Alexis started out thinking that a career in acting would be a good backup for a career in writing but as it turns out, she’s had a pretty impressive career as a writer, filmmaker and recently, podcast host. Terri and Alex chat about working in the arts (for better or worse), how she found herself at Emerson after a Science & Technology High School and the importance of building a community. Recorded on September 3, 2021
Mal knew he wanted to be a reporter, but didn’t realize he wanted to be an investigative reporter until he went to a conference that a fellow Emersonian posted about it. Mal shares his journey from San Francisco, CA to Bemidji, MN (yes, it’s a real place) to Portland, ME with Terri as they discuss the best way to get the scoop, why he’s really good at keeping secrets, and how he found himself at Emerson on a bit of a whim and it ended up being exactly the right place. Recorded on August 6, 2021
Emersonians may know Edwin as one of their professors, but the outside world knows him as the critically-acclaimed writer of mystery and crime fiction who penned the popular Hester Thursby series. But Edwin wasn’t an overnight sensation. He and Terri chat about what finally inspired him to be a full time writer after a long career in the publishing industry and why he encourages his students to break the rules of writing. Recorded on August 5, 2021
John is a unique alum in that he never set foot in Boston while earning his Masters in Global Marketing, Communication & Advertising. John and Terri discuss how he’s made a career overseas teaching leaders how to lead, whether they be in the energy industry or sports, and why he thinks Emerson has always been on the cutting edge of innovation and played a critical role in his life. Recorded on August 4, 2021
Carolyn and Terri have a blast throwing it back to the 90’s as she shares her journey from Biore Pore Strip girl at Lilith Fair to tour manager for Brandi Carlile, Janet Jackson, Reba McEntire and the Indigo Girls - just to name a few! Carolyn is working with some of the biggest names in the music industry but still finds time to give back to a very special place to her, Thistle Farms, and explains how it made a much bigger impact on her than she expected. Recorded on August 2, 2021
Brent is usually on the “other side of the glass” working as a podcast producer for NPR, but he was kind enough to sit in the guest chair for this conversation with Terri. Find out why he was determined to not go into radio when he entered Emerson, how he ended up at NPR 12 years ago, and how he’s managed to create new opportunities for himself during his decade plus long career there. Recorded on August 2, 2021
Not only is Sara a “Double Lion,” but she also serves as a member of Emerson’s Board of Advisors. She and Terri chat about her seemingly winding but very intentional career path from radio to PR to Tech and how being a mentor for and volunteering with young Women of Color who are following in her footsteps has connected her back to Emerson in a profoundly meaningful way. Recorded on August 3, 2021
Chen Tang is an actor, an Asian American actor, and he shares with Terri not only what representation means to him, but how he aspires to see our world move past it. Not to mention the talent for layering he acquired during the Boston winters! Recorded on January 22, 2021
Not only is Jae Williams a “double Lion,” but he can also add “staff” and “faculty” to the lens with which he looks at Emerson through. Jae does just that in his current role in the Social Justice Center. Jae and Terri have a refreshingly honest conversation about diversity, inclusion and why Jae knows that he was meant to be at Emerson. Recorded on February 8, 2021.
Laura Zurowski has had some pretty interesting jobs throughout her career but now she’s found herself with a hobby, built on her desire to get to know the city of Pittsburgh that, much to her surprise, she gets paid for. Recorded on January 11, 2021.
Dr. Rik Lemoncello knew he wanted to be a speech pathologist but never expected his love of baking to also play a huge role in his future career. Dr. Rik shares how he came to be the founder of Sarah Bellum's Bakery and Workshop, a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing return to work opportunities for adults with brain injuries, and of course, delicious treats. Recorded on January 18, 2021.
Felicia Pride may consider herself to be a “late bloomer” but she’s certainly hit her stride now as a writer on “Grey’s Anatomy” and the founder of “The Create Daily”, just to name a few of her accomplishments. Felicia shares her perspective on not just being a writer, but the great importance of finding her form. Recorded on January 27, 2021
You may think “lawyer” and know exactly what this episode will be about. Marc Douthit is, indeed, a lawyer, but he’s also a person in a world that tends to overthink itself and underestimate everyone else. You’ll be surprised to hear how Marc ended up at Emerson, into Law and even into the role of Dad in a very unexpected way. Recorded on February 10, 2021.
Jill and Terri discuss what it means to be a “woman in sports” after Jill landed a job as the voice of the Visalia Rawhide right after graduating from Emerson. Jill has a unique perspective on the game of baseball as not only a woman, but as an athlete as well. Recorded on February 10, 2021.
Little did Terri know that days after speaking with Chelsey about her whirlwind career on the Biden Harris campaign, Chelsey would be named the new Deputy Liaison to the White House for the US Dept. of the Interior. Hear just how Chelsey got there while also remaining true to the storyteller that she’s always been. Recorded on January 13, 2021.
Join Kevin Bright '76 as he sits down, virtually of course, with Emerson alumnus and Hollywood legend, Norman Lear '42 for this special bonus episode of Making It Big in 30 Minutes. The episode was recorded on October 15, 2020, in multiple locations, resulting, at times, in uneven audio levels. Be sure to join the 1,500+ alumni over Emerge to connect, network, and let us know why you should be a guest on the next season of Making it Big! Head over to emerge.emerson.edu
Paloma shares her insights on being a Boston based artist, the importance of cultural representation across all media and why it’s actually totally ok with her to not have Cardi B status. Recorded on May 28, 2020.
Bunny chats with Terri from his home in London and shares his unique perspective on film making, how creating digital content shaped his career and why he hopes Emerson is still full of weirdos. Recorded on April 6, 2020.
Hear how Janice O’Leary went from designing pens to writing about private jets and the best whiskeys out there, how she learned how to edit in her workshops in Emerson’s MFA program, and why she hated having to get dressed up for Boston Magazine parties, but still loved her job there. Recorded on April 30, 2020
Manny and Terri chat about how the pandemic has affected the world of comedy, why he cared way more about his fellow Emersonians’ spec scripts than his own and their mutual love of Six Feet Under. Recorded on May 13, 2020
You’ll love Jaimee Hall’s take on the legal world as she explains how she ended up there after starting out as a theater student, what brought her to LA, and then back again, and why she decided to start an Alumni Chapter in St. Louis. Recorded on April 13, 2020
Maurene shares her journey from journalism student to acclaimed YA novelist as she and Terri discuss her need for a deadline, writing for comic book heroes and how she never dreamed of becoming an author...or did she? Recorded on March 6, 2020
Eitan Chitayat discusses changing his career path one semester away from graduation, how he ended up working on an iconic Volkswagen ad campaign and what it felt like having his “I’m that Jew” video go viral. Recorded on March 5, 2020
Hear Megan’s journey as she launched her career as an openly gay local news anchor, her involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline Movement and why she decided to join the Alumni Board of Directors. Recorded on March 5, 2020
What does it mean to make it big? Having money, fame, world wide acclaim, climbing the corporate ladder or crushing it in your business. One thing’s for sure, there isn’t just one way to do it. In each episode, you will meet an Emersonian who’s Making It. Making a living, making a difference and sometimes, making it up as they go along. As far as we’re concerned, if you’re making something, you’ve made it...big time.
