The Governor: Bob Wise on Learning and Leading in West Virginia

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Former West Virginia Governor Robert E. Wise reflects on a lifetime of public service—from long drives across one of the most sprawling districts east of the Mississippi to leading his home state through crises and change. In this conversation, he shares why he believes education is the only true passport out of poverty, how trust and humility shaped his leadership, and what “home” means after decades in Washington, Charleston, and beyond. Wise also opens up about family life in the governor’s mansion, the power of bipartisan work in education, and why he still carries with him the lessons of a high school mock election that he lost in 1965.

This episode blends personal history, political insight, and deep reflections on the meaning of service and home.

• Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed) https://all4ed.org
• Future Ready Schools https://futureready.org
• Highlander Research and Education Center https://highlandercenter.org
• Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky (AppalReD Legal Aid) https://www.ardfky.org
• Chartwell school https://chartwell.org

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