The 92 Report

Show Notes:

Kristen Fowler Garland majored in East Asian Studies and Japanese at Harvard. She explains her decision to spend five years in Japan after graduation, including two years with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program. She describes her experience with the JET program, teaching conversational English in Toyama, and her efforts to learn Japanese. Kristen shares her job search in Japan, landing a position with a foreign subsidiary in Tokyo, where she learned to use Excel in Japanese.

Market Research and Field Hockey

Kristen recounts her work in market research, tracking the shift from mainframe computers to networked PCs in Japan. She discusses her involvement in the field hockey club in Toyama, which helped her practice Japanese and immerse in Japanese culture. Kristen reflects on the overwhelming population density of Tokyo and her decision to return to the United States after five years. She mentions connections developed at a hiking club in Tokyo, which led her to move to Alaska.

Moving to Alaska

Kristen describes her move to Alaska, where she found a job at REI and fell in love with the state's open and supportive community. She explains her transition from market research to starting her own digital agency, focusing on SEO and tourism marketing. Kristen highlights the impact of the internet on Alaska's tourism industry, reducing the cost of customer acquisition for small businesses. She shares her experience of growing her business, including working with clients in the tourism sector and adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tips for Travelers to Alaska

Kristen provides tips for traveling to Alaska, advising against cruises and recommending self-guided vacation packages. She discusses the different segments of travelers to Alaska, including fishermen, adventure travelers, and independent travelers. Kristen mentions the popularity of commercial fishing and the seasonal nature of tourism in Alaska. She reflects on her personal life, including her first marriage, raising a daughter in Alaska, and remarrying in 2022.

Community Dynamics and Professional Achievements

Kristen describes the close-knit and supportive community in Alaska, where people often know each other from various social and professional circles. She highlights the tourism industry's annual convention, which is a lively event where industry professionals let off steam and network. Kristen contrasts the community dynamics in Alaska with those in New England, noting the openness and lack of focus on professional achievements in Alaska.

Outdoor Activities in Alaska

She shares her love for outdoor activities in Alaska, including cross-country skiing, hiking, and mountain biking, and the accessibility of these activities in Anchorage. Kristen discusses her habit of moving her body every day, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and reducing pressure on herself.

She reflects on her transition from running to walking, which has provided her with new perspectives and aerobic benefits.

Harvard Reflections

Kristen shares memories from her time at Harvard, including a guest lecture by B.F. Skinner on operant conditioning and his baby box experiment. She recounts a guest lecture on the Cultural Revolution, which had a profound impact on her understanding of historical events and personal stories. Kristen explains her decision to major in Japanese studies, influenced by a high school professor and her interest in medieval Japan. She reflects on the personal and academic challenges she faced at Harvard, including a transition from applied math to Japanese studies.

Timestamps:

0:02: Kristen Fowler Garland's Journey to Japan

02:36: Market Research and Cultural Immersion in Japan

06:25: Life in Alaska and Business Ventures

10:40: Tourism in Alaska and Personal Life

15:20: Community and Outdoor Activities in Alaska

23:56: Personal Habits and College Memories

27:25: Career and Personal Growth

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/empowereddigitaltransformation/

Tonbo Digital Website: https://www.tonbodigital.com

*AI generated transcript and show notes.

Show Notes

Clare Scherrer outlines her career journey in three main chapters: 25 years at Goldman Sachs in Investment Banking, a number of years as a public company Chief Financial Officer, and her current role as a director on two public company boards of directors. Clare also shares her life immediately post-graduation, including getting married and completing McKinsey's Business Analyst program in New York City.

Love at First Blind Date

Clare recounts her initial post Harvard plan to join the Foreign Service and how a blind date led to her getting engaged and pivoting her career path. She describes the decisive nature of her engagement and how it shaped her life and career.

McKinsey, HBS, & the Pivot to Investment Banking

Clare reflects on her years at McKinsey, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and learning from her engagement managers. She also explains how her experience at McKinsey influenced her pivot to investment banking during her time at Harvard Business School.

Relationship Building in Investment Banking

Clare details her summer internship at Goldman Sachs and how it led to a 25-year career at the firm. She highlights the various roles she held at Goldman Sachs, including managing client relationships, co-leading a global team, and co-chairing the IPO committee. Clare discusses the skills that contributed to her success, including work ethic, critical thinking, and building trust. She emphasizes the importance of running toward problems and the value of trust in client and colleague relationships. Clare shares her approach to communication, stressing the need for over-communication and the importance of truly understanding how critical business decisions are influenced and taken.

Becoming CFO of Smiths Group

Clare recounts how a long time client approached her about the opportunity to become the CFO of Smiths Group, a global engineering company. She initially hesitated but was encouraged by her husband to embrace the opportunity. Clare describes the company's products and services when she was CFO; including energy efficiency, safety, and connectivity solutions. She highlights how much she valued the experience of being both the CFO and a board member, which gave her a deeper understanding of the importance of public company governance.

Pursuing a Portfolio of Board Directorships

Clare explains her decision to pursue a portfolio of board directorships after her tenure as CFO. She currently serves on the boards of Legrand, a leading electrical and digital infrastructure company; and Shell, an integrated energy company. Clare also discusses that she sets aside some time to coach next generation finance executives in the US, drawing parallels to her experience developing talent at Goldman Sachs. She emphasizes the importance of developing and retaining talent, even outside of a full-time executive role.

Returning to the U.S.

Clare describes her typical work week, including the imperative to stay current on relevant financial markets, industry, and company developments. She also shares her current plans to move back to the U.S. after 15 years in London. Clare also reflects on the importance of consciously investing in personal growth and adopting habits that challenge as well as encourage reflection.

Harvard Reflections

Clare recalls her most challenging course at Harvard, which was Russian, and how rewarding the class and learning process was, despite it not being directly linked to her career pursuits after Harvard. Clare also shares how energizing she finds her weekly tennis match. She encourages others to find a pursuit outside of work that is energizing and allows you to laugh at yourself and with others.

Timestamps:

04:02: First Date and Early Career Decisions

07:03: McKinsey, HBS, & the Pivot to Investment Banking

13:38: Relationship Building in Investment Banking

19:39: Transition to CFO Role

26:06: Board Membership and Coaching

28:45: Personal Growth

36:25: Most Memorable Course and Personal Interests

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-scherrer-651396b1/

*AI generated transcript and show notes.

Show Notes:

Mara Christine (formerly Mara Beverwyk) describes her circuitous path, starting with a job at the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) in Berkeley, followed by a role in the Oakland public library system. She pursued a library degree in Michigan and returned to New Mexico, where she worked as a school and research librarian. She transitioned to teaching at a Montessori elementary school, earning her certification, and later went to law school at age 46, becoming a prosecutor.

A Career Move to Law

Mara explains what drew her to the law, and she cites her midlife crisis and the political climate under Trump as major factors. Mara was inspired by ACLU attorneys helping people affected by the Muslim ban and wanted to expand her impact beyond her Montessori school. She continued teaching while attending law school, commuting long distances, and eventually decided to focus solely on law due to the wear and tear on her truck.

Passing the Bar and Working at a Nonprofit

Mara describes her law school experience as energizing, with a supportive community and accessible professors. She initially focused on environmental justice but faced challenges, including a stroke and a toxic workplace, leading her to a role in disaster law with New Mexico Legal Aid. Mara discusses the challenges of passing the bar exam, including multiple failed attempts. She eventually passed the bar in 2022 and initially worked with an environmental justice nonprofit but found it a toxic workplace.

From Disaster Law to District Attorney

Mara transitioned to disaster law with New Mexico Legal Aid, helping communities affected by wildfires and other climate-related issues. She was laid off after 10 months due to funding fears under the Trump administration and faced a difficult job search in her 50s. A long-time friend encouraged her to apply for a position as a district attorney, which she found fulfilling and aligned with her passion for public interest law.

The Expectations and Reality of being a Prosecutor

Mara explains her role as a district attorney, focusing on helping communities with issues like violence, addiction, and domestic violence. She enjoys being able to support victims and perpetrators through rehabilitation programs and community services. Mara describes the differences between her expectations of being a prosecutor and the reality, noting the importance of constitutional rights and evidence. She also mentions her role in teaching police officers how to write better criminal complaints and ensure legal procedures are followed. Mara reflects on the importance of being a compassionate prosecutor and the support she receives from her colleagues.

Life Lessons as a Librarian and Teacher

Will asks how Mara's work as a librarian has shaped her legal career. Mara highlights the importance of information seeking and disseminating, which she learned as a librarian and teacher. She emphasizes the value of connecting people with resources and information, a skill she still uses in her legal work. Mara credits her teaching experience, particularly with sixth graders, for building her confidence and public speaking skills. She shares a story about a former student now interning with her, illustrating the long-term impact of her teaching.

Knocking on Doors

When asked what is one thing she thinks everyone should try, Mara suggests knocking on doors for a cause, describing it as a humbling and educational experience. Mara reflects on the importance of community engagement and learning about neighborhoods and causes through door-to-door campaigning, and sShe shares a compliment she never forgot.

Harvard Reflections

Mara recalls her freshman English literature survey course and a course on genocide. She fondly remembers her English professor, Helen Vendler, and a professor who shared his personal experience of surviving the Holocaust, both of which had a lasting impact on her.

Timestamps:

00:02: Mara Christine's Career Journey

03:49: Transition from Librarian to Prosecutor

09:42: Challenges and Opportunities in Law School

13:58: Experiences as a District Attorney

19:56: Impact of Librarianship on Legal Career

21:52: Fun Questions and Reflections

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-christine-49b550266/

*AI generated transcript and show notes.

Show Notes:

Kiki (formerly Karen) Snyder shares her 35-year journey since her breakdown at Harvard, which landed her in restraints at McLean Hospital during exams in 1991. She discusses being misdiagnosed as severely bipolar, the 32 years she lost to toxic psychiatric medications, and the self she rediscovered.

"Karen was full of fear and anger. Karen wanted to speak to the manager. But Kiki's in charge now. I am the manager."

Learn more about her transformation on Instagram at @assignedkarenatbirth and at assignedkarenatbirth.com.

From Karen to Kiki

Kiki elaborates on her transformation from Karen to Kiki. A massage therapist specializing in Somatic Experiencing taught Kiki that our brains lie to us, our bodies know the truth. Kiki's body clearly told her it was finally time to leave the zip code she'd lived in for 50 years. She describes the upheaval of uprooting from Northern Virginia to coastal North Carolina after her mother's passing, and the impact of that change on her emotional well-being.

Facing Pain and Healing from Trauma

Kiki discusses the debilitating effects of the psychiatric medications she was on for 32 years and her work to taper off them. She describes the emotional numbness and exhaustion she experienced while on these medications. Kiki explains how getting off the medications allowed her to process trauma and emotions, leading to a significant personal transformation. She emphasizes the importance of sharing her story to help others who may be going through similar experiences.

A Career in Social Media

Kiki recounts her career in social media, including her role at AOL in the early days of the Internet. She describes her work at VeriSign, where she first discovered Web 2.0, which became social media. Her perseverance in the face of resistance resulted in the founding of VeriSign's social media program. Kiki shares her regret at not even considering the offer to relocate to Silicon Valley when the program she founded was moved there. She now realizes that her fear of not being strong enough was fueled by medications and years of being told she was fragile and sick. She discusses her subsequent role at the Federal Aviation Administration, where she founded their social media program.

Layoffs and Life Changes

Kiki shares her experience of being laid off from her dream job at a big ad agency on the same day she moved to coastal North Carolina in 2024. Her entire division was cut, an early wave of workers displaced by AI. She reflects on the impact of the layoff, leading to a significant life change.

Spirituality and Synchronicity

Kiki talks about her interest in spirituality, metaphysics, and Jung's concept of synchronicities. She talks about sharing her story with the world and the positive responses she has received from others. Kiki discusses her efforts to let go of control, a trait she inherited from her former self, Karen.

A Burner Phone and AI "Therapy"

Kiki shares her tips for beating her phone addiction. She installed the BePresent app, which helps her limit wasted time on social media. She recommends Claude, the AI chatbot she uses as a sounding board and where she worked through the grief and anger of losing three decades. And most importantly, a second phone. Every night the real phone stays in the kitchen and the "burner" comes to the bedroom, holding only music, an alarm, and the chatbot. Her advice to anyone trying to put their phone down: Get another phone!

Harvard Reflections

Kiki reminisces about her favorite classes at Harvard, including Irv DeVore's human behavioral biology class and Helen Vendler's poetry class. She shares her fascination with language and culture, particularly the unique language of Gen Z. Kiki discusses her plans to create new content by translating Shakespeare's sonnets into Gen Z slang. She expresses her excitement about learning and exploring new topics, including spirituality and metaphysics.

Timestamps: 04:40: Transformation from Karen to Kiki

08:31: Impact of Medications and Emotional Healing

12:43: Career in Social Media and Early Internet

17:07: Significant Moments in Social Media Career

21:23: Learning and Personal Growth

25:40: Current Life and Habits

30:06: Reflections on Harvard and Personal Interests

Links:

Instagram: @assignedkarenatbirth

Website: https://assignedkarenatbirth.com/

Show Notes:

Maya Browne recounts her senior year at Harvard, including writing her thesis "Idealizing Vision" which was about how magazine editors, photographers, and designers had shaped the ideal female form in the 20th century, and additionally another was an article for Essence magazine about eating disorders. It was the first article of its kind that drew data from women of color, and it won an award called the Excellence in Media Merit Award (EMMA).

Writing, Modeling, and Playing Violin

Maya describes her first job at Details magazine under James Truman, where she handled reader mail and sometimes made-up stories. She shares how she got her job at Conde Nast through a letter from Professor Martin Perez and a meeting with Andre Leon Talley in Paris. Maya describes her side job as a fit model and her transition to working for James Truman at Details. She recounts a call from Jonathan Newhouse offering her a job in London in sales, which she declined to pursue a career in editorial. She shares her involvement in the music industry, playing the violin in music videos and with various artists like James Brown and BB King.

Missed Opportunities and Film Experience

Maya discusses her move to Heart & Soul magazine, a fitness and beauty magazine for women of color. She describes her transition to the advertising business in San Francisco and her marriage to Peter Brattander. Maya recounts a missed opportunity to play with Nine Inch Nails at the MTV Awards and her later involvement in the film Ray. She shares her experience of fame and the attention she received after Ray won six Oscars. She talks about her involvement in the film industry and why she left it to go back to business school.

Philanthropy and Transitioning to Business School

Maya describes her mentorship at The Robin Hood Foundation, leading to her involvement in philanthropy and with Quogue Chamber Music. She talks about her work on the board of The Door, a nonprofit for runaway and homeless youth. Maya shares her current work as an educational consultant and her plans to help kids at The Door in the future. She discusses her involvement in the film Brother Versus Brother and her ongoing interest in supporting various projects.

Rituals, Relationships, and Resources

Maya updates on her current activities, including playing the violin, writing, and fitness. She shares her experience of meditating and journaling as part of her daily routine. Maya talks about interviewing the rising king of Hip Hop, Puffy Combs, and she recounts a recent experience at Bergdorf Goodman during the Knicks parade and the unexpected encounter with Basketball Wives. She reflects on the importance of rituals, relationships, and resources in her life.

Harvard Reflections

Maya found the majority of her courses and professors at Harvard hugely influential. She mentions Professor Martin Peretz and shares a memorable experience from a design class where she made up a story to avoid an F and played the violin instead. Maya talks about her current work with Brownstone as an educational consultant and her approach to helping students with college applications. She emphasizes the importance of early conversations about college goals and the sacrifices required for success.

Timestamps:

03:59: Early Career in Media and Music

34:43: Transition to Advertising and Film

35:08: Involvement in Philanthropy and Education

35:26: Current Activities and Reflections

38:32: Impact of Harvard and Career Highlights

Links:

Instagram: @iammayabrowne

Maya's Podcast, Stories from the Brink: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stories-from-the-brink/id1552888806

D'Angelo "Cruisin'" Video: https://youtu.be/JAfuUZRou7g?si=TmizL6CpKE1Ub3Lk

Brownstone Tutors: http://www.brownstonetutors.com/

Quogue Chamber Music: https://quoguechambermusic.org/

The Door: https://www.door.org/

Interview on Sean Combs: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/new-again-sean-puffy-p-diddy-puff-daddy-combs

James Brown Video: https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/all-in-the-family/umc.cmc.4knzr9b4kg7gvg0r8zl4dc57w?showId=umc.cmc.30wl2femq05e35uf85r3eks06

*AI generated transcript and show notes.

Show Notes:

Chana Gable Selmon explains she joined Harvard as a transfer student in 1990, overlapping two years with the class of 1992. She graduated in 1993 after completing science requirements due to her history concentration. Chana decided to go to medical school at Cornell, followed by an internship in Emergency Medicine at Bellevue NYU and residency at Harvard.

Commuting between Jerusalem and New Jersey

Chana had her first child in 2000 and continued working as an ER doctor. She describes her experience as a fourth-year resident at Brooklyn Hospital Center during 9/11. She later moved to the suburbs with her husband and had four children. Chana and her husband decided to move to Israel for international experience, despite the challenges of practicing medicine in a different language. She commuted between Jerusalem and New Jersey for work until Covid, when she started working in a clinic in the West Bank.

Working in the West Bank

Chana describes her work in the West Bank as a general practitioner, dealing with patients from diverse backgrounds. She emphasizes the importance of understanding different perspectives and the complexity of the Israel-Palestine situation. She shares her personal connection to the region through her family history and experiences.

A Complex Cultural Heritage

Chana talks about her family's complex heritage, including her grandfather's Yemeni Arab background and her mother's Ashkenazi Jewish roots. She describes the impact of her family's history on her perspective and her desire to connect with different cultures. Chana discusses the challenges of raising her children in Israel and the importance of transmitting her cultural heritage. She highlights the importance of understanding the region's history and the impact of her family's experiences.

Cultural Differences and Challenges

Chana reflects on the cultural differences and challenges of living in the Middle East. She describes the warmth and support of people in the region, despite the chaotic environment. Chana discusses the practical considerations of living in Israel, including the impact of political instability. She expresses her pride in her children's dedication to public service and their ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds.

Media Misinformation and Solomonic Problem

Chana expresses her frustration with the misinformation spread through social media about the West Bank. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the small size and complexity of the region. Chana discusses the unsustainable nature of the current situation and the need for creative solutions. She calls for more informed discussions and less reliance on simplistic labels and slogans.

Harvard Reflections

Chana shares her experience as a transfer student from community college, facing opposition from her ultra-orthodox Jewish family. She describes the support she received from Professor Samuel Draper at Rockland Community College who helped her apply to Harvard. Chana mentions JJ Henkin at Harvard, and she discusses her involvement in the history department at Harvard and her participation in the curriculum committee. She also mentions CityStep with Trisha Perez Kennealy, and reflects on the impact of her Harvard education on her career and personal development.

A Lifelong Commitment

Chana reflects on her decision to stay in Israel despite the challenges and the support of her husband. She discusses the practical considerations of returning to the United States, including her children's education and her aging parents. Chana shares her ongoing interest in history and her commitment to lifelong learning. She expresses her willingness to connect with classmates and share her experiences.

Timestamps:

02:32: Balancing Family and Career

06:38: Life in Israel and the West Bank

08:57: Family Background and Cultural Identity

10:44: Challenges and Rewards of Living in the Middle East

34:44: Educational Journey and Harvard Experience

44:13: Impact of Social Media and Misunderstandings

44:30: Personal Reflections and Future Plans

Links:

Email: cselmon@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chana-gable-selmon-2643907

Show Notes:

Jenny Davidson describes her continued passion for literature, reading, and writing, her interest in primatology, adventures in Tanzania, and her new hobbies.

Form and Technique in Powerlifting

She details her fitness routine, including powerlifting, running, swimming, triathlon, and yoga. Jenny shares her experience with a longstanding injury affecting her ability to do high-volume aerobic training. Jenny explains the basics of powerlifting, distinguishing it from Olympic lifting. She describes her favorite lift, the deadlift, and the other two main lifts: squat and bench press. Jenny shares her powerlifting achievements, including her recent competitions and her current lifting numbers. She emphasizes the importance of proper form and technique in powerlifting.

Health and Community through Fitness

Jenny discusses the impact of her exercise routine on her mood and energy levels. She describes how exercise helps her maintain a schedule and provides a sense of community through fitness activities. Jenny shares her experience with yoga and how it has become a significant part of her life. She mentions her weekly private Pilates sessions for therapeutic purposes.

A Career in Literature

Jenny talks about her career in literature, starting with her graduate studies at Yale. She specializes in 18th-century British literature and has been teaching at Columbia for 25 years. She mentions several books, including Clarissa and Moby Dick. Jenny enjoys teaching a mix of introductory and specialized classes, including comparative European novels and single-author classes. She shares her enthusiasm for teaching complex literary texts and the unique challenges they present.

Recommended 18th Century Literature

Jenny recommends Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels and his other prose satires as essential reading. She highlights Frances Burney's novel Evelina and Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Jenny also recommends Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France. She mentions Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey as accessible entry points to 18th-century literature.

The Rise of Literacy

Jenny discusses the rise of literacy and popular print in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. She explains how books like Pamela by Richardson were shared among multiple readers, increasing their reach. Jenny notes the evidence of reading among both elite and working-class individuals. She highlights the importance of marginalia and letters in understanding the reading habits of the time.

Reading Habits

Jenny shares her unusual relationship with reading, being a very fast reader from a very early age. She describes her reading habits, including rereading books she teaches and reading modern novels for pleasure. Jenny mentions her book, Reading Style: A Life in Sentences, which explores her life as a reader. She reflects on the challenges of finding enough reading material during demanding times of the semester.

Primatology in Tanzania

Jenny discusses her recent trips to Tanzania and her interest in primatology and being influenced by Jane Goodall from a young age. She shares her experience learning Swahili and conducting oral history interviews with Tanzanian field assistants. Jenny plans to create an oral history digital repository at Columbia and potentially publish essays or a book on her findings. She describes her collaboration with a Tanzanian guide, Rama, and their efforts to revive a tree-planting education program.

AI in Humanities Education

Jenny discusses the potential and limitations of AI in humanities education. She expresses concerns about students using AI for assignments, viewing it as a form of cheating. Jenny shares her positive experience with using AI for transcription of oral history interviews. She emphasizes the importance of creating a quiet mind and immersive reading environments for deep learning.

Harvard Reflections

Jenny talks about classes with Barbara Johnson, Elaine Scarry, and Writing Narrative History with Simon Schama. She also mentions the class Judith Clara taught on political obligation, and a class called The Development of the Modern State taught by Stanley Hoffman, Peter Hall, and Tom Ertman.

Timestamps:

02:21: Powerlifting and Technique

07:45: Impact of Exercise on Personal Life

10:17: Career in Literature and Teaching

13:00: Recommended 18th-Century Literature

13:15: Reading Public in the 18th Century

26:45: Jenny's Reading Habits

29:09: Tanzania Research and Oral History

35:39: AI and Humanities Education

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/214744151893608/user/112738

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-davidson-a89a7b1b5

*AI generated transcript and show notes.

Show Notes

Teresa shares her background as a music major at Harvard, focusing on conducting. She discusses her decision to apply for the Michael C. Rockefeller Fellowship to study Indian classical music in India. Teresa describes her year in India, living with a family and studying North Indian classical music.

Exploring Indian Classical Music

Teresa explains her experience with the violin, which was introduced to Indian classical music by the Portuguese in the 1500s. She details the differences between Western tonal harmony and Indian classical music, including the use of a drone and melodic improvisation. Teresa describes her daily routine of practicing the violin and taking lessons in the Indian tradition. She mentions her journaling and pen pal correspondence with Rachel Berger who was in Zimbabwe at the same time.

Working at MIT

Teresa recounts her return to the U.S. and a phone call from Tod Machover at MIT, leading to her enrolment at MIT. She describes her work at MIT, inventing new technologies for music making, including a conductor's jacket with sensors. Teresa discusses her collaboration with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops, using the conductor's jacket in a concert. She explains the insights gained from the conductor's jacket, including the use of force and muscle tension in conducting gestures.

Working as a Freelance Music Technologist

Teresa shares her experience as a freelance music technologist and starting her own nonprofit organization. She describes her role as the first music technologist hired in a music department at the College of New Jersey. Teresa explains the different categories within music technology, including audio engineering, digital signal processing, and composition. She discusses the use of digital audio workstations (DAWs) for multi-track composition and recording. She talks about her book and the inspiration behind it.

Personal Habits and Wellness

Teresa shares her personal habit of taking regular walks in nature to maintain mental health. She reflects on the importance of wellness habits, especially during stressful times of the year. Teresa also discusses the importance of taking risks and making job changes in mid-career. She encourages others to pursue new opportunities and continue growing professionally.

Harvard Reflections

Teresa highlights the influence of professors like Graeme Boone and Jan Swafford on her career. She shares her appreciation for their support and mentorship throughout her academic journey. Teresa reflects on the impact of specific courses, and how it inspired her to go to India and her musical interests. She emphasizes the importance of personal connections with faculty members in fostering a love for music.

Music that Stands the Test of Time

Teresa discusses her personal music listening habits, focusing on classical music, jazz, and world music. She mentions her daughter's influence in introducing her to contemporary music. Teresa reflects on the diversity of her music playlists and her ongoing exploration of new genres. She emphasizes the timeless quality of great music and its role in her personal and professional life.

Timestamps:

02:39: Learning Indian Classical Music

06:48: Return to the U.S. and MIT

13:58: Teaching and Music Technology

19:57: Personal Projects and Publications

23:44: Impact of Technology on Music Education

28:16: Personal Habits and Wellness

30:30: Influential Professors and Courses

34:44: Personal Music Preferences

Links:

Teresa's Book (Constructing Music: Musical Explorations in Creative Coding) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0197669190?tag=oxacglobal-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

Oxford University Press website: https://academic.oup.com/book/55879

Academic Page at Stevens Institute of Technology: https://www.stevens.edu/profile/tnakra

*AI generated transcript and show notes

Show Notes:

Kim Goyette reflects on Michael Lim's early days at Harvard, starting with their time in Dorm Crew. They met in Lionel Hall and became friends, with Michael being a physics major and Kim a sociology major. Their relationship began tentatively in their sophomore year, with many ups and downs before they officially became a couple by graduation.

From Harvard to the University of MIchigan

After graduation, Michael went to the University of Michigan for his PhD in physics, while Kim went to Tulane University for her MA in sociology. They maintained their relationship during their separate graduate studies, visiting each other frequently. Eventually, they both ended up at the University of Michigan, where they completed their degrees. Kim shares the challenges and joys of their time in Ann Arbor, including the harsh winters and the support they provided each other.

A Move to Philadelphia

After graduation, Kim started her career at Temple University, while Michael became a postdoc at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). They got married in Washington, D.C., and planned to find a city where they could both work together. They had their first child , and Michael later moved to Philidelphia.

Teaching Physics in New Jersey

Michael became a postdoc at Bryn Mawr College and later a physics professor at Rowan University in New Jersey. He was dedicated to mentoring first-generation students and built a lab where he conducted experiments with students. Michael established a relationship with a lab in Singapore, bringing students there for summer research experiences. Kim highlights the impact Michael had on his students, many of whom went on to successful careers in physics, and attributed their success to Michael's mentorship and dedication.

Facing Cancer with Courage

Michael was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years before his death, at the age of 55. The diagnosis came after he experienced gastrointestinal troubles and jaundice. Kim and Michael sought multiple opinions and clinical trials, starting chemotherapy and trying various treatments.

Despite the aggressive nature of the cancer, Michael maintained a calm and scientific perspective, viewing his illness as part of natural processes. Michael approached his illness with equanimity, seeing it as part of the natural laws that govern the world. He lived his life without regrets, seizing opportunities and never deferring experiences. Kim shares that Michael was proud of his children and the impact he had on his students at Rowan University.

Pride in Mentorship

Michael's final year was marked by his participation in clinical trials and the eventual progression of his cancer. Michael's final days were spent on hospice, with Kim and their family preparing for his death. Kim reflects on the conversations they had, with Michael expressing gratitude for his life and the opportunities he had. Michael was proud of his work at Rowan and the students he mentored, many of whom had successful careers.

Harvard Reflections

Kim talks about Michael's role as a Big Brother and how he kept in touch with the boy he spent time with. She mentions how Michael was inspired by the challenge for physics.

Michael J. Lim Memorial Lab Scholarship at Rowan University

Kim shares stories of Michael's love for travel, snorkeling, and body surfing, as well as his appreciation for local cuisines. Michael's impact on his students and colleagues was significant, with many expressing gratitude for his mentorship. For all who want to support future students and contribute to Michael's legacy, Kim introduces the Michael J. Lim Memorial Lab Scholarship at Rowan University, established to support students working in a lab.

An Invitation to Michael's Celebration of Life

Kim has provided an invitation to Michael's Celebration of Life that takes place on Sunday, June 28, 2026, 1-4:30 pm, at Haverford College, located just 8 miles from Philadelphia.

Timestamps:

04:20: Career Beginnings and Family Life

05:45: Michael's Career at Rowan University

09:54: Michael's Diagnosis and Final Year

16:46: Michael's Scientific Perspective and Final Reflections

20:42: Michael's Legacy and Final Days

27:51: Michael's Impact and Memorial

Links:

Celebration of Life: https://canva.link/eaxs96ur97sncsm

The scholarship fund: https://share.remembermyjourney.com/public-memorials/EaXD4gpz

The Scholarship QR code: https://secure.rufoundation.org/s/1653/02-alumni/giving/interior.aspx?sid=1653&gid=2&pgid=4617&cid=7997&dids=1142&appealcode=PLBC

Show Notes:

Chuck Hughes talks about his role on the Harvard Hockey team, being intimidated by recruiting processes and obtaining his teaching certificate while at Harvard. He taught maths, science, and english at a high school. He earned a masters in political science at Boston College.

Working in Harvard Admissions

Chuck talks about his transition to Harvard Admissions in 1995, influenced by a friend's job offer in Stanford Admissions. He describes his experiences in admissions, including visits to remote areas like Alaska and interactions with diverse applicants. Chuck highlights his role in admissions, living on campus, and his interactions with notable students like BJ Novak. He reflects on the challenges and rewards of working at Harvard, including the financial constraints he faced despite his role.

Moving to Monster.com

Chuck discusses his move to Monster.com as a product manager, focusing on high school and college businesses. He shares his experience writing a book about college admissions, What It Really Takes to Get into the Ivy League & other highly selective colleges." At the time, he had not planned to go into education consulting, but the need was there, and Chuck founded his education consulting firm, Road to College, in 2003. The firm helps students navigate the college admissions process. He reflects on the personal and professional challenges of running his own business, including mentoring students and building long-lasting relationships.

The Harvard Admissions Process

Chuck shares insights into Harvard admissions and explains the difficulty of selecting a class from a large pool of applicants. He talks about changes that affect the process, such as the introduction of technological innovation, and applicants who qualify for financial aid. He mentions the importance of balancing various interests, including academic excellence, athletics, and social diversity, and he highlights the role of financial aid in admissions and the challenges of predicting the future success of applicants. Chuck emphasizes the importance of self-motivation and independence in applicants, rather than being overly influenced by helicopter parents.

Student Athletics at Harvard

When asked about Harvard's approach to athletics and the financial success of student-athletes, Chuck explains the challenges of maintaining Division I athletic programs while upholding academic standards. He shares his involvement with the Friends of Harvard Hockey and the financial support raised for the program. Chuck reflects on the balance between athletic success and academic excellence, emphasizing the need for special students to excel in both areas.

Balancing Family and Work

Chuck shares his personal journey, including his divorce, remarriage, and raising two daughters. He discusses the challenges of balancing work, family, and personal well-being, including his commitment to physical fitness. Chuck reflects on the importance of finding passion and purpose in life, despite the pressures of professional and personal responsibilities. He emphasizes the value of mentorship and relationships in guiding students through the college admissions process.

Navigating the College Admissions Process

Chuck provides advice for parents and students navigating the college admissions process. He emphasizes the importance of exploring personal interests and developing a clear vision for the future. Chuck discusses the need for intentionality in academic and extracurricular activities, balancing ambition with realistic goals. He highlights the role of mentors and advisors in supporting students through the admissions process.

A Focus on Education Consulting

Chuck describes his approach to education consulting, focusing on mentorship and personalized guidance. He emphasizes the importance of understanding each family's unique needs and goals. Chuck discusses the challenges of working with motivated students who may face rejection despite their efforts. He reflects on the satisfaction of helping students find success and achieve their academic and career aspirations.

Fundraising for Harvard Hockey

Chuck shares his ongoing involvement with Harvard Hockey, serving as the lead fundraiser for the program. He discusses the importance of alumni engagement and the role of donations in supporting the program. Chuck reflects on the challenges and rewards of working with student-athletes and maintaining connections with the university. He emphasizes the value of community and collaboration in achieving success in athletics and academics.

Harvard Reflections

Chuck mentions Psychology of Law with Ellsworth Fersch and Greg Nash.

Timestamps:

Transition to Monster.com and Education Consulting

06:00: Insights into Harvard Admissions

13:15: Harvard's Approach to Athletics and Financial Success

21:45: Chuck Hughes' Personal Journey and Entrepreneurial Ventures

27:12: Advice for Parents and Students

28:45: Approach to Education Consulting

34:30: Personal Development Habits

43:55: Harvard Reflections

Links:

Company website: www.roadtocollege.com

Show Notes:

Jessica Kerrigan (formerly Jessica McBee) shares that she applied for an internship with the American Symphony Orchestra League but didn't get it, leading her to work with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony. She moved to Iowa City to be with her boyfriend, Wade Kerrigan, who was in law school, and worked at American College Testing. Jessica got engaged, married, and moved to Kansas City, where she worked for Andrews McNeil Publishing as a contract administrator.

From Publishing to Nonprofit Work

Jessica describes her transition from publishing to nonprofit work. She took some time off to stay at home with her daughters when they were young. She started doing social media posts for her knitting club and a fellow knitter like her posts and asked her to do part-time social media marketing for Jackson County CASA. She now works in the fundraising department. Jessica explains the role of Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in representing children in foster care and advocating for their best interests. Jessica details the funding sources for CASA, including grant funding, state and county funding, and individual and corporate donations.

The Role of CASA Volunteers

Jessica elaborates on the role of CASA volunteers, who visit children in foster care regularly and report back to attorneys. She contrasts the resources of CASA with those of the state's children's divisions, highlighting the consistency and depth of CASA's advocacy. Jessica discusses the potential differences in recommendations between the state, the child's attorney, and the CASA advocate. She shares success stories of CASA's impact, including a young woman who graduated through an online program and a child who reunified with a parent and later got adopted by a grandmother.

Recruiting Volunteers

Jessica talks about the challenges of recruiting volunteers and the effectiveness of community outreach and storytelling in attracting them. She highlights the diverse profiles of CASA volunteers, including retirees, young people, active moms, former professionals, and attorneys. Jessica explains the support system for volunteers, including advocate supervisors who help with practical needs. She reflects on the increased need for volunteers as CASA takes on more cases and the importance of having volunteers to support the attorneys.

At Home in Kansas

Jessica shares how her understanding of the world has changed through her work with CASA, particularly in understanding the root causes of child abuse and neglect. She describes her experience as a stay-at-home mom and the various volunteer roles she took on, including teaching knitting classes. Jessica recounts a story from her time at a knitting store, emphasizing the joy of teaching and problem-solving for customers. She discusses her love for Kansas City, including its central location, sports teams, and local barbecue spots.

Personal Development and Family Responsibilities

Jessica talks about her commitment to exercising through the Bar Method, which has improved her strength, back pain, and mobility. She shares her hiking trips with college roommates and how they inspired her to get in better shape for future adventures. Jessica reflects on the importance of staying active and healthy, especially as her children have grown older. She mentions the challenges and joys of balancing personal development with family responsibilities.

Harvard Reflections

Jessica recalls her time at Harvard, including the Introduction to Russian Civilization class where she met her husband. She highlights a sophomore tutorial in history and literature with Bob Lamb and Mark Dolan, which taught her the value of a deep dive into complex texts. Jessica admits that her interest in history and literature has waned since graduation, but she still tries to keep up with some classmates' writing. She shares her current reading habits, focusing on shorter pieces in The New Yorker and other publications.

Final Thoughts

Jessica encourages listeners to connect with her on LinkedIn and to consider volunteering as a CASA advocate. She emphasizes the importance of meaningful volunteer opportunities and the support provided by CASA programs for volunteers. Jessica reflects on the lasting impact of her Harvard education and the value of deep engagement with challenging subjects.

Timestamps:

04:47: Transition to Nonprofit Work

07:27: Role and Impact of CASA

13:58: Challenges and Successes in Volunteer Recruitment

18:26: Personal Growth and Community Involvement

24:27: Health and Personal Development

27:44: Reflections on Harvard and Personal Interests

31:09: Connecting with Classmates and Volunteer Opportunities

Links:

CASA website: https://nationalcasagal.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-kerrigan-b5398811/

CASA program: CASAKC.org

Show Notes:

Ian McNeely talks about his academic path, including a PhD in History from the University of Michigan and a position in the Society of Fellows at Harvard. He met his wife at Harvard, and they both found work at the University of Oregon where they became professors. They raised a family and lived there for 24 years. In 2024, Ian moved to UNC Chapel Hill, where he continues as a professor of history and oversees undergraduate education.

The Society of Fellows

When asked about the Society of Fellows, Ian explains that he thought of it as a mystique during his undergraduate years. The Society was conceived in the 1930s as an alternative to the PhD, offering young men (later women) a three-year fellowship with no academic requirements. Ian attended lavish dinners and lunches with other fellows, including senior fellows from Harvard faculty. He met his wife at the Society, and the fellowship allowed him to convert his dissertation into a book, which was crucial for his tenure.

Exploring the History of Knowledge

Ian explains how he and his wife co-wrote a book on the history of knowledge, covering various institutions like libraries, monasteries, and universities. He describes the different definitions of knowledge across these institutions, from written debates in libraries to scientific experiments in laboratories. Ian emphasizes the importance of institutions in defining what counts as knowledge. He discusses the role of vernacular knowledge and how it has been institutionalized over time.

A Fellow's Activities

Ian talks about his activities as a fellow. He describes his monastic approach, focusing on conversations with people outside his field. Ian interacted with particle physicists, art historians, and other disciplines, which broadened his perspective. He bonded with his wife, who is a medieval historian, over their mutual disdain for the Renaissance. Ian values the diverse group of equals in the Society of Fellows and the opportunity to explore various aspects of knowledge.

The Politicization of Higher Education

The conversation turns to Ian's current role as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education at UNC Chapel Hill. He discusses the politicization of higher education and the challenges of the proliferation of knowledge. Ian emphasizes the importance of helping students diversify their intellectual portfolios to hedge against unpredictability, and he expresses optimism that AI will be a force multiplier rather than a replacement for human judgment and expertise.

The Impact of AI on Undergraduate Education

Ian believes AI will not replace human judgment but will be a force multiplier for routine tasks. He stresses the importance of communication skills, teamwork, ethical judgment, and aesthetic judgment in the face of AI. Ian advises students to use AI as a refinement tool after doing cognitive heavy lifting themselves. He emphasizes the importance of preserving curiosity-driven knowledge alongside applied knowledge, and he states that rote-type learning will not be needed while high-level skills will be sought by employers.

The Changing Definition of Knowledge

Ian explains that, over the past two decades, the shift towards justifying knowledge in economic or scientific terms, especially in the United States. He talks about the value of interpretation and judgement, and how he is concerned that students are losing the ability to do the cognitive heavy lifting of assessing research and determining the gaps in information. Ian's administrative career reflects his efforts to balance these two aspects of knowledge. Ian advises students to use AI as a refinement tool after doing their own cognitive heavy lifting, but he stresses the importance of taking time in nature to write by hand and give the mind time to think.

The Meeting of Medieval and Modern History

Ian talks about the difference between his wife's studies in medieval history to his own. Creative thinking plays a role in the study of medieval history where there are gaps in knowledge and errors of interpretation; this contrasts with Ian's field of study which drew research from a high level of bureaucracy. He explains why he structured their book, Reinventing Knowledge, to combat information overload. Ian shares his experience of empowering others in his professional life and giving up the desire to control outcomes. Ian also reflects on the importance of humility and the value of learning a new language to gain a deeper understanding of other cultures.

Harvard Reflections

Ian mentions Math 25 with Mark McConnell, which taught him rigorous thinking and precision, and he highlights a course on European Political development 1850 to 1950 by Peter Baldwin, which inspired him to become a European historian. Ian states that he values the bridge between the arts and sciences provided by these courses.

Timestamps:

02:09: The Society of Fellows at Harvard

04:07: Ian's Research and Book on the History of Knowledge

09:43: Ian's Experience as a Fellow and Interactions with Other Disciplines

11:21: Ian's Role as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education at UNC Chapel Hill

12:11: The Impact of AI on Higher Education

23:29: Ian's Perspective on the Evolution of Knowledge

28:17: Ian's Personal Reflections and Recommendations

32:56: Influential Courses and Professors at Harvard

Links:

Book: https://www.amazon.com/University-Unfettered-Public-Education-Disruption/dp/0231220588

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Knowledge-Alexandria-Ian-McNeely/dp/0393337715

Contact: https://history.unc.edu/person/ian-f-mcneely/

This episode on The 92 Report:

Show Notes:

Peter Schmidt talks about his senior year during the Iraq War, and how the news on the problem of jobless recovery led him to consider graduate school.

The Journey from Student to Dean

Peter studied biomechanics at Cornell, focusing on the mathematics of biological systems and modeling clinical trials in orthopedics. He was admitted into a fellowship program in New York at an orthopedic hospital where he worked on total joint replacement. His career path led him to neuroscience, where he led clinical research and worked for a nonprofit before becoming the vice dean of a medical school. He then moved on to running clinical trials and drug development.

A Focus on Parkinson's Disease

Pete shares his interest in Parkinson's disease and explains that Parkinson's affects a tractable part of the brain, the basal ganglia, which is easier to model mathematically. He enjoys thinking about neuronal signaling and the microstructure of the brain, which helps in understanding the macro structure. Pete's PhD work involved modeling bone at the cellular level, and he applies similar thinking to the basal ganglia in Parkinson's disease.

Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases

Pete discusses the challenges in determining whether a question in neurodegenerative diseases is a question of science or engineering. He explains the historical focus on stem cells and extracellular proteins as solutions for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Pete emphasizes the need to understand the role of extracellular proteins and the importance of scientific inquiry. He mentions the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of prion diseases and the subsequent focus on characteristic proteins in neurodegenerative diseases, which led to initiatives focused on proteins.

The Brain's Micro and Macro Structures

Pete discusses the current focus on extracellular proteins and the challenges in proving their role in diseases like Parkinson's. He mentions the drug Lecanemab for Alzheimer's, which slows the disease but does not reverse it. Pete predicts that future research will focus on intracellular proteins and the need to restore lost cells in the brain. He highlights the importance of understanding the microstructure to inform the macro structure of the brain.

The Logistics of Running Clinical Trials

Pete explains that success in clinical trials is more about logistics than science, with 90-95% of the work being logistical. He discusses the challenges of recruiting subjects and the importance of working with academic medical centers that have a high volume of patients. Pete emphasizes the need for fast-moving ethics boards and efficient contracting to ensure the success of clinical trials.

Incentives for Physicians

When asked about the incentives for physicians to participate in clinical trials, Pete explains that most physicians are driven by scientific interest rather than financial incentives. He mentions the importance of academic leaders who can influence the participation of residents and fellows in trials. Pete highlights the passion of physicians in diseases like Huntington's and cystic fibrosis, which drives their engagement in research.

The Role of Pharma Companies in Clinical Trials

Pete talks about his role at East Carolina University where he oversaw clinical care and research at the medical school. He discusses the changing role of pharma companies in running clinical trials. He explains that many drugs are now discovered in labs, leading to a shift in the need for pharma companies to own their data. Pete mentions the issue of trial fraud, where fake patients are used to inflate data, and the importance of tighter control over trial data. He shares his experience of rescuing a trial from fraudulent data and the challenges of identifying such issues.

Life on the Family Farm

The conversation turns to Pete's family life, and Pete shares that his youngest child recently went to college, and he inherited a family farm that has been in his wife's family for 200 years. He enjoys working with his hands, doing woodworking, and using a skid steer for various tasks on the farm. Pete describes his role as the farm handyman, fixing things and maintaining the farm equipment.

Harvard Reflections

Pete mentions taking a quantum mechanics course and a material science class with X-ray interferometry. He highlights the impact of a physics class on fits and tolerances, which taught him about the importance of clearance and interference fits. Pete also shares his experience taking a folklore course with his roommate, which was his only pass/fail course at Harvard.

Pete explains the concept of fits and tolerances in engineering. He discusses the importance of understanding whether a fit needs to be tight or loose and planning accordingly. Pete uses examples from finance to illustrate the principle of having a cushion in budgeting. He emphasizes the need to know the target fit (tight or loose) to optimize engineering and design solutions.

This episode on The 92 Report:https://92report.com/podcast/168-peter-schmidt-from-math-to-neuroscience/

Timestamps:

02:40: A focus on Parkinson's Disease

05:10: Challenges in Neurodegenerative Disease Research

09:50: The Role of Extracellular Proteins and Future Directions

17:34: Running Clinical Trials and Logistics

27:58: Incentives for Physicians to Participate in Clinical Trials

32:16: Pharma Companies and Clinical Trial Data

38:53: Personal Life and Farming

42:30: Reflections on Harvard Courses

46:23: Fits and Tolerances in Engineering

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pnschmidt

https://www.instagram.com/pnschmidt

Show Notes:

From Hiking to River Cruises

Lauren Messmore opens the conversation by sharing her experience of hiking Hadrian's Wall in England with her husband, which she describes as a highlight of her international travels. She explains that her husband, an anglophile, had the idea and that she enjoyed the travel and training for the hike, and that she had also lived in England for a few years in the '90s. Lauren details her training routine, including walking six to seven miles two to three times a week and using hiking sticks. They used a service called Mac Adventure for the hike, which provided luggage transport and accommodations. Lauren mentions that after the hiking adventure, she and her husband have shifted to less arduous travel, such as river cruises. She describes a river cruise on the Danube, ending in Budapest, and an upcoming trip to France and Normandy.

Starting a Career on Wall Street

After graduation and a brief backpacking trip to Europe, Lauren launched into her career as an investment banking analyst on Wall Street. She talks about the challenges and excitement of her first day on the job. She contrasts the investment banking culture with her academic experience at Harvard, noting the strict adherence to rules and lack of creativity in the banking world. Lauren discusses her experience working in London and Madrid, including the unique challenges of being an American woman in a male-dominated field.

A Career Shift to M&A in Madrid

Lauren describes the transition to Madrid, where she worked on a mix of mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions. Lauren highlights the millennium bug and the subsequent acquisition of her office by Citigroup, which led to her move to Spain. She shares her experience of learning Spanish on the job and the importance of being fluent in English for international transactions. She also talks about the cultural and personal differences she experienced in business transactions and expectations while working at Citigroup and the difficulties she faced when she decided to leave Citigroup.

Launching an Investment Banking Boutique

Lauren talks about starting her own investment banking boutique in 2002. She explains the challenges of working in a small market like Spain and the cultural clash with the American banking model. Lauren describes the success of her boutique, which focused on private equity clients and independent advisory work. She mentions the financial crisis of 2008 and the impact on her business, leading to a liquidity event and her return to the United States.

Returning to the U.S.

Lauren talks about her return to the United States and the financial crisis's impact on her business, including the divestment of her solar farms. She describes the decision to cash out and the subsequent reinvention of her career in Boston. Lauren took a year off to recharge and plot a new course, eventually finding a strategic consultant role at a community bank. She became the CFO of the bank, which underwent a significant acquisition and went public, marking a shift from advisory to operational roles.

The Current Career Path

Lauren explains her current career path, focusing on creating a portfolio of Board of Directors positions. She describes the process of building this portfolio over three years and the satisfaction of having a busy but less demanding workload. Lauren emphasizes the importance of taking time off to recharge and plot a new course, especially after significant life changes. She shares her approach to setting New Year's resolutions, focusing on easy but impactful habits like daily flossing, drinking two cups of water, and daily stretching.

Harvard Reflections

When asked about a compliment she has never forgotten, Lauren shares a memory of being told she was a leader, which changed her self-perception. She emphasizes the importance of betting on oneself and encouraging others to do the same. She shares a few simple New Year's resolutions and reflects on the importance of small, repetitive routines and their cumulative impact over time.

She mentions taking Spanish at Harvard, which turned out to be the most useful course for her career.

Timestamps:

03:52 Lauren's Journey and Hiking Adventures

08:45: River Cruises and Early Career

13:14: Experience in London and Madrid

21:15: Starting Her Own Investment Banking Boutique

25:25: Return to the United States and New Career Path

32:51: Current Career and Board of Directors Positions

33:19: Offbeat Questions and Final Thoughts

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-messmore/

Solar farm video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kI_s7NntQg

This episode on The 92 Report:

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Miguel Sancho shares his background, mentioning his small-town roots in eastern Kansas and his education at Harvard and Phillips Andover Academy where he studied government and history. He discusses his initial plan to pursue a PhD and become an academic but instead moved to New York City to try his hand at music. Miguel transitioned from music to journalism, starting in 1993, and worked in various roles, including as an investigative journalist for Inside Edition, and 20/20 a prime time show on ABC News, and CBS News.

Launching a Production Company

Miguel talks about his personal life, including his marriage, children, and the challenges of raising a son with a rare immune deficiency. He describes the six-year journey to find a bone marrow transplant for his son, which ultimately succeeded at Duke University Hospital. Miguel left ABC News to start his own production company, working on specials and series for various networks, including A&E and News Nation. He mentions his book More Than You Can Handle, published in 2021, and his new book Evidence of the Extraordinary, set to be released soon.

Exploring Evidence of the Extraordinary

Miguel discusses his new book, Evidence of the Extraordinary, which explores unexplained phenomena like UFOs, legendary creatures, and miracles. It was derived from one of the television shows Miguel produced. He explains how the COVID-19 pandemic led him to take on a show on the History Channel called The Proof is Out There, which investigates anomalous phenomena. Miguel shares his initial skepticism about the paranormal but acknowledges the importance of investigating these phenomena with a journalistic approach. He talks about some of the most extraordinary unexplained phenomena, including deep-sea discoveries, and the Havana Syndrome. He highlights the challenges of balancing skepticism with the possibility of rare, unexplained events, and the importance of humility when addressing what we think we know.

Undercover Journalism at Inside Edition

Miguel describes his experience at Inside Edition, where he wore hidden cameras to investigate corrupt and criminal organizations. He shares specific cases, including infiltrating a pit bull fighting ring and a drug-dealing carnival worker. Miguel discusses the legal and ethical considerations of undercover journalism, emphasizing the importance of thorough research and planning. He reflects on the skills required for undercover work, such as acting stupid and eliciting information from subjects, and how the public's cognitive dissonance plays a role in limiting detection.

Challenges of Working in Television

Miguel talks about the transition from being an employee at networks to running his own production company. He explains the process of setting up an SCorp and the responsibilities of managing a production company, including pitching shows and maintaining client relationships. Miguel describes the development process of selling a show to a network, including creating detailed pitch documents and securing talent. He discusses the challenges of the evolving TV industry, including the rise of streaming platforms and the need for scalable content.

Life Altering Challenges

Miguel shares the personal story of his son's rare immune deficiency and the journey to find a cure. He describes the emotional and practical challenges faced by his family, including the impact on their mental and physical health. Miguel highlights the importance of medical research and the role of institutions like the National Institutes of Health and Duke University Hospital in providing life-saving treatments. He reflects on the broader implications of rare disease diagnoses on families and the need for support and understanding.

Harvard Reflections

Miguel reminisces about his time at Harvard, mentioning influential professors like Bernard Bailyn, Elaine Scarry, and Judith Shklar. He discusses the impact of Judith Shklar's teachings on individual rights, group rights, and the importance of avoiding cruelty. Miguel shares his experience of reading E.O. Wilson's "On Human Nature" years after his course with Wilson, which led to a new appreciation for Wilson's work. He reflects on the lasting influence of these professors on his professional and personal life.

Current Projects

Miguel talks about his current projects, including a new show in development and his ongoing work with News Nation. He discusses the potential of prediction markets and interactive elements in future TV content to engage younger audiences. Miguel reflects on the evolving landscape of the TV industry and the importance of adapting to new technologies and platforms.

Timestamps:

02:02: Personal Challenges and Professional Pivots

04:26: Investigating Unexplained Phenomena

18:28: Investigative Techniques and Notable Cases

33:43: Transition to Independent Production

41:42: Impact of Rare Diseases on Families

42:21: Influence of Harvard Professors

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-sancho-b7aa37a/

More than You Can Handle: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/611475/more-than-you-can-handle-by-miguel-sancho/

Evidence of the Extraordinary: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Evidence-of-the-Extraordinary/Miguel-Sancho/9781668085455

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

In this conversation, Bridget Lyons describes her experience with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), which led her to a three-month course in Alaska. She shares her initial struggle with the urban environment of Cambridge after her wilderness experience. Bridget discusses her involvement with the Harvard Outing Club and her decision to teach in Marin County, California.

From Teaching to the Tetons

Bridget explains her transition from teaching to working full-time with NOLS, teaching various outdoor activities. She describes her lifestyle during this period, including living out of her truck and in storage units. Bridget mentions her eventual move to the Tetons, where she continued her outdoor activities and owned a yoga studio. She discusses her move to Santa Cruz and her focus on writing, particularly about her adventures and encounters with wildlife.

The Evolution of Entwined

Bridget talks about her book "Entwined: Dispatches from the Intersection of Species," published by Texas A&M Press. She explains the braided narrative technique used in the book, which combines personal experiences, science, and ethical considerations. Bridget shares that about half of the essays in the book were previously published in literary magazines. She describes the evolution of her writing from individual essays to a compendium focused on non-human creatures.

Cover Art and Woodblock Cuts

Bridget reveals that she illustrated the book herself, using her long-time hobby of making woodblock prints. She explains the process of creating the cover art, which combines elements from different essays. Bridget reads a passage from the first essay, "Tangled," about kelp and her experiences as a surfer. She discusses the importance of valuing non-human creatures for their own sake, not just for their ecological services.

The American Chestnut Tree

Bridget shares her father's involvement in conservation efforts, particularly the American Chestnut Tree. She discusses the tension between her father's expectations and her own choices, including her decision to remain child-free. Bridget reflects on the common ground they have found in their shared interest in nature and conservation. She mentions her father's respect for her outdoor achievements and his interest in her adventures.

Lessons from Nature

Bridget talks about the transformative experiences of students on her Knowles courses. She highlights the importance of practical life skills, such as cooking and taking care of gear, which students often lack. Bridget emphasizes the significance of teaching students the consequences of their actions in the wilderness. She shares feedback from students who continue to apply the lessons learned in their daily lives.

Tapping into the Transcendent

Bridget describes her daily practice of seeking transcendent outdoor experiences, such as trail running and encountering non-human creatures. She recounts a memorable encounter with an ibex in the Alps, which she had longed to see. Bridget reflects on the historical context of the ibex population and its preservation. She shares her appreciation for the beauty and magic of the Alps, which she experiences during her outdoor adventures.

From Journaling to Writing

Bridget explains how her writing started with journals and evolved into formal writing and editing. She describes her transition from administrative work to writing and editing for various clients. Bridget shares her experience of gaining confidence and qualifications through an MFA program. She discusses the reciprocal relationship between her editing work and her own writing.

Harvard Reflections

Bridget reflects on her decision to major in anthropology and its relevance to her current work. She discusses the study of human interaction with the environment and its implications for conservation. Bridget highlights the importance of understanding human evolution and the impact of our actions on the planet. She connects her anthropology studies to the broader questions of how humans should live in the context of biodiversity crisis and climate change.

Timestamps:

03:37: Transition to Full-Time Outdoor Education

06:08: Publication of "Entwined" and Writing Process

09:40: Illustrations and Personal Connection

19:13: Family Dynamics and Conservation Efforts

22:27: Impact of Outdoor Education on Students

28:26: Personal Transcendent Moments in the Wilderness

34:23: Transition to Writing and Editing

38:57: Influence of Anthropology Major

Links:

Entwined: Dispatches from the Intersection of Species: www.entwinedbook.com

Website: www.bridgetalyons.com

This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/podcast/episode-165-bridget-a-lyons-author-adventurer-and-artist/

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

John Milbauer explains that, although he didn't graduate from Harvard, his education and career followed a unique path involving music and academia. John reflects that his focus has been a combination of music and ideas, but the structure of academia often separates the two. He mentions his role as Dean of the School of Music at DePaul University in Chicago where they are bringing the two together to provide musicians with a more holistic approach to creative development and expression.

Choosing a Career Path

At 17 John was accepted into both Harvard Summer School and Aspen Music Festival, and he had to choose which one to attend. He chose Harvard after the advice that young musicians should not pursue music if they can pursue a career in a different field that offers a better chance at success. He describes his love for music and his initial excitement at Harvard, including taking calculus and expository writing. John applied to Harvard's admissions in seventh grade; to him it represented a world of ideas, culture, sophistication and globalism that small town Wisconsin did not offer.

Leaving Harvard for a Conservatory

John recounts his childhood in northern Wisconsin and his early musical training with Joan Moffitt. He explains how many music instructors tend to teach students bad habits that have to be unlearned later. He explains that he needed purely technical training and he realized that Harvard wasn't set up to provide technical training in music studies, and so, in the middle of his sophomore year, John left Harvard for a conservatory. He details his educational journey from Harvard to Eastman to Juilliard, highlighting the importance of technical training, and the relationship between the mind and body when pursuing creative development.

A Career As a Pianist

John pursued his career as a pianist. He talks about his time at the Hungarian Liszt Academy on a Fulbright. He explains the challenges of being a musician in their 30s, including the need for a stable job with benefits. John shares his experience as a piano faculty member at three universities, including the University of Arizona. He describes his decision to pursue a mid-career Master's in Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Harvard, influenced by his 25th reunion.

Moving to a Career in Higher Education Administration

John talks about going back to Harvard at 49. He realized he needed broader knowledge, particularly about developing economies, and goes on to explain his decision to pursue a career in higher education administration, influenced by his Kennedy School education. John describes his role as Dean of the School of Music at DePaul University and his efforts to integrate music and academia. He highlights the importance of combining his musical skills with his understanding of economics and government, and shares three key takeaways from his Kennedy School education: economic complexity, the importance of imagination, and the need to resist quantifying good deeds. He explains how these lessons have influenced his work at DePaul, including his approach to growing the school's programs.

Harvard Reflections

John discusses the importance of imagination in music and the arts, influenced by his class with Roberto Unger. He highlights the role of values in his work, influenced by his class with Rohit Deshpanda at Harvard Business School. John also recounts a special performance with Steve Balderston, a long-time faculty member at DePaul, which helped build trust within the community, and shares a memorable performance of John Cage's Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano, which attracted a full house.

A Vision for DePaul School of Music

John discusses the importance of revealing the beauty in music rather than imposing his own interpretation. He outlines his vision for the DePaul School of Music, including its role as a top orchestral training institution. He emphasizes the importance of diversifying the curriculum to include recording arts and performing arts management. John discusses the need for conservatories to focus on specialized training while maintaining a broad educational approach, and he highlights the potential for DePaul to become a leader in complex and diversified higher education in the arts.

Timestamps:

05:14: Early Musical Training and Harvard Experience

10:27: Career in Music and Academia

16:02: Transition to DePaul University

21:55: Impact of Kennedy School Education

28:01: Personal and Professional Highlights

34:04: Vision for DePaul School of Music

Links:

Faculty: https://www.depaul.edu/faculty/john-milbauer

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/43vQxUUaMmzDFTKBND7u2B?si=34e1d0776d604cfb

DePaul University: https://magazine.depaul.edu/s/1906/23/interior.aspx?sid=1906&gid=2&pgid=4425

This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/podcast/164-john-milbauer-pianist-and-conservatory-leader/

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Elisabeth Tavares (Weinberg) describes her journey post-graduation, dividing it into three main chapters: private sector, higher education, and government sector.

Travelling to Egypt, Israel, and Spain

Elisabeth shares her initial post-graduation plans, including travel to Egypt and Israel, and her work with American teenagers abroad in Ireland and Spain. She discusses her passion for international travel and her decision to learn Spanish at Harvard, which later led to teaching Spanish.

Elisabeth explains her motivation for learning Spanish, including her background in European history and her love for the language and culture. She discusses taking Latin in high school and Spanish at Harvard.

A Career in the Financial Sector

Elisabeth describes her early career in the financial sector, starting in Boston and later in New York at Scudder Stevens and Clark, where she worked in communications. She expresses her lack of fulfillment in the financial sector and her dislike for New York City, preferring the Hudson Valley.

On to Marist College and Speechwriting

Elisabeth recounts her transition to Marist College (now Marist University) as a speechwriter for President Dennis Murray. She highlights the positive experience of working at Marist College for 17 years, including writing speeches and communications for the college community. Elisabeth shares her admiration for President Murray, describing him as a transformational leader and a mentor. She mentions her pursuit of a master's degree during her time at Marist College.

From a Non-profit to Public Service

Elisabeth discusses her decision to step back from full-time work to care for her husband, who had open-heart surgery, and her aging parents. She describes her involvement in non-profit work and writing for her local newspaper during this period. Elisabeth shares her unexpected transition to public service as the district director for New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey. She describes her role, which includes overseeing the district office, managing constituent services, and running a capital grants program.

Impacting Local Communities

Elisabeth details her responsibilities in her current role, including managing a team of constituent services staff and running the capital grants program. She shares her experiences of meeting with organizations throughout the district and the impact of the grants on local communities. Elisabeth reflects on her changed understanding of government, particularly at the state and local levels, and the direct positive impact it can have on people's lives. She highlights the importance of being responsive to constituents' needs and the satisfaction of helping people and organizations.

Understanding Community Life

Elisabeth discusses the day-to-day activities in her role, including handling constituent inquiries, meetings, and managing the capital grants program. She reflects on the rich understanding of community life she has gained through her work, including insights into local issues and government operations. Elisabeth shares her admiration for Senator Hinchey's focus on issues important to the district, such as agriculture and affordability. She mentions the importance of being responsive to constituents' needs and the satisfaction of helping people and organizations.

Harvard Reflections

Elisabeth reflects on the impact of courses and professors at Harvard, particularly her Spanish classes and Michael Sandel's Justice class. She shares her long-lasting interest in Spanish, influenced by her family and friends, and her continued practice of the language. She also mentions the influence of other courses, such as the Russian Revolution class with Richard Pipes, and the lasting impact of these educational experiences.

Family Life and the Benefits of Being Bilingual

Elisabeth discusses her family life, including her husband David, her daughter, and their bilingual household. She shares her experiences of traveling with her family, including trips to Mexico and Spain, and the importance of being able to communicate in Spanish. Elisabeth reflects on the role of Spanish in her personal and professional life. She highlights the benefits of being bilingual and the opportunities it provides for travel and communication.

Timestamps:

02:54: Learning Spanish and Early Career in Financial Sector

06:50: Transition to Higher Education: Marist College

14:13: Challenges and Transition to Public Service

17:01: Role in Public Service and Impact on Understanding Government

23:52: Personal Reflections and Professional Growth

27:06: Influence of Harvard Courses and Professors

31:14: Balancing Personal and Professional Life

32:54: Connecting with the Community and Future Plans

Link:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elistavarez/.

This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/podcast/episode-163-elisabeth-weinberg-tavarez-from-finance-to-higher-ed-to-politics/

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Liam T.A. Ford, also known as LTAF, shares his initial career plans after graduation. After writing for the Crimson at Harvard, he initially considered a career in academia, but pivoted to journalism. He discusses his first job at the Montgomery Advertiser, where he covered crime and interviewed notable figures including the man who headed the pulpit committee that hired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his pastorship in Montgomery. Liam recounts his transition to Chicago, where he became a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering notable events like Barack Obama's election to the U.S. Senate.

Working for a Non-profit Organization

Liam talks about his work at the Chicago Tribune, including helping to start the paper's breaking news desk and maintaining a database of shootings and homicides. He mentions taking a buyout from the Tribune in 2021 and, while he continued his work in journalism, covering public/private partnerships, he also worked on a non-profit project called the Ignatian Mission Center, which he now does full-time. The non-profit aims to maintain the former food pantry that had been run by a local parish and eventually provide other social services, including a shelter for Spanish-speaking women who have left domestic violence situations. He still writes and edits on a freelance basis.

Crime and the Criminal Justice System

Liam reflects on his time as a crime reporter at the Montgomery Advertiser and the lessons he learned about crime and the criminal justice system. He emphasizes the importance of humanizing crime victims and making readers understand the impact of each death. Liam recounts a significant experience where he had to inform a victim's family about the details of their loved one's death, highlighting the challenges in the criminal justice system. He discusses the role of crime reporters in centering victims and the importance of transparency in reporting.

Covering the 2004 Senate Race

Liam shares his experiences as a political reporter, including covering the 2004 Senate race in Illinois where Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination. He recounts the story of Jack Ryan's divorce records being unsealed, which led to his withdrawal from the race. Liam discusses his interactions with Barack Obama during his coverage and other significant political stories he covered. He reflects on the importance of transparency in political reporting and the impact of his work on local government and community issues.

The Importance of Local Government and News Reporting

Liam talks about his early career at the Tribune covering local government bodies like the Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Park District. He shares a story about investigating teen programming in Chicago parks, which revealed disparities in resources between affluent and less affluent neighborhoods. Liam discusses the impact of his reporting on improving teen programming and the creation of programs like After School Matters. He reflects on the importance of local government reporting in bringing wrongdoing to light and improving community services.

The Creation of the Ignatian Mission Center

Liam explains the process of creating the Ignatian Mission Center and the challenges of maintaining the food pantry after the parish closed. He discusses the support from Loyola University and other organizations in providing social services and resources for the community. Liam shares the progress of the non-profit, including securing a planning grant and architectural plans for the former parish property. He reflects on the personal and professional challenges of working full-time on the non-profit project and the impact it has had on the community.

Harvard Reflections

Liam credits the course Government 1061 with Michael Sandel and Harvey Mansfield for teaching him the importance of examining biases and assumptions. He discusses how these lessons have influenced his approach to journalism and his commitment to finding and speaking the truth. Liam reflects on the impact of his Harvard education on his career and personal life, including his journey to sobriety. He shares how the skills and values he learned at Harvard continue to resonate with him in his current work.

Timestamps:

04:19: Transition to the Chicago Tribune and Sobriety Journey

05:47: Impact of Sobriety and Community Involvement

16:04: Crime Reporting and Lessons Learned

24:58: Political Reporting and Significant Stories

30:08: Challenges and Successes in Local Government Reporting

36:12: Formation of the Ignatian Mission Center

43:05: Personal Reflections and Future Plans

Links:

Website: www.ignatianmission.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liam.ford/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamtaford/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's is brought to you by Kristen Hunter who reports:

Hi. I'm Kristen Hunter, Class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 report is Ivory Innovations. Ivory Innovations catalyzes innovative solutions in housing affordability through the Ivory prize Applied Research and Policy Leadership, advancing ideas that expand access to affordable and attainable housing. The organization also partners with the Harvard master in real estate program through our summer practicum, which gives students the opportunity to complete a two month placement with a cooperating for profit, not for profit or public organization in the United States or overseas, participating in real estate projects and initiatives that advance cutting edge practices, including those promoting social and environmental best practices. I'm delighted to champion Ivory Innovations, especially as one of our recent Harvard Master in Real Estate graduates, Amy Love Tommaso serves as their director of policy innovation. You can learn more and support their mission at ivory innovations.org That's ivory i, V, O, R, Y, innovations.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To find out more about their work, visit: ivoryinnovations.org

This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/podcast/episode-162-liam-t-a-ford-from-journalist-to-non-profit-startup-leader/

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Elijah Siegler recalls the day of graduation on June 5, 1992, and the prominent promotion of the movie Patriot Games, which seemed at the time an ominous omen, as graduates began to navigate their post-grad journey. Elijah shares his advice to his kids and students: "You don't need to have your whole life post-college figured out. You just need one cool thing lined up, and that'll lead to another cool thing." Elijah describes his first post-graduation job as the editor of the Greece and Turkey book for Let's Go travel guides, which he found out about due to a last-minute cancellation.

A Ticket to Israel and Traveling Adventures

Elijah had previously been a researcher for Let's Go Pacific Northwest in the summer of 1989. After graduation, Elijah moved back to his parents' house in Toronto, Canada, and spent time reading and applying for jobs. Elijah cashed in his graduation gift from his grandparents, a ticket to Israel, and spent six months in the Middle East, including a solo tour of the Mediterranean. Elijah used his own guidebook for the Greece and Turkey parts of his trip and mentions Gary Bass, a classmate who edited Let's Go Israel and Egypt.

Exploring the Middle East

Elijah enjoyed both Greece and Turkey, finding Turkey to be one of the great travel destinations of the world. He highlights the unique experiences in Istanbul and Cappadocia, including staying in cave hotels and visiting a center for Sufi culture. Elijah reflects on his visit to Syria, noting the cultural richness and the sadness of seeing the country torn apart by civil war. Elijah moved back to Toronto, spent time with family, and eventually found a job in the non-profit sector in New York.

Taking a Slow Boat to China

Elijah describes his temporary job in New York, living in a basement in Chelsea, and the cultural experience of living in New York City. He recounts his decision to travel to Asia, including a trip to Japan, where he received a telegram about a job in China. Elijah took a slow boat to China from Kobe to Shanghai and then trains to Chengdu, where he taught English for nine months. He shares his experiences in Chengdu, including teaching and traveling around China, and his interest in Taoism.

Opening the Door to the World's Parliament of Religions

Elijah attended the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in the fall of 1993, which marked the 100th anniversary of the original event in 1893. He volunteered at the event, met various religious leaders, and was inspired to study religion academically. Elijah decided to pursue a graduate degree in religious studies, applying to various programs and eventually enrolling at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He describes the rigorous Religious Studies Program at UCSB and his initial research on Taoism in America.

A Focus on Taoism

Elijah explains the concept of Taoism, the indigenous religion of China, and its focus on the Tao, a non-personal divine force. He discusses the transmission of Taoist ideas to America through popular culture, such as the TV show Kung Fu and the book The Tao of Pooh. Elijah interviewed Chinese Taoist masters who came to America and taught Taoist techniques, such as martial arts and meditation. He completed his PhD on Taoism in America and began his academic career, moving from assistant to associate to full professor.

The Americanization of Taoism

Elijah contrasts Taoism with Buddhism, noting that Taoism does not have a missionary impulse and is spread indirectly through practices like martial arts. He discusses the Americanization of Taoism and the role of popular culture in shaping American Taoism. Elijah shares his research on the authenticity of Taoist masters in America and the concerns within the American Taoist community about who is a genuine master. He mentions the organizational structure of Taoism in China and the challenges of defining authenticity in American Taoism.

Religion and Television

Elijah discusses his research on religion and television, contrasting it with the study of religion and film. He argues that television's open narrative format allows for the exploration of religious change over time. Elijah highlights the religious themes in popular TV shows and how they reflect and shape American spirituality. He plans to publish a book on his theory of religion and television combining his previous essays on the topic.

A Spiritual Journey

Elijah shares his personal spiritual journey, growing up in a secular Jewish household and raising his children as Jewish. He expresses a strong affinity for Taoism but does not call himself a Taoist due to the formal initiation required in Taoist traditions. Elijah teaches a class on spirituality, exploring the rise of "spiritual but not religious" individuals and the history of spirituality in America. He emphasizes the importance of interfaith dialogue and understanding different religious traditions, both in his teaching and in his community involvement.

Promoting Interfaith Understanding

Elijah describes his involvement in the Charleston Interfaith Council, organizing cultural and educational programming to promote interfaith understanding. He organized a Jewish Muslim Dinner in 2017, bringing together Jewish and Muslim communities for a shared meal and conversation, which has evolved into the Spirited Brunch, a self-guided tour of different sacred spaces in Charleston with snacks, promoting interfaith dialogue and cultural exchange. He encourages others to replicate these initiatives in their own communities, emphasizing the importance of interfaith connections and understanding.

Harvard Reflections

Elijah was in the comparative study of religion that was drawn from other departments in the Divinity School, and he mentions professor Diana Eck, who was the chair of that committee on the comparative study of religion. She started something called the pluralism project in 1991 and that summer, Elijah was in the first cohort of student employees for that so I actually got paid to go to Los Angeles and study religious diversity there and inter religious dialog, and in particular, Buddhism.

Timestamps:

01:30 Initial Career Steps and Travel Experiences

04:06: Exploring Greece, Turkey, and Syria

09:03: Moving to New York and Asia

12:10: Attending the World's Parliament of Religions

15:21: Research on Taoism in America

17:31: Taoism in America and Its Cultural Impact

28:59: Religion and Television

31:49: Personal Spiritual Journey and Teaching

39:29: Interfaith Initiatives in Charleston

Links:

Faculty Bio: https://charleston.edu/religious-studies/faculty-staff/siegler-elijah.php

Spirited Brunch: https://thefoodsection.com/spirited-brunch-101/

The Musical: https://www.happylandmusical.com/

Featured Nonprofit:

The featured nonprofit of this week's is brought to you by Tobey Collins who reports:

"Hi. I'm Tobey Collins, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is the Barnstable Land Trust, or BLT. Barnstable Land Trust is a land conservation organization dedicated to preserving green space in the town of Barnstable in Cape Cod, and enhancing access to green space for the broader community. BLT, stewards more than 1250 acres of land in Barnstable, and is always on the lookout for new opportunities. I'm proud to have served as a board member for the Barnstable Land Trust since 2022 as well as having been a regular donor going back more than 15 years. I love helping keep Cape Cod beautiful for generations to come. You can learn more about their work at B, l, t.org,

and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To find out more about their work, visit: www.blt.org.

This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/podcast/episode-161-elij…de-the-classroom/

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Tobey Weintraub Collins pursued a master's degree in international relations at Georgetown, where she met her husband who joined the US Foreign Service. Tobey worked in project finance in Brazil and Venezuela, focusing on energy projects, and later worked for AES Corp in the US and Chile.

She eventually moved back to the US and has been at Astris for the past 13 years, specializing in energy and infrastructure investment banking.

Life in Venezuela

Tobey describes Venezuela in 2000-2001 as relatively normal, with the US still influential, and her work focused on Central America and the Caribbean. She notes that Caracas was a pleasant place to live, though it was quieter compared to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tobey reflects on the changes in Venezuela since then, expressing optimism for the future despite the current challenges. She shares a personal story about her son being born in Venezuela and the family's eventual move back to the US.

Venezuela Under Chavez

The conversation turns to Chavez's administration and the reforms he implemented. Tobey recalls the acquisition of the largest electricity distribution company in Venezuela by AES during her time in Venezuela. She acknowledges Chavez's initial leftist leanings but notes that he later became more radical. Tobey shares a story about a deal she worked on in Guatemala, helping to refinance a company's debt. She explains the due diligence process, the importance of understanding business risks, and the role of rating agencies in structuring deals.

Working at AES

Tobey talks about her time at AES and the types of deals she worked on. She joined AES during a critical period when the company narrowly avoided bankruptcy and needed to restructure its debt. She worked on restructuring debt facilities in Latin America, including in Brazil, and later became the CFO of AES's business in Chile. Tobey describes a notable transaction in Chile involving twin bonds to refinance transmission lines, which was innovative at the time. She highlights the importance of client relationships in the investment banking industry.

Working in the Battery Storage Sector

When asked about her current role at Astris and recent deals she has found exciting, Tobey explains that her focus has shifted more to the US and Canada, particularly in the battery storage sector. She describes working with a client to bid on a long-term contract for battery projects in Ontario, which they won. Tobey discusses the challenges and opportunities in the battery storage market, including the need for reliable electricity supply. She mentions the importance of data centers and the challenges they face in securing enough energy generation capacity.

The Demand for Electricity in the US

Tobey explains that electricity demand in the US is expected to grow, necessitating more generation capacity. She discusses the role of traditional sources like gas-fired power plants and new technologies like small modular reactors and geothermal energy. Tobey highlights the importance of transmission lines and energy storage solutions to address the demand. She notes the need for investment and innovation to meet the growing demand for electricity.

A Love of Latin American Cuisine

Tobey praises the food in Mexico City, Lima, and Brazil, highlighting the regional variations and delicious dishes. She shares her love for cooking and her hobby of trying new cuisines. Tobey recounts recent travel experiences, including a trip to Morocco and Japan, and the cultural and culinary highlights of these destinations. She emphasizes the importance of traveling to new places and having new experiences.

Harvard Reflections

Tobey credits her close friendships with women from Harvard as the most lasting gift from her time there. She mentions a professor, Stephan Haggard, who taught political economy and had a significant influence on her career. Tobey reflects on the intersection of business and politics in her work, particularly in Latin America. She highlights the importance of maintaining connections with friends and colleagues from Harvard.

Timestamps:

03:47: Life in Venezuela During the Chavez Era

05:28: Challenges and Opportunities in Venezuela

09:15: Tobey's Role at AES and Notable Transactions

16:11: Current Focus and Recent Deals at Astris

18:52: Insights on Data Centers and US Electricity Demand

25:57: Favorite Cuisines and Travel Experiences

33:16: Impact of Harvard and Lasting Connections

Links:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobey-s-collins-2208951/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's is brought to you by Kristen Hunter who reports:

"Hi. I'm Kristen Hunter, Class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is project Reap. Project Reap, the real estate Associate Program advances diversity, equity and inclusion in commercial real estate by providing industry education, training and connections to underrepresented professionals. I'm privileged to serve as an advisor to Project Reap, which continues to transform the talent pipeline under the dynamic leadership of its executive director, Tanisha Nash Laird. You can learn more and support their work at Project Reap. That's project R, E, A, p.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To find out more about their work, visit: www.ProjectReap.org.

This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/?post_type=podcast&p=1904&preview=true

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Josh Morgerman describes his initial move to LA to work in the movie industry, which didn't work out. He then started a web design company called Symblaze in the late 90s, which survived the dot-com crash by expanding to Eastern Europe and working with Russia and Eastern Bloc countries while living in Prague. Josh shares his dual passion for weather and advertising, leading to a career as a hurricane chaser while still running Symblaze.

A Pivotal Moment in the Philippines

Josh explains his obsession with violent weather and how he started hunting hurricanes more aggressively and frequently in his 30s. He was also working in the corporate world, still running his company. He led two parallel existences of a brand and advertising consultant, working as a strategist and creative director in his company, and also hunting hurricanes and typhoons around the world and collecting data. He describes a pivotal moment in the Philippines where his hurricane chasing career collided with his corporate life. Josh details his experience in the Philippines during a terrifying typhoon that left thousands dead. Surrounded by desperate people in the water, he jumped in to help rescue people, an act which was captured on video and broadcast on news outlets all around the world, including CNN. He discusses how his two careers coexisted and how he eventually moved to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to continue both.

At the Center of the Hurricane

Josh explains the process of hurricane chasing, focusing on collecting data from the calm center of the storm, which, he explains, is rich in data. He describes the adrenaline rush of being inside a hurricane and how it became a professional sport for him. Josh shares his experience of chasing Melissa, a category five hurricane in Jamaica, and the challenges he faced. He discusses the importance of data collection for scientists and how it helps in post-analysis of hurricanes. Josh describes the essential items in his hurricane go-bag, emphasizing portability and durability. He explains the importance of water and protein bars for sustenance during chases. Josh details the dangerous aspects of hurricane chasing, including the violent winds and flying debris. He shares his experience of being in the eye of a hurricane and the unique calm it brings.

The Storm Chasing Community

Josh discusses the storm chasing community, including tornado chasers and the cultural differences between them. He describes the competitive nature of hurricane chasing and his position as the world's leading hurricane chaser. Josh mentions the growing presence of women in the storm chasing community and the Instagram community called Girls Who Chase. He explains the versatility of storm chasers, who often cover various extreme weather events for media outlets.

Hurricane Chasing Technology

Josh explains the use of computer models to predict hurricane paths and intensities.

He describes the process of monitoring these models every six hours to stay updated on potential storms. Josh discusses the importance of knowing which storms to chase and which to avoid, and how to prepare for potentially dangerous and unexpected crises. He shares his experience of traveling to remote locations and the logistical challenges involved.

International Storm Chasing

Josh describes the process of booking flights and accommodations for international storm chases. He shares his experience of adapting to unexpected situations and the importance of staying calm.

Josh discusses the challenges of chasing storms in different cultures and the varying levels of police enforcement, and how he deals with these situations. He specifically mentions the stringent rules in Western Australia, and explains the role of his media credentials in gaining access to storm-affected areas.

Media and the Hurricane Man

Josh talks about his career as a paid storm chaser and his work with various media outlets. He mentions his involvement in reality series like Hurricane Man and his role as a brand ambassador for hurricane-resistant products. Josh discusses the financial aspects of his career and how it supports his storm chasing activities. He shares his experience of promoting brands like James Hardie and their hurricane-resistant products.

Measuring Hurricane Behavior

Josh explains the significance of measuring air pressure in the eye of a hurricane. He describes the role of his data in post-analysis by the National Hurricane Center. Josh shares his experience of chasing Melissa in Jamaica and the importance of accurate data collection. He discusses the broader impact of his data on understanding hurricane intensity and behavior. Josh reflects on his early interest in weather and how it influenced his career.

He shares his experience of chasing his first hurricane, Hurricane Bob, and the primitive methods used at the time. Josh discusses the cultural experiences he's had through storm chasing and how it has broadened his perspective.

Harvard Reflections

He mentions the influence of his Harvard education, particularly in Cold War foreign policy, on his current analysis of global threats. He mentions how his education introduced him to political cycles through history, and how principles learned he finds applicable today. He mentions professor Ernest May in the Department of History, who was a proponent of historical analogy and talked about the limitations of making aggressive comparisons. Josh still refers to his wisdom in his analysis of what's going on in the world.

Timestamps:

03:02: The Dual Life of a Hurricane Chaser

05:16: The Science and Thrill of Hurricane Chasing

06:51: Preparation and Equipment for Hurricane Chasing

09:16: The Community and Culture of Storm Chasing

15:34: The Role of Technology in Hurricane Chasing

19:33: The Practicalities of International Storm Chasing

19:51: The Business and Media Side of Hurricane Chasing

40:35: The Importance of Data Collection in Hurricane Research

41:07: Personal Reflections and Historical Connections

Links:

Social media:

https://www.facebook.com/iCyclone/

https://x.com/iCyclone

https://www.instagram.com/icyclone1/

https://www.youtube.com/icyclone

Websites:

As a stormchaser: https://www.icyclone.com/

As an ad man: https://www.symblaze.com/

This episode on The 92 Report:

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's is brought to you by Kristen Hunter who reports:

Hi. I'm Kristen Hunter, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 report is the Goldie Initiative. The Goldie Initiative empowers women to become real estate industry leaders by providing scholarships, mentorship and professional development designed to cultivate future executives across the real estate sector. I'm honored to serve as a member of the Goldie Initiative's Boston Executive Advisory Council, supporting an organization that has transformed the professional trajectories of a number of our Harvard real estate students. You can learn more and support their mission at Goldie initiative. That's G, o, l, D, I, E, initiative.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.

This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/?post_type=podcast&p=1897&preview=true

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Allain Roy shares that he left Harvard to become a professional hockey player, signing his first NHL contract out of college. He recalls winning the national championship in 1989 and the team's tradition of reuniting every 10 years. Al mentions attending Coach Clear's 90th birthday celebration and running into former teammates, Tim Burke, Kevin Sneddon, Rich DeFreitas, Brian McCormack and Greg Hess, along with Chuck Hughes at Harvard games.

Participating in the 1994 Olympics

Al discusses turning down an offer to play in Moscow before graduation and signing with the Winnipeg Jets. He played for the Canadian national team in the 1993-1994 season, traveling the world and participating in the 1994 Olympics. Al describes his experience at the Olympics, including the silver medal loss to Sweden in a shootout. He explains his decision to move on from professional hockey after a player strike and his involvement in various businesses with his ex-father-in-law.

Working for the NHL

Al talks about missing the game of hockey and deciding to get back into the sport either as a front office executive or an agent. He met Dennis Polanich, an agent, during an alumni game, leading to his purchase of a small agency in 2000. Al grew the agency into RSG Hockey and became an NHL certified agent for 26 years. He explains the services his firm provides, emphasizing the importance of hockey expertise and personalized services.

The Success of the NRX Hockey Model

Al details the services offered by RSG Hockey, including tax advice, estate planning, investment management, and concierge services. He discusses the NRX Hockey platform, which provides holistic solutions for athletes outside of contract negotiations and endorsements. Al explains the integration of North Rock Partners' services into the NRX Hockey platform to create a comprehensive system for athletes. He highlights the success of the NRX Hockey model and its potential to expand to other sports.

Financial Challenges Faced by Professional Athletes

Al addresses the financial challenges faced by professional athletes, emphasizing the importance of financial literacy and pro habits. He provides an example of an average NHL salary and the need for athletes to plan for their post-career financial stability. Al explains the role of his firm in helping athletes manage their finances, including reviewing cash flow statements and planning for retirement. He discusses the psychological and emotional challenges of retirement for athletes and the importance of planning ahead.

Culture Fit and Team Work

Al talks about the importance of culture fit and teamwork in his firm, moving away from a traditional compensation system to a team-based approach. He describes the growth of his agency from two employees to nearly 20 in North America, with partners in Europe. Al emphasizes the need for deep hockey knowledge among his employees to better serve clients.

He highlights the benefits of a team-oriented culture, including regular team calls and constant communication.

The Impact of NIL Legislation

Al discusses the impact of the National Image and Likeness (NIL) legislation on college sports, turning it into a de facto professional league. He explains the challenges of the open portal system, allowing athletes to switch schools without penalties. Al also talks about pay-to-play schemes and the need for better governance of NIL deals.

He describes the role of his firm in advising athletes on fair market value and potential pitfalls in NIL contracts.

Addressing Stigma and Anxiety

Al shares his enjoyment of returning to campus, including attending Harvard-Dartmouth games and visiting Pinocchio's pizza. He mentions his two children, both graduates of TCU, and his workaholic lifestyle, including traveling for the Olympics. Al discusses his firm's mental health initiative, addressing the stigma and anxiety faced by athletes. He emphasizes the importance of mental health conversations and support for athletes transitioning to post-career life.

Harvard Reflections

Al reflects on his favorite classes at Harvard, including astronomy with Dr. Latham and Dr. Gingrich, and the History of Genocide. He shares the impact of hearing personal stories from professors who lived through significant historical events, including working on The Manhattan Project, and guest speakers who worked on the first atomic bomb and saw the testing, and from a former concentration camp prisoner who testified at Nuremberg trials. Al appreciates the passion and unique experiences of his professors, which made their classes memorable. He also mentions the excitement of attending classes by notable figures like Spike Lee.

Timestamps:

00:02: Journey from Harvard to Professional Hockey

01:10: Early Professional Hockey Career

04:37: Transition to Agency Work

06:41: RSG Hockey Services and NRX Hockey Platform

11:18: Financial Management for Athletes

32:20: Building a Team Culture

36:30: Impact of NIL on College Sports

40:21: Personal Reflections and Mental Health Initiatives

43:23: Memorable Harvard Classes

Links:

RSG Hockey: https://rsghockey.com/

Northrock: https://www.northrock-x.com/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's is brought to you by Bill Cheng who reports:

"Hi. I'm Bill Cheng, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Team Rubicon. Team Rubicon is a veteran led organization that provides disaster aid all around the world. It was started in 2010 by a Marine veteran who is spurred by the devastation of the Haiti earthquake to bring a team of seven for hands-on support, and has since grown to become a major global relief organization. I first learned about it from my best friend who served in the Army and have donated annually in his honor. You can learn more about their work at Team Rubicon usa.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: TeamRubiconUSA.org.

This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/?post_type=podcast&p=1893&preview=true

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Noah Feldman, Harvard Law professor, author, and ethical advisor talks about his career in constitutional law and his experiences in Iraq and Tunisia, sharing stories from his time guiding, and in some cases, establishing, the law of countries in turmoil or collapse. He also talks about the themes explored in his books and current pursuits.

Real World Projects in Constitutional Law

Noah describes his academic journey, starting from his early love for school and his decision to pursue academia full-time, with brief interruptions for real-world projects. He shares his experiences as a law clerk for the late Justice David Souter and his role as the senior constitutional advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Noah discusses his involvement in drafting the Iraqi constitution, starting from scratch, and the unique opportunity it provided to apply his academic knowledge in a real-world scenario. He recounts his work in Tunisia after the Arab Spring, advising the Constituent Assembly on constitutional design.

Oversight on Facebook

After writing his book about James Madison, Noah's next step was unexpected involvement with Facebook's Oversight Board, which was inspired by a conversation with Sheryl Sandberg and Mark Zuckerberg. He was in California giving a talk at Stanford. He was thinking about writing a book on free speech in the era of social media. He explained to Sheryl how he had the idea that Facebook would benefit from having a kind of private Supreme Court. And the idea was that all of the companies privately made content moderation decisions could actually be made in a more public and transparent way, according to principles and the doing so would add to the legitimacy of their decision-making process. She loved the idea and introduced him to Mark Zuckerberg, and the outcome was the Oversight Board. Noah explains his ongoing work advising tech companies on governance issues and the complexities of balancing free expression and ethics in the tech industry.

A Sideline in Journalism and a Focus on Writing

Noah mentions his sideline in journalism, starting with a recommendation from Michael Ignatieff to write for the New York Times. He shares his experience of writing for Bloomberg's opinion section for over a decade. Noah talks about his podcast, Deep Background, which he hosted for three years, and his plans to relaunch it in a slightly different format. He discusses his current book project, The Importance of Being Human, which explores the value of human relationships in the age of AI and technology. Noah elaborates on his book project, focusing on the importance of human relationships in various aspects of life, including work, family, and politics. He expresses his open-mindedness about the potential value of romantic relationships with AI, despite initially holding a different view.

Following a Theme of Constitutions

When asked about his book choices, Noah explains his organizing theme of constitutions, focusing on Middle Eastern and US constitutional history. Noah outlines his planned book series on the history of the US Constitution, emphasizing the narrative throughline of the people who shaped it. He shares his experiences in Iraq, describing the chaotic and disorganized environment he encountered and the challenges of creating a functioning legal system in the midst of civil disorder. He shares the biggest lesson learned, the importance of order and law, arguing that without de facto control on the ground, it is difficult to establish a functioning legal or constitutional system. He also talks about how militias were formed. Noah discusses his work in Tunisia, highlighting the successful transition to democracy and the role of Islamist political parties in the democratic process. He reflects on the importance of norms and conventions in maintaining a functional constitutional system, using the example of Tunisia's failed Constitutional Court.

Norms and Conventions in Maintaining a Constitutional System

Noah emphasizes the significance of norms and conventions in the functioning of institutions, including legal systems and constitutional orders. He discusses the role of norms in the US constitutional system, using the example of the impeachment of Donald Trump to illustrate how norms can be changed by actions that challenge them. Noah reflects on the importance of understanding and respecting norms and conventions in maintaining the integrity of legal and constitutional systems. He highlights the need for clear and effective checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power and ensure the rule of law.

The Importance of Family

Noah shares details about his personal life, including his recent marriage to Julia Allison and his two children, Jamin and Mina, who are pursuing careers in the arts. He describes his relationship with his ex-wife, Jeannie Suk Gerson, and her husband, Jake Gerson, and how they maintain a good working relationship despite being colleagues.Noah reflects on the importance of family and personal relationships in his life, noting the support and encouragement he receives from his family.

Harvard Reflections

Noah reminisces about his time at Harvard, highlighting the impact of his mentors and the courses he took. He talks about his mentorship with Robert Nozick and the influence of his work on his current thinking, medieval Islamic and Jewish Studies and his professors there Isadore Turski, Bernard Septimus, and Mohsen Madi. he also mentions Richard Primus, Constitutional Law with H.W. Perry. Noah discusses his involvement with the Program on Jewish and Israeli Law at Harvard Law School and the importance of medieval Jewish and Islamic Studies in his work. He reflects on the value of response papers in developing his skills as a journalist and opinion writer.

Timestamps:

03:58: Involvement in Real-World Projects

07:52 Journalism and Media Engagement

13:07: Research and Personal Insights

23:51: Lessons from Iraq and Tunisia

37:46: Impact of Norms and Conventions

42:04: Personal Life and Family

45:08: Influences and Mentorship

Links:

Website: https://www.noahfeldman.com/

Email: noah_feldman@harvard.edu

@professornoahfeldman

Linktree

Featured Non-profit

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is brought to you by Anastasia Fernand who reports:

"Hi. I'm Anastasia Fernand, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of the 1992 report is the Rebecca H. Rhodes African Inclusive Literacy Research prize. The African inclusive literacy Research Fund supports African scholars and practitioners undertaking research to identify the best ways of helping children with disabilities become literate as a critical step in reaching their full potential. Rebecca was my roommate throughout college and a member of our class of 1992 Rebecca spent her career proving that every child can learn. Let's make sure her prize keeps proving it for generations to come. And now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: https://www.adeanet.org

Show Notes

Ted Caplow graduated with a degree in social science and has had a career in engineering and entrepreneurship. He describes his initial interest in science and his experience with physics at Harvard, which he found challenging. Ted shares his interest in humanities, particularly theater, and his involvement in various theater activities at Harvard. He discusses his consideration of theater conservatory programs and urban planning after graduation.

Joining the Peace Corps and Sailing across the Atlantic

Ted recounts his application to the Peace Corps and the unexpected technical fields he was qualified for, which were teaching English or beekeeping. This led him to reconsider his career path. He describes his sailing adventure across the Atlantic Ocean with his family and friends. They left shortly after graduation and the trip lasted six months. They stopped in the Azores for a couple of weeks, onto Gibraltar and Spain, through the Mediterranean. They stopped in Sardinia and stayed in Malta for a month; they sailed to Greece, the islands and Cyprus where they stopped and decided whether to continue around the world or go back to real life.

Returning to New York and the Theater Industry

Ted returned and went to New York where he joined the theater industry, working on production and starting his own theatrical company. Ted talks about his involvement in the theater industry, including producing interdisciplinary performances and meeting his first wife through a mutual friend. He describes his transition from theater to entrepreneurship. He started his own company and a non-profit theater company. This lasted a few years before Ted felt he should focus on a more technical field and he discusses the separation between creative pursuits and technical professions. Ultimately, he decided to pursue urban planning and his interest in sustainable development.

A Shift to Engineering

Ted shares his experience at Princeton and Columbia, where he pursued a PhD in engineering, despite initial doubts about his qualifications. He reflects on the challenges and rewards of his academic journey, including the intense environment at Princeton and the decision to pursue a master's degree instead of a PhD. He wrote his masters' thesis on solar power. Moving on from academia, Ted's next job was with a yacht designer. He then ran his friend's restaurant for two years before going back to school and earning his PhD. in engineering at Columbia in 2004.

The Development of the Science Barge

Ted explains his idea to create a sustainable technology laboratory in the Bahamas, why he became interested in hydroponics, and why he didn't go to the Bahamas. He explains how the original idea evolved into the Science Barge in the Hudson River. The Science Barge was a hydroponic greenhouse with solar panels, wind power, and aquaponics, designed to educate schoolchildren about sustainable technologies such as recycling the waste water. Ted discusses the challenges of moving the barge every two months and the decision to find a permanent home for it in Yonkers, and how this venture inspired the SunWork Center project.

Sustainable Development Success Stories

He highlights the success of the SunWork Center, a greenhouse on the rooftop of PS 333 in Manhattan, and the expansion of New York SunWorks to over 300 schools. Ted describes the development of Bright Farms, a commercial company that grew local produce in greenhouses on top of grocery stores. He shares the challenges and successes of Bright Farms, including partnerships with major retailers and the acquisition by Cox Enterprises. Ted reflects on the importance of sustainable design and the impact of his work on the food industry. He discusses the evolution of his design firm, Caplow Manzano, and its focus on creating durable, resilient homes that prioritize human health and environmental sustainability.

Technological Innovation in Building

Ted talks about his personal journey and the diverse skills he has developed over the years. He reflects on the importance of technological innovation, the role of engineering in his work, and the difficulty of navigating and innovating around all the components of building houses. Ted shares his plans for expanding his design firm's impact and the potential for scaling sustainable design solutions.

Harvard Reflections

He expresses gratitude for the opportunities and challenges that have shaped his career and looks forward to continuing his work in sustainable design and education. He mentions E.O. Wilson for Evolutionary Biology as an incredible talent and researcher in that field. He also mentions a poetry class with Seamus Heaney. He also mentions a class on China and one on Africa that he found inspiring and eye opening, and taking classes on Shakespeare from actors in the repertory theater.

Timestamps:

04:26: Exploring Career Paths

15:45: Entrepreneurial Ventures and Personal Life

31:56: The Science Barge and Educational Initiatives

48:06: Commercial Ventures and Bright Farms

55:37: Personal Reflections and Future Plans

Links:

Caplow Manzano: https://www.caplowmanzano.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caplow/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is brought to you by Kristen Hunter who reports:

"Hi, I'm Kristen Hunter, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is Habitat for Humanity, Greater Boston. Habitat for Humanity, Greater Boston works in partnership with families in need to build decent, affordable homes that strengthen communities, expanding access to home ownership for low income households, I'm proud to support the work of Habitat for Humanity, Greater Boston, whose CEO, James Costars, a longtime mentor, colleague and friend, has brought visionary leadership to their mission. You can learn more and support their work at habitatboston.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: habitatboston.org

*AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Lloyd opens the conversation by talking about the infinite opportunities at Harvard and encourages incoming freshmen to make the most of their time there. Lloyd shares his initial plan to study pre-med but also pursued fine arts, specifically architecture, and theater work. He mentions meeting Professor James Stilgoe at the Graduate School of Design, which opened his eyes to opportunities beyond STEM.

From Cornell to New York City

Lloyd discusses his decision to attend Cornell and his subsequent move to New York City. He had two job offers: working at Disney or a consulting firm, but chose the consulting firm due to financial needs. Lloyd worked for a boutique workout restructuring organization in New York City and later joined Starwood Capital Group. He was asked to open the London office for Starwood Capital Group in 2001, combining his interests in architecture, finance, and real estate. He honed his skills as an investment guy over the next few years before moving into entrepreneurship.

Founding Yoo Capital

In 2010, Lloyd and his business partner founded Yoo Capital, focusing on real estate private equity. The firm aimed to be responsible and institutional in their investments, creating global iconic destinations in London. Yoo Capital has invested in various sectors, including live theaters, film and television studios, music arenas, hotels, and restaurants. The firm has also created incubator spaces for startups and supports educational programs at Imperial College London and other institutions.

About Yoo Capital

Yoo Capital has committed to contributing 50% of all housing built in central London to government affordable housing. The firm has partnerships with major names in hospitality, food, beverage, music, and entertainment. Yoo Capital's investments are considered strategic to the national interest and socially responsible. The firm ensures accessibility in their destinations, ranging from affordable to high-end options.

Professional and Personal Goals

Lloyd shares his practice of journaling since 1997, mapping out his personal and professional goals. He contributes the success of his journey to education, skills learned, and opportunity to his passions professionally. He and his wife have created an ethos to build opportunities and contribute to social value that they have impressed upon their children. Lloyd discusses the importance of setting targets and reviewing progress regularly. He emphasizes the significance of maintaining a work-life balance and involving his family in the planning process, and he explains his setting targets and weekly review process.

Challenges of Brexit and COVID-19

Lloyd recounts the challenges faced during the Brexit vote and the COVID-19 pandemic. He explains the firm's strategy of being prudent and risk-averse, often forward-selling properties to secure investments. Lloyd shares a story about forward-selling and transforming a million square feet of residential property during the recession. Lloyd describes many of the exciting rejuvenation projects that invest in both the buildings and benefit the community with housing, entertainment, art, and businesses. The firm's approach has allowed them to weather economic storms and continue growing. Lloyd also mentions what he has learned from working with theatres.

Harvard Reflections

Lloyd credits Professors James Stilgoe and Harvey Cox as influential figures in his life. He discusses how Professor Stilgoe's course on the History of the American Built Environment broadened his perspective. Lloyd appreciates Professor Cox's course on Jesus in the world, which reinforced his Christian beliefs. Both professors' teachings have shaped Lloyd's approach to business and personal life.

Guiding Beliefs at Work

Lloyd explains how his Christian beliefs guide his professional decisions and the firm's ethos. He emphasizes the importance of humility and collaboration with world-class partners. Lloyd shares how the firm's investments are rooted in creating socially responsible and accessible destinations. He highlights the significance of maintaining a moral fiber in all business dealings. Lloyd discusses the firm's future plans, including expanding their investments in central London. He mentions ongoing projects like the Camden Film Quarter and the transformation of Olympia. The firm aims to continue creating iconic destinations that are both financially successful and socially responsible. Lloyd expresses his gratitude for the opportunities and challenges that have shaped his journey.

Timestamps:

04:22: Transition from Harvard to Early Career

08:53: Social Responsibility and Strategic Partnerships

12:15: Personal and Professional Growth

21:54: The Weekly Review Process

24:22: Founding Yoo Capital

32:19: Understanding the Theatre Business

43:06: Influence of Harvard Professors

Links:

Yoo Capital: https://yoocapital.com/

Olympia: https://www.olympia.co.uk/

Camden Film Quarter: https://www.camdenfilmquarter.com/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is brought to you by Elijah Aron who reports:

"Hi. I'm Elijah Aron, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 report is Earth Justice. Basically, it's an organization of lawyers who protect the planet. I like to give money to environmental causes, but I don't always understand what a lot of these big green nonprofits are actually doing with my money. But Earth justice, I totally understand. They fight court cases against corporations and sometimes the federal government on the side of the earth. You can learn more about their work@earthjustice.org Now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit: www.earthjustice.org.

*Show notes and transcript are AI generated.

Show Notes:

Trisha Pérez Kennealy describes her initial stint in New York in commercial banking, followed by investment banking and studying to become a chef at Le Cordon Bleu in London, where she lived for three years. She moved back to the United States, settling in Lexington. She has three children and while they were little, she was active in town meetings, became a town official, and advocated for public education.

In 2010, Trisha bought a property near the Battle Green in Lexington and converted it into a luxury hotel with 22 guest rooms and a restaurant. It opened in 2014 and has since received four stars from Forbes and earned Michelin Keys status. Trisha still runs the inn today.

An Entrepreneurial Spirit

Trisha shares that she always knew she would be an entrepreneur, influenced by her Puerto Rican heritage and her father's business. She ran the dance and theater program for Cambridge City School kids during her undergrad years, which was an entrepreneurial endeavor. Trisha admired successful businesspeople who transitioned to public service and felt that her banking experience would be an asset to any entrepreneurial venture. She talks about how her background and family influenced her love of cooking. She emphasizes the importance of cooking and is a firm believer that food is medicine. She also emphasizes the importance of "breaking bread" as a strong element of building a successful and supportive community.

Creative Pursuits and Community Building in the Kitchen

Trisha talks about how her background and family influenced her love of cooking. She emphasizes the importance of cooking and is a firm believer that food is medicine. She also emphasizes the importance of "breaking bread" as a strong element of building a successful and supportive community. Her passion for cooking, developed from a young age, led her to pursue professional chef training at Le Cordon Bleu. Trisha explains that her training at Le Cordon Bleu was technical and applicable to various culinary traditions, not just French cuisine. She talks about finding the best ingredients and how to do as little as possible to the ingredients, and the importance of technique. She explains how she is influenced by her passion for agriculture and local products.

Running a Luxury Inn

Trisha describes the Inn at Hastings Park, highlighting its focus on American design aesthetic and high-touch service and the lengths she went to in the design and decor. The restaurant menu is developed with a focus on New England cuisine and offers a well-curated dessert menu. Trisha describes featured items on the menu and discusses the challenges of running a small luxury inn, including the tech-intensive nature of the business and the importance of data management. She emphasizes the value of hiring well-trained staff and being willing to learn and get hands-on with various tasks. Trisha mentions she was surprised to find that it's easier to run a larger property due to fixed costs, but smaller properties offer more personalized service. She highlights the importance of personalization and making guests feel seen and valued, and explains how they have supported long-stay guests during challenging times like medical treatments or family emergencies.

Accolades for the Inn

Trisha talks about the impact of receiving a Michelin Key, which brought significant press coverage and increased visibility. She shares her passion for teaching people how to cook through social media, which has led to meaningful interactions with her followers. Trisha describes the importance of making cooking approachable and encouraging people to experiment with recipes. She mentions the success of her social media content, including videos and reels, which have reached a wide audience.

The Value of Serving in Public Office

Trisha reflects on her role as the Senior Class Gift Chair, which fostered lifelong friendships and a deep commitment to giving back to Harvard. She discusses her involvement in various alumni activities, including serving on the Dean's Advisory Council for the Radcliffe Institute. Trisha shares her experience as a representative for town meetings in Lexington, where she worked on appropriations for the municipality and schools including, zoning policy, and capital expenditures. She emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and the value of serving in public office to bring new perspectives and ideas.

Historical Preservation and Community Engagement

Trisha highlights her work on the town's Tourism Committee, which led to the construction of a new visitor center in Lexington. She describes the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which was celebrated with significant events and community involvement. Trisha shares her pride in preserving the tradition of hospitality in Lexington through the Inn at Hastings Park. She reflects on the importance of historical preservation and community engagement in her work.

Harvard Reflections

Trisha discusses the impact of the Constitutional Law course with HW Perry, which taught her to explore both sides of an argument and think rigorously. She mentions her admiration for Michael Sandel, who encouraged critical thinking and the exploration of ethical questions. Trisha emphasizes the importance of learning how to think and express opinions at Harvard, which has been valuable in her professional and personal life. She reflects on the broader impact of her Harvard education, which fostered a lifelong commitment to learning and service.

Timestamps:

02:46: Entrepreneurial Spirit and Early Influences

09:24: Transition from Banking to Culinary Arts

18:00: Challenges and Lessons in Running a Luxury Inn

25:48: Impact of Michelin Key and Social Media Engagement

29:29: Role as Senior Class Gift Chair and Town Meeting Member

36:05: Significant Projects and Achievements

39:17: Influence of Harvard Courses and Professors

Links:

Trisha's Instagram: @trishaperezkennealy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishaperezkennealy/

The Inn at Hastings Park: https://www.innathastingspark.com/

Town Meeting Bistro: https://www.innathastingspark.com/dine/town-meeting-bistro/

Hotel Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/innhastingspark/

Featured Non-profit:

This week's featured non-profit is brought to you by Somava Saha who reports:

" Hi. I'm Somava Saha, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is Well being and Equity in the World, or We in the World. We in the World works to create a more just and abundant future for everybody by unleashing the power and possibility of communities experiencing poverty over the last five years. As founder and CEO, I've gotten to watch over 11,572 jobs created in communities that are experiencing the greatest harm, and watched as those leaders then went on to restore 195,000 years of life for birthdays in those communities, supported a million and a half of their neighbors to be safe and well in the pandemic and restored that at a 30 to one return in investment, far better than would have been possible had somebody else come in to rescue them. In this time that work is needed more than ever. Please come and learn more about us at Well being and Equity in the World or We in the World. That's W, E, I N, T, H, E, W, O, R, L, d.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit: https://weintheworld.org/

*Show notes and transcript are AI generated.

Rana Dershowitz went straight to Harvard Law School after graduating in 1992, partly due to the economy and her love for learning. She describes her experience at Harvard Law School, including her role as a law school "old timer" in Cambridge. After law school, Rana moved back to New York and started working on Wall Street, initially hating the big law environment but appreciating the people she worked with.

Entertainment Law at Madison Square Garden and onto Sports Law

Rana discusses her career counselor's advice to explore sports law, which she had overlooked despite her involvement in sports and technical theater at Harvard. She took a six-month leave of absence and was offered a job in sports law the day she started her leave. Rana worked in entertainment law at Madison Square Garden (MSG) from 2001 to 2007, handling legal work for the Knicks, Rangers, and the WNBA's New York Liberty. She met her future husband during this time and moved to Colorado in 2007, where she continued her legal career.

Joining the US Olympic Committee and Life in Colorado

Rana joined the US Olympic Committee (USOC) as Deputy General Counsel in 2007, becoming interim General Counsel and then General Counsel and Head of Government Affairs. She describes the challenges of commuting between Colorado Springs and Denver, with her husband working in Bould, while managing her job and family life. Rana and her husband moved to Basalt, Colorado, in 2011, where she continued her legal work, joined the Aspen skiing company, and became involved in the Aspen community. She transitioned to a part-time role at Aspen Skiing Company while working as Phil Weiser's policy director for his gubernatorial campaign.

Challenges and Opportunities at the US Olympic Committee

Rana explains the unique structure of the USOC, which is federally chartered and subject to congressional oversight, unlike most Olympic committees. She discusses the complexities of funding and intellectual property rights, including the USOC's unique trademark rights. Rana highlights her work on safe sport initiatives and the challenges of managing independent national governing bodies for various sports. She reflects on the legal and operational complexities of hosting Olympic Games in the United States and the international dynamics involved.

Working at Madison Square Garden and New York Liberty

Rana shares a story that reflects her personal connection to Madison Square Garden. She describes the structure of MSG, which owns the building, the Knicks, the Rangers, and the Liberty, and her role in handling sponsorships and league rules. Rana recounts her involvement in the New York Liberty's WNBA finals run in 1999, feeling proud to be part of the team's success. She also discusses her role in managing entertainment acts during team sports events at MSG and shares a few of her proudest moments.

Policy Work and Campaign for Phil Weiser

Rana explains her role as Phil Weiser's policy director, focusing on active listening and building a grassroots campaign across Colorado. She outlines key issues the campaign is addressing, including affordability, climate change, water resources, and public lands. Rana emphasizes the importance of bridging urban-rural divides and finding innovative solutions that benefit the entire state. She highlights the campaign's efforts to address youth mental health and promote outdoor activities for children.

Rana's Broader Role at Aspen Skiing Company

Rana discusses her expanded role at Aspen Skiing Company, overseeing sustainability, community engagement, planning and development, and PR.

She describes her transition to leading mountain operations and her current role that spans looking into employee housing and childcare. Rana reflects on the importance of understanding systems and structures beyond legal work, drawing on her experiences at Aspen.

Harvard Reflections

Rana shares her initial reluctance to follow in her family's legal footsteps but eventually being drawn to law by her interest in the "Justice" class. She credits the course for shifting her perspective and leading her to law school. She also mentions auditing the "Thinking about Thinking" class taught by Stephen Jay Gould, Robert Nozick, and Alan Dershowitz, and reflects on the importance of considering different perspectives in policy work and legal decision-making.

Timestamps:

02:26: Transition to Sports Law and Madison Square Garden

05:23: Joining the US Olympic Committee and Family Life in Colorado

13:15: Challenges and Opportunities at the US Olympic Committee

20:38: Experiences at Madison Square Garden and New York Liberty

31:34: Policy Work and Campaign for Phil Weiser

40:33: Rana's Broader Role at Aspen Skiing Company

44:24: Reflections on Harvard

Links:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rana-dershowitz/

Phil Weiser for Colorado: https://philforcolorado.com/

Aspen One: https://aspen.com/

USOPC: https://www.usopc.org/

Madison Square Gardens: https://www.msg.com/madison-square-garden

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is brought to you by Peter Kang who reports:

"Hi. This is Peter Kang from the class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode is the Greg Marzolf Jr. Muscular Dystrophy Center at the University of Minnesota. We provide cutting edge research and clinical care for children and adults with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders. I have been the director of this center since 21 and it has been a privilege to see all the good work that we do to find out more. Please go to M, E, d.umn.edu/md center, or email me at p, k, a, n, g@umn.edu, thanks very much. And enjoy today's podcast."

To learn more about their work, visit: https://med.umn.edu/mdcenter

*AI generated show notes and transcript.

Show Notes:

Eugene Kim shares his post-graduation journey staying in Boston to finish research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute which was part of his thesis and also laid down the groundwork for his own cancer research which he has conducted over the years. He credits his understanding of science to his time at Harvard. He also worked at the now-closed Love the Border Cafe. Eugene reflects on the valuable lessons learned from working at the cafe and describes the unique subculture of the cafe's staff, including the Brazilian kitchen staff and the diverse backgrounds of the waiters and waitresses.

Securing a Position in Research

Eugene talks about his major in biochemical sciences and his interest in molecular biology. He describes how he got involved in research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, working with a researcher named Sam Speck. Eugene details the hands-on experience he gained, including growing bacteria, running gels, and learning the importance of meticulous work, and shares memorable experiences of working there, including biking through snow to continue his research during a Thanksgiving blizzard.

Enrolling in Columbia Medical School

Eugene discusses his decision to attend Columbia Medical School in New York City, influenced by his desire to learn in a bustling city and study at a school that was his top choice. Eugene talks about his four years in medical school, his general surgical training, and working in a cancer research laboratory and developing an interest in pediatric cancer. Eugene recounts his experience during 9/11, including the hospital's response and his involvement in helping first responders at Ground Zero. He reflects on the impact of 9/11 on the New York City community and the long-term health effects on residents.

A Focus on Pediatric Surgery

Eugene explains his transition from adult surgery to pediatric surgery, driven by his desire to help children. He describes his training at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the competitive nature of obtaining a spot in pediatric surgery training. Eugene shares his experience in Houston, Texas, and the importance of mentorship in his career. He discusses the challenges and rewards of being a pediatric surgeon, including the need to specialize in various areas of surgery. Eugene emphasizes the importance of mentorship in his career and his efforts to mentor young surgeons and researchers. He describes the physical and mental demands of long surgeries and the importance of staying physically fit. Eugene discusses the impact of new technologies on pediatric surgery, such as robotic surgery and advanced imaging techniques. He reflects on the importance of remaining open-minded to new technologies and incorporating them into his practice.

Harvard Reflections

Eugene reflects on his time at Harvard, including his interest in art history and Japanese art and history taught by John Rosenfield. He shares his appreciation for the seminar course with Mark Ptashne, which deepened his interest in molecular biology. He also mentions an Introduction to Architecture course with James Ackerman. Eugene discusses the importance of taking courses outside of his major and the impact of these courses on his career. He reflects on the value of the requirements at Harvard and how they broadened his perspective and knowledge.

A Journey into Wine

Eugene shares his interest in wine, including his extensive collection and the impact of the Palisades fire on his collection. He describes his journey into wine, including learning about different regions and types of wine. Eugene recounts a memorable experience of tasting rare wines with the head red wine maker from Penfolds in Australia. He reflects on the importance of balancing professional and personal interests and the joy of sharing his passion for wine with others.

Timestamps:

04:44: Early Research Experience at Harvard

08:13: Medical School and Early Career

18:46: Transition to Pediatric Surgery

40:09: Mentorship and Professional Development

44:03: Personal Interests and Hobbies

51:03: Reflections on Harvard and Beyond

Links:

Hospital website: https://researchers.cedars-sinai.edu/Eugene.KimX/about

Twitter / X: https://x.com/dreskim

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugenekim3/

Show Notes: Jonathan Hughes talks about his career in consulting, starting with an economic consulting firm, Putnam Hayes and Bartlett, in Los Angeles. He mentions his connection back to Harvard through CMI (Conflict Management Inc.) founded by Roger Fisher and Bruce Patton, and his subsequent roles at Vantage Partners and BDO. The Career Path As a Consultant Jonathan describes his role at CMI, focusing on complex negotiations and business partnerships, and his role in helping to start the boutique firm, Vantage Partners where he spent around 25 years as a partner. He later moved over to BDO, a large professional services firm, where he led the Management Consulting practice in the US, and globally.

Working As a Conflict Management ConsultantJonathan discusses his work with CMI, emphasizing the importance of managing conflict constructively and approaching conflict creatively to develop solutions. He shares his experience with a pro bono project for OCHA (Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance) at the UN, focusing on partnerships with the private sector. Jonathan highlights his work with conventional and special forces in the military, including SEALs and Civil Affairs, on negotiation and conflict management training. He explains the challenges of internal and interagency negotiations, as well as those with external parties, in both the military and corporate sector.Influence Training to Special ForcesJonathan elaborates on the influence training provided to special forces, including negotiations with governments and local leaders, partner forces, CIA, and the Department of State.He compares the challenges of internal negotiations within organizations to external negotiations with customer, strategic partners, and suppliers. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of aligning different stakeholders and executives within any organization. He shares an example of a multi-billion dollar negotiation with a state-owned enterprise a global corporation where understanding the other side's perspective was key to coming to an agreement.Unpacking Negotiation TechniquesThe conversation turns to the influence techniques at McKinsey, including role-playing scenarios and tools like legitimacy, logical persuasion, and appealing to friendship.Jonathan discusses the importance of fact-based negotiation and the role of psychology and emotional motivations in influence. He introduces the concept of "calling people to a higher purpose" and the psychological drive for consistency. Jonathan shares a story about a negotiation where challenging the other side's unreasonable demand led to a more fair agreement.Work History SummarizedWhen asked how conflict resolution training has influenced Jonathan's personal life.Jonathan says that he is sometimes better at giving advice than incorporating it himself. Jonathan mentions that he has pursued a breadth of experiences working across life sciences, and biopharma, energy and natural resources, the semiconductor industry, and the intersection of software, financial services, and data and analytics. He mentioned extensive work with Equifax over the last 13 years. Jonathan discusses the balance between competition and collaboration in his strategy work.Creative Pursuits and Cat RescuersJonathan mentions his current focus on figuring out his next steps after leaving BDO and shares his interest in film. He mentions his experience as an executive producer on a documentary called "The Cat Rescuers." Jonathan mentions his love for travel, scuba diving, reading, and writing, including contributions to Harvard Business Review and MIT's Sloan Management Review, focusing on topics ranging from innovation, to supply chain management, to negotiation, influence, and conflict management. Jonathan expresses his interest in finding another film project in the future. He emphasizes the importance of reading philosophy and science books, which continue to influence his thinking.Harvard ReflectionsJonathan mentions his concentration in philosophy and the impact of professors like John Rawls and Stanley Cavell. He highlights a course called Thinking About Thinking taught by Stephen Jay Gould, Alan Dershowitz, and Robert Nozick. Jonathan discusses the relevance of his philosophy education to his career in consulting.He mentions his continued interest in philosophy and science, despite focusing on business in his professional life. Jonathan shares recently read books, including a new translation of The Odyssey and rereading the Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. Le Guin. He reflects on the theme of human finitude in Le Guin's books and its relevance to current discussions on human immortality and transhumanism. Jonathan expresses mixed feelings about the pursuit of human immortality and the importance of accepting human limitations. He mentions his recent LinkedIn post predicting future trends, including the impact of AI and technology on society.

Timestamps:

02:56: Conflict Management and Pro Bono Work

06:25: Influence Training for Special Forces

11:37: Influence Techniques and Training Methods

22:43: Conflict Resolution in Personal Life

23:44: Professional Evolution and Current Focus

27:28: Personal Interests and Future Plans

29:19: Influential Courses and Professors at Harvard

32:48: Favorite Novels and Personal Reflections

Links:

LinkedIn: Jonathan Hughes | LinkedIn

Articles:

What's Your Negotiation Strategy? HBR

Formalize Escalation Procedures to Improve Decision-Making - MIT Sloan Review

Unlearning to Innovate - Ivey Business Journal

Why Influence Is a Two-Way Street - MIT SMR Store

Simple Rules for Making Alliances Work - HBR

Featured Non-profit:

Hi. This is Mark Messenbaugh, class of 1992. Special thanks to Will Bachman for putting this podcast together to keep us all informed of what one another is doing. Great to hear your stories. The featured non-profit for this episode of The 92 Report is the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. I worked for BGCA back during the 2000s. It is a life changing organization that brings youth development and safe after school and summer programs to neighborhoods around the country that need it most. Saves Lives, saves communities. I hope you'll take a look at them. You can learn more@www.bgca.org and with that, here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit: www.bgca.org.

AI generated show notes and transcript

Show Notes:

Steve recounts his senior year at Harvard, and how he was torn between pursuing acting and philosophy. He graduated with a dual degree in philosophy and math but also found time to act in theater and participated in 20 shows.

A Love of Theater and a Move to London

Steve explains why the lack of a theater major at Harvard allowed him to explore acting more than a university with a theater major. He touches on his parents' concerns about his career prospects if he pursued acting, and his decision to apply to both acting and philosophy graduate schools. Steve discusses his rejection from all graduate schools and why he decided to move to London with friends Evan Cohn and Brad Rouse. He talks about his experience in London.

Europe on $20 a Day

Steve details his backpacking trip through Europe on a $20 a day budget, staying with friends from Harvard and high school. He mentions a job opportunity in Japan through the Japanese Ministry of Education and describes his three-year stint in Japan, working as a native English speaker for the Japanese Ministry of Education, and being immersed in Japanese culture. He shares his experiences of living in the countryside and reflects on the impact of living in a different culture, learning some Japanese, and making Japanese friends. He discusses the personal growth and self-reflection that came from his time in Japan, including his first steps off the "achiever track."

On to Philosophy Graduate School

When Steve returned to the U.S. he decided to apply to philosophy graduate schools again, this time with more success. He enrolled at the University of Michigan. However, he was miserable during grad school, which led him to seek therapy. Steve credits therapy with helping him make better choices in life. He discusses the competitive and prestigious nature of the Michigan philosophy department and the challenges of finishing his dissertation. He touches on the narrow and competitive aspects of pursuing a career in philosophy and shares his experience of finishing his dissertation and the support he received from a good co-thesis advisor.

Kalamazoo College and Improv

Steve describes his postdoc experience at Kalamazoo College, where he continued his improv hobby and formed his own improv group. He mentions a mockumentary-style improv movie called Comic Evangelists that premiered at the AFI Film Festival. Steve moved to Buffalo, Niagara University, and reflects on the challenges of adjusting to a non-research job. He discusses his continued therapy in Buffalo and the struggle with both societal and his own expectations of professional status, however, with the help of a friend, he came to the realization that he had "made it" in his current circumstances. Steve describes his acting career in Buffalo, including roles in Shakespeare in the Park and collaborating with a classmate, Ian Lithgow.

A Speciality in Philosophy of Science

Steve shares his personal life, including meeting his wife in 2009 and starting a family. He explains his specialty in philosophy of science, focusing on the math and precise questions in analytic philosophy. He discusses his early interest in AI and computational epistemology, including the ethics of AI and the superintelligence worry. Steve describes his involvement in a group that discusses the moral status of digital minds and AI alignment.

Aligning AI with Human Interests

Steve reflects on the challenges of aligning AI with human interests and the potential existential risks of advanced AI. He shares his concerns about the future of AI and the potential for AI to have moral status. He touches on the superintelligence concern and the challenges of aligning AI with human goals. Steve mentions the work of Eliezer Yudkowsky and the importance of governance and alignment in AI development. He reflects on the broader implications of AI for humanity and the need for careful consideration of long-term risks.

Harvard Reflections

Steve mentions Math 45 and how it kicked his butt, and his core classes included jazz, an acting class and clown improv with Jay Nichols.

Timestamps:

01:43: Dilemma Between Acting and Philosophy

03:44: Rejection and Move to London

07:09: Life in Japan and Cultural Insights

12:19: Return to Academia and Grad School Challenges

20:09: Therapy and Personal Growth

22:06: Transition to Buffalo and Philosophy Career

26:54: Philosophy of Science and AI Ethics

33:20: Future Concerns and AI Predictions

55:17: Reflections on Career and Personal Growth

Links:

Steve's Website: https://stevepetersen.net/

On AI Superintelligence:

If Anyone Builds it, Everyone Dies

Superintelligence

The Alignment Problem

Some places to donate:

The Long-Term Future Fund

Open Philanthropy

On improv

Impro

Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is brought to you by Rich Buery who reports:

"Hi, I'm Rich Buery, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is imentor. imentor is a powerful youth mentoring organization that connects volunteers with high school students and prepares them on the path to and through college. Mentors stay with the students through the last two years of high school and on the beginning of their college journey. I helped found imentor over 25 years ago and served as its founding executive director, and I am proud that over the last two decades, I've remained on the board of directors. It's truly a great organization. They need donors and they need volunteers. You can learn more about their work@www.imentor.org That's www, dot i m, e n, t, O, r.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit: www.imentor.org.

Show Notes:

P.J. shares the backstory of his name and how he became a high school principal. He studied simultaneously in law school for a JD and in the Philosophy department for a PhD at the University of Chicago. After realizing he didn't enjoy law or philosophy, he taught math at Phillips Andover and later in Chicago. He helped start a new public school, Walter Payton College Prep, and has been a principal at Lake View High School for the past 10 years.

Teaching Chaos Theory and Math

P.J. describes his experience teaching at Phillips Andover, including teaching chaos theory. He found the environment supportive and the students "good at doing school", which made his first year of teaching easier. He enjoyed working with the students, especially the boys in his dorm, and found teaching math more enjoyable than he expected. P.J. reflects on the differences between teaching at a private school and a public school.

Starting Walter Payton College Prep

P.J. discusses the creation of Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago. The school was designed to attract affluent and white families back to the city. P.J. and his partner, Doug O'Roark, started the math department and implemented common lessons and assessments. The school grew to become the most selective in Chicago, with a high percentage of students enrolling in college.

Challenges and Successes of a Principal

P.J. describes his current role as principal at Lake View High School and touches on what has made the school successful in addition to the challenges. The school serves a diverse population, with 85% low-income students, including refugees, and a high percentage of first-generation college-goers. P.J. emphasizes the importance of providing support and opportunities for all students. He shares the success of the school, with 75% of the class of 2024 enrolling in college, and explains what a principal does on a daily basis.

Leadership Evolution and Philosophy

P.J. reflects on his evolution as a leader, emphasizing the importance of believing in the potential of every individual. He shares his philosophy of focusing on what he can influence and being creative in his approach, and in how the school fosters growth in the students. P.J. discusses the importance of selecting teachers who love working with high school students and are committed to improving their practice, and the key factors he looks for when hiring teachers. He highlights the value of providing conditions for talent to thrive.

Math Circles of Chicago

P.J. explains the concept of the non-profit he started, Math Circles of Chicago, which provides math enrichment for students. The program offers one-day festivals, classes, and a math research symposium. P.J. emphasizes the importance of providing engaging and challenging math experiences for students. He explains the organization's creative approach to supporting both the teachers and students with curriculum development, lesson planning, and workshops. The program has grown to serve 5500 students annually, with many Chicago Public School teachers participating.

Harvard Reflections

P.J. discusses the impact of his education at Harvard, particularly the course "Justice". He mentions the influence of philosophy professors like Warren Goldfarb and the importance of skepticism towards big theories. P.J. reflects on the value of learning from roommates and classmates, which shaped his perspective and approach to life. He also mentions a class on 20th century classical music. He highlights the importance of community and collaboration in his educational journey. P.J. shares his final thoughts on the importance of providing opportunities for all students to succeed.

Timestamps:

03:18: Teaching at Phillips Andover

19:12: Starting Walter Payton College Prep

24:32: Leadership Evolution and Philosophy

36:19: Math Circles of Chicago

40:38: Impact of Harvard Education

51:17: Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Links:

Lake View High School https://www.lakeviewhs.com/

Math Circles of Chicago https://www.mathcirclesofchicago.org/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is brought to you by Dennis Murphy who reports:

" Hi. I'm Dennis Murphy, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is Glam Girl, the Global Local athletic movement. GLAM is a youth-led organization that empowers girls through sports by running service projects, advocacy projects, and sports and leadership camps in the US and around the world. Something as simple as not having a sports bra can keep female athletes from playing the sports they love. GLAM helps them stay in the game and partners with athletic directors to support entire teams. I'm so proud of my daughter Izzy for being one of the organization's founders. She currently runs a GLAM club at her high school. You can learn more about their work at GlamGirldotlife. And now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit: https://www.glamgirl.life/

Show Notes:

Scott Cole describes his initial struggles at Harvard, dropping out after freshman year, and returning multiple times before finally graduating in 2012. He shares his first dropout experience, including a brief stint in California and a return to Harvard for sophomore year. He details his various jobs and adventures, including working at a car wash, landscaping, and a research assistant position at Harvard Forest.

Working on a Ranch in Wyoming

Scott thinks back to his days working at a ranch in Wyoming, where he learned cowboy skills and participated in cattle drives. He describes his move to Middlebury, Vermont, where he worked on an organic farm, a cross-country ski area, and a bakery. He also shares where he learned to cook.

Back to School and on to a Law firm

Scott discusses his return to Boston to finish college, working part-time at a law firm and attending school. He describes the challenges of balancing work, school, and financial aid, leading to another dropout. Scott talks about his relationship ending and moving back to California, where he worked at Sequoia National Park resort teaching cross country skiing. He quit this job to go to Guatemala with his dad's school group and spent some time there before moving to Oakhurst and working at a restaurant where he learned cooking skills. He worked there for two years until he paid off his student loans, and with his new found freedom, decided to hit the road and hike through the Sierra Mountains. He also talks about working in Fresno and in a job at the UC Cooperative Extension promoting school gardening as a way to teach nutrition education.

From Alaska to Nevada

Scott recounts his time working at a back country lodge in Alaska, teaching cross-country skiing, and working as a hiking guide and naturalist. He later moved to Boston to help a friend renovate a Victorian house and then worked with the Boston Children's Museum. After Boston, Scott describes his move to Michigan to be with a girlfriend in graduate school and working at the Maharishi Vedic University in their organic greenhouse. He also talks about his work with the Nevada Conservation Corps, cooking for a chainsaw crew, and his job at the White Mountain Research Station where he looked after a herd of sheep and cooked for the researchers. Scott finally decided to return to Harvard to finish his last six classes and talks about his experience completing his degree.

Riding the Wave

After completing his degree, Scott biked across the country with a friend. He reflects on his diverse experiences, including working with his hands, helping a friend who is a sculptor on building a sculpture for an exhibit. He talks about "The Table" tour working in Death Valley, and volunteering at various places, and biking in Canada from the Rockies to Bella Coola. He discusses the challenges of returning to school at an older age and the joy of completing his degree. Scott mentions his love for gardening, cooking, music, hiking, and outdoor activities, and how these hobbies filled his off-hours.

Harvard Reflections

An English major at Harvard, Scott mentions seeing Alan Ginsberg read at Harvard. He mentions taking a poetry class and a printing class. He also mentions Literature and Human Suffering with James Engell, Chicano Literature with visiting UCLA professor Héctor Calderón, Folklore and Mythology with Simon Bronner, a poetry class with Henri Cole, and Place, Space, and Region with Stephanie Burt.

Timestamps:

00:02: Scott Cole's Journey through Harvard and Beyond

06:36: Exploring Different Career Paths

09:41: Returning to School and Balancing Work and Education

40:07: Adventures in Alaska and Beyond

54:13: Reflecting on Life Experiences and Future Plans

Links:

Scott's email: scottrc_30@yahoo.com

Instagram: scootersride

Historical building preservation: Welcome to HistoriCorps

Adobe restoration: https://www.cstones.org

Adobe courses and home builder support:

Adobe in Action: https://www.adobeinaction.org

Reuben Margolin art: Waves – Reuben Margolin – Kinetic Artist

Science Research Station:

White Mountain Research Center — Supporting scientific achievement for 75 years.

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is brought to you by Jared Eigerman who reports:

"Hi. I'm Jay Eigerman, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is Street Lab. Street Lab is a nonprofit that works in neighborhoods throughout New York City to activate and improve spaces, including pedestrian streets, at no cost to the public. I've been a board member since 2011 when they first started in Boston. I especially like the street lab sales programming kits at reasonable cost so others around the world can deploy them on their own. Please take a look at streetlab.org. Now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: streetlab.org.

Show Notes:

Miruna studied art history at Harvard, focusing on Renaissance art. After taking a year off to travel and visit Romania, she decided to study Latin American Studies and Spanish and Portuguese at Yale. She found the graduate experience at Yale challenging, especially the sense of isolation that can come with graduate work when it is not socially or politically involved. Miruna began traveling to Mexico for her research on colonial Latin America, focusing on the intersection of history of science, literature, and ritual.

Teaching History of Science

Miruna moved to Mexico City, where she still resides. She works at a public university, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, in the Humanities Department where she works on narratives that have to do with the history of science. She also teaches courses on collecting and museum formation from a material culture perspective. She works with the national archeological collection in Mexico City, focusing on how collections are formed and the role of material culture in shaping history.

Arriving in the U.S. As a Refugee

Miruna shares more about her experience as a refugee and her journey to the US. Miruna was 13 when she left Romania with her parents, staying in a refugee camp near Vienna before moving to the US. Her parents applied for asylum in Australia, Canada, and the U.S., and the U.S. was the first to grant it. Miruna describes the cultural shock of arriving in Los Angeles in March with heavy winter coats, highlighting the differences between Central Europe and Southern California.

The Cultural Importance of Understanding the Past

Miruna discusses her teaching at a public university in Mexico, where she encourages students to question and engage with the past. She explains the hierarchical nature of Mexican society and how public universities provide a space for people from different backgrounds to meet. Miruna emphasizes the importance of understanding that the past is not fixed and that there are always opportunities to intervene and shape the present. In her courses on the history of archeology and collecting, she encourages students to develop their own relationships with the past.

Archeological Collections and Community Ownership

Miruna shares a story from the 19th century about the National Museum of Mexico and how archeology became a central part of the country's national heritage. She explains how archeological collections were moved from communities to the capital, often with resistance from local people. Miruna discusses a specific incident where urns from the Pacific coast were shattered during transportation, highlighting the different ways of caring for objects. While disciplinary narratives insist that museums care for objects, this episode shows how the opposite is true as well: objects and their meanings can be destroyed, physically and conceptually in their transfer to museum. She further discusses a more recent event, involving state violence and local resistance, when a 168-ton monolith was moved from a village outside Mexico City to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, in 1964.

Practices and Norms in Archeology

The conversation turns to changes in archeological practices and norms over the years. Miruna notes that younger archeologists are more likely to seek permission from local communities and give credit to local guides and people working on excavations. She mentions the increasing difficulty of accessing certain areas in Mexico due to organized crime, which has reduced the number of archeological projects in some regions. Miruna emphasizes the importance of local museums and community collections in providing more inclusive and contextualized narratives.

The Rise of Political Parties and the Zapatista Movement

Miruna shares her experience of arriving in Mexico and the political changes she witnessed, including the rise of new political parties and the Zapatista movement. She describes the vibrant and dynamic nature of Mexican society, with ongoing efforts to find new ways of relating to the past and imagining the future. Miruna discusses the challenges of prejudice and hierarchies in Mexican society, despite progress in areas like gay marriage and feminist marches.

Science Fiction as a Form of Resistance

Miruna teaches science fiction written from the Global South, which she sees as a form of resistance against dominant narratives. She explains that this genre is relatively new in Latin America and is influenced by writers from the Global North like Octavia Butler and Ursula Le Guin. Miruna highlights the work of young writers like Gabriela Damian and Fernanda Trias, who explore social and cultural realities through science fiction. She discusses the importance of imagining open networks and connected worlds, rather than closed systems and technological fantasies.

Archeological Points of Interest in Mexico

Miruna offers a few recommendations for visitors interested in archeology in Mexico. She suggests visiting the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, which focuses on archeology and pre-Hispanic history. She also recommends a trip to Teotihuacan, highlighting the importance of visiting the mural paintings in the residential compounds. Miruna also recommends exploring the center of Mexico City, which is a palimpsest of different centuries and cultures, with the Templo Mayor, a pre-Hispanic structure from the 16th century, which is rising out of the ground due to shifts in soil and shifts in the water table.

Harvard Reflections

Miruna mentions Joseph Koerner, who taught Northern Renaissance art, and John Sherman, who taught Italian Renaissance art. She also recalls Oleg Grabar, who taught Islamic art and read poems such as Yeats' poem "Sailing to Byzantium" to inspire students to see art with different eyes. Miruna expresses regret for not taking classes with other influential professors like Stephen Jay Gould, which she would have loved to do now.

Timestamps:

01:35: Studying Art History and Latin American Studies

03:20: Life and Work in Mexico City

04:43: Experiences as a Refugee and Arrival in the US

08:43: Teaching and Research in Mexico

13:41: Historical Context of Archeology in Mexico

21:43: Changes in Archeological Practices

24:33: Miruna's Experience in Mexico and Political Context

29:38: Teaching Science Fiction from the Global South

Featured Non-profit

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is recommended by Becca Braun who reports:

" Hi. I'm Becca Braun from the class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is the Lawrence School in Sagamore Hills, Ohio. The Lawrence School is a leading school in teaching students with ADHD and dyslexia, and its wonderful tagline is "Great Minds Don't Think Alike."

Lawrence School has been transformative for our youngest child with ADHD, and he went from thinking that he was a troublemaker and problem student to completely believing in himself and loving going to school every day. Every child should have this opportunity, regardless of their financial means. We have donated and hope that you might so that more children with ADHD or dyslexia, those who are unable to thrive in large public school classrooms might have the opportunity to attend this transformative school. Thanks a lot. You can learn more about their work at Lawrence school.org, Lawrence L, A, W, R, E, N, C, E, school.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: www.lawrenceschool.org.

Show Notes:Franklin Habit talks about working in higher education administration (and elsehwere) before eventually finding happiness in his current profession within the fiber arts. He discusses some of the blind alleys he explored, including museum work, opera stage directing, web design, and online marketing. Building a Career in KnittingFranklin shares how he learned to knit from a veteran knitter and classmate, Eliza Lake. He describes how his blog about knitting took off, leading to a book deal and a career in teaching and writing. Franklin recounts the early days of his blog, starting with a department lecture where he first heard the word "blog." He describes how he initially thought his blog was private and was surprised by the comments and traffic it received. Franklin mentions attending the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival, and meeting major figures in the fiber arts community. COVID and Transition to Teaching and SpeakingFranklin discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic affected his in-person teaching and speaking engagements. He explains his transition to online teaching and to Patreon, which helped him maintain income during the pandemic. Franklin shares how he enjoys making videos and audio pieces and adapting his in-person classes for online audiences. Living in Paris The conversation turns to Paris, why he moved there, and his life in Paris, including his love for walking and discovering hidden places. He mentions attending performances and visiting museums and galleries. Franklin talks about his Instagram account, where he posts about his daily life, needlework, and animals in his neighborhood. He explains how he balances posting about knitting with other interests to keep his followers engaged. Harvard Reflections Franklin reflects on how his art history degree from Harvard influences his knitting and teaching. He mentions professors James Ackerman, John Shearman, and Seymour Slive, who taught him valuable research and teaching skills. He explains how his background in art history helps him connect historical and cultural elements to his knitting, and he uses his knowledge of art and architecture to design and teach knitting patterns. Franklin explains the complexity of knitting, including the mathematical and three-dimensional aspects. He mentions teaching students how to knit using pre-literate methods and the connections to ancient systems like the Kanon of Polykleitos. He also discusses the gender perceptions and prejudices associated with knitting, and his upcoming project with Knit Stars, a series of classes and documentaries about notable needleworkers. Timestamps: 03:12: Discovering Knitting and Blogging 05:43: Franklin's Unique Style and Books 11:11: The Early Days of Blogging 17:05: Transition to Online Teaching and Patreon 20:45: Life in Paris and Instagram 29:42: Influence of Art History on Knitting 51:09: Complexity and Satisfaction in Knitting 51:29: Gender Perceptions in Knitting 51:46: Franklin's Online Presence and Future Plans

Links:

Instagram and Threads: @franklin.habit

Bluesky: @franklinhabit.bsky.social

Patreon:patreon.com/franklinhabit

Knit Stars:

https://knitstars.com/masterclass-franklin-habit/?ref=567&utm_campaign=franklins-season-10

YouTube channel: youtube.com/franklinhabit

Society6 (art prints and merchandise): society6.com/franklinhabit

Spoonflower (fabrics and wallpapers): spoonflower.com/profiles/franklinhabit

Foxe and Boxe Project: foxeandboxe.com

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is recommended by Pete Schmidt who reports: "

Hi, I'm Pete Schmidt, class of 92. The featured non-profit of this week's episode of The 92 Report is the Davis Phinney Foundation. Davis started this Parkinson's disease patient advocacy organization to focus on how people with Parkinson's disease can be empowered to take charge of their condition and live their best lives now. I've worked with the foundation for over a decade and served on their board for six years and am currently serving as chairman. You can learn more about their work at dpf.org. And now, here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: dpf.org.

Show Notes:

Diego kicks off the conversation with a quick review of his career path, which included working at a business school in Barcelona, consulting in biotech and healthcare, and working as product manager and product running product groups. He then went back to business school. He talks about his job at the business school in Barcelona and what prompted him to take it. He explains that the opportunity arose through a professor he knew, and the timing of the 1992 Olympics made it hard to resist. He shares his insights on Catalonia's cultural differences and the importance of knowing Catalan.

Educational Toys and Founding Imagination Supply Co.

Diego's current work is with educational toys and ed tech. He discusses his exposure to the case study method of teaching, which he found valuable and enjoyable and describes his transition from biotech to setting up a maker space at his daughter's school and becoming a resident tinkerer. He explains the challenges he faced with existing products for teaching electronics and coding, leading him to start Imagination Supply Co. Diego introduces the product line "Electrify" and its focus on making learning about electronics and coding engaging and accessible.

The Very Useful Monster Project Design

Diego elaborates on the "Very Useful Monster" project, which teaches coding through a constructivist learning approach. He discusses the importance of creating products that align with how he believes these subjects should be taught. Diego shares examples of his products, such as a vibrating motor project for exploring the engineering process. He contrasts the traditional pinewood derby project with his approach, emphasizing the importance of iterative learning.

Addressing the "Fear Pyramid"

The conversation turns to the impact of Diego's products on students and teachers. Diego highlights the engagement and transformation he sees in students who build and code their own projects. He notes the unexpected benefit of making teaching more accessible to teachers, who often feel intimidated by STEM subjects. Diego explains the concept of the "fear pyramid" in teaching, where teachers feel increasingly uncomfortable with more advanced subjects like coding.

Diego's Background as a Tinkerer

Diego has a history as a tinkerer and he talks about his interest in building things. He recounts his experience at Harvard, where he took a machine shop class and built a cannon as a project. He shares his independent study project to measure the power output of a cyclist's pedal stroke, which involved designing and building a full pedal.

Maker Spaces in Education

Diego explains the initial enthusiasm and funding for maker spaces, particularly through DARPA's Mentor Maker Spaces program. He discusses the various goals of maker spaces, such as teaching hands-on making, STEM, and problem-solving through design thinking. Diego highlights the challenges of articulating the purpose of maker spaces and the different approaches taken by schools like Nueva and Lick-Wilmerding.

Biotech Venture and Lessons Learned

Diego talks about his experience working with the biotech company, Sutro Biopharma. He explains how he got involved in the company through a class at Stanford and its focus on cell-free protein synthesis. He also discusses the challenges of working in biotech, including the hierarchical nature of the industry.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Diego highlights the impact of John Stilgoe's "Gas Stations" class, which taught him to observe and question the built environment. He shares how this approach influenced his thinking and approach to problem-solving. Diego also reflects on his involvement in rowing and cycling at Harvard, and how these activities have continued to be important in his life.

Timestamps:

03:47: Opportunity in Barcelona and Cultural Insights

06:19: Educational Toys and Imagination Supply Co.

09:24: Product Design and Teaching Methods

13:18: Impact on Students and Teachers

17:03: Diego's Background as a Tinkerer

22:21: The Rise and Fall of Maker Spaces

26:58: Life as an Empty Nester

31:29: Biotech Venture and Lessons Learned

Links:

Lectrify website: https://www.lectrify.it/

Featured Non-profit:

This featured non-profit of this week's episode is recommended by Kerry Dean Carso who reports:

"Hi, I'm Kerry Dean Carso, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Children's Hospital Colorado, as a nationally ranked pediatric hospital. Children's Hospital Colorado cares for families throughout Colorado and surrounding states. My brother works for the Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation, and I'm proud of the work he does to raise funds for the hospital and its mission of improving the health of children in the Rocky Mountain region. You can learn more about their work@www.childrenscolorado.org and now here is Will Bachmann with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit: www.childrenscolorado.org

Show Notes:

Kellie Doucette describes her journey as zigs and zags, with three distinct chunks defined by her location: Northern Virginia, Bermuda, and New Jersey. She worked for a small health policy consulting firm called the Lewin Group in Northern Virginia, DC, where she met her future husband, John Doucette.

A 13-Year Stint in Bermuda

Kellie, an actuary, began her career in the Bermuda market after taking the actuarial exams. She and her husband moved to Bermuda in 1996, and they enjoyed the adventure of visiting family on the East Coast and raising their children there. The reinsurance industry in Bermuda was growing rapidly, and Kellie joined a life and health group company and continued taking the actuarial exams. Their 13-year stint in Bermuda provided innovative career opportunities, working with clients and devising innovative ways to achieve objectives.

Pursuing a Path in Politics

However, Kellie left her job in 2008 to pursue a different path. She worked remotely for a few years, but she started feeling like she needed a change. In 2016, she became unhappy with the trajectory of national politics and decided to become more involved in politics. She started volunteering for local government office campaigns and met a candidate running in her congressional district during the 2018 midterms who aimed to flip a seat from red to blue. During the midterms, Kellie lived in a swing district, which could potentially flip the seat. Kellie found herself in the midst of New Jersey politics. She was fortunate to work with a candidate, Mikie Sherrill, who won a congressional race and is now running for governor in New Jersey.

Establishing a District Office

Kellie worked to establish a district office for Mikie, which spanned over six years. As the district director, Kellie aimed to build bridges between the district and the mayors, ensuring they served the entire district, not just the blue parts. She prioritized building trust and respecting the fact that they were there for everyone, learning from the mayors, local electives, and community stakeholders. Kellie emphasizes the importance of showing up everywhere and respecting that it would take time to build trust with the community. Her experience highlights the importance of being genuine and understanding the needs of the community.

Working Across Party Lines

Kellie shares her experience working with a congressional office during a divisive time. The office was open to serving constituents and addressing issues that were not always seen in government. She found it rewarding to work with local officials and local officials across party lines to tackle various issues, such as flooding, public safety, and mental health. Since leaving the congressional office, Kellie continues to do what she can to support Mikie in her run for Governor. She has also been involved in consulting work for a county college and serves on two boards - as vice chair of the board of her high school and on the board of Ibis Reproductive Health, a non-profit run by our classmate Kelly Blanchard. Kellie is excited to see what comes next in her journey!

The Challenges of a Congressional Office

The conversation turns to Congress members setting up and running their offices, with a set budget that can be used in various ways due to different priorities and districts. New Jersey is a densely populated state, and in Kellie's district they could have a single district office serving everyone. A district in a western state, for example, may have to budget differently to accommodate multiple offices. Kellie mentions the importance of having support of more established congressional offices in New Jersey when they were setting up and the choice in Mikie's office to have two district directors to ensure mayors in their 54 towns had a senior contact in the office. Kellie also discusses the challenges of setting up a congressional office in a flipped district where you do not get as much cooperation from the prior office. She acknowledges the need for strong communication and organization and stresses the importance of a well-organized and efficient office environment. She goes on to share how the district office works and how the different agencies work.

Outreach During the August District Work Period

Kellie talks about her experiences with the August district work period, which is a time for organizing outreach for the Congresswoman in the district. She highlights how much she enjoyed learning about the strong manufacturing economy and pharma industry in the district, as well as the innovative work happening in various sectors. How important it was to bring local electeds and colleges into the conversations to support these companies and ensure they have the workforce pipeline and education system in place to attract talent. She talks about the role of the bipartisan group of mayors, known as The Strike Force and how it has assembled to deal with the issue of flooding in the area.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Kellie, a former government major, transitioned to economics as a better fit for her. She took Public Sector Economics under Larry Summers, which highlighted the integration of her policy and economic interests. She appreciates the breadth of classes and the opportunity to learn from different perspectives. She believes that the best learning experience was managing the football team at Harvard.

Timestamps:

02;25: Kelly's Career Journey: Northern Virginia and Bermuda

07:37: Transition to New Jersey and Political Career

12:27: Building Trust and Serving the District

35:05: Challenges and Achievements in District Work

41:14: Reflecting on Harvard and Career Insights

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-doucette-a3424a11a/

Email: kelliemitradoucette@gmail.com

Featured Non-profit

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is recommended by Angela Romans who reports:

"Hi. I'm Angela Romans, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is Innovation for Equity. Innovation for Equity is a network of changemakers across the education ecosystem committed to transforming the life outcomes of black learners of all ages. Co-founded by several Harvard 92 and 93 graduates, I have been privileged to serve as the founding executive director of Innovation for Equity, or IFE, since 2021 you can learn more about our work at Innovation Equity dot O, R, G, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: InnovationEquity.org.

Show Notes:

Gregory Mose, an English major, currently lives in Aix-en-Provence where he is the director of international relations and professor of International Law at a small American University program called the American College of the Mediterranean. When he graduated, his parents wanted him to go to Law School, but Greg wanted to travel. He was offered a teaching fellow position at Athens College in Greece, and he fell in love with the place and the experience. He returned to the US and law school at Duke where he met his wife.

Working for United Nations

Greg's interest in international public international law led him to work for the UN during Yugoslavia's war crimes tribunal research project. He secured a two-year contract with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Conakry, Guinea, which was a paranoid, isolated place. He worked with refugees there for two years, traveling through Mali, Timbuktu, Dakar, Freetown, Abidjan, and upcountry Guinea.

During this time, he helped resettle some people to the United States. Greg's experience in Conakry was both powerful and passionate. He helped resettle some people to the United States who wouldn't be able to be resettled today. However, he returned home underweight and suffering from malaria and PTSD.

A Career Changes: Director of International Relations - Stay-at-home Dad

Greg joined his fiance in London. After a period of recovery, Greg secured a job in corporate law at an international firm in London. He worked on IPOs and was hired as a young US lawyer in securities practices. After three years, he moved to a London-based firm, Freshfields, Brookhouse, Deringer. Greg and his wife had their son in 2002 and decided to raise their son themselves rather than handing him over to a nanny. He decided to leave his job to write a novel and raise their son while his wife worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. They considered downsizing and moving to the English countryside or getting more remote to facilitate a change in lifestyle. However, after spending time in the South West of France, they decided to do something radical and bought a medieval farmhouse and land in the South West of France, near a village called Montcabrier.

Village Life in Wine Country

Greg describes their experience living in a wine region called the Lot, near the Dordogne, in the southwest. The village had about 30 full-time residents, but most people lived in farmhouses outside the village. The village had a two-room schoolhouse, a bakery, and a mayor's office. Greg and his family rented out renovated three holiday cottages in summers to families with small children. They built a playground, swimming pool, and a beautiful field on their property. Greg also shares his experiences with their neighbors. He also learned how to use a chainsaw and finished his novel, Stunt Road. However, as their son grew older, they decided they needed a bigger centre with more activities and schools. They moved to Aix-en-Provence.

Working in Education

Greg didn't know what he was going to do there, but they enrolled their son in the International School where he was hired to teach a critical thinking course called Theory of Knowledge at the International Baccalaureate program. He became a high school teacher for 10 years and realized his love for teaching, and eventually wanted to teach at university. He decided to pursue a PhD program at French universities, which were affordable. The tuition for a PhD was about $500 a year. Greg mentions the benefits of social programs in France. He eventually became a full-time professor at the American College in Aix and runs a master's program in international relations.

Integration with French Culture

Greg's life is different from what people think it is like living in Southern France. He finds it challenging to integrate into the country. In the rural areas, French culture is radically different, with people being warm but also private. Weekends are spent with family, and they do not easily invite people into their homes. However, he finds warmth in the greetings and the respect shown to others. This reinforces a tradition of treating each other as equals and respect. He also talks about how his students from abroad adjust to French culture.

Back to London and Recovery

Greg thinks back to 1998 when he arrived in North London with his fiance and was unemployed. He had been working at UNHCR, which provided decent pay. However, he was always physically cold and underweight due to his previous experiences with malaria and the constant heat in the tropical climate. He was exhausted from the work and the influx of refugees during the renewed violence in Freetown.

One of his bouts of malaria occurred while doing a refugee census in the forest region. He spent three days in a room full of bugs and had limited access to food. He talks about how he broke down and found it was cathartic for him. He talks about a particularly difficult time, and how he teaches a course on armed conflict, linking it to genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and refugees. Large glass He often shares anecdotes from his time there, but admits that sometimes he struggles to get through them.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Greg mentions his first year English course with Helen Vendler. He recalls a kind act of kindness from her. He also mentions professor Burriss Young, who was the Associate Dean of freshmen at the time and lived in Mass Hall. Burriss was an archeologist, and he invited students to tea in his apartment filled with archeological artifacts. This made his first year at Harvard a magical experience. Greg, coming from LA, idealized Harvard. He had a wonderful time in Cabot House, and Greg believes that these experiences will be a lasting memory for him.

Timestamps:

04:44: Early Career and UN Experience

09:31: Transition to Corporate Law and Family Life

22:55: Return to Education and Teaching Career

30:10: Life in Southern France and Cultural Adjustments

40:37: Personal Reflections and Professional Growth

45:02: Memorable Experiences and Influences from Harvard

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorymose/

Stunt Road, by Gregory Mose: https://amzn.to/46Orq4X

The American College of the Mediterranean: https://www.acmfrance.org/

Greg's Blog: https://quercychronicles.wordpress.com/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is recommended by Keith Quinn who reports:

"Hi. This is Keith Quinn, class of 1992 the featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is water.org. Water.org. Is a global NGO working to bring water and sanitation to the world. The water crisis is a global crisis where 2.2 billion people lack access to safe water, and 3.5 billion people lack access to a safe toilet. I've served on the board of water.org for over 15 years, doing rewarding work, along with two other class of 1992 alums, my fellow board member, Larry Tans, and water.org co-founder, Matt Damon, and I'm proud to say that to date, water.org has changed 76 million lives with water and sanitation. You can learn more about their work@water.org and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: water.org.

Show Notes:

Reverend John H. Finley starts the conversation with a nod to family connections and some good news. He also mentions working at the Unilu Shelter, and how it was a transformative experience for him. Throughout the conversation, the importance of recognizing and valuing the contributions of individuals to the institution is mentioned.

The Priesthood and Nativity Prep

John describes his experience working at the shelter and how it led to the decision to work with younger people. He decided to become an Episcopal priest, but the bishop wouldn't ordain him since he was openly gay. After college he got involved in building a school and decided that he eventually wanted to open his own. John stayed at Nativity Prep for five years, living in a convent. After applying to Harvard Divinity School, a new bishop approached him and encouraged him to re-consider priesthood. After John applied to Harvard Divinity School, the same priest encouraged him to open a school. He spent a year at HDS, raising money, hiring teachers, and building a facility to start the Epiphany School. The school is similar to the first Jesuit school.

Becoming a Priest and Opening a School

John explains the difference between the Epiphany School and Nativity Schools. Nativity Schools serve low-income kids from homeless, abused, neglected, and poverty-stricken backgrounds, but they look for kids of academic promise and engaged parents, and John explains how this influenced how he structured Epiphany School.

In addition to opening the school, John also became a priest. He has a parish in Boston and is the summer pastor at Trinity York Harbor in Southern Maine, but his main job is running the Epiphany School, and he explains how it has grown with many locations around the world. It has also grown from a middle school to five components: the Middle School, Early Learning Center, Middle School, Graduate Support, Teaching Fellow Program, and Epiphany Impact.

After Epiphany and Extra Curricular Activities

John talks about succession planning and projects outside of running the school. He is currently a trustee of a college scholarship foundation that awards several million dollars a year in college scholarships. He is involved in a program that gives grants to people with projects, and he works with others who want to build schools, helping them replicate the Epiphany model. In addition to running Epiphany School, John also preaches, marries, baptizes, and buries people.

The Nature of the Epiphany School

John explains that the core principles of the school are non-merit based admission, tuition-free tuition, extended school days, and graduate support. The school also aims to move every family out of poverty while the kids are in the school. John emphasizes the importance of tracking every graduate every year to improve the program and understand where they are succeeding and where they could improve. He also emphasizes the importance of evaluating the efficacy of the school's interventions. He shares a story of a philanthropist who took 1000 boys at risk and provided 500 with free summer camp and weekend mentoring. John emphasizes the importance of looking at long-term outcomes and holding oneself accountable for social justice work. For Epiphany, 90% of its funding comes from private donors, and the school's graduates have an unemployment rate of less than 1%, whereas the national average is around 20%. This makes it a great way to attract investment and funding.

The Epiphany Investment in Families

John talks about the school's curriculum improvement system, which involves yearly assessments by outside experts and feedback from faculty. This Kaizen approach ensures that every aspect of the school is being evaluated and critiqued by experts. John emphasizes the importance of working with families, as studies suggest that 30 to 50% of Head Start gains are lost within three to five years due to perverse incentives in the social system. John explains how the school aims to help families, including offering an escrow program for families. This program grew out of the school's work on employment and helps families move towards independence from social programs. John also mentions that every child born in the Epiphany system receives a $3,000 or 529 plan, which is invested in a conservative mix of equities and bonds. This investment message is sent to families early on, ensuring that the funds are for their child.

Personal Values and Super Powers John takes stock of his good traits, including his ability to thank people. He believes that he has a decent work ethic and has a decent radar of what is feasible. John acknowledges that he has had an amazing education, including Harvard, Groton School, and a private elementary school. He has also been successful in cultivating a diverse group of people around him, with his team and founding teachers being with him for 20 years. John enjoys raising money and bringing resources to things, which has helped him sustain his success. John believes that his ability to lead by example are key factors in his success.

The Finley Family Legacy

The conversation turns to John's family legacy and the role it played in his life and world outlook. His great grandfather built City College, a tradition that has been passed down through generations. He left Harvard with no debt and enough income to live a modest life. However, he faced pressure to find his passion and pursue his dreams. John's father encouraged him to pursue his passions, even when he didn't make any money. He eventually realized that he needed more time to pursue his passions. He now enjoys working with his former students and seeing them grow into happy, productive lives.

Social and Emotional Aspects of School

John discusses the importance of social and emotional aspects in a school setting, focusing on rewards for conduct and effort. They use a software program called Class Dojo, which allows teachers to track students' thoughtful choices and courage. This system is tied to parents' phones, allowing them to recognize their child's efforts. John emphasizes the importance of group therapy for all students, with 70% being in individual therapy. Therapists and teachers work together to ensure no one falls through the cracks. The school also has a group called the Brotherhood and Sister Sister, older graduates who provide social and emotional support to students. Another tool used is the holistic student assessment, developed with McLean's and MGH. This self-assessment helps teachers understand a child's progress on social and emotional issues and helps capture the child's heart. The school never gives up on a child, ensuring that they make the school work for them. This discipline is important as it prevents teachers from making excuses for not meeting the full needs of their students.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

John discusses his experiences with various individuals, including Carrie Welch, Peter Gomes, Memorial Church, and the Signet Society. He mentions that the shelter work at Harvard changed his life, as it gave him a sense of making a difference in the world. Many graduates of the shelter went on to interesting careers, such as Katia Falls, who founded a program called On the Rise, which works with women who don't come into the shelter because they don't feel safe. Another example is a recent college graduate who realized the need for a youth homeless shelter in Massachusetts and built a youth homeless shelter in Harvard Square. John believes that Harvard's advantages were ridiculous, but he hopes they are being used in different ways to do good things in the world. The book "Where Harvard meets the Homeless" examines the impact of the shelter work on many people's lives.

Timestamps:

03:13: John's Journey Post-Harvard

07:49: Establishing and Expanding the Epiphany School

14:56: Challenges and Successes of the Epiphany School

20:55: Social-Emotional Support and Financial Sustainability

44:53: Personal Life and Future Plans

47:08: Impact of Harvard and Shelter Work

Links:

www.epiphanyschool.com

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is recommended by Julie Mallozzi who reports:

"This is Julie Mallozzi, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is Brown Girls. Doc Mafia. Brown Girls. Doc, Mafia works to disrupt inequity in the film industry by nurturing, amplifying and investing in the creative capacity and professional success of its members. I've been a member of Brown Girls for several years, and find them very well organized and effective. They do a lot to support the documentary community, without huge resources. You can learn more about their work at browngirlsdocmafia.org and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit: browngirlsdocmafia.org.

Show Notes:

Kendalle Cobb, a family physician, has been practicing in Cleveland since 2004. She graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and completed her family medicine residency at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Fontana, California. After a year in Boston, she returned to serve on the faculty at her former residency program. She met her husband, who taught at a boarding school in Claremont, California, and after they got married, they moved to Cleveland to be closer to his family.

Family Physician and Physician Advisor

Kendalle shares that family medicine, as a primary care specialty, takes a more holistic approach with the inclusion of counseling and a "cradle to grave" mentality that follows the patient through different stages of life. She sees patients 50% of the time in a family health center in the community. The rest of her time is spent as one of the associate chiefs of staff and as a physician advisor at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, a five-year program that trains students to be physician investigators, focusing on research, scholarship, personal and professional development, and reflective practice. The physician advisor attests to the students' competency report is representative of the feedback that the students receive.

Supporting Medical Students

Kendalle talks about working as a physician advisor. She shares what she has learned in this role. One aspect she has realized is that people are often used to being self-sufficient, making it challenging to ask for help or to work in collaborative environments. She explains what some students struggled with in terms of peer-to-peer interaction, challenges of the assessment system, and accepting that there will always be areas of improvement. Kendalle helps normalize expectations for students. She also talks about the connections between her work as a physician advisor and as a family physician.

The Partnership Aspect of Medicine

When Kendalle first thought about becoming a doctor, she initially had an idea of being able to fix things, but now she appreciates the partnership aspect of medicine where she accompanies people along their path. She mentions that there is often a difference between the textbook ideal treatment and what's best for the patient in front of her. She explains that medicine is a team sport, and group work requires trust and collaboration, and while she didn't like group work in school, she realizes that, in medicine, no individual can do everything, and doctors rely on others to answer phones, send messages, and process refill requests. By understanding and addressing these challenges, doctors can help their students navigate the challenges they face and become better doctors.

Counseling and Family Medicine

Kendalle talks about how family medicine and her approach to counseling has evolved over time. During her residency, one afternoon a week was dedicated to mental health, in addition to didactic sessions, she had two hour-long patients, supervised by a family physician and psychiatrist. Over the course of her residency, she had an increasing number of clinic sessions to see an increasing number of patients with various physical and mental health concerns. She learned that some people just want to share their feelings without wanting to change anything. She shares a story of a patient who was upset about a situation, and although their conversation was not health related, it helped Kendalle support the patient in figuring out next steps. In addition to counseling, she also learned to use tactical phrases and questions to help patients make decisions that align with their goals. This approach allows for more effective communication and understanding of patients' needs and concerns.

Creating a Safe Space for All Patients

Kendalle discusses the importance of understanding and addressing various health issues in healthcare settings. She shares her experiences with the stub toe theory, which is really "broken arm theory," which is when a doctor attributes any concern with which a patient presents, to some other risk factor (smoking, obesity, gender identity). She also discusses the importance of considering factors that can affect health in interacting with patients. She shares a case of a woman with previously well-controlled blood pressure whose blood pressure was high. Kendalle uncovered a social stressor. Kendalle emphasizes the need to consider different priorities and the reasons behind people's decisions regarding their health. She avoids asking the question "why" and instead asks "what factors contributed" to the patient's decision or thoughts about their health issues. This approach helps patients feel less defensive and allows Kendalle to better partner with patients to manage their health.

Confidentiality in the Doctor's Office

Kendalle explains that she is often the doctor for more than one generation in a family, and she shares a story that stresses the importance of confidentiality in the doctor's office. She also talks about how difficult it can be when extended family members want to become her patients, but the fact that the family entrusts the doctor with their loved ones is special. She also talks about the trust, gratitude, and grace shown by the patients, and how these are the moments that stay with her.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Kendalle mentions history professor Michael McCormick, who helped her develop confidence in analyzing primary sources from medieval and early modern Europe. She also mentions fundraising for CityStep by organizing a formal event in Memorial Hall.

Timestamps:

01:26: Kendall Cobb's Career Journey

02:28: Understanding Family Medicine

04:12: Teaching and Advising at Cleveland Clinic

05:40: Learning and Adapting in Medical Education

12:02: Counseling and Patient Interactions

13:57: Handling Patient Health Issues

25:21: Patient Relationships and Trust

29:10: Personal Life and Interests

31:33: Harvard Memories and Influences

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kcobbmd/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is the Houston Learning Network recommended by Huang Quan Vu who reports:

"Hi. I'm Huang Quan Vu, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is the Houston Learning Network. HLN helps Houston area educators grow their practice and transform their classrooms by providing funding and support so they could attend in person professional development at Harvard, participate in virtual Harvard educational programming from Houston and learn from Harvard educators who passed through Houston. I was a founding member of HLN, and I'm currently the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. You can learn more about their work at Houston learning network.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: HoustonLearningNetwork.org.

Show Notes:

Pete Zorn, a lawyer and biotech executive, spent nine years in North Carolina, attending law school at the University of Carolina, Chapel Hill. He moved back to the Boston area with his wife and child where he stayed with his law firm, working remotely before taking an in-house position with one of his clients. He took the company public and stayed there for 11 years. He has since worked with three other biotech companies in various business and legal capacities, and is currently the president and Chief Legal Officer of Genevant.

The Leading Nucleic Acid Delivery Company in the World

Genevant specializes in lipid nanoparticles, which help protect and deliver nucleic acids like mRNA in the body to do its job. The company partners with biotech and pharma companies worldwide. Pete explains that nucleic acids, which store and express genetic material, can address diseases by encoding for a gene or addressing gene deficiencies, defects, or overexpression. However, nucleic acids can degrade in the body if not properly protected, making lipid nanoparticles an emerging mode of delivering nucleic acids. He talks about the concept of a lipid nanoparticle, which is a small fat bubble that encapsulates or envelops nucleic acid, protecting it from enzymes in the body and directing it to the desired tissue or cell type. If not protected, nucleic acids like mRNAs would be degraded in the body before they can have their intended effect. Genevant is a pioneer of lipid nanoparticles and owns a substantial amount of intellectual property in the space. They manufacture only at a research scale, but they license the technology to companies, who will manufacture the products in their plants using Genevant's technology.

Partnership Deals in Biotech

Pete explains that, unlike mergers and acquisition deals where negotiation is mostly about price, in life science collaborations you negotiate everything, including sharing intellectual property and responsibility, how parties will work together, and, of course, price. It's an ongoing relationship that is being negotiated. The most challenging part is negotiating the deal if the partnership comes to an end. This is to ensure that the parties are in the right place when the collaboration ends. Pete discusses the various aspects of a biotech partnership, including ongoing intellectual property (IP) development, responsibility, allocation, and governance issues. He mentions two main categories: consideration of licensing and payment for technology, and the allocation of intellectual property.

Genevant's Technology Platform

Genevant, a company that expands its technology platform through these deals, owns improvements to their platform. Special arrangements may be included for those that require the payload or partner's technology. These details are crucial in negotiating and time management. In addition to licensing and payment, partnering arrangements involve governance, confidentiality representations, commitments, and risk allocation. The agreed amounts can change depending on external factors and must be carefully negotiated.

Joining the Biotech World

Pete discusses his career in biotech, highlighting the advantages of being with a smaller, growing company compared to working with a larger, established company. He shares his first deal with a big pharma company in his 20s, where he had to negotiate a complex deal for a company that desperately needed to make the deal happen. He talks about the challenges involved, including the human challenge of establishing trust. The company needed to define the rights they were giving to another company while retaining enough space to allow them to work with other companies as well. The technical challenge was to draw fine lines in the constantly evolving scientific area, while also allowing them room to work independently. The deal was a nine-month negotiation and a 300-page contract, but it was a seminal moment for his company, which has since merged out of existence.

Drug Development Success

Pete talks about drug development and successes achieved. He shares a story of a company that had a successful phase two, which led to collaboration with a big pharma company. However, the company subsequently endured a disastrous phase three, which resulted in a dramatic downturn in stock price for the company. Despite this, the company was not sued, which he takes pride in. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks in drug development, as it allows the company to succeed and advance. He approaches the legal side of his job by finding ways to accomplish business objectives while managing that risk.

Career Turning Points

Pete also shares some turning points in his career. He continues to do deal making and is currently involved in intellectual property litigation related to lipid nanoparticles used in COVID vaccines. The conversation turns to the world of chief legal officers in biotech companies, specifically in the Boston area. Pete shares his experience working remotely for a North Carolina company and then with a European company, which allowed him to build networks and interact with other professionals. He also shares his life outside of work, raising two children – including a son with autism – and focusing on their well-being. He emphasizes that autism is a spectrum, with no two kids being the same. He mentions that there are different challenges for parents of children with autism and offers a few words of advice to parents in that situation.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Pete, who was a psychology major at Harvard, mentions his favorite class was a civil rights class with the knowledgeable, charismatic and powerful speaker, Julian Bond. He mentions how he took a year off before going to Law school, and how happenstance played a role in his career in the life sciences industry.

Timestamps:

03:48: Pete Zorn's Role at Genevant and Nucleic Acid Delivery

08:13: Complex Partnerships in Biotech

14:59: Pete Zorn's Entry into Biotech and Key Deals

22:11: Challenges and Successes in Biotech

27:14: Pete Zorn's Career and Personal Life

29:06: Advice for Parents of Children with Autism

37:07: Reflections on Harvard

Links:

Website: https://www.genevant.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-zorn-8b63391/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles recommended by Cara Familian Natterson who reports:

" Hi. This is Cara Familian Natterson, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is Children's Hospital Los Angeles, also known as CHLA. I joined the CHLA Board of Directors last year, but I've been working with the doctors at this amazing hospital for decades. CHLA isn't just one of the top 10 children's hospitals in the country, it's also the only one that is a safety net hospital with more than 70% of their patients on medicaid. They will never turn a child away, regardless of a family's financial situation or immigration status. If you want to learn more, go to C, H, L, A, dot, O, R, G, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: CHLA.org.

Show Notes:

Lawrence Steyn moved to Los Angeles to work with Walt Disney, where he helped think through financing new theme parks and movies. After leaving Disney, he went into traditional investment banking. He also mentions that he was a character in a theme park training program, where he was a penguin in full costume. His experience in LA and his role as a character in the training program were both memorable and challenging, and being a penguin was the hardest job he had in the 30+ years since graduating.

From Investment Banking to the Tech Industry

Lawrence moved to New York and worked at Goldman, including spending several years in London. He worked at Morgan Stanley and also as vice chairman at JP Morgan. After COVID-19, he faced a midlife crisis and decided to work at an autonomous vehicle company called Pony.ai. The company was Chinese-centric and had a large nexus with China. This was around 2020/21 during a time when relations between the U.S. and China were strained. The company faced financial and geopolitical challenges from China, who wanted to assert control over its tech sector, and restrictions from the US. Lawrence talks about an event that took place in the U.S. that allowed a government body to exert their control and limit the company. However, Lawrence started lobbying for Pony's cause, visiting Capitol Hill and California representatives, however it became clear that Pony was never going to go public as an American-centric company.

Joining a Manufacturing-centric P.E. Firm

As his time at Pony was coming to an end, a private equity firm, American Industrial Partners, approached Lawrence to join them. Lawrence discusses the changing business world, government issues, and supply chain changes post-COVID. As an American manufacturing-centric private equity firm, he observes the shrinking of supply chains and the refocus on American hard enterprise, but he compares this with his experience at Pony, as a $6-7 billion company started by seven guys in a garage, compared to the cost of manufacturing enterprises. Lawrence enjoys his work and the opportunity to create billions of dollars of value through low capital and high-IQ work. Lawrence also shares his experience with venture capital tech.

A Superpower and Brokering a Big Deal

Lawrence believes that his superpower is listening to people's words and being thoughtful, especially when dealing with potential clients. He emphasizes being creative and challenging himself to think of unexpected twists in situations. He shares an example from his time at Morgan Stanley, and the most successful deal of his career. He was the sole advisor to United Technologies, which was the biggest industrial deal up to that date. The unique idea was that United Technologies wanted to buy Rockwell Collins. Lawrence talks about the idea he put forward that allowed United Technologies to keep the Rockwell Collins name and maintain its rich heritage, while United Technologies owned about 60% of the company. The deal was a complex and unique one, with high effort and structuring involved.

Global Trade Wars and Tariffs

The conversation revolves around the ongoing global trade wars, particularly the tariffs. Lawrence states that while the uncertainty has slowed everything down, however, the outcome has not been terrible. The market has returned to close to all-time highs. Lawrence mentions that the long-term impact of these tariffs is questionable, as the reduction in the dollar's role as a global reserve currency is problematic. He also discusses the importance of having a strong US global leadership role and the need for a good manufacturing base. He mentions that the lack of access to various materials has proven problematic, and that the US should focus on American manufacturing capabilities. However, he also mentions that American Industrial Partners have been investing in American manufacturing capabilities for decades, and their history and majority of businesses are America-centric.

A Global Trade Slow Down

The Trump administration's focus on tariffs has slowed down global trade, with the US and Mexico experiencing increased tensions. The US has been focusing on geopolitical issues, such as China and Mexico, but the long-term impact of these tariffs is uncertain. The US has been investing in American manufacturing capabilities for decades, and many businesses have found that having an American manufacturing base is more valuable to people around the world. The uncertainty surrounding the introduction of tariffs has led to negotiations and investment being put on hold, as the US has good manufacturing capabilities in Mexico. The short-term impacts of these tariffs have been less dramatic, and the long-term impacts are more theoretical at this point. However, the US has managed to maintain its manufacturing base and maintain its global leadership role.

Barriers to Growth in Manufacturing

The conversation turns to barriers to the growth of the manufacturing industry in America, including electricity, skilled labor, zoning, local supply chain, permits, and environmental reviews etc. Lawrence highlights the importance of re-electrifying America, which is a complex process that takes time and requires skilled and unskilled labor. The supply chain, as seen with Apple's desire to manufacture in the US. The biggest challenge for manufacturers is the uncertainty of tariffs and their impact on the US manufacturing industry. If there were a sustainable and constructive policy in place for decades, manufacturers would be more comfortable investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities. However, the whimsy of these policies can be problematic, as they may be reversed or ended by lawsuits, hinders planning and investment.

An Effective Pro-US Manufacturing Policy

A more effective pro-US manufacturing policy with bipartisan support could be beneficial. Some goals that could be valuable include bringing manufacturing back to the US for data centers, shipbuilding, and auto manufacturing. However, the broad concept of remanufacturing in the US doesn't necessarily mean achieving everything at once. A thoughtful policy with bipartisan support could be powerful, but a more consistent, specific, targeted policy with broad support could be more effective.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Lawrence mentions a Michael Sandel's core class, Justice, that focuses on different theories of justice, which he believes are important for thinking thoughtfully about political and global events. He also enjoyed a seminar with Marjorie Garber on Shakespeare, which he took as a core class and then revisited as an alumni for a deep dive. He also mentions activities centered around the International Relations Council, Model UN, and American Industrial Partners.

Timestamps:

04:16: Experiences at Pony.ai and Autonomous Vehicles

09:36: Transition to American Industrial Partners

23:35: Challenges in American Manufacturing

37:17: Personal Reflections and Future Plans

40:58: Backgammon and Personal Interests

43:35: Harvard Memories and Influences

48:05: Connecting with the Harvard Community

Links:

Website: https://americanindustrial.com/team/lawrence-steyn/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is Lighthouse Youth and Family Services in Cincinnati, Ohio recommended by John Unger who reports:

"Hello, class of 1992 this is your classmate, John Unger of Kirkland House in Weld North. I'm submitting to you the featured nonprofit for this week's episode of The 92 Report, Lighthouse Youth and Family Services in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lighthouse is a wonderful and impactful organization that gives guidance and support to orphans and foster care children in our city, and my mom has been a heavily involved volunteer for decades. You can learn about Lighthouse Youth Services at its website, lys.org Thank you for your consideration. Now here's Will with this week's episode".

To learn more about their work, visit: LYS.org.

Sandi DuBowski discusses the one-year anniversary of his film Sabbath Queen, which he spent 21 years making. He reflects on the journey of the 21st-century radical rabbi and how it has shaped their life. He discusses the inspiration behind his film, Tomboychik, the concept of which was developed after conversations with his grandmother. The film is a living video memorial to her spirit; it won several awards, including the Golden Gate award at the San Francisco Film Festival and the Whitney Museum program, and launched Sandi into the film world. Documentary Films and Festivals Sandi talks about his work as an associate director of the New York Lesbian/Gay Experimental Film Video festival, MIX. He initially worked on a feature film called Fresh Kill and later worked for Planned Parenthood as a researcher and producing videos. After working for Planned Parenthood, he started filming the major feature documentary, Trembling Before G-d, about Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are lesbian or gay. The film had a World Premiere at Sundance, and won two prizes at the Berlin Film Festival. It screened in cinemas and festivals worldwide, and Sandi went on the road for three years, doing outreach and engagement. Sandi concludes by expressing gratitude for the support and funding he received from the Steven Spielberg Righteous Persons Foundation. He also mentions that his film Sabbath Queen has been a significant moment in his life, as he reconnects with classmates from Harvard, high school, elementary school, film, queer, Jewish, and activist circles. The film has been a testament to the power of storytelling and the transformative power of time. Breaking from Traditional Religious Conventions Sandi fell into the world of filmmaking by accident. He worked with great people, including cinematographers and editors, to create a team of creatives. The film "Trembling Before G-d" was a significant leap forward in technical craft and embraced the lives of people who were not in the public realm. The first Orthodox gay Rabbi came out in the film, and the first person from a Hasidic world to come out as lesbian was featured. The film also convinced Orthodox rabbis to speak publicly on the issue, which was a tipping point in the culture. The filmmaker met with Amichai, who was already post-denominational and pushing the boundaries of Orthodoxy. Sandi talks about the film's concept and how it inspired a Muslim man to make a movie on Islam and homosexuality.

Filming the Documentary Sabbath Queen Sandi shares the journey of filming Sabbath Queen, which involved following Rabbi Amichai over 21 years. The film took six years to edit due to multiple storylines, nearly 3000 hours of footage, and time spent exploring Amichai's complex identity and his numerous worlds within his rabbinic family. The film was a complicated project, but Sandi and Amichai have remained close friends. The film is Biblical in many ways, as it is a coming of age and a paradigm shift from a thousands-year-old faith to the present. The film aims to address the challenges faced by religion, as well as the rise of authoritarianism and fascism. Sandi believes that creating a film that looks at time and how values can be manifested in our lives, communities, families, houses of worship, and nations is crucial for upholding values and morals.

A Documentary Filmmaker's Journey Sandi shares his experiences and lessons learned from his journey as a documentary filmmaker. He explains that his life has been unexpected and doesn't fit neatly into boxes. He also shares his experience with Good Pitch, a platform that focuses on social issue documentaries and collaborations with filmmakers. He has built a strong community around films and the film movement, which has been translated into his work with Sabbath Queen. He believes that film communities intersect with many other communities, creating an outpouring of connection and networks. One of the ways Sabbath Queen is promoting community is through live rituals and gatherings. In Berlin, he hosted a Sabbath Queen Friday night feast with Rabbi Amichai, which encouraged togetherness, peacemaking, and reflection. In San Francisco, they hosted a SoulSpa and in Chicago a Saturday night Let the Light In. Sandi also talks about expanded cinema and the importance of gathering, him co-founding a progressive group called The Creative Resistance with media makers and a Queens Food Caravan. Sandi discusses the importance of having creative collaborators who provide feedback and help in the process of creating a character-driven film. He mentions that it is crucial to have test screenings and feedback screenings to help filmmakers work on their work over time.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses Sandi mentions a History and Literature course on the Vietnam War. The course focused on the interdisciplinary nature of storytelling and history, which helped Sandi understand how we process our lives, stories, wounds, and traumas.

Timestamps:

03:28: Early Film Projects and Personal Exploration

12:34: Transition to Long-Term Documentary Filmmaking

22:01: Challenges and Rewards of Long-term Filmmaking

22:23: Personal Life and Community Building

22:41: Advice for Long-term Documentary Filmmakers

41:35: Impact of Sabbath Queen and Future Plans

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Mark Jacobstein, class of '92, who reports:

"Hi. I'm Mark Jacobstein, class of 1992. The feature nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is The Friends of Cancer Research. The Friends of Cancer Research powers advances in science and policy that speed life saving treatments to patients. I'm proud to have worked with them during my time at Garden Health and found that they were by far the most important and effective 501, C3, in the world of cancer research. You can learn more about their work at Friends of Research, friends of cancer research.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: FriendsofCancerResearch.org.

Show Notes:

Lili Barouch, a cardiologist, went to medical school at Johns Hopkins. After moving to Baltimore, she became a cardiologist specializing in heart failure and transplant. She joined the faculty in 2003 and worked on basic science research, research lab, and inpatient and outpatient care for heart failure and transplant patients. Lili stayed in this role for about 10 years before transitioning to outpatient cardiology. She moved to Howard County, Maryland, where her children have grown up.

Founding the Sports Cardiology Program

Lili started becoming more athletic around 20 years ago. This led to her interest in sports cardiology, a field geared towards athletes. She founded the sports cardiology program at Johns Hopkins and a training program for future sports cardiologists. She talks about building a new program from scratch, how the field of sports cardiology has grown significantly.

Sports Cardiology Screening

Sports cardiology involves screening athletes, including younger athletes, high-level athletes, and masters athletes. Screening includes evaluating athletes for risk factors, symptomatic athletes, those with known cardiac diseases, and those with significant changes in the heart due to high-level exertion. Lili talks about findings through screenings in sports cardiology including congenital heart defects, a family history of cardiac death at a young age, or abnormal ECGs. She mentions that there is no single standard throughout the country for what type of screening is required for college athletics. The general Sports Med and team physician screen everyone to a certain extent. Sports cardiologists typically are involved in second-level screening, for example, high blood pressure is an area that needs to be addressed, especially in younger athletes. By understanding the specifics of each type of screening and addressing any underlying conditions, athletes can better prepare for their future athletic careers.

Stress Tests and ECG Abnormalities

The conversation turns to the importance of stress tests and ECG abnormalities in sports. Athletes often tend to be symptom minimizers, ignoring minor symptoms that don't seem to affect anything at the time. However, many athletes who develop cardiac arrests report having some symptoms before they report them later. Lili talks about finding the balance between not wanting to alarm patients and not wanting them to ignore symptoms.

Guidelines in Sports Cardiology

Sports Cardiology is its own field. New guidelines have come out this year about shared decision making, which helps athletes decide whether to continue playing or not. The previous guidelines were more paternalistic, with doctors telling athletes whether they can play or are not allowed to play. This led to many athletes hiding symptoms or being disqualified. Newer guidelines have looked at more recent research studies to determine if restricting individuals actually helps them. Many places found that it's okay for athletes to participate in ways that were not possible 10 or 15 years ago, but it also affects their psychological state severely if they get disqualified from their sport.

Changes to the Heart

Lili discusses the changes to the heart of elite athletes, including professional athletes, major sports leagues, and Olympic athletes. She explains that the higher level of an athlete, the more likely they are to have more people involved in their care. Studies on elite athletes, such as Tour de France cyclists and Olympic athletes, have shown that those who do high levels of endurance exercise, such as cycling, long-distance running, swimming, and cross-country skiing, tend to have an increase in the size of their heart chambers.

The Health Benefits of Exercise

The American Heart Association guidelines recommend a minimum of two 30 minute strength training workouts and at least three 30 to 45 minute aerobic exercise workouts of moderate intensity per week. The minimum recommended amount of exercise is two and a half hours per week, spread out throughout the week. For endurance athletes, this may be more than two hours a day. Lili talks about the benefits of exercise, highlighting that there are marginal additional gains up to three to four times the minimum recommended amount. The most significant gain is when one goes from zero hours per week to two or three hours per week of total exercise, up to about eight hours per week. This leads to greater fitness, benefits in blood pressure, cholesterol, reducing the risk of diabetes, and longevity. However, beyond eight or 10 hours per week, there are no additional health benefits.

Joining the Race

Lili started running in 2006, initially as a fitness exercise but eventually becoming an athlete due to her autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis. She joined the running club and was challenged by a friend to do a triathlon. She initially struggled with swimming, but eventually learned to swim and competed in several distances, including the full Ironman. Lili has run six marathons, mostly short and medium distance triathlons, and has achieved significant accomplishments such as qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 2018 and competing in the Boston Marathon in 2018. However, she also faced joint issues due to her rheumatoid arthritis, which led her to focus more on long distance triathlons.

The Growth of the Sports Cardiology Program

Lili founded a sports cardiology program based on her clinic, which primarily focuses on athlete patients. The program is also developing a National Registry of masters athletes to study the impact of high exercise levels on athletes' health. The program involves training fellows in cardiology who are interested in sports cardiology. A fellowship program was developed for one fellow, and the first formal graduates completed the program last year. Lili talks about an annual meeting called "The Care of the Athletic Heart" in Washington, DC, where they organize formal talks, educational symposia, and case presentations to help others get into the field. She also talks about resources and funding for the program.

Timestamps

02:19: Transition to Outpatient Cardiology and Personal Life

06:14: Evolution and Role in Sports Cardiology

07:05: Screening and Management of Athletes

15:25: Elite Athletes and Cardiac Health

27:15: Lily's Personal Athletic Journey

33:59: Founding the Sports Cardiology Program

37:26: Administrative and Research Aspects

40:56: Memorable Courses at Harvard

43:30: Resources and Future Plans

Links:

https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/lili-barouch/2705370

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart-vascular-institute/cardiology/sports-cardiology

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart-vascular-institute/education/sports-cardiology-fellowship

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Heather Taussig, class of '92, who reports:

"Hi, I'm Heather Taussig, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of the 92 report is Fostering Healthy Futures. Fostering Healthy Futures is an evidence based mentoring program for children and teens in foster care. I am the program developer and principal investigator of Fostering Healthy Futures, which my team and I launched in 2002. You can learn more about our work at FosteringHealthyFuturesdotorg."

To learn more about their work, visit: https://www.fosteringhealthyfutures.org/

Show Notes:

Tanya Selvaratnam shares her journey from high school to present day. She moved to New York after graduating and worked at Columbia Law School's Center for Chinese Legal Studies. She also assisted Anna Deavere Smith on her show "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992" about the LA riots. Tanya went back to Harvard for graduate school, studying Chinese language and the history of law.

An Adventure in Theatre

After her father passed away, she returned to New York, where she was working on the Beijing Women's Conference. Wandering the streets one day, she came across The Performing Garage with a poster on the wall for a show by the Wooster Group. On a whim, she slipped a note on the door offering to help in any capacity and was taken on as an intern. Before long, she was asked to come to rehearsals, and, despite having no intentions of becoming a performer, this led to her performing with the Wooster Group. She toured all over the world with them and with other companies like the Builders Association.

On Becoming a Film Producer

Currently, Tanya writes books and makes movies. She also advises various organizations, foundations, and corporations. She recently started advising the Open Future Lab in Vienna, Austria. She has also worked as a producer, which began when she worked at the Ms. Foundation for Women, on what was then called "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" as well as the Gloria awards. She also worked with Jed Weintrob, whom she had met at Harvard when she was in his production of "Dracula." In the late 90s, Jed asked her to produce a movie he was writing at the time. It went on to premiere at Sundance and then the Berlinale in 2002. This led to more work as a producer, and Tanya is still currently producing.

The Connection between Event Organizer and Film Producer

Tanya shares her experiences in organizing events since high school. While at Phillips Academy Andover, she was the head of the South Asian Students Association and served on the divestment committee during apartheid days. She organized events like readings of poetry, essays, and performances to raise awareness about activism and advocacy. After college, she also organized events for the youth tent at the Women's Conference in China, where she performed a piece called "Wet Sari Syndrome," which was a take on Bollywood movies. Tanya learned the craft of producing films directly from her friend and trusted colleague, Jed. She was willing to work hard, focusing on tasks such as finding locations, cleaning up the set, and figuring out what needed to happen to make the film come together. Tanya was able to tap into her resources and connections to make shoots possible and be attentive to Jed's vision.

Dealing with Difficult Times

The conversation turns to her experience with bullying and harassment, which she has faced in various situations. She deals with this by focusing on her tasks and work. Tanya goes to Portland to write and escape from these situations, as it provides a safe space to escape the pressures of life. She also talks about her two books, The Big Lie: Motherhood, Feminism, and the Reality of the Biological Clock, which grew out of her own struggles with fertility and Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence. When dealing with fertility issues, Tanya was shocked at the amount of misinformation surrounding fertility awareness. She talks about the problems with sex education in America and how the book changed when she was diagnosed with two types of cancer. In her second book, she shares her experiences of being entrapped in an abusive relationship with former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. She explains why she was motivated to write the book and why she went into hiding after her story first became public.

Working with Cultural Institutions

Tanya has also worked on cultural events around the world, such as at the Rubell Museum in Miami, the Women's Conference in China, with Anna Deavere Smith and the Wooster Group. She has collaborated with major institutions and museums, such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Barbican in London, and Victoria Theatre in Singapore. She toured to 62 cities all over the world in a space of 12 years. She's also worked with the Sundance Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. She talks about The Federation, an organization that aims to show how art unites people and keeps cultural borders open. She recently worked with Carrie Mae Weems at the Torino book fair in Italy.

Co-directing and Producing a Documentary Short

Tanya co-directed and produced a 13-minute documentary short called Love to the Max, which was acquired by the New Yorker magazine and recently nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary Short. The film was inspired by the mother of Max Briggle, who was targeted for loving and supporting her trans kid. Tanya was inspired to make the film after Max Briggle's mother reached out to a women's listserv for help because she'd been approached by child protection services. Tanya has also been working with Catherine Gund for 17 years, producing a film called Paint Me a Road Out of Here, which is about the interconnected journeys of artists Faith Ringgold and Mary Baxter. She is also working on a new book called Love Me and Leave Me, which is about adventures through intimate pleasure and intimacy in many forms.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Tanya initially thought she would study science at Harvard but found the large classes to be lacking in intimacy. She became interested in Chinese history and legal history, taking classes with visiting scholars and professors like Chang Weijen, William Alford, Professor Kuhn, and Professor Bol; Caroline Reeves, a graduate student, helped her decide what to explore for her thesis.

Timestamps:

05:38: Transition to Producing and Social Justice Work

13:22: Challenges and Learning in the Film Industry

20:28: Personal Struggles and Advocacy

34:07: Work with Museums and Cultural Institutions

37:11: Future Projects and Reflections

41:10: Harvard Experiences and Influences

Links:

Website: Tanyaturnsup.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyaauthor/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Olu Ajilore, class of '92, who reports:

"The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, or AFSP. AFSP is a volunteer organization that supports those affected by suicide through research, education and advocacy. I've worked with our local chapter of AFSP raising funds with their annual out of the darkness walks, and I'm proud to serve on the Scientific Council for AFSP. You can learn more about their work@afsp.org."

To learn more about their work, visit: afsp.org

Show Notes:

Bo Rutledge, a professor and dean at the University of Georgia Law School, opens the conversation by talking about his parents, who made sacrifices to support their children's education, and how he felt called to serve and worked for the governor in California where he met many inspiring civil servants. A Graduate Degree and Long-Distance Relationship In Scotland, he obtained a graduate degree and met his wife Birgit, who is Austrian. They had a wonderful year together overseas and then spent three years in a long-distance relationship while Bo attended law school and Brigit studied to become a teacher. After graduating, Bo clerked for two years, and briefly practiced law in Europe. After the birth of their first child, Bo and Birgit decided to become teachers, Bo as a law professor and Brigit as a foreign language teacher. They have both been teaching for nearly 22 years. Inspiring Students as a Professor and Dean Bo's parents instilled in him an appreciation for education and the power of education. As a professor and dean, he has worked to inspire students about the power of education and the ability to realize their full potential without letting debt hinder them in their careers. In the ten years he has served as Dean, his efforts have led to a significant reduction in student debt and the creation of a generation of people who feel the freedom Bo experienced thanks to his parents.

A Law School Crisis Bo faced a crisis in 2014-15 due to a decline in law school applications. Legal education had experienced a 40% drop in national and 50% drop in local applications. To overcome this, Bo focused on the institution's values. Inspired by the belief that "public higher education is the greatest engine of upward socio-economic mobility in our society", he acknowledged that tuition increases contributed to the student debt crisis and decided not to increase tuition for the students at the University of Georgia Law School. Building Support for Students In conjunction with a freeze on tuition fees, the school also communicated with the school's supportive alumni cohort, who provided financial support, job opportunities, and counsel. They had a team of 125 people, including faculty and staff, who cared about the impact they could have on students' lives who helped support measures taken to accommodate the low intake of students. They cut 7.5% of their operating budget in the first 18 months, and invested in revenue-generating opportunities and fundraisers. As Dean, Bo measured success ruthlessly, using values rather than spending per student. They focused on student success, job creation, and debt reduction. This approach helped the university navigate the crisis and refine its message. Bo talks about how the recession caused a decline in public investment in public institutions, and how he helped drive support for students and inspire students. One Student Success Story Bo shares the reason why one student decided to go to law school, and how the relationship with alumni presented a strong support group for this student. This story has galvanized Bo's resolve to focus on helping students over the years. Bo mentions that one focus of the school is to support first-generation graduates. He emphasizes that higher education is truly special in a world where most people in prior generations and societies couldn't afford or attend college, and it offers the opportunity to connect with a mentor. The Higher Education Affordability Crisis Bo believes that the affordability crisis in higher education is fixable and has written published articles on this topic. He believes that the student loan industry is a mixed blessing. It allows people access to institutions they otherwise couldn't afford, but it also makes it easier for institutions to raise tuition. He also highlights the lack of clear ownership lines or a clear line of accountability to boards and shareholders in most higher education institutions. He learned that, as a dean, one must figure out their accountability mechanisms and constituencies in a world without a simplified structure. In summary, Bo's experience as dean has taught him about the economics of institutions, the difficulty of shaping the culture, and the importance of accountability in higher education institutions. Travel Personally and Professionally Bo has traveled extensively for nearly 40 years. He spent his first couple of years in Vienna, Austria, practicing law at an international law firm. Two places that stuck with him were Budapest, Hungary, and Ostrova, Czech Republic. He shares stories of the people he met and how their experience gave him insight into living under communist rule. He has also traveled to countries like Poland and India, where their university traditions are both historically rich and still very nascent, and how they are inspired by the education system in the U.S. Bo has had the privilege of meeting people from different backgrounds and this has allowed him to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by students in different countries, and to bring these experiences back to the university. Influential Harvard Professors and Courses Bo mentions professors Michael Sandel, Dennis Thompson, and Stanley Hoffmann. He cites Sandel's justice class as an inspiration for a course he teaches to undergrads on moral dilemmas, which, in addition to the course topics, focuses on teaching the ability to discuss and debate socially divisive topics. He mentions Dennis Thompson's teachings on Political Ethics and Public Policy, Stanley Hoffman's teachings on Ethics and International relations, and Paul Pierson and Mark Peterson. Pierson taught Bo how to have faith in his ideas, while Peterson taught him how to write. He believes that Harvard is both intellectually intimidating and liberating, as it allows students to confront ethically nettlesome issues.

Timestamps:

03:26: Early Career and Mentorship

05:02: Service and Educational Reform

16:33: Inspiring Students and Overcoming Challenges

23:55: Lessons Learned as Dean

28:53: Influential Books and Personal Growth

34:05: Travel and Professional Experiences

41:27: Influential Professors and Courses

Link:

Email: borut@uga.edu

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Bill Ashmankas who reports:

"Hi. I'm Bill Ashmanskas, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of the 92 report is the Delaware Valley golden retriever rescue since 1993 DVGRR has successfully placed 1000s of golden retrievers and other DVGRR dogs into new homes throughout eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and beyond. DVGRR has been recognized for its innovative work in rescuing and rehabilitating puppy mill breeder dogs. Allison and I adopted our first DVGRR dog in 2015 and our current dog in 2021 both retired breeder dogs, and we've been regular donors since 2015 you can learn more about their work at D, V, G, R, R.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: www. DVGRR.org.

Kirsten Dirksen, An Unexpected Career as a YouTube Home & Lifestyle Content Creator

Show Notes:

Kirsten Dirksen majored in economics and math, but found creative writing to be her passion. She decided to become a magazine writer and interned at the NBC affiliate in San Francisco, where she worked for free for about nine months.

Working at NBC and Moving a Women's Network

After her internship, she went to work with the NBC elite, which was the old chronicle enterprise. Kirsten became the music person, interviewing bands and creating unique stories for interviews. She eventually moved to New York City to work for Oxygen, a women's network. She then worked freelance in New York City and for other networks, including MTV, where she did music-themed stories. She worked freelance for a while, and the Sundance Channel took her to Spain to do an interview with Javier Bardem. She later met her husband in Barcelona.

Reality T.V. and Early YouTube Videos

Throughout her career, Kirsten has been passionate about storytelling and experimenting with different topics. She started working with an old Oxygen producer in Spain to film weddings for a reality show called The Knot. They traveled to various locations, and Kirsten edited the shows which took around five weeks to complete. However, when her husband started a website about environmental sustainability, together they made videos and put them on YouTube. The first viral video was about a micro apartment in New York. The video was picked up and shared on La Republica's homepage. This led to the story being picked up by Good Morning, America.

We the Tiny House People and 20 Million Views

After videos going viral in 2009, Kirsten and her husband continued posting YouTube videos. Since then she has done about five or six documentaries, with one being a taste-style documentary about the tiny house movement. The other two are family-based, chronicling the tiny house movement and the summer of family love. She has also done documentaries on homelessness, focusing on the experiences of homeless people in California. Kirsten's videos have gained popularity, with her first one being called We the Tiny House People, chronicling the tiny house movement. The second one, Our Summer of Family Love, was a road trip across the Pacific Northwest and West for the summer. Her other documentaries have focused on homelessness, focusing on solutions and solutions for those living in small homes. Her videos have gained attention and have been viewed over 20 million times on YouTube. She has also been a guest on the show The Tiny House People, where she shares her experiences with tiny house movements and the challenges faced by homeless people.

From Documentarian to Author

Kirsten began in a formal documentary unit in San Francisco and has since focused on documentaries and tours of tiny homes. Her book, Life-Changing Homes, is titled after these homes, which she believes sum up the stories they tell. The books are categorized into 10 chapters, each with a theme that focuses on simplicity, slowness, impermanence, elevation, restoration, underground survival, resurrection, and future. The book covers a variety of houses, from simple to large, and features thought-provoking chapter headings that cover two or three different houses that fit that theme. Each chapter covers about two or three different houses that fit that theme, and Kirsten interviews the owner. The focus is not on a specific category or type of house, but rather on the story itself. Kirsten's work has been praised for its stunning photos and focus on eco-friendly designs, making it an attractive resource for those interested in living in tiny homes. The book is expected to be a valuable resource for those interested in exploring these unique and sustainable living options.

The People Who Live in Non-Traditional Dwellings

Kirsten discusses the experiences of interviewing people in non-traditional dwellings, such as those in Ontario and California. She highlights the importance of considering what one truly needs out of a home and what skills they have. Some examples include a widow who built a dome home in Ontario, where she had a refrigerator that pops up like a gadget in Willy Wonka's factory. Another example is a chiropractor who bought land near the border of Oregon and started building a tree house and an earth ship along the way. He has a community of people living there. She also mentions the chief architect for Apple who has a small, open home in Sonoma County. He lived on the land first, but then went camping to find the best place to live. He bought two prefabs and kept everything small, with only the bathroom having a bit of a door. His wife and kids enjoyed the openness and connection to the surroundings. Kirsten emphasizes that it's not just about affordability, but also about making the most sense of the space. Sometimes too big houses can be worse than not having the views or being in touch with the surroundings. This is why she came back to the idea of living in a small, open space.

The Importance of Simplicity

The conversation turns to Thoreau and his way of thinking about time in nature, simplicity, and well-being. Kirsten discusses the importance of simplicity in her life and how it can impact her content creation. She also mentions a couple who live in the woods called the innermost house, which they call a place to reflect and experiment in simplicity. She talks about the connection between simplicity and high thinking, as seen in a woman who lived in a tiny house in her backyard in Santa Rosa, California back at a time when it was rebellious to live in a tiny, mobile home. Kirsten mentions how the woman found too many possessions cluttered her mind.

Viral Videos and Duds

Kirsten shares her experiences with videos that go viral and which ones are more of a dud. One example is a story with a young architect living in a 12th-century mansion in Spain. Another example is a video with Special Operations, a flying car from an off-grid home, which has had 700,000 views in a week. The title of the video is "Special Operations," which is about a special operations vet who lives on land at the top of a mountain and works as a rescue mission and firefighters. Kirsten shares her experience of becoming a content creator and how it has changed her outlook on life and making a living. It wasn't something she planned; however, it has given her a lot of freedom and afforded her an income that allows her to make a living.

Plain Living and High Thinking

The conversation turns to the process of making a video, including filming, editing, and producing the perfect thumbnail. Kirsten and her husband usually spend two to three hours at a house or location. The couple also film themselves during their stay, going on runs and shooting in the morning. Kirsten shares stories from many of the productions and the diverse and interesting people she has met along the way. She talks about what motivates and inspires these people to think and live differently.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Kirsten discusses her experience with Verlyn Klinkenborg whose direction inspired her work back then and today.

Timestamps:

02:22 Internship at NBC and Early Career in Television

06:26: Transition to Freelancing and YouTube

11:03: Growth of YouTube Channel and Documentary Work

11:14: Discovering Unique Homes and Themes for Documentaries

11:36: Impact of Unique Living Spaces on Individuals

30:59: Challenges and Surprises in Content Creation

42:58: Balancing Work and Personal Life

43:09: Influence of Harvard Professors and Writing

Links:

Book: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/life-changing-homes_9781419771897/

Press page: https://faircompanies.com/media-kit/

Channel https://youtube.com/kirstendirksen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirsten.dirksen/

YouTube:

Summer of (Family) Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Iti4JU5ObU

We the Tiny House People https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDcVrVA4bSQ

Trapped in paradise: how we got the homeless situation (part 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5XIljwl5hI

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Eleanor Stafford who reports:

"Hi. I'm Eleanor Stafford, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts. LVM is a statewide organization that trains volunteers to provide free, confidential and individualized tutoring to adults in basic literacy and or ESL. I have been the lead basic literacy volunteer trainer for about 20 years now, and have managed the Boston affiliate for the past two years. You can learn more about LVM's work at lvm.org and now here is Will Bachmann for this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: www.lvm.org.

Show Notes:

Bonni Theriault initially went to business school and worked as a business analyst at McKinsey for a few years, where she worked with consumer products for companies and marketing. After working at Pepperidge Farm for a couple of years, she decided to build her own company and joined forces with a woman who was the head of advertising at Campbell Soup, and together they launched a brand strategy company where they worked for companies like Cadbury Schweppes, Johnson and Johnson, and Stryker.

From Marketing to Coaching to Global Emergency Care

After 13 years at the company, Bonni found herself tired of constantly pitching to employers and sought coaching roles. She had previously worked closely with the McKinsey assessment team, coaching candidates and helping them improve their interview skills. And so, with the experience under her belt, she returned to McKinsey as a professional development manager. When her oldest son turned 14, she took two years off to spend more time with her children and also volunteered with Global Emergency Care, an organization that trains emergency medicine nurses in Uganda. She worked with Global Emergency Care's marketing and fundraising for two years on a volunteer basis.

The Role of Chief Partnerships Officer at Generation

When Bonni decided to return to work, she wanted to stay in the social sector but was offered a position at McKinsey. She worked there until an opportunity at Generation was presented. Generation is an independent non-profit that works with unemployed individuals. Bonni has now worked there for seven years. Bonni explains that her responsibility as chief partnerships officer includes global fundraising and employer partnerships for Generation, a company operating in 17 countries worldwide. They train across 40 different professions, based on labor dynamics in each country. They conduct extensive research before starting a training program to identify job vacancies and bring learners from historically underrepresented groups, and they focus on employment in five different industries: tech, green jobs, customer service and sales, skilled trades, and healthcare. They also teach behavioral skills and the importance of having a growth mindset.

The Impact of AI in Job Forecasting and Training

AI has been a topic of interest for Generation, as it impacts the skills needed to train learners in specific roles. Bonni explains that they have analyzed various roles, including entry-level roles, which may go away entirely or be significantly impacted by AI, and roles that might have a different set of skills. Jobs such as solar panel installation or healthcare, are likely to be more resilient over time in the face of AI. They are also considering more jobs in the data center technician category, where tech roles are more hands-on and dealing with equipment than providing coding or IT support.

How Generation Is Using AI

The organization is using AI to deliver training to learners and alumni, ensuring they have the necessary skills for their jobs. They have created AI modules for learners and alumni to help them upskill and remain relevant in their work. AI is also used to help develop the curriculum, with chat bots helping learners answer first-line questions and focusing on more complex material. This helps streamline the curriculum creation process, as it often involves research and talking to subject matter experts. Operational efficiencies are also being used to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Working as a Professional Development Manager

The conversation turns back to Bonni's as a professional development manager at McKinsey. She mentions that a lot of time was spent negotiating with partners and consultants to find the right balance between professional growth and client needs. She built relationships of trust between consultants and partners to influence decisions in a way that was best for everyone involved. She also focused on performance evaluation, helping people understand their strengths and areas for improvement, and helping them find ways to build skills through studies, formalized training, coaching, or mentorship.

Marketing Goldfish and Chocolate

Bonni shares her experience working on marketing Goldfish, a product that was initially marketed as a snack for adults drinking beer in bars but later was marketed to moms as an appealing snack for children. She also discusses her experience working with Cadbury, a chocolate brand that had over 150 chocolate brands worldwide. She worked on a brand architecture project to help consolidate these brands and increase their advertising dollars. She was sent boxes of chocolate bars from around the world to analyze packaging and brand identity and helped create seven mega brands for Cadbury, which led to a significant increase in their chocolate market share.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Bonni mentions a course taught by Professor Dominguez where he focused on critical thinking. He presented different perspectives on events, presenting different sides as the truth. This skill has been passed down through her life and has become essential in today's world. Bonni wishes more classes would take this approach, as it helps students analyze and think critically about various situations and perspectives. Bonni's experiences with Professor Dominguez's course and her critical thinking skills have shaped her life and career.

Timestamps:

02:29: Transition to Coaching and McKinsey

05:41: Role at Generation and Impact on Workforce

09:43: Impact of AI on Training and Roles

15:02: Learners vs. Students and Personal Time Management

20:55: Professional Development at McKinsey

22:59: Goldfish Marketing Strategy and Cadbury Brand Architecture

28:29: Travel Experiences and Language Skills

32:06: Influence of Harvard Courses and Critical Thinking

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonni-theriault-710b79/

Website: www.generation.org

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Juliana Koo who reports:

"Hi. I'm Juliana Koo, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Kaya Press. Kaya is a publisher of Asian diasporic literature, and I was the managing editor for nearly a decade in the 1990s and now serve on the board. You can learn more about Kaya's work at WWW dot k, a, y, adotcom, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: www.kaya.com.

Show Notes:

Gideon Yaffe and his then girlfriend-now wife, Sue Chan, drove across the country after graduation to San Francisco, where they had no jobs or prospects. Gideon had applied to graduate school in philosophy but didn't get in anywhere. They got married and his first job was at a pet store, Gideon worked there for a while, then at a computer magazine.

Studying Philosophy at Stanford

While hanging out in San Francisco, he started reading Proust's Remembrance of Things Past, which he loved and found to be hugely rewarding. This inspired him to apply to grad school again and this time his application was accepted in a lot of places. He decided to study philosophy at Stanford, where he met Michael Bratman, a professor who worked on philosophy of action and related questions about the nature of action, agency, and intention. Gideon also became interested in the history of philosophy and wrote a dissertation about John Locke and contemporary problems related to the Free Will problem. Gideon went on the job market in academia. He got some interviews but didn't get a job. The following year, he got a one-year job at UCSD. His wife, Sue, was working in the film industry, so they moved to LA and he commuted down to San Diego.

Tenure at the University of Southern California

He finally secured a tenure track job at the University of Southern California (USC) in 1999 and taught Philosophy of Law classes. He wrote a paper about addiction, which he found interesting due to his knowledge of addicts and interest in freedom and addiction and how addiction would undermine freedom. When a friend of Gideon's was a victim of a carjacking incident, he became interested in the legal problem at the center of many carjacking cases that revolves around intention, so he wrote a paper about conditional intention. Gideon explains how carjacking differs from car theft, and the paper questioned whether a conditional intention was enough for the crime when the statute called for unconditional intention. Gideon felt that philosophy of law was important to work on but he needed to know more about the law, so he coerced USC into giving him a year in the law school. Gideon recounts his experience as a law student and how it led to teaching law in law school.

Collaborating on a Neuroscience and Legal Proceedings Think Tank

The MacArthur Foundation launched the law and neuroscience project, which aimed to bring together various people from philosophy, law, and neuroscience to discuss the relevance of neuroscience to legal proceedings, particularly in criminal law. Gideon was invited to be part of this think tank. During this time, he collaborated with neuroscientists on various problems and experiments related to neuroscience that could be useful to the legal system. This led to a desire to learn more about neuroscience and he pursued a grant to support the project. He spent another year as a neuroscience student at Cal Tech which allowed him to learn a lot about neuroscience. Gideon also started writing a book about attempted crimes. Gideon talks about the importance of understanding the double failure of attempts, and inherent impossible attempts. He highlights the number of cases where individuals seem incapable of committing crimes. Gideon received a job offer from Yale University after being a part of the MacArthur think tank and his book. He decided to take the position and he and his family moved to New Haven.

Neuroscience, Law, and GenAI Intentions

Gideon talks about the challenges faced by those who attempt to escape the harsh realities of the criminal justice system. His experiences highlight the importance of understanding the factors that contribute to attempted crimes. The conversation turns to Gideon's involvement in generative AI and the potential of AI intentions. He is currently working on a project with neuroscientist Uri Maoz, which aims to understand, for example, the difference between self-driving cars and drones in terms of intentions. Another project involves a group funded by billionaire Sergey Brin, who has a daughter with severe autism. The group aims to build AI models of the brain of a person and use the model to see how it responds to various forms of surgery.

AI, Consciousness, and Intentions Organizing Behavior

Gideon discusses the concept of AI consciousness. Gideon states that a lot depends on how consciousness is defined. One understanding is that consciousness involves self-representation of certain kinds of thoughts. He suggests that understanding consciousness depends on what one thinks about it. One way of understanding consciousness involves self-representation of certain kinds, such as having a second-order thought about the thought. If that's all that's required for consciousness, then these LLMs can be conscious. Another way of understanding consciousness involves qualia, or ways of feeling, such as experiencing a particular sensation or feeling something. However, he acknowledges that it is difficult to know exactly what it is like to be an LLM or a toaster. He acknowledges that there are some similarities between the two, but acknowledges the challenges in determining their exact roles in AI and neuroscience. Gideon explains that intentions serve to organize behavior in various interesting ways. For example, if an AI has intentions, they can make decisions now so they don't have to think about them later. This is relevant for coordinating behavior with each other, as well as interpersonal organization. The question of whether AIs have intentions is more tractable than the question of whether they are conscious. Intentions play a crucial role in various aspects of law, such as contract interpretation and legal texts. Understanding the intentions of AI and their potential impact on these areas is essential for understanding the future of AI and its applications in various fields.

Updating Law to Address AI Intention

The conversation explores the need to rewrite laws or update them to address the issue of intention in AI. Gideon states that the intention of a person or AI and the textual language, and the interpretation of the text are all areas that need to be explored. The project Gideon is working on aims to determine the intentions of AI by examining the role their representation plays in guiding their behavior. Gideon suggests that the question is whether inferences can be made about AI's intentions by looking at the role the representations plays from the AI behavior. Gideon talks about a project on criminal activity and neuroscience that he is proud of.

Leniency and Child Criminality

Gideon goes on to talk about leniency and child criminality. He argues that the reason to give a break to kids who engage in criminal behavior is disenfranchisement, not neural immaturity. He talks about the age of maturity, lack of political participation. Gideon's book about kids was written after completing his studies at Yale. He also discusses his personal life, including being in a car accident which resulted in a severe brain injury and how he is immensely grateful for his recovery.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Gideon mentions a core class on the Baroque period by Simon Schama, which he found to be the most influential. The course focused on famous European paintings from the Baroque period, which he found to be a source of inspiration. Other influential courses include a seminar with Hilary Putnam, Rational Action with Robert Nozick.

Timestamps:

04:50: Philosophy Studies and Academic Challenges

11:18: Legal Philosophy and Collaborative Research

22:25: Transition to Yale and Continued Research

27:22: Philosophical Reflections on AI and Consciousness

39:36: Personal Reflections and Career Highlights

49:52: Courses and Professors at Harvard

52:27: Current Work and Future Directions

52:41: Personal Life and Family

Links:

https://law.yale.edu/gideon-yaffe

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Michael Johnson who reports:

"Hi. I'm Michael Johnson, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is Son of a Saint. Son of a Saint provides guidance, mentorship and opportunities to young boys in the New Orleans area who did not have a father in the home, usually due to death or incarceration. Founded in 2011 by Sonny Lee, who lost his own father, a defensive back of the saints from a heart attack at the age of 36, Son of a Saint is making a significant impact on the lives of young boys in the New Orleans area. My wife and I have been supporters for many years, as has my firm advantage capital, which recently endowed a scholarship that will cover high school tuition for two boys from the program. Although my circumstances were much different, having lost my own father when I was five years old, I know firsthand how important a male influence can be on a young boy. I luckily had family members and friends who stepped up from me and hope in some small way, my support of Son of a Saint and the work their mentors do can give the boys and their programs similar help. You can learn more about their work at Son of a Saint.org and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: www.sonofasaint.org.

Show Notes:

Steven Chao, a US-born second-generation college student, shares his experiences growing up in South Carolina and feeling overwhelmed upon arriving at Harvard in 1988. He found solace in joining the Collegium Musicum, a classical musical singing group at Harvard, which helped him find his footing and connect with people from his class.

From Biochem to Game Design to Consulting

Steven majored in biochemistry, which expanded his social circle and helped him find happiness. Steven's parents were both PhDs and pushed him into the MD PhD program. However, he faced challenges in medical school and research, leading to questions about his path and the decision to pursue a career in computer gaming. Steven talks about his experience working in the sound and asset acquisition field at Activision in LA. He initially had a great time there but ultimately decided that it wasn't the long-term solution for him. He returned to his PhD program and he pinned his hopes on becoming a doctor. During the last half of the MD program, Steven realized that he didn't want to be a researcher or go into medicine. He found an opportunity to explore other careers beyond medicine or research through a sub-intern at McKinsey.

The McKinsey Years

Steven joined McKinsey full-time in 2001 and worked in the Boston office. The bulk of his work was in the payer and provider space, mainly health insurance and hospital systems. He spent about four and a half years at McKinsey, starting from scratch with no business background, which proved difficult. Steven's PhD focused on biology, not analytical skills, but rather gene genetic rearrangement and plasmids, and he felt lost at the beginning of McKinsey. At the same time, he also participated in the mini MBA program in Austria. Despite meeting great friends at McKinsey, his work was hit or miss. Steven talks about a few of the McKinsey projects he worked on and how a pharma project with Jeff Elton piqued his interest in returning to biopharma. He later worked with Kim Packard, who was his first and best mentor at McKinsey. Steven was late to promotion and advancement, and in 2004, when his wife became pregnant, he gave up his job and started considering what he would do next.

Boutique Consulting, Life Sciences, and Biotech Companies

In 2004, Steven joined a small consulting group at an investment bank called Leering Swan, which focused on life sciences and biotech companies. This was a better fit for Steven, who had always wanted to leverage his love for science. He joined the firm and was assigned to a project in Parkinson's disease. The experience was mind-blowing, as he interviewed world experts in this space. He was hooked within a week and found the career to be a good fit for him. The combination of his love for science and medicine, without needing to do research or have a career in clinical practice, was perfect, as he loved learning about different aspects of medicine, and the variety and diversity of the day-to-day work.

Founding ClearView

Steven left Leering Swan with two other people in 2008 to co-found ClearView. ClearView was born of the same concept as Leering Swan, but focused on life sciences, biotech, pharma, private equity clients, diagnostics companies, and strategic consulting. Steven's primary hat was recruiting, and he continued to love every second of doing so. ClearView Healthcare Partners is now a well-known, private consulting firm with several 100 employees. The company has a growing presence in London, India, San Francisco, New York, and Boston.

Family Life and a Love of Musicals

On the personal side, Steven has a family of four children, three girls and a boy. They also have two in college and two still in high school. The oldest is a sophomore at Harvard. Music has always been a significant part of their family. They have a love for Broadway musical theater, and they have spent a lot of time attending performances. Their youngest son is doing a local production of Hadestown in Wellesley, and their oldest is performing at the Agassi theater in a production of 9-5, the film with Dolly Parton, which has themes of female empowerment.

Timestamps:

04:50: Transition to Medical School and Early Career Challenges

13:14: Joining McKinsey and Early Consulting Experience

23:20: Discovering a Passion for Biopharma Consulting

30:04: Founding ClearView Healthcare Partners

37:27: Personal Life and Family

Featured Non-profit:

Hi. This is Steve Chao, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is the Merriemack Repertory Theater. My wife and I love live theater. The MRT is a fantastic organization that puts on plays and musicals every year, serving a wide catchment area in and around Lowell, Massachusetts. I was actually introduced to the MRT via a fellow class of 92 Carrie Suzawa, married named Michael. And you can learn more about the work of the MRT through the website, mrt.org. And for now, here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit: https:mrt.org.

Show Notes:

Rebecca Hollander-Blumoff shares her journey from college to law school. After deferring her law school for a year, she spent a year in Spain to gain language and cultural experience. She then went to law school in Cambridge and clerked for a federal judge in New York before going into practice. Rebecca was initially interested in becoming a federal prosecutor but realized she first had to go into practice. She worked for a small boutique litigation firm that did about 60% white collar criminal defense and about 40% civil litigation. While she loved being a counselor to her clients, and a person who a client could call, day in, day out, she found the law firm's hierarchy unappealing. The Psychology of Negotiation, a PhD., and Teaching Rebecca decided to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology to study the psychology of negotiation. She talks about negotiation in law, and she began taking classes in NYU's master's program and eventually obtained a PhD in Social Psychology with a dissertation on procedural justice in negotiation. She taught in the lawyering program at NYU and was an adjunct at Seton Hall in New Jersey teaching negotiation. After obtaining her PhD, she went on the job market for academia; she got a position at Washington University in Saint Louis. Rebecca has been teaching at Washington University in Saint Louis since 2006. She teaches various core classes, including civil procedure, federal courts, law and psychology, negotiation, negotiation for executive education, and has also developed a course in women's leadership and negotiation. She has worked for groups like the Brookings Institution and the Rodel Institute. Women's Negotiation and Navigating Stereotypes Rebecca's approach to teaching women's negotiation is not about focusing on gender differences but rather on understanding the research that informs her approach. She believes that women need to be armed with knowledge about the effects of gender, culture, and race on negotiation. This knowledge can help them navigate through stereotypes and roadblocks that may arise in negotiations. In her classes, she also discusses the research that is relevant to everyone, not just women, and mentions the issue of different perceptions of men and women in and on negotiations, and how behavior of men and women is perceived differently. The discussion also touches on the misconception that some people are born good negotiators and others are bad at it. This is a misconception that can hinder effective negotiation. The best way to think about negotiation is as an experience that can be prepared for and analyzed from both structural and interpersonal perspectives. This involves considering possibilities, actions to take if negotiations don't work out, and the interpersonal elements present. Negotiation and Problem-solving Rebecca mentions that negotiation is often seen as adversarial, but it is actually more about strategically problem-solving to increase the size of the pie and generate low-cost but high-value outcomes for both parties. Examples of negotiations that are not adversarial include family law, business contracts, and reputational effects. Negotiations can have broader implications, as people may still be in each other's lives after the negotiation. The key piece that students often overlook is the relational aspect of negotiations. In negotiations, parties are not in front of a judge, and the outcome must be decent for both parties. For example, in a negotiation for a new salary or project, one person has all the power, but the decision by fiat can lead to less positive results over time, less employee retention, and less positive feelings about the project. In real-world situations, negotiations can have other elements and dimensions available. Lawyers should question their assumptions and think about the best end goal for their clients. They should also consider the potential negative consequences of their actions and the impact on their reputation and business relationships. Negotiations in Practice The conversation turns to the dynamic between attorneys and clients in family law negotiations. Research has shown that when lawyers experience fairness in negotiation, they are more likely to recommend the agreed-upon outcome to their clients, believing it forms the basis for a better long-term agreement. However, the client is not in the room, and the lawyer may manipulate the client's desire for fair process and present things differently to the client based on what they think might happen. This can lead to a gap between what the lawyer is experiencing and what the client is experiencing. Research by a professor at UC Davis has found that one of the most desirable forms of dispute resolution for regular people is negotiation by their lawyer while the client is present in the room. This could reduce the dissonance between the lawyer and the client, potentially leading to better negotiation outcomes. A Year in Madrid Rebecca recounts her experience in Madrid after college, where she lived with a family for most of the year, a difficult but interesting experience. She studied at the Complutense University, where she participated in a Hispanic studies program, which taught history, language, grammar, and art in Spanish. The program was an international one, and the students from around the world were taught in Spanish. Despite the initial loneliness and lack of familiarity, Rebecca found it fascinating and eventually moved into an apartment with friends. She found that Madrid was a large city, but not warm and fuzzy, and it was a great place to live. A Passionate and Adventurous Baker Rebecca is a passionate baker She enjoys sharing her creative side with her students, who are always happy when she bakes for them. In her home life, she has three boys and two nephews who live nearby, making the house full of baked good eaters. Baking provides a time to disconnect from the stress of professional life and connect with the world through the act of baking. One of her favorite projects was when she baked 12 cakes of Christmas based on the 12 days of Christmas. She also used cooking as a project to open her children's horizons to different cultures and ideas, especially when her kids were younger. They would research a country and make a whole meal of that country's cuisine, usually with a baked dessert. One of her favorite baked goods is a Kringle, made from an Estonian recipe. Her oldest child also fell in love with the Mongolian beef patty, a dish made from a dough of flour and water wrapped around ground beef. Influential Harvard Professors and Courses Rebecca took Justice as a freshman and ironically found it to be one of her least favorite classes. However, she enjoyed her classes in the history and literature concentration. She also took a phenomenal French literature class and enjoyed a class on modern poetry, which she likens to the study of law, as every word and construction has a reason or purpose.

Timestamps:

06:11: Transition to Academia and Negotiation Research

10:12: Teaching Women's Negotiation and Gender Dynamics

18:08: Negotiation Skills for Law Students

26:12: Relational Aspects of Negotiation

31:08: Consulting and Baking Passion

41:23: Personal Reflections and Cultural Experiences

44:22: Influence of Harvard Classes and Professors

Links:

Author Page for Rebecca E. Hollander-Blumoff :: SSRN

Instagram: @rebeccahollanderblumoff

X: https://x.com/rhollblum

Blue Sky: @rhollblum.bsky.social.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hollander-blumoff-475636270/

Work: https://law.washu.edu/faculty-staff-directory/profile/rebecca-hollander-blumoff/

Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Research-Handbook-Psychology-Rebecca-Hollander-blumoff/dp/1800881916

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Elaine Lum MacDonald who reports:

"Hi, I'm Elaine Lum McDonald, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is SV2. Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund. SV2 is a community committed to accelerating equity in the Bay Area through grant making to local nonprofits, impact investing in local and global entrepreneurs and immersive learning experiences. I am proud to have been a member of this organization since 2021 and I'm currently serving on the board. I love SV2 because it is truly innovative in two ways. First, it's equity based practices, including putting grantees and investees on the board and its trust based philanthropy practices. And secondly, because of its focus on creating impact across the capital spectrum, from donations to investments. You can learn more about their work at SV2.org and now here is Will Bachmann with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: SV2.org.

Show Notes:

Alison Wakoff Loren went to St Louis to medical school at Washington University. She specialized in internal medicine and later completed a subspecialty fellowship in hematology oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. She met her husband in medical school and they have three children all in their early twenties. Alison is now the chief of the Division of Hematology Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in bone marrow transplantation, a curative therapy for blood cancer.

Taking Care of Patients

Alison finds the best part of her job to be taking care of patients, especially those who have just been diagnosed with leukemia. She gets to know people when they are in a vulnerable place and understand their lives, which is a privilege. She also does a lot of administrative work, mentoring trainees and faculty, helping them understand their passions and connecting them with opportunities. Alison is proud of her mentoring success stories. She encourages everyone to show gratitude and warmth, as the world is not always generous, and it is important to show that we can make a difference for each other by showing warmth and gratitude. She also shares a story of mentoring a talented MD and PhD candidate who was unhappy in her research role.

Helping Patients with Leukemia

Alison discusses the fear and uncertainty people face when discovering they have leukemia. She shares her experiences in delivering sad news to a patient who had been a high school history teacher and had leukemia come back. She mentions that people have incredibly generous spirits and sometimes don't behave their best when they're scared. She also shares examples of people making decisions that matter to their loved ones, such as stopping treatment or continuing treatment when they don't want to. Alison also discusses the range of responses people have when they have to deliver sad news. She explains that most people know they're in for an uphill climb, and it's rare to be surprised. Alison specializes in bone marrow transplants, which are intensive but curative intent therapies, and she emphasizes the importance of laying groundwork ahead of time to make difficult conversations less shocking and offering hope while grounding the conversation. She also stresses the importance of being honest and respectful in her interactions with patients.

Fertility Preservation in Cancer Treatment

The conversation turns to Alison's research and the importance of fertility preservation in cancer treatment, which can harm reproductive capacity and lead to infertility. Oncology teams often don't discuss this topic, partly because they are focused on cancer and not reproductive endocrinologists. However, there is a focus on making sure all patients are counseled about the reproductive impact of their treatments and reproductive options to engage in fertility preservation before starting cancer treatments. Alison explains what is recommended for women. She mentions that it is important to discuss these options before starting cancer treatment, as it reduces distress and decision regret for people after treatment. Alison is fortunate to be able to speak and advocate for fertility preservation for people with blood cancers, which represents a special population in oncology care. She has been fortunate to co-chair an effort to develop guidelines for fertility preservation from a large cancer organization. She explains that colleagues in reproductive science are doing amazing research to extend options for reproductive care before and after cancer treatment, which is exciting to inform oncology clinicians and advocate for insurance coverage for these treatments.

Family Life, Running, and Circadian Rhythms

Alison shares her experiences with her children, including a daughter who works at the Amherst College Library, an older son considering medical school, and a younger son at Bates College in Maine. Her daughter has inspired her to think about women in the workplace, as she was criticized for not valuing women in her division and for hiring women because they are cheaper. Alison also shares her experience with running, which she enjoys but has to get up early to get in before work. She talks about the concept of morning and night people, stating that people have their own internal clocks. She also mentions that research into the biology of the circadian clock is still in its early stages.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Alison shares her experiences at Harvard, including taking courses with Stephen Jay Gould and Dick Lewontin, who were incredibly intelligent and insightful. She also took Act 10 as a senior, which was an unexpected experience that helped her learn different ways of thinking about the subject. Alison volunteered at the Mission Hill after-school program, which allowed her to get to know the kids and families there. She tried out for various extracurriculars, such as singing and photography, but found it intimidating. She also mentions the training program for photographers.

Timestamps:

01:51: Alison Wakoff Loren's Medical Journey

04:12: Motivations and Rewards in Patient Care

22:20: Mentoring Success Stories

22:36: Challenges and Insights in Patient Care

24:17: Balancing Professional and Personal Life

24:32: Research and Advocacy in Fertility Preservation

28:54: Influences and Reflections on Harvard Education

37:25: Extracurricular Activities and Personal Growth

Links:

Penn Medicine Website: https://www.pennmedicine.org/providers/profile/alison-loren

American Society of Clinical Oncology: https://www.asco.org/

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: https://www.lls.org/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Ming Chen who reports:

" One nonprofit that I've been involved in is the Keswick Foundation, which funds pilot programs in Hong Kong and mainland China to help the community serve needs that are not being met by the government. So we work with family and vulnerable populations. We work with the elderly, and we work with things like helping promote social work in China, as well as clinical psychologists in different NGOs around the region. The other nonprofit that I am on the Advisory Council of is the Asian American foundation, TAF for short, T, A, A, F, F. The Asian American foundation, basically, is a platform that gets together different organizations around anti hate, changing the narrative education, helping to advocate for Asian American history taught in public schools, as well as narrative change representation in Hollywood and beyond. And again, it was founded around the 2020, around the growing disturbing rhetoric against Asians with the rise of COVID So yeah, those are two nonprofit organizations that I'm involved with. So again, one nonprofit that's been on the board for for many, many years is called the Keswick Foundation, and it funds pilot programs in Hong Kong as well as Mainland China. And then the Asian American foundation. If you want to learn more about the Asian American foundation, it's www dot T, A, A, f.org, check it out."

To learn more about their work, visit:

The Asian American Foundation: https://www.taaf.org/

The Keswick Foundation: https://www.keswickfoundation.org.hk/

Show Notes:

Julia Lynch opens the conversation with a statement about identifying now as a Radcliffe graduate, despite not having identified with feminism during college. At college, Julia didn't think feminism was a pressing issue, but later realized that her career has been shaped by discrimination and enriched by her experiences as a mother and wife. Julia's professional trajectory was predictable, but she had to fight for her place in a male-dominated profession. At the age of 50, her life seems placid and predictable, but she is grateful for the surprises and bumps in her journey.

Working in a Male-dominated Career

After leaving Harvard, she worked as a secretary for a year, applied for a Rotary Fellowship, went to Italy, did a Phd. in Political Science, and onto her first job at UPenn where she achieved tenure. Julia discusses her career in academia, which she had no idea was so male dominated. She notes that, while traditionally it was believed that STEM fields were male-dominated, some social science disciplines, such as political science, economics, and philosophy, remain some of the most male-dominated areas despite changes in STEM fields. She initially had no idea that women would be held to a different standard than men in terms of tenure and promotion.

Discrimination in the Tenure and Promotion Process

Julia talks about obvious and systematic discrimination in the tenure and promotion process. When applying for tenure in a political science department, she found that men who had lower qualifications than many women were put forward while women with much better qualifications were typically discouraged from applying for tenure or simply would not make tenure. She mentions the discrimination in the application process, and also noted that women authors tend to get cited less than male authors. She explains why there is less discrimination in the private sector and why, as a student, she didn't know about the discrimination against female professors.

The Academic Job Market

The conversation turns to the academic job market which is a complex one, with an average of 30% of women in senior faculty positions in political science. Political science is siloed as a field, with four main subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. The representation of women in these subfields is different, with less women in international relations and more in comparative politics and political theory. Julia explains that the most important thing to know about this topic is that women are entering the pipeline, but they either jump or get pushed off the tenure track early on in the process, never making it through to become full professors in political science. This results in a market for junior people at the pre-tenured stage, where women get jobs but don't go on to get tenure. Even if they stay on the tenure track, it takes them longer to get to that stage of full professor and spend a shorter percentage of their career at that top rank.

The Push to Increase Diversity

Julia talks about the push to increase diversity in new hires in the academia world and mentions that there was some pushback from younger professors. More women and minorities were hired, and progress was made at the junior level, but the problem was that the leaks in the pipeline were not fixed. Julia mentions the patterns that made this apparent and that women tend to do qualitative work, which is less valued in the profession.

Male Flight in Academic Disciplines

The concept of male flight in academic disciplines is discussed, and Julia explains that this trend is striking, as seen in the case of archeology, a sub-field of anthropology, which was a male-dominated discipline. In political science, there hasn't been a significant change in male representation, although women have made breakthroughs in the political system. Qualitative, comparative historical research, which is dominated by the study of American politics, has seen a shift towards female representation. This shift is also evident in areas like qualitative, comparative historical research, where incoming men are fewer.

Research on Health and Inequality

Julia talks about her research in health and inequality. The United States has a lower life expectancy than Europe. This is partly due to poverty, which prevents access to fresh food and the time and energy to pursue a healthier lifestyle. Poverty also causes stress, which shortens the part of our chromosomes responsible for aging. Political decisions, such as not addressing poverty, particularly child poverty, have contributed to this issue. These experiences accumulate over a lifetime, making health outcomes worse for those starting their lives in poverty. Policy decisions and political decisions, such as allowing people to have a voice in politics, also play a role in health inequality. Julia states that, to address health inequality, the US should prioritize policy changes, including addressing poverty and promoting inclusion in politics. Julia's research included health and inequality in several European countries, including Germany after reunification. She mentions her book on this topic. Bristol University Press has made the book open access, making it available for free download on Amazon. If ordering from the US, it can be found through an aggregator or local bookstore.

Thoughts on the Second Act

Julia shares insights from her first and second marriages, including what it means to stick it out for the kids or live authentically. She believes that waiting for her current husband to separate their households was the right timing for her second act. She talks about her next project which involves travelling to Europe, her involvement in a women's choir, and playing french horn in a semi-professional orchestra. The women's choir performs for various events, including concerts and gigs, to raise awareness about women's rights and encourage voter turnout. The choir started as a group of friends and family, but has grown to become a larger organization. They perform music written by women, often contemporary composers. Research suggests that engaging in group activities, such as dancing or singing, can align brain waves and emotions, creating a powerful bond between individuals. This bond is particularly powerful in smaller groups, where the choir can create a sense of community and belonging. Engaging in community is rare for adults, especially in today's world where we are constantly connected to our phones. Julia stresses the importance of engaging in community, whether in a church, synagogue, mosque, or running club.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Julia mentions Justice class and her nickname in the class; she also mentions political theory classes. She remembers the class The Welfare State in the United States, taught by Theda Skocpol and Margaret Weir. Many of Julia's professors at Harvard have since become peers and colleagues.

Timestamps:

05:21: Challenges of Being a Woman in Academia

13:23: Representation and Diversity in Political Science

20:36: Male Flight and Gender Dynamics in Academia

24:21: Julia's Research on Health Inequality

34:01: Personal Reflections and Life Changes

37:40: Balancing Professional and Personal Life

44:57: Influence of Harvard Professors and Courses

Links:

Faculty profile: https://live-sas-www-polisci.pantheon.sas.upenn.edu/people/standing-faculty/julia-lynch

The Book: Getting Better: The Policy and Politics of Reducing Health Inequalities: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/getting-better

Featured Non-profit

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Ben Dattner who reports:

"Hi. I'm Ben Dattner, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 report is the Y of Washington Heights and Inwood in New York City. Their website is YWHI.org. I'm proud to have been a donor to and volunteer for this organization for the last 15 years, and they do wonderful things in the Upper Manhattan community. Thank you. Now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: https://www.ywhi.org/

Show Notes:

Robert de Neufville dropped out of grad school after spending over a decade in grad school and not finishing his PhD. This was around the time of the financial crisis. Robert realized that after a decade in academia he was less employable than when he graduated from Harvard. He had done a lot of teaching at Berkeley and San Francisco State, but found himself struggling to find a job. He eventually moved to Hawaii to work freelance editing projects. He moved there because he had a friend who wanted to rent out his house.

Working as a Forecaster and Political Writer

Currently, Robert is working as a forecaster and political writer. He has a sub-stack newsletter called Telling the Future, which has about 1500 subscribers. While he is not particularly happy writing about politics right now, he believes it's necessary for his career and personal growth.

Therapy and Political Theory

Robert discusses their first period after college and therapy. He mentions the stigma surrounding therapy and the importance of normalizing it. However, he eventually reached a breaking point. He didn't know what he wanted to do after college. He drove to New York and worked at several different places, including consulting and Booz and Allen, which he ultimately found lacked meaning and decided to pursue a more intellectual career. He knew that he liked thinking and writing about things, so he applied to grad school for political science, where he studied political theory and moral issues related to community living. However, he found the academic culture at Berkeley to be toxic and, combined with an unhealthy lifestyle, he decided it was not for him. Robert touches on his difficult childhood, which was characterized by narcissistic parents and abusive mother. He eventually sought therapy and found that he felt better, but struggled to complete his dissertation. He dropped out of grad school, despite their professors' concerns, and was diagnosed with chronic PTSD.

Finding Solace in Teaching

Robert found solace in teaching, but disliked the part where he had to grade students. Some people had unhealthy relationships with grades, and he felt he had to refer them to suicide watch. He realized that teaching was great because it allowed them to understand a topic better by explaining it to others. He found that teaching was the only way they could truly understand a topic, but he realized he didn't want to do academic work. Additionally, he found that there was a backlog of people who wanted to become political theory professors who spend their time teaching adjuncts and spending money on conferences and job opportunities. Robert believes that his experience in grad school was intellectually rewarding and that his training and political theory shaped who he is.

Writing for Love and Money

Robert talks about his experience writing for mainstream publications like The Economist, National Interest, California magazine, The Big Think, and The Washington Monthly. He shares his struggles with freelance writing, as he finds it slow and fussy, and finds it frustrating to be paid for work that takes time to complete. He also discusses his writing about forecasting, becoming a skilled judgmental forecaster. He makes money by producing forecasts for various organizations, which is a relatively new field. He encourages readers to support writers they love and consider paying for their work, as it is hard and not very rewarding.

Forecasting Methods and Examples

The conversation turns to Robert's writing and forecasting. He explains his approach to forecasting and how he uses history to guide his predictions. He shares his method of estimating the probability of events in the future, which involves looking back at similar elections and establishing a base rate. This helps in estimating the probability of what is going to happen in a specific situation. Robert also mentions that there are some situations that require more analytical thinking, such as discovering AGI or other technologies. He talks about The Phil Tetlock project, a government agency that helped invent the internet, aimed to determine if anyone could forecast geopolitical questions. The research showed that people were terrible at it, even analysts and pundits. However, a certain percentage of people consistently outperformed intelligence analysts using methodical extrapolations. Robert participated in the tournament and qualified as a super forecaster in his first year. He works with Metaculus and the Good Judgment Project, which produces probabilistic forecasts for decision-makers. The forecasting community is now working on making forecasts useful, such as understanding the reasons behind people's forecasts rather than just the number they produce.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Robert stresses that he found his interaction with fellow students to be most enriching, and he appreciated Stanley Hoffmann's class on Ethics and International relations, which was taught through a humanist lens and emphasized the importance of morality. He also enjoyed watching the list of movies and reading academic articles alongside his classes, which eventually informed his teaching. He also mentions Adrienne Kennedy's playwriting class, which he found exciting and engaging. He enjoys table reads and reading people's plays fresh off the presses and believes that these experiences have shaped his forecasting skills.

Timestamps:

03:16: Robert's Move to Hawaii and Career Challenges

06:16: Current Endeavors and Writing Career

07:58: Therapy and Early Career Struggles

10:14: Grad School Experience and Academic Challenges

22:41: Teaching and Forecasting Career

26:21: Forecasting Techniques and Projects

41:27: Impact of Harvard and Influential Professors

Links:

Substack newsletter: https://tellingthefuture.substack.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertdeneufville/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Patrick Jackson who reports:

"Hi I'm Patrick Ian Jackson, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is His Hands Free Clinic, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Since 1992 His Hands Free Clinic has been seeking to honor God by helping the uninsured and underinsured in our community. The clinic is a 501, c3 nonprofit ministry providing free health care to Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities. I love the work of this organization. The church that I pastor, First Baptist Church, Church of the Brethren, has been a regular contributor to the clinic for the past couple of years. You can learn more about their work at WWW dot his hands clinic.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: www.HisHandsClinic.org.

Show Notes:

Cara Natterson moved to New York City where she worked for a drug rehabilitation center, and later moved to Baltimore, where she studied at Johns Hopkins Medical School. She eventually returned to L.A. and practiced pediatrics there. Her writing career began at the age of 31 when a co-worker asked her to read his manuscript, which inspired her to write her own book about raising kids.

The Body Book Series and Less Awkward Company

In 2008, Cara decided to leave clinical medicine and become a full-time writer. In 2011, after speaking at Mattel, she was signed on to write for the Body Book series from American Girl, which has since sold millions of copies. Cara then started touring the country, focusing on puberty education. During this time, she discovered that there was nothing else available for kids whose bodies, brains, feelings, and friends were changing. She launched her own business, Less Awkward, a company that created direct-to-consumer products designed for comfort and health like bras and socks. Cara has since expanded the company to focus on content across social media, podcasting, newsletter, and school curriculum.

Health and Sex Education Curriculum

In the past year, she has rolled out two platforms: a health and sex education curriculum for schools, which is already implemented in three states, and a membership for parents and trusted adults. Cara talks about the importance of understanding and discussing puberty in young people. She highlights the slower pace of puberty, with girls entering puberty at an average age of 8-9, and boys at an average age of 9-10. She emphasizes the importance of discussing the first signs of puberty, such as breast budding or testicular growth. She also highlights the importance of discussing the issue of first porn exposure, which is a significant concern for parents, family members, coaches, mentors, healthcare providers, and educators. She emphasizes the need to educate children about free porn, which is generally violent and aggressive, and calls for a less awkward approach to discussing this topic. By engaging in conversations about this topic, adults can help their children navigate the challenges of puberty and promote healthier lifestyles.

Launching a Direct-to-Consumer Product

Cara talks about the shift from a pediatrician to writer to entrepreneur. She initially went to medical school but, although she found it interesting, she also realized that she was more of a creative type. However, her background combined with her creative mind led to the drive to develop comfortable and healthy products. After a chat with a friend about bras, she was convinced that there was a need for comfortable bras for young girls. The two women partnered with a sewer who made a comfortable and healthy bra for their daughters, and later pulled together a team that developed the product over many years. They patented the product and launched the company during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was initially launched as a mask company, focusing on distribution and production channels instead of bras to supply the then current demand. Six months later they launched their bra products. She talks about the journey from design and development to launching the product and what she learned along the way. Cara's business ethos has always been to do well and to do good at the same time, and she has found this to be a recipe for success.

The This Is So Awkward Podcast

The conversation turns to Cara's podcast which she started with her partner, Vanessa Kroll Bennett. The podcast addresses the confusion about the length of puberty. It features background episodes and guest appearances with experts from various fields. In October 2023, they published a book called This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained, which explores the changes in puberty and how to talk about them, and it includes essays by kids about their experiences with acne, first periods, and heartbreaks. The podcast has expanded along with content on Instagram and TikTok. All of this content is also available on the website LessAwkward.com. They also have a school-based health and sex education curriculum called That Health Class.

Navigating Today's Cultural Complexities

Cara emphasizes the importance of pediatricians in understanding and managing the changes in puberty. She explains that kids and their adults are overwhelmed by the complexity of the world and the increased access to a wide and diverse range of information. Pediatricians often lack the time or bandwidth to provide anticipatory guidance for children, an especially big issue given the mental health crisis among children. Cara mentions that pediatricians often turn to the LessAwkward website where they have trained an AI bot on their content. Pediatricians are starting to use it as a healthcare solution when they don't have the time to answer questions but their patients want to be able to anticipate what's coming. The bot is reliable, gated, and trained on good data, making it engaging and entertaining. The levity and warmth of the content make it a valuable tool for pediatricians to recommend.

Factors that Contribute to Early Puberty

The American Girl Body Book series launched just after a 1997 study showed that girls were entering puberty earlier. It stated that the average age has shifted from 11 to 10, and a follow-up study in 2010 found it to be between eight and nine. The reason for this change is under investigation, but it is believed to be due to a number of factors, including stress, adverse childhood experiences, and antibiotics. Stress causes cortisol surges, which can either trigger the release of hormones like LH and FSH, or cause sex hormones to surge. Adverse childhood experiences, such as witnessing trauma or drug abuse, can increase the risk of entering puberty early. Evolutionary theory suggests that the human body is meant to reproduce before life ends, and so it makes sense that the general stress response might drive earlier development. She mentions Louise Greenspan, a woman who has been researching puberty for decades, has written a book called The New Puberty which further explores this topic.

The Male Side of the Story

Cara's parenting podcast has a diverse audience, with nearly 20% male listenership. She shares her experiences with male listeners and the challenges they face in connecting with their children. She wrote Decoding Boys, and states, with a degree of jocularity, that there is no data on the connection between testosterone and silence, but it is common among males, especially in their tween years. She shares personal strategies to help connect with tween or teen boys, as they do want to talk and share their thoughts with trusted adults. In the book, Cara shares strategies she has used, and in this conversation, she shares a personal experience on how she encouraged her son to talk to her.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Cara's career highlights her interest in sociology and biological anthropology, which she combined at Harvard. She wrote a junior paper about female genital mutilation in Africa and a thesis about HIV prevention in teenagers in Boston suburbs. She had a vivid memory of her thesis advisor, Irven DeVore, who was an interesting thinker and helped her fit her thesis idea into the curriculum.

Timestamps:

02:12: Transition to Entrepreneurship

05:46: Insights on Puberty and Parenting

09:20: Launching Less Awkward

15:42: Content Creation and Engagement

29:05: Raising Boys and Communication Strategies

35:15: Daily Routine and Collaboration

37:19: Impact of Social Media and Content Creation

39:14: Influence of Harvard Education

Links:

Website: https://lessawkward.com/

Podcast: https://lessawkward.com/podcast-this-is-so-awkward-2/

Instagram: less.awkward

TikTok: less.awkward

Cara's Instagram: caranatterson

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Chris Hull who reports:

"Hi. I'm Chris Hull from Harvard's fabulous class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is The Fund for American Studies. TFAs is an educational nonprofit that develops courageous leaders by providing students who otherwise wouldn't get a chance to come to DC to learn about how to make a difference. I've been honored to have worked with TFAs for more than three decades, since they've allowed me to study at Georgetown. At the same time, I did an internship in Washington, which helped transform my life as it has for so many others over the last half century that it's existed, who otherwise couldn't possibly afford to do such a thing. You can learn more about their work@tfas.org."

To learn more about their work, visit: work@tfas.org

Show Notes:

Patrick Jackson talks about growing up in his great-grandparents' home in an unincorporated area of Shelby County, where he had no indoor plumbing until age 10. That home, where he lived with his mother and three brothers, was his formative space before going to Harvard. Patrick was initially considering medical school. However, he decided to pursue politics, inspired by an experience he had as a junior in high school working as a U.S. House Page on Capitol Hill.

Becoming a Page in the U.S. House of Representatives

Patrick believes that God opened a door for him to become a Page through his freshman football and track coach, Mac Hawkins, a government and civics teacher and Bartlett High School, who became like a surrogate father to him. In 1985 Coach Hawkins found out about an opportunity to become a page through then-Congressman Don Sunquist, who was looking to appoint a promising high school student. Patrick's experience with the Page Program highlights the importance of faith, connections, and the support of family and friends. In this conversation, Patrick discusses his experience as a page in the House of Representatives and the impact it had on his life. He recalls the experience as transformative and fueled him to pursue a career in government. Patrick ended up concentrating in Government at Harvard.

Working in Politics

After graduation from Harvard, Patrick landed an internship with the Small Business Administration, an opportunity that helped him gain experience and broaden his horizons. Patrick also mentions that he had a temporary spot with Congresswoman Barbara Boxer, who was running for the US Senate at the time. He was invited to work as a legislative correspondent in the Senate office, answering constituent letters and handling constituent calls. However, he wanted to move up quickly and take on more responsibility, so he left Senator Boxer's office and worked for Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez from New York. One significant experience he had there was witnessing Congresswoman Velazquez testify during the healthcare debate about privacy. He had to help write her testimony, which was a tough day but a good day because it helped many people. Patrick acknowledges that this incident did not directly lead to the enactment of the HIPAA law, but it helped with the debate about privacy and HIPAA, adding to the chorus of voices calling for the law to be made and enacted. In 1995, Patrick left Congresswoman Velazquez' office and worked for the late Julian Dixon, a California member of Congress who served as a senior Democrat on Appropriations Committee. He learned a lot from his time there, including the importance of strong relationships across the aisle. Dixon was part of a tight California delegation that worked together to get things done for the state, including medical research funding for top universities and public hospital systems. Patrick also owes a lot to Tracy Holmes, his Chief of Staff, who was skilled in working with people and helping them succeed.

Law School and Study Abroad

Patrick discusses his experiences in law school and his study abroad experience. Though he initially planned to work for just two years before law school, he did not enter law school until 1998, when he began at the University of Wisconsin law school in Madison. While in law school Patricj participated in a law school exchange program at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. There Patrick lived in a student house with other international students and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the square area. He learned about European legal systems through the international comparative comparative law program at the University of Wisconsin. After law school, he was offered a job after graduation in Columbus, Ohio. He worked as a firm there for a few years but realized that it wasn't what he wanted to spend the rest of his life doing and left the firm at the end of 2005.

From Law to the Seminary

Patrick left Columbus, Ohio, in 2007, returning to his home in Tennessee to work briefly as a substitute teacher in the Shelby County school system. In 2008 he left Tennessee to return to D.C. to work for United Way of America as a federal lobbyist, covering national issues like the 211 information system and the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. He met his wife in 2006 while still in Columbus, Ohio, and they became friends and stayed in touch even long distance. In 2010, they decided to move their relationship forward and got married. He worked with Senator Sherrod Brown from 2009 to 2011, but they decided to return to Columbus in 2011. During that time of transition, Patrick sensed a call to fulltime ministry, which was influenced in part by his involvement in the music ministry at a church in Dumfries, Virginia. He also attended US Senate Chaplain Barry Black's weekly Bible studies and enrolled in his spiritual mentoring classes. During one of these Bible studies, Chaplain Black encouraged him to consider attending seminary. However, Patrick would not attend seminary until 2013, after spending some time working as a contract lawyer in Columbus. Patrick attended Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, Massachusetts, graduating with honors in 2017.

Life As a Pastor

Patrick shares his experience of applying to American Baptist churches for senior pastor positions after graduation from Andover Newton. In 2018 Patrick accepted a Pastoral Residency at Richmond's First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. It was a tremendously rewarding experience and helped prepare him for his first pastorate at First Baptist Church-Church of the Brethren and Cedar Rapids, a dually-aligned American Baptist and Church of the Brethren congregation. The process of becoming a pastor at the church involved submitting materials, having phone conversations, and attending a candidate weekend. The church then voted on whether to call the applicant. This experience led to his current position. As an African American pastor at a predominantly white congregation. Patrick shares his experiences of working as a pastor and delivering sermons during Covid.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Patrick shares his experiences with the late Professor Martin Kilson, a government professor who taught him about African American political development in the south. He took a graduate course from Prof. Kilson on African political systems: Power, and Legitimacy, which provided insights into the history and politics of Nigeria, the Congo, and Kenya.

Timestamps:

05:02: The Impact of the Page Program and Early Career

18:18: Transition to Capitol Hill and Early Career Challenges

33:20: Law School and International Experience

40:09: Return to Capitol Hill and Transition to Ministry

53:58: Seminary and Pastoral Career

1:08:19: Transition to Cedar Rapids and Current Role

1:20:25: Reflections on Harvard and Influential Courses

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-jackson-0489a6/

Patrick's church: https://www.thechurchonnorthland.com/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Julie Mallozzi who reports:

"Hi, I'm Julie Mallozzi, class of 1992 the featured organization of this episode of The 92 report is New Day Films. New Day Films is a filmmaker-run distributor of educational documentaries, many of them exploring urgent social issues. I have been a member of this amazing co-op for six years, and am proud to be serving my third year on its steering committee. You can learn more about our work@newday.com and now here's Will Bachmann with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.newday.com/

Show Notes:

After graduation, Angelo Milazzo returned to his home state and attended medical school at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He developed an interest in cardiology and decided to pursue post-graduate training in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology at Duke University. Angelo completed his post-graduate training in 2002 and joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. A Growing Practice and Becoming Chief Medical OfficerIn 2002, he was offered the opportunity to start a pediatric cardiology practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. The practice grew from a one-man operation to a practice with about 30 physicians across various specialty areas. In 2017, Milazzo became the vice chair for practice for the Department of Pediatrics at Duke Health, which has grown to 250 clinical faculty and 50 research faculty. Angelo then became the Chief Medical Officer for the Duke Health Integrated Practice, overseeing all physicians who practice at Duke Health. This role allows him to take the best of his administrative leadership within one clinical department for children's care and spread it across the entire enterprise. The Economics of Health Care and the Business of MedicineAngelo's hands-on administrative experience and managerial experience have led him to become interested in the didactic aspect of his career. He believes that his administrative experience and managerial skills have allowed him to excel in various aspects of his career, including pediatric cardiology. Before the pandemic, Angelo enrolled in business school and completed his MBA in just under two years. He was interested in the economics of healthcare and the business of medicine, but also enjoyed the perspective of classmates from various industries and walks of life. Today, he is a practicing pediatric cardiologist, spending about 40% of his time in clinical practice and 60% of his time in administrative work. He is also interested in health equity research and is part of a project funded by the CDC. What it Takes to Be a Physician Leader Angelo explains that, to be a great physician leader, one must first be a great clinician, and this takes so much more than just medical knowledge. He believes that engaging with patients and families is a privilege and that this energy and insight can inform his managerial work. He has had the privilege of mentors in medicine and being taught by amazing clinicians, which has allowed him to feel comfortable with fraught conversations. He explains how his managerial experiences and administrative experiences make him a better clinician. He has had to negotiate with professionals from different backgrounds and training perspectives, enriching his perspective and broadening it. This constant bilateral communication within him allows him to enhance both sides of his career. The Executive MBA Program ExperienceAngelo talks about the value of his Executive MBA program, and how he appreciates the practical aspects of the program, such as lectures, video calls, and team meetings. However, he also highlights the value of teamwork and learning from professionals from different industries. He shares his capstone project, which involved working with a delivery firm in Eastern Europe, a firm far from his daily work. The team consisted of professionals from various industries, including military, micro brewing, airline, and healthcare professionals. The challenges faced in his work were unique but universally applicable, and he learned valuable lessons from the experience. He also talks about systems used during a public health emergency, the A3 structure and how it is used for improvement projects, and the journey of improvement. The Performance Improvement Journey Angelo talks about management principles adopted in health care and the performance improvement journey that began with the introduction of a standardized electronic health record in 2013 and the adoption of Epic, which is now used by two-thirds to three-quarters of major health systems in the country. This allowed for a common set of data mining tools to collect clinical information and understand success or failure around quality initiatives. The organization's new leaders, including those from other health systems and academic centers, were committed to this continuous improvement environment. By the time the CMO became vice chair in 2016, they were ready to bring these principles into their department. Now, almost a decade later, the organization has built a culture where everyone wants to be a quality improvement scientist. They have developed an academy to train healthcare professionals to become quality improvement scientists, which involves a rapid boot camp that teaches principles over a concentrated period of time. Many of these projects have been presented at regional, national, and international levels, covering various medical specialties, from complicated heart surgery to solid organ transplant to medical genetics to obstetrics and gynecology. Influential Harvard Courses and ProfessorsAngelo mentions three courses and professors that have resonated with him at Harvard: Arthur Kleiman's course on Illness Narratives, Professor Dante Della Terza's Divine Comedy class, and Gregory Nagy's Heroes for Zeros class. Angelo's course with Professor Kleiman was about the idea that hearing patients talk about their illness is a form of storytelling, which he uses in his work. He also mentions Professor Nagy's use of a clip from Blade Runner, a sci-fi noir film, in his class. He believes that this class spoke his language and that he was in the right place for him. Angelo also mentions missing the Michael Sandel Justice course, which he later took through the Harvard EdX program.

Timestamps:

01:29: Angelo Milazzo's Journey After Graduation

05:29: Transition to Administrative Roles and Business School

09:48: Balancing Clinical Practice and Administrative Roles

14:30: Learning from Business School and Applying Lessons

26:11: Implementing Continuous Improvement in Healthcare

36:40: Influential Courses and Professors at Harvard

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amilazzomd/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Julie Cotler Pottinger who reports:

"Hi. I'm Julie Cotler Pottinger, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is every library. Every library helps America build support for libraries and also helps us fight book banning in our communities. I'm proud to be the National Ambassador this year for every library under my pen name, Julia Quinn, and I've been working real hard all year to help them raise money and awareness. You can learn more about their work at www.everylibrary.org and now here's Will Bachmann with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: https://www.everylibrary.org/

Show Notes:

Jung Park, a Korean immigrant, faced a conflict between her passion for acting and her academic pursuits. She initially wanted to concentrate in visual arts but ultimately chose English and American Literature and Language, which she loved. Despite this, she was conflicted about pursuing his artistic dreams versus what was expected of her.

Joining AFTRA and Going into Law School

In her junior year, she auditioned for an open call search for an ABC after-school special about kids with HIV and AIDS, which led to her joining the Screen Actors Guild, renowned as "SAG-AFTRA." After a year in Boston, she returned to California and had to choose between continuing acting, moving to LA, or going to law school. She auditioned for a talent agency in San Diego and was accepted into law school.

A Stand-up Comedian at Law School

While in law school, Jung began doing stand-up comedy in Sacramento and moved to San Francisco, working in law firms and doing stand-up comedy at night. She eventually opened her own law firm in San Francisco and took on numerous cases, including helping a Vietnamese woman avoid deportation for a felony she committed. Jung had wonderful mentors in law, including 70-year-old white men in plaintiff-side civil litigation. She turned down a position at a major law firm after being nominated for the American Ends of Court, which was a group of old white lawyers. Instead, she auditioned and got into a traveling theater program with Kaiser Permanente, which offered health insurance for actors.

Pursuing Acting and Leaving Law

Jung began her acting career in high schools, continuation schools, and juvenile detention centers, performing educational theater shows and counseling Q&As. She later moved to Southern California and focused on stand-up, sketch, and improv. She joined the La Troupe improv training program and worked at a plaintiff side civil litigation law office, where she worked on behalf of farm workers and other vulnerable individuals. In 2012, she grew tired of being a lawyer and opened a Speech and Debate Academy in Pasadena, California. The academy focuses on helping kids be empowered and find their voice. The academy has been around for 13 years and has participated in the Harvard speech and debate tournament. The pandemic hit, and Jung found fulfillment in coaching speech and running her business. She joined an acting class before the pandemic and enjoyed hobnobbing for coffee afterwards. However, during the pandemic, her teacher encouraged her students to start TikTok accounts and post videos related to their work. She had a sketch idea developed in their sketch writing class, which was set up as a GPS that tells driving directions with the Korean accent.

A Career Shift to Screenwriting

Jung is now focusing on writing scripts and developing her content to elevate her unique voice. She has also joined Harvardwood, an organization of Harvard alums in the Hollywood industry, where she took a writing class and attended webinars. She is currently getting a director certificate through UCLA Extension and working on a couple of silly short films. One of her projects is a magical realism short story about an old Asian Tiger Mom visited by a mysterious pigeon. She plans to rewrite it as a short film script and act in it herself, as she can do the pigeon well. She is also considering renting out pigeons for TV or film to see how they move and what they could do. Jung grew up in the Mexican border town of Calexico, near Yuma. She talks about the transition to Harvard and experiencing culture shock. Her stand-up comedy often deals with her experiences growing up in a Mexican American border town and feeling more Latina than Korean. She talks about her family and how her father's paranoia fueled a lot of jokes. She enjoyed her stand-up and has been considering writing new material or trying it out on America's Got Talent. Her last performance was a staged play reading for a Jewish Arts Council group in San Santa Barbara, which was a fundraiser.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Jung, a self-professed word nerd, was accepted into a special graduate seminar led by Phil Fisher, the head of the English department. The seminar focused on close reading of novels, a subject Park was deeply interested in. Fisher warned that few undergrads would be accepted, and Jung was accepted into the seminar, which she found to be a valuable learning experience. The seminar helped her understand the meanings of the first few pages of a novel and the larger work. She has since used this knowledge to teach English classes and writing skills to students, demonstrating the importance of close reading and analysis in academic pursuits.

Timestamps:

03:15: Balancing Law and Art

07:50: Transition to Acting and Comedy

12:06: Establishing the Speech and Debate Academy

14:09: Re-entering Acting and Social Media Success

19:34: Current Projects and Future Aspirations

Links:

Instagram handle: @momentswithjung

TikTok handle: @momentswithjung

Linktree (shows links to all Jung's sites): https://linktr.ee/JungPark

Speech and debate academy website for Nova 42: www.nova42.com

Short story Freebird that reached Top 50, Launch Pad Prose Competition 2024 ,and is on the Coverfly Red list as #13 Drama Short Story (Prose) in the past year:

https://writers.coverfly.com/projects/view/37d599e9-9323-4be6-8b60-d58eeb335c04/FREEBIRD

Jung's IMDB profile:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2575833/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is Generation recommended by Bonni Theriault who reports:

"Hi. I'm Bonni Theriault, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is Generation. Generation is a global nonprofit that supports people to achieve economic mobility and a better life by training, placing and supporting them into employment. I have been a generation for the past six years, and am privileged to serve as the chief partnerships officer. You can learn more about generations work at www.generation.org and now here is Will Bachmann with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.generation.org/

Show Notes:

Michael T. Johnson, a lawyer, shares his experiences during his freshman year at Stanford Law School. He initially wanted to pursue transactional work in finance and looked at New York but later realized that he wanted to return to New Orleans and work there. He stayed long-term in New Orleans and work for companies in the area.

From a Law Firm to the Oil Industry

He spent three years working at Jones Walker, a large law firm in New Orleans. However, after joining the firm, all but one associate left, leading to a split off in the firm and a lot of extra responsibility for Michael. This experience was challenging, but it allowed him to learn and specialize in public company work and mergers. Michael was then hired to do an IPO for Omni Energy Services, a company that drills holes in the ground to find oil deposits. The technology is now advanced enough that they can read 3D seismic imaging to find oil deposits. Michael was excited about the business aspect of the industry and wanted to be on the other side of deals. He talks about his time there and how he was offered the opportunity to document investments.

The Move to Advantage Capital

Michael talks about Advantage Capital, which started as a way to drive capital to underserved states, such as Louisiana, which had been redlined due to corruption and oil and gas booms. The program was created by Harvard economist Beldon Daniels, who was hired by the legislature to give tax credits to insurance companies for investing with funds that agreed to invest in small businesses in the state. Steven Stull, an insurance company portfolio manager, founded Advantage after being approached by a dealmaker. He believed he could create a business around structured financial products, such as selling tax credit bonds to insurance companies. Stull was also involved in public policy and advocacy work, advocating for the adoption of these programs. All of the above lined up with Michael's dream job. He gravitated towards the advocacy and structuring side of the business, spending most of his time in New Orleans.

The New Markets Tax Credit Program

Michael looks back to 2002 when the New Markets Tax Credit Program was adopted by the Clinton Administration, aiming to bring success from the dotcom boom to urban and rural areas. The program was initially praised by the Federal Reserve, but the Bush administration pushed it further and made it more business-friendly. They team decided to pursue this program, which was 100% focused on low-income community investing. The New Markets Tax Credit Program was a business-friendly initiative that aimed to capitalize on the success of the dotcom boom in California and New York. Michael and his team were able to successfully implement the program, focusing on low-income community investing. Michael discusses the company's competitive application process for investment grants, which grade applicants based on their track record of investing capital in targeted areas, raising money from investors using tax credits and incentives, and investing in low-income communities. They analyze their portfolio and find that they have been investing about 30% of their money in low-income communities, particularly in states like Louisiana. They were one of the largest allocatees in the first round of awards in 2003 and have been winners 15 times.

The Shift from a Venture Firm to an Impact Investment Firm

Michael explains that they initially focused on raising money as a venture firm, but later transitioned to an impact investment firm. They now focus on creating jobs and creating job opportunities for residents in their communities. They have been doing federal new markets for 20 years and have state versions that can be added on to them. They try to marry programs together to bring the best of certain programs to each other that work for their investors and spin them out. He also mentions his counterpart, Scott Murphy, who manages the investment side and handles the structuring and bringing in the money. They have been together since 2001 and have been working together since 2001. The mission of the company is to invest in businesses that produce more jobs in the region. The decision-making process involves focusing on companies that produce more jobs at the margin. The company does not specialize in any specific area, as they have tight time frames to qualify for incentives. They have to be generalists, investing in various investment types and being generalists on the balance sheet. The company's goal is to invest in businesses that create jobs and contribute to the region's economy. The company also specializes in incentives and tax credits, having been involved in federal, federal, and state Low Income Housing Tax Credit deals and renewable energy deals.

Building a Life in New Orleans

Michael reflects on his family's presence in New Orleans, which has been a significant part of his life. He recalls dragging people to Mardi Gras from Harvard and being invited to do so every year. However, he also had a strong desire to run for office and work in the Public Service sector, but eventually decided against it. At Advantage, he focused on economic development and was involved in policy discussions with economic development groups. He was getting the idea of what he could do for his city through Metro vision trips and talking to investors. However, he was not well off enough to run for state representative, and his boss initially dismissed his idea. Michael also touches on the impact of Katrina on their business, which was not New Orleans-centric. They moved their office to St. Louis, where they worked on a new markets application. After Katrina, the Treasury Department extended an extension for applicants to work in other areas. Five or six of the team members from St. Lewis rewrote the application to use new markets to rebuild New Orleans. He acknowledges that living in New Orleans was a difficult decision due to its unique personality and uniqueness. They had to make a decision about where to go if they couldn't return, as it was a unique place with a unique personality. However, they were able to be dispassionate about the situation and were called in to DC to discuss using incentives programs to speed up rebuilding.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Michael, a classics major, took many courses and professors that resonated with him, such as EC 10, Micro, Macro Economics, and the American Revolution. These classes helped him understand the real political and economic pressures of the time and made him think critically.

Timestamps:

02:14: Returning to New Orleans

09:36: Transition to Advantage Capital

09:49: Advantage Capital's Focus on Impact Investing

27:06: Impact of Katrina and Advantage Capital's Role

28:01: Personal Life and Family in New Orleans

35:35: Michael's Podcast and Community Involvement

38:11: Reflections on Harvard Education

48:56: Advantage Capital's Investment Strategy

49:17: Successful Investments and Impact Stories

Links:

Website: https://www.advantagecap.com/

Michael's podcast: https://jesuitjourneys.com/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is Senior Tech recommended by Ruthie Tanenbaum who reports:

"Hi. I'm Ruthie Tanenbaum Friedman, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Senior Tech. Senior Tech provides free technology support to senior citizens, which is offered by volunteer high school students. The organization is based in Florida with plans to grow and offers in person and remote support. My children founded and run the organization with my son Max, now serving as president and expanding the services that the organization provides. You can learn more about their work@seniortech.org and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: SeniorTech.org.

Show Notes:

Jacinda Townsend shares her journey of living in 10 different states and two foreign countries, having four careers, including being an elected official, having a couple of kids, and doing various weird things.

Working in Law, Journalism, and Fiction

When Jacinda graduated at 20, she went to law school, which was part of a straight trajectory she had imagined since childhood, and while she initially believed she would go into politics and return to Kentucky, she realized she did not want to pursue a career in law. After finishing her degree, she worked as a news commentator for the Christian Science Monitor network, which led to her being hired as a professional journalist to cover international and national politics. Jacinda was passionate about the news and TV news. Writing for the sound byte was a challenge for her, but she loved it because it allowed her to express herself politically and learn a lot about the English language. She decided she wanted to pursue writing seriously and is now a novelist. She also teaches at Brown University in the MFA program. Throughout her career, Jacinda explains, it has been random events and circumstances that led her to each position.

Motivated by Anger and Moving into Politics

Jacinda talks about her career in politics and how it transpired fueled by her anger at issues she could not ignore. She shares her experiences as a sitting school board member in Bloomington, Indiana. She served in a progressive town with a lot of socio-economic segregation and disciplinary disparities by race and ethnicity which she could not ignore. Jacinda ran for re-election and was elected again, and this time, it was a landslide. She moved to Michigan and was asked to run for the school board there. Jacinda talks about the issues tackled, changes made, and how integration has changed. Jacinda believes that the ideal of integration is not happening. She explains that segregation has increased with 80 percent of white kids going to a school where the percentage of white children is above 75 percent, and minority children and still 90 percent more likely to be in a minority school. She mentions that peak integration happened in 1987 and goes on to explain the driving factors behind the segregation.

Working as a Writer

The conversation turns to her writing career, which includes the award-winning novel Mother Country and the forthcoming novel Trigger Warning. Jacinda talks about her routine, which includes a 500-word word count daily. She also shares a story of working with a student who felt unsure about her writing, and how she copes with the uncertainty of working in the arts. She also shares her approach to keeping up with her characters, and uses random texts to remember what was going through the character's head and keeps up with them. This helps her keep up with the story and remember the characters' reactions to things. When writing a novel, Jacinda immerses herself in the character's world, trying to experience it through their eyes. She doesn't take breaks during the writing process, as she believes that the imagination begets the imagination, and when living with her characters every day, it becomes like a muscle memory. When she returns to the story, she can remember every bit of why she did something, making her work more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Living in Foreign Countries

Jacinda was a Fulbright student in Cote d'Ivoire, and she has lived in two foreign countries, including Mali and Morocco. While in Mali, she encountered modern-day slavery. She also went to Morocco and visited Mauritania, where 20% of the population is enslaved. She explains that Mauritania is a remote country where it is like stepping back 500 years. It is difficult to escape slavery, as employment is caste-based, so if they escape slavery, there is no work. She met an escaped slave and her family, who gave birth to her last of eight children while escaping slavery. Jacinda shares that holding this baby was a profound moment in her life, and it was this experience that led to her novel, Mother Country. Jacinda explains that the reason no-one knows about the slavery issues in Mauritania is because it is not often mentioned in the news. The media is state-run, and the slavery system is brutally enforced. It is also difficult to get to due to its remoteness so there are very few Western visitors. People there often believe they should be slaves, that it is divinely ordained.

Influential Classes and Professors at Harvard

Jacinda mentions Martin Kilson, a brilliant political scholar. She was initially shy in his class, but after her campus activism went viral, he hugged her and said, "You're brilliant." This was a moment that made her feel like she belonged there for the first time. Jacinda appreciates the gift of Martin Kilson's support and tries to make her students feel seen when they are quiet and nervous. She believes that making people feel heard is important and that she will never forget the gift of his presence. Jacinda Townsend shares her campus activism story. At the time she had no idea of the impact this would have. One night, the Boston Police came to her room. She was alone, but before she knew it, seven girls showed up who had come to support her. This experience taught her to speak on television and that even in difficult times, it's important to be there for others, and that others will be there for you, if you share a common belief.

Timestamps:

01:59: Early Career and Education

07:51: Public Office and School Board Experience

22:11: Writing Career and Novels

30:22: Experiences in Foreign Countries

36:39: Personal Reflections and Life Philosophy

40:15: Campus Activism and Media Experience

48:10: Impact of Media and Public Perception

48:27: Final Thoughts and Future Plans

Links:

Website: https://jacindatownsend.com/about-me/

Featured Non-profit

"Hi, I'm Khedrub, Class of 1992.

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is Kadampa Meditation Center Boston.

I've been privileged to work for this budding organization since I moved back to Cambridge in 2020. In addition to our regular programming, I speak at Lehman Hall in the Yard for GSAS now every month and at HLS once a semester, paying back a bit to Havard."

You can learn more about our work at www.meditationinboston.org

Show Notes:

Daniel Brotman shares his journey from undergrad to medical school. After finishing a year of research in Boston, he decided to work for a year before applying for medical school. He had already taken the MCATs and taught Stanley Kaplan during his year off. He also worked in the lab at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Music and Circadian Rhythm

Daniel talks about his love of music. He considered himself a better musician than singer, and he loved playing piano. He has a 1930 Steinway piano and plays piano karaoke for fun. He has been participating in a music group at Harvard and has heard about other Harvard alums joining similar groups. From music the conversation turns to circadian rhythms, which are rhythms that cycle through the body based on the action of the circadian pacemaker. Circadian rhythms are synchronized to the 24-hour day based on visual stimuli, such as light coming into the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Internal Medicine and Finding Work/Life Balance

Daniel was accepted to medical school after his year of research. He started at the University of Virginia and found it to be a beautiful, traditional place. He initially didn't want to do internal medicine but discovered his passion for it at the end of his third year. He married his first wife, Edith, while in medical school. Daniel graduated from medical school and went on to become a hospitalist at the Cleveland Clinic. He chose to practice inpatient medicine due to his love for it and the intense work required for his family. Hospital medicine was a new field at the time, and Daniel's career began there.

Working as a Hospitalist

Daniel explains that being a hospitalist means practicing in the hospital rather than having an outpatient practice. Patients often come in through the emergency room and need an inpatient doctor to help them through their acute illness. Daniel's role is also as a consultant to help surgeons care for their patients who have medical issues or help other disciplines help care for their patients who have medical issues. Hospital Medicine is defined by the site of practice being in the hospital, similar to an emergency room medicine doctor practicing in the emergency department. After leaving the Cleveland Clinic, Daniel returned to Hopkins, where he started the Hospitalist program. He learned that humility is essential in healthcare, as taking care of patients alone doesn't make for a good team. He also learned that medicine quickly gets out of date, with many concepts still valid but some completely turned on their heads. Overall, his experiences and lessons learned over the years have helped him become a more effective and compassionate healthcare professional.

The Goldilocks Phenomenon

Daniel Brotman discusses the importance of humility in healthcare, particularly in the context of medical knowledge and practices changing. He gives the example of beta blockers and heart failure treatment. He explains that beta blockers can drive patients into congestive heart failure by reducing their heart pumping activity, which is crucial for patients with weak heart muscles. However, studies have shown that beta blockers can be beneficial for those with weaker heart muscles. Daniel discusses the Goldilocks phenomenon, where doctors should not just jump on the latest research from journals but also not gravitate towards every new strategy published in medical literature. This can lead to side effects or challenges with the effectiveness of new drugs. He suggests that doctors should not rely solely on society's guidelines, as they may not always be updated over time. Instead, they should look for guidelines synthesized by knowledgeable professionals who have considered all issues and come up with a synthesis that makes sense. He also discusses the importance of humility in healthcare, stating that it is essential to rely on the expertise of colleagues and the entire team rather than oneself.

AI in Healthcare

The conversation turns to AI in healthcare such as Bridge, which listens to doctor conversations and creates notes based on them. While Bridge is effective in some cases, it struggles to put things fully in context. For example, it might report that the patient denies edema, which is not what it intended to convey. Despite this, it can create a note without looking at anything. However, there are potential areas where AI can make errors, which doctors should be aware of. And it cannot provide a diagnosis. Doctors should be cautious when using AI tools, as the consequences of not double-checking their work can be significant. AI is expected to be beneficial in making recommendations for treatment strategies, but it should not replace doctors' work.

Directing the Hospitalists Program at John Hopkins

Daniel has been directing the Hospitalist program for almost 20 years. He has since become a full professor and has an endowed chair named after John Flynn, a mentor and resident. He enjoys helping junior hospitalists navigate their career paths, which can be diverse and include research, quality improvement, or patient care. He has a great team of doctors to work with and mentor. One of the biggest challenges of leading a group of 50 hospitalists is delegation. Brotman has worked on developing ways to trust junior leaders and structure supervision in a way that maintains quality control. He has also learned to provide feedback to junior leaders, as they are high-performing and smart. Another challenge in leadership is trying to harmonize the economics of their work with clinical outcomes or academic outcomes. Many doctors feel pressure to be productive, which can negatively impact patient care.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Daniel discusses his experiences at Harvard, including his involvement in research and coursework in circadian rhythms with professors, which he found to be a significant part of his junior and senior year. He also mentions his passion for science and his focus on mastering content to pass tests. His interests have expanded since then, and he still enjoys reading non-fiction books and entertaining activities. He also enjoys skiing, although he was not very good on the ski team in his freshman year.

Timestamps:

00:02: Dan's Journey from Harvard to Medical School

03:36: Understanding Circadian Rhythms

06:00: Medical School and Early Career

08:40: Hospitalist Career and Lessons Learned

22:26: AI in Medicine and Leadership Challenges

32:43: Personal Reflections and Broader Interests

37:19: Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Links:

John Hopkins website: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/

Email: brotman@jhmi.edu

Featured Non-profit

This episode's featured non-profit is Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) recommended by Colin Teichholtz who reports:

"Hi. I'm Colin Teichholtz, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Innovations for Poverty Action, or IPA. IPA discovers and advances what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty around the world. IPA has country offices throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. IPA is all about more evidence and less poverty. I've personally been a supporter of IPA for over a decade, and as of earlier this year, I'm honored to have the opportunity to serve as a member of the board. You can learn more about IPAs work at poverty, dash, action.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://poverty-action.org/

Show Notes:

Jason Furman discusses his journey in economics. He shares his experience teaching Act 10, a course that has evolved over the years, using ideas from psychology and economics that are still relevant today. Jason also discusses his time at the Kennedy School, where his current role is Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors. It was while at the Kennedy School that he was recruited to work in government. He initially didn't want to go into public policy or Washington, but eventually discovered his passion for it. In 2008, he was asked by David Axelrod to move to Chicago for the Obama campaign. He met with Obama and discussed his view of the economy and the issues being addressed in the campaign.

Working for the Obama Campaign

Jason talks about participating in the campaign, which was an amazing experience, as economists typically do economic policy on a campaign, discussing what will happen next year when they become president. The economy was falling apart, and Jason was able to use his knowledge and experience to help address the issue. In the midst of a financial crisis, Obama decided to support George Bushes' idea of a "bank bail out" to save the banks. This campaign became almost as much like governing as campaigning, with Obama meeting with Bush's treasury secretary, Treasury staff, and the Fed. A small team worked together to devise solutions to save the banks, revive the economy, and rescue the auto industry. Jason talks about the market collapsing and how Obama worked on various aspects of the crisis, including the fiscal response, the Recovery Act, the Affordable Care Act, the fiscal cliff, tax reform, technology policy, infrastructure, China, and climate change. The experience was both exciting and challenging, as markets were collapsing and the future of the economy was uncertain.

Exporting Crude and Environmental Concerns

Jason shares an example of where analysis matters. The United States faced a ban on exporting crude oil due to environmental concerns. The analysis, led by a climate change expert, found that the carbon content of US oil was lower than that of Canadian oil, which led to a ban that hurt American jobs and pushed the world towards higher carbon oil. Jason and his team put forward their analysis and the President, who was interested in the idea, met with his environmental and political advisors to discuss it. Despite some disagreements, the President agreed to sign an executive order to implement the idea. However, political concerns arose, and the White House decided to negotiate with Republicans in Congress to make the oil export concession. Six months later, Republicans extended tax credits for wind and solar, which the White House considered a good policy. This case highlights the importance of analysis and the combination of analysis and politics in a decision-making process.

Climate Policies and The Financial Crisis

Jason discusses two decisions that he believes were crucial. The first was for climate change cap and trade, which would have limited carbon emissions and set up tradable permits. The House passed the bill with the support of 55 senators, but it was not passed due to the filibuster. The second was immigration reform, which would have had a stronger border, expanded legal immigration, and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The financial crisis hit, and Jason explains that Congress had a fixed amount of money for tax credits, states, and unemployment insurance. He talks about Congress spend and automatic aid systems.

Advice for Trump Administration

Jason shares his advice for the incoming president. He states that the economy is in good shape and should not be messed up by big tariffs, immigration, mass expulsions, budget deficit increases, or interference with the Federal Reserve. Jason also discusses mainstream democratic economic policies or beliefs that he would disagree with or push back against. He tries to be unvarnished in his views in real time, and has tried to be honest about his opinions during the presidential campaign. He agrees with a decent fraction of the Democratic agenda, but there is a tendency to ignore trade-offs and the need to decide how best to use finite budget resources. The conversation turns to the debate on tariffs on electric vehicles.

The Oval Office Environment

Jason shares his experience in the Oval Office. He talks about President Obama's approach to policy discussions, debates, and political advisors. He mentions that the President was also good at compartmentalizing, which is important when dealing with highly emotional issues, such as a school shooting, and being able to move on to international tax policy. Overall, the Oval Office environment is a mix of political and policy discussions. The conversation turns to the Affordable Care Act, the opposition to it, and a government mandate for health insurance, which was originally from a conservative think tank called Heritage. Jason talks about some of the controversial points from both Republicans and Democrats, including costs, what and who should be covered, and defining sharing. Politics played a significant role in the creation and implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Practical Experience in Policy Making

Jason discusses his economic research and his practical experience in policy making. He focuses on tax reform, sustainability of deficits, and inflation sources, which he worked on in government. Jason shares his views on tariffs. He also discusses the need for cities like San Francisco and New York to address housing issues, arguing that there isn't enough supply of housing due to restrictions on building. He talks about expanding housing vouchers for low-income households and expanding housing voucher programs to serve everyone. Jason believes that for some people, subsidies are needed, but for most people, cheaper housing is needed, requiring more housing. He also discusses the impact of immigration on inflation and prices is a significant economic issue, as immigrants are the labor force that contributes ideas, innovations, productivity, and start businesses. He moves on to the Chips Act, which aims to increase manufacturing of advanced microchips in the US, and has been a legitimate goal, with manufacturing subsidies of $39 billion.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Jason shares his favorite classes and professors at Harvard, including Ec 10, which was taught by Marty Feldstein, who became a mentor and friend. He also mentions Professor Jeffrey Williamson's class on economic history, which he still thinks about to this day.

Timestamps:

02:44: Experience Working for President Obama

09:24: Policy Influence and Decision-Making

15:24: Advice to Presidential Candidates and Policy Disagreements

22:11: Oval Office Meetings and Policy Discussions

27:07: Return to Harvard and Teaching

32:18: Policy-Oriented Research and Personal Life

33:49: Quick Takes on Policy Areas

36:50: Reactions to the CHIPS Act and Personal Interests

39:10: Reflections on Harvard and Final Thoughts

Featured Non-profit

This episode's featured non-profit is the Committee to Protect Journalists recommended by Peter Lattman who reports:

"Hi. I'm Peter Lattman, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that advocates for press freedom around the world. I have been proud to serve as a board member of CPJ for the past five years. And you could learn more about their work at their website, www.cpj.org."

To learn more about their work visit: www.cpj.org.

Thomas Doxiadis worked in the construction field before becoming an architect, eventually pursuing a Masters of Architecture and a Masters of Landscape Architecture at Harvard. He served in the Greek Navy and later worked as an architect for the Greek Olympics and at the same time taught at university. He then started his business which has been running for 25 years.

Managing Work Life Balance and Personal Growth

Expanding from his professional life, Thomas spent the next 10 years exploring his mind, heart, and relationships with people. Through therapy, he found that people are much more interesting than he thought. He joined a coaching group called "Get Your Six," which focuses on treating oneself better through health, sleep, nutrition, exercise, relationships, emotions, and beliefs. The group is structured around six people sharing experiences and helping each other through different situations.

Life Lessons and Changes

Thomas talks about life changes related to health, sleep, nutrition, and exercise. He explains that building a business from scratch and trying to be at the top of his field took a lot of focus and energy away from self-care. He emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself, eating right, sleeping right, learning basic breathing and meditation techniques, and changing priorities. He also emphasizes exploring and understanding the stories of our lives that we construct and how we spend our energy.

Working in the Greek Navy

Thomas shares his experiences in the Greek Navy, where he spent time guarding armaments and working with 18-year-olds, which was a strange situation for him after his time in the professional world, but he found solace in having fun and laughing more than he had in the last decade. He shares a story when he was on guard duty and thought he was under siege.

Working in the Athens Olympics

Thomas recounts his experience working on the Athens Olympics. He had a positive experience despite the short turn around time of three years to complete construction. He worked on the design and construction of mega projects such as parts of the Athenian sea front and coastal areas, Olympic villages, and sports infrastructure. Additionally, he worked on setting up the city's flags, banners, and animation programs. He also spent two years dealing with the environmental and green aspects of the Olympics. His highlight was organizing the first mass olive transplanting, which involved moving the old Athens horse race track to a new area and becoming the Olympic Equestrian Center. The area was full of ancient olive groves and vineyards, some of them as old as 3000 years. The trees were transplanted to create a park and part of the Olympic venues. The trees were reused for the redevelopment of the Athens airport, ensuring they would be a valuable asset for future generations.

Growing up in Greece

Thomas grew up in Greece in the seventies when Greece was still relatively untouched by economic growth and tourism. The rapid economic changes after Greece entered the European Union led to the destruction of places he loved. He studied architecture and landscape architecture to find a win-win solution to building on sensitive, culturally and ecologically important places. His work and portfolio have been built over the past 25 years, focusing on resolving this problem.

Sustainable Development and Landscapes of Cohabitation

Thomas has worked on several projects since his time at the Olympics. One of his most proud projects was working on a pristine Aegean Island, where he and a high school friend developed techniques called the landscapes of cohabitation, which focuses on symbiosis between the environment and human activity. This approach has transformed the local ecosystem and changed people's minds about landscape work. His most recent project is with an MIT graduate from Northern Italy who built an energy corporation in the US and now invests in a small village in Tuscany. They are working on a 200-year sustainability plan, involving climate modeling and climate modeling to understand the future of the village and bringing vitality back to rural areas.

Progressive Adaption to Climate Change

Thomas' goal is to revive the countryside and lead it towards a better and more sustainable future, especially as climate change makes a better future more difficult. The European Union has been funding climate change adaptation programs for countries and universities for the last decade. These programs aim to understand the main impacts of climate change on public health, infrastructure, economy, and tourism. Landscapes are not just visual representations of environmental changes, but also provide a spatial understanding of what will happen due to climate change. Thomas talks about nine case studies that have been conducted across Greece, covering a region the size of Cape Cod. The eastern Mediterranean will be one of the most impacted areas globally, with heat waves, fire, and changing conditions. The European Union stopped spending on mitigation a decade ago and started spending on adaptation. Thomas explains what this entails.

Design for Living Systems

Landscape architects are professionals who design for living systems, not just concrete or steel. They have the skill set to deal with earth, water, plants, animals, and living systems in physical space. The profession has transitioned from being mainly about aesthetics to problem-solving around nature in the past. The advice given by landscape architects is not necessarily heated or useful, but rather based on their experiences and lessons learned. He believes that architects should focus on the bright goal of a better future through design but also be more pragmatic about their surroundings. Thomas also discusses his artistic projects, such as the Castriani mine restoration. He believes that architecture is useful for solving problems through giving form to things, and that the way things look is important because it serves as communication and storytelling. People understand the world through narratives, so architects have the opportunity and responsibility to configure a part of the world that tells people something to add to their own narrative.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

During his time at Harvard, he took courses in Ed Wilson's Evolutionary Biology and Moral Reasoning 22. He also studied landscape ecology at the Harvard Design School, where landscape ecology was a driving force and he learned how you could design with nature and for nature rather than against it, which set him on his life path both professionally and intellectually. He enjoyed playing music and attending international talks at the Kennedy School. This experience helped him become more international and consider himself a citizen of the world.

Timestamps:

01:40: Personal and Professional Reflections

04:38: Coaching Group Experience

07:17: Changes in Life and Health Practices

12:26: Experiences in the Greek Navy

15:47: Role in the Athens Olympics

25:11: Projects and Philosophy

28:40: National Climate Change Adaptation Program

35:43: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

39:10: Role of a Landscape Architect

41:29: Advice to Younger Self

44:09: Artistic Projects and Influences from Harvard

Links:

Website: https://doxiadisplus.com/

Website: Got Your 6 Team

Society for the Environment and Cultural Change Website: Ελληνική Εταιρεία Περιβάλλοντος & Πολιτισμού

Featured Non-profit

This week's featured non-profit is Legal Services NYC recommended by Lisa Velasquez who reports:

"Hi. I'm Liza Velasquez, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Legal Services NYC. The mission of legal services NYC is to fight poverty and seek racial, social and economic justice for New Yorkers who need pro bono civil legal assistance. I've worked with legal services NYC as a board member for the past 10 years, and I'm honored to serve as the current board chair. Every year, our lawyers and staff assist 100,000 New Yorkers in obtaining access to the basic necessities of life, safe housing, economic security, family and immigration, stability, education and healthcare. You can learn more about their work at Legal Services nyc.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work visit: LegalServicesNYC.org.

David Miller kicks off the conversation with a summary of his life since Harvard. He went to Brown University, Providence, and then moved back to Boston, where he spent five years in Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, and then moved to Santa Monica, California, where his wife was pursuing her fellowship. He then returned to Boston, where he has been for 20 years, minus a three-month stint in Paris, France.

Technology Inventor, Independent Contributor, and Instructor

David met his wife, Ruth Herzman Miller, in October of his freshman year at Harvard. They have three daughters, and David has spent some time as a full-time dad with each of them. He majored in mathematics at Harvard and pure mathematics at graduate school at Brown. After a pause, he worked in speech and language processing at Bolt, Beranek and Newman (BBN) Technologies in Cambridge where he worked on developing speech to text transcription and information retrieval. He went to UCLA to learn bioinformatics and worked at a bioinformatics laboratory at the Molecular Biology Institute. In 2001, he returned to Boston and worked at Aventis Pharmaceuticals, now Sanofi Aventis, applying his knowledge in lead generation informatics. He stayed at Aventis for a few years before taking some time off the workforce. In 2008, David joined Google for 16 years, primarily on the search engine. He has worked on various projects, including the Google Books project and AI Overviews. He has also spent time at Google Paris, Zurich, and Tokyo. He has also taught computer science in the context of the Girls Who Code Project, where he distributed curriculum material to numerous chapters and hosted meetups. He also worked with Microsoft TEALS (technology and learning in schools), teaching ninth and 10th grade computer science.

Inspired by French Theater

During the pandemic, revisited an interest he had discovered in Paris, French theater. He started studying French and learned about the annual Theater Festival in Avignon, France, which is the second largest Fringe Festival in the world. After visiting the festival in 2022, he decided to create a similar event in Boston. He started a limited liability corporation with knowledge of French, Boston theater scene, organizational capacity, and spare finance. The first production was performed in April 2024, and the second is set to open in November 2024. They are currently booking venues and signing contracts for their 2025-2026 season.

Google, AI, and The BERT Revolution

The conversation turns to AI, BERT, and Google. He explains that the feature of BERT was built to transform language problems into arithmetic problems, using embeddings in high-dimensional vector spaces to catch semantics. This allowed for more complex arithmetic than just adding and subtracting. The BERT Revolution, invented by Jacob Devlin and his colleagues, was used to map words to embeddings, allowing for real-world correspondence in arithmetic. This concept was later used in Google's Featured Snippets, which was revamped to use embeddings and the Bert revolution. David's lecture at Boston University, which is titled "Natural Language Understanding, Deep Learning and the BERT Revolution" discusses the underlying mechanics of natural language processing and how it transformed problems in language into arithmetic. The BERT Revolution allowed for more complex arithmetic than just adding and subtracting, making it easier for neural networks to perform complex tasks.

The Rise of Hidden Markov Models

David talks about the state-of-the-art technology at the time, Hidden Markov models, which had a temporal aspect of a changing probability distribution. These models were based on the sequence of text, and the Bayesian reasoning was used to determine the most likely audio to come from the words. This led to the development of generative models, where words generate the audio through probabilistic models. However, Bayesian modeling has been replaced by deep neural nets in the last five years of generative AI. He mentions that, in the early days, neural networks were untrainable and unwieldy, making Hidden Markov models the Bayesian generative approach. However, deep neural networks are now used.

The Development of Neural Networks

David discusses the development of neural networks, a technology that has been around since the 1950s. The availability of more recordings for speech, text, and language models has made it more accessible on the hardware side. The core of a neural network computation is matrix multiplication, which has been addressed by Nvidia and Google with their TensorFlow units. These units have invested large amounts of money in making specialized, custom hardware for this problem, accelerating things. David talks about how algorithms have also advanced significantly since the 1950s, and mentions key factors that have aided the advancement.

Becoming an Individual Contributor at Google

David talks about how he learned the technology. He decided to become an individual contributor and studied the technology, the code, the papers, books, videos, and experiments. He spent most of the pandemic working on neural nets that eventually became the Gemini technology. David's journey to becoming a knowledgeable and skilled individual in neural networks was a journey that took him from a theoretical interest to a practical application. He learned to make the most of the technology and its capabilities, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the field. David has faced mixed reactions to his decision to become an independent contributor at Google. While some were supportive and skeptical, others were skeptical. He talks about the advice he received, how he moved forward, the success rate of his projects, and how his career has decelerated since 2019.

Behind the Curtain of French Theater

The discussion moves to French theater and how David has become a French theater producer. He shares his journey of starting a production in Boston from scratch. To start a French theater production in Boston, David had to be integrated into the French community in Boston and the theater community in Boston. They do not create the theater but bring the original production to Boston and add subtitles. He talks about the challenges faced in securing locations, staff and equipment, and managing the production process such as hiring a director, actors, space, marketing, and logistics. He uses services like Playbill to manage administration, program design, publicity, and logistics. He is passionate about creating a new cultural institution in Boston that focuses on French theater. Boston is known for its strong ties to France and hospitals, and David aims to create a French theater festival or translate French theater into English. He works with the French American Chamber of Commerce of New England, which helps create businesses and connections in Boston.

Behind the Screen of Girls Who Code

David has worked with Girls Who Code, an after-school program that runs programs for young women interested in programming and technology. He organized a meet-up at Google's Cambridge office, where he gave a keynote speech at parent meetings, emphasizing the importance of belonging and ownership in the industry. He was able to connect with 150 teenage girls and their parents, who expressed gratitude for his message. David's involvement with Girls Who Code has led to a sense of belonging and empowerment for these young women, who are now more likely to pursue careers in the tech industry. He believes that the French language theater in Boston could potentially sustain them through a 25-year career in the industry.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

David shares his experiences as a TA in the math department and working with Deborah Hughes Hallet, who was running a calculus project. David's theater experience has played an ongoing role in his teaching approach, as he learned from her dedication and approach to teaching. He believes that the notion of understanding the world through teaching is a deep-rooted belief in his approach.

Timestamps:

03:59: Professional Career and Industry Experience

06:52: Non-Professional Activities and Community Involvement

11:22: Technological Advancements and AI Overview

25:07: Transition to Individual Contributor Role at Google

30:17: French Theater Project and Community Building

40:39: Impact of Girls Who Code and Teaching

45:25: Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Links:

Theater: www.frenchtheaterproject.com

Theater Club: https://frenchlibrary.org/french-library-theater-club/

Website: www.monsieurmiller.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrhmiller/

David's 2019 lecture "Natural Language Understanding, Deep Learning and the BERT Revolution" at Boston University : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DktFhgxynFE

Featured Non-profit

This week's featured non-profit is the Cure San Filippo Foundation recommended by Adam Shaywitz who reports:

"Hi. I'm Adam Shaywitz, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is the Cure San Filippo Foundation. This organization is dedicated to advancing treatment options for children affected by the devastating childhood dementia known as San Filippo syndrome. I am privileged to serve as a board member for the past five years. You can learn more about their work at Cure Sanfilippo foundation.org, that's one word. Cure Sanfilippo foundation. San Felippo is spelled s, a, n, f, i, L, i, p, p, O, that's 1f, 1l, and 2p Cure San Filippo foundation.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: www.CureSanFilippoFoundation.org.

Show Notes:

Raymond Lei Yin moved to New York after graduating and has worked at Goldman Sachs for over 20 years, primarily in Hong Kong and Shanghai, China. He worked in China with a private fund for three and a half years and for UBS Asset Management as the Head of Asia Pacific and Head of China for the past 6 years. Now retired from UBS Asset Management, Raymond is currently traveling around the world, visiting his parents and enjoying the outdoors. He is also looking for opportunities to get involved with communities, businesses or organizations where he can contribute his expertise. Capital Markets War Stories Raymond shares many war stories from his time in Hong Kong, China, and the capital markets during the financial crisis. He started at Goldman Sachs in New York and eventually moved to Asia. He was a program analyst in 1992 and supported the international trading desk at Goldman. This experience was interesting, as the traders he worked with at the time were hires from Salomon Brothers and Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB). He likens this time to working in a jungle where his goal was to survive each day. Raymond's journey has been filled with challenges and opportunities, but he is now focused on pursuing his passion for learning (especially in AI) and helping other businesses to grow. Working in Equity Capital MarketsRaymond began his career in Hong Kong after realizing that the core part of Goldman's business was financial advisory and trading. He decided to look for a job outside Goldman and was about to resign when he was offered a position by a senior MD looking for a Chinese speaking analyst based in Hong Kong. He flew to London for interviews and was hired to work in equity capital markets, which he knew little about. Equity capital markets is an interesting area that straddles between investment banking and equity sales and trading. Raymond was trained by Eric Dobkin, the man who introduced the concept of the Equity Capital Markets (ECM), which orchestrated IPOs and worked with both issuers and investors to set the price. During the Red Chip Boom in 1993, there was a huge demand for Chinese speaking bankers in Hong Kong, as there were not many Chinese bankers at that time. As the first full-time equity capital markets person based in Hong Kong, Raymond worked tirelessly to keep up with the pace of IPOs. Lesson Learned from the MarketOne lesson that Raymond learned during this time was that the market can be irrational. During the Red Chip Boom, Chinese IPOs were richly valued, due to scarcity of Chinese papers and the high demand for Chinese investments. However, since then, the market has seen several cycles of price fluctuations. To make money in the equity market, he believes that one must be a contrarian, have a long sustained power, and be liquid. In the early 90s, Hong Kong had an open market with many foreign capitals and traditional institutions representing their firms in London or New York. Goldman helped Chinese companies raise money in international capital markets through IPOs, global deposit receipts (GDRs), and convertible bonds (CBs). The Chinese government was involved in these deals, as they were selling their best assets to global investors in exchange for professional management and market discipline. The first deal was with Tsingtao Breweries, a famous beer company, and later with Shanghai Petrochemical and China Mobile and PetroChina. These companies were majority-held by the Chinese government, and Goldman had an edge in winning these deals. Goldman also worked on Korean companies like POSCO Steel and Samsung Electronics, as well as Thai and Indonesian companies. The Asian Financial Crisis The Asian financial crisis occurred in 1997, when the devaluation of the Thai Bhat and Indonesian Rupiah led to a massive attack in Hong Kong markets. For a few days, the entire HK equity market was dominated by one buyer, the Hong Kong government. Raymond saw the government's bid for 100 million shares of Hong Kong telecom got hit within 2 seconds. This could mark the end of capital markets in Hong Kong, as the government was buying the significant part of HK equity market. However, in hindsight this was the single best time to buy Hong Kong equities, as the Hong Kong government made a lot of money that day. In subsequent years, Goldman helped the Hong Kong government sell these stocks at a profit, returning the market to private investors. One company Raymond worked with was PetroChina where Goldman took the company public and Raymond helped to introduce the team management to global investors. It was during the dotcom bubble era, there was ver little investor appetite for oil stocks. Eventually, the IPO was done as a discount valuation. Investors who bought at PetroChina IPO all made money if they hold on to their shares. From Goldman to Private Funds to UBS Asset ManagementRaymond's next move was to the buy side - a China based private fund. He spent three and a half years traveling between Shanghai and Hong Kong to help them set up their international operation, hire people, lease office space, get the Type 9 license, and set up their Hong Kong office. He later joined UBS Asset Management first as Head of China then later as Head of Asia Pacific. He worked at UBS Asset Management for the past 6 years. Influential Harvard Professors and CoursesRaymond shares that his Art History course at Harvard was one of the most useful, as it allowed him to appreciate artwork and visit museums worldwide. He also enjoyed the core course Cultural Revolution taught by Professor Roderick MacFarquar, which was not offered in China.

Timestamps:

04:15: Early Career at Goldman Sachs

09:51: Experience in Hong Kong and Equity Capital Markets

14:46: The Asian Financial Crisis and Market Lessons

26:31: Building Sales and Trading Operations in China

28:44: Transition to the Buy Side and Final Steps at Goldman

31:11: Personal Life and Interests

38:19: Reflections on Harvard and Career Advice

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-yin-cfa-613a017a/

Email: yinraymond@yahood.com

Featured Non-profit:

This week's featured non-profit is Alex's Lemonade Stand, recommended by Catherine Marcus Rose who reports:

Hi. I'm Catherine Marcus Rose, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Alex's Lemonade Stand, foundation for Children's Cancer. Alex's Lemonade Stand focuses on impacting lives of children with cancer through fundraising for critical research and awareness raising support for families and children with cancer. I love the work of this organization and have been a regular donor for a few years. When our youngest son, age 21 was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma last December, this organization became even more important to us. Only four cents of every dollar spent on cancer research at the NCI goes to research in pediatric cancers. So the work of this organization has taken on extra meaning for us. You can learn more about their work at Alex's lemonade.org, a l e x, s, L E, M o, n, a, de.org and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.alexslemonade.org/

Show Notes:

Jack Levy spent a year before college studying Judaic Studies and Talmudic studies in the Old City of Jerusalem. During his time in Harvard, he became particularly interested in Israel, as he had grown up with a strong Jewish background. He received a Raoul Wallenberg fellowship, funded by Fred Schwartz, to go to Hebrew University for a year after college during which he interned for Knesset member Naomi Hazan and worked for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. From Columbia Law School to Venture Capital

After Israel, Jack went to Columbia Law School. He worked one summer as a human rights lawyer and later worked for Wall Street firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher to pay off his debt. He chose that law firm based on their Israeli clients and had a great experience with a mentor named Peter Jakes. During his time at law school, Jack met his wife, Dahlia. They settled in New York for a while before moving to Israel. Jack worked at Willkie before transitioning to Register.com, an internet company. In 1999, the internet was booming. Jack spent four years as General Counsel of Register during the the .com boom. In 2003, they moved to Ra'anana, Israel, a suburb of Tel Aviv, and have raised their three children there. Jack practiced law briefly in Israel before becoming a venture capitalist in 2006. He was the first to raise the banner of cleantech or climate tech in Israel in 2006 and 2007, thanks to Harvard classmate Sanjay Wagle. The Israeli Experience after October 7

Life changed for all Israelis and Palestinians in the wake of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. All of the Jack's children serve in the military, and the community has experienced losses. The country came under attack by Hamas, led by Yahia Sinuar, and immediately followed by Hezbolla in the north. The October 7 attack resulted in horrific violence, crimes, destruction, rape, murder, and burning of people in the Southern Communities. Like many religiously observant Israelis, Jack and his family were in synagogue during the attack, when the rumors started to spread. Jack mentions that in the week prior to the attack he'd been on holiday in Jordan.

Early in the morning of October 8, their best friends called to tell them that their 27-year-old son, Major Aryeh Ziering, had been killed by Hamas command naval commandos who had infiltrated Israel. Arey was an excellent fighter from the canine unit who had captured terrorists alongside some of the most elite forces during his service. He had gone to the United States to help train Navy SEALs with canine warfare. He was killed by 1pm that day.The next day, other friends found out that their son Hirsch had been kidnapped into Gaza, which ended with tragedy about a month ago when he was killed by Hamas. By the end of the first day, they had one friend whose son had been killed as a fighter, one friend who had been captured from the Nova festival and held prisoner by Hamas, and another business partner who lost his cousin's child fighting that day as well. As the war continued in the coming months, their network of friends who experienced loss widened to include – one who lost their nephew in December fighting in Gaza, one whose daughter's boyfriend was killed pursuing a terrorist in the West Bank, and others who lost their lives in the conflict. The story of the heroism of those who fought for their lives and the lives of others is one that will be told for generations. As a 54-year-old Israeli father, Jack has three children who have been fighting in the war, Jack explains the extremely high cost to Israeli families who have children in the army. Jack states that the present generation is remarkable, and he wrote a piece in the Times of Israel about the little league team he had coached going to war. He still plays softball with his boys and realized that by December, every child he coached was fighting in the war. How Heroism Drives Soldiers Jack shares the lessons he learned about conflict and military training. He talks about the importance of respecting American military families. He reflects on the recent tragic death of a soldier who recorded a video of himself before going into Lebanon, expressing love for the person behind him. He believes that Americans of his generation don't understand the importance of military families and the sacrifices made by soldiers. He grew up during the reckoning with the Vietnam War through Oliver Stone movies, and grew up thinking war was primarily unjust or wrong. Jack explains that the men and women fighting are often the best, motivated, kind, and loving people. He identifies with pacifism but lives only because there are people willing to defend him. Civilian War Rooms in Action The state apparatus of defense along the Israeli border failed on October 7, allowing hordes to burst through the borders and kidnap hundreds. However, people jumped into action. People established civilian war rooms, where they could be proactive in helping house, shelter, build and support in multiple ways. After October 7, many communities accepted refugees from the north and south - similar to the Second Lebanon War – and many in Jack's community helped families who had moved into hotels in the Dead Sea area. A friend of Jack, who lost her nephew, set up a school in the Dead Sea area within four days. The community extended to raising money to buy better helmets and equipment for reservists. This community-building effort was remarkable and comforting. Gazan Civilians under Hamas Jack, a former human rights attorney, discusses the situation with civilians in Gaza and the ethical considerations surrounding the response. He believes that the destruction to Gaza is horrific and tragic, with 40,000 people killed, but the problem is that it is not 40,000 civilians. Recent reports state that 30,000 of those were Hamas fighters or their family members. Jack blames Hamas for the destruction, but also emphasizes the morality and the need not to damage one's own cause. He shares first-hand testimony from his son, who describes his experience as a surveillance unit officer in Khan Yunis. He encourages people from outside Israel to focus on being "pro peace" rather than being "pro Israel" or "pro Palestine". The Tech Industry in Israel Jack, an investor and startup expert, discusses the impact of travel restrictions on the tech industry in Israel as the travel restrictions due to missile attacks from Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran have been problematic for Israeli companies. Despite the obstacles, he notes that Israeli companies have been able to function during this period. In addition, it is common with Israeli technology companies for the CEOs to relocate to New York, Silicon Valley, Boston, or Austin, while the tech teams remain in Israel. Jack believes that the war is not good for the Israeli economy and that it is clearly awful for the lives of Palestinians, South Lebanon residents, and even people in Tehran. He believes that the US needs to take a more muscular reaction to the situation and help the parties find a way to end the war. Influential Harvard Professors and Courses Jack discusses his experiences at Harvard, including courses taught by Stanley Hoffman, Michael Sandel, Louise Richardson, and others. He mentions his appreciation for Professor Stanley Hoffman's course Ethics and International Relations. Jack was in touch recently with Professor Emeritus Michael Walzer of Princeton whose book he studied in that course and who had defended Israel's war against Hamas and Hezbollah but was critical of the alleged Israeli involvement in the Pager attack. Jack also mentions his love for Professor Michael Sandel, and Dame Louise Richardson, who was his junior faculty seminar professor when he was 21 and became his thesis advisor. She was a young professor who wrote a great book called What Terrorists Want, which became one of the most popular courses at Harvard after September 11.

Timestamps:

02:52: Transition to Venture Capitalism and Personal Life

08:17: Impact of the 2023 Conflict on Jack's Family

17:27: Community Response and Personal Reflections

25:48: Professional Challenges and the Future of Israeli Tech

26:00: Reflections on Harvard and Influential Professors

Links:

Email: jack@morevc.com

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jack-levy-2a8137

Featured Non-profit:

This week's featured non-profit of this episode is KIPP public schools, recommended by Grace Voorhis who reports:

"I'm Grace Voorhis, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is KIPP public schools. Maybe not everyone knows that charter schools are public schools just exempt from many of the rules set by local school districts. KIPP schools are established in underserved districts. A third party study reported in The Wall Street Journal noted that KIPP students were 19 percentage points more likely to graduate from a four year college than non KIPP students. They noted an effect of this size, extrapolated nationwide, would be large enough to nearly close the degree completion gap for Hispanic students, or entirely close the gap for black students. I'm proud to have served on the KIPP Northern California Board for over two decades, most recently as board chair. I keep coming back to KIPP because of the results they achieve. You can learn more about their work @kipp.org k, i, p, p, and KIPP Northern California, at KIPP norcal.org and now here is Will Bachmann with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.kipp.org/

Show Notes:

Jennifer Gibbs shares her journey as a woman and artist who worked in the entertainment field and later became a mother. She enrolled in a PhD program at NYU in comparative literature, focusing on performance and the embodiment of the female and feminine. She was cast in various off Broadway shows and earned her actors equity card. During her graduate studies, Jennifer received a Mellon Fellowship for teaching. She talks about her decision to focus full time on acting and writing for theater and her recognition of limited support in academia for multidisciplinary approaches to performance. Jennifer worked in the theater for a decade, mainly acting and writing plays. In her mid-30s, she became a mother, experiencing unexpected pregnancy losses and serial grief. This led to a shift in focus to writing, which was fruitful and collaborative. She was the artist in residence at the Here Arts Center, where she developed a play called Sounding, which integrated film, music, lyrics, and scene work. The play premiered three weeks before her son Liam's birth.

From Working in Theatre to Working in Television

As their family relocated to Los Angeles, Jennifer became interested in writing for television and screen. She learned to write for television at the suggestion of an executive at HBO. She took the leap, not knowing how to write for television, but found it fulfilling. For the last decade, Jennifer has been writing new plays and television worlds. Recently, she started a small independent production company, aiming to empower women creators to produce work that might not be produced in film and television or in the multi-platform arena.

Jennifer's most recent project is called Riot Mom, a multi-platform universe story that unfolds on various distribution platforms. The company is driven by her connection to her work and her personal connection to her work. The first project they are producing is called Riot Mom, a multi-platform universe story that unfolds on audio, live, and television platforms.

Early Influences from the Art World

The conversation turns to Jennifer's father, Tom Gibbs, a Chicago-based artist. Jennifer describes her experience as a child of a sculptor, how she was introduced to and influenced by the artists around her. They often had a band of sculptors at their house, some in assistant positions and colleagues from Chicago. They would have meals together, discuss work, and have opinions on various projects. Despite not wanting to do sculpture, Jennifer loved drawing and painting, and would often work in one of the studios.

A Young Actor on Tour

Jennifer shares her experience as an actor during her national Broadway tour, describing it as exciting and workmanlike. She learned from the technical staff about the complex process of moving from one place to another, like a circus. Gibbs describes the experience as a crash course in self-producing, directing, and balancing personal and professional boundaries. She also discusses the challenges of maintaining a balance in a collaborative environment, where one must leave their family, home, and friends behind to work on a show. Jennifer believes that maintaining healthy boundaries is a challenge for anyone working in theater, film, or television. She found the experience intensive and valuable, making lasting friendships with people she collaborated with in New York.

The Artistic Process and Healing Grief

Jennifer shares how she processed the grief of two stillbirths through her work. At the time, she was working on a film based on a stage adaptation of an Ibsen play. She met Andre Gregory, who was casting Vanya on 42nd Street, and they had a two-hour conversation in a cafe. Although she did not get the role, she received support, encouragement, and mentorship from Gregory. He advised her to make her own project which inspired Jennifer and others from the Harvard theater community, including Jeannie Simpson and Peter Hirsch, to create a play called Lady from the Sea. They spent two years working on the play in Jennifers' living room, creating a unique and rarely produced piece. Jennifer talks about her journey to create a multi-disciplinary theatre show based on a film adaptation of an Ibsen play. She discovered a deep connection to grief and loss in the original play, which they had not considered in their previous work. After a decade of working on the project, Jennifer realized that grief is a form of radical transformation that is generative and creative. She learned that denying or overcoming grief can deprive individuals of the opportunity to create and acquiesce to the next stage in their transformation.

A First Book and a New Project

Jennifer's first book, "Oh Mother," is a literary non-fiction book about serial grief and the value of a certain approach to grief. The book is experiential and personal, and was written during the pandemic. Her journey highlights the importance of embracing grief and embracing change in life. She talks about a world created with Jenny Castro, that explores the intersection of women's creative process. The story revolves around two middle-aged women who were estranged from their riot girl days in the 90s, and they reunite in a suburban context. She talks about the project, the production team, pitching, and another project called Train Hoppers, a multi-platform, single episode of a story that can be experienced online, at live events, or through a live pop-up event.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Jennifer discusses her experiences with Marjorie Garber's Shakespeare and her seminar on ghostwriters. She was influenced by playwright Adrianne Kennedy, who became a lifelong mentor and friend after graduating from Harvard. Jennifer also discusses her love for 16th-century British poetry and the pressure to conform to Aristotelian standards in the world of television, film, and playwriting.

Timestamps:

00:02: Journey Through Comparative Literature and Theatre

03:30: Balancing Academia and Acting

06:03: Transition to Motherhood and Writing

O9:20: Exploring Television and Film

12:36: Learning from Her Father's Artistic Journey

20:04: National Broadway Tour Experience

26:01: Processing Grief Through Art

37:58: Current Venture: "Riot Mom"

45:46: Influences from Harvard

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gibbs-27b91386/

Featured Non-profit

This week's featured non-profit of this episode is American Pilgrims On the Camino, recommended by Kelly Murphy Mason who reports: "Hello all. I am Kelly Murphy Mason, a fellow classmate from the Harvard class of 1992 and a former resident of Dunster house. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is the American Pilgrims On the Camino, a national organization with international reach. Before I walked the Camino de Santiago in the fall of 2023 the American pilgrims provided me with the necessary credentialing, education, information and support for making this pilgrimage, as it has done for so many pilgrims over the decades, it has also contributed generations of volunteers and generous funds to maintain the infrastructure of this Spanish network of routes to Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since my return from Santiago, I have stayed active in the Boston chapter of American pilgrims, leading book discussions and training walks for pilgrims past, present and future who live in my area. You can learn more about the work of the American pilgrims at home and abroad at American pilgrims.org and now here is my old friend Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work visit:https://americanpilgrims.org/

Show Notes:

Aran Shetterly, author and self-professed late bloomer, took a year off in the middle of his studies to work and travel and study Spanish. After college he pursued an Echoing Green fellowship, which allowed him to set up a nonprofit in Costa Rica to link volunteers to environmental organizations there. He then decided to pursue a master's in American and New England studies from the University of Southern Maine. However, after completing his masters, he realized he needed to explore the world in a different way. He moved to New York and worked as an editorial assistant. A year later, he met an old school friend who founded an internet startup called Comet Systems. Aran recounts his experiences in the world of internet ethics and the impact of internet spyware on the US. He recalls when he was on his way to a meeting with Yahoo to discuss a partnership when he learned that Comet Systems was accused of creating spyware. At Yahoo he was given a lecture on internet ethics. Researching Castro's Rebellion and The Fight Against ItAran talks about a trip to Cuba where he learns about Fidel Castro's rebellion and asks if any internationals supported the revolutionary effort as they had during the Spanish Civil War. He heard about William Morgan, who was a key figure in the fight against the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. This meeting inspired Aran to leave Comet Systems and start writing his book. Upon returning from the trip, Aran searched for information about Morgan and sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the CIA. He receives two inches of redacted documents, which he uses to write his first book, "The Americano: Fighting with Castro for Cuba's Freedom." Aran summarizes the story and how Morgan played a double agent role in uncovering a plot to topple Castro, but later turned against the revolution as it turned communist. Aran recounts his six-month stay in Cuba, where he worked on two projects: setting up an exchange of artists between Maine and Cuba, and conducting research on William Morgan's life there. He was often followed by officials from the interior ministry and almost ended up in jail. He also spent time in Miami researching the revolutionaries who were excluded from Castro's rebellion. From Mexico to the Greensboro MassacreAran and his wife, Margot, met at Comet Systems. They fell in love and decided to launch an English language magazine and website called Inside Mexico, which they started in Mexico City in 2005. He talks about journalists they worked with and stories they covered, and how the magazine finally came to an end. After ten years in Mexico, they were drawn back to the U.S. when Margot's book proposal was optioned by a production company. The book was a success, and the couple returned to help promote it. In 2015, he met Reverend Nelson Johnson and Joyce Johnson, who told the story of the Greensboro massacre, a civil rights activist and Black Power leader who were trying to organize textile mills in North Carolina. The Greensboro massacre occurred when Neo Nazis and Klansmen shot and killed five and injured 10 activists during a march to educate workers about the divisive nature of the Ku Klux Klan. Morningside - An FBI Investigation and a Hole in the StoryAran's latest book, Morningside, is about the Greensboro activists and the shooting investigation, which he gained access to through interviews with FBI agent Cecil Moses. Moses provided valuable insights into the FBI's perspective and the importance of the Greensboro investigation in the Bureau's attempt to reclaim some esteem in American society. The book also explores the truth and reconciliation process in Greensboro, the first place in the United States to bring the South African model of working out tragic events in public . Aran found that the narratives in Greensboro about who's to blame for the shooting were deeply entrenched within the social community and the extent to which access to one's tribe depends on adhering to a certain narrative. Aran believes that much work needs to be done to work out these hermetic narratives that keep people on different sides of important historical moments. He hopes the book will help readers understand the complex and interconnected nature of the Greensboro shooting and the ongoing struggle to reconcile different perspectives on important historical moments.

Harvard Professors and Courses of Influence

Aran discusses his experiences at Harvard and how his fellow students and friends were hugely influential. He highlights three standout professors who made interdisciplinary connections in his work, which appealed to his sensibility: Stephen J. Gould, Philip Fisher in the English Department, and Bradley Epps in the Romance Language Department.

Timestamps:

02:01: Transition to Academia and Publishing

05:05: Challenges with Comet Systems and Cuban Art

11:08: Researching and Writing "The Americano"

16:03: Life in Mexico and Launching Inside Mexico

26:36: Return to the U.S. and "Morningside"

42:36: Reflections on Harvard and Future Plans

Links:

Website: aranshetterly.com

Event calendar: https://www.aranshetterly.com/events/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is Children's Flight of Hope recommended by Angelo Milazzo who reports: "Hi. This is Angelo Milazzo, proud member of the class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is children's flight of hope. Children's flight of hope is a nonprofit organization based here in sunny North Carolina, which has a mission of providing flights for essential, specialized life changing and life saving medical care for children in need, these flights are amazing in that they bring children who otherwise might not be able to travel to centers of excellence around the United States, where they can receive innovative, cutting edge and in some cases, miraculous care. These flights are provided to children and their families at no cost, which goes a huge way toward easing the emotional and financial burden on families. I had the privilege of serving on the board of children's flight of hope many years ago, I served for several years following the organization's inauguration. In the late 90s, the organization has grown and has evolved to the point where it is now partnering with major air carriers to provide this life saving transportation for pediatric patients. You can learn more about the work of children's flight of hope at their website, which is children's flight of hope.org, and children's flight of hope is all spelled out together as one word. And now I leave you with Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.childrensflightofhope.org/

Philip Nikolayev, a Russian historian, poet, and marketer went directly into grad school in the history department at Harvard, where he received a master's degree. However, his field of medieval Russian history collapsed during his PhD due to funding dwindling after the fall of the USSR in 1992.

From Russian History to Search Engine Marketing

Philip was interested in studying Russian history from a Western analytical perspective. He quit his graduate program at Harvard when he realized his studies in Russian history didn't translate into paying work. A polymath with a child on the way, Philip secured a position as a software engineer, but when the dot.com bubble burst, he decided to continue his studies with a PhD in textual scholarship. Intellectually, Philip's career has been far-flung, with no jobs in his field and a need for financial stability, he worked as VP of Marketing for a high-tech company and later started a small business in marketing, seeking clients based on breakthroughs in science and technology. He seeks clients whose technology he can study and translate into the market language.

Working as a Translator and Writing Poetry

Philip's core interests include poetry and had a love for poetry from a young age. Philip has always been bilingual and although he grew up in the U.S.S.R, he spoke English from a young age. Philip went to Harvard at the age of 24 as a transfer student and became deeply immersed in English. He started working as an interpreter and translator when he was 18 in Moscow, switching languages in terms of writing poetry. His first American poet friend, Ben Naser, encouraged him to continue doing it. He has since published several books of poetry in English and volumes of translation. Philip speaks ten languages, and has translated a lot of Ukrainian poetry, resulting from the war Russia is unjustly waging in Ukraine. A Ukrainian issue of a well-known American Poetry Magazine called the Cafe Review has just come out, co-edited by Philip and Anna Halberstadt as guest editors.

The Romanticisation of Russian History

Philip talks about his role as a translator and his work as an interpreter for writers and poets during Perestroika. The conversation turns to Philip's work as a poet and learning languages, including Romanian and why he loves the musicality of language. He also talks about studying Russian history from a western perspective, which he believes is more accurate than the Romantic tradition. Russian history is often written with a patriotic bias, which combines with the idea that nations are ancient and have traditions. This romanticism often leads to the idea that all people of a country form a single nation with one ideology and similar ideals and values. Napoleon exploited this idea to persuade Frenchmen to join the first mass levy army and give their lives for France. Philip also discusses the concept of nationhood in Russia, which he believes is a new idea. The word "Russia" was coined under Peter the Great in the early 18th century, and it is a Latinized form of the name Rus, which shows a Western influence. This was the name of the first dynasty that came to rule the space that eventually became Russia and Ukraine.

The Formal Anarchy of Poetry

The conversation turns to his network of poets, writers, translators, and editors. He mentions that poetry functions as an institution and network, with numerous poets and institutions like poetry festivals and magazines. Poets often seek out other poets and have poet friends to discuss poetry. Philip mentions his favorite poets including his wife, Katya Kapovich. Philip explains that Russia shaped his poetry towards a mix of traditional forms. He believes that poetry exists in a state of formal anarchy, where a text needs to be self-justifying to merit the reader's attention. His style has evolved, incorporating formal traditional verse, experimental and obscure avant-garde verse, and standard lyric free verse. Philip's themes include personal experience, philosophical distillation, and situational poetry. He believes that poetry allows us to express our humanity and resist becoming robots or AI. He admires the way photography has liberated art by allowing painters to paint their mental lives, and poetry can do the same. However, he also acknowledges that AI has its limitations and questions the future of the arts, particularly in the context of AI. Philip shares a poem from his collection, Letters from Oldenderry, titled "Eagles."

From a Background in Mathematics to a Future in Marketing

Philip's interest in mathematics began in the Soviet Union, where strong math schools were present. He was a mathematical prodigy but was too infected with poetry literature to pursue it back then He later became interested in analytical philosophy at Harvard, taking basic math courses like set theory and Introduction to topology. He later took CS 50 and CS 51 in computer science courses. Philip's transition from a PhD in textual studies to running a marketing firm was unexpected, as he had assumed he would become a professor. However, during the 2008-2009 crisis, there were no jobs in the humanities, and he had to find a source of income. He found work at a high-tech company, smtp.com, which is still there today.

Reaching Beyond the Daily Grind

Philip talks about his degree of freedom as a poet and his outside interests. He explains that not being an academic allows him to think about what matters to him and process it intuitively without being obligated to external criterion or peer review. He also mentions his interest in quantum computing, which he began studying from the business side. He works as a director of business development for Aspen quantum consulting, which does technical due diligence for quantum computing and quantum technology companies.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Philip mentions Michael Witzel, who was his Sanskrit teacher, Diana Eck, who was his Hindu studies professor, Ed Keenan, and James Hankins, who taught him Western civilization. These professors have been supportive and encouraging of his interest in these subjects and helped him develop his understanding of various topics and perspectives. He still lives within a two-mile radius of Harvard Square, making it easy to access his work and stay connected to his passions.

Timestamps:

05:11: Transition to Marketing and Poetry

08:46: Role of Poetry and Language Learning

18:58: Influence of Western Perspective on Russian History

23:33: Network of Poets and Writers

33:15: Challenges and Opportunities in Academia and Marketing

39:09: Return to Mathematics and Quantum Computing

40:59: Influential Professors and Courses at Harvard

Links

Company: searchbenefit.com

Book: Letters from Aldenderry

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolayev/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is Women's Money Matters recommended by Lauren Messmore who reports:

"Hi, I'm Lauren Messmore, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode is Women's Money Matters. I'm privileged to have served as a volunteer coach empowering low income women to improve their financial health and create a more secure future for themselves and their loved ones. You can learn more on women's money matters.org and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://women'smoneymatters.org.

Show Notes:

Kellie Magnus has been working in Jamaica for over 30 years. She returned to Jamaica after completing grad school in Colombia, where she worked in consulting and nonprofits. Since returning to Jamaica, she has been working in nonprofits and with international development partners, focusing on development-related issues. She is now the executive director of the Caribbean Culture Fund, a new entity raising money for arts and culture in the Caribbean.

On the Board of NGOs

During Kellie's time in New York, she attended the Ed School and business school, worked in person consulting, and freelanced on various creative and entertainment projects. Since returning to Jamaica, she has focused on developing arts-related projects that can improve outcomes for a wide cross-section of people. Her first role in Jamaica was working at the University of the West Indies in the Media and Communications Department. She joined boards of government entities and industry associations, and has since become deeply rooted in Jamaica. Kellie talks about her time serving on the board of The Book Industrial Association of Jamaica. She also talks about her work for the NGO Fight for Peace, a global NGO focused on Youth Violence Prevention. It started in Brazil, and opened a branch in England, and then an Alliance Network in about 20 countries around the world, and they wanted to start a program to test out ways to catalyze collaboration between NGOs and state agencies and the private sector around reductions in youth violence, and Jamaica and South Africa. She also ran a project for the World Bank, also focused on Youth Violence Prevention

Fundraising and Growing Arts and Culture in the Caribbean

The conversation turns to Kellie's position with the Caribbean Culture Fund, a regional entity focused on arts and culture in the Caribbean. It raises money internationally and distributes it through calls for proposals to artists and cultural organizations based in the region. The fund was created as a focal point for Caribbean fundraising about arts and culture. The fund's approach involved inviting prospective donors to campus or meeting with them directly. The head of the program spent a lot of time with the donors, listening to their interests and connecting them with the program they thought most matched their interests. Kellie talks about seed funding, their fundraising strategy, and a new fund they are in the process of setting up. Kelly discusses her personal and social network in the arts and culture space in Jamaica.

Verticals within the Arts and Culture Space

Kellie shares her experience in attending various events and festivals, including art exhibits, book festivals, film festivals, and pottery festivals. However, she acknowledges the complexity of understanding each vertical within the arts and cultural space and the diversity across different territories. She talks about common roots and challenges, and shares how the team is planning to dive deeper into each sector in each country over the next year. Filmmaking in the region is not very country-specific, with some countries like the Dominican Republic doing better than others. Jamaica is getting better, but production costs are still prohibitive. The government has launched a Jamaica screen development initiative this year, which is optimistic about its impact on catalyzing production. She also talks about working across jurisdictions in the Caribbean. Kellie spends her time attending literary, film, and dance festivals, as well as reading and running. She also tries to connect with nature and enjoys spending time at the beach. She recommends Portland, a less touristy part of Jamaica, for its lush, quiet, and beautiful environment. She also recommends going up in the mountains, as it is the most beautiful part of the island. Kingston is a fun, vibrant, and culturally rich city to live in, with live music events, good restaurants, and nightlife.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Kellie mentions Werner Sollors' African American literature class; she also mentions African American History.

Timestamps:

02:18 Return to Jamaica and Early Roles

04:57: Fight for Peace and Youth Violence Prevention

07:09: Caribbean Culture Fund and Fundraising Strategy

14:34: Selection Process and Grant Recipients

19:32: Social Network and Professional Connections

25:40: Cultural Recommendations and Personal Interests

32:22: Harvard Experience and Influence

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-magnus-3b902869/

Caribbean Culture Fund: https://caribbeanculturefund.org/

Featured Non-profit

The featured non-profit of this episode is Heart of Dinner recommended by Nelson Wang who reports:

Hi, I'm Nelson Wang, class of 92 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Heart of Dinner, a group that helps address loneliness, isolation and food insecurity among elderly Asian Americans in New York City. They do this by organizing volunteers to prepare hand illustrated brown bags filled with culturally specific food and other items and delivering them to those in need. I actually just started working with them, in fact, because of a mention on a group chat I'm in of the Harvard Asian American alumni Alliance, also known as h4 a, another great organization, but I had such a positive experience working with heart of dinner that I thought they would be great to highlight here, my 11 year old daughter and her mother and I made more than 20 hand decorated bags recently to help celebrate the upcoming mid autumn festival, the big holiday in the Chinese culture that's somewhat akin to Thanksgiving. And the group itself is super organized and effective, and they're planning to expand to other cities and other Asian communities. One great way to help is by organizing a corporate bag decorating event with your colleagues. Even if you're not located in New York City, you can still send in your illustrated brown bags by mail. They, of course, also welcome donations to help pay for the contents of their care packages. You can learn more about their work at WWW dot heart of dinner. All one word, heart of dinner.org, or by emailing Hello at heart of dinner.org, and they're very responsive. And now, without further ado, here's Will Bachmann with this week's scintillating episode of the 92 report.

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.heartofdinner.org/

Michael S. Chen graduated with a degree in investment banking. He worked at Hambrecht Quest, a smaller investment bank focusing on high tech and healthcare companies in New York City. After two years in investment banking, he decided to pursue medicine, inspired by his father's career as a cardiologist. He then went on to study internal medicine at UCSF, Cleveland Clinic, and then joined cardiac associates in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He has been with the practice for 18 years and is now the Chair of Cardiology at Shady Grove Medical Center, and Medical Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at White Oak Medical Center.

Challenges Faced by Cardiac Catheterization Labs

Michael discusses the challenges faced by cardiac catheterization labs in meeting performance measures and ensuring proper procedures. He highlights the need to balance equipment requests with limited budgets and prioritize patient care. He talks about the importance of cardiologist performance in heart attack patients, focusing on door to balloon time and other metrics like aspirin and blood thinners. He mentions the importance of assessing the overall performance of the hospital as a whole, focusing on reducing time spent on administrative tasks and ensuring patients are on the right medications.The conversation turns to steps patients can take to ensure they are prescribed the right medication.

Interventional Cardiology Explained

Michael goes on to explain what interventional cardiology is, what the new trends are, and he addresses common misconceptions. He discusses the learning process for new techniques and tools, such as fellowships and medical device reps. Michael notes that fellowships are the most effective method for learning new techniques, but it's important to stay updated and stay updated with medical device reps. Other methods include working with other doctors, attending training sessions, or learning online through YouTube videos. There are various ways to learn and improve in this field.

Physicians and The Business of Healthcare

Michael discusses the business of healthcare and the factors driving physicians to work with larger healthcare companies. He explains that larger practices have more bargaining power and can offer lower rates and financial security. However, there are drawbacks, such as the need to balance autonomy with financial security. Michael talks about the increasing trend of private equity investing in physician groups, such as anesthesia and cardiology. Private equity is seen as a way to ensure return on investment, which can sometimes be more expensive than providing the best care possible. Stressors for cardiologists include cash flow, meeting payroll, and meeting electronic medical records and government regulations. However, overall, the fit has been good and cardiologists have been happy with the situation.

Participating in the National Senior Games

The conversation turns to fitness and sports. Michael keeps active in terms of exercise, running and working out. He recalls running a 5k five years ago and receiving a gift certificate from Panera for winning first place in his age division. He then qualified for the National Senior Games, (open to anybody 50 years and older) which features various events such as a 5k 10k, pickle ball, tennis, track and field, ping pong, basketball, and softball. Michael has competed in the National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale and Pittsburgh. His mom competed in the 5K powerwalk and Michael competed in the 5K and 10 K road race. Michael came in 2nd in the 10K (and won a silver medal!) and 4th in the 5K in Pittsburgh in 2023, His mother placed 8th in the 5K Power walk in Fort Lauderdale in 2022. Michale mentions that he has a 5k coming up on Labor Day week, with his son running it with friends, and the National Senior Games.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Michael mentions Richard Taylor and TA Tom Roberts, and studying bipeds and quadruped to compare the energetics and mechanics. Part of the study included placing turkeys and chickens on a treadmill. They found that turkeys were quite stubborn and not smart, as they were not smart enough to run on a treadmill. They learned that turkeys were efficient at running and that their locomotion mechanics were efficient. They were fortunate to receive a Hoops Prize for their work, which ends up in the Lamont library. This experience was memorable, as the researchers' thesis is on display at the library.

Timestamps:

02:13: Transition to Medicine and Leadership Roles

07:56: Administrative Responsibilities and Performance Metrics

13:08 Advancements in Interventional Cardiology

20:56: Running a Medical Practice and Personal Interests

36:27: Connecting with Harvard Alumni and Future Plans

Links:

Email: mchen2@adventisthealthcare.com

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is Cave Canem, recommended by Eisa Davis who reports:

"Hi. I'm Eisa Davis, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Cave Canem. Cave Canem is an organization committed to the artistic and professional growth of black poets. And I have been a fellow and active member of the organization since 1999 Cave Canem is still going strong and has truly created the landscape in which poetry lives in the United States. You can learn more about their work@cavecanompoets.org that's spelled C, A, V, E, C, A, N, E, M, P, o, e, t, s.org, and now here is Will Bachmann with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work visit: https://cavecanempoets.org/

David Tavárez, originally from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, completed a degree in anthropology and visual environmental studies. He had several ideas for his future career, wavering between being a scientist or a filmmaker. He secured a place at the Writers Workshop in Iowa and an internship at the American University in Cairo. He spent a year in Cairo after graduation and supplemented that summer by writing about the Baltics for the Let's Go Europe travel series. Studying Indigenous Culture and ChristianityDavid worked as a journalist for a couple of years then decided to pursue a PhD at the University of Chicago in 1994, focusing on indigenous history. His interest was drawn to two languages, Nahuatl and Zapotec, which have a rich store of texts dating back to the 1530s. David discovered documents related to the arrival of Christianity in Mexico. These documents included calendars, cosmological manuals, and ritual songs written in Zapotec alphabetic script. After graduating from the University of Chicago, he worked at Bard College in Latin American and Iberian studies. He then moved to Vassar, a selective institution with a vibrant student body. David currently lives in Rhinebeck, New York, where he is a full professor in the anthropology department at Vassar. His first book, The Invisible War, explores how indigenous people in central Mexico confronted the church in colonial Mexico and managed to work with their ancestral beliefs while also embracing Christianity. He has translated several books into Spanish and collaborated with other scholars on a book on the great indigenous historian of colonial Mexico, Chimalpahin. The Indigenous Languages of the AmericasDavid's most recent book, Rethinking Zapotec Time, compiles two decades of work. The book, which received awards from the Native American Indigenous Studies Association, the Latin American Studies Association, and the New England Council of Latin American Studies, is a labor of love, aiming to understand the world of the ritual specialist and the Christians they confronted, as well as how they managed to survive and share ancestral beliefs and knowledge with others. The indigenous languages of the Americas before the 20th century were the most voluminous in terms of producing works. By the early 17th century, there were over 100 works, mostly religious, printed, and manuscripts. By the end of the colonial period, there were 1000s of works, mostly mundane literature, such as petitions, wills, and testaments. This diversity is comparable to Greek and Roman literature, but there are gaps and can only be reconstructed from later translations. Mexican songs, such as the Cantares Mexicanos, feature difficult language and are lyrical, sometimes difficult to understand. The most famous song is the Song of the Women of Chalco, which features warriors from a defeated polity dressing up as women and taunting the Aztec emperor Axayacatl. There are many convergences between indigenous intellectuals from the 16th century to present. This work highlights the physical and intellectual growth of different indigenous communities through colonial times and post-colonial legacies. The Zapotec Time-space Continuum The Zapotec conception of time is an eternal, 260-day calendar with specific meanings. They believed in a time-space continuum, where every day had divinatory meaning and moved people to specific regions in the cosmos. They had a notion of the cosmos as having three main domains: sky, earth, and Underworld, with other domains beyond the underworld relating to ancestral time and its origins. Time was seen as a way to think about Earth and the cosmos, rooted in geography and cosmology. They believed that everyone was taken on an eternal journey through space and time, allowing communication with ancestors. While their notion of the time-space continuum may not date back to Einstein or quantum physics, they believed that time and space were interconnected. Influential Harvard Courses and ProfessorsDavid mentions Rosemary Joyce, and taking classes with Noam Chomsky at MIT. He believes that there are many ways to approach and learn about remote worlds through experimental means, such as working with film and visual arts. David discusses his interest in working with ritual specialists and documentary filmmakers. He shares his desire to place students in the past through films and visual arts, such as Aguirre, the Wrath of the God by Werner Herzog, and The Mission.

Timestamps:

04:37: Indigenous history, language, and culture in Mexico

12:01: Indigenous perspectives on Spanish conquest and religion in Latin America

17:09: Indigenous Christian texts in the Americas, focusing on the complexity of colonialism and the diversity of indigenous experiences

25:00: Zapotec conception of time and its connection to geography, cosmology, and ancestral communication

31:08: History, filmmaking, and academia with a Vassar College professor

Links:

Vassar Faculty: https://www.vassar.edu/faculty/tavarez

Guggenheim Fellows: https://www.gf.org/fellows/david-tavarez/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/David-Tavarez/author/B003XJJ3M6?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is, recommended by Ruth Hertzman-Miller who reports:

I'm Ruth Hertzman-Miller, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 report is North Cambridge Family Opera. NCFO performs original, entirely sung theater works for audiences of all ages with large casts from ages seven to adult ranging from people with no performance experience to classically trained vocalists. I'm proud to have performed with and written music for North Cambridge Family Opera. I've also been a board member for the past two years. You can learn more about their work at familyopera.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work visit: http://www.familyopera.org/drupal/

Show Notes:

J.J. Bartlett kicks off the conversation with a short explanation on how his wife shaped his career in various ways. He took healthcare management in graduate school and his primary reason for this was his interest in extending healthcare coverage. The President Clinton and Hillary Clinton Health Plan had just failed in 1994, and he was interested in finding new ways to extend coverage.

Health Coverage for Fishers

J.J. shares his connection to the fishing industry, which includes individual fishermen working on boats as independent contractors. The majority of these individuals are men, with some women. He explains the situation of fishermen in the 90s, where half were uninsured, while the other half only had coverage through their spouse, Medicare, Medicaid, or junk coverage. The conversation turns to the structure of the plan for community health plans for independent professionals in Massachusetts which was a collaborative effort between fishermen, politicians, and other stakeholders. The plan was designed to provide coverage for those directly related to the fishing industry, requiring more than half of their income to come from fishing. This was done to ensure that income from commercial fishing was counted, and that no whaling or other issues were present. The plan was funded through federal and state funding, with the federal money being kicked in early and the state program being a state program. The federal money allowed the program to reduce the rate that fishermen paid on average by 60%, which was beneficial for taxpayers as they could afford it. This was done on a sliding scale that was redid every year to accommodate fluctuating incomes in the industry. The plan smoothed out a period for fishermen to afford coverage over a period of time, rather than going on and off coverage. J.J. shares a recent example of this which led to fishermen not being eligible for mass health.

The Model for Obamacare

J.J. talks about the origins of the Fishing Partner Health Plan healthcare system. The conversation turns to the Massachusetts State Health Plan, which became the model for Obamacare, and was influenced by the people involved in the Fishing Partner Health Plan healthcare system. Some of the lessons learned from the Fishing Partner Health Plan healthcare system include the importance of not carving out the most endangered population in the country, but recognizing the importance of providing healthcare through enrollment offices. J.J. shares an example of a successful implementation of the Fishing Partner Health Plan healthcare system. The lessons learned from the Fishing Partner Health Plan healthcare system can be applied to other industries to help ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive the necessary care and support.

The Health Plan Today

The health plan initially provided treatment for those in shock or depression following an accident, but it stopped in trying to get them insured. However, they now have a system of care available, including safety training for fishermen and a national grant program. This is a preventive measure for the deadliest job in the country. Additionally, they have relationships with trauma centers, providing treatment for those injured or witnessed the accident. This trauma care is available to employers within their HR department. After 15 years, Obamacare allowed people to transition to the new system.

The Fishing Partnership Support Services

J.J. talks about how many workers in many occupations do not have adequate coverage or even the ability to take time off for illness. At the top of the list are Massachusetts fishermen. The organization, Fishing Partnership Support Services, has been in operation since 1997 and focuses on providing various services to the fishing industry. It trains community health workers to help people transition from uninsured to insured, especially for fishermen with fluctuating incomes. The organization also runs a community health program that provides preventive care. They have also begun behavioral health services, addressing the issue of opioid overdoses among fishermen. J.J. also talks about the problem of dealing with extreme pain and addiction. Fishermen are more likely to die from opioid overdoses due to their job-related pain and the high costs associated with working on boats. The organization's navigators help address this issue by educating fishermen about the importance of their jobs and the need for first aid. They also provide training on carrying Narcan and its use, with navigators trained as recovery coaches. The organization partners with various treatment groups, including trauma support, to help fishermen navigate the challenges of substance use disorder and other workplace issues.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

J.J. highlights the importance of the people, such as Governor Maura Healey and Mayor of New Bedford, who have supported the program and worked with him. He also mentions the connection between the fishing industry and the city of Boston's history. He also mentions his experience working with Senator Kennedy and his staff.

Timestamps:

02:04: Career Beginnings and Graduate School

03:36: Healthcare Coverage for Fishermen

05:18: Challenges and Successes of the Health Plan

06:30: Healthcare Options for Independent Workers

14:34: Structure and Funding of the Health Plan

21:44: Transition to Statewide and National Reform

24:30: Impact on the Fishing Industry and Community

43:39: Current Work and Future Goals

43:53: Reflections on Harvard and Career Influences

Links:

Website: Fishingpartnership.org.

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, recommended by Jenny Atkinson who reports:

"Hi. I'm Jenny Atkinson, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Boys and Girls Clubs are places young people can go during out of school hours to get educational support, participate in sports, arts and other programs, build positive relationships with peers and adults and just have fun. They're usually in the most under resourced communities in a city or town. I started volunteering at a Boys and Girls Club when I was a freshman at Harvard, and have worked at the national office and as an executive director of a club and always a supporter of their work. You can learn more at BGC, a.org where you can search for the Boys and Girls Club nearest you. Check out your local club. They're some of the most hopeful and joyful places I spend time. And now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.bgca.org/

Show Notes:

Alison Umminger Mattison talks about a 20-year stint as an English professor, a marriage, a 13-year-old daughter, and publishing a book. She also pursued a master's in Christian spirituality and spiritual direction certification, focusing on spiritual direction, work, retreat, ministry, and facilitating silent retreats with themed content. She has moved around the world, from Boston to London, DC to Missouri, Indiana to Atlanta, and now resides in Carrollton, Georgia. She also discusses her master's degree and her spiritual guidance and retreat ministries.

A Journey in Spiritual Companioning

Alison talks about a spiritual retreat she attended, her experience there, and how this led to a new direction in her life. She explains that spiritual companioning is a listening vocation that involves spending time with people in a healthy space, listening to their stories, heart desires, and listening without judgment. Spiritual companioning focuses on walking with people as far as they need to go. This is different from being a priest, rabbi, minister, or pastor, as it is not about running an organization. Alison discusses her approach to finding spiritual directors. She also shares her experience with two recent retreats, including one on the art and spirituality of Gerard Manley Hopkins.

What Happens on The Retreat

Alison talks about her retreats, which include guided meditations, befriending darkness, soul collage, imaginative prayer, and visual meditations. The first evening, she walks people through a guided meditation, asking them to think about what word or phrase is coming up for them. After leading the meditation, she asks people to trust and let go of their needs. She discusses befriending darkness and the importance of being with others in the same situation. She encourages people to spend time in silence and create mandalas to explore the depths of their lives. She also offers micro spiritual direction, and introduces attendees to an imaginative prayer technique. Lastly, the retreat concludes with a visual meditation called Vizio Divina, where people look at a picture and reflect on what they are attracted to, resist, or miss from it.

Understanding Prayer and Meditation

Alison talks about meditation and prayer. She shares that monks often use techniques like Lectio Divina, where one takes a verse and meditates on it and asks for help or guidance. This technique allows individuals to practice patience and kindness, allowing them to carry the word with them throughout the day. She emphasizes that prayer is a toolkit for spiritual direction, and that each individual may find a form of prayer or meditation that works for them.

The Work of a Spiritual Director

As a spiritual director, Alison often begins by asking questions about the person's spiritual journey and their current state. She has learned to trust her intuition and also listens for words, phrases, or images that come up during the conversation. If they resonate with the person, they may be more open to discussing them. She also listens for consolation or desolation, whether the person is moving away from desolation or towards greater faith, hope, and love. She asks open-ended questions, allowing the person to go deeper with their feelings and experiences. She never asks if something sounds like it's a hopeless or unfulfilling space, as it allows the person to explore their feelings and experiences. She emphasizes the importance of listening and trusting in the process of counseling.

Spiritual Direction as an Ancient Practice

Alison explains what spirituality means to her and that the role of a spiritual director dates back to monks. It has evolved from being primarily clergy to becoming more popular among the laity. Spiritual directors International offers a broad range of practitioners, including shamans, artists, and Zen practitioners. They serve different religious traditions and can be found in schools that work with their traditions. While the role may have been traditionally filled by a formal clergy member, it is now becoming more accessible to lay people. The term "spiritual director" is not new, but it is becoming more common and accessible.

Teaching Fiction Writing and Screenwriting

Alison has a PhD in 20th century literature and an MFA in creative writing. She teaches fiction writing and screenwriting, focusing on narrative perspectives rather than helping students create screenplays. Her journey from a PhD to an MFA and screenwriting began when she struggled with plotting and received rejections for her first novel. She started taking screenwriting classes in Atlanta to put joy back into writing and improve her plotting skills. Screenwriting is structured, making it easier for students to focus on plotting and avoid nebulous spaces. It also provides a social environment, with table reads and conversations about topics that transcend the isolating feel of writing. This social aspect of screenwriting helps students form friendships and feel more comfortable sharing their work. The conversation turns to education in today's society, and developing classes of interest to today's students, and Alison's book.

Harvard Professors and Courses of Influences

Alison's favorite courses include the Myth of America class, and she explains why she found this class to be particularly interesting and meaningful. The course focuses on the frontier, western expansion, and the concept of individualism, as well as the individual versus culture debate. She believes that the American dream concept is still rich and valuable for students to explore.

Timestamps:

02:00: Spiritual Direction and Retreats

06:15: Differences Between Spiritual Direction and Other Roles

15:39: Meditation and Prayer in Spiritual Direction

26:45: Challenges and Rewards of Teaching

38:54: Personal Life and Book

40:42: Influential Courses and Myth of America

42:51: Future Plans and Invitation to Retreats

Links:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/alison-umminger-mattison/

Website: sacredlistening.net

Upcoming retreat: https://ignatiushouse.org/calendar/spiritual-writing-retreat-jan2025/

Featured Non-profit

The featured non-profit of this episode is National History Day, recommended by Zachary Schrag who reports:

"Hi. I'm Zachary Schrag, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is National History Day. National History Day has given millions of students in grades six through 12 the chance to pursue original historical research and to present their findings in a variety of formats. I am proud to have served as a volunteer judge at local and national contests, and to have contributed to the 50 for 50 fundraising campaigns. You can learn more at NHD. That's National History day.org, and now with this week's episode, it's your host, Will Bachmann."

To learn more about their work visit: NationalHistoryDay.org.

John Knepper thought he would pursue a career in theater after graduating and performing at the Harvard Radcliffe summer theater. However, after moving to Memphis, Tennessee, he took a left turn and started working in the marketing department of the nation's fifth largest security guard company. After nine months there, John quit his job and traveled around the country for six months.

Working in Washington on Immigration Laws

On the last leg of his travels, he was in Washington where, by chance, he met the assistant to the Chief of Staff for Senator Al Simpson of Wyoming. Six months later they called him for an interview and subsequently he started working on Capitol Hill. He talks about his work as a personal assistant for a senator before moving on to work for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

In 1995 and 1996, he worked on the 1996 immigration law, which was the last major piece of immigration legislation passed by Congress. John also worked for Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee on the Governmental Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee for two years, where he worked on investigations into foreign influence in the 1996 Presidential election. John worked on campaign fundraising and regulatory reform, becoming one of the most knowledgeable staffers for the Senate Judiciary Committee without a law degree.

From Washington to Law School

In 1998, he decided to change careers and went to law school. He attended the University of Michigan School of Law, which was considered the best law school at the time.

Upon graduating from law school in 2001, he worked for a federal judge for a year and later held a position with the US Department of Justice in the Federal Programs Branch. He was part of the team that defended the McCain Feingold campaign finance law, and John talks about how the law faced constitutional challenges and the mistrust among the Republican and Democratic National Committees. John discusses his role in document review at the Republican and Democratic National Committees, and his decision to build an effective record of campaign finance regulations. He also talks about working on national security issues for President Bush, such as the freezing of assets of the Iraqi government and the question of how to give Iraq billions of dollars back to the government.

Working as the Associate General Counsel of the OMB

John was called to work as the Associate General Counsel of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 2004. OMB is an agency within the White House responsible for ensuring that federal government actions are consistent with the President's priorities. Originating under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, OMB is responsible for reviewing all testimony, legislation, and major regulations issued by the executive branch to Congress.

He talks about working under President Bush and eventually becoming the deputy general counsel of the Office of Management and Budget. The office was responsible for supporting the President's views and clearing executive orders. The general counsel's office was also responsible for reaching out to other federal agencies to discuss concerns and ensure they understood the consequences of their actions.

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Financial Bailouts

In summer 2008, a friend of John's, who had been in the White House Counsel's office, called him to discuss the economic concerns with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. John moved over to become the Deputy General Counsel of the Treasury. The conversation turns to the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the potential bankruptcy of AIG, and the impact of money market funds on the economy. He talks about the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) which was developed to provide an asset against which companies could borrow from the Federal Reserve. This allowed the government to keep the velocity of money in the system, and AIG was a prime example of how the US government managed to keep these businesses operating.

He also discusses an unsung moment during the financial bailout and the collaboration between Merrill Lynch and Wachtell Lipton, Rosen and Katz, and one reason for the bailout.

From Washington to Wyoming

In 2009, John was unemployed due to elections having consequences. He moved to Wyoming, where the economy was buffered by long-term commodities contracts, and he started working for the city of Cheyenne Wyoming as an attorney, working on $50 million government programs. John talks about Wyoming's unique tax system, with no state income tax, so revenue is largely mineral taxation. He worked with people in Wyoming suing companies over tax burdens. John worked there for two years before falling into another position as the Attorney General of Wyoming. He was appointed as the Chief Deputy Attorney General of Wyoming, and for five years, from 2013 to 2019, he was the number two lawyer for the state where he worked on environmental, law enforcement, and gun rights issues.

Establishing a Solo Practice

From March 2019 onwards, John moved on to solo private practice in Wyoming. He chose this path because he wanted to take on more controversial litigation and avoid moving their family to a different location. He discusses his experience as a political appointee of George W. Bush and involvement in pro life cases, including pre and post Dobbs litigation on pro life issues. John has also been involved in controversial cases, such as defending coverage of gender transition services and determining equal protection. Large law firms often avoid this area due to financial constraints. His practice is paid law, with clients ranging from wills for small to large corporations, and he works on multi-district litigation.

Influential Professors and Courses at Harvard

John mentions a class on the Holocaust and genocide by Professor Eric Goldhagen, which he found to be incredibly profound. This course changed his interest in understanding the reasons behind people's resistance to horrible decisions, such as murder and atrocities. He also took courses on resistance to authority from social psychologist Herb Kelman and his senior thesis on the concept of the witch at the Salem witch trials. He mentions Professor Orlando Patterson of the Sociology department at Harvard had a class on freedom, focusing on the origins of the western and American concepts of freedom and liberty.

Timestamps:

05:00: Career path from Congressional staffer to lawyer

11:26: Defending campaign finance law in court

16:17: Legal questions related to Iraq invasion and asset recovery

21:47: White House roles and responsibilities

27:54: Government bailouts during the 2008 financial crisis

34:28: Financial crisis, bailouts, and government intervention

40:18: Tax compliance, job loss, and career changes

46:12: Legal work in Wyoming, including coal mining and environmental issues

51:40: Legal cases related to gender identity and health insurance coverage

55:24: Personal growth, career paths, and Holocaust education

59:57: The concept of freedom, heroism, and redemption

1:05:36: Life decisions, fountain pen hobby, and connecting with others

Links:

Email: john.knepper@gmail.com

Featured Non-profits

The featured non-profits of this episode are the 52nd Street Project and Village Arts Theater, recommended by Jeannie Simpson who reports:

This is Jeannie Simpson, class of 1992 and the featured nonprofits for this episode are the 52nd Street Project and Village Arts Theater. The 52nd street project is in New York City, and my husband and I both volunteered there for about 10 years. It takes kids from Hell's Kitchen community and pairs them with theater professionals to write and perform original plays. It also offers homework help and mentor programs and all kinds of arts classes. It's free for the children who want to participate, and it's just a really awesome example of the transformative power of storytelling through theater. The second nonprofit I want to recommend is in Los Angeles, California, and it's called Village Arts Theater. It is a nonprofit that provides all kinds of arts classes and opportunities for kids from the community, ages four to 14 to participate in plays and in classes. It's an inclusive program, and no child is turned away because of financial need. And I have taught, volunteered, directed, choreographed for village arts for a decade. I still work with them, and both my children were raised in this theater program, and I have seen countless children benefit from all the amazing things that it has to offer. 52nd Street Project website is the numbers five, two and then the word project.org, and village arts website is one word, village arts theater with an R E at the end.org, 52 project.org, and villageartstheatre.org. And org, and they are both worth checking out and worthy of your time, your money, your talents, resources, whatever you might have to offer. And now here is Will Bachmann with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work visit: 52 project.org and villageartstheatre.org.

Show Notes:

Christiane Pendarvis found her career passion in retail and retail merchandising in Neiman Marcus department stores in Dallas, Texas. She started working in a high-end department store, and after working in the retail industry, she went back to business school and earned an MBA.

Experience as a Team Lead and Mentor

After business school, Christiane worked at Procter & Gamble in their brand management arena, but she missed retail and has been there ever since. Throughout her career, she has worked for various large brands and has moved across the country, including Dallas, North Carolina, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; New York City and finally L.A. She worked at various companies and gained exposure to different mentalities which gave her valuable experience in both life and work and she explains how her personal growth impacted her professional growth. Her desire today, as a senior executive, anchors on impact and exposure, showcasing the possibilities for other women. She feels blessed to have gone through these moves, cities, and companies, and has been able to impact and expose a wide group of people. She shares a story of how she helped team members grow professionally when working for a direct to consumer retailer in New York City, overseeing websites and a third-party marketplace business. Christiane aims to guide and develop people by considering both the company's needs and individual needs, leveraging their strengths to drive business performance while escalating learning, growth, and confidence.

Working as CO President and Chief Merchant at Savage

As CO president and chief merchant at Savage X Fenty lingerie by Rihanna, Christiane talks about her experience in merchandising roles. She describes the role as similar to a buying role, where it involves sourcing product, pricing, inventory. However, at Savage X Fenty, Christiane oversaw all functions related to product creation, including designers, fabric suppliers, technical designers, production teams, and inventory management. The role involves working on various products at different stages of development, such as holiday assortments, samples, and inventory management. Each season is at a different stage, making it challenging to balance the development of different products while also managing the business. Christiane enjoys this dynamic role as it allows him to be inspired but also tactical in solving problems.In addition to overseeing the merchandising team, she also manages e-commerce and direct to consumer sales.

The Pandemic - A Rocket Year

Christiane shares her experiences at Savages during the pandemic. The business started in May 2018 just before the pandemic. The business tripled its size in 2020 due to the pandemic, which was a surprise blessing for the business, as it was a direct-to-consumer business that relied on social media to attract customers. In 2021, the business almost doubled from the previous year, with a total employee base of 225 people. This growth was not only financial but also a success as a leader and executive. The company also opened retail stores, with hundreds of additional employees. Managing supply chain challenges during the pandemic was challenging, but the overall impact on the business and the cultural relevance of Savage was also a proud moment for Christiane.

The Apparel Industry Culture

Christiane talks about the misconceptions people may have about the apparel industry. She explains it is not all as glamorous as many people think. It is a hyper-competitive, business-oriented industry with sustainability challenges. The best people and retailers are run well, like any other business. Victoria's Secret, for example, has a $7 billion revenue business. When it comes to business, it's not just about glamor; it's about strategic product selection, consumer appeal, positioning in the marketplace, and competitiveness. People sometimes underestimate the importance of retail, thinking it's a great place to be if you're a business. However, the industry is not just about fashion, it has challenges surrounding sustainability, and responsible growth.

Staying in Tune with the Market

Christiane shares what she has learned about merchandising and her approach to staying in tune with the market, the importance of testing and learning, and hiring the right people for the right roles. She acknowledges that she is not a trend-setter and that she may not be able to keep up with all the latest trends. She believes that having the right people in the right roles is essential for a company to succeed. She explains how she manages her employees to help them improve their performance, enjoy their work, and remain loyal to the company. While she may not be in the loop with general trends, she does keep up with product trends. She enjoys spending time in stores and trying new beauty products, but culturally, she may not be the best person to stay updated on the latest trends. She also explains how she hires talent and ensures a cultural fit.

Personal and Professional Growth

Christiane shares her journey of self-acceptance and the unexpected opportunities she has encountered. She admits to never having considered becoming the CEO of a company, and has learned now to feel more comfortable not knowing and reaching out for help. She acknowledges that the false narrative of having to have it all together and expose herself to others' perspectives is a false narrative. Her openness towards uncertainty and seeking help has helped build success in her career. She has developed a long-term career plan based on exploration and curiosity, focusing on opportunities that have opened doors she couldn't have predicted.

Influential Professors and Courses at Harvard

Christiane highlights her involvement in various activities and courses. She started a basketball cheerleaders group, which provided her with broader exposure and allowed her to meet interesting people from different circles within the community. She also enjoyed supporting the sports team and was a member of Kuumba, a group that provided a platform for her to sing and perform and build a strong network of friends. She was treasurer of the organization that helped fund a Kuumba tour.

Christiane believes that the tight network she formed at Harvard has remained strong even 35 years later, with deeper friendships formed due to the shared experience and respect within the class.

Timestamps:

01:53: Career journey, impact on people, and self-acceptance

07:38: Leadership and development of employees in a retail setting

12:25: Product development and inventory management in the lingerie industry

17:21: Business growth and celebrity involvement

22:41: Misconceptions about the fashion industry, merchandising, and consumer understanding

28:38: Talent selection and cultural fit in leadership roles

34:14: Career journey, self-acceptance, and personal growth

40:35: Shared experiences and bonds formed at Harvard University 35 years after graduation

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianependarvis

Featured Non-profit

The featured non-profit of this episode is the Global Medical Research Institute, recommended by Candy Gunther Brown who reports:

"Hi, I'm Candy Gunther Brown, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is the Global Medical Research Institute, or GMRI. Gmri supports evidence-based research on Christian healing prayer by publishing randomized, controlled trials and case reports in peer reviewed medical journals. Spiritual healing practices like mindfulness and yoga are better studied, though, Christian healing prayer is more common. Doctors and patients and skeptics and believers all have a stake in knowing whether Christian healing prayer helps or harms and which approaches are most clinically beneficial. I'm privileged to have co-founded and served on the GMRI Board for the past 13 years. You can learn more about their work at global mri.org that's G, l, O, B, A, L, M, R, I, dot O, R, G, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.globalmri.org/

Show Notes:

Robert Frost married his high school girlfriend 10 days after graduating. After moving back to New York, Robert worked at a consulting company called A.T. Kearney. He was interested in business and thought consulting would be a good way to go while working towards becoming a CEO. However, three weeks in, he realized consulting wasn't for him.

From Columbia University to Real Estate

Robert worked with Kearney's Global Business Policy Council, which provided political advice to senior leaders in business and advised governments on business practices. He worked on projects advising countries on transitioning to free market economies. He also worked with Kearney on cultivating C suite level clients. After a few years, Robert went to business school at Columbia University. At Columbia, he was attracted to investment banking and private investing. After pursuing more technical training, he worked at Bear Stearns in the real estate gaming and lodging group from '97 to 2000, but while he liked the work and people, he didn't like the lifestyle. and later found a partner and started buying real estate. They bought and sold real estate in New York during the up market, but in 2006, they realized there was nothing to buy. They sold most of their property, found another partner, and started building affordable housing units in the Bronx, rezoned industrial real estate and built housing units.

President of the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation and Buying a Football Team

Robert became the president of the Lucius Littauer foundation in 2011, which he helped streamline. Robert talks about how his business ventures are built on a foundation of unlocking processes. More recently, he has been involved in other projects, such as buying a third-division soccer team in Lisbon, Portugal, which had a beautiful old stadium but needed money to pay bills and become professional. They raised money from investors and bought the team from the club. They professionalized the organization, hiring a head of football, administration, scouting department, and investing in the beautiful stadium. They also invested in a hospitality suite to become a destination for Lisbon visitors. Robert talks about the experience of running a football team and the real estate component of the business play.

Harvard and the Jewish Community

Robert shares a little about his background, his father, and his experience with the Jewish community. His father attended Harvard, joined the navy, and later became the founding president of Harvard Hill. He talks about the culture at Harvard at that time, how it influenced his father, and how, both his father's and Robert's role with the Littauer Foundation. Robert talks about the foundation's involvement with the Jewish community and how his father's legacy continues to influence the foundation's future, as it continues to support the Jewish community and provide funding for various programs and projects. The conversation turns to antisemitism, Robert and his father's experience at Harvard, and how the university's anti-Semitism efforts have evolved over time, with some factors being institutional and others being intentional.

Rezoning in New York City

Robert discusses the process of rezoning in New York City, which involves both formal and informal steps. In the formal process, a draft environmental impact statement is filed, which goes through a series of reviews and approvals by various constituencies, including community boards, borough presidents, city councils, and mayors. The informal process involves scoping of the study on the environmental impact and analyzing the community's needs, and attending numerous community board meetings. He talks about the areas they focused on and why, the transactions made, and putting together teams.

Building Affordable Housing

The conversation turns to the importance of affordable housing, and Robert shares how they developed affordable housing. They have almost no tenants who make more than 60% of the average median income, and their rents are programmatically sized to accommodate 20-30% of people coming out of the homeless system. Robert notes that this industry has existed for a while, but it is now difficult to build true affordable housing due to inflation, land costs, and construction costs. Currently, the Affordable Housing Program is a leveraging of the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, which grants tax credits to not-for-profit entities to build affordable housing. However, this approach has led to increased costs for developers. New York City has provided supplemental financing through second and third mortgages and low interest rate grants, but these grants have not kept up with inflation in construction and land costs. He also talks about financing and regulatory issues.

The Decision to Leave Consulting

Robert explains why he did not like consulting and how his perspective on sales and selling has changed since his time at Kearney. His early experience with consulting led him to realize that he wanted to be in charge of his own business. He initially thought he wanted to run a big organization but realized that he didn't like the level of responsibility over people's lives. He prefers running a small organization and having services provided by third parties, as he doesn't enjoy the human responsibility of running a big organization.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Robert recounts his experience at Harvard Student Agencies (HSA) before becoming president. He explains how his role involved budgeting and rolling up a corporate overhead budget for 10 different businesses. The board was not supportive, but from this experience, Robert learned about dysfunctional dynamics. He emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes and not allowing one person to dictate the dynamics. Despite the challenges, HSA had a successful financial year and renegotiated contracts with real-world implications. Robert's time at Harvard Student Agencies was central to his education and he uses lessons learned from his experiences to improve his career.

Timestamps:

02:27 Career progression from consulting to investment banking to real estate development

07:52: Buying a soccer team in Portugal and its business implications

12:51: Running a small sports team with limited resources

16:19: Jewish immigration and Harvard involvement

21:56: Harvard experiences, anti-Semitism, and cultural acceptance

28:34: Rezoning in New York City and its impact on the community

34:49: Land assembly and rezoning in New York City

36:51: Affordable housing challenges in New York City, including funding and regulation issues

43:29: Sales and consulting experiences, personal growth, and academic experiences at Harvard

48:48: Leadership lessons learned from managing a struggling business

Links:

The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation: http://littauerfoundation.org/

Company website: https://signatureurban.com/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is The Nature Conservancy, recommended by Tom Hughes who reports:

"Hi, I'm Tom Hughes, class of 1992 the featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is the Nature Conservancy. The Conservancy is tackling accelerated climate change and biodiversity loss by preserving ecosystems, driving policy and bringing together communities to reach pragmatic solutions. I love the work of this organization. I've been a regular donor for almost 20 years, and I've personally trained and coached many of their senior leaders, and have the utmost confidence in their integrity, their sincerity and their ability to achieve these goals of matter to all of us, you can learn more about their work at nature.org and now here's will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.nature.org/en-us/

Show Notes:

Timestamps:

02:22: Career choices, job dissatisfaction, and law school admission

08:49: Inspecting smokestacks with a wand-like device

11:29: Career path and personal growth in law

17:12: Career changes, challenges, and lessons learned

20:29 Career journey in law firm environment, including startup work and personal life

27:02: Career growth and change, with a focus on a lawyer's transition from outside counsel to chief legal officer

29:33 The benefits of long-distance relationships for couples with children, with insights on how it can positively impact work-life balance and communication

36:35: Career development and pattern recognition in law

39:21: Personal growth, education, and entrepreneurship

45:29: Religious beliefs and their evolution in a Harvard student's life

Links:

David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-willbrand-9062011/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is The Kentucky Student Voice Team, recommended by Rachel Burg Belin who reports:

"Hi, I'm Rachel Burg Belin, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of the 92 report is the Kentucky Student Voice Team. The Kentucky Student Voice Team is an independent youth led intergenerationally sustained organization. The mission is to support young people as education research, policy and storytelling partners to co create more just democratic schools and communities. I love the work of this organization. So much so that ever since 2012 When I worked with a team of high school students to conceive and CO design it, I've been pouring my everything into it. I also serve as its managing partner. You can learn more about the Kentucky student voice team@ksvt.org And now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.ksvt.org/

Show Notes:

As a student, Elijah Aron started writing plays, musicals, and making weird films with friends. After school, he moved to San Francisco and started a theater company with friends from college. They transformed an old shoe store into a theater, where Elijah worked and slept. He talks about the imaginative and adventurous shows, which included surrealist works and musical elements, and simulated carnival rides, but despite their creative success, he struggled financially and worked as a temp and at a bookstore to support himself where he met a wide assortment of interesting individuals.

Working in Television Elijah initially pursued the idea theater, as he was drawn to weird art and unconventional ideas. He explains how he began to write scripts for a TV show called Black Scorpion and in 2000, Elijah moved to LA to try his hand at the TV business where he started working as a low-level executive at Disney Television Animation.

Tips on Pitching a Television Show Elijah talks about his career at Disney where he became a development executive, helped produce cartoons and look for new shows. He shares tips on pitching that he learned from this experience, including which pitches sold and why. He emphasizes the importance of being relaxed and friendly in meetings, as well as summarizing the idea in a sentence to sell it. His job involved listening to pitches and working as a programming executive, reading every draft of the script, and looking at storyboards. Elijah also developed and wrote television shows, and he wrote some TV movies. However, he wanted to move into adult TV and was hired on the show Drawn Together, which was an animated reality show with different characters from different cartoons.

100000 Jokes and Working in the Writer's Room Elijah talks about his experience in TV writers rooms and recalls the first joke that got him quoted in TV Guide. He spent a decade of writing for network sitcoms, including Better Off Ted and Raising Hope. Elijah's work on these shows was characterized by stress, high-pressure work, and a focus on ratings. He enjoyed working with talented writers and developing sitcoms, but eventually changed course to work on Bojack Horseman, an animated show about a horse actor dealing with depression, and Undone, an animated show about a young woman who learns to move through time and space. He states that being a TV writer is challenging, as it involves collaboration, rewriting, and finding the right balance between being funny and not being offensive. He talks about writing jokes and how he combines inspiration and a method of thinking that helps him find the funny. He also mentions that most writers do not want to use AI for ideas and/or writing, but that it can be useful for research.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors Elijah discusses his lifelong career in the arts, focusing on his extracurricular activities such as creating weird plays and participating in a community of artists. He mentions his experiences with free speech and the creation of a zine called The Little Friend at Harvard, where anyone could publish opinions. He also shared a story about making white jumpsuits with numbers on the back, which led to a cultural education. He took animation classes with Derek Lamb and Janet Perlman, which provided him with a history of animation and allowed him to create his own films. He also mentioned that he is a fan of Helen Venders' poetry classes.

Timestamps:

05:08: Creating and staging surreal, experimental plays in college

09:43: Career paths, including temping, writing, and TV production

16:58: TV show development and pitching, with insights on what sells and what doesn't

22:07: Writing for TV shows, including jokes and animation experience

27:02: TV writing career, from sitcoms to animated shows

33:12: TV writing, comedy vs. drama, and joke-writing process

38:16: Using AI in TV writing, personal experiences, and career development

Links:

Undone: https://www.amazon.com/Undone-Season-1/dp/B0875GVR67

Instagram: @things_in_elijahs_house

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is Healthy Humor Inc., recommended by Reggie Williams who reports: "Hi, I'm Reggie Williams, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of the 92 report is healthy humor. Healthy humor is an arts organization whose professional performers create moments of joy, wonder, laughter and comfort for hospitalized children and their families during some of their most difficult times. I'm proud to have served on the board for healthy humor for more than two years. Alongside our classmate Derek Horner, who's the board's chair. You can learn more about their work at healthyhumorinc.org. And now, here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: https://www.healthyhumorinc.org/

Andrew Ott left college to work at a nonprofit, then moved into technology research and small internet startups before returning to nonprofits and working in social entrepreneurship in Brazil and Rwanda. Now, he runs his own nonprofit, training people from low-income backgrounds, particularly people of color and women, how to code, program websites, and launch new careers.

College Friendships

One of the elements of Harvard that have continued to influence his life is his long-term relationship with his Harvard roommates. They regularly get together once or twice a year, getting their families together and doing fun things together. This group of friends has evolved over time, with some being good planners and others not. The tradition started in college, where they would go to one person's house on Memorial Day weekend and bring friends. After college, they spread out to different cities and eventually started renting houses when they had more income. Andrew reflects on the gift of having friends from high school and college.

Travel and Working in Tech

Andrew talks about the early days of his career. Initially, he needed some time off from college and decided to go to Spain with his roommate. This experience provided him with a new adventure, fluency in Spanish, and a change in worldview. After his father's death, Andrew considered joining the Peace Corps, but he explains how serendipity stepped into his life and helped him secure a position as webmaster at Forrester Research.

From Spain to Brazil

After Forrester, Andrew planned to go to Argentina, but changed plans due to the country's economic difficulties. He spent several months researching and interviewing people connected to Argentina, which led to a job offer at an International publishing house which was offering a salary of $8,000 or $9,000 per year. Despite his interest in the job, the pay was too low to accept, and he returned to the U.S., with a stop-over to Brazil en route. He met up with old friends who live in Sao Paulo. While there, he noticed the abundance of international brands and helipads in Sao Paulo, and decided to pursue work there where his experience working with Forrester and his knowledge as a webmaster was in high demand. Andrew recounts his experience working for startups in Brazil, where he initially worked for four years building websites. He eventually decided to return to nonprofits, starting with CDI, a Brazilian nonprofit that builds computer and citizenship schools in poor neighborhoods across Brazil. He studied nonprofit management and international relations at the Kennedy School.

Social Entrepreneurship in Rwanda

The conversation turns to his work in Rwanda where he explored the concept of social entrepreneurship, which is a startup approach with a social goal. He joined TechnoServe, an organization that was involved in the coffee project funded by the Gates Foundation. The goal was to draw together smallholder coffee farmers into collectives and sell their products to major coffee roasters like Starbucks. TechnoServe intentionally cut out middlemen, ensuring that more of the profit goes back to the farmer. This approach has a positive socio-economic effect on agricultural communities, improving their standard of living, school rates, education rates, and health. Andrew worked with a small entrepreneur to improve his coffee cooperative's business operation. He shares how they discovered fraud in the coffee cooperatives and how they dealt with it.

How CodeSquad Works

Andrew talks about CodeSquad, a nonprofit organization, which trains individuals from low-income backgrounds, focusing on people of color, women, and marginalized communities, without any computer or software background, in entry areas or full stack website development. The organization works with these individuals to find jobs in software, which can significantly impact their livelihoods. The average reported salary for a job in software is over $100,000 a year. Some participants have been homeless or couchsurfing during the program, but the program has had some amazing outcomes, including the range of jobs the participants can apply for after going through the program. The program is now entirely online. This decision-making process is more efficient and effective than traditional interviews. The program has seen a significant increase in interest, with over 1000 people interested in the program this year. Andrew shares information on cost per graduate and funding for the program.

Challenges Faced by People in the Tech Industry

Andrew discusses the challenges faced by people in the tech industry, including the need for education and the educational requirements. He mentions that the minimum requirements for a software developer job are a high school diploma or GED, authorization to work in the United States, and passing through the admissions process. Success in the industry is determined by perseverance and code switching, which can be difficult for those without corporate work experience.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Andrew mentions Professor Joseph Nye, Jr., and his Historical Studies course on International Relations. He was fascinated by geopolitics and power dynamics between countries in other groups.

Links:

https://codesquad.org/

Timestamps:

02:24 Maintaining long-term friendships through regular get-togethers with families and friends.

05:35 Maintaining friendships over time and across distances, with personal anecdotes and experiences

12:17 Career trajectory shift from tech support to web development

15:35 Career path and experience in Brazil

21:16 Social entrepreneurship in Rwanda with a focus on coffee farmers

23:48 Coffee fraud in Rwanda, with a focus on a middleman's inflated expenses

29:45 Nonprofit training low-income individuals in software development, with successful job placement outcomes

31:40 Predicting success in a coding boot camp program

37:43 Non-profit organization CodeSquad's mission to help low-income individuals gain coding skills and find jobs in tech industry

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is The Baby Jesus Community of Petropolis, recommended by Roger Landry who reports: Hi, this is Roger Landry class of 1992, who had the privilege to be interviewed by Will in Episode 42. The featured nonprofit in this episode of the 92 report is The Baby Jesus Community of Petropolis, Brazil. Founded in 1990 by Tonio Tavares, a teacher for Special Needs teens, who, when the Brazilian government pulled its funding, ended up adopting all 45 Special Needs teens and adults and caring for them ever since. I first found out about this extraordinary organization, when I was working as a diplomat at the United Nations. And since then I've helped them get established as a US 501 C-three, contributed to their many needs, and tried to help them find others in the United States who might be able to assist in their beautiful and literally life saving work. You can learn more about their work at their website. communidade.jesusmenino.org.br for Brazil. I'll spell it that is: C OMUNIDADEJESUSME N I N O dot org.br for Brazil, or if that's too complicated, just email me at Catholic priest@columbia.edu Thanks so much for your consideration. And now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work visit: https://comunidadejesusmenino.org.br/

Show Notes:

Somava Saha's interest in medical school began late in her career. She studied molecular biology in her fourth year at Harvard, but she eventually enrolled in the Berkeley UCSF joint MediCal program. There, she learned about medicine from the perspective of people and cases, as well as the economics of medicine and the history of healthcare and public health. She also completed a master's thesis with the Bahai Community Health Partnership in Guyana, South America, where she worked alongside community health workers, villagers, and teachers to create conditions for collective healing. Somava explains the approach taken and how it led to significant health improvements, such as 90% reductions in malaria rates and elimination of acquired developmental delays.

Getting to Know the People Who Experience Homelessness

Somava also talks about the impact the Spare Change newspaper and getting to know the people experiencing homelessness in Harvard Square had on her and her career. She started to get involved in programs like Phillips Brooks House, and food recovery programs. By listening to the stories of people who were homeless, Somava found that there was an incredible wealth of human potential and people with enormous gifts to offer one another and others in creating communities. This experience taught her how to value the knowledge stored in stories, how to connect people's stories with policies, and see the gift in others as valuable tools for creating better change.

Community-driven Change

Somava talks about her time at Harvard Medical School and the Cambridge Health Alliance. She learned about the importance of community-driven change and how it can build social connections and change systems. During her residency training, Somava learned about the differences in structures and systems. She also encountered the challenges of supporting patients who had recently been assaulted. She talks about the process of collecting evidence and how this experience led to her belief in a model of seamless care that demonstrates true dignity and cultural competence is an important model to follow. She realized that the presence or absence of money does not determine whether systems work for people and communities experiencing inequities. Instead, it is the choices we make as a society and how structures and systems are designed to create a sense of dignity.

Leading a Community Health Center

Somava talks about leading a community health center in Revere, using the same lessons and methods as her life at Cambridge Health Alliance. Over the next two and a half years, the center became known as a national model, and she became elected as the next president of the medical staff. Somava went on to become the Vice President leading the care transformation in Massachusetts. The transformation focused on designing a system that works for people, giving dignity and agency, and valuing all workers based on their expertise, talents, gifts, and contributions. This transformation was chosen by the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation as one for innovative and effective transformations in the country.

Designing a Health System that Works

Somava realized that health doesn't happen when someone goes into the doctor's office, but rather throughout life, leading to toxic stress and harmful outcomes. This led her to propose the 100 million healthier lives initiative, which built a global network across 30 countries and over 1850 partners reaching over 500 million people. In three and a half years, the network improved 738 million lives. She also founded Well Being and Equity in the World, focusing on changing the underlying conditions and root causes that perpetuate harm in people's lives, holding back their potential throughout their lifespan.

A Progressive Medical Clinic Model

Somava explains what made the Revere Clinic a progressive model and offers an example of how it worked for patients. The clinic created high-functioning teams to cater to the needs of the community, ensuring longer hours and safety appointments. The clinic recognized the importance of community members, such as medical assistants and receptionists, who could play a larger role than their technical capacity. Revere changed its financing model to focus on improving health and connecting with people throughout the year. They focussed on quality of care over quantity, building relationships, and supporting the patients. These approaches are just a few that were incorporated and prioritized preventative care, chronic disease management, and provided more time and coaching for individuals to work on their health and well-being goals.

Creating Well-being Initiatives

Somava has worked with over 500 communities across the nation, including black, indigenous Latinx, and other communities, to create wellbeing initiatives designed by people closest to the problems. These initiatives saved over 60,000 years of life and helped communities of color, expunged prison records, and fed and housed the community back in their homes.She emphasizes the importance of understanding that those experiencing inequities have enormous gifts to offer the nation and that it is a loss is when we prevent them from expressing their genius.

A Mission to Advance Well-being

Somava's mission is to advance intergenerational well-being and equity based on racial and economic justice. She talks about methods employed to create pathways for intergenerational health building and community building, including the Well Being in the Nation network, which connects the dots across organizations and provides support in multiple ways. Many of their initiatives and frameworks have been adopted by organizations and federal agencies. The most important part of their work is building community, and building change agents who can create better change. They have worked with organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the CDC, and the Surgeon General to build capacity in the public health system and to create a network of change agents.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Somava mentions professor Diana Ecks on World Religions, and courses Lessons Learned from the Weimar Republic, Medical Anthropology

Timestamps:

05:17 Healthcare, poverty, and social connection

10:18 Homelessness, poverty, and healthcare

18:11 Improving healthcare systems for marginalized communities

24:05 Transforming healthcare through community-centered approaches

28:45 Healthcare system redesign for better patient outcomes

36:43 Improving diabetes care through patient-led groups

40:56 Trusting patients' knowledge for health and wellness

46:07 Building collective leadership for health equity

Links:

Website: https://weintheworld.org/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode is CAPE, recommended by Melinda Hsu Taylor who reports: "Hi, this is Melinda Hsu from the class of 1992. And this week's featured organization is the coalition of Asian Pacific's in entertainment. They're a group that's been around for about 30 years in Hollywood, fostering and Amplifying Voices from the creative side from the industry talent side, all from the Asian Pacific Islander native Hawaiian community. And I'm very pleased to have been involved with many of their outreach programs and the Asian American writers brunch, as well as the mentoring program that they have through not just the cape writers fellowship, but also the showrunner incubator, which I'm helping launch this year. And I hope that you will look up their website which is Cape usa.org To find out more about the work they do the initiatives and also the screenings and the kind of like programs that they do to let people know about what films are coming out and how to support them and how to get involved with all of these things. And now here is Will Bachman and this week's episode."

To learn more about their work visit: CapeUSA.org

Show Notes:

Julie Lin was a medical student at Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons when she met her future husband. It was the first day of medical school and they met while attending a class where they were both serious amateur classical musicians. Julie talks about their shared love of music and how they planned to have a family quartet.

The All-state Orchestra Model

Julie shares her story of starting an orchestra at medical school, which initially had a traditional weekly rehearsal and concert. However, they found that the show rate was low as exam time approached, leading to the creation of the Allstate orchestra model. This model involved distributing music and parts ahead of time, having a three or four-hour rehearsal, and playing in front of an invited live audience.

Experiences at Medical School

Julie initially thought she would be a clinician, but during her nephrology fellowship program, she trains to become a specialist in kidney medicine, she also became interested in clinical research. This realization led her to pursue academic nephrology, which was life-changing for her. After her husband's residency and postdoctoral training in Boston, Julie started working as an instructor at Harvard Medical School and attending physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital. As part of her job offer, she negotiated for funding from the nephrology division to obtain a Master's in Public Health from Harvard, focusing on quantitative analysis rather than policy.

Working in Nephrology Research

Julie worked as an investigator in the Channing laboratory at Brigham and Women's Harvard, where they had ongoing cohort studies of health professionals for over 10 years. She was one of the many NIH-funded investigators in the Nurses Health Study, a cohort study of >120,000 US nurses who signed up in 1976. A subset of women in the study had submitted blood and urine samples, which allowed for analyses of change in estimated kidney function over 11 years between 1989 and 2000.

Kidney Function Decline Research

Julie's research included looking at diet, nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns and how they impacted kidney function and change. Work that gained the most media attention was diet work. Her research found that drinking two or more servings of artificially sweetened drinks, likely soda, was associated with a faster kidney function decline in women over 11 years. This was about three times faster than normal aging alone. The researchers adjusted for factors like diabetes and high blood pressure, which are big risk factors for kidney function loss. Julie also talks about research on the Mediterranean diet vs. Western dietary patterns.

Diet for Kidney Health

The conversation turns to the concept of the blue zone, which has been associated with longevity and longevity, but that many people living over 100 years in these areas may have exaggerated their age due to poor record keeping. This leads Julie to remark that a main concern for scientists is how well information is being captured and measured. Julie shares tips on the best diet for kidney health. Low sugar intake is recommended, as it can lead to weight gain and diabetes. Vegetarian diets are also healthy, and fish is recommended as the main source of animal protein.

A Clinical Research Career in Industry

Julie talks about the reduction in academic research funding, and why she decided to continue her clinical research career in industry, working on clinical trials and developing new drugs. She has worked with Amgen, Genzyme, a rare disease company, as well as at a gene therapy startup called Dimension Therapeutics, which was acquired by Ultragenyx. Her current role is as global project head at Sanofi. She talks about her role and the importance of assessing efficacy and safety of new therapies.

Playing in Community Orchestras and Chamber Music

Julie explains that, as an amateur musician, she has found it to be a great outlet for her stress and the intense work she had to do while working and taking care of her children when they were younger. She joined a community orchestra in 2012, since then she has played in a number of community orchestras, including New Philharmonia, Longwood, and Brookline Symphony. Julie has also played with the Mercury Orchestra, founded and conducted by Channing Yu, Class of 93. Recently, she decided to focus on chamber music, which has been her true love. She has a lot of local musician friends to play with. Julie explains that playing chamber music brings a sense of flow and connection to others, making it a great gift.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Julie shares her experiences in Harvard's music 180 class, taught by Leon Kirchner and Lynn Chang, which was an intense experience. She also recalls a class where a modern and atonal piece was played by an advanced violinist, which changed her view of Schoenberg's music. She also mentions Helen Vendler's poetry class.

Timestamps:

05:38 Medical school experiences, including a non-linear podcast format and a successful orchestra performance

09:30 Career paths in medicine, including becoming a physician scientist, with insights on negotiation for benefits and research in nephrology

16:31 Diet and kidney function, with findings on artificial sweetened drinks and Mediterranean diet

21:17 Aging, nutrition, and kidney health with a former academic researcher turned pharmaceutical industry professional

28:36 Musical experiences and focus on chamber music

33:01 Music, Harvard, and the importance of flow

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lin-md-mph-fasn-71796b2a/

Featured Non-profit

The featured non-profit of this episode is Esperanza Shelter, recommended by Caribou Honig who reports "Hi, I'm Caribou Honig, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is Esperanza shelter. The shelter does incredibly important work, enabling people and very importantly, their children, to escape abusive relationships throughout northern New Mexico. Equally important, is that they provide a wide range of services to help those survivors get back on their feet, providing everything from emergency shelter to transitional housing to counseling and life skills. My wife and I have been donating to Esperanza shelter since 2020. You can learn more about their work at Esperanza shelter.org. Esperanza for those of you not in the know is the Spanish word for hope. And now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit https://esperanzashelter.org/.

Show Notes:

Dennis Crowley started working for Tyco International in 1996 and spent five years in Europe, spending half his time in Paris and two and a half years in Brussels. This experience was enjoyable as it allowed him to work, sightsee, and travel around Europe. During his time in Europe, he had the opportunity to visit every country in Europe, including Spain, Italy, the UK, and France. He moved back to Florida, then lived in New England for 25 years before settling just south of Boston. Dennis worked in various divisions at Tyco until 2007, where he worked in their healthcare group, which spun off into Covidien. He spent 12 years doing mergers and acquisitions, and this experience opened his eyes to the exciting developments in the healthcare space, particularly in medical devices.

Lifestyle in the US vs. Europe

Dennis compares the pace of life in the US and Europe. In the US, you can get what you want when you want it, but, for example, In Paris most shops are usually closed on Sunday. The cultural norms that may not be easily understood by someone new to the country. Dennis shares a few examples of cultural differences in the workplace. Working in Europe can be a transition from class to a job, but it also presents challenges. For example, Italian culture is different from French culture, and while many people may speak multiple languages, to communicate effectively, one must be respectful of their second language and be able to express ideas in clear and appropriate ways.

Medical Devices in the Healthcare Industry

Dennis finds this field to be an interesting one as there are always problems to be solved and technologies to be developed. In terms of medical devices, the majority of medical devices have been based around surgical procedures, such as abdominal, cardiac, and peripheral surgeries. These opportunities are often focused on general surgery, such as fixing clots, repairing hernias, and C sections. Interaction with physicians and leaders in their field helps in finding companies to build portfolios for a company. He highlights the role of physicians as advisors who often collaborate with engineers and industry professionals to develop new products and address gaps. This collaboration is crucial for addressing the needs of patients and improving efficiency in the healthcare system. Dennis also talks about recent breakthroughs and innovations. He stresses the importance of having a community of physicians who can help address their needs in the marketplace, and emphasizes the need for companies to have a strong network of physicians who can help develop innovative products that address the needs of their patients and improve the overall quality of care.

Mergers and Acquisitions in the Health Industry

Dennis highlights the importance of understanding the business and aligning with the company's vision. He discusses the potential of acquiring companies and their trials, such as Given Imaging, which uses a pill cam to take multiple pictures at once. This technology is used for diagnosing bleeding or other issues in the gastrointestinal tract. It is also an alternative to colonoscopy. Dennis explains that an M&A executive spends most of their time analyzing deals and negotiating them, while also working with the company to understand its business, technologies, and strategies. He mentions that there is also a lot of time spent networking and explains how former classmates and friends had played a role in both his business and personal relationships.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

The conversation turns to Harvard and golf as Dennis talks about his time on the golf team and that he is still in touch with friends made while on the team. He shares how playing golf has facilitated both business and personal relationships. He also discusses the current etiquette around smartphones on the golf course.

Timestamps:

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-crowley-8130a44/

https://corza.com/leadership/

Featured Non-profit

The featured non-profit of this episode is Protect Democracy, recommended by Richard Primus, who reports "Hi, I'm Richard Primus from the class of 1992. The featured nonprofit organization of this episode of the 92 Report, is Protect Democracy. Protect Democracy uses the tools of law and communications to protect the rule of law and constitutional democracy in the United States, at a time when those things are in greater jeopardy than we would have dreamed possible when we graduated from college. I'm proud to have worked with Protect Democracy on a volunteer basis, since it was founded a little more than seven years ago, and also to be a member of its board of advisors, which includes a wonderful group of people."

To learn more about their work, visit https://protectdemocracy.org.

Show Notes:

Title: Media Entrepreneur and Filmmaker

Show notes:

Natalia Tsarkova, a transfer student from Latvia, was the first student from the former Soviet bloc to apply to an American college. She was thrown into a completely different world and roles, but knew she wanted to create more contexts for others to transform their lives like she didher life. Growing up in Latvia, she watched pirated MTV videos and credits seeing Billy Jean for the first time for inspiring her to work in the media space. In 1993, she met a professor at the MIT Media Lab, who recognized her mixed background of mathematics, social studies, and filmmaking. She fell into the master's program at the MIT Media Lab, where she was educated on the new way of thinking about media and how to create more meaningful experiences through on-demand interactive media platforms.

Working in Video on Demand and Interactive Experiences

Natalia was eager to move to New York City and found a job with a startup in Soho. She was driven to explore the world of startups and entrepreneurs, which she didn't know much about before. She created projects Barry Diller, Sony Music and was hired by the Beatles estate to create the first Beatles digital experience. She had the luxury of diving deep into the Beatles archives and creating unique digital content. Natalia worked with IMG, fashion, and sports, and was tasked with explaining the digital transformation to CEOs in management, helping them imagine new types of media experiences that were digital and on demand. Her journey from MIT to New York City was filled with excitement, partying, and meeting people from all walks of life. She was able to stay afloat as a consultant, working on projects that fascinated her and helped shape the future of digital media.

The Development of Transmedia

In 2001, Natalia met her husband, a French television music television producer, who was looking for a digital media expert. In 2003, they set up the first European video on demand platform, called Transmedia. Natalia convinced television producers that linear television was dead and that video on demand was the future. They built a business by packaging content from France television and other European producers and selling it to telcos in Belgium, Switzerland, and even France. With their large library of live musical content, they launched a video on demand platform called iConcerts, similar to Netflix but with only live music. This platform evolved into a hybrid high-definition TV/Video on Demand channel, licensed by operators in 128 countries between 2007 and 2010. The platform was successful, with collaborations with CCTV, an office in Singapore, Paris and Tokyo and partnerships with Senegalese musicians and Africa. Natalia explains how she became disillusioned a few years before it was sold.

Making a TV Documentary

Ever since Harvard, Natalia always did some form of documentary filmmaking. During summers, she rented a house in France and started filming the Gypsy Kings, a group that were popular in the 90s. Natalia showed the excerpts to a head of a European arts channel called Arte, who suggested she submit a the proposal for a full length film. The film was released in 2016 and received triple primetime ratings on the channel, and the Gypsy Kings loved it. This experience of original content storytelling and the idea of tribes, such as the Gypsy tribe, inspired her. She moved on to create a project called Tribo, designed to be a storytelling platform for groups to share their stories. Tribo has become more about digital storytelling and dynamic storytelling.

The Evolution of the Tribo Platform

Natalia discusses the concept of Tribo as a media platform for storytelling. Tribo was initially designed as an extension of live music festivals, but after two years of testing, it has been found to be particularly effective in private communities during COVID-19. Tribo aims to create a platform where stories that matter over time are told, such as collective storytelling. This can involve recording portraits of different people who are part of the organization, allowing everyone to post photos and videos during an event, and giving CEOs a space to motivate everyone. Natalia emphasizes the importance of engagement from employees, as most companies struggle with sharing their stories due to busy work and reluctance to share. By providing equal opportunities for sharing and having leaders interviewing people, Tribo can capture the heritage and legacy of the community.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Natalia was particularly fond of the VES department, where she watched two movies a day, and had a close friendship with Robert Gardner, Director of the Film Study Center and Svetlana Boym, an expert on Soviet art and modern art. She mentions Liah Greenfield, her thesis advisor. She also worked for the Harvard Negotiation Project, created by Roger Fisher, a professor at HLS known as the ultimate expert on negotiation.. Her first job at Harvard was working at the Russian research center, where she was hired by Marshall Goldman, a big Soviet studies professor.

Timestamps:

05:12 How a Latvian student applied to Harvard despite obstacles

11:30 Moving to NYC, starting a business, and networking

14:00 Digital media, video on demand, and startup experience

21:03 Entrepreneurship, media, and filmmaking

24:15 Filmmaking, loss, and entrepreneurship

31:27 Using tech for collective storytelling in organizations

41:17 Grief, trauma, and resilience after loss

44:42 Filmmaking, Harvard experiences, and connections

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-tsarkova

Website: Tribo.Live

Kings of the World: https://vimeo.com/197952008/d444b20c11

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliatsar/

William Cheng has been working in the Silicon Valley area since 2000. He graduated from Harvard as a bio concentrator and later attended UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. He completed residency training in internal medicine at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, a county hospital affiliated with Stanford Hospital System. He then joined the Palo Alto Medical Foundation as a hospitalist, focusing on acutely ill patients.

Working as a Hospitalist

William's understanding of the world has changed over the two decades as a hospitalist. He now understands the importance of non-hard science aspects, such as interactions, communication skills, and bedside manners. He also learned logistical skills, such as navigating the healthcare system and getting patients in and out of the hospital efficiently. William talks about the need for continuous learning in his field, including navigating insurance and bureaucracy. He shares how the recent pandemic had a significant impact on the Bay Area, and how the hospital environment has evolved over time, with new challenges and opportunities for growth. William shares tips for being a smart patient in the hospital, such as asking questions, double-checking medication, and understanding the importance of being a smart consumer of hospital care. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication and respecting the intelligence of patients and families. William explains what makes a good doctor, and the various demands that come with the job, including intellectual demands, emotional demands, physical demands, and long hours on the feet.

Challenges Faced by Hospitalists

Hospitalists interact with patients and families more frequently during the day, especially in difficult situations such as difficult medical diagnoses, potentially life-threatening diagnoses, and end of life care. These discussions can be gratifying and stressful, but they also involve complex social interactions and relationships. He talks about the challenges of discussing severe conditions with patients, determining the appropriate treatment options, and navigating complex social discussions. Another challenge is reviewing charts quickly, understanding the patient's condition, and formulating a plan of action. In the initial admission orders, physical therapy and occupational therapy are often put in, but if the patient is too weak, additional help may be needed. Social workers or nursing case managers can then discuss these recommendations with the patient or family early on. They can teach the patient or family about the process of getting them home and ensuring they understand the process. William talks about the admission process and mentions that there are different types of patients, such as good teaching patients and non-teaching patients.

A Professional Point of Pride

From a professional standpoint, William is most proud of his early involvement in scheduling for his group. Scheduling is one of the main pain points or stress factors for hospitalists, as they have to be on call for certain periods of time. The traditional seven-on-seven off schedule is not ideal for patients, as it can lead to stress and dread of work. William developed a good system that has led to very little turnover in his group and accommodates everyone's time off requests. His scheduling is essentially a giant logic puzzle, and he does it all by hand within a spreadsheet for over 20 years. He continues to do this to this day to ensure that everyone is happy with their work.

Influential Professors and Courses at Harvard

William mentions his love for the Glee Club Harvard Glee Club, where he sang in junior and senior year. William found that there was no experience after college that matched the quality of his time at Harvard. He has been involved in an alumni chorus, which he started in the late 2000s, which has been performing in Japan and the US. They have performed three times so far and are planning to perform at SEMA this year, focusing on peace and harmony among the world.

Timestamps:

02:56 Medical education, hospital care, and COVID-19 experiences

08:25 Hospital care and communication between doctors and patients

13:35 Medical work-life balance and emotional stress

18:27 Challenges and skills of a hospitalist

25:01 Streamlining hospital discharge process for elderly patients

27:35 Medical education and patient care

31:50 End-of-life care and scheduling for hospitalists

37:13 Work-life balance, scheduling, and singing experiences

43:46 Singing, harmony, and endorphins with a Harvard Glee Club alumnus

Jeanne Simpson moved to New York after graduating. She started doing day jobs in New York City to make ends meet while attending free dance classes, which allowed her to continue her training without having to pay for grad school. She eventually joined the American Isadora Dance Company, a modern company.

Beginning a Career in the Performing Arts

Jeanne began her acting career at HB Studios, where she was given a scholarship and studied under Austin Pendleton, a talented teacher who taught the advanced Acting Program at HB. She worked with other amazing actors and learned to choreograph scenes with them. This experience led her to work on original college shows and she choreographed for various shows. In addition to acting, she also taught at a dance studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn, before being offered her first professional choreography job where she choreographed a birthday cake song for a series on Nickelodeon and was subsequently hired for the series. This was her first professional choreography job which led to several others on films.

A Volunteer in Performing Arts Programs

Jeanne started volunteering at the 52nd Street Project in New York, which takes kids from Hell's Kitchen and lets them experience the transformative power of theater. They take them out of town to enjoy nature and rehearse plays with the kids, then perform the plays in Hell's Kitchen. This experience continues to inspire her belief that the performing arts can change lives, even if it doesn't lead to acting or dance. Jeanne has continued to work with the 52nd Street Project. Her experiences in the performing arts have had a profound impact on her life and she continues to inspire others to pursue their passions in the performing arts.

Working in Television and Film

She worked on a show called Wishbone, which was shooting in Texas. After leaving Wishbone, she returned to New York where she ended up doing more choreography jobs, and acting jobs, and getting married. She and her husband moved from New York to Los Angeles and Jeanne jobs teaching dance and theater, and worked for Princeton Review and IV West. She auditioned for Tim Robbins Actors Gang, a theater company, she worked there and eventually choreographed for the Grand Guignol company. Then she started auditioning for television and found an agent with Avalon Artists Group. Jeanne earned parts on several TV shows, including Madman, Parks and Rec, and How to Get Away with Murder. The couple moved to Valley Village, where they still live today, and they had a second child, Vivian.

Arts Programs and Community Theater

She started working with a community arts theater, an all-inclusive arts program that offers various classes and activities for children. She started a camp called Make Them Laugh classic comedy camp with her husband and another comedy writer, introducing classic comedy to a new generation of kids. She later taught at Berklee School, where she teaches improv and has directed at Harvard. She also teaches a dance class at Evolution Dance Studios called Big Shots. She is currently directing a production of Anything Gos with four or five and six-year-olds, and she has also choreographed a rock opera movie musical called The Promise. While she still auditions, Jeanne also tutors kids on their essays to get into schools, which has become an accidental side business. Their house is like Grand Central Station, filled with people of all ages, which they love. The journey has been a rollercoaster ride, but she is grateful for the opportunities it brings.

Pursuing Acting and Choreography

Jeanne discusses her experiences as an in-school ambassador for the National Young Arts Foundation and how she started dancing at age five and how her mother helped and inspired her. She talks about the different modes of acting, acting, dancing, teaching, and choreography. Acting and choreography are the two that bring the most happiness, as they allow them to be present and happy. Directing drives her insane, but as an actor and choreographer, she can let go and be present. Choreography is also fun because it allows her to share her vision with others, and learn from others, creating a collaborative experience.

A Choreographer's Process

As a choreographer, Jeanne starts with the story, which is essential for their dances to convey something and then, of course, the music. She also considers the style of dance, the capabilities of her dancers, and their potential. She then develops steps that grow out of this story, making it easier to remember. Jeanne shares the example of her Saturday morning class routine. Jeanne also discusses her process and how choreographers keep their thoughts straight in their heads. She uses choreographers notation, which is mainly used as a step notation, but she also writes down the story when she does a piece.

The Importance of Relationships in the Performing Arts

Jeanne shares her experiences with relationships in the performing arts industry, highlighting the importance of connections and connections in her life. She shares stories of various projects and connections, such as working on a Broadway musical project called Three, where she was hired to choreograph one of the shows and supervise all others. This experience led to her becoming part of a larger community of artists, which eventually led to other jobs or volunteer opportunities. She also mentions her involvement in a community theater that taught children at a public elementary school, where she taught and was recommended by a vocal coach for her kids.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Jeanne credits James Davis, her sociology professor, for her interest in studying people and trends. Davis was supportive and kind, attending every play and dance concert she performed. She also mentions Arthur Holmberg and Jian Guo, who was a mentor, where she learned about professional theater companies. She also mentions Jane Nichols, an adjunct professor and acting teacher who Jeanne is still in touch with.

Timestamps:

10:07 Career, marriage, and TV show experiences

17:07 Career, family, and art

20:13 Career transitions and passions with a former Broadway performer

26:04 Art, dance, and theater with a passionate artist

31:16 Choreography process and creativity

34:05 Choreography and dance notation

40:06 Career connections and networking

45:18 The challenges of pursuing a career in the performing arts

47:19 Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and its hosts, Adam Felber and Paula Poundstone

53:28 Arts career and education with a guest speaker

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeanneGottaDance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotta_dancenj/

Joshua Brandon Holden, the author of The Mathematics of Secrets, Cryptography from Caesar Ciphers to Digital Encryption, graduated with a degree in pure math and went on to teach at the University of Massachusetts and Duke. He discovered that he was spending most of his time on teaching, so he sought jobs where they would reward teaching. He then worked at the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, where he did both teaching and research.

Common Misconceptions about Cryptography

Joshua discusses common misconceptions about cryptography and its connection to the internet. He explains that people often knew about cryptography in ancient times but don't know about the throughline. Older theories of cryptography were implicitly mathematical but not explicitly, while new theories are very explicitly mathematical. Joshua aims to open up the connection between older forms of cryptography and the new ones, stating that everyone has some ability to do all of it in varying amounts. He talks about the current state of cryptography online, including public key cryptography, which originated in the 70s and gained popularity in the 90s with internet commerce. Public key cryptography allows users to send secret messages through a one-way key, which is only decrypted by the sender who has a different key. This is important for sending credit card information to companies like Amazon or Walmart. However, end-to-end encryption means middlemen are no longer able to decrypt messages, so it's crucial to look carefully at providers' policies to determine if they stay in the loop. Joshua talks about the networks and relationships within the cryptography field, including the opportunities for professionals to work in private camps, government agencies, and academia. He notes that while there is money and space in the field, there is also a lot of space for professionals to stay updated on the latest theories and developments.

Quantum Computers in Cryptography

The conversation turns to the potential of quantum computers in cryptography and the potential for breaking encryption systems. He believes that quantum computers are expected to be better at breaking the problems used in creating mathematical problems used in special public key systems, such as encryption used by browsers to protect credit card information and communications. He also discusses the development of quantum resistant cryptography, which is a more complex system but the basic principles of quantum resistance systems are still relatively graspable for anyone with high school algebra and a willingness to dig deep. By applying enough computing power to end-to-end encryption systems, it is possible to break them. The only way to achieve perfect secrecy is to have a secret key, which is as long as the conversation. This method was supposedly used for the famous red phone between the White House and the Kremlin during the Cold War.

Keeping Your Data Safe

In terms of security, Joshua advises people to know their threat model and consider the potential threats they face. Some people may worry about powerful governments trying to break their communications, while others may be concerned about corporate spies, children, or random people passing by. For those worried about corporate espionage, it is recommended to look for end-to-end encryption systems. While quantum computers may not be easy to break, they do not guarantee that someone can't break the system with enough computing power.

Class Field Towers Explained

Joshua talks about his research in the field of mathematics, specifically in the area of class field towers. He explains why imaginary numbers are not square roots but rather arbitrary choices. He also discusses the concept of Galois groups, which track the number of ways complex numbers can be shuffled around without making a difference. He explains that class field towers consist of rational numbers, real numbers with irrational decimals, and complex numbers on top of them. These towers record the complexity of each jump made in the tower.

Joshua talks about the role of computers in mathematical research, stating that there is more computer usage in this area due to improved software tools and more applications in cryptography. He identifies two traits that are most useful for being successful in mathematical research: perseverance and curiosity. Perseverance is the reason most people persist. In graduate school or postgraduate school, those who stick with their passion and interest in math may be more likely to succeed in mathematical research. He encourages students to not give up on problems that require a different kind of math, even if it's not necessary for their career. He believes that having a sense of curiosity about everything comes from the fact that in mathematics, all one needs is to just think hard about things and talk to others. This gives one a sense of confidence that they can figure things out without the need for special abilities or tools.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Joshua mentions Math 25, an honors calculus course. He also enjoyed Professor McConnell, who he still maintains a friendship with. He also shares his experience with changing his name, which was the first of his non-professional wanderings.

Timestamps:

04:33 Cryptography and its applications in online security

11:57 Cryptography, public key systems, and quantum computing

21:07 Encryption, mathematics, and data security

27:49 Mathematical research and talent

33:41 Math education, career choices, and personal growth

Links:

Website: https://wordpress.rose-hulman.edu/holden/the-mathematics-of-secrets/

Mark Jacobstein resides in Stanford, California with his wife, two children, and his mother in law. Mark's career has primarily focused on entrepreneurial technology, primarily in health tech, biotech, molecular diagnostics, and digital health arenas. After Cambridge, he worked with Scott Murphy, a close friend and business partner. He moved to California in 2003 to start a technology company and has been there ever since. He lives on the Stanford campus, which allows his children to grow up on a college campus.

Founding a Fantasy Sports Business

Mark shares his journey from writing software for Mike Bloomberg in the early 90s to inventing the first online fantasy sports business [Small World] in 1994. He and his partner, Scott, initially struggled with starting a technology company due to their naivety and lack of experience in the tech startup ecosystem. However, they eventually built the first online fantasy sports business, which was one of the biggest consumer sites in the world at the time. In 1995, they spun out a web consultancy to solve various problems for corporate clients, building stateful and database-driven websites. They later built corporate websites for companies like Xerox and consulting for McKinsey on the internet's future. The business was sold to i-EXL in 1998. One common thread Mark has seen over the past 30 years is looking for systemic paradigm shifting changes in technology. Mark's career highlights the importance of adapting to new technologies and finding the most effective way to grow a business.

Entrepreneurship in Machine Learning and AI

Mark's last two companies and new venture studio focuses on machine learning and AI. He discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and the transition from a hobby to a business. He emphasizes the importance of looking for latent demand in businesses, he also emphasizes the importance of not engaging in gambling and making ethical choices in business decisions. His first experience as an entrepreneur was when he and his roommate Scott started hiring employees. They faced challenges like the.com crash and the need to lay off employees.

Startup Business Mistakes

Mark discusses the mistakes made by his company in structure and decision-making processes. He believes that they were naive and didn't put enough thought into the process of disagreements, which caused friction and strained relationships. He also mentions that the biggest mistakes they made were sins of omission. They were too early to realize the monstrous opportunities that nobody was taking advantage of. One example is hiring Matt Funk, a summer intern who later became a hedge fund manager. He suggested they buy domain names, but Mark argued that this was unethical. Another example is building the first Business to Business Exchange (B2B) website, TextTrade.com, in 1996. This was an effort to make the textiles business more efficient. However, Mark argues that they missed out on the commercial implications of the internet and how they could have used their technology to service other industries.

Silicon Valley and the Tech Landscape in the 2000s

Mark shares his experiences in the 2000s, particularly in the mobile business industry. He sold his fantasy sports business, Small World Sports, to Paul Allen, who bought Sporting News, an interactive TV channel. After a burnout at Sporting News. Mark met Trip Hawkins, founder of Electronic Arts and 3DO. Mark was offered a position as co-founder and president of a mobile phone company. He was invited to Silicon Valley to meet with Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins. He was mentored by Trip and his experience in Silicon Valley was a pivotal moment in his life. He shares his experiences in the tech industry, starting with his time at Digital Chocolate and then moving on to venture capital firm Sequoia. He was introduced to Sam Altman, a young wunderkind, and worked with him to build a company called Looped, which was later sold to Qualcomm.

Working in Health Technologies

After leaving Digital Chocolate, he decided to make a career shift into health tech. He enjoyed his work in fantasy sports but felt that nothing had changed the world in a profoundly important way. He eventually joined Guardant Health, a molecular diagnostic company that applied machine learning to big omics and developed cancer detection using blood draws. He was drawn to the intellectual challenge of working on circulating tumor DNA for early detection of cancer. Mark worked with Immunai, a company that uses single cell genomics and machine learning to improve immunomodulatory therapeutics. He appreciates the importance of the immune system's complexity and the work in the field. He recently founded Jiminy Health, a company that aims to address care gaps in mental health care through mobile and MLMs.

The Importance of Authentic Leadership

Mark has learned the importance of authenticity in running a company that is non-obvious or counterintuitive. He believes that authenticity is crucial in leadership and having a compelling vision. As a CEO, he focuses on making that vision clear and helping organizations untangle their knots to pull towards a common goal. He has learned from Sam's outrageous ambition and his ability to build companies that start with seemingly outrageous ideas. He applies these lessons to his own work, thinking about what different people would do in different situations as long as it aligns with his values and aligns with his values. He compares running a lab to running a business, which involves raising money, hiring people, meeting deadlines, and missing milestones.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Mark discusses his experiences at Harvard, focusing on courses and professors that resonate with him. He mentions Harry Lewis, who was a computer scientist, and his career in tech. He emphasizes the importance of having a vision and articulating it to attract customers and recruit a team. He also highlights the importance of social reflection classes like Robert Coles, which taught him how telling a story can change the world and create an ethos that cares about the world. Mark's mental health startup, Jiminy Health, aims to make scalable mental health services for millions of people. He believes that being raised in a liberal, progressive family still helps his businesses make the world a better place.

Timestamps:

02:59 Entrepreneurship, technology, and business success

08:46 Entrepreneurship and technology trends

10:36 Entrepreneurship, business decisions, and growth

16:58 Missed opportunities in tech and entrepreneurship

23:34 Entrepreneurship, leadership, and the video game industry

27:03 Career shift from tech to healthcare with valuable insights

32:55 Entrepreneurship, leadership, and management style

38:02 Leadership, authenticity, and lessons learned from mentors

41:29 Relying on a spouse as a counselor in healthcare

45:58 Entrepreneurship, technology, and mental health

Links:

https://twitter.com/mjacobstein

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjacobstein/

https://www.jiminihealth.com/

nearhorizon.vc

Andreas Stavropoulos, a venture capitalist and entrepreneur, came to the United States from Greece at 18 and has been in the United States ever since. His big moves include marrying his high school sweetheart, arranging their lives around graduate school, medical school, business school, and moving to California. He is now 55-years-old and is excited about the third act of his life, where he can choose where to spend his time more than he used to.

A Career as a Venture Capitalist

Andreas started his career as a venture capitalist in 1999 and has been doing so for over two and a half years. He has stopped making new investments in this endeavor and is now spending most of his time back to nonprofit public service and helping his country. He is increasingly spending more time back in Greece. In the third act, Andreas is considering the empty nest and choosing where to spend his time. He is now in the third act phase, where he is stepping back from full-time work, focusing on what he chooses to do with his 20+ 25+ productive years. This involves stepping back from full-time work, reducing board load, and not chasing after new deals.

A View of the Business Landscape in Greece

Andreas talks about his decision to pursue public service in his third act. He gives a brief overview of the crisis Greece has experienced since the 1980s. The crisis was ushered in after a short, populist five-year phase of trying empty promises. However, in 2019, a new generation of moderate, business-friendly leaders emerged, inoculating voters against the empty promises of populism. Greece is now a leader in this regard, showing the rest of Europe how a post-populist society and governance model can look like. The generation of leaders in power is younger and more business friendly, making them an opportunity to help the country catch up with Western Europe. He is also working on a board of a private company that manages large privatization and public-private partnerships in Greece, such as airports, ports, and highways. Another area of focus is AI. He is on an advisory committee to the prime minister on topics related to artificial intelligence, and he talks about the influence of Greek diaspora.

On the Board of a Privatization Entity

Andreas discusses his experience on the board of an entity that manages privatization. The board includes seven independent members. The nominating committee has combined complementary skills, providing a sound foundation of skills in various areas. The finance side of the board includes working with portfolio companies to mature them for financing, going public, or getting sold. The board also oversees state assets that are not ready for deal-making, designing business plans and leveraging them to create something attractive to private investment while maintaining upside for the state. The board also involves working with bankers and consultants to do transactions, as well as fiduciary duties. They also work with assets to maximize value and develop eco-friendly tourism activities. The advantage of being on the board is learning about the country's large construction projects and local opportunities efficiently. Additionally, working with local players, such as large investors and consultants, allows the board to build a network that allows them to understand data and the players in a relatively small economy.

Managing and Motivating People

Andreas shares his insights on the business world and the way things work. He explains that talented people, particularly project managers, can be difficult to unleash due to non-meritocratic and bureaucratic processes. For example, Greece's promotion system was purely seniority-based, based on degrees and years of service. However, this approach has led to a loss of motivation for people to go above and beyond. Andreas has learned the importance of thinking about reward systems and what drives human motivation. He believes that humans are rational and evaluative maximizers, constantly processing inputs and making decisions.

Third Act Pursuits and Dharma as a Guiding Principle

Andreas discusses his personal portfolio, including his involvement in public service, sailing, and travel. The couple plans to focus on their children and professional responsibilities, with Andreas' wife aiming to maintain her FTE at Stanford. He and his wife have also been involved with education, serving as chair of the board and treasurer at their children's school. He is currently president of the Alumni Board for Harvard Business School and has recently joined the board of a nonprofit that provides policy recommendations for the diaspora of Greece.

Andreas believes that leaving professional firms is intentional and requires planning and commitment. He has had to tell his partners about entering a new phase, which involves changing their brand and deciding who will be in and who will not. Andreas discusses the concept of Dharma, which translates to roughly "destiny, duty, purpose." Meditation, a spiritual element that began about 567 years ago, helped him understand their essence and purpose in life. The COVID-19 pandemic forced him to reevaluate and rethink his beliefs. He suggests that the Dharma concept is not prescriptive, but rather a gradual, intentional approach to life. He suggests that by focusing on the essence of their goals and leaving a mark on the world, they can evolve in the right way.

Lessons Learned in Hiring Talent

Andreas shares his lessons in hiring people who are not just like him, but also have different backgrounds, approaches, and styles. He emphasizes that having diverse people around you can lead to better outcomes overall. The biggest lesson learned is to stop thinking about hiring people based on their appearance or experience. Instead, focus on having people with different backgrounds, approaches, and styles that work well together. It's not about being friends or building a nice place to work, but about creating fair and purposeful environments. Another important lesson learned is the importance of communication and truthfulness in venture capital. Building a reputation goes beyond single interactions, and it's never about a single moment. Instead, it's about building value over multiple years, and in many cases, those same founders or employees will go on to other companies. Instead of being transactional, it's crucial to be upfront about what you stand for and what you can help with. Being upfront and admitting that you don't know is difficult, but it's essential for long-term success.

Influential Courses and Professors at Harvard

Andreas discusses his courses and professors at Harvard that continue to resonate with him, whether it's professional or side interest. He highlights Justice with Michael J. Sandel as the most relevant course, and his computer science classes on algorithms have taught him the ability to think systematically and break down problems in a way that works for him. He plans to spend a chunk of his third act living in Greece, despite being away for nearly 35 years, and he believes that the culture, business outlook, and family connections are all factors that lead to better quality of life.

Timestamps:

02:56 Life phases and prioritizing personal choices in the third act

07:22 Greece's economic crisis and potential for growth

14:06 Board experience and diaspora contributions

19:07 Government work, talent, and motivation

25:10 Human behavior and personal interests

27:58 Personal growth and planning for a successful third act

33:44 Intentional exit from professional firm after 10+ years

39:31 Selecting and working with talented individuals in the venture capital industry

45:28 Retirement, quality of life, and family ties in Greece

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasstavropoulos/

Show Notes:

Shannon Frison joined the United States Marine Corps during her time in law school. She spent her second year at officer candidate school and became commissioned as an officer. After law school, she returned to Massachusetts, worked for a year at the TAs office, took the bar, and went on active duty with the Marine Corps. After serving at Marine Corps Air Station, New River, North Carolina, she worked for a litigation firm called Dwyer and Clora before opening a law firm. In 2009, she applied for the bench in Massachusetts and was appointed to the Boston Municipal Court. She then applied again to the Superior Court and was appointed to the Superior Court in 2013 where she stayed until 2024 when she retired from that position and reopened a law firm.

The Decision to Join the Marine Corps

Shannon was initially an athlete in college but later discovered the judge advocate program in the Marine Corps while taking a firefighters course. She found the Marine Corps offers a physical experience that is not sanitized or lighter training, and lawyers are considered line officers. They go through the full Marine Corps infantry officer training, which is the minimum required for being a judge advocate. Shannon shares her transformation from the Marine Corps to active duty service, stating that she was physically and mentally transformed. She learned about boundaries, limits, and how to lead people effectively. The training in the Marine Corps is designed to push individuals to their limits.

Training in the Marine Corps

One of the challenges she faced during her training was a 15-foot jump from a tower, which she struggled with for six months. Despite being encouraged by others, she struggled with this mental block and graduated late. This experience made her realize her weaknesses and strengths. She explains how she managed to overcome this mental block. Shannon's experience in the Marine Corps has had a significant impact on her personal growth and development. She has learned to appreciate her limitations and the challenges they present, and has been able to adapt and improve her skills throughout her time in the military. This experience has helped her become a better person and better equipped for her future roles in the Marine Corps. Shannon shares her experience of jumping off a helicopter after completing the swim qualification, which helped her overcome anxiety and mental anxiety. She also shares that her time in Harvard and the Marine Corps taught her that she would not always be the best at everything, as she met many outstanding individuals in those environments.

A Career on The Bench

Shannon talks about her time as a judge, where she applied to the Bench through an application process. The Massachusetts system of selecting judges mimics the federal system, but it is an application process. People may recommend applicants, and applicants must fill out a long, dramatic application that asks for every detail in their life and legal life. She explains the rigorous vetting process for applicants before they reach the governor's desk, where they meet with their lawyer for further vetting. Once the governor nominates them, Congress and the governor's counselors confirm their nomination to the bench. If they get their seat and commission on the bench, it is a lifetime position and they don't need to do it again unless they go to another court.

Explaining The Difference between Courts

Shannon discusses her experience working in the Boston Municipal Court and Superior Court, two different courts in Massachusetts. The Boston Municipal Court and district courts handle a variety of cases, including criminal, restraining orders, traffic tickets, and small claims matters. She states that all cases begin in these courts. The Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction, handling more serious matters such as rapes, robberies, and murders. Judges must do both civil and criminal trials, with each session lasting three months. Finally, Shannon discusses her experience as a judge from 2009 to almost 2020. She has gained more education about law and has learned about various areas of law. She is concerned about her own safety, as threats and assaults are more common in Massachusetts. The court system enforces safety measures for judges, but she has taken steps to keep her address out of the public eye.

The Role of Race Bias in the Criminal Justice System

Shannon emphasizes the importance of addressing racial disparities in sentencing. She believes that conversations about race should be solidly on the table all the time, especially in sentencing. She emphasizes that the goal of sentencing should be rehabilitation, deterrence, education, and other goals, rather than satisfying the prosecutor's office or victim's family.

She suggests that mandatory training on issues of bias would be beneficial, especially at the police level. She believes that more education is needed for officers to better understand the historical and consistent disparities in the criminal justice system. However, she acknowledges that people may become weary of discussing race, and it is difficult to keep it on the table.

Finally, she stresses that it is essential to continue pushing for change. She believes that people must believe in the existence of these disparities and work towards changing them. Shannon discusses the need for more training for police officers, specifically in areas such as bias training and soft skills. She suggests that there is a need for more education and training to better understand the psyche of these individuals.

A Speaking Career Focused on Law

Shannon mentions her speaking career, which includes engagements around trial advocacy, race and bias, and navigating legal careers. She enjoys speaking to law students, undergraduates, new lawyers, affinity law groups, and associations. She also speaks regularly for different Bar Associations in Massachusetts and continues legal education for lawyers. Shannon explains why she decided to retire from the bench because she believes that a job has a season in one's life, and she wants to be part of shaping and advocating for various aspects of society, policies, politics, and culture. She believes that 15 years of her professional life is enough, and it's time to move on and do other things, as everyone is in a lifecycle and should focus on what they aim to do while they are on the planet.

Influential Courses and Professors at Harvard

Shannon shares her experiences with professors at Harvard, including Martin Kilson, and J. Lorand Matory. Kilson was a government major who taught courses on city development, race, and ethnic groups. Matory, an anthropology professor, taught seminars on Afro Atlantic religions, which taught about non-Christian religions created during slavery. She believes these courses and information have stayed with her throughout her career.

Timestamps:

04:24 Career change and military training

14:17 Overcoming mental block in military swim qualification

19:47 Becoming a judge in Massachusetts

27:30 Judicial experience and safety concerns

31:48 Criminal justice system reform and addressing racial disparities

39:46 Police training and community relations

44:07 Judicial experience, identity, and advocacy

Links:

Website: www.frisonlawfirm.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shannonfrison

Website: https://touch.npaper-wehaa.com/baystatebanner/read/content?content_id=4209621

Show Notes:

Anastasia Fernands has been practicing law since graduating from NYU. She started practicing in Boston at Hutchins, Wheeler and Dittmar, which was the oldest continuously running firm in Boston at the time. Anastasia has since moved to New York and now practices at Quinn Emanuel. Anastasia's career primarily focuses on intellectual property litigation, particularly patent litigation since the mid to late 90s. At that time there were two schools of thought on patent litigation: technical people who understood technology and those who were litigators by trade. There was a shift for litigators who weren't necessarily experts in technology to be more involved in patent litigation.

The Initial Stages of Patent Litigation

Patent litigation starts after someone has received a patent from the patent office. If the patent owner thinks someone is infringing, they might reach out in a friendly business manner, send a cease and desist letter, or immediately file a complaint. Litigation begins when a complaint is filed, and sometimes even a motion for preliminary injunction is filed to try to enjoin the competitor from selling the accused infringing product. Depending on the jurisdiction, there are local patent rules in many jurisdictions. Once the complaint is filed, there is an answer, a scheduling conference, and, in jurisdictions that have patent rules, a number of specific deadlines. The preliminary phase involves exchanging information about how to interpret the patent, exchange documents, take depositions, and have expert discovery where experts give their opinions on infringement and invalidity, as well as other issues.

Statutory Damages Limitation and Prosecution Latches

In patent litigation, damages are limited by statute to only six years before filing of the complaint. Prosecution latches is based on delay in patent prosecution. If a party continues to file follow on applications with the patent office, prosecution latches could kick in, if they get new claims 10-12-15 years into prosecution. [AF1]

A Discussion on High-profile Litigation Cases

Anastasia talks about her involvement in Samsung versus Apple and Apple vs. Samsung. Her role was to be a member of the team in various trials and appeals, and she was on the team from the beginning of the case through trial for one of the Northern District of California litigations. Anastasia also shares her experiences in pharmaceutical and biologics cases, highlighting the challenges of patent law. She discusses Section 101, which determines whether a patent claims patent-eligible subject matter. Invalidity can occur due to the nature of the subject matter, such as if something is naturally occurring or a law of nature. The bargain between the patent office and patentee is that the patentee must advance the art to obtain exclusive rights for their invention. A patent must provide adequate written description and sufficient information for a skilled person to recreate it. Anastasia reflects on her understanding of the world and how it has changed over the years as a patent litigator.

Misconceptions about the Patent System

Anastasia discusses the misconceptions people have about the patent system, particularly regarding the concept of patentable ideas. She explains that just because an idea is great doesn't mean it meets all the requirements for statutory patentability. She discusses the difference between trademark, copyright, and patent, and the different types of intellectual property rights each covers. Anastasia cites the Supreme Court case of the Myriad, which revolved around a link between the BRCA gene and breast cancer. She also discusses the concept of section 101, which determines whether a subject matter is patentable. Section 101, concerning not patentable subject matter, has been a hot topic in law over the last 10-15 years. As advancements in science and the human genome continue to link specific genes to specific conditions, there is a tension between the remarkable advancements in identifying genes that correlate with specific conditions and the notion that a naturally occurring gene cannot be patented.

Patenting AI Generated Ideas

The conversation turns to the possibility of patenting an AI-generated idea using Chat via Chat GPT. They discuss the potential for a computer-assisted story to be copyrightable and the question of whether using technology to assist in idea formulation does not prevent patentability. They also discuss the possibility of independent AI agents submitting ideas to the patent office. Anastasia explains that patents currently have humans identified as inventors, and they discuss whether AI programs could also be considered as inventors.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Anastasia talks about why she chose to pursue a career in patent litigation and who influenced her decision. At Harvard, some of the courses that resonated with her include Shakespeare, The Early Plays, Eckehard Simon's Medieval Court, and Michelangelo, and the tutor for her Sophomore History Tutorial, Rachelle Friedman.

Timestamps:

03:49 Patent litigation stages and latches

08:59 Patent law and litigation involving smartphones and pharmaceuticals

13:55 Patent law and its applications

21:21 Patentability of natural gene discoveries and AI-assisted inventions

26:43 Patent law and AI inventorship

32:15 Harvard experiences

Links:

https://www.quinnemanuel.com/attorneys/fernands-anastasia-m/

After Brett Janis left Harvard, he worked as a journalist in Southeast Asia and later attended Georgetown University's Masters of Science and Foreign Service program, which introduced him to the International Affairs world. After a stint in Egypt, Brett joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1995, where he focused on economic issues related to the Southeast Asia crisis, including issues related to banks and financial markets. He left the CIA just before 9/11, which was a critical moment in his life. He went back to Asia and started a business which dealt with finances for family offices.

Brett returned to the US in 2005 and went to Columbia Business School, where he managed money for a family office with an international focus. Since then, he has been doing finance and consulting, working for PWC, McKinsey and the Treasury Department under Obama's second term. Brett joined the Financial Stability Council as a senior analyst during a time of financial system regulation. He also reconnected with Tim Geithner, who was one of his first principals at the CIA. Brett currently runs a private Wealth Management Practice called Strong Bridge Advisors, LLC, based in San Francisco.

Working at the CIA

Brett talks about his interactions with Tim Geithner and Larry Summers, two influential figures in the Treasury. Geithner was part of the committee at Treasury, which focused on social stability and risks that had not yet been faced and not just economics. The remit at that time was to understand the impact of a banking sector crisis on smaller Asian economies. Brett had his most critical briefing with Larry Summers in 1998, where he brought valuable insights from his deep knowledge of Southeast Asia and Thailand. He believes that the role of an advisor is to bring insightful information, listen to other views, and he states that a lot of the quality policy decisions are made through authentic dialogue and respect for different perspectives. Brett goes on to explain why he was comfortable with the processes and structure of the role at that time.

Working at McKinsey vs. CIA

As a former associate partner, Brett compares the approach of the CIA to McKinsey, both with a reputation for intense cultures and intellectual horsepower. While the CIA dealt with serious issues, such as life-threatening issues, national security and social stability issues, Brett believes that both prioritize risk-awareness. He mentions that people at the CIA have more seniority and dedication to the issues they are passionate about because their sense of public duty to the government is higher than for employees at McKinsey. In conclusion, Brett's experiences with the CIA and McKinsey highlight the importance of maintaining strong relationships and being creative in risk-taking and decision-making.

Setting Up an Investment Advisory Practice

Brett discusses his decision to set up an investment advisory practice after becoming a CFA. He began managing money and private capacity for family office clients at Columbia Business School, working with people who were friends and retired from different government agencies and services. He completed a value investing program at Columbia and brought this skillset to his company. Brett felt that larger institutions often didn't provide the same attention to clients as they needed, and industry pressures were often not in clients' best interests. His company, Strawbridge, cuts through this clutter and focuses on the investment process, serving the best interest of his clients. The practice provides skills in tech investment, good value investing, and understanding macroeconomics.

A View on Relationships

Relationships play a significant role in Brett's career. Many former friends and associates have become clients. He enjoys building relationships with people who have helped him or who he respects and has maintained relationships through personal changes, geographic changes, and stress situations.

Brett believes that relationships are more important than what people are doing in their lives, and that it doesn't have to be business relationships. Trust is essential for managing assets and staying in touch with clients. He also enjoys staying in touch with people who share similar experiences.

The Impact of the Ukrainian War

Brett discusses the impact of the war on his family and his Ukrainian wife. The war has been a massive refugee issue; many families have been torn apart, they have faced issues in bomb shelters, suffered daily harassment, and medical care has been impaired leading to deaths that could have been avoidable. He is a huge supporter of Ukraine and hopes that people in the US will take action to continue their support.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Brett shares his experiences at Harvard, His major is in English literature and he also pursued a visual arts course, where he took oil painting and continues to do, he also took Mandarin Chinese which helped him pick up Thai, some Cantonese, and even a little Russian. continued to write and explore various writing techniques. Brett also mentions learning Thai while living in Southeast Asia, where he was trained by the CIA to be like an Uber Thai speaker.

Timestamps:

05:15 CIA experience, problem-solving approaches, and McKinsey

12:06 Investment philosophy and business practice

16:03 Relationships, career, and personal life

22:17 Ukraine, language learning, and personal experiences at Harvard

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettjanis/

Company Website: StrongBridgeAdvisors.com

Show Notes:

Richard Primus initially had no idea what he wanted to do professionally after graduation, but eventually realized that he wanted to be a professor with interests in both law and political theory. He took HW Perry's constitutional interpretation class and decided to pursue graduate school and political theory before going to law school.

Richard decided to study political theory at Oxford with the idea of becoming a law professor. He found his studies there focused on the abstract nature of political theory at the time, which required abstract questions about justice, liberty, and government. Richard wanted to ask questions about Hobbes's ideas and how he saw the world he lived in and the system in which he was operating, but this didn't align with what his teachers at Oxford taught.

His time at Oxford made it clear that he belonged in America, and he was excited to return home and attend Yale Law School where he confirmed his decision to become a law professor.

His experience in England and Yale helped him understand the importance of being an American and the need for a diverse perspective on the world. He also learned about the challenges faced by students in law schools and the importance of a good professor in teaching.

Working in The Supreme Court

He spent four years in New Haven clerking for a federal judge and spent two years in Washington, DC, clerking for Justice Ginsburg at the US Supreme Court.

Richard discusses his frustration with the US Supreme Court and goes on to explain how a great law school teaches students. He also talks about his time as a clerk on the US Court of Appeals, and what he learned about processes and how cases are approached. He goes on to talk about his time at the US Supreme Court, which was more personality-driven and focused on technical cases. He found that these cases were satisfying because they weren't just about clashing ideologies. He later worked as a lawyer in DC before deciding to finally become a law professor. He was offered a position at the University of Michigan where he has taught for 23 years.

Behind the Scenes at The Supreme Court

Richard shares insights gained while working in The Supreme Court, which is often seen as the least lawful court in the federal system, which can distort our perception of courts and law. However, when functioning well, it has a different function: statesmanship rather than rule application, which is essential when dealing with difficult cases where ideologies play a role and there are no easy answers. It calls for the exercise of a different kind of judgment than is applied in other parts of the system. Trial judges must exercise judgment about witnesses' credibility, litigation progress, and governance, whereas Supreme Court Justices need to exercise judgment about governance and how it functions, and how it negotiates among the various aspects of the system that trade off against each other. A lot of this falls outside of the scope of rules that can be applied. Some justices may pretend this isn't the case, but this is not a realistic understanding of what the court does or could do. Richard goes on to explain what he has been unhappy with in a lot of the recent work and direction of the court. He also talks about the right vs. left components of involvement, and how the steady shift right by judicial doctrine in most areas was largely masked from the general public.

A View on Federal Judges

Richard talks about why people become federal judges. They are often smart, good attorneys who could make more money as private practice people. They take pay cuts, often from private practice. People become federal judges partly because they like the idea of public service, partly because the work is interesting, and partly because they like prestige and power. One of the hazards of the job is spending their working life with people who defer to you, which can lead to losing perspective. Some of the best federal judges create structural ways to prevent themselves from losing perspective.

Constitutional Expectations

Richard discusses his favorite essay, "Constitutional Expectations," which he wrote 15 years ago after a minor crisis in American constitutional history. The incident involved President Obama taking the inaugural oath, but he and Chief Justice John Roberts got their signals crossed, resulting in Obama saying all the words in the presidential oath out of order. The next day, they restaged the oath one on one with the Chief Justice. However, the second time through, they still didn't recite the oath exactly as it appears in the Constitution. This highlights the deep and important aspect of constitutional law, as it teaches us that people do not believe they have a constitutional obligation to adhere to the printed words in the text of the Constitution. Instead, it's society's deeply developed expectations about how the system is supposed to work. The essay "Constitutional Expectations," explores the difference between the big C constitution and the smaller C constitution. Richard offers a few examples of interpretations from the big C constitution to small c constitution and norms that have developed.

Richard's Book on The Constitution

Richard moves on to talk about his book that explores a central idea in constitutional law, which is that, state legislatures are legislatures of general jurisdiction, meaning they can make any law without affirmative prohibition from the federal government. However, Congress has a specific list of authorizations written into the Constitution called the enumerated powers of Congress. This understanding has been an orthodox part of American constitutional law since its inception.

Richard's book aims to show that many of the things we say about enumerated powers are not true, and that the system of federalism doesn't depend in any way on Congress. He believes that the text of the Constitution and the history of the Constitution do not fully explain the enumerated powers required by the Constitution. He goes on to explain the role of the Bill of Rights and the myths surrounding it, its function, and its place in history.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Richard shares his passion for teaching and the experiences he gained from his first year of college. He enjoyed taking various classes, including Greatest Hits, Sandell's justice class, Stephen Jay Gould Science B16. He also enjoyed Seymour Slive's Rembrandt class, and a European history class with Peter Baldwin. He mentions the Constitutional Interpretation class with W.H. Perry, and one of the teachers he appreciated was Judith Shklar in the Gov. department. Richard also mentioned his dual track in law school, where he learned from professors and implemented best practices in his own teaching. He learned from Carol Rose, a property professor, who taught the class critically, asking questions, and building conversate conversations with students. Richard learned the importance of communication, high expectations, and pushing students' success.

Timestamps:

05:11 Academic journey and approaches to political theory

09:30 Law school, clerkships, and judicial decision-making

15:01 The politicization of the Supreme Court and its unique workings

22:27 The role of judicial judgment in the Supreme Court

27:15 Why people become federal judges and research interests

31:19 Constitutional Expectations vs. Textual Interpretation

40:07 The origins of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights

46:36 Constitutional Interpretation and Historical Record

51:42 Teaching techniques and intellectual growth in law school

Links:

Website: https://michigan.law.umich.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/our-faculty/richard-primus

Show Notes:

After graduation, Chris Ball spent his summer working in Cambridge before returning to Columbus, Ohio, where he began graduate school in physics at The Ohio State University. He worked with Professor Frank DeLuca, a world-renowned researcher in microwave spectroscopy. Chris' research focused on the microwave absorption of sulfur dioxide and its relationship to NASA's Microwave Limb Sounder instrument.

Studying Interstellar Bands

During his time at OSU, Chris collaborated with Professor Patrick Thaddeus from the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who was looking to hire for a postdoc position. Chris moved back to Cambridge and worked in a lab in Somerville. He continued to do spectroscopy, but this time focused on long chains of carbon that don't occur naturally on Earth. These chains are unstable and are routinely observed in radio telescopes and optical telescopes. Chris and Thaddeus attempted to study the diffuse interstellar bands, which were optical features observed in telescope measurements that had never been explained over many years. They used laser spectroscopy to measure these bands and try to determine if any exotic carbon chains were responsible for them. Unfortunately, none of the exotic carbon chains were found, but the experience was rewarding.

The Intersection of Science and Engineering

After their first child was born, Chris and his family decided to move back to Columbus, Ohio, where he was offered a position at Battelle where his career began to focus on the intersection of science and engineering, specifically on developing sensor technologies and communications technologies. He worked on defense and security applications, such as detecting chemical and biological weapons, explosives, and narcotics. He also worked on pollution monitoring systems and handheld sensor technologies. Around 2015, Chris became disenchanted with Batel's strategic direction and started looking for alternatives. He found a similar job at Ohio State University's ElectroScience Laboratory, which focused on radar and communication systems. He left Batel, which coincided with his marriage falling apart. He moved offices, moved to an apartment, and started a consulting business.

Working on the CubeSat Satellite at NASA

Chris continued to focus on sensor and communication systems development. He was involved in a NASA program that built a CubeSat satellite, which was launched in 2018 from Wallops Island, Virginia, on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. The satellite went into orbit in July 2018. Chris discusses his exciting work in space, including developing sensors to detect toxic gasses and developing handheld infrared sensors for food and agricultural products. He is also working on an x-ray communication system, which uses X-rays as a carrier for wireless communications in space. In parallel with his work, he has a consulting company and has also discovered the joy of improv comedy, which he has been practicing for several months and now is part of an improv group called The Bunsen Burnouts.

Interstellar Clouds and Molecules

The discussion turns to interstellar clouds, and Chris explains what they are. There are many fundamental studies about the dynamics of molecules inside interstellar clouds and how they exist and might turn into stars in some regions. He also touches on the rotation of molecules, which is a fundamental discovery of quantum mechanics, and explains that, the transitions between rotational states in molecules are typically in the infrared part of the spectrum, while electronic transitions occur in the visible and ultraviolet part. However, molecules can also have bound atoms rotating, with quantized angular momentum and transitions corresponding to microwave frequencies.

X ray Communications Research

Chris talks about one of the projects he is proud of, X rays and the concept of wireless communications, which involve modulating a carrier frequency to transmit information. He explains that the idea of using X rays as a carrier and modulating them in some way came from discussions with NASA. NASA had a problem communicating with spacecraft during blackout periods when they enter the Earth's atmosphere. They developed a small X ray source that can be switched on and off quickly, allowing for about a gigahertz of bandwidth. This is better than current spaceborne optical systems, which can only transmit about a gigabyte of information per second. The team licensed this technology from NASA and applied its principles to X rays. X rays have significantly smaller wavelengths than optical systems, so they can propagate them much farther than optical systems. This could be advantageous for high data rate systems that can talk to Mars, as it would allow for interplanetary communication. Chris goes on to explain their process of research, feasibility of concepts, and demonstrating applicability.

Detecting Drugs and Toxic Chemicals

Chris has developed detectors for detecting drugs and toxic chemicals at extremely low concentrations and explains how these work. These detectors use microwave spectroscopy principles to measure gasses like formaldehyde in a low-pressure environment. The spectroscopic lines, which are sharp Gaussian distributions, are used to distinguish different gasses from each other and uniquely identify them. They achieve high sensitivity by making the lines taller and larger, and can be used in multipass configurations where the microwave beam passes through multiple times. This allows you to discriminate different gasses from each other and uniquely identify them like a fingerprint.

Chris talks about a collaboration with his PhD advisor at Ohio State that led to the development of a mission adaptable chemical sensor funded by the Department of Defense. This sensor sucked in air and measured hundreds of different chemicals apart in a relatively short time. However, the technology is expensive due to the millimeter wave frequencies used in the microwave part of the system. The best available technologies cost around $60,000 for a transmitter and $50,000 for a receiver. This means that a $100,000 instrument is needed to buy the transmitter and receiver, along with all the electronics and pumps.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Chris discusses their experiences at Harvard, focusing on the core curriculum courses and expository writing as the most valuable course he took. His advisor encouraged him to write a NASA fellowship proposal, which was well-written due to their expository writing skills. This experience has made him more valuable in various jobs, including red team reviews and proposal reviews for NASA and other funding agencies.

He also shares their experiences with math 22 and physics courses, and he mentions working at the high energy physics lab during their junior year and senior year, which was a valuable experience as they helped build a prototype muon detector system and perform measurements.

Chris took advantage of opportunities to get involved with research while at Harvard, working at the high energy physics lab during the summer before his junior year and after his senior year. This experience allowed him to learn a lot about the science of expository writing and how to write effectively in academic settings.

Timestamps:

01:03 Career path after Harvard graduation with a focus on physics research

06:04 Career progression from postdoc to industry to academia

10:39 Career changes, space research, and improv comedy

18:58 Interstellar clouds and molecular rotation

22:57 Wireless communication technologies and innovations

27:02 Using X-rays for high-speed communication in space

33:39 Developing infrared detectors for space applications with a focus on sensitivity and accuracy

39:16 Chemical sensing technology and its applications

45:36 Writing tips and research experiences at Harvard

Links:

ElectroScience Laboratory: https://electroscience.osu.edu/

Page at OSU: https://electroscience.osu.edu/people/ball.51

Email address: ballc92@gmail.com

Show Notes:

Tom Hughes initially planned to pursue an MD, PhD, and work on multiple sclerosis, but decided against it due to his poor chemistry skills. Instead, he focused on being an English professor, inspired by his father, who had been an English professor.

During his senior year, his brother joined him and encouraged him to pursue his passion for acting. Tom auditioned for two of his favorite plays, The Lion in Winter and The Foreigner, and was cast in both of them. This was a rare moment in life where everything fell in his direction, and he was cast in all of the shows he auditioned for.

He then decided to focus on his English major and thesis work.

Tom recounts his journey from being a singer in The Pudding to auditioning for a production of Dangerous Liaisons. He was inspired by his love for theater and the Utah Shakespeare Festival, which he had attended every year with his family. After graduation, he moved to New York and started working off Broadway. He auditioned for Harvard's ART Institute and moved back to Cambridge. In between these years, he met a woman, got engaged and married. They moved back to New York, and Tom continued auditioning and getting small film gigs. He went back to Columbia for a master's degree in organizational organizational psychology, which eventually led to a position at Booz Allen consulting firm. Tom moved on and worked for Duke corporate education for seven years before moving to the Carlsbad California office. They stayed there for another three years before being laid off during a downsizing. This led to establishing his own business, he partnered with another friend and colleague to form a small consulting firm, and this is their 11th year working for themselves.

A Conversation about a Theatrical Background

Tom discusses his avocation in the theater, mentioning his father's audiobook recording as a fun outlet. He directed one show and a radio show version of It's a Wonderful Life, but he found this was not for him and decided to stay with acting. Tom's wife is actively involved with the theater, and Tom talks about how she worked on a show during COVID-19 restrictions; this led to a part for Tom which led to directing a radio show.

Tom finds the theater experience enjoyable and has worked with amazing people and talented people in the community. He believes that the experience should be about the show rather than the social aspect.

Community Theater vs. Professional Theater

Tom talks about the difference between community theater and professional theater which are two distinct aspects of the arts. Community theater is about the community, where friends perform for the benefit of the community, rather than aiming to become Hollywood stars. Professional theaters are more prepared, have worked before, and have more rehearsal time. They come with a different tool set, such as singers, actors, and professionals who know their craft. In community theaters, people often don't even write down their blocking notes, which can be frustrating for those who don't have the time to practice. Professional theaters have a dedicated team, preparing and working on their craft, and have more time for rehearsal. They also have a better tool set, such as experts in their craft.

Mental Models and Acting

Tom discusses his mental models and how his way of thinking changed from a junior in college to pursuing theater professionally. He shares two key lessons: the importance of listening and being present for others, which is crucial for success in the industry. He shares a conversation with a colleague about a famous breakup in Hollywood and how it can be difficult to stay faithful without falling in love when playing an intensely romantic role with an attractive actor.

He also shares a lesson from a classmate, Glenn Kessler, who taught him that no way of working is always right. There is no style, approach, or version of oneself that will be right everywhere. Being a professional means doing what the job calls for, and it is freeing to feel like an asset and get rewarded for it.

Acting Coach and Consultant

Tom talks about his work as an acting coach and developing listening skills. In group settings, such as meetings, online learning, and virtual meetings, listening is crucial for effective communication. However, many people are not paying attention to others, leading to unsatisfying experiences and hindering learning. In coaching, listening and reflecting are essential for helping individuals think through their thoughts. Practicing listening and turning off the "I'm planning my response mechanism" can help create a more authentic and engaging interaction with the audience. By practicing and hearing people, one can create a more authentic and memorable experience for both the actor and the audience.

Tom started his consulting practice with a partner, Jared Blake, a Harvard EDD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and Blake started working independently, but later reconnected and decided to work together. They formed an entity and started marketing together, serving well-known brands like Nike. They both teach for various schools, including corporate education and the Texas A&M Executive Education program. They also provide individual coaching and advisory work on leadership development and coaching for clients.

Influential Courses and Professors at Harvard

Tom shares his experiences with courses and professors that have shaped his life. He mentions his experience in an organic chemistry course, where he was told that it probably wasn't for him. He also took a class from Joe Harris on Norse mythology. He was also accepted into a graduate seminar with Barbara Lewalski, who was a brilliant and challenging professor. Tom also talks about his experience working in law as an undergraduate, and why he decided this path was not for him after working on a murder case.

Timestamps:

02:31 Acting career and personal life

09:49 Career transitions and theater involvement

15:29 Professional vs. community theater experiences

21:04 Acting techniques and personal growth

26:32 Active listening and its importance in professional settings

31:45 Career transition and leadership development with a Harvard MBA

35:45 Academic experiences and career choices

41:28 Legal system, theater, and personal experiences

Links:

Website: www.appianleadership.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-hughes-5955a7/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appian_leadership/

Utah Shakespeare Festival: https://www.bard.org/

Show Notes:

Candy Gunther Brown, professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University and co-founder of the Global Medical Research Institute, discusses empirical research on prayer for healing, her own miracle story, and yoga in public schools. Candy has held her current position since 2006. She has been studying mostly Christianity in the United States and globally since 2006, however, her specific focus on healing practices has led to including world religions in her studies. She initially focused on the history of Christianity, but later realized that much of the growth of Christianity was in areas of Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity, where people pray for God to heal them when they are sick. This led her to explore questions about modern medicine's effects on praying for healing, particularly in contemporary practices.

Clinical Studies on the Healing Effects of Prayer

Candy has conducted field work in Mozambique and Brazil, working with medical doctors and researchers to develop clinical studies on the effects of prayer, and has published significant findings in peer reviewed medical journals. Dialogue with patients led Candy to explore the world of complementary and alternative medicine, which has become more mainstream medically than some of the prayer practices. Her research has taken on different emphases over the years, including being an expert witness in court cases over yoga in public education. One of the best courses she took at Harvard was constitutional law, which helped her consider constitutional issues involved with yoga and meditation in public schools from a legal perspective.

A Personal Experience with Healing through Prayer

Candy's personal journey also led to new academic and personal questions, as she met someone she met while at Harvard during graduate school and had new experiences that opened up new academic and personal questions. The Global Medical Research Institute (GMRI) was founded by Carol and her husband Josh, a brain scientist at Washington University in St. Louis. After Josh's untreatable terminal brain tumor was diagnosed, they began investigating the power of prayer for healing. They found that prayer can lead to significant improvements in various aspects of life, including hearing, vision, and emotional well-being. When Josh recovered, they decided this was an area that should be studied more consistently and in more depth, so they founded the GMRI.

Healing through Prayer and the Placebo Effect

Candy discusses the comparison of healing through prayer and the placebo effect, which is limited in its impact; it often sees a reduction in pain but does not provide significant changes in organic conditions. She shares the results of studies on healing through prayer, and how proximal intercessory prayer, or proximal intercession, has been shown to result in substantial improvements. For example, a subject in Mozambique was able to read fine print on an eye chart after five minutes of prayer. This is a much larger improvement than most placebo effects or related mind-body effects. Scientific research shows that people are convinced that they are healed through prayer to such a degree that it has been a major factor in the growth of Pentecostal and charismatic Christian movements worldwide. This belief has been a major factor in the growth of these movements, with approximately 635 million Pentecostals and charismatics globally, and around 2.4 billion Christians.

Research on Intercessory Prayer

Candy talks about research that took place in Mozambique where they were conducting studies on distant intercessory prayer. She discusses the difficulties they encountered and surprising results when conducting studies with people from different branches of christianity. In one study, researchers prospectively recruited every individual who was brought up in communities with little technological connection. They tested them with equipment and recorded all results before and after prayer, regardless of whether they reported improvements or not. The effect had to be large enough and common enough to find an actual statistical difference. The study found statistically significant improvements in those who received prayer. Cindy goes on to explain that prayer is a growing force in areas with limited access to medical care and basic necessities. She mentions research that was conducted in collaboration with 17 other scholars in Pentecostal movements worldwide. The findings suggest that healing and deliverance practices are the driving growth edge for these movements, as people in need of medical care and food security often lack the resources and support they typically receive. This finding underscores the importance of further research in this area.

A Personal View on Proximal Prayer Healing

Candy discusses the impact of proximal prayer on healing. She has been researching this topic for 20 years and has come across cases of fraud and falsification, however, she believes that these cases are less common than people think. She also mentions cases where people believe they got healed through prayer but also have other factors that caused them to recover, such as self-limiting conditions or mobility issues. She allows people to evaluate the data from the studies for themselves and acknowledges that some cases are hard to come up with a medical explanation for what took place, and she shares a few stories of healing, including a blind woman whose sight was restored. One studies she cites states that 73% of U.S. doctors believed that miracle healing had taken place.

Alternative Medical Practices and Constitutional Implications

One of Candy's research projects focused on alternative medical practices and constitutional implications. She was asked to evaluate the legal challenge over yoga in a public school district in San Diego, California. The yoga program was promoted by a Hindu guru who believed yoga was becoming one with God. However, parents, including Christian, Hindu, and atheist parents, were concerned about the teachings and wanted a secular education for their children. Candy's book explores the global cross fertilization of yoga programs, from India to the United States. Candy shares results from various studies on yoga or mindfulness practices.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Candy shares her fond memories of her time as a professor, including being invited to a professor's house for dinner, attending a core curriculum class, and working with Owen Gingrich, a professor with a Mennonite background. These personal connections have been significant in her career, as she has been invited to his house for dinner parties and conducted research for him while traveling in the Philippines. Other memorable experiences include studying Latin 3, listening to Marjorie Garber's Shakespeare lessons, learning about Michelangelo, and writing a senior thesis. She also had significant experiences through Phillips Brooks House, particularly working with the refugee youth summer enrichment program (RISE) and the Harvard Radcliffe Christian fellowship.

Timestamps:

05:19 The power of prayer in healing with a neuroscientist and religion professor

10:44 The effectiveness of prayer for healing

16:07 Clinical trials and prayer with a focus on ecological validity

23:26 Healing and spiritual practices in Pentecostal movements

28:10 Healing and divine intervention through prayer

32:08 Yoga in public schools and belief in miracles

36:56 Secularization of yoga programs and their impact on mental health

Links:

Website: https://www.globalmri.org/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Debating-Yoga-Mindfulness-Public-Schools/dp/1469648482

Article: huffingtonpost.com/candy-gunther-brown-phd

Article: psychologytoday.com/blog/testing-prayer

CONTACT

University: https://religiousstudies.indiana.edu/about/faculty/brown-candy.html

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-gunther-brown-a28a3232/

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In this episode of The 92 Report, Peter Kang attended medical school in Philadelphia where he had a wonderful experience at the University of Pennsylvania, learning about different fields and cultures, and making friends. One pivotal moment in medical school was during a physician patient relationship course led by a thoughtful psychiatrist who reminded him that it's a routine experience for the doctors, but it could be one of the most pivotal moments in the patient's life, and they can remember everything about their encounters, which has been helpful to him throughout his career.

A Career in Pediatric Neurology

Peter chose pediatric neurology as his field of study, completing most of his training in Philadelphia and New Haven. He spent over a decade in Boston, where he gained valuable exposure to both the Boston area and New England. His mentorship from a well-known geneticist, Luke Konkel, helped fill a crucial gap in his career as a physician scientist. This experience gave him a strong background in genetics and has been useful to him up to this day.

Peter's research interests include rare diseases. In his clinic work, he deals with these patients daily, as they might be one of only a few dozen people in the United States with that particular diagnosis. The challenge is finding enough patients to prove that a treatment works or an idea about the disease is valid. Peter also runs a research laboratory and spends much of his time supervising the lab. However, he finds it both interesting and useful to be able to connect his work in the lab with his work in the clinic.

Genomics Research and Genetic Diseases

Peter discusses his experience running a research lab and how it has evolved over the years. He started his independent research laboratory in Boston and later moved to Florida in 2013. He learned about running a lab from his mentor, which involved a lot of subtleties and was a lot like running a small business in terms of financing, grant applications, and hiring and managing personnel etc. The lab's focus is on genomics research, which helps identify patients with genetic diseases that don't have clear diagnoses. He explains some of the difficulties they run into and how they approach mystery diagnosis.Peter is currently a professor at the University of Minnesota, where his lab is based. He moved to Minnesota during the COVID pandemic. He and his wife were initially excited about moving to Minnesota.The move was motivated by the opportunity to work with a renowned muscular dystrophy center at the University of Minnesota, which had a unique focus on the condition.

Finding Solutions to Mystery Diagnosis

Peter's lab has been working on finding solutions to mystery diagnosis in genetic testing, which has been a focus for over a decade. He believes that genetic testing can help solve these mysteries and is working towards a more accurate understanding of genetic diseases. Peter discusses the challenges of treating rare neurological diseases, particularly in children. He highlights two types of diseases that have been challenging to diagnose and treat: muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy. Muscular dystrophy is a childhood disease, with milder forms starting in adulthood. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a well-known example, with patients often experiencing difficulty walking and falling as they grow older. Genetic testing has become more effective in diagnosing these diseases, but there are still shortened life expectancies and increased dependence on others for activities. Spinal muscular atrophy is another type of disease that is not technically classified as muscular dystrophy but is also seen in neuromuscular specialists. The most severe form of this disease was typically fatal by the age of two years due to motor neuron loss in the spinal cord. However, in 2016, the first FDA treatment for spinal muscular atrophy was approved, which has helped children to walk normally and avoid ventilators.

Screening Programs and Metabolic Disorders

Peter talks about the newborn screening programs that have been around for several decades, with each state offering slightly different panels of tests. The original screening tests focused on metabolic disorders, which could be treated by eliminating certain nutrients from the baby's diet. Newborn screening has evolved to include spinal muscular atrophy and genetically based tests. Some metabolic disorder diseases have been cured now, with some being cured through diet changes and new therapies being developed. However, Peter highlights the fact that the exact cure depends on how the word "cure" is applied, which is a topic of discussion among inpatient communities. Overall, he emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment for rare neurological diseases to improve outcomes and overall health.

Peter discusses his experiences dealing with pediatric patients and how he is constantly developing his interaction skills. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the patient's perspective and avoiding taking sides. He also shares his experience of dealing with multiple people in the room, including parents and spouses, and how to navigate these conversations effectively.

Challenges in Pediatric Medicine

One challenge in pediatric medicine is dealing with multiple people, and sometimes there may be a difference of opinion between the child and their parent. To address this, he suggests documenting both sides of the medical record and discussing the perspectives of both parties. When discussing a child with muscular dystrophy, he advises communicating the diagnosis to the parents and the child, considering their age and preferences. He also advises being candid about the prognosis and focusing on the positives. He does not spontaneously discuss life expectancy during clinic visits due to its unpredictable nature and the hope that new therapies will come online for these patients.

Advances in Biotechnology

Peter talks about advancements in biotechnology. In the past few years, there has been an inflection point in biotech with advancements like RNAi, Moderna, and other technologies. There is an incredible array of technologies available that were not available in the past, such as small molecules, gene therapies, stem cells, and proteins. The interaction between academia and the biotech industry has become more collaborative, and there is a better understanding that they are working towards the same goals. Peter states that, in the future, there will be more genetic or molecular solutions specific to certain targets for treating both rare and common diseases. This specificity will continue to grow, and there will be ways to accelerate the pace of developing tailored treatments.

Harvard Courses and Professors on Influence

Peter mentions two gratifying courses that still resonate with him today. One was Philosophy 168, taught by John Rawls, which helped him understand Kant's ethical theory and how to see things from a different perspective. Another course was Expository Writing 52, taught by Richard Marius, who showed him how powerful writing could be and how words can influence people's behavior. Peter believes these courses have helped him develop confidence in his writing abilities and have prepared him for the challenges of personalized medicine in the coming decades. He is looking forward to the developments in the biotech sector and the potential for personalized medicine to become more of a reality. He recalls a conversation with Richard Marius, who encouraged him to bring the story to life and that it's okay to write about one's family. He also discusses how his education as a philosopher major has helped him with thinking and analysis, and achieving clarity around a particular issue or ethical dilemma. He uses this knowledge to resolve complex issues and helps patients make informed decisions about therapy options.

On a global scale, Peter addresses the resource allocation for Rare Disease Research, which is a thorny problem due to limited resources. He believes that it's crucial to not let individuals with rare diseases be left behind, as they often feel isolated and struggle to find others who understand their condition.

Timestamps:

04:20 Rare disease research and clinical practice

08:52 Running a research lab, genomics research, and mystery diagnoses

14:03 Muscular dystrophy diagnosis and treatment

20:00 Treating and curing neuromuscular diseases in children

28:26 Communicating with children about serious illnesses

32:57 Rare disease diagnosis and potential treatments

38:13 Personalized medicine, gene editing, and philosophy

43:00 Writing skills, ethical dilemmas, and rare diseases

CONTACT:

https://med.umn.edu/bio/peter-b-kang

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbkang

pbkang@post.harvard.edu

Genève Allison, an attending physician in infectious diseases, shares her journey since graduating from Harvard. She took a leave of absence from work in 2023, which was not something she would have predicted but turned out to be one of the best things she's done. Her journey began with working in a research lab and meeting physicians, leading her to pursue medicine as a career. She went to the University of Massachusetts Medical School and completed a residency in infectious diseases before returning to Boston to pursue infectious diseases at Tufts.

Methods of Recovering from Burnout

During the pandemic, Genève experienced burnout and emotional exhaustion. She sought support from her primary care doctor, who helped her get a medical leave for three months. This allowed her to heal from the trauma and work on toxic habits that can lead to burnout. She believes that we don't talk enough about taking care of ourselves in society, and she wants to share her experience on the 92 Report to inspire others to reach out for help.

Genève's leave of absence was a time for her to try everything, including therapy, journaling, and writing exposure therapy. She used specific therapy notebooks to process traumatic events and write about them in detail, which helped her dissipate the stress and improve her mental health. She also participated in a pottery class, which was enjoyable and allowed her to get out of her perfectionistic stressful mindset. Genève talks about the fundamental need to make things with our hands, such as building a shed, baking, knitting, gardening, and pottery. During the pandemic, baking became a major concern, and people talked about sourdough as a solution. The conversation also touches on the importance of taking time off from work to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as playing the flute or attending therapy sessions.

A Physician's Personal Experiences during the Pandemic

The conversation shifts to her personal experiences during the pandemic. She felt scared that she didn't care enough to be a doctor, which led her to take time off. However, she found that her caring barometer was off, and she realized that she had to care for patients and their well-being. She talks about experience as an infectious disease specialist during the pandemic. She describes the surreal and bizarre situation of being the only person on her train to go to work, especially in the pediatrics where the inpatient pediatrics floor was converted into an adult Intensive Care Unit due to the need for ventilators. Genève shares her experiences with fighting with elderly chaplains who would enter patients rooms with COVID, despite not having vaccines yet. The suffering experienced by patients dying of COVID was beyond what the physician was prepared for. Patients were not allowed to have families present at their bedside, and nurses were at their bedside when they were dying. This was unimaginably painful for both the patient and their family. The emotional labor that comes with being present at a loved one's death is also difficult to witness.

Factors Leading to Burnout

Genève explains that a mix of things led to her burnout, including perfectionism, type A behaviors, and restlessness. The pandemic magnified these issues, as the work was never going to be done, and recommendations were constantly changing. She realized that she needed to take care of herself and figure out fixed beliefs that she couldn't prioritize. This led to therapy and the realization that she needed to prioritize herself over her work. She discusses how her approach to work has changed over the years. She now takes secondary prevention, such as avoiding smoking, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. She now focuses on self-care and taking care of her mental health, which has helped her avoid burnout in the future. Genève uses an analogy of a heart attack, where people talk about secondary prevention because they don't want another heart attack.

Healing from Burnout

Genève talks about her skepticism about their energetic capacity and their decision to say no more often. She mentions that she has said no to various activities, such as being part of a research committee or helping a research group. She also mentions that being tired is not a character flaw but a human emotion. She talks about acupuncture and that some studies suggest it has no scientific impact, but the placebo effect may play a role. She acknowledges that there is a lot of literature on the meridians used in acupuncture and the physiological correlates of these effects. During her training in California, she became best friends with a physician who had trained in both allopathic medicine and acupuncture and herbs. They worked together on a residency and have since worked with a group where she does acupuncture for patients undergoing chemotherapy to alleviate side effects. Her motivation for doing acupuncture was due to physical symptoms of burnout, such as migraines, dizziness, and neck pain from stress. She experienced an immediate improvement in their well-being after receiving needles in their legs, which she continues to maintain.

The Field of Infectious Disease

Genève talks about why she was interested in the Infectious disease field. She mentions that it is a fascinating field that involves solving puzzles and figuring things out when others cannot. It's a satisfying field where doctors can make diagnoses, create treatment plans, and see people get better.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Genève shares her experiences with mentorship and support from Carl Liam, a professor of biology and an IQ theologist. His mentorship and belief in him made a huge difference during their sophomore year, helping her become better mentors and learn that stumbles are normal parts of life. She emphasizes the importance of seeking help for medical professionals, as many doctors commit suicide every day due to fear of losing their licenses.

Links:

https://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/PhysicianDirectory/Geneve-Allison.aspx

https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score

https://www.medscape.com/sites/public/lifestyle/2023

https://shop.therapynotebooks.com/products/after-trauma-notebook?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm66pBhDQARIsALIR2zAqJRHjPOAmEqoK44NVYKpdCGYch0GbFgWxQiLrq-yB5UVcRQHaGDkaAgepEALw_wcB&tw_adid=599080069633&tw_campaign=16508759695&tw_source=google

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_and_Medical_Leave_Act_of_1993

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22641-emdr-therapy

https://www.acgme.org/globalassets/PDFs/ten-facts-about-physician-suicide.pdf

https://drlornabreen.org/

https://iwgdfguidelines.org/allison/