Walter Isaacson: podcast appearances and interviews

Walter Seff Isaacson, born on May 20, 1952, is an American journalist and academic who is currently a professor of history at Tulane University. He has authored numerous biographies of prominent figures including Henry Kissinger, Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Jennifer Doudna, and Elon Musk. In addition to his academic role, Isaacson serves as an interviewer for the PBS and CNN news show Amanpour & Company, a position he has held since 2018. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions such as president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, chair and CEO of CNN, and editor of Time magazine.

Isaacson attended Harvard University and Pembroke College, Oxford, as a Rhodes scholar. His writing includes co-authoring The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made and authoring works such as Pro and Con, Kissinger: A Biography, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, Einstein: His Life and Universe, and Steve Jobs, among others. His more recent publications include Leonardo da Vinci, The Code Breaker, Elon Musk, and The Greatest Sentence Ever Written. Besides his writing and teaching roles, he is an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg Partners and has been involved in various public service capacities.

His participation in organizations includes serving as vice chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority following Hurricane Katrina, chairing the government board that manages Voice of America, and participating in the Defense Innovation Board. Isaacson’s diverse career reflects a strong commitment to both journalism and public service.