Fathers, Founders & the Future
This week’s Digest has a little Philadelphia flavor — fitting as we approach America’s 250th birthday and Father’s Day weekend.
From Jenna’s conversation with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on fatherhood, leadership and America’s future, to Betsy Ross’ sewing table returning home, Hamilton’s bank reopening, and a 900-pound time capsule headed underground for the next 250 years, this edition looks at legacy in a few different ways: what we inherit, what we preserve and what we pass on.
Speaking of Philly... Jenna recently sat down with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro for a wide-ranging conversation on fatherhood, leadership and America’s future — from parenting four children to leading one of the nation’s most politically consequential states to preparing for the future of AI.
WATCH ABOVE OR BY CLICKING HERE. You can also listen on podcasting platforms everywhere (Apple, Spotify).
🗣️ Your Conversation Starters:
👔 The father of all bonding tools? Dad jokes. Science suggests the one-liners may help fathers connect with their kids — one eye roll at a time.
🕰️ 900 Pounds: The weight of a time capsule marking America’s 250th birthday, set for burial in Philadelphia on July 4. Future generations will open it in 2276 and find letters, a diamond, whale bones and more.
🏛️ Hamilton’s Bank Reopens: America’s first national bank — created under Alexander Hamilton’s plan for a national financial system — reopens next month in Philadelphia as a museum after a $43 million renovation, offering visitors a new look at how the young nation built its economy.
👨👧 Dads Want In: A new report says many fathers want to take on more caregiving, but work, money and cultural expectations often get in the way. Read the State of the World’s Fathers 2026.
🕷️ Illness Uptick: Doctors continue to raise awareness about alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-linked allergy that can trigger reactions to red meat and dairy. Cases have increased, and experts say prevention starts with avoiding tick bites.
🎬 Hollywood Auction: Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber, John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics and hoverboards from Back to the Future Part II will hit the auction block next month. The sale also features props and memorabilia from The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka, Rocky III and more.
👒 Fashion Forward: Royal Ascot brought more than horse racing to southern England this week. The five-day event — whose British racing style helped inspire Kentucky Derby fashion — put elaborate hats and headpieces on display.
🎒 Royal Education: Prince George will attend Eton College this September, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William. King Henry VI founded the school in 1440 to educate 70 poor boys for free; today, Eton ranks among Britain’s most prestigious boarding schools for boys 13-18.
🥧 Hi, Fried Apple Pie: After more than 30 years, McDonald’s brings back its fried apple pie June 23 for a limited time to mark America’s 250th birthday. There’s a longstanding history (and obsession) with the fast-food dessert.
🎙️ This Week From Jenna:
A Top Secret Spy Tool ... Expires? The timing and the tool bring up new questions about the use of technology and your rights as a citizen ... 👇🏽
WATCH ABOVE OR BY CLICKING HERE. You can also listen on podcasting platforms everywhere (Apple, Spotify).
🙌🏽 What We Found SmartHER This Week:
The summer finds we're reaching for as the heat takes over.
“We need to remind people what they fought for. Betsy and her husband all had gone through the war and such an effort to get freedom.”
Betsy Ross’ great-great-great-great grandson, Eric Conrad, on donating a sewing table believed to have belonged to Ross to the Betsy Ross House — the Philadelphia home where Ross once lived. So technically ... the piece of furniture may have found its way back home centuries later.
And that's The Weekend Digest!
❤️,
Jenna and the SHN Team
Daily news, interviews, our latest podcasts and more at www.SmartHERNews.com.
