Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians

The 2023 Alumni Trustee Election is officially OPEN so what better time to learn about what it means to be an alumni elected trustee and why YOU should vote?! Check out this year's ballot and make your voice heard! ___________________________________________________________ What does it take to be on Cornell’s Board of Trustees? Four Cornell degrees? Not necessarily. But Doug Mitarotonda’s decade plus (yep! undergrad, two masters’ and a PhD) as a Cornell student gives him a unique perspective on the Board. Tune in to hear his journey from student to Trustee and why you should vote for your next alumni-elected trustee. Learn about the candidates and cast your vote today! Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Wonder how someone who aspired to be an English professor eventually became a successful woman in comedy? Listen in to find out! Alison Leiby '06 has covered the gamut in comedy. From standup to TV writing for shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Broad City, to her one woman show Oh God, a Show About Abortion, Alison Leiby '06 has some advice about carving your path in an industry you never considered. "When you're an undergrad, you shouldn't know what you want to do," says Alison. "Just try the things. Try and do them. Take the classes that are interesting to you... And for me, it was I always loved standup and I always loved comedy. And then finally one day I was like nothing else is making me happy, I may as well try it. And I did. And it worked." A quick heads up for our listeners. Alison speaks briefly about her own experience with abortion in this episode. If you need to avoid listening to that discussion, we recommend you skip the 23 minute and 45 second mark through to 31 minute and 45 second mark. Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Sydney Mann '18. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

A Hotelie in Paris starring on a Bravo TV Show Real Girlfriends In Paris and also running her own business? Yes, you heard us correctly. Adja Toure ’18 is a sparkling example of how to let a Cornell degree and fulfilling experiences along the way guide and garnish post-grad life. While soaking up her time in the Hotel School, Adja also worked her way up the ladder on the Slope Day planning committee, and got to perform with the Cornell University Chorus in places like Guatemala and Mexico before graduating a semester early. Embarking on e-commerce positions and entrepreneurship endeavors while navigating friendships AND the entertainment industry are all enticing points of this episode. You don’t want to miss hearing about her professor-stunning chocolate mousse either! Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Sydney Mann '18. Episode description written by Brenna Tosh '24. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

From her beginnings as a Rawlings Presidential Research Scholar, to joining a lab in CALS, to dancing on the dance team Urban Blaze, Alexis Wilson ’19 seemingly did it all as a Cornell student. Not only that, Alexis was also an instrumental member of Cornell’s Intergroup Dialogue Project.  Since her time at Cornell, she's completed an honors thesis related to environmental science that later got published in a journal, and is now pursuing a PhD at Stanford. In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, Alexis speaks on the many ways that Cornell gave her opportunities to branch out into new interests and areas of exploration on top of solidifying others already formed in her life.  Listen in on this inspiring and sentimental chat between host Sydney Mann ’18 and Alexis, a pair who moved from having a mentoring relationship to a vibrant friendship. Themes of environmental justice, interconnectedness, mutual support, diversity, and building community are all over this episode for you to enjoy and learn from.  Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Sydney Mann '18. Episode description written by Brenna Tosh '24. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

A professor. A writer. A Dean. A reader. An advisor. A humanist. Dr. Glenn Altschuler is the embodiment of an academic. Learn about his life and what propelled him to not “be the Jewish boy who never went north of 125th St.” in this compelling conversation with Sydney Mann '18. Get an insider's view of a storied five decade Cornell career,  with anecdotes of connection and relationships, and the importance of formal and personal education in life. “I just think that I was so blessed to spend my career interacting with Cornell undergraduates. I wouldn't have given it up for anything.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Sydney Mann '18 Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

It's time for a new series of Fresh from the Hill (finally!) The name of our new host may be familiar to you - that's because she was a guest on the podcast back in 2021! Get to know her better by revisiting that episode today (Check Your Privilege - original air date 8/18/21) and stay tuned for brand new episodes in the upcoming weeks with Sydney hosting.  Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Camila Salazar '16. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Revisit this spooky episode from 2021 with Cornell's de facto historian Corey Ryan Earle '07. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ From Halloween pranks to campus hauntings - tune in for tales of murder, mayhem, creepy classes and unsolved mysteries of Cornell’s spookier past from unofficial university historian Corey Ryan Earle ’07. This podcast was repurposed from a live online event that took place on 10/26/21. If you’re near a computer and would like to see the whole program with visuals, you can watch the recording here. Read the episode transcript. Check out prior Cornelliana with Corey videos. Listen to season one of Ten Fold More Wicked about Edward Rulloff. Fresh from the Hill is created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Dana Lerner '14 is currently the co-producer of the revival of COMPANY. COMPANY was recently nominated for nine Tony Awards and won five, including best revival of a musical. As a producer, Dana was nominated and won best revival of a musical. Revisit this episode from 2019 to get an exclusive look behind the scenes of Broadway. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dana M. Lerner '14 is a Tony-nominated theater producer and entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Red Pelican Creative, LLC a social media consulting and management agency providing strategic advice and management consulting on social media, brand enhancement and development primarily in the live entertainment space . In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, Dana sits down with host Aaron Kominos-Smith '04 to chat about what life as a theater major at Cornell was like, how to get into the business side of theater, how Hamilton is changing the game in ticketing and subscription models, what it takes to be a Broadway producer, and how she got involved with the Tony-nominated show Indecent. Also hear about the numerous ways Dana stays involved with Cornell in her very limited free time! Learn more about Dana and Red Pelican Creative at  https://officialdml.com/ and https://redpelicancreative.com/.  Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

101.3 WKZB is Fall Church's only radio station. On Interview Hour, hosts Lauren and Peter interview the fascinating residents of Falls Church. Interview Hour is a completely fictional, improvised podcast, performed by Lauren Morrell and Peter Narby. In "Prance Therapy" (original air date 4/11/21), Lauren Morrell interviews Falls Church's hand washing timer, and then a psychotherapist with a deeply emotional approach to his sessions. Cornell alumnus Peter Narby '12 co-created this podcast, alongside Lauren Morrell. Read the episode transcript. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

"Innovation and Insurance with Shruti Kothari," first aired November 8, 2021. Nakin Bhandari MHA '18, Freddy Terrazas Escamilla MHA '19, and Joseph De Los Santos MHA '19 sit down live in San Diego to bring in the sixth episode of BYOB: The Healthcare Podcast. The team speaks to Shruti Kothari on Innovation and Insurance, Shruti is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Blue Shield of California. Shruti shares a great perspective on what early careerists should think of when they are looking to pursue a new opportunity, start a new organization/company, and what she learned from working in the Venture Capital space. Additionally, Shruti shares how striking statistics in early seed funding compounded by events that affected the entire nation, moved her to elevate the voices of women of color and call attention to the staggeringly low number of executives who are women of color. Learn more about BYOB at their website. Read the episode transcript.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

"Why failing more should be your goal with Susan Danziger, Founder of Eutopia Holdings," first aired May 24, 2021.  Susan Danziger launched her first business to solve a problem, and hasn’t stopped since! From making books accessible on your commute to combating the climate crisis with Wally Farms, Susan is a serial Entreprenista and investor with a deep drive to positively impact her community. You’re about to hear the lessons she learned building her businesses, key tips for raising capital, and more. Check out the Entreprenista website for more episodes. Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Stephanie Cartin '06 & Courtney Spritzer.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

"Gwen Whiting of The Laundress – Innovation, Big Risks, and Thinking Outside the Box," first aired March 23, 2020. Success as an Entreprenista involves innovation, taking big risks, and thinking outside the box. In the case of Gwen Whiting '98, Founder of The Laundress, a successful line of eco-friendly laundry and home products, it’s all of these. Inspired with an idea while working in the fashion industry at Ralph Lauren and trying to maintain her wardrobe while using the local laundromat, Gwen teamed up with her friend who had a complimentary skillset to create a solution. Gwen joins Socialfy co-founder Stephanie Cartin for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success including how Gwen and her partner found money early on, from business loans to throwing for-profit parties, launching an e-commerce website over 15 years ago when Amazon was still a bookseller, the challenges of building an ecommerce brand and generating buzz in the pre-social media era, how The Laundress got  ahead of the market in creating detergents free of petroleum products (long before the trend of green eco-friendly products,) why the co-founders made a risky decision to fund the business by amassing considerable credit card debt rather than taking VC money, the process of selling the brand to Unilever, and why having the right lawyer and a team behind you during such a pivotal time mattered so much. Check out the Entreprenista website for more episodes.  Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Stephanie Cartin '06 *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Cornell University’s Intergroup Dialogue Project (IDP) proudly presents “I” Statements, a podcast where complexity, vulnerability, and curiosity collide. Music written and performed by Evan Wilhelms. You can learn more about IDP here.  This episode, "Authenticity," was first aired September 8, 2021.  Three different people, three different perspectives on authenticity. We share stories about when our authenticity brought others closer to us or caused them to pull away, raise questions about the relationships between authenticity, conformity, and agency, and, at one point, don some rose-colored glasses to appreciate the vibrancy and humanity that can accompany authenticity. Hosted by Rachel Sumner PhD '15, featuring graduate students Janani Hariharan and Trevor Franklin. Read the episode transcript. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Enjoy the final revisited episode from the Wall of Wonder series celebrating Women's History Month! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hilary Lashley Renison '05, MEng '07, MBA '09 knows resiliency. Though she was one of three African American women in engineering during undergrad, she stayed at Cornell for almost a decade pursuing a bachelor’s, masters in engineering, and an MBA. Yep, that makes her a triple red! Now at the top of her game at General Electric and founder of her own company Tinker and Fiddle—promoting STEM education for K-12 students—prepare to be inspired.  As we all grapple with the new normal of 2020, Renison says, “Don’t be afraid of change, lean into it.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Madeline Dubelier '20. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University

A second revisited episode from the Wall of Wonder series for Women's History Month.  ___________________________________________________________________________ Civil engineers help society. How can one ensure their infrastructure is safe and benefiting everyone in the community? This is Erica Fischer '07's mission. Hear about her journey from an undergraduate at Cornell to her current role as a Civil & Construction Engineering Assistant Professor at Oregon State University. Oh, and she’s part of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team. What’s that? Tune in for more! “How can you really help real people? Just everyday people in their lives and make an impact?” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Catherine Gurecky '20. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In celebration of Women's History Month, the next three episodes will be rebroadcasts of our Wall of Wonder series from last summer, featuring interviews of three women profiled in the book by authors Madeline Dubelier, Catherine Gurecky, and Abigail Macaluso, all Class of 2020. Need a refresher on the book itself? Go back to season 3, episode 8 to hear an interview with Madeline, Catherine, and Abigail and how the book came about. And for the next three episodes of Fresh from the Hill, enjoy this look back on these interviews with some incredible women. ______________________________________________________________________ The world is better when women succeed. Joanna Dai’s eight year finance career in New York and London instilled a sense of effortless style with cool attitude, but lacked the comfort and ease from her Californian upbringing. Yet, when it came to workwear shopping, she felt increasingly discouraged by a market where fabrics restricted movement, designs lacked function and versatility, and quality mismatched value. She had the vision of a brand where none of these factors were compromised – a brand of tailored performance wear where comfort empowers confidence. Listen in to the second episode of our Wall of Wonder series as Abigail Macaluso '20 chats with Joanna about her journey - from being one of five women in an incredibly difficult major at Cornell, to landing a job at Bear Stearns right before the Great Recession, to eventually finding her footing in the fashion world by creating a brand committed to sustainability, empowering women, and promoting comfort and style. “I really believe that brands have that power, they have the platform. And through their platform and voice they can really impact change.” Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Featuring Matthew Zucker '92. Episode #55. "Hike Your Own Hike." First aired Oct 21, 2021 What’s the rush with hiking? What's the difference between a walk and a hike? This episode Mat Zucker ’92 talks to Sean O’Dwyer, who runs Mountain-Hiking.com, a popular blog for Catskills, Hudson Highlands, Adirondacks and beyond. You’ll hear what Sean loves about mountain hiking, where to go (including Cornell Mountain!), advice for bears, a warning about radios, how to be a good citizen on a mountain, and why Reese’s Pieces should sponsor him. Shout-outs to family Cornellians including Brian Fuhr ’93, Andrea Fuhr Saporito ’96, Alex Saporito ’97, and Rebecca Barnett ’17. Thanks for listening to Cidiot, the award-winning podcast about moving from the city to the Hudson Valley. Visit Cidiot.com to join the mailing list for updates, rate and review the show, shop the Cidiot store, read the blog, and find links to social feeds, destinations and resources in the area. Read the episode transcript. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In celebration of Groundhog's Day, we thought we'd revisit our VERY FIRST full-length episode of Fresh from the Hill. First aired October 31, 2018. Enjoy! _________________________________________________________________ At age 24 Svante Myrick won a mayoral race to become the youngest mayor in Ithaca's history and the first mayor of African American heritage. In this exclusive interview, host Alex Zalben '99 and Svante will chat about Svante's childhood, the first time he visited Cornell ("I thought I had stumbled on something magic, and I was right"), the opioid crisis in Ithaca and his plan to combat it, his learnings from President Barack Obama, his advice to young people getting into politics, and much more. Learn more about Svante. Read the Episode Transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Law & Society Talk is a bi-weekly podcast series hosted by Co-Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Harris. This conversational component of the Review will feature discussions pertaining to recent case law, happenings from the steps of the Supreme Court and federal courts, and projects and articles underway by our current writers and contributors. Learn more on their website. In this episode of Law & Society Talk (first aired April 19, 2021), Jonathan Harris '21 and Andrew Gilmore '21 are joined by Joseph Margulies, Professor of Law and Government at Cornell University, to discuss the City of Ithaca's proposal to restructure its police department, and how the conservative leaning Supreme Court has and will interact with the Biden Administration. Read the episode transcript.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

We've got a fun series in store for you over the next few months! Tune in to learn what's coming down the pike. Read the episode transcript. Hosted, created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

UPDATE: Since this episode aired, Enongo earned her PhD from Cornell in 2019 making her a triple red! And because we've been on a music theme lately, we thought it was a good time to rebroadcast this episode from the very early days of the podcast. Hope you enjoy! ________________________________________________________________________ Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo '08, MA '15 aka Sammus is an Ithaca-raised, Philadelphia-based rap artist, producer, and PhD student in the Department of Science & Technology Studies at Cornell University. Through her music she has spent the past several years cultivating a strong following of activists, hip hop heads, punks, and self-identified nerds and geeks, among others. Enongo will talk about growing up in Ithaca and the different lenses she's seen Ithaca through, and how she never felt like she had to choose between her "Ithaca-ness" and "Cornell-ness." You'll also hear about her musical influences, her heroes, what role video games play in her music, sexism in the music industry, and what we can expect from her next project coming out in 2019. Not only that, Enongo is currently pursuing her PhD from Cornell (triple red!) and is exploring the politics of studios and community studios in low-income areas and how there's a need for studios in the public space. Learn more about Sammus. Read the Episode Transcript. Hosted by Alex Zalben '99. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.  Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jazz musician and historian Colin Hancock ’19 is an old soul. As a young kid, he was drawn to the sound of early jazz, gravitating towards the likes of Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and other others of the pre-bop era. Since then, he’s built his musical career around playing and recording in that style of music. In fact, he owns and operates the only acoustic studio that cuts 78 rpm flat records in THE WORLD. Yes, you read that right. Hear about how Colin has carved out his own niche in the music world and how his research and work ultimately led to his album notes Grammy nomination. Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Armon Sadler '17 & Nic Earley '17. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

From a young age, Kobina Ansah '08 was a budding entrepreneur, even before he knew what entrepreneurship really was. As a teenager he mowed neighbors lawns to earn extra spending cash. In college, he and his friends started a full service B&B for busy Cornell weekends (Air BnB eat your heart out!); "I remember feeling this great sense of satisfaction by identifying a client, identifying their needs, serving that need, and getting compensated for that."  Furthermore, entrepreneurship is in Kobina's blood. His grandmother started one of the first daycare programs in Ghana, West Africa (visited by the Queen of England!), and his mother created Alta Spa in Ithaca, a place he and his brother worked and really helped conceptualize from the ground up. Today, Kobina's company COVERR provides financial loans to workers in the gig economy, people who have difficulty getting financial support from traditional lending institutions. As Armon Sadler so perfectly put it, Kobina is "a human who is serving humans-- who are serving humans." Read the episode transcript.  Hosted by Armon Sadler '17. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Alex Kresovich '08 is a Billboard #1 and RIAA-Platinum certified music producer, songwriter, and composer from Ithaca, New York who's best known for his work with Panic! at the Disco, Cee Lo Green, Niykee Heaton, MAX, Hoodie Allen, Snow Tha Product, Chris Webby, and Jocelyn Alice. But when the music business took a toll on his own well being, he took take a break from the producing world to explore how music can affect mental health. Alex is now pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is studying the influence of popular music which references anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts on the mental health attitudes and behaviors of U.S. youth, and all that relates back to how he used music as a young person to regulate his own depression and anxiety. Hear this candid and vulnerable conversation about the less glamorous sides of the music business, why it's so important to talk about mental health, and if something isn't working for you, it's ok to change paths. Oh yeah and you'll hear some fun stories, including that time he danced with Rhianna.  "The main appeal of music to me as a young person was, it was this place I could go to escape.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Armon Sadler '17 & Nic Earley '17. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

From Halloween pranks to campus hauntings - tune in for tales of murder, mayhem, creepy classes and unsolved mysteries of Cornell’s spookier past from unofficial university historian Corey Ryan Earle ’07. This podcast was repurposed from a live online event that took place on 10/26/21. If you’re near a computer and would like to see the whole program with visuals, you can watch the recording here. Read the episode transcript.  Check out prior Cornelliana with Corey videos. Listen to season one of Ten Fold More Wicked about Edward Rulloff. Fresh from the Hill is created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

You briefly met Armon Sadler and Nic Earley on the previous episode of Fresh from the Hill through their own podcast, Stay Busy with Armon Sadler. Now it's time to REALLY get to know them.  Hear their Cornell origin stories and how they met each other, along with some nuggets of advice for Cornellians pursuing creative fields. Do you remember a little fraternity called Alpha Phi Alpha that was featured last season?? Learn the role it played in their on-campus experiences and how it still impacts their lives today. And of course, you'll get a sneak peak into what their series has in store and what they're both up to today. It's all very exciting stuff that you DO NOT want to miss.  Read the episode transcript. Episode photo by Rubi Hernandez. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Meet our new hosts of Fresh from the Hill through this promo of their OWN podcast - Stay Busy with Armon Sadler.  Stay Busy with Armon Sadler features responsible discussions about music culture and business. Hosted by Armon Sadler, executive produced by Nic Earley. Get a taste of Armon and Nic's podcasting style and be sure to check out their upcoming episodes of Fresh from the Hill to kick off season 5.  Read the episode transcript.  Fresh from the Hill is created and produced by Amanda Massa with music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Fresh from the Hill logo  was created by Chris Kelly.    *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Since last episode was all about the criminal justice system, we thought it appropriate to follow it up with this episode from season 1. Featuring Darnell Epps, a recent grad who, after spending almost two decades in prison turned his life around and earned his degree from Cornell. Originally aired June 26, 2019. Enjoy! ___________________________________________________________________________ From the Brooklyn housing projects, to private Catholic School, to a near 17-year incarceration at Five Points Correctional Facility, to Cornell University, Darnell Epps '19 is not your typical Cornell Senior. Hear Darnell's fascinating and inspirational story about taking the wrong path in life, lessons learned, and coming out the other side. “One thing that struck me deep was seeing the pain… When I walked in the courtroom and I would see a packed courtroom and I would see families on both sides, feeling pain. I would see the tears in my mother’s eyes, the embarrassment that I caused her, the shame that I brought. She was a New York City Police Officer, but yet had to explain to her colleagues that her two sons were incarcerated for murder. And she was at trial every day. She stuck by me. She came up on the visit practically every month to see Darrell and I. It was that. It was witnessing that. It was seeing that. That really brought me face-to-face with the need to ultimately become a responsible adult and to break out of this way of thinking that seemed to dominate my teenage years.” Check out Darnell's Op Ed in the New York Times. Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Lou Diamond '92. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.     Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Maurice Chammah ’10, author of Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty and journalist at the Marshall Project, has dedicated his life’s work to illuminating the injustices in the American prison system through writing about individual stories while also shedding light on the larger issues at hand.  Tune in today and hear how his love of writing and a class at Cornell helped inspire him to pursue the work he does today. “People who have committed really horrific crimes, even the very worst crimes, they are more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.” Read the episode transcript.  Hosted by Camila Salazar '16. Episode photo by Tamir Kalifa. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Check your privilege. It’s a phrase that you’ve likely heard, but what does it really mean? Prior to her involvement in Cornell’s Intergroup Dialogue Project (IDP), Sydney Mann ’18 didn’t like the term. Who’s to judge what privilege one may have based on the color of their skin? But through having tough conversations and listening instead of taking up space in those talks, Sydney started to understand the privilege white women hold in America. She now devotes her time to allyship through her work with From Privilege to Progress and in her personal life. “When you have a white person uplifting a person of color or somebody who’s marginalized, more white people are going to listen.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Camila Salazar '16. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

The journey post-film school is not an easy one. And that’s why Dawn Kamoche ’07 recommends you think long and hard before deciding it’s the route for you. Her experience was not smooth sailing, as is the plight of many aspiring filmmakers. After graduating in 2007, it was HARD for anyone to find a job, let alone someone going into the ever-competitive film industry; “Go to an Ivy League they said. You’ll get a good job, your future will be set. And it wasn’t.” But Dawn’s undergrad from Cornell as a double major in Film and Africana Studies, along with a chance encounter with a former professor who believed in one of her scripts, set Dawn up for success as a story teller. She's now an award-winning writer and director, known for projects like Sharp Objects, The Gifted, and Cloak & Dagger. Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Camila Salazar '16. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In 2017, with limited knowledge about cryptocurrency and bitcoin but a dream of founding her own startup, Flori Marquez ’13 co-founded BlockFi. The financial services company for cryptocurrency now has over 800 employees and 500,000 clients worldwide. So what is cryptocurrency? And how is BlockFi revolutionizing it to make it more accessible to the average consumer? You’re going to find out. Think earning 8% in an interest-bearing account is impossible? Think again! Is a crypto credit card a possibility for the (not so distant) future? Yes!  It's Flori's love of building things from the ground up that landed her as Co-Founder and SVP of Operations at the fastest growing fintech company in history; "It's been wild." Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Camila Salazar '16. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

“Every time a movie gets made in Hollywood, ten million miracles have to happen.” Will Gluck '93 is certainly no stranger to some miracles (and apparently luck as well -- his advice to aspiring filmmakers is to “get very lucky”), but don't let him fool you, all of his success didn't simply fall in his lap. Known for box office hits like Easy A, Friends with Benefits, Annie, and Peter Rabbit, Gluck's grit, determination, and work ethic has earned him a celebrated career in show biz. After all, working in Hollywood is not easy, but “if you know deep down in your soul that you really want to do it, there’s nothing more fun in the world.”  *If you're sensitive to strong language, please note that there is swearing in this episode. Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Camila Salazar '16 Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Through working for companies like NPR, Buzzfeed, Vox, and Stitcher, Camila Salazar ’16 knows podcasting. And she’s also our next host for Fresh from the Hill! Learn how she first got into podcasts (anyone heard of the show Serial?) and how she was able to make a career for herself in the podcasting world; “I saw the potential of the industry.” *If you're sensitive to strong language, please note that there is swearing in this episode. Read the episode transcript. Hosted, created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In this Cornell Black Alumni Association (CBAA) series, you’ve heard from the organization’s founders and its past presidents. You’ve heard how CBAA has evolved since 1976, both in the great progress made and the unfortunate obstacles we still endure. In this last episode of the series, we chat with CBAA’s current executive board highlighting their pivot to virtual programming in the pandemic and the future of the organization. Don’t forget to learn more about CBAA, including how you can get involved at cbaa1976.com. “There is something special about Cornell, and about CBAA, that keeps it near and dear to my heart. And that’s why I stay engaged.” – Shannon Cohall '14 Featuring: Wilma Ann Anderson '92 Shannon Cohall '14 Kamillah Knight '13, MPA '15, EMBA '22 Yvette Lapompe '10  Read the episode transcript.  Hosted by John Rawlins III '06. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

This week, we take just a bit of a departure from our normal format. Listen in to this reflective episode as John talks about allyship and the importance of amplifying Black and minoritized voices in everyday life. We invite you to listen, learn, and reflect as we begin to wrap up this incredible series partnership with CBAA. “As we think about underrepresented groups, marginalized groups, minoritized groups in our community, how do we continue to amplify their stories? To give them space, to give them voice, and allow them to be seen and heard.” Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In part two of our CBAA (Cornell Black Alumni Association) roundtable, we hear from six more former presidents. Learn about their individual contributions and their shared goals for the next 45 years of this historic association. Featuring: Michael Littlejohn ’79 Lisa Jones ’84 Linda Gadsby ’88 Jonelle Bradshaw de Hernandez ’96 Anika Daniels-Osaze ’96 Ruby Saake ’84 “It was important for me to see us as being part of the fabric of Cornell at all times, not just through our reunions, but coming back to Homecoming and feeling like this was our campus as well.” - Anika Daniels-Osaze '96 Read the episode transcript.  Hosted by John Rawlins III '06. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In its 45 years of existence, CBAA (Cornell Black Alumni Association) has had 16 presidents. We’ve gathered them together for a couple of lively roundtable discussions. Hear about their experiences at Cornell as students, as alumni, and as trailblazers for the Black community. These conversations were so incredible, we’ve split them into two episodes. "It's about connection and care. We care about each other and we look out for each other" - Michelle Brown-Grant '88 Featuring: Michelle Brown-Grant '88 Regina Little '78 Katrina James '96 Marlon Brownlee '84 Kevin Montgomery '75 Dennis Williams '73 Sandra Black '73 Read the episode transcript.  Hosted by John Rawlins III '06. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In 1969, every Black student at Cornell knew all of the other Black students on campus. They were a small, but powerful community and Irene Smalls '71 advocated for the group to create a legacy beyond graduation. She and four other founding members created CBAA: the Cornell Black Alumni Association. Forty five years later, the CBAA legacy is stronger than ever and we’re so fortunate to chat with the founders today.  Featuring Irene Smalls '71, Carlton Holmes '72, Sandra Black '73, Dr. Renee Alexander '74, and Conway Boyce '75.   “CBAA was a way to normalize, to connect Cornell’s past, and all the sacrifices and the commitment we had made into a concrete future. It was meant to be a conduit. That we could heal, that we could come together, we could laugh, we could reminisce, we could be ourselves.”  - Irene Smalls '71  Read the episode transcript. Hosted by John Rawlins III '06. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

How am I supposed to Adult? We all attended Cornell as a result of our hard work and dedication, but once that diploma is in hand… what’s next? Tiffany Southerland ’06 looked for a syllabus on All The Things: career, relationships, mental health, etc. Now a coach and motivational speaker, she has practical insight and positive perspective to share in the fourth episode of our CBAA series.  Check out Tiffany’s podcast How Does She Do It? Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIN. “One of the things that I’ve always been able to do is find the practical and the positive perspective, even through the most challenging aspects of life.” Read the episode transcript.  Hosted by John Rawlins III '06. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Did you know the first intercollegiate historically African American Greek-lettered fraternity was founded here at Cornell? Now 114 years old, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has grown to 706 chapters across the country. Hear from Alpha Brothers Eric Elmore '86, JD '89 and Ernie Jolly '09 about the impact this organization had on their Cornell experience and how they view and serve in the world today. “Almost at our inception we were about developing leaders and lifting our community and we have continued to do so today.” - Eric Elmore “One of the things Alpha Phi Alpha is known for is developing leaders. Look to any industry, you’re going to find an Alpha somewhere leading an organization or making history somehow.” - Ernie Jolly Read the episode transcript.  Hosted by John Rawlins III '06. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

“Am I the one who doesn’t belong here? Did they make a mistake?,” Ahmed Ahmed ’17 wondered after his first semester at Cornell. We’ve all been there, right? But Ahmed’s tenacity and grit led him to greatness as a Cornell undergrad, as a Rhodes Scholar, and now as a medical student at Harvard. Tune in to hear his fascinating story! Read the episode transcript. Hosted by John Rawlins III '06. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Did you know Cornell has its own Black Alumni Association (CBAA)? And did you know it’s become the model for other diverse alumni groups across the country? Hear from the CBAA President and your host for the next few episodes: John Rawlins III ’06. An exciting kickoff to our new series amplifying our Black alumni voices! “As Cornellians across the board, we are leaders in our field, we are leaders in our communities, we do a lot of work to support the individuals that are around us, and I truly believe that that is the same for our Cornell Black alumni if not even more so.” Learn more about CBAA. Read the episode transcript.  Hosted, created, and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by the individuals featured in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

What does it take to be on Cornell’s Board of Trustees? Four Cornell degrees? Not necessarily. But Doug Mitarotonda’s decade plus (yep! undergrad, two masters’ and a PhD) as a Cornell student gives him a unique perspective on the Board. Tune in to hear his journey from student to Trustee and why you should vote for your next alumni-elected trustee. Learn about the candidates and cast your vote today! Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

For Inauguration Day, we are rebroadcasting this episode featuring Meghan Dubyak '04, originally aired on December 26, 2018. Please enjoy! __________________________________________ On this episode of Fresh from the Hill, you'll hear from Meghan Dubyak '04, current chief spokesperson and Associate Vice President for Communications and Creative Services at Georgetown University and former Press Secretary to Vice President Joe Biden and Special Assistant to President Obama. She'll chat with host Alex Zalben '99 about how she chose to work in political communications, her experiences outside the classroom and how they helped her grow at Cornell, her work with Steve Israel, Sherrod Brown, and Joe Biden, similarities (and differences) between work in politics and what's depicted on TV shows like "Scandal" and "The West Wing," how Joe Biden is the most "memeable" politician, her involvement in the “Cancer Moonshot” and “It’s on Us” campaigns, and her advice for young people wanting to get into government work. Read the Episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In pursuit of scholarship funds for his Cornell education, Karim Abouelnaga ’13 was challenged to find a solution to the achievement gap. Taking immediate action, he founded his company Practice Makes Perfect (PMP) at age 18. PMP has since supported thousands of low income children and Abouelnaga has become an acclaimed leader in the fields of education and entrepreneurship. Tune in today and be sure to check out Karim's new book The Purpose-Driven Social Entrepreneur.  “How do you actually move your profits to do something meaningful?” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Andrew Brady '10. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by the individuals featured in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

If you’re familiar with Finger Lakes wines, you’ve heard of Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery. For Meaghan Frank ’11 MPS ’16, this is her family’s business, yet it was Cornell’s infamous Wines class that cemented her choice to pursue wine as a career. Hear the fascinating story of the winery and how they’ve pivoted during this pandemic. “I absolutely loved my time at Cornell. It was just a really wonderful experience from start to finish.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Andrew Brady '10. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by the individuals featured in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Drew Bonfiglio ’03 made his passion his day job. Hear about his non-traditional career path from construction to aerospace and defense engineering to founding his company Emzingo, where he trains leaders to address global challenges and unlock the talent of organizations. Plus some bonus tips about working remotely! “We need to be working on this journey to get to a point where we’re continuously getting better.” Read the episode transcript.  Hosted by Andrew Brady '10. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by the individuals featured in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

There’s no Cornell experience without Collegetown Bagels (CTB)! And for Lindsey Brous Gitlin ’12, CTB is the family business. After a stint in NYC and Boston, Lindsey has returned Ithaca to oversee some major changes at the shop. From the pandemic response to new spaces/renovations, hear what’s next for this Ithaca institution. What if CTB came to a location near you?! Tune in to hear more. “We’ve been in Ithaca a long time and feel passionate about the Ithaca community.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Andrew Brady '10. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by the individuals featured in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Farther Farms builds technologies to improve the way food is made. Hear about Co-Founder and CEO Mike Annunziata's path to starting Farther Farms, the ways in which they are using technology to make food processing more sustainable, and how Cornell propelled him to where he is today. From an undergraduate degree in ILR, to working for Cornell, to earning his MBA from Johnson, Mike has a long history on the hill. Learn about the different entrepreneurship programs that Cornell offers to students of all backgrounds looking to pursue their own unique ventures, and how success is often linked to the people you surround yourself with. “I always had an affinity for food and really what it represents in bringing people together, creating opportunities for engagement and to build relationships.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Andrew Brady '10. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by the individuals featured in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Our next series (and thus our next host) is here! Tune in and meet author, podcast host, and President & CEO of The XLR8 Team, Inc. Andrew Brady class of 2010.  Hear how Andrew chose Cornell, how he got into podcasting, what exactly conscious capitalism is, and how he became involved with the movement.  Check out Andrew's podcast For the EVOLution of Business and stay tuned to upcoming episodes of Fresh from the Hill to hear from some exciting guests who exemplify what conscious capitalism is all about. Read the episode transcript. Created, produced, and hosted by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by the individuals featured in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Check out this very special cross-over episode of Fresh from the Hill, originally featured on Lou Diamond's podcast Thrive LOUD! Donna Korren is the founder and CEO of Change, a women owned payment processing company. A seasoned and well regarded professional in her industry, Donna works with business owners and c suite executives to ensure that they retain more of every dollar they earn. A large part of her motivation for launching Change is to attract more women professionals to this field. Her recent Tedx talk, “The Newest Workforce Disruptors are Over 50!” sheds light on the increasing number of professionals launching new businesses and creating second careers later in life. Her digital platform, Empty Quester™ for empty nesters on a quest for their bold next chapter, includes a video series and articles of interest for empty nesters. Donna writes, speaks publicly and consults with companies that are interested in the 50+ demographic. She connects with Lou Diamond '92 on Thrive LOUD. Read the episode transcript.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

We are PUMPED to bring you this very special International Podcast Day episode, where we'll highlight a collection of podcasts that are produced, hosted, and/or created by some pretty talented Cornellians. Check out the full list of all the podcasts to learn what Cornellians are involved and where you can listen. Also read up on some of the featured podcasts here.  *If you're sensitive to strong language, please note that there is swearing in this episode. Read the episode transcript.  Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by the individuals featured in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Hilary Lashley Renison '05, MEng '07, MBA '09 knows resiliency. Though she was one of three African American women in engineering during undergrad, she stayed at Cornell for almost a decade pursuing a bachelor’s, masters in engineering, and an MBA. Yep, that makes her a triple red! Now at the top of her game at General Electric and founder of her own company Tinker and Fiddle—promoting STEM education for K-12 students—prepare to be inspired.  As we all grapple with the new normal of 2020, Renison says, “Don’t be afraid of change, lean into it.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Madeline Dubelier '20. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University

Civil engineers help society. How can one ensure their infrastructure is safe and benefiting everyone in the community? This is Erica Fischer '07's mission. Hear about her journey from an undergraduate at Cornell to her current role as a Civil & Construction Engineering Assistant Professor at Oregon State University. Oh, and she’s part of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team. What’s that? Tune in for more! “How can you really help real people? Just everyday people in their lives and make an impact?” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Catherine Gurecky '20. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

The world is better when women succeed. Joanna Dai’s eight year finance career in New York and London instilled a sense of effortless style with cool attitude, but lacked the comfort and ease from her Californian upbringing. Yet, when it came to workwear shopping, she felt increasingly discouraged by a market where fabrics restricted movement, designs lacked function and versatility, and quality mismatched value. She had the vision of a brand where none of these factors were compromised – a brand of tailored performance wear where comfort empowers confidence. Listen in to the second episode of our Wall of Wonder series as Abigail Macaluso '20 chats with Joanna about her journey - from being one of five women in an incredibly difficult major at Cornell, to landing a job at Bear Stearns right before the Great Recession, to eventually finding her footing in the fashion world by creating a brand committed to sustainability, empowering women, and promoting comfort and style.   “I really believe that brands have that power, they have the platform. And through their platform and voice they can really impact change.” Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Wall of Wonder is a book written and published by three remarkable class of 2020 Engineering grads: Madeline Dubelier, Catherine Gurecky, and Abigail Macaluso.  Listen in as Fresh from the Hill producer Amanda Massa sits down with Madeline, Catherine, and Abigail to discuss how the book came about, what it was like to write and publish a book while still in school AND during a global pandemic, lessons learned, and what our Fresh from the Hill audience can expect for upcoming episodes of the podcast.  Learn more about Wall of Wonder at http://swe.cornell.edu/wallofwonder.html, available now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  “I think we’re all people who just have never related to this very stereotypical engineer image ... I find myself going out of my way to defy that image as much as I can.” – Madeline Dubelier "It’s really important to get young minds engaged and excited about technologies that they could perhaps go on to have careers in.” – Catherine Gurecky “This project has just become a great resource to young women and girls, that they can see themselves in these women, and these are women that are making history today and they can as well.” – Abigail Macaluso Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Academy Award winning filmmaker Ryan Silbert '02 is a writer, author, producer, and founder of Origin Story Entertainment, a multi-platform entertainment company with a global focus on storytelling. Silbert is also the co-creator of the New York Times bestseller Stan Lee’s Alliances: A Trick of Light, an original, first-of-its kind audio storytelling event produced by Amazon’s Audible Studios and starring GROWN ISH’s Yara Shahidi.  In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, we hear Ryan's story - the thrill he felt when he received that acceptance letter to Cornell and how he utilized storytelling in his first career in marketing. The role mentors and mentorship played in his life and how his love of comic books eventually led his partnership with Stan Lee. His take on movies, the Sci-Fi & Fantasy genres, and so much more. Keep an eye out for A Trick of Light, which debuted as an audiobook original and will be published as a full-length novel in hardcover by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on September 17th. “Storytelling is so important because it creates sense out of the chaos.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by BJ Siasoco '07. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. The mentoring website mentioned by BJ during the episode is CUeLINKS. You can join today at cuelinks.cornell.edu. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Imagine turning a hobby into a successful business and your full-time job. Sounds amazing, right? Get inspired as we talk to Katie Bartels ’06, jewelry designer and owner of her eponymous brand Katie Bartels. Starting through Etsy, her colorful pieces gained traction and have led her to opportunities like curating the Edward Metzger Gem Collection at Cornell’s very own Johnson Museum. Tune in and let’s talk diamonds! “There have definitely been a lot of low moments, which make the high moments wonderful, and as I’ve grown, I’ve tried to always stay humble and grateful for everything.”  Read the episode transcript. Hosted by BJ Siasoco '07. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. This episode was recorded 3/12/20. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Diversity. Inclusion. Sustainability. What do they really mean and how do they intersect? Listen in as we chat with Kamillah Knight ’13, MPA ’15 about her goal to change the way people look at and interact with the environment. As a leader at Unilever, Kamillah advocates for corporate responsibility and credits her time at Cornell for turning a passion into a career. And did we mention she’s currently pursuing her third degree from Cornell? Let’s Go Red! “I fell in love with, honestly, the diversity of all the students, because I truly do believe that you should learn not only in the classroom, but outside of the classroom. And I remember telling my mom right then this is the school I’m going to go to.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by BJ Siasoco '07. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Admit it. We are consumers and We. Love. Stuff. But what happens when we’re done with it? Arthur Huang ’02 founded his company Miniwiz to turn your trash and recyclables into resources for the future. Listen to his chat with host BJ Siasoco ’07 as he reflects on his time at  Cornell, his advice for fellow architects, and his partnership with Jackie Chan. Yes, that Jackie Chan. "We need to change the dialogue from the very top." *If you're sensitive to strong language, please note that there is swearing in this episode. Read the episode transcript.  Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Pulitzer Prize winner? Check. Reporter for the LA Times? Check. Cornellian? Check! Tune in as we chat with Molly O’Toole ’09 about her award-winning work on the “Out Crowd” podcast--investigating the Trump administration’s policy on asylum officers and asylum seekers. Joined by host BJ Siasoco ’07, we dig into her career, her thoughts on media in society, and of course, her love for Cornell. “I feel like I tricked someone somewhere where I get this job that’s sort of just endlessly fun and I’m never bored.” *If you're sensitive to strong language, please note that there is swearing in this episode. Episode photo of Molly by Foreign Policy. Read the episode transcript.  Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

This is not your typical "meet the host" episode. What was supposed to be a 5-10 minute mini episode turned into a 25 minute epic (edited down from over 40 minutes) with a fake out ending and a fun conversation between two old friends about podcast surprises, people who inspire us, outlooks on life, and more. Read the episode transcript. Created, produced, and hosted by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

We're so excited to bring you brand new episodes of Fresh from the Hill starting May 13! In the meantime, catch up on past episodes and stay up-to-date on all of Cornell Alumni Affairs digital offerings at our Connect Online website. Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Tune in to a fascinating discussion with Ben Ortiz, Assistant Curator for the Cornell Hip Hop collection. Why are musical archives important? How does Cornell’s collection partner with the likes of HBO, Neflix, and the New York Times? Learn more as host Juliana Garcia ’14 dissects Ben’s work in and outside of the office. “Being a lifelong hip hop nerd is not something I would ever thought would ever result in a career.” Learn more about the Cornell Hip Hop Collection at preservinghiphop.org. To contact Ben, email him at ben.ortiz@cornell.edu. Read the episode transcript. Episode recorded at the Language Resource Center on Cornell's Ithaca Campus in September of 2019. Comedy drum hit by Dan Collins. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

During this time of crisis and uncertainty, we lean on our local communities for support. Fresh from the Hill host Juliana Garcia ’14 is doing her part as an active member of Mutual Aid Tompkins - a grassroots organization responding to community needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in as she talks to our producer, Amanda Massa about how to organize, identify existing resources, and gain support. Interested in getting involved in your local community? Visit COVID-19 Mutual Aid USA. Stay home and stay safe, everyone! “I feel like this is one of those points where if I looked back 10 years from now I would be really upset with myself if I didn’t do anything.” Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Tune in as we talk to Alina Kim SHA ’03, owner and operator of Ithaca’s premier karaoke bar. Alina chats with host Juliana Garcia ’14 about her entrepreneurial spirit and the science behind karaoke and how it brings people together. “On certain nights when karaoke is really lively ... it’s like this positive energy that you can almost soak in.” Read the episode transcript. Episode recorded at the Language Resource Center on Cornell's Ithaca Campus. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University. This episode was recorded in October, 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hockey is Topher Scott’s life. When an injury in high school forced him to look outside the Big 10, he found himself at Cornell, a serendipitous twist of fate. Topher's Cornell experience has since shaped his life in almost every facet, from meeting his wife on campus, to assistant coaching the Cornell men's hockey team for five years, to remaining in upstate NY to raise his young family and pursue numerous hockey-related endeavors. Listen in as Topher chats with Juliana Garcia about playing on a championship Cornell Hockey team, what he loves about coaching, why he's an advocate for fighting in hockey, and much more. “It was an amazing experience for sure. Playing in front of a sold out crowd pretty much every night and hockey is such a big deal, not just at Cornell but the whole Ithaca area … I still kind of get goosebumps even thinking about it.” Check out Topher's podcast and hockey development website at https://thehockeythinktank.com/. Read the episode transcript. Episode recorded at the Language Resource Center on Cornell's Ithaca Campus. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

After completing a landscape architecture degree at Cornell in 2001, Chris Merkley quickly discovered he actually wanted to pursue a career in music. Chris has performed over a thousand shows from the streets of Paris to venues through out Europe and across the United States. He has released nine albums with a variety of groups which include the song writing duo Merkley & Morgan, his high octane Bluegrass and Country Blues globetrotting band The Crooners, and the swampy blues rock trio of Digger Jones.   Listen in as Chris chats with Juliana Garcia '14 about a new music venue he's building on Main Street in Cortland, made possible by a $10M grant from NYS for downtown revitalization. You'll hear about how his Cornell degree and connections are helping him in this new venture and how bringing people together through music is one of the driving forces in his life. “More and more I realize just how important it is to bring people together.” Learn more about Chris's music career, his record company Old Boy Records, and The After School Special (a school bus he's transforming into an eco-minded tour bus and recording studio) on his website https://chrismerkley.com/.  Read the episode transcript. Episode recorded at the Language Resource Center on Cornell's Ithaca Campus. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Andrea Savage '94 is a comedic actress, writer, director and producer. Andrea created the hit television show, I'm Sorry, which is currently in production on season 3.  As an actress on television, Andrea has starred as President Laura Montez on HBO’s Veep, Helen Basch on Showtime’s Episodes, Vivian Stoll on CW’s iZombie, and as Rhonda on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Andrea has also been featured in The League, Modern Family, House of Lies, and The Kroll Show. On the film side, Andrea has starred in Stepbrothers, The House, Sleeping with Other People, Dinner for Schmucks, Life Happens, You're Not You and Summer ’03. As a creator/writer/producer, Andrea has developed pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, Comedy Central, etc. Savage hails from stand-up and the legendary Groundlings Theater. Tune in to this incredibly fun and energetic episode of Fresh from the Hill where host Juliana Garcia '14 chats with Andrea about show business, motherhood, and her own podcast called Andrea Savage: A Grown-Up Woman #buttholes.  “I don’t know if [comedy] is any more difficult than anything else that you would do in the industry if it’s something that naturally comes to you. I would say one difficulty is often, you don’t get to shepherd a joke from beginning to end and that can be frustrating. Right now on my show I do get to, but often if you’re writing comedy, you don’t get to be there on set when it’s performed, you don’t get to direct it, and then you don’t get to edit it. Or, someone else wrote a joke that you wish it was a little different. And jokes really have beginning, middle, and ends in terms of their process, in terms of the writing, the performance, and then the edit. And when there’s too many people involved in that one joke’s journey, a lot can get lost in the translation.” *If you're sensitive to strong language, please note that there is swearing in this episode.  Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Meet our next host of Fresh from the Hill! Juliana Garcia is a 2014 graduate of the Industrial and Labor Relations. It's time to get acquainted as she'll be hosting the next five episodes of Fresh from the Hill! Hear about why she picked Cornell and how the transition to upstate NY from Dallas, TX was, what made her decide to remain in the area after graduation, and who you'll be hearing her interview in her series of episodes! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and rate Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians wherever you listen to podcasts.  Read the episode transcript. Hosted, created, and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Check out this very special cross-over episode of Fresh from the Hill, originally featured on Lou Diamond's podcast Thrive LOUD! Kathryn Boor is the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Since 2010 She has been responsible for developing and implementing the strategic direction of the college, with over 360 faculty, 3,700 undergraduate students and 1000 graduate students. Under her leadership, Cornell CALS is consistently recognized as one of the top global universities in agricultural – Plant and food sciences. She is highly decorated with awards and honors within her field however, it’s her warm smile and caring personality to help everyone around her — that shines brightest …  which is why she is featured on Thrive LOUD in this episode. Kathryn Boor connects with Lou Diamond '92 and shares her mission to rethink about the way we learn and find ways to save the planet. Read the episode transcript. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Psst! We have a holiday treat for you! In this short bonus episode, we’ve got a great story and some sound advice for the new year. Thanks for listening and we’ll see you in 2020! Featuring: Lou Diamond '92 Aaron Kominos-Smith '04 Alex Zalben '99 Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

How does your space feel? How could it work better for you? On this episode of Fresh from the Hill, hear how Eden Brachot ’15 used her Cornell degree to become a Design Strategist at HLW, an international design and architecture firm. Brachot helps companies create workspaces that evoke both feeling and functionality. Tune in for this lively discussion with host Lou Diamond ’92 and start looking at your space from a new lens. “What does cozy look like? You have an experience but, if you think about what you saw or what you heard or what people were doing around you that made you feel this way – that was what I was interested in.” Email Eden at evb7@cornell.edu, find her on Instagram @alwayseden or on LinkedIN. Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Kyle Scott ’11 is currently Head of Product & Production at Serhant Media Group, Ryan Serhant's media company. At the time of this interview Kyle was a producer/editor and content strategist with NBC News. Kyle stays connected to Cornell through the CALS Alumni Association and WVBR. Let Kyle captivate you in this interview with host Lou Diamond '92. He'll talk about launching the lifestyle video vertical "BETTER," how in media it's paramount to know and understand your audience, the place for targeted content in today's modern world, what he plans to do with his MBA, and much more.  “People right now are looking for inspirational content … [people] are looking for somewhere to go in order to feel good about themselves” Check out Kyle on Instagram @KyleScottOriginal and at his website, https://www.kylescott.com/. Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Hockey player. Full-time student at Cornell. Olympian. Dive into a discussion with gold medalist Brianne Jenner ’15 about managing the dual life of college student and accomplished athlete on this episode of Fresh From the Hill.  “Right away Cornell let’s you know that you don’t have everything figured out.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Yasmin Alameddine '16. Additional audio assistance from Michael Bell and Samuel B. Lupowitz. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Halloween is tomorrow and you know what that means?? Our special Cornell ghost stories episode is here! Listen in as we hear spooky Cornell stories from four Cornellians: Jacob Sackett '15, Marie Ceske '20, Subashiny Gengatharan '13, and Garrett Hastings '19.  For more information about the student group "Scare Me," please email their current president Eliza at ebf43@cornell.edu.  Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa, amanda.massa@cornell.edu. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jeanne Hwang Lam ’04 wants to read your story. Her company, Wattpad, has created a network for users to read, write, and share stories within a platform of 80 million readers. Join host Yasmin Alameddine ’16 as she chats with Jeanne about her path at Cornell and how it led to Wattpad. “If you know there’s something else you want to do, just go do that. And it doesn’t have to be the right thing, it just has to be better than what you’re currently doing.” From Accenture to business school, Jeanne reminds us that not all routes in life are direct, but the Cornell community provides support with every turn. Don’t miss out on this inspiring interview! Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, you'll hear from Jordan Pares-Kane '18, a Resident Naturalist with the University of Georgia Costa Rica in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica. Hear about Jordan's focus of study and how it relates to her work in sustainability today, how she decided to take a gap year after college to focus on travel and changing the world (and her advice to others who want to do the same), and her interest in disaster relief and how she contributed towards relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Also learn about how her involvement with Engaged Cornell afforded her a lot of the opportunities she received at Cornell and beyond.  “For a lot of my studies we would focus a lot on the environmental aspects of sustainability, and although that’s important, I think it’s really important to focus on social sustainability, because often it’s not focused on … it’s just something that was really emphasized during my program and just being able to see firsthand some of the disparities that different communities were facing because of environmental issues just really kind of inspired me to learn more about it.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Yasmin Alameddine '16, https://www.wittypod.com/. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Michael Charles is an American Indian scientist from the Navajo Nation pursuing a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The Ohio State University with research interest in bringing ecosystems into the design and decision-making of technical systems while exploring how to use academic research to impact social, political, and ethical issues. Whether it’s through his indigenous background, sports, music, his studies, or his friends, Michael has embraced the power of community throughout his life. It's something that helped him transition from a graduating high school class of 18 to Cornell, and eventually to a PhD program at The Ohio State University. Listen in as Michael chats with his friend and classmate Yasmin Alameddine '16 about balancing extra curriculars with a challenging major, how one of the first languages he heard on campus was Diné (Navajo), and his involvement in AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) and NAICCO (Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio), which led to his participation in the UN Climate Talks.  "The first reason I ever even started getting into this work was sitting at my desk in Columbus, Ohio, my first year of my PhD and watching things unfold at Standing Rock . . . there were a lot of people able to be there and long term camp out and show their support for that indigenous community . . . it was really at an international scale of people who were coming and staying at that camp . . . I felt very, not necessarily trapped, but I just couldn’t figure out what my role was as an indigenous person in sustainability, very concerned about climate change and the impacts on our peoples . . . I think I was still trying to figure out what could be my role and how can I make change in this issue." Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Nina Coutinho is a Toronto native currently working as a Senior Product Manager at Shopify. Nina's path was anything but linear after graduating from Cornell in 2008 and she wants recent grads to know that they don't need to know exactly what they want to do right out of college. Hear Nina's fascinating conversation with host Yasmin Alameddine '16 as they talk about Nina's meandering path, how she was a "serial joiner" at Cornell, the number of careers she's had since graduation, how her first Cornell experience was getting ready for a wedding in the crypt of Sage Chapel, and much more.  “If you are a naturally curious person, you can find interesting things in so many different industries. I think you shouldn’t be afraid of that, because as long as you are paying your bills and you are learning something and you feel like you’re expanding your mind and you’re challenging yourself, I’d say don’t be afraid of taking a total risk on a totally new field.”  Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

We're on to season two of Fresh from the Hill and that means new episodes, new stories, and of course new hosts! On this mini-episode you'll be introduced to new host Yasmin Alameddine, class of 2016. Hear about Yasmin's best classes and experiences at Cornell as well as her favorite campus spot and what she's up to today.  Stay tuned this season of Fresh from the Hill to hear more from Yasmin and the amazing Cornellians she'll interview and also check out her own podcast WITTY: Women in Tech Talk to Yaz.  Read the episode transcript. Hosted, created, and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

We're opening up season two of Fresh from the Hill with a very special bonus episode featuring Cornell Club NYC General Manager Craig Lasnier. Listen in as Craig sits down with host Lou Diamond '92 to discuss the Club's history, present, and future, what special offerings they afford Young Alumni and recent grads, how the Club has aided alumni in times of disaster and tragedy, what notable Cornell alumni come through the club, and how it's a very special place for Cornellians right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. As Craig says, "There’s a Cornellian in every facet of life," and "we’re family and we want people to feel like family." Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

 This week on Fresh from the Hill, you'll hear clips from the episodes listed below. If you haven't already listened to those episodes in their entirety, we recommend you go back and take a listen! It will be well worth your time.  Episode 13: Meet Aaron Kominos-Smith '04 Episode 14: Making Something Beautiful From a Pile of Dirt - Justin Kondrat '14 Episode 15: The Value of People - Julio Casado '08 Episode 16: The Business of Broadway - Dana Lerner '14 Episode 17: Empowering Podcast Creators - Nir Zicherman '08 Episode 18: The Lucky Break - Ritu Raman '12 Read the episode transcript. Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians was created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

This week on Fresh from the Hill, you'll hear clips from the episodes listed below. If you haven't already listened to those episodes in their entirety, we recommend you go back and take a listen! It will be well worth your time.  Episode 7: Meet Lou Diamond '92 Episode 8: Little Sister - Irene Li '12 Episode 9: I Just Need a Beer - Jack Mason '11 Episode 10: People are the X Factor - Kia Albertson Rogers '13 Episode 11: Pathways - Becky Katz '09 Episode 12: Connecting Artists to Fans... from WVBR to SiriusXM to Spotify - Jordan Gremli '08 Episode 19: Second Chances - Darnell Epps '19 Read the episode transcript. Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians was created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

For the next three weeks, we'll be bringing you the best moments from season one of Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians.  In this episode, you'll hear clips from the episodes listed below. If you haven't already listened to those episodes in their entirety, we recommend you go back and take a listen! It will be well worth your time.  Episode 1 (trailer): Introducing Fresh from the Hill - Alex Zalben '99 Episode 2: Find Your North Star - Svante Myrick '09 Episode 3: Take the Plunge - Stephen Hall '06 Episode 4: Who Made Your Beats for You - Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo '08, MA '15, PhD '19 Episode 5: Why are you Trying to Study the Magic that is Love - Dr. Marisa Cohen '06 Episode 6: It Doesn't Get Old - Meghan Dubyak '04 Read the episode transcript.  Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians was created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

From the Brooklyn housing projects, to private Catholic School, to a near 17-year incarceration at Five Points Correctional Facility, to Cornell University, Darnell Epps '19 is not your typical Cornell Senior.  Hear Darnell's fascinating and inspirational story about taking the wrong path in life, lessons learned, and coming out the other side. “One thing that struck me deep was seeing the pain… When I walked in the courtroom and I would see a packed courtroom and I would see families on both sides, feeling pain. I would see the tears in my mother’s eyes, the embarrassment that I caused her, the shame that I brought. She was a New York City Police Officer, but yet had to explain to her colleagues that her two sons were incarcerated for murder. And she was at trial every day. She stuck by me. She came up on the visit practically every month to see Darrell and I. It was that. It was witnessing that. It was seeing that. That really brought me face-to-face with the need to ultimately become a responsible adult and to break out of this way of thinking that seemed to dominate my teenage years.”  Check out Darnell's Op Ed in the New York Times. Read the Episode transcript. Hosted by Lou Diamond '92. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.     Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Ritu Raman is an engineer, writer, and educator with a passion for introducing bio-hybrid materials into the toolbox of every inventor. She grew up in India, Kenya, and the United States and has learned to appreciate and thrive in diverse and dynamic environments. Her life experiences have shown her that technical innovation can drive positive social change, and this inspires her to help democratize and diversify STEM education around the world. Ritu is currently a L’Oréal USA postdoctoral fellow in the renowned Langer Lab at MIT and a member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2018.  Listen in as Ritu chats with Aaron Kominos-Smith about how she navigated the US college process and learned "the Ivy League is a good thing," how she originally picked Cornell because of her aspirations to be an astronaut, how her successes in life not only resulted from her hard work but also some luck, and what she's currently working on at MIT. Check out WiSDM (Women in STEM Database at MIT), which Ritu mentions at the end of the episode at http://wisdm.mit.edu/.  “We all get value out of something when we see that it impacts other people” Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.   Episode transcribed by Stephanie Watt '15  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Nir Zicherman '08 is the Co-Founder and CTO of Anchor, the easiest way ever to make a podcast, 100% for free. Previously, Nir ran server engineering at Aviary, where he built back-end systems to scale to tens of millions of monthly users until Aviary's acquisition by Adobe in 2014.  In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, hear about Nir's journey as a Government major at Cornell, to NYU Law, to passing the bar, to finding his first job in programming (yes, you read that right). Nir believes in teaching yourself the things that you're interested in, which is what led him to a career in programming. Learn how Nir met his co-founder and decided to start Anchor, a company that's revolutionizing the world of podcasting in all facets: hosting, recording, distributing, editing, and monetizing.  “With Anchor, we have discovered that there’s so much interesting content that can be created when you put the tools in the hands of people who have really interesting ideas, but historically haven’t been empowered to actually make those ideas come to life.” You don't have to be Joe Rogan to be successful in podcasting - visit  https://anchor.fm/ to get started today! Read the episode transcript.  Episode recorded at Anchor studios in NYC. Hosted by Aaron Kominos-Smith '04. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Nicole Svonavec.       *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Dana M. Lerner '14 is a Tony-nominated theater producer and entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Red Pelican Creative, LLC a social media consulting and management agency providing strategic advice and management consulting on social media, brand enhancement and development primarily in the live entertainment space .   In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, Dana sits down with host Aaron Kominos-Smith '04 to chat about what life as a theater major at Cornell was like, how to get into the business side of theater, how Hamilton is changing the game in ticketing and subscription models, what it takes to be a Broadway producer, and how she got involved with the Tony-nominated show Indecent. Also hear about the numerous ways Dana stays involved with Cornell in her very limited free time! Learn more about Dana and Red Pelican Creative at  https://officialdml.com/ and https://redpelicancreative.com/.   Read the episode transcript.  Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.      *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Julio Casado '08 studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, received a Master’s degree in Management from the Harvard University Extension School, and is a 2018 Fellow of the New Leaders Council. He was born in Dominican Republic, grew up in Harlem, and is proud to call the Bronx home. Hear about how Julio's experience at Cornell in the ILR school directly launched him into a career in the labor relations and HR world, and how the power of the Cornell network helped him to get where he is today. Learn about the the different entrepreneurial paths he's pursued since graduation and how he currently consults in talent management and fundraising with a focus on advancing social impact organizations as well as being the Co-Founder of Smart Professions, which provides talented freelancers skills training and infrastructure support critical to their personal and professional growth. Additionally, Julio serves as the President of La Unidad Latina Foundation, a non-profit organization that propels students dedicated to advancing the Latino community from high school to college graduation and beyond. Together with the Alpha Chapter of Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc., LULF established the Latino Living Center endowment fund to support the Program House and cultural events for Cornell's Latino community. Julio previously served as a Business Operations Manager at a Bronx, NY middle school and as a Human Capital consultant. Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.     *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Justin Kondrat '14 is an inspiring alumnus who defeated all odds to go to his dream school, Cornell University. In this episode, host Aaron Kominos-Smith talks with Justin about his intense passion for horticulture and how Cornell helped him achieve his dream of working as a  horticulturist. Hear about Justin's journey to Cornell as a first-generation college student who grew up in a low income household and was diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age. Despite these limitations, Justin was always determined to go to Cornell. He earned his associates degree in horticulture production at SUNY Morrisville and then transferred to Schenectady County Community College to get his chemistry credits out of the way. He always knew in his heart that Cornell was where he was meant to be, and he was accepted after he finished his courses at Schenectady County Community College. In 2014 he graduated from the School of Integrative Plant Science.  Justin currently is a horticulturist within the Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection, Washington, D.C. In his free time, he leads community-based installations focused on connecting people with plants and serves as an advocate for person with learning disabilities. Most recently he produced The Pansy Project, Washington, D.C. This project was an extension of U.K. Artist, Paul Harfleet's work of highlighting the issues surrounding homophobia by planting an individual pansy at an identified site of a homophobic act. This gentle artwork and planting promotes discussion, invites dialogue and offers the opportunity for municipalities to publicly support the fight against discrimination in all its forms. This project engages the LGBTQ+ communities by the uses a pansy flower. The pansy is the ideal flower given associations with its name, but pansy flowers are hearty and easy to grow with its inherent, striking beauty:  “No matter how much it’s knocked down with the ice and the snow it always comes back up with a smiling face. It always shows that face proudly.”  At Cornell, Justin led ROOTED at Cornell: a living community art installation designed to actively engage students. Justin believes that horticulture is a medium of inclusion where all may find belonging. He has devoted his life to catalyzing change through horticulture. “Plants have the power to help us transcend limitations that we place upon others and ourselves. Horticulture naturally invokes inclusion and invites all to feel welcome.”  Read the Episode Transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.     Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Meet our third and final host for season one of Fresh from the Hill! Learn about Aaron's background at Cornell, how his time in the Whistling Shrimp Improv group inspired him to leave his job as an architect and pursue a job in standup comedy, and what's the first thing that comes to his mind when he hears the word "Cornell." Find out more about Aaron. Read the Episode Transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.    Episode transcribed by Cait Collins.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jordan Gremli graduated from Cornell University in 2008 with a Bachelor's Degree in Atmospheric Science, but spent most of his time as an undergraduate at WVBR-FM, the school's independent, student-run commercial radio station. He is currently Head of Artist & Fan Development at Spotify. In this role, he manages a team responsible for building programs and tools that help artists build their audiences by connecting them with the right fans throughout every step of the artist development process. This includes developing and running Fans First, Spotify's fan reward program. Hear about how Jordan's aspirations changed from becoming a meteorologist to working in music and how his extracurricular involvements led to that decision. Also learn about how Jordan stays connected to Cornell, how Spotify has grown and remained constant over his 7-year tenure there, what he does to enhance the user and artist experiences,  and how to hear what he's currently listening to through his Top Ten of the Week playlist. Read the Episode Transcript. Hosted by Lou Diamond '92. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.    Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Becky Katz '09 is currently a Robert Bosch Fellow, a prestige program that accepts 15 professionals and provides professional development in Germany. Before her move to Germany, she was the City of Atlanta’s first Chief Bicycle Officer. In this role she worked across city and state departments and with the public to make Atlanta safer, easier and better by bike. Her main initiatives included launching and overseeing the Relay Bike share system, increasing the city's bikeway mileage through the Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond/TSPLOST and other capital programs and leading Cycle Atlanta planning study.  In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, Becky will talk with host Lou Diamond '92 about the various pathways she took after graduating from Cornell with a degree in environmental engineering and what she's up to today. Hear about her interest in the overlap of engineering and communities, how at the end of the day all jobs are about networking and having real authentic relationships, the role of women in engineering and the challenges they face in a male-dominated industry, and how easy it is to find Cornellians anywhere in the world! Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.   Episode transcribed by Cait Collins.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Kia Albertson-Rogers '13 (Kia Orion) is a Philadelphia based singer-songwriter performing soulful, electronic, and R&B music. Graduating from Cornell in 2014, Kia spent a brief period in the music industry before getting involved with non-profit work. With a background in hip-hop and jazz, he is focused on creating songs that resonate with listeners in a way that is both energetic and emotional. His main weapons are Ableton Live and piano. He recently moved to Thailand in order to pursue music full time, but will always have a place in his heart for Ithaca. Take a listen as Kia chats with host Lou Diamond '92 about life, finding oneself, making meaningful connections, his music, and what went into creating the intro and outro music to this podcast. Buckle up - this one is a fun ride that we think you'll enjoy! kia@orionbeats.com. https://www.orionbeats.com/. https://soundcloud.com/kiaorion. Follow on social @kiaorion. Read the episode transcript. Podcast created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.  Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jack Mason, Master Sommelier at the Pappas Bros. Steakhouse Houston Downtown and Galleria locations, achieved MS status at the very young age of 27 and is one of the youngest to do so. He is one of only 9 esteemed Master Sommeliers currently in the state of Texas and one of 144 Master Sommeliers in the United States.  Jack Mason has been featured in Forbes’s annual “30 Under 30” list of outstanding young professionals nationwide, Zagat’s “30 Under 30” list in New York City as was named Wine & Spirits “Best New Sommelier 2015.” He was also featured in the series “Uncorked” on the Esquire Network that followed his journey to receiving his MS certification.  Hear Jack chat with host Lou Diamond about what it took to get into Cornell's Hotel School after being denied the first time he applied, how being a transfer student gave him more of a focus, what made him decide to become a Master Sommelier, how his taste in wine has changed over time, the role religion plays in his life and how it helps him thrive, his future aspirations, and his advice for young people looking to pursue a career in hospitality or the wine industry.  Episode photo of Jack by Alice Gao. Read the Episode Transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.  Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Irene Li '12 operates Mei Mei Street Kitchen & Mei Mei Restaurant in Boston, where her work centers around ethical sourcing and fair employment practices. Irene’s background of living on an organic farm, organizing for economic and social justice, and working the restaurant line inform the direction of her creative, farm-driven, Chinese-American menus. She is an Eater Young Gun winner, Zagat and Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree, and a four-time James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef semi-finalist.  Host Lou Diamond '92 chats with Irene about her pathway at Cornell, how she ended up opening up a food truck with her brother and sister and eventually a traditional brick and mortar restaurant in Boston. Learn about Irene's background, food, and inspirations as well as what makes her tick and how if you're in the restaurant business you should never skip leg day!  Learn more about Mei Mei Restaurant and Street Kitchen.  Read the Episode Transcript. Podcast created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Get get to know the host for our second series of Fresh from the Hill, Lou Diamond '92.  Learn what Lou's favorite classes were at Cornell and how they connect to what he does today, hear about how Lou helps people Thrive in their everyday lives, and get a little teaser on the episodes he'll be hosting.  Learn more about Lou.  Read the Episode transcript. Hosted, created, and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

On this episode of Fresh from the Hill, you'll hear from Meghan Dubyak '04, current chief spokesperson and Associate Vice President for Communications and Creative Services at Georgetown University and former Press Secretary to Vice President Joe Biden and Special Assistant to President Obama.  She'll chat with host Alex Zalben '99 about how she chose to work in political communications, her experiences outside the classroom and how they helped her grow at Cornell, her work with Steve Israel, Sherrod Brown, and Joe Biden, similarities (and differences) between work in politics and what's depicted on TV shows like "Scandal" and "The West Wing," how Joe Biden is the most "memeable" politician, her involvement in the “Cancer Moonshot” and “It’s on Us” campaigns, and her advice for young people wanting to get into government work.  Read the Episode transcript.  Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Cait Collins.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, Alex Zalben '99 talks to relationship expert Dr. Marisa Cohen about love, relationships, and her two primary lines of research: perceptions of first date success and consensual non-monogamy. Tune in to learn about how fighting can be important for a healthy relationship ("if you don't fight, chances are you're not being very honest"), how non-traditional relationships can really work out in the long run, why she's a proponent of online dating, how the Human Bonding course at Cornell inspired her to change career paths, what social media posting can mean about a relationship, and much more.  Learn more about Dr. Cohen.  Read the Episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo '08, MA '15 aka Sammus is an Ithaca-raised, Philadelphia-based rap artist, producer, and PhD student in the Department of Science & Technology Studies at Cornell University. Through her music she has spent the past several years cultivating a strong following of activists, hip hop heads, punks, and self-identified nerds and geeks, among others.  Enongo will talk about growing up in Ithaca and the different lenses she's seen Ithaca through, and how she never felt like she had to choose between her "Ithaca-ness" and "Cornell-ness." You'll also hear about her musical influences, her heroes, what role video games play in her music, sexism in the music industry, and what we can expect from her next project coming out in 2019. Not only that, Enongo is currently pursuing her PhD from Cornell (triple red!) and is exploring the politics of studios and community studios in low-income areas and how there's a need for studios in the public space.  Learn more about Sammus. Read the Episode Transcript. Hosted by Alex Zalben '99. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In our third episode of Fresh from the Hill, we hear from Stephen Hall, co-founder of Tinker Coffee Co., a specialty coffee roaster in Indianapolis, Indiana. Steve will talk about his time at Cornell in the Hotel School, starting out in the wine industry and how he eventually made the transition to the coffee world, the nuance of coffee flavors, how hospitality is connected to every aspect of business, and the best way to get a great cup of coffee (HINT: invest in a good grinder!)  Learn more about Tinker Coffee.  Read the Episode Transcript. Hosted by Alex Zalben '99. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Cait Collins.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

At age 24 Svante Myrick won a mayoral race to become the youngest mayor in Ithaca's history and the first mayor of African American heritage. In this exclusive interview, host Alex Zalben '99 and Svante will chat about Svante's childhood, the first time he visited Cornell ("I thought I had stumbled on something magic, and I was right"), the opioid crisis in Ithaca and his plan to combat it, his learnings from President Barack Obama, his advice to young people getting into politics, and much more.  Learn more about Svante.  Read the Episode Transcript.  Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. Episode transcribed by Cait Collins. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Check out the very first episode of Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians. In this episode you'll hear from one of the hosts of the podcast, Alex Zalben class of 1999. You'll learn a little about Alex's background, how the podcast came about, and what to expect from season 1. Learn more at http://alumni.cornell.edu/youngalumni.  Fresh from the Hill was created, recorded, and produced by Amanda Massa, Associate Director of Young Alumni Programs at Cornell. Additional support was provided by Margaux Neiderbach '99 and Robert McMahon. Music for Fresh from the Hill was written, produced, and recorded by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13. You can contact him at koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork for Fresh from the Hill was created by Chris Kelly. This episode was transcribed by Cait Collins, Associate Director of Student Programs at Cornell. Special thanks to: Karen Barnes, Jose Beduya MFA '04, Lisa Bushlow '91, Shannon Clute MA '01, PhD '03, Thomas Deneuville, Joe Lyons '98, Adam Murtland, Michael O'Neill, Stephanie Watt '15 ... and all the staff in Alumni Affairs and Development who helped make this podcast a reality. This podcast is hosted by Anchor, which was co-founded by Nir Zicherman '08. Learn more about Anchor at http://anchor.fm. Read the Episode Transcript. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.