Office Hours

Social psychologist Jennifer Lerner, the Navy’s first Chief Decision Scientist and a Harvard Kennedy School professor, sits down with with Aroop Mukharji to talk about decision science, leadership, and the sunk cost bias.

Cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier, author of the “Schneier on Security” blog and a Research Fellow with the Belfer Center’s Cyber Security Project, sits down with with Aroop Mukharji to talk about cybersecurity and tech, his book "Click Here to Kill Everybody," and the hacker mentality.

Retired Army Major General William Rapp, former Commandant of both the United States Military Academy and the U.S. Army War College, and currently the Faculty Chair of the Belfer Center’s National Security Fellows Program, sits down with with Aroop Mukharji to talk about civilian-military relations, congressional oversight, and the biggest adjustments to civilian life.

James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence and a Senior Fellow with the Belfer Center’s Intelligence Project, sits down withwith Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about his book “Facts and Fears,” defending the intelligence community, and comic books.

James K. Sebenius, the Gordon Donaldson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and author (with R. Nicholas Burns and Robert H. Mnookin) of Kissinger the Negotiator, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about why Kissinger was an effective negotiator, the lessons we can all learn about negotiation, and Trump’s private sector negotiations.

James K. Sebenius, the Gordon Donaldson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and author (with R. Nicholas Burns and Robert H. Mnookin) of Kissinger the Negotiator, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about why Kissinger was an effective negotiator, the lessons we can all learn about negotiation, and Trump’s private sector negotiations.

Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook (@Cluverc), Executive Director of the Belfer Center’s Future of Diplomacy Project and the newly created Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship, speaks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the future of the U.S.-Europe relationship, how language can influence policy, and the benefits of dual citizenship.

Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook (@Cluverc), Executive Director of the Belfer Center’s Future of Diplomacy Project and the newly created Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship, speaks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the future of the U.S.-Europe relationship, how language can influence policy, and the benefits of dual citizenship.

Radosław Sikorski (@sikorskiradek), former Foreign Minister and Defense Minister of Poland and a Fisher Family Fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the rise of right-wing nationalism, Russia, and gastrodiplomacy.

Radosław Sikorski (@sikorskiradek), former Foreign Minister and Defense Minister of Poland and a Fisher Family Fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the rise of right-wing nationalism, Russia, and gastrodiplomacy.

Margaret MacMillan, Professor of History at the University of Toronto and affiliate with the Belfer Center’s Applied History Project, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about how to identify good history, dead white man theory, and Canadian vs. U.S. donuts.

Margaret Macmillan, Professor of History at the University of Toronto and affiliate with the Belfer Center’s Applied History Project, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about how to identify good history, dead white man theory, and Canadian vs. U.S. donuts.

Kendall Hoyt, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Dartmouth Medical School and former fellow with the Belfer Center’s International Security Program, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about improving response time to outbreaks, a brief history of anti-vaxxers, and how she got into biodefense.

Kendall Hoyt, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Dartmouth Medical School and former fellow with the Belfer Center’s International Security Program, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about improving response time to outbreaks, a brief history of anti-vaxxers, and how she got into biodefense.

Chuck Freilich, former Israeli Deputy National Security Adviser, Belfer Center Senior Fellow, and Author of “Israeli National Security: A New Strategy for an Era of Change,” talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about Israel’s goals for the future, its relationship with the U.S., and his personal experience making aliyah as a teenager.

Chuck Freilich, former Israeli Deputy National Security Adviser, Belfer Center Senior Fellow, and Author of “Israeli National Security: A New Strategy for an Era of Change,” talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about Israel’s goals for the future, its relationship with the U.S., and his personal experience making aliyah as a teenager.

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall (@LSRTweets), former Deputy Secretary of Energy and Belfer Center Senior Fellow, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the mystery surrounding the Energy Department’s National Laboratories, the smart grid, the U.S. nuclear arsenal, energy sources of the future, and her favorite energy bar.

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall (@LSRTweets), former Deputy Secretary of Energy and Belfer Center Senior Fellow, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the mystery surrounding the Energy Department’s National Laboratories, the smart grid, the U.S. nuclear arsenal, energy sources of the future, and her favorite energy bar.

Ash Carter, the 25th Secretary of Defense and the Director of the Belfer Center, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about how he connected the technology industry with the Defense Department through DIUx, the tensions between the President and his cabinet, and what lessons we can learn from medieval history.

Ash Carter, the 25th Secretary of Defense and the Director of the Belfer Center, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about how he connected the technology industry with the Defense Department through DIUx, the tensions between the President and his cabinet, and what lessons we can learn from medieval history.

Vera Mironova (@vera_mironov), an Associate with the Belfer Center’s International Security Program, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about ISIS’s drug and alcohol problem, her experience embedded in combat zones, and how insurgents shop around for the best job opportunities.

Vera Mironova (@vera_mironov), an Associate with the Belfer Center’s International Security Program, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about ISIS’s drug and alcohol problem, her experience embedded in combat zones, and how insurgents shop around for the best job opportunities.

Jake Sullivan, former Director of the Policy Planning Office at the U.S. State Department and former National Security Adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the secret negotiations behind the Iran nuclear deal, long-term policy planning at the State Department, and how to stay sharp on a demanding travel schedule.

Jake Sullivan, former Director of the Policy Planning Office at the U.S. State Department and former National Security Adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the secret negotiations behind the Iran nuclear deal, long-term policy planning at the State Department, and how to stay sharp on a demanding travel schedule.

Avril Haines, former CIA Deputy Director and former Deputy National Security Adviser to President Obama, chats with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about being a woman at the CIA, why we don’t know much about North Korea, what it’s like inside the White House situation room, and how she went from indie bookstore owner to No. 2 at the CIA.

Avril Haines, former CIA Deputy Director and former Deputy National Security Adviser to President Obama, chats with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about being a woman at the CIA, why we don’t know much about North Korea, what it’s like inside the White House situation room, and how she went from indie bookstore owner to No. 2 at the CIA.

Meghan O’Sullivan, Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of 'Windfall: How the New Energy Abundance Upends Global Politics and Strengthens America’s Power,' talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about fracking, America’s strategic petroleum reserve, energy abundance, and her early start in geopolitics.

Meghan O’Sullivan, Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of 'Windfall: How the New Energy Abundance Upends Global Politics and Strengthens America’s Power,' talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about fracking, America’s strategic petroleum reserve, energy abundance, and her early start in geopolitics.

Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations (2007–2016), takes a moment to talk with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, how to become UN Secretary-General, and his favorite meals in New England.

Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations (2007–2016), takes a moment to talk with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, how to become UN Secretary-General, and his favorite meals in New England.

Graham Allison (@GrahamTAllison), who is stepping down as the Director of the Belfer Center, a position he’s held for the past 22 years, takes a moment to talk with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about his new book “Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap.” Allison explains the big idea that is Thucydides’s Trap, what might spark war between America and China, and what he has in common with Queen Elizabeth II.

Graham Allison (@GrahamTAllison), who is stepping down as the Director of the Belfer Center, a position he’s held for the past 22 years, takes a moment to talk with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about his new book “Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap.” Allison explains the big idea that is Thucydides’s Trap, what might spark war between America and China, and what he has in common with Queen Elizabeth II.

Former Chair of the House Intelligence Committee Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogers), the U.S. Representative for the 8th district in Michigan from 2001 – 2015, and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about tensions between the FBI and the White House, meeting Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and who’s his favorite spy.

Former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak (@barak_ehud), the most decorated soldier in Israel’s history and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about who needs to defeat ISIS, how Israelis view President Trump, and his curiosity about clocks.

Former Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman, a lead negotiator of the P5+1 Iran Nuclear deal and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about her place in history as the first female Undersecretary of State, Vladimir Putin’s sense of humor, and how many snacks it takes to fuel a negotiating team.

U.S. Navy Admiral (ret.) Mike Mullen, Chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff from 2007 to 2011, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about global leaders who are moving the needle, worrying trends in U.S. government, and golf and fly fishing.

Chuck Hagel, 24th U.S. Secretary of Defense, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, and former Belfer Center Visiting Fellow, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about his advice to the next Secretary of State, bringing Bowe Bergdahl home, being a pioneer in the cellphone industry, and how he likes to insert a bit of fun into a serious job.

Republican Strategist, Hollywood writer and producer, and Belfer Center Senior Fellow Mike Murphy (@murphymike) chats with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the 2016 presidential election, kale messages, and who in Hollywood has the chops to be a viable political candidate for the Democrats.

U.S. Army General (ret.) and former CIA Director David Petraeus speaks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about ISIS, America’s other challenges in the world, how he gets his news, and his ideal vacation.

Secretary General of NATO and former Prime Minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) speaks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about NATO, the Arctic, Russia, and what he looks forward to when he visits America.

Kelly Greenhill, an Associate Professor at Tufts University and a Research Fellow with the Belfer Center’s International Security Project, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about refugees, building walls, R2P, and weapons of mass migration.

Zachary Kaufman (@zacharykaufman), an academic specializing in political science, public policy, and law, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about transitional justice, genocide, and the time democracy failed him.

Steven Pinker (@sapinker), Cognitive Scientist and Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about language, violence and video games, the future of war, and the possibility of a Trump presidency.

Sir Peter Westmacott (@PeterWestmacott), former British Ambassador to the United States and Belfer Center Senior Fellow, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about life as an Ambassador, the British embassy in Washington, D.C., and U.S.-U.K. relations.

Michael Sulmeyer (@sultanofcyber), Director of the Cyber Security Project at the Belfer Center and former Director for Plans and Operations for Cyber Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about protecting yourself online, running for office in the age of social media, and cyber security’s “sex appeal.”

Farah Pandith (@Farah_Pandith), Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center’s Future of Diplomacy Project and formerly the first ever Special Representative to Muslim communities at the U.S. State Department, sits down with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about how to curb the spread of violent extremism, particularly among Muslim youth.

Matthew Bunn, Professor of Practice at Harvard Kennedy School and Co-Principal Investigator at the Belfer Center’s Project on Managing the Atom, sits down with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about everything nuclear—from the nuclear football to the best way to prevent nuclear smuggling.

Richard Zeckhauser, Frank P. Ramsey Professor of Political Economy, at Harvard Kennedy School, sits down with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about everything from how to test your optimism to eating salmon to paltering, and saving the Air Force money.

Niall Ferguson, Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University, and author of “Kissinger: 1923-1968: The Idealist,” sits down with Aroop Mukharji to talk about everything from Kissinger, the “secret swinger,” to why ISIS is like the Bolsheviks.

Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem), Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and former Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, sits down with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about everything from safeguarding mega events to safeguarding your home and family.

Foreign policy expert Stephen M. Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs and Faculty Chair of the International Security Program, talks about everything from Spider-man to ISIS.

Richard Zeckhauser, Frank P. Ramsey Professor of Political Economy, at Harvard Kennedy School, sits down with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about everything from how to test your optimism to eating salmon to paltering, and saving the Air Force money.

Former Chair of the House Intelligence Committee Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogers), the U.S. Representative for the 8th district in Michigan from 2001 – 2015, and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about tensions between the FBI and the White House, meeting Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and who’s his favorite spy.

Former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak (@barak_ehud), the most decorated soldier in Israel’s history and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about who needs to defeat ISIS, how Israelis view President Trump, and why he once dressed as a woman.

Former Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman, a lead negotiator of the P5+1 Iran Nuclear deal and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about her place in history as the first female Undersecretary of State, Vladimir Putin’s sense of humor, and how many snacks it takes to fuel a negotiating team.

U.S. Navy Admiral (ret.) Mike Mullen, Chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff from 2007 to 2011, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about global leaders who are moving the needle, worrying trends in U.S. government, and golf and fly fishing.

Chuck Hagel, 24th U.S. Secretary of Defense, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, and former Belfer Center Visiting Fellow, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about his advice to the next Secretary of State, bringing Bowe Bergdahl home, being a pioneer in the cellphone industry, and how he likes to insert a bit of fun into a serious job.

Republican Strategist, Hollywood writer and producer, and Belfer Center Senior Fellow Mike Murphy (@murphymike) chats with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about the 2016 presidential election, kale messages, and who in Hollywood has the chops to be a viable political candidate for the Democrats.

U.S. Army General (ret.) and former CIA Director David Petraeus speaks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about ISIS, America’s other challenges in the world, how he gets his news, and his ideal vacation.

Secretary General of NATO and former Prime Minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) speaks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about NATO, the Arctic, Russia, and what he looks forward to when he visits America.

Kelly Greenhill, an Associate Professor at Tufts University and a Research Fellow with the Belfer Center’s International Security Project, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about refugees, building walls, R2P, and weapons of mass migration.

Zachary Kaufman (@zacharykaufman), an academic specializing in political science, public policy, and law, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about transitional justice, genocide, and the time democracy failed him.

Steven Pinker (@sapinker), Cognitive Scientist and Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about language, violence and video games, the future of war, and the possibility of a Trump presidency.

Sir Peter Westmacott (@PeterWestmacott), former British Ambassador to the United States and Belfer Center Senior Fellow, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about life as an Ambassador, the British embassy in Washington, D.C., and U.S.-U.K. relations.

Michael Sulmeyer (@sultanofcyber), Director of the Cyber Security Project at the Belfer Center and former Director for Plans and Operations for Cyber Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, talks with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) about protecting yourself online, running for office in the age of social media, and cyber security’s “sex appeal.”

Farah Pandith (@Farah_Pandith), Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center’s Future of Diplomacy Project and formerly the first ever Special Representative to Muslim communities at the U.S. State Department, sits down with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about how to curb the spread of violent extremism, particularly among Muslim youth.

Matthew Bunn, Professor of Practice at Harvard Kennedy School and Co-Principal Investigator at the Belfer Center’s Project on Managing the Atom, sits down with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about everything nuclear—from the nuclear football to the best way to prevent nuclear smuggling.

Niall Ferguson (@nfergus), Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University, and author of “Kissinger: 1923-1968: The Idealist,” sits down with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about everything from Kissinger, the “secret swinger,” to why ISIS is like the Bolsheviks.

Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem), Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and former Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, sits down with Aroop Mukharji (@aroopmukharji) to talk about everything from safeguarding mega events to safeguarding your home and family.

Foreign policy expert Stephen M. Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs and Faculty Chair of the International Security Program, talks about everything from Spider-man to ISIS.