APRIL 26, 2025
Martha Stewart with Soledad O’Brien
THE LIFE BEHIND LIVING
TONIGHT’S LEAD PATRON
At Genworth Financial, Inc., a Fortune 500 company (NYSE: GNW), care and compassion are at the core of our business and guide our interactions with our employees, policyholders, partners, and communities.
For over 150 years, Genworth has helped individuals and their families navigate caregiving options and prepare for the financial challenges of aging. We are the spouses, children, siblings, friends, and neighbors of those who need care — and we bring those experiences with us to work in serving our millions of policyholders each day.
In 2023, we launched our first new business line under the CareScout brand – a digital platform that permits seekers of long-term care to access a network of providers focused on personcentered care. We look forward to offering other innovative services and solutions that enable even more individuals to have access to affordable quality care as they age.
Our commitment to person-centered care extends beyond our product offerings to our efforts to support our employees, strengthen our communities, and foster a more inclusive culture.
To ensure Genworth remains an employer of choice for our talented employees, we are committed to maintaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We have implemented innovative hybrid and remote schedule options and offer comprehensive employee benefits that meet the needs of our large, diverse workforce. Additionally, through the Genworth Foundation and Uplift, our outreach platforms, we extend our very purposeful impact in our communities through donations and volunteerism.
Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Genworth employs more than 1,500 people in the Commonwealth, and in the City of Lynchburg. We are proud to be a part of this vibrant community and pleased to support The Richmond Forum as it presents a diverse spectrum of powerful voices that challenge Richmond to learn and empowers local voices of all ages that position Richmond to lead.
To learn more, visit Genworth.com.
Creating a Sustainable Future Built on Compassion & Care
THIS SEASON IS ALSO MADE POSSIBLE BY
THESE LEAD PATRONS
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TONIGHT’S PRODUCER PATRONS
Where compassionate care meets nationally recognized, independent physicians. With convenient locations throughout greater Richmond we have the power to fight cancer together.
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Trinity Episcopal School is an independent, coeducational day school for students in grades 8 through 12, located in Richmond, Virginia, just south of the James River.
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DEAR RICHMOND FORUM SPONSORS AND SUBSCRIBERS,
In 1986, a group of Richmonders sought to revive our city's long history of engaging in public forums with the birth of a new organization, The Richmond Forum. In their initial appeal, The Forum was envisioned to be “a gift to Richmond, given in the truest spirit of community sharing.” We have been working all year to deliver the gift of our 40th season. Tonight, we get to share it with you.
This year has been extraordinary. We are so grateful for your support and enthusiasm.
We presented programs that expanded our universe, cheered us on, made us think, and reminded us of simple pleasures.
You all used our Ticket Marketplace more than 1,000 times to move closer to the action on stage or to join us in person for a special night out.
We hired a new director of development and sponsor events, Kathryn Blessing, and will celebrate the retirement of Dee Raubenstine at the conclusion of this season.
We expanded our support of speech and debate programs so local students will be ready to compete in the national tournament when it comes to Richmond next summer. Thank you for supporting these efforts and the 526 students on teams this year!
At the conclusion of the program tonight, the Portal will open to allow you to renew your subscription for our 40th season. You have until Tuesday, May 27 to renew your seats or request upgrades.
When you renew, you will have the opportunity to purchase online gift subscriptions for your friends and family. Online subscriptions make a great gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and high school or college graduations. Your gift recipient will be able to stream our upcoming 2025 - 2026 season from anywhere in the world and can upgrade to seats in the theater the week before each program by using the Ticket Marketplace in the Portal.
It is an honor that The Forum has grown and evolved into such a special part of our city’s culture over our 39 seasons. Together, we nurture a vibrant atmosphere of intellectual curiosity in our corner of the commonwealth. Next year, we will share that with high school speech and debate enthusiasts from across the country as we welcome 10,000 people to Richmond for the 2026 National Speech and Debate Tournament!
I look forward to seeing you next season at The Richmond Forum.
Sincerely,
Martha Stewart with Soledad O'Brien
THE LIFE BEHIND LIVING
APRIL 26, 2025
OPENING MUSIC The Sweet Potatoes
OPENING REMARKS
Heather Mullins Crislip
Executive Director The Richmond Forum
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Andrea Lynn White
President & Chief Executive Officer
CareScout Insurance, a division of Genworth
CONVERSATION & AUDIENCE QUESTIONS
Martha Stewart with Soledad O'Brien
There will be no intermission during this program. Please submit audience questions via Slido before the program begins or discreetly during the program as your questions arise. Please be courteous to your neighbors.
The Richmond Forum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization. Tonight’s presentation may not be recorded or photographed by attendees by any means for any purpose.
The Life Behind Living
Genworth is pleased to welcome Martha Stewart and Soledad O’Brien to Richmond.
We are proud to support The Richmond Forum as it presents powerful voices that challenge the Richmond region to listen, learn, and lead.
As we strive to help families navigate the aging journey with confidence, we are pleased to promote dialogue and understanding that fosters an inclusive community for every human being.
MARTHA STEWART
TONIGHT’S SPEAKER
I HAVE TWO MOTTOS: 1. LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. 2. WHEN YOU’RE THROUGH CHANGING, YOU’RE THROUGH.
MARTHA STEWART is the founder of the first multichannel lifestyle company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, as well as an entrepreneur, bestselling author of 101 lifestyle books, and Emmy award-winning television show host. Her magazines, television shows, books, and home products reach more than 100 million devoted fans every month. She and her talented staff provide trusted information on all aspects of everyday living: cooking, entertaining, gardening, home renovation, collecting, organizing, crafting, healthy living, holidays, weddings, and pet care.
Stewart was raised in New Jersey in a family of six children. She developed her passion for cooking, gardening, and homekeeping at an early age. Upon graduating from Barnard College with a degree in history and architectural history, she became a stockbroker on Wall Street, where she gained her early business training.
In 1972, Stewart moved to Westport, Connecticut, and founded a successful event and catering business. Her elegant recipes and unique visual presentation later became the basis for her first book, “Entertaining,” published in 1982.
Stewart’s business sense and creative vision provided the framework for launching her namesake company in 1996. The company’s portfolio has since grown to include the award-winning properties Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, and marthastewart. com. Her nationally syndicated television programs, “Martha Stewart Living” and “The Martha Stewart Show,” earned 18 Emmys over 19 years.
Stewart pioneered bringing beautifully designed, highquality products to the mass market with Martha Stewart Everyday products at Kmart. Today, her branded products can be found in tens of millions of homes and thousands of retail locations. The Martha Stewart brand offers a robust range of products created for or in collaboration with numerous retail partners, including Macy’s, Amazon, Staples, QVC, iGourmet, Barrie House Coffee Roasters, Wayfair, California Closets, Marley Spoon, Wine Insiders, and Canopy Growth.
MARTHA STEWART
SOLEDAD O’BRIEN
TONIGHT’S MODERATOR
“BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS A MINDSET. YOU HAVE TO SEE THINGS AS OPPORTUNITIES ALL THE TIME. I LIKE TO DO INTERVIEWS. I LIKE TO PUSH PEOPLE ON CERTAIN TOPICS. I LIKE TO DIG INTO THE STORIES WHERE THERE’S NOT NECESSARILY A RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER.
SOLEDAD O’BRIEN is an award-winning documentarian, journalist, speaker, author, philanthropist, and founder of Soledad O’Brien Productions, a media production company dedicated to telling empowering and authentic stories on a variety of social issues. She anchors and produces “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien,” a Hearst political magazine program seen in 95% of the country, and is a correspondent for HBO Real Sports. In May 2023, she was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.
O’Brien makes a national impact through her op-eds, social media, speeches, and books, including her critically acclaimed memoir, “The Next Big Story,” and her 1.3 million followers on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. She has given congressional testimony on media disinformation and has anchored shows and specials on CNN, MSNBC, NBC’s “Today Show,” Nat Geo, BET, ABC, and CBS.
Soledad O’Brien Productions’ most recent projects include the Peabody Award-winning documentary “The Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and streams on Peacock, and the multi-part HBO series “Black and Missing,” which won the Independent Spirit and NAACP awards. Other productions have appeared on networks including Discovery Plus, CNN, BET, and PBS. She works with the Ford Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and other major foundations to produce impactful documentaries on topics such as hunger, race, and education.
O’Brien is the recipient of four Emmys, three Peabody Awards, four Gracie Awards, two Cine Awards, and an Alfred I. duPont Award. In 2011, she founded the PowHERful Foundation, which has helped dozens of young women attend and graduate college while connecting them with thousands of others through regional mentoring conferences.
Tonight, she will interview Martha Stewart to share stories and lessons learned from every era of her life, from her early ambitions to her triumphs over adversity.
THE SWEET POTATOES
TONIGHT’S MUSICIAN
THE SWEET POTATOES are a Richmond-based jazz ensemble known for their vibrant and eclectic sound. Formed as a duo in 2017 by guitarist Johnny Hargrove, the group has evolved into a dynamic quartet that blends traditional jazz with a range of modern musical influences.
Over the years, The Sweet Potatoes have performed at festivals across Virginia, including the acclaimed Jazz on the Bluff in Hampton. They frequently perform in their hometown of Richmond and have captivated audiences at noteworthy venues like the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
The band’s current lineup includes Johnny Hargrove (guitar), Reyna Pannell (violin and vocals), Stephan LaRue (drums), and Brian Cruse (bass). When they take the stage, The Sweet Potatoes deliver energetic, soulful harmonies that embody the essence of contemporary jazz.
HAVE A QUESTION FOR MARTHA STEWART?
Head to slido.com to submit a question for the Q&A. You can also endorse questions submitted by fellow audience members, both in the theater and online, to increase the chance of them being asked.
Your question is more likely to be selected when you include your name!
Thanks to the generous support of Dr. & Mrs. Baxter W. Perkinson, Jr.,
students and faculty from Trinity Episcopal School have the opportunity to attend The Richmond Forum in a special program designed to connect the classroom, the community and current events. Trinity and The Forum are grateful to the Perkinsons for their continued support.
RICHMOND RHUBARB TART
A RECIPE FROM MARTHA STEWART FOR THE RICHMOND FORUM
“I have enjoyed cooking, stewing, baking, and freezing rhubarb ever since I was a child in Nutley, New Jersey, pulling stalks from giant plants in my father’s garden. Mom stewed rhubarb with a modicum of sugar, and we ate it for dessert, making faces at the sourness of the venerated vegetable masquerading as a fruit. The best rhubarb is pale, tender, and naturally sweet, grown under clay cloches or baskets in faraway places like France or Belgium. Locally, choose the reddest or pinkest rhubarb with crisp, slender stalks. Cut it into 1-inch pieces, macerating it with sugar before using, if possible. A rectangular tart like this with a geometric lattice crust permits you to cut very neat square portions. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream for perfection.”
Martha Stewart, “Martha: The Cookbook” (2024)
STEWART’S SHOPPING TIPS
Ingredients
FOR THE PÂTE BRISÉE
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
2 sticks (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
7 to 8 tablespoons ice water
FOR THE RICHMOND RHUBARB TART
Vegetable spray, for the pan
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
6 cups chopped rhubarb (about 1 3/4 lbs)
1 1/2 cups sugar
Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon heavy cream
Makes one 8-by-11 inch tart
When shopping for rhubarb, look for thin, red-pink crisp stalks and skip the floppy specimens, as they were likely picked too long ago. Once home, wrap the rhubarb stalks in plastic and refrigerate for up to a week , or freeze the rhubarb to enjoy later. To use, rinse and trim the tops and bottoms of the stalks, and discard the toxic leaves.
STEWART’S GARDENING TIPS
Botanically, rhubarb is an easy-to-grow perennial vegetable that thrives in colder climates (USDA hardiness zones 3 - 8). It is best to plant root clumps, also known as root divisions, because plants from seed take much longer to establish. Be sure to choose a permanent location for your rhubarb because the plants will continue to grow for 20 or more years in the same place. For the best flavor, be certain you’re planting a sweet, red variety. One of Stewart’s favorites is called “New Valentine.”
Plant in early spring in a spacious area with full-to-partial sun and well-draining soil. Water regularly. To ensure rhubarb continuously produces, the stalk must be pulled with a slight twist straight from the root. Do not cut off the stalk using shears, as the remaining stalk will rot and infect the plant.
Steps
1. Make the pâte brisée. Pulse the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-size pieces remaining.
2. Drizzle 5 tablespoons ice water over the mixture; pulse several times to combine. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the mixture holds together when pinched.
3. Shape the dough into 1 disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day before using.
4. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat an 8-by-11inch tart pan with vegetable spray. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one half of the dough for the bottom crust. Fit into the prepared tart pan, pressing the dough up to the rim of the pan. With your thumb, clean the edge of excess pastry.
5. Place the rhubarb in a bowl and toss with the flour, sugar, and lemon juice. Spoon the rhubarb into the tart shell and place in the refrigerator to chill while preparing the lattice.
6. Roll out the remaining half of dough and cut into 1/2-inch strips with a zigzag cutter. Remove the tart shell from the refrigerator. Weave the strips together over the filling, pressing the edges to seal.
7. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and cream. Brush the lattice with the egg wash. Place the tart on a parchmentlined baking sheet, and bake until the pastry is golden brown and the juices in the center of the tart are bubbling, 50 to 65 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, at least 1 hour, before serving.
DID YOU KNOW?
Rhubarb is native to Northern Asia and was originally valued as a popular remedy for various ailments. After it was introduced to Europe in the 19th century, it was discovered that the tartness of rhubarb was greatly improved by the addition of sugar. Bakers began using the stalks in their creations and rhubarb was soon dubbed the “pie plant.”
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We proudly support The Richmond Forum and this evening’s speaker, Martha Stewart, who discusses her lifestyle empire and lessons learned along the way with broadcast journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien
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Thank you for bringing exceptional programs that enrich and educate our community.
Davenport & Company is an independent, employee-owned firm, founded in Richmond, Virginia in 1863. During our history, we have experienced nearly every kind of financial market and we have learned the importance of balancing stability and innovation in a dynamic environment. We know there is more to our business than delivering high-quality financial services; it is about building meaningful relationships.
THE MANY LIVES OF MARTHA
HIGHLIGHTS FROM AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER
1941 Martha is born Martha Kostyra in Nutley, New Jersey, to her father Edward and her mother, lovingly called Big Martha. She was the second of six children. Both of Stewart’s parents were do-it-yourselfers from whom she learned countless lessons, but she calls her mother her greatest teacher.
Late 1950s In high school, Stewart begins a career in modeling to make some extra money. She appears in many ads, magazines, and TV commercials.
Early 1960s Stewart leaves New Jersey to attend Barnard College in New York City, where she studies history and architectural history. She continues modeling to pay her tuition, appearing on fashion runways and in ads for brands like Breck and Clairol.
1961 Stewart marries Andrew Stewart, a law student at Yale. At their wedding, she wears a dress made by her and Big Martha.
1965 The Stewarts’ daughter, Alexis, is born.
1967 After graduating from college, Stewart starts a second career as an institutional stockbroker at Pearlberg Monness.
1970 The Stewarts buy their first home, Turkey Hill, a historic farmhouse in Westport, Connecticut. By the time Martha moves out in 2007, she has purchased the surrounding four acres and turned the property into a full farmstead.
1976 Martha leaves Wall Street and opens a catering company from her kitchen. She makes everything from scratch, and the recipes eventually become the basis for her famous cookbooks.
1982 Martha publishes her first book, “Entertaining” — a complete how-to guide for hosting parties both big and small.
1990 The first preview issue of Martha Stewart Living is published. In 1991, Martha Stewart and Time Publishing Ventures launch Martha Stewart Living as a quarterly magazine.
1992 “Martha Stewart Living TV” launches as a weekly half-hour syndicated show.
1994 Martha Stewart Weddings magazine launches as an annual publication.
1997 Martha Stewart Everyday bed, bath, and paint collections launch exclusively at Kmart.
1999 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) goes public on the New York Stock Exchange with an IPO priced at $18 per share. The price more than doubles by the end of trading, making Stewart America’s first self-made female billionaire.
2003 Stewart is indicted by a grand jury on nine counts, including charges of obstruction of justice and securities fraud. The latter alleges that she sold all shares of her ImClone Systems stock in 2001, after receiving material, nonpublic information from Peter Bacanovic, her broker at Merrill Lynch. Stewart steps down as CEO and chairwoman of MSLO but stays on as chief creative officer.
2004 After a six-week jury trial, Stewart is found guilty of felony charges of conspiracy to obstruct, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and making false statements to federal investigators. The securities fraud charges are dismissed. She is sentenced to five months in federal prison and a two-year period of supervised release.
2005 Following her release from prison, Stewart launches a highly publicized comeback. In 2005, her “Everyday Food” program launches on PBS, “Martha Stewart Living Radio” launches on Sirius Satellite Radio, and NBC begins airing “The Martha Stewart Show,” a nationally syndicated lifestyle series hosted by Stewart. She also publishes, “The Martha Rules: 10 Essentials for Achieving Success as You Start, Build, or Manage a Business.”
2006 MSLO and KB Home unveil their first co-branded housing community in Cary, North Carolina.
2007 The Martha Stewart Collection, sold exclusively at Macy’s, launches nationwide, as does the Martha Stewart Crafts line at Michael’s stores in the United States and Canada.
2008 MSLO acquires the Emeril Lagasse franchise, including television programming, cookbooks, digital, licensed kitchen products, and food products. MSLO also launches a new co-branded flowers program with 1800flowers.com.
2009 MSLO debuts a multi-platform pets initiative, starting with the Pets channel on marthastewart.com. The company also partners with Crane & Co. to release a line of event and personal stationery products, beginning with Martha Stewart Weddings Stationery.
2011 Stewart becomes a grandmother when her daughter Alexis has a daughter named Jude. A grandson, Truman, joins the family a year later.
2012 “Martha Bakes” and “Martha Stewart Cooking School” debut on PBS, with Stewart sharing her personal techniques and favorite recipes so viewers can also feel like a master of the kitchen.
2015 Stewart shocks the nation when she joins fellow celebrities and comedians for Comedy Central’s roast of Justin Bieber. She proves to be the star of the show with her hilarious tips for Bieber “to use when he inevitably ends up in prison.”
2016 Stewart and her friend Snoop Dogg start their own cooking show, “Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party,” where they cooked delicious recipes, chatted with friends, and had a whole lot of fun.
2018 Stewart becomes a recurring judge on the Food Network show “Chopped,” where her extensive knowledge of food and recipes makes her a fan favorite. She has also served as a judge on “Masterchef Junior.”
2020 Stewart “breaks the internet” with her famous pool selfie. “My pool in East Hampton is the place to be on a 89 degree day,” she captioned the viral Instagram post.
2022 This was a busy year for Stewart! She debuts three new shows on the Roku Channel, launches a line of CBD gummies, and debuts “The Martha Podcast,” where she interviews business icons, old friends, entrepreneurs, artists, and more. Her first guest? Snoop Dogg, of course.
In a major career milestone, Stewart also opens her first restaurant — The Bedford — in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2022. Inspired by her country farmhouse in Bedford, New York, the restaurant offers seasonal, flavorful dishes using locally sourced ingredients.
2023 Stewart makes history in 2023 when she is featured as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s oldest cover star to date. “When I heard that I was going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s pretty good, I’m going to be the oldest person I think ever on a cover of ‘Sports Illustrated,’” she said. “And I don’t think about age very much, but I thought that this is kind of historic.”
2024 Stewart’s 100th book hits shelves. “Martha: The Cookbook” features 100 of her favorite recipes, along with invaluable tips and photos from her private archives. Earlier this month, the Richmond Forum staff made recipes from the cookbook and shared them over lunch.
CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION
How did Martha Stewart change the way people view and talk about cooking, decorating, gardening, and entertaining?
What lessons can aspiring entrepreneurs learn from Stewart’s business journey?
The National Speech & Debate Tournament is coming to Richmond in just over
a year!
Ten thousand competitors, judges, coaches, and families will descend upon the region from June 14 - 19, 2026. Students will compete at Chesterfield and Henrico County middle and high schools and the Richmond Convention Center. Finalists will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform right here on our stage at the Altria Theater.
THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL SPONSORS
Help us prepare more local students to earn their spot on the Nationals stage and to roll out the red carpet for the best and brightest students in the country. To sponsor the tournament or sign up to volunteer, contact sandra@richmondforum.org.
Herndon Foundation
SPEECH & DEBATE
COMMUNITY PARTNER: RICHMOND DEBATE INSTITUTE
THE RICHMOND DEBATE INSTITUTE (RDI) is Virginia’s largest summer camp dedicated to speech and debate. Phyl Demetriou, the founder and executive director of RDI, was profoundly impacted by the activity and has dedicated his time to growing the speech and debate community in the region. Since its inception, RDI has proudly graduated more than 1,000 middle and high school students, impacting nearly 300 students each year through its summer camps and online programs.
RDI offers full-day camps for both middle and high school students, with a residential option for students coming from farther distances. Overnight campers get to experience collegiate dorms and dining plans in an immersive environment.
Over the course of a week, students participate in public speaking drills, explore meaningful societal topics, and engage in live mock debates. The camp invites content experts to summarize complex debate topics, hosts panels of local community leaders to reflect on their time as speech and debate students, and instills in its students the value of speech and debate across different career trajectories.
The camp culminates in a speech and debate competition that gives students a chance to apply their new skills, and hosts a lively award ceremony for families to celebrate their children’s achievements.
Visit richmonddebate.com to learn more or support RDI’s work. For inquiries about camp registration, sponsorship opportunities, or ways to support schools and families with their speech and debate activities, contact RDI at outreach@richmonddebate.com .
Our partnership with the Richmond Forum Speech & Debate Initiative (RFSDI) has greatly expanded RDI’s ability to serve more students across Central Virginia. Every year, RDI sees more students from a broader range of backgrounds participate in their school’s speech and debate teams and local competitions, which are sponsored and organized by RFSDI. We are proud to support RFSDI in its work to develop active speech and debate teams in every public middle school and high school in the greater Richmond region. We are excited to celebrate their achievement of hosting the national speech and debate championship in Richmond next year.
Phyl Demetriou, Richmond Debate Institute
INTERESTED IN ATTENDING?
RDI’s 2025 Summer Camp will take place July 28 to August 1 , from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the VCU School of Business.
39 TEAMS
526 STUDENTS ON ROSTERS
TOURNAMENT ENTRIES RFSDI 2025 - 2026 Season
1,386
By the Numbers
7 TOURNAMENTS
20 NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
68 COACHES
3
SCRIMMAGES
569 PIZZAS
COMMITMENT
Kaufman & Canoles is committed to strengthening our community. As part of that commitment, we are proud to support The Richmond Forum and the diverse guests they invite to inspire and inform our community. We CAN. And we will.
2024-2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE
Teresa Downs, Chair Altria*
Ellen E. Spong, Immediate Past Chair AtlanticUnionBank*
Andrea Lynn White, Vice Chair GenworthFinancial*
William R. B. Hershey, Treasurer Davenport&Company*
Jonathan Brabrand, Secretary ProfessionalRestorationServices
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Kristen Cavallo, Program Chair TheBranchMuseumofDesign
Janet Tope, Investment Chair Subscriber/Supporter
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P. Anand Rao, PhD, Education Chair UniversityofMaryWashington
DIRECTORS
Kevin D. Best
VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity*
Jimmy Chou SingleStone*
Anthony Conte WellsFargo*
Regina J. Elbert DominionEnergy*
Tonya S. Hall
VirginiaStateUniversity*
Eva Hartmann LunaInnovations
Cindy Joyce
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A. Brent King
PerformanceFoodGroup*
Kelly O'Keefe BrandFederation*
Rick Palmieri
WilliamsMullen*
Celia Rafalko
*PatronofTheRichmondForum
PRODUCTION TEAM & STAFF
THERICHMONDFORUMSTAFF
Heather Mullins Crislip ExecutiveDirector,heather@richmondforum.org
Dee A. Raubenstine DirectorofDevelopment&SponsorEvents(outgoing),dee@richmondforum.org
Kathryn Blessing DirectorofDevelopment&SponsorEvents(incoming), kathryn@richmondforum.org
Michael Brown
DirectorofSubscriberServices&Operations,michael@richmondforum.org
Maggie McVicar DirectorofCommunications,maggie@richmondforum.org
Sandra Wheeler DirectorofStudentPrograms,sandra@richmondforum.org
Lucretia M. Anderson
Speech&DebateInitiativeManager,lucretia@richmondforum.org
2024–2025RICHMONDFORUMSCHOLARS
Rose Borchert, St.GertrudeHighSchool
Journi Marlow, HenricoHighSchool
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Alison Rogish Deloitte*
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Greg Stivers ProfitOptics*
Sally Tate Hourigan*
Ashley L. Taylor, Jr. TroutmanPepperLocke*
Maria Tedesco AtlanticUnionBank*
Pient Tran CapitalOne*
Todd B. Waldo
HughHelen,LLC
PRODUCTION
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CW Advisors is a proud sponsor of The Richmond Forum. We are grateful for the outstanding speakers and conversations it brings to our community.
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Uncommon Wanted inteLLiGenCe
1987
January Ted Koppel
RICHMOND FORUM SPEAKERS
February Hodding Carter and Larry Speakes with Paul Duke
March General Brent Scowcroft with Diane Sawyer
April Charles Kuralt
1988
January Oprah Winfrey
February Jeane Kirkpatrick and Vladimir Pozner with Marvin Kalb
March George Will
April Art Buchwald
Amidst her rapid ascension as an American media icon and mogul, Oprah Winfrey opened the second season of The Forum.
1989
January Sam Donaldson
Her appearance on January 24, 1988, came two years after the debut of her hit talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and featured an extended audience Q&A. She spoke about her beginnings in poverty, her spiritual beliefs, and the price of fame.
February Henry Kissinger with John Chancellor
March William Buckley and Charles Rangel
April Dr. Carl Sagan
1990
January Paul Duke, Howard Fineman and Charles McDowell
February Frank Carlucci, George McGovern, William Proxmire and William Rusher with Bettina Gregory
March Mike Wallace
April Alistair Cooke
1990–1991
October Chancellor Helmut Schmidt
January Admiral William Crowe, General Alexander Haig and Robert McFarlane with Edwin Newman
February H. Ross Perot
March Art Buchwald and Andy Rooney
April Captain James Lovell and Dr. Frank Drake with James Burke
1991–1992
October Barbara Walters
January PM Margaret Thatcher
February General H. Norman Schwarzkopf with Larry King
March Dr. Marc Micozzi and Dr. Victor McKusick with Patricia Cornwell
April Mark Russell
1992–1993
October Terry Anderson
January Hiroki Kato and T. Boone Pickens
February Dr. Joyce Brothers
March Dr. Bill Cosby
April President Mikhail Gorbachev with Cokie Roberts
1993–1994
November Senator Warren Rudman, Lamar Alexander and Dr. Marvin Cetron with Chris Wallace
January Frank Capiello and Michael Holland with Louis Rukeyser
February President George H. W. Bush
March Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
April Bob Newhart
1994–1995
November General Colin Powell
January Walter Cronkite
February Dave Barry
March Tom Clancy
April Jack Kemp and George Mitchell
1995–1996
November PM Brian Mulroney and Ambassador Carla Hills
January Neil Armstrong, Eugene Cernan and Dick Rutan with David Hartman
February Calvin Trillin
March Charles Kuralt
April David Gergen, Pierre Salinger, Sheila Tate and Bob Woodward with Ed Bradley
1996–1997
November Carl Reiner with Dick Cavett
January Paul Volcker with Ray Brady
February Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough
March Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with Sir David Frost
April Marcia Clark, Philip K. Howard, Dr. Rodney Smolla and Kym Worthy with Prof. Arthur Miller
1997–1998
November Bill Moyers
January Wynton Marsalis
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March Mary Tyler Moore
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1998–1999
November PM John Major
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1999–2000
November Julie Andrews
January Todd Brewster and Peter Jennings
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March Archbishop Desmond Tutu
April James Carville and Newt Gingrich with Tim Russert
2000–2001
November Senator John Glenn
January Tom Brokaw
February PM Benjamin Netanyahu
March Frank McCourt
April Dr. William Kelso
PAST PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
2001–2002
November Hal Holbrook
January Rabbi Marc Gellman and Msgr. Thomas Hartman
February Dick Clark
March Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough
April Madeleine Albright and James Baker with Gwen Ifill
2002–2003
November Ken Burns
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2003–2004
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2004–2005
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2005–2006
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2006–2007
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2007–2008
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April David Brooks
2008–2009
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2009–2010
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January Greg Mortenson
March Steve Forbes
April Condoleezza Rice
May David Plouffe
2010–2011
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January Laura Bush
February Anderson Cooper
March Dr. George Church
April David Blaine
PAST PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
“In Search of Real Food (2009)”
On April 18, 2009, two leaders at the forefront of what The New York Times called the “Food Revolution” shared their insights about issues associated with the production and consumption of food at The Richmond Forum.
Prior to this program, Marion Nestle and Michael Pollan had each authored bestselling books about nutrition, the food industry, and the socio-cultural impacts of what we eat.
In partnership with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The Forum hosted a mini farmers’ market in the Altria Theater’s ballroom so audience members could meet growers and purchase a locally sourced snack.
2011–2012
November Dr. Robert Ballard
January Robert Gates
February Quincy Jones with Tim Reid
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April Sir Ken Robinson and Rafe Esquith
2012–2013
November Platon
January Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner and Doris Kearns Goodwin with Tim Reid
February President Bill Clinton
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April Dr. Jane Goodall
2013–2014
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January Dan Buettner
February President George W. Bush
March PM Gordon Brown
April Steve Martin and Martin Short
2014–2015
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January Garry Trudeau
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2015–2016
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January Alan Alda
February James Balog
March PM Julia Gillard
April Russell Wilson and Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.
2016–2017
November Nate Parker
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February Krista Tippett
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April Ron Howard with Linda Holmes
2017–2018
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January Glenn Close
February Peter Diamandis
March Ambassador Samantha Power
April Joe Scarborough and Newt Gingrich with Mara Liasson
2018–2019
November Captain Scott Kelly
January Tina Fey with Linda Holmes
February Dr. Sanjay Gupta
March Ian Bremmer
April Dr. Temple Grandin with John Donvan
2019–2020
November Bob Costas
January Dave Isay, Catherine Burns and Brandon Stanton with John Donvan
February Peggy Noonan
2020–2021
November José Andrés
January Theresa May
February Esther Perel
March Bryan Stevenson
April Vijay Gupta
2022
January Bob Iger with Kara Swisher
February Gloria Steinem with Zainab Salbi
March Erik Weihenmayer
April Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates
May Rhiannon Giddens
June Michelle Obama
2022–2023
November Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster (USA, Ret.)
January Maria Ressa
February Ella Al-Shamahi
March John Lithgow
April Dr. Cornel West and Thomas Chatterton Williams
2023–2024
November Isabel Wilkerson
January Joel Sartore
February Liz Cheney
March Dr. Anthony Fauci
April Jan Crawford and Kimberley Strassel
2024–2025
November Baratunde Thurston
January Dr. Amber Straughn
February Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewzski
March Richard Reeves
April Martha Stewart with Soledad O’Brien
Explore our past speaker archive and share your Forum memories at richmondforum.org/speaker.
The Life Behind Living
RICHARD REEVES AT
THE RICHMOND FORUM MARCH 22, 2025
ARE BOYS AND MEN FALLING BEHIND?
According to author and researcher Richard Reeves — and 56% of the Richmond Forum audience in a pre-program poll — the answer is a resounding “yes.” But Reeves is quick to clarify that this is not a zero-sum game. “There are still huge issues facing women and girls,” he said. “If we pose it as a false choice, then we are in trouble.”
“One of the reasons people are reluctant to talk about these real issues with boys and men is because they think it will somehow distract from or diminish the ongoing need to work on the issues of women and girls,” he continued. “People can care about more than one thing.”
As the founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, Reeves has observed how boys and men are increasingly falling behind in the classroom, workplace, and family. While society has leveled the playing field for women and girls over the last 50 years, recent data suggests the gender imbalance may be shifting in the other direction.
One of the most striking imbalances exists within education. Boys’ grade point averages (GPAs) are lagging those of girls. Sixtyfour percent of students in the bottom 10th percentile are male, while only 34% of students in the top 10th percentile are male. According to Reeves, part of this gap stems from differences in brain development during puberty. “Girls develop the frontal cortex … a year or two earlier than boys,” he said.
Because of this, Reeves argues that boys could benefit from delaying their entry into school by one year, a practice known as “redshirting.”
Reeves also emphasizes the need for more male role models in education. Today, only 23% of K-12 teachers are male, and even fewer represent non-white racial groups. “Representation matters,” he said, stressing that without male teachers, it is understandable why boys might conclude school “isn’t for them” when they see girls outperforming them and teachers who are mostly women.
To address this, Reeves proposes a mass recruitment effort to encourage men to enter education professions, similar to efforts that encourage women’s participation in STEM fields. These jobs fall under what he
calls the HEAL sector — health, education, administration, and literacy — areas in urgent need of male representation, especially given the mental health issues affecting young men today.
Since the onset of the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s, the societal script for how men and women navigate the world has been effectively “torn up.” For women, Reeves notes, this new script replaced an old, limiting narrative with an empowering message that girls could be anything they dreamed of. Unfortunately, this same shift has not yet occurred for boys. “As a result, we have a lot of men now who are trying to figure out what it means [to be a man],” he said.
One of the most alarming statistics underscoring Reeves’ point is how suicide rates among men are quadruple those among women. “We’re losing about 40,000 men a year in the U.S. to deaths from suicide,” he said. “Which is about the same as the death rate from breast cancer.”
“Feeling unneeded is probably the most tragic feeling that anybody can feel and probably the most fatal,” Reeves added. “Everybody needs to be needed. Just because we’re going to be needed in a new way now, thank goodness, doesn’t mean we can inadvertently send a message to boys and young men that we don’t need [them] anymore. That does not end well.”
Reeves emphasizes that the problems facing boys and men are real. “We can continue to be passionate about women’s rights and compassionate about what’s happening with our boys and men,” he said. “We do not want young men and women being told that the problems they’ve got are the fault of the others. We are driving a wedge between young men and young women by saying, ‘Yes you’ve got problems and it’s their fault.’”
“The future isn’t female, nor can the future be male,” Reeves concluded. “The future has to be for all of us. If we’re going to rise at all, we have to rise together.”
SO
INFORMATIVE
AND
DATADRIVEN.IHAVEN'T STOPPEDTALKINGABOUTIT.IHAVETWOSONS ANDTWOGRANDSONS,SOTHEINFORMATION IS VERY RELEVANT. THIS CONVERSATION NEEDSTOBEHAPPENINGEVERYWHERE!
-ForumSubscriber
1) Richard Reeves on stage at the Altria Theater. 2) Reeves answers audience questions from L. Robert Bolling, the evening’s moderator. 3) Reeves visits the Student Room to talk with local high school students. 4) Anthony Conte of Wells Fargo, the evening’s Lead Patron, introduces the speaker. 5) The Sugar Hollows provide musical entertainment. 6) Guests of YouDecide, the Host Patron for the evening.
NEXT SEASON AT THE FORUM
SEVEN SPEAKERS, FIVE PROGRAMS, ONE SPECTACULAR LINEUP
THE FULL 2025 - 2026 SEASON LINEUP will be announced at the end of tonight’s program. Be sure to stick around — you won’t want to miss it! We have left some clues about who will share their ideas, stories, and perspectives at The Richmond Forum next season. While you wait to hear the big news, see if you can figure them out.
ACROSS
5. Band known for its 1986 hit, “The Final Countdown”
6. Ruby wedding anniversary
8. Table-read participant
9. Jo Jorgensen ran as one in 2020
11. The latest is breaking
DOWN
1. A 2023 Gallup poll said 43% of U.S. voters identify as it
2. What Swift is to Kelce
3. “Lazy Sunday” was the first viral video here
4. Hot spot in a fitness center
6. “Pay It _______” (2000 film)
7. “The Fault in Our ______” (2012 book)
10. It was Persia until 1935
Don’t
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After the announcement, visit SUBSCRIBERS.RICHMONDFORUM.ORG to renew your subscription for next season. The deadline to renew and request seat upgrades is Tuesday, May 27.
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