Philip Bredesen

Philip Bredesen, a Democrat, served as Tennessee’s governor from 2003 to 2011, earning a reputation for pragmatic, nonpartisan leadership. In 2006, he won re-election with more votes than any governor in state history and became the first in over a century to carry all 95 counties. Before politics, Bredesen built a managed care business from his home in 1980, growing it into an NYSE-listed company with 6,000 employees. As governor, he reformed TennCare, led national eHealth initiatives, and co-chaired the National Governors Association task force on health reform. He is the author of "Fresh Medicine: How to Fix Reform and Build a Sustainable Health Care System", praised by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham for blending business, political, and historical insight.

Since leaving office, Bredesen has focused on fostering civil, bipartisan dialogue. He co-hosts the podcast “You Might Be Right” with Republican former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. Produced by the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, the show features conversations with policymakers, academics, and thought leaders on topics ranging from economic and education policy to federal governance. The podcast has been recognized for encouraging respectful discourse and thoughtful engagement across party lines.

Through both his public service and media work, Bredesen exemplifies a commitment to pragmatic governance, civic dialogue, and health care reform, showing that collaboration across political divides can be both meaningful and impactful.