1986 Penn State graduate Larry Jaffee loves this quote from Albert Einstein: "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." Larry's curiosity has led to a career in journalism, teaching and his latest endeavor, authoring the book "Record Store Day" that dives into vinyls' comeback. In this episode, we cover a wide range of topics that keep Larry curious. (7:33) - Pursuing a career in journalism (8:45) - Writing style (12:28) - Concerns about ChatGPT (13:11) - Advice to aspiring jour...
Oct 30, 2023•46 min•Ep. 60
1982 Penn State graduate Jeff Coppola is all about journeys. From his current company, WorldStrides, that focuses on experiential trips for students, to his own professional journey through numerous industries, to his family's personal journey with autism, this episode has great nuggets on leadership and career insights. (5:25) - Getting to know Worldstrides (13:38) - Role at Worldstrides (18:58) - Putting the focus on the customer (22:45) - Early career lessons (27:33) - Transferable skills acr...
Oct 26, 2023•53 min•Ep. 59
2013 Penn State graduate Jill O'Brien is flying high as Chief of Staff at FlyNYON, which specializes in creating enduring memories through helicopter experiences. On this episode, Jill shares with us how FlyNYON helps film movies (The Wolf of Wall Street), celebrate wedding proposals and more! Jump right in: (7:01) - Flying in a helicopter (9:46) - Career journey (13:33) - Role as Chief of Staff (17:50) - Commercial side of the business (21:45) - Drones vs. helicopters (25:52) - Passion for phot...
Oct 17, 2023•39 min•Ep. 58
1985 Penn State graduate Larry Seamans is leading the fight against family homelessness. As President of FamilyAid, Larry discusses how his organization is providing holistic support to families in need, the policy changes he'd like to see and more! Jump right in: (7:55) - The impact of homelessness (10:12) - Role of FamilyAid (12:18) - Impactful stories (16:04) - Mental and emotional aspect (17:30) - Talking to donors about FamilyAid (22:05) - Recognition by Charity Navigator (23:02) - Policy c...
Sep 25, 2023•43 min•Ep. 57
2021 Penn State graduate Kate Chan knows how to connect with and create a community around Gen Z. In this episode, we learn about Kate's social media agency Ichiyuzu Media, creating an influential instagram account on food (@KatieEatsPhilly) and more! Jump right in: (4:32)- The meaning behind the agency name and type of agency (10:15) - Social media platforms (14:05) - Favorite brand campaigns (17:02) - Impact of social media on the business (20:45) - The creation of Katie Eats Philly on Instagr...
Sep 19, 2023•39 min•Ep. 56
2016 Penn State graduate Ryan Hager has made a profession of helping people improve their golf game. As Director of Instruction at Plainfield Country Club and a social media influencer (78k followers on Instagram), Ryan shares his experiences with the PGA Golf Management program at Penn State, his dream golf foursome and more! Jump right in: (6:36)- The early years of developing a passion for golf (13:06) - Certification process to become a PGA instructor (17:54) - Teaching style (22:24) - The m...
Sep 07, 2023•59 min•Ep. 55
1992 Penn State graduate Geoff Martha is Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, the global leader in healthcare technology. In this episode, Geoff gives us a special look into the role of a CEO, the importance of leadership, and his experiences taking the helm of a healthcare company during the start of the pandemic. Jump right in: (2:50)- Medtronic’s business (5:50) - Major trends in the healthcare industry (10:33) - Becoming CEO during the pandemic (18:24) - Experiences that led to becoming CEO (21:09...
Aug 23, 2023•48 min•Ep. 54
2004 Penn State graduate Ian Katz is helping people buy and sell homes in one of the most popular and competitive markets - New York City. As a Licensed Real Estate Broker at Compass, Ian provides great perspective on successful brokers, the current mortgage rate environment and the vacant office building situation. Regardless if you live in NYC or not, you'll be sure to learn a lot and come away with a new appreciation for the industry. Jump right in: (3:59) - Starting his career on Wall Street...
Aug 16, 2023•59 min•Ep. 53
2020 Penn State graduate Matt Roda wasn't your typical college student. While at Penn State, Matt co-founded and launched a company, Reflexion, specializing in neuro fitness and training. In this episode, Matt explains what neuro fitness entails and how Reflexion is helping people recover from injury and professional athletes unlock new levels of performance (like the NBA Champions Denver Nuggets), as well as his entrepreneurial journey. (6:54) - Understanding neuro fitness (9:14) - The origin o...
Aug 09, 2023•48 min•Ep. 52
1973 Penn State graduate Bob Holland is a 27 year veteran of the Walt Disney Company, serving as an Imagineer on key projects including EPCOT, Disneyland Paris, and Disney Cruises. In this episode, Bob takes us on a journey and shares stories on the magic behind Disney. Jump right in: (4:52) - Starting his career working for the government (8:28) - Most challenging project (10:43) - Relationship between engineers and architects (15:06) - Developing Disney Cruise ships (22:30) - Designing interna...
Jul 28, 2023•49 min•Ep. 51
1992 and 1996 Penn State graduate Pete Carmichael is a Civil War professor and historian at Gettysburg College, but this podcast is anything but just a history lesson on America's most famous war. In this episode, Pete brings passion, a new perspective to the past and present, and how learning about history is important for everyone. Trust us, you'll have a new found appreciation after listening. Jump right in: (9:54) - First thoughts on Civil War words and names (16:05) - A surprise about the C...
Jul 20, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 50
2013 Penn State graduate Rachele DeSantis is the woman behind some of your favorite theme park attractions. From WaterWorld to Jurassic World, Rachele has been a key engineering lead that brings these experiences to life (and keeps them safe) at Universal Studios Hollywood. In this episode, Rachele details the various roles throughout her career journey, some of the future trends for attractions and more! Jump right in: (6:45) - Developing a passion (9:22) - The role of a theme park engineer (13...
Jul 13, 2023•48 min•Ep. 49
2017 Penn State graduate Norah Candito believes nourishment goes beyond the foods we ingest. Taking a holistic approach to health, Norah started her own company - Nutrition with Norah - to help people on their wellness journey. In this episode, Norah shares her own journey working in different clinical settings, her viewpoints on certain foods and intermittent fasting, how she met her husband at Penn State and more! Jump right in: (6:34) - The scope of the profession (11:05) - The impact of stre...
Jul 07, 2023•46 min•Ep. 48
2009 Penn State graduate Emily Sher is a mother to a one year old, so it's only fitting that she recently was promoted to Senior Editor of Parents at TODAY.com. Emily shares her career journey from being an intern at Harper's Bazaar to covering some of the most interesting stories and trends for TODAY's flagship digital website. Jump right in: (5:20) - New role at TODAY.com (7:26) - Role as an editor and working with journalists (11:31) - Internship at Harper's Bazaar (15:34) - The importance of...
Mar 16, 2023•43 min•Ep. 47
1986 Penn State graduate Chip Kidd is best known for designing the cover of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. The uber-talented graphic designer shares many perspectives and stories in this podcast, including his "no-style" style, a book he wrote based on experiences at Penn State and why he values printed books over digital versions. Jump right in: (7:09) - Style of work (9:03) - Importance of a book's cover (10:35) - Influence of comic books (13:03) - The process of designing a book's cover (1...
Feb 15, 2023•41 min•Ep. 46
2019 Penn State graduate Jon Gross has dreams of being a broadcaster for ABC's College Football Game of the Week. Though only a few years out of college, you'll quickly see that Jon has the talent and work ethic to rise to the top. Jon takes us behind-the-scenes and shares the amount of preparation and focus that goes into the job. He also shares some great stories, including his interview with Penn State Football Coach James Franklin. Jump right in: (7:35) - Career journey post-graduation (12:4...
Jan 27, 2023•44 min•Ep. 45
1989 Penn State graduate Jeff Barth has a job that impacts every individual in New York State. As the Director of Design Mapping and Automation Bureau for the New York State Department of Transportation, Jeff has influenced countless roads, rails, bike lanes and more. Jeff does a great job in making this highly technical field easy to understand. Jump right in: (6:09) - Career at the NYS Department of Transportation (13:40) - Surveying work (15:46) - Making resource decisions (17:37) - Deliverin...
Jan 20, 2023•44 min•Ep. 44
1982 Penn State graduate Mike Poorman might as well be called Mr. Penn State. Beyond teaching courses in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Mike is a true champion of students and alumni - advising, interacting and connecting. After this episode, you will surely wish you knew Mike during your days as a student. Jump right in: (6:52) - Cool careers of alumni (8:37) - Teaching a class about Coach Joe Paterno (11:12) - Working on his Masters Degree (16:46) - Advice to the new Presi...
Dec 26, 2022•44 min•Ep. 43
2018 Penn State graduate Noah Pilato grew up going to Penn State football games so when he received a scholarship to play soccer at Penn State, it was a no-brainer. Noah's success on the pitch at Penn State has led him to become a professional soccer player. Recorded during the 2022 World Cup, there's no better time to catch-up with Noah and talk soccer (or as they say, football). Jump right in: (7:57) - Playing in the United Soccer League (12:55) - Winning a USL Championship (15:06) - Being par...
Dec 16, 2022•39 min•Ep. 42
2004 Penn State graduate David Hua is blazing the trail in the cannabis industry. As Co-Founder and CEO of Meadow, David takes us into the world of cannabis and how he's on a mission to provide support to companies and help the industry evolve as a whole. Jump right in: (8:27) - The cannabis industry and Meadow (19:51) - The future of the industry (21:48) - Changing perceptions (27:00) - Working in the start-up world (31:53) - Starting his career in the corporate world (34:33) - Lessons from his...
May 15, 2022•46 min•Ep. 41
2015 Penn State graduate Richie Tevlin loves beer - not only drinking it like many of us, but brewing it too. As Head Brewer at Victory Brewing Company, Richie runs the recently opened Victory Brewing Taproom in the heart of Philadelphia. Crack open a cold one and enjoy the episode with Richie as he talks about his career and the beer industry! Jump right in: (6:37) - About Victory Brewing (7:30) - Being a Head Brewer (8:32) - Getting into the industry (13:23) - The process (17:32) - Victory Bre...
Apr 22, 2022•40 min•Ep. 40
1980 Penn State graduate Gail Ramsay is one of the most decorated squash athletes and coaches in the world. Her numerous accolades have earned her a spot as a member of the 2022 US Squash Hall of Fame class. In this episode, Gail shares about her illustrious coaching career and desired legacy. Jump right in: (7:33) - Differences between squash and racquetball (10:02) - Attributes of a good squash player (11:00) - Recruiting squash athletes (12:15) - Coaching highlights (15:53) - Coaching style (...
Mar 26, 2022•37 min•Ep. 39
2012 Penn State graduate Mike McHugh is a world traveler! He documents his travels on his blog GimpyGlobetrotter.com, where he also shares living with a condition that affects the tendons in his legs. Mike is a true inspiration - he has a strong mentality and believes there's nothing he can't achieve. We also learn about his unwavering love for Penn State and Penn State football. Jump right in: (5:21) - Living with arthrogryposis (7:01) - Passion for traveling (9:00) - His unstoppable mindset (1...
Mar 10, 2022•38 min•Ep. 38
2021 Penn State grad (MD/PhD) Olivier Noel is a lifelong learner! While in grad school, Noel founded DNAsimple, a company that helps streamline the way researchers obtain patient samples for scientific studies. He appeared on the prestigious Shark Tank show and shares his experience of winning over one of the Sharks (listen to find out which one). Noel is now at Yale University doing his residency in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Jump right in: (10:02) - Time at Yale (10:43) - Choosing p...
Feb 26, 2022•37 min•Ep. 37
2002 and 2005 Penn State graduate, Rashanna Moss, has dedicated her life to helping athletes, coaches and business executives attain new levels of greatness. From the Penn State football team to Nike to Pure Barre, Rashanna now owns her own business, Modern Muse . After listening to this episode, you will certainly have a new appreciation for mental coaching and performance! Jump right into: (6:38) - Helping athletes and acoaches (13:14) - Working with corporations (17:29) - Favorite stories of ...
Feb 12, 2022•54 min•Ep. 36
1989 Penn State graduate, Dave Wurtzel, is a hero among heroes! Not only is he a firefighter, he also created The First Twenty, a non-profit committed to the health and wellness of first responders. Dave brings the energy and passion with a touch of comedy to the episode. A special thank you to Dave and all the first responders who continue to keep us and our communities safe. Jump right into: (6:30) - The idea of The First Twenty (12:30) - Building the foundation (19:01) - The meaning of spirit...
Dec 30, 2021•50 min•Ep. 35
1995 Penn State graduate, E.J. Johnston is creating the most electrifying hockey league tour - 3ICE. Set to debut in the summer of 2022, E.J. tells us about how he came up with the idea and the differences compared to traditional hockey leagues. We also dive into his career journey and time spent in the fashion and entertainment industries. Jump right into: (5:08) - 3ICE background (14:03) - Success in the first year (16:09) - 3ICE tour locations (18:08) - Growing up in a hockey family (20:54) -...
Dec 23, 2021•36 min•Ep. 34
2006 Penn State graduate Michal Naisteter is a modern day matchmaker. It's easy to see how Michal's infectious personality and passion for meeting and connecting people help people go from first dates to marriage. Michal also talks about the importance of teaching children about human sexuality earlier on in their lives, as well as her favorite food in State College! Jump right in: 8:23 - The role of a professional matchmaker 12:00 - Perspective on the online dating apps 12:39 - Student Question...
Nov 25, 2021•39 min•Ep. 33
1992 Penn State grad Steve Moyer and 2008 grad Danielle Stemple are two of the main people behind our favorite Penn State retailer, Lions Pride . Beyond being a great partner of Lion Legacy, we wanted to learn about what it takes to operate a small business in a college town. Steve and Danielle also provide some great insights on how they work with Penn State and the licensing department to bring apparel to you and all Penn Staters. Jump right in: 5:15 - Surviving the pandemic as a small busines...
Nov 11, 2021•48 min•Ep. 32
2007 Penn State graduate Justin King is one of the top cornerbacks in Penn State football history. After a career in the NFL, Justin jumped right into the sports business industry and recently started his own company, L.I.G. Sports. In this episode, Justin talks about his new venture, his thoughts on college football and the NFL, and of course, his time playing for the Nittany Lions. Jump right into: (6:30) - The offerings of L.I.G. Sports (11:27) - The potential for another football league (14:...
Oct 21, 2021•36 min•Ep. 31
