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Date and Location
Betsy Pearlman
Joe Paulsen has spent years traveling the world at the side of a former U.S. President — and now he helps steer Barack and Michelle Obama’s creative empire, Higher Ground Productions, home to hits featuring Kevin Hart, Audra McDonald, and Julia Roberts. He is D.C. Meets Hollywood!
Joining him is Dusty Thomason, the mind behind one of the defining novels of the 2000s, who went on to write and produce acclaimed shows like Lie to Me, Manhattan, Presumed Innocent, and Castle Rock.
Together, they’ll dive into a fast, funny, and deeply human conversation about what it means to create culture, shape stories, and move hearts — from Hollywood to the Hill and everywhere in between.
Speakers and Presenters
Dustin "Dusty" Thomason, American writer and producer;
Joe Paulsen, Longtime aide and confidant to Barack Obama; Head of Business and Strategy, Higher Ground