Working in the Parliamentarian's office for 25 years (including the eight when he held the position), Tom was able to work closely with and get to know several Speakers. Here are some of the ones he's worked with...

• Speaker Newt Gingrich

• Speaker John Boehner

• Speaker Paul Ryan

• and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi

Listen to the new episode to hear the great things Tom had to say about all of them!

⚖️ By now, you can probably tell that Tom has done some important work. One could argue, however, that he's only been able to do so much because of his attention towards work-life balance.

🥾 Outside of work, Tom is an avid hiker. One of his favorite spots is Old Rag Mountain, which is (somewhat) nearby in Shenandoah. Tom has hiked Old Rag Mountain about 20 times, and has great things to say about the views and rock scramble.

Another way to escape work: Tom recommends exercising the creative side of your brain. He does so through good writing or filmmaking. He's read every book by John Irving, the author of The Cider House Rules, and has seen every film by Wes Anderson (including his recent The Phoenician Scheme).

"I deal so much in convention, bringing people to the norm, representing the rule of law ... that those fictional depictions of someone who is a rule breaker, someone who is a little outside the ordinary appeal to me," says Tom.

Sure, we all catch ourselves checking our work emails before bed or staying up late watching the news, but taking a break with a hike or artsy Anderson movie can really make the difference!