Joseph Kennedy III on Famous Last Names, Figuring Stuff Out & Northern Ireland

 

Joseph Kennedy III currently serves as the Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs.

In today's episode we talk about:

  • Growing up in a family known for public service

  • How the assassination of his uncle (JFK) and granda (Bobby Kennedy) impacted his family

  • Moving to the Dominican Republic as a young man

  • Dealing with the expectations people have of him because of his last name

  • President Biden calling to offer him a job

  • His love and admiration for C.S. Lewis

  • The “one thing” he wishes he could give to every person in Northern Ireland

  • And advice he’d give to an 18-year-old version of himself

Check it out!

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Full bio:

Over four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Kennedy built an impressive legislative record around economic policy, health care, and civil rights. Representing a district that spanned from the suburbs of Boston to the proud post-industrial communities along Massachusetts’ South Coast, Mr. Kennedy sat on the House Energy & Commerce committee and spearheaded bipartisan efforts to extend mental health coverage, support the domestic manufacturing industry, and defend access to legal assistance for struggling families.

In addition to his work as Special Envoy, Kennedy also serves as President of Citizens Energy, a non-profit energy company founded to help low-income families meet their basic energy needs. Through innovative programming, Citizens has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to benefit millions of families across the United States. He is also the founder of Groundwork Project, an advocacy organization dedicated to supporting local community organizing efforts in under-resourced and historically disenfranchised communities.

He is married to Lauren Birchfield Kennedy and they have two young children, Eleanor and James, and a rescue dog, Banjo.

Today's episode is part of our collaboration with NI Connections where we catch up with someone incredible from Northern Ireland doing interesting things overseas on the last Monday of every month.

To discover more amazing diaspora stories, check out their website niconnections.com where you can also sign up for their free, monthly newsletter.

Magic Moment: "The Way You Walk The Dog Is So Presidential"

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— Matt

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Matthew Thompson