Former UK and Sweden Ambassador Matthew Barzun (Obama administration) joins the show to talk about what it’s like to serve at the highest levels of government, to be a member of the Brown family of Brown-Forman and his new book, “The Power of Giving Away Power.” Buy his book on Amazon.

Spirits tasted:

• Foursquare 2008 Rum 12 Year (19:05)
• Principia Rum (24:12)
• Old Forester Owsley Brown Special Release (49:55)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Fred and Matthew discuss many topics, such as:

• They kick off by talking about Matthew’s new book, “The Power of Giving Away Power: How the Best Leaders Learn to Let Go,” starting with an intriguing guessing game discussing how freedom dovetails with togetherness.
• Matthew talks about his time in Sweden and eating fermented herring for breakfast. Check out his YouTube video on the subject.
• Burzan is a rum fan, and Fred is always ready to talk rum. Then they drink rum.
• They talk modern dating versus being married. “It’s a strange time,” Fred notes. They then talk about how they asked paternal permission to propose to their respective wives.
• Matthew talks about being asked to be an American ambassador by then-President Barack Obama, and how he approached the job.
• Burzan gets into how he became acquainted with bourbon upon moving to Kentucky … by none other than whiskey legend Owsley Brown, who became his father-in-law. He then describes how he applied the principles of bourbon to life and relationships.
• Learn the four possible outcomes of a meeting – and three are undesirable. They then discuss how politics and compromise relate to baseball-themed bathroom graffiti.
• The desire to win, Matthew asserts, is an obstacle to joint success, be it politics or a marriage.
• Fred explains how ascots came to be associated with a “rich asshole” look. But the garment’s tradition is far more nuanced.
• The Old Forester they share pleases Fred, who says it “tastes like Christmas.” He goes on and on.
• Burzan talks about the 2020 Democratic primary, with an interesting “What if?” involved.
• The conversation wanders into the area of weight loss. The bad news? Bourbon adds pounds.
• Learn more about Matthew Burzan and his career via his Wikipedia page.

QUOTABLES

“I appreciate freedom, I appreciate together. What I think we want, and certainly what we really need in this country, and the best idea of America that we fall short of all the time … what we want is freedom together.” -Burzan, describing the focus of his new book