the first word and send them home with a fire to move forward. Transitions and signposting – basically how to move seamlessly from one point to the next without losing your audience.Why the best speeches are like jazz – a piece of advice that came from President Obama himself – where the pauses and low notes are what allow the high notes to shine. Why you shouldn’t put anything in a speech that you wouldn’t say to a friend in a bar – try thinking about public policy this way and you’ll get what a mind flip that requires. And surprisingly, and reassuringly, that even for the man who writes to a nation, on some of the most pressing issues of our time... self-doubt and imposter syndrome are par for the course. The question is, can you put them to work for you - rather than letting them run the show.As a heads up – Cody does make a few references to mass shooting events - in the context of moments where it’s hard to find the words. I’ll leave you to decide how best to take care of yourself and your loved ones in those moments.What I do want you to reflect on here is that – as always - genius leaves footprints. Think of the last speech you witnessed that left you glued to your chair. That left you utterly committed to taking some action. Can you map out its basic structure? What caught your attention straight out of the gate? What were the core 3-5 points? How did they finished in a way that made sure you took action? Pay attention, all the clues are there.Oh and finally – if you write anything on a post it note and stick it to your desk today – let it be this: “What’s the story I want to tell – and why am I the only person who can tell it?”In the meantime, settle back and enjoy my conversation with the incredible mind that is Cody Keenan.... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The top speechwriter for the Obama administration, Cody Keenan, says he would give Amanda Gorman a job at the White House after astonishing the world with her inauguration poem.The 22-year-old's “The Hill We Climb” was a highlight of the ceremony marking the start of Joe Biden's presidency, and has been hailed by critics for its themes of unity and togetherness. The advisor, who was director of speechwriting at the White House between 2013 and 2017, also gives us a behind the scenes glimpse of how to write a great political speech.Also, The Hill's Capitol reporter, Juliegrace Brufke, joins us to discuss a lightning fast first day at the Oval Office with 17 executive orders dispatched from the Resolute Desk.Joe Biden's already begun dismantling his predecessor's work, signing off on the US re-joining the Paris climate change agreement, and halting construction of a wall on the border with Mexico.But will the pace slow down as the White House slogs through what it calls “four converging crises:” the Covid-19 pandemic, an economic crisis, climate change, and racial inequality? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Greetings everyone, my name is Julie Masters and welcome to another episode of Inside Influence in which I delve into the minds of some of the world’s most fascinating influencers – or experts in influence - to get to the bottom of what it really takes to own your voice and then amplify it to drive an industry, a conversation, a movement or a Nation.Today’s we’re going to dive into that last word – Nation.What does it take to write a speech so captivating - so compelling – that it has the ability to stop a Nation in its tracks? Make the planet literally sit up and pay attention – or define an entire moment in history for generations to come. Would it be fair to say that the writing of that speech would take a level of mastery that’s worth knowing?I’ve worked with speakers and presenters for twenty years. And this bit, the crafting of the story itself – what’s too much – what’s not enough – what’s too simple – what’s too complex – what does justice to the ideas – and what will just get lost amongst the noise. That’s always the most underestimated part. Presentations skills you can learn – an instinct for the unparalleled power of words – that’s a level of mastery that takes years or decades to develop.Unless… of course… you learn from the best.My guest today is exactly that. Someone I have admired for years as THE master of the craft. Keenan is a professional speechwriter who, as Director of Speech Writing for President Obama - has written or edited more than 2,000 speeches for his boss. Including the historical March 2015 speech, when Obama spoke in Selma, Alabama, marking 50 years since "Bloody Sunday". More recently he also worked on Obama’s Democratic National Convention speech, which is still being described by many pundits as a ‘historically unprecedented’.So what does that take? Where do you start? What words do you use when there are no words? Or – in moments when every single word counts so much – that each will be dissected a million times by the media. What you’re about to hear is basically a masterclass in compelling communication.In this conversation, we dive into…One of the most powerful questions I have ever heard when it comes to owning your space in a room – or an arena… ‘Why are you the only one who can tell this story?’The importance of starting and ending a speech on purpose - how to grab the audience’s attention from the first word and send them home with a fire to move forward.Transitions and signposting – basically how to move seamlessly from one point to the next without losing your audience.Why the best speeches are like jazz – a piece of advice that came from President Obama himself – where the pauses and low notes are what allow the high notes to shine.Why you shouldn’t put anything in a speech that you wouldn’t say to a friend in a bar – try thinking about public policy this way and you’ll get what a mind flip that requires.And surprisingly, and reassuringly, that even for the man who writes to a nation, on some of the most pressing issues of our time... self-doubt and imposter syndrome are par for the course. The question is, can you put them to work for you - rather than letting them run the show.As a heads up – Cody does make a few references to mass shooting events - in the context of moments where it’s hard to find the words. I’ll leave you to decide how best to take care of yourself and your loved ones in those moments.What I do want you to reflect on here is that – as always - genius leaves footprints. Think of the last speech you witnessed that left you glued to your chair. That left you utterly committed to taking some action. Can you map out its basic structure? What caught your attention straight out of the gate? What were the core 3-5 points? How did they finished in a way that made sure you took action? Pay attention, all the clues are there.Oh and finally – if you write anything on a post it note and stick it to your desk today – let it be this: “What’s the story I want to tell – and why am I the only person who can tell it?”In the meantime, settle back and enjoy my conversation with the incredible mind that is Cody Keenan.... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Louise Duffy is joined by Cody Keenan, Barack Obama's acclaimed speechwriter for the first episode of 'How To... with The Communications Clinic'. They discuss his role as Director of Speechwriting in the White House, Obama's recent speech at the 2020 Democratic Convention, the speechwriting process, the importance of storytelling, reading, research and lots more.   Get in touch with us by email - info@communicationsclinic.ie  We're also on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-communications-clinic-dublin

This episode is a recorded Waldron Student-Alumni Connections Program event where Cody Keenan talked with students in the fall of 2019 about his career. He has been a speechwriter for President Barack Obama for nearly a decade, rising from a campaign intern in Chicago to Director of Speechwriting at the White House. He is also now a visiting professor at Northwestern. Though this talk was from 2019, which was a very different time compared to today, we are excited to share this talk with you and we hope you enjoy it! Learn more at Weinberg.northwestern.edu and search for Waldron or email us at waldron@northwestern.edu.

Cody Keenan and his team wrote over 4.000 speeches for President Obama, and he still is his personal speechwriter today. Experts call Cody the ‘The Bruce Springsteen of speechwriting’. How do you write speeches that touch the hearts and minds of millions of people?

WIP Forum DC - Identity - The changing nature of Irishness and the relationship with Irish America This discussion was part of the WIP DC Forum - focused on issues facing Ireland & Northern Ireland's future. The conversation was hosted by Molly Muldoon, Alumna of the Washington Ireland Program Class of 2007 and Public Relations Director at Siegal + Gale. Panelists were: Cody Keenan, Senior Advisor and Director of Speechwriting for President Obama Suzanne Lynch, Washington Correspondent for the Irish Times. The event was supported the Irish Embassy in Washington through the Emigrant Support Program. The event was hosted in the offices of the DC Bar.

Cody Keenan has been writing for and with Barack Obama, former leader of the free world, since 2007, but the real test comes today when we explore his sporting credentials. We talk about writing Obama's recent speech commenting on Trump, Cruz/O'Rourke in Texas, Colin Kaepernick and his own high school football career.

Cody Keenan has been a speechwriter for President Barack Obama for more than a decade, rising from a campaign intern in Chicago to Director of Speechwriting at the White House. Keenan has helped craft the president’s remarks on every topic for every audience, from backyards in Iowa, to State of the Union addresses. Now he is helping President Obama write a memoir of his time in the Oval Office. On today’s podcast Keenan speaks to Hugh Linehan about getting his start with Obama, what he believes the 44th president’s legacy will be, whether US politics is suffering irreparable damage under the Trump presidency, and more.

In a special series for Crooked Conversations, Ben Rhodes takes a deeper dive into some of the issues and themes that he deals with in his memoir "The World As It Is" about his 10 years working as Deputy National Security Adviser to President Obama. In the first of these conversations, Ben talks to Jon Favreau and Cody Keenan about what it was like to write speeches for a president who already had a strong voice.

For 15 years, Intelligence Squared has vigorously championed the spoken word. The finest speakers from across the globe have come to our stage — to argue, to move, to persuade and change minds. Their speeches epitomise the vital role that public speaking plays in our lives. To celebrate the power of oratory, we held a major event which will showcase how great speeches have swayed the course of history and demonstrate how, more than ever, we need them to help define our values and who we are.Barack Obama’s director of speechwriting, Cody Keenan, shared his experience of helping craft the presidential speeches that moved the hearts and minds of millions around the world. Alongside him was be Philip Collins, Tony Blair’s former speechwriter and Times columnist, whose new book argues for the importance of speeches in protecting and promoting democracy. With Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis in the chair, Keenan and Collins unpacked the tricks and techniques that have been used by the most brilliant orators down the centuries and which are still working their magic today. Bringing this all to life were star actors Carey Mulligan, Jeremy Irons and Simon Russell Beale, who will perform extracts from remarkable speeches – some familiar, others that will surprise – from different continents and eras.What is it about a great speech that can give voice to people’s intense but unarticulated feelings? What is that special alchemy of words and personal charisma that makes us as susceptible to dangerous demagogues as to the morally uplifting oratory of a Mandela, a Martin Luther King or a JFK? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

President Obama's chief speechwriter Cody Keenan is probably the biggest DC Comics fanboy in the history of the White House, and he joins Keith for a special one-on-one conversation about heroism and the need for Hope and Optimism in the DC Universe. Cody talks about how Superman came to be his favorite hero, why Clancy Brown is the best Lex Luthor, seeing his hometown Chicago get turned into Gotham and Metropolis, and why you can't separate social justice from superhero stories. They also discuss President Obama's Nerd of Color credentials and go on a brief tangent about sportsball (sorry). Find DC TV Classics on: Social Media: Facebook – @DCTVClassics – Instagram Subscribe: iTunes – Stitcher Radio – YouTube – DC TV Podcasts Contact: dctvclassics@gmail.com  

"This was specifically one of the issues he said he would speak up about. Whenever American values are threatened, whenever various groups of Americans are targeted". Cody Keenan helped former U.S. president Barack Obama draft his recent statement criticising President Donald Trump's decision to end the Dreamers programme, removing legal protection from the children of undocumented immigrants. Keenan worked in the White House throughout Barack Obama's two terms of office, becoming his head speechwriter. He understands the criticism Obama came under for breaking the tradition that former presidents not criticise incumbents. "But you know, Donald Trump has shredded almost every democratic norm there is in America". Last week Cody talked to Chris Dooley about shaping Obama's key speeches, the successes and failures of the administration and his insights into the apparent chaos of the Trump White House.

On the eve of a joint session address, we talk with two chief speechwriters--Cody Keenan of the Obama White House and Marc Thiessen of the Bush White House. They share commentary on President Trump's speaking style and reflections on their experiences writing for the President of the United States.

Cody Keenan, President Obama's chief speechwriter in the second term, joins Jon and Jon to talk about speechwriting, working for Obama, and lessons learned over eight years in the White House.

Cody Keenan, former chief speechwriter to President Obama, talks with David Axelrod about his evolution from intern in the speechwriting department of the 2008 Obama presidential campaign to becoming the President’s chief speechwriter; how President Obama collaborates on the speechwriting process; and what it was like to serve in the White House for eight years.

This season on Working, we’re going to the White House. Head Speechwriter Cody Keenan writes and edits the President's speeches. He takes us through his career starting as a speechwriting intern in 2008 and how a speech goes from the blank page to the teleprompter.  In a Slate Plus Extra tells us about some of the lighter speeches he's written over the years, including one he gave himself. If you’re a member, enjoy bonus segments and interview transcripts from Working, plus other great podcast exclusives. Start your two-week free trial at slate.com/workingplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This season on Working, we’re going to the White House. Head Speechwriter Cody Keenan writes and edits the President's speeches. He takes us through his career starting as a speechwriting intern in 2008 and how a speech goes from the blank page to the teleprompter.  In a Slate Plus Extra, Keenan tells us about some of the lighter speeches he's written over the years, including one he gave himself. If you’re a member, enjoy bonus segments and interview transcripts from Working, plus other great podcast exclusives. Start your two-week free trial at slate.com/workingplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angie's got a cold, and it's making her think about hot toddys. And the time she sipped some bourbon and talked with with Cody Keenan, President Obama's speech writer and author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. Grace has just arrived in paperback, so it's a perfect time to revisit this conversation. We hope you enjoy it!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Angie's got a cold, and it's making her think about hot toddys. And the time she sipped some bourbon and talked with with Cody Keenan, President Obama's speech writer and author of Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. Grace has just arrived in paperback, so it's a perfect time to revisit this conversation. We hope you enjoy it!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy