New Podcast Series, American FLOTUS, Debuts

The First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) and American POTUS, the popular podcast about the US presidency, have launched a new joint podcast, American FLOTUS. The series will focus on US first ladies, their impact, legacies, and evolution of the role and office.

"It is fitting and exciting that at FLARE's three-year anniversary, we are collaborating with American POTUS to introduce American FLOTUS," said Nancy Kegan Smith, President of FLARE and Retired Director of the Presidential Materials Division, National Archives and Records Administration. "American POTUS is a leader in producing exceptional podcasts that enlighten its audience about the American presidency. American FLOTUS will demonstrate the important mark US first ladies have made on the country and sometimes, the world."

The first episode, "Envisioning the Role of a First Gentleman," examines the ways in which the role of a future first gentleman could be approached. Alan Lowe, founder and host of American POTUS, interviews Diana Carlin, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Communication at Saint Louis University and FLARE Vice President, on this subject. Nancy Kegan Smith welcomes listeners to the new series. Clues to how a first gentleman might define and perform his duties will be discussed using examples from the spouses of female state governors and foreign heads of state, and the experiences and observations of President Bill Clinton and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

The first episode is available beginning today on all major podcast platforms or by visiting American FLOTUS or FLARE, and the transcript can be viewed HERE .
"The first ladies have played pivotal roles in the story of our nation since the very beginnings of the Republic," said Alan Lowe, Host and Producer of American POTUS. "Given the commitment of American POTUS to examine the history of the presidency, discussing the role of these amazing women in partnership with the experts at FLARE is an exciting opportunity."

"I am pleased that FLARE's affiliation with the First Ladies Initiative at American University's School of Public Affairs (AU SPA) continues to provide opportunities to promote the stories and contributions of America's first ladies and expand our reach to as many audiences as possible," explained Anita McBride, Executive-in-Residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at AU SPA where she leads the First Ladies Initiative. "This new FLARE podcast, in partnership with American POTUS, is an exciting step forward and great example of the power of collaboration." Ms. McBride is also former chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush and is one of the founders and a current board member of FLARE.

American FLOTUS episodes will be broadcast throughout the year and delve into timely topics, including the White House Historical Association's new educational museum, the People's House, that tells the story of the executive mansion and its inhabitants, a look at the lives and legacies of Edith Wilson and Pat Nixon, featuring authors Rebecca Roberts and Heath Hardage Lee, and other fascinating topics.