PODCAST · education
High School Pathfinder: For the Future You
by Ayana Mehta
Welcome to High School Pathfinder: For the Future You! I’m your host, Ayana Mehta- a high school student who, just like you, is figuring out what comes next. I started this podcast to make one thing easier for high school students: finding your path before you’re forced to choose it. Each week, I talk with people who are truly great at what they do and ask them how they got to where they are today. This includes everything from doctors, designers, biotech investors, engineers, and more! These aren’t just highlight reels or ”follow your dream” speeches. They are honest conversations about doubt, discovery, and decision-making. But this podcast isn’t just about job titles. It’s about the skills that help you succeed in ANY path: resilience, confidence, focus, and leadership. You’ll also hear from mentors and young professionals who’ve mastered the mindsets we rarely learn in school but absolutely need. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed when someone asks, ”So what do you want to do in t
Episodes
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Breaking Into Wall Street: D1 Sports to Morgan Stanley VP with Kaitlyn Shanahan
How do you go from playing Division I college sports to becoming a Vice President on Wall Street? In this episode of High School Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Kaitlyn Shanahan, a Vice President on the Delta One Structured Products Desk at Morgan Stanley and former Hofstra...
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From Cyber Intelligence to Reality TV: The Power of Pivoting with Umeko Peterson
What happens when you skip the traditional college route at 18, join the U.S. Navy, and end up working in cyber intelligence before competing on national television? In this episode, I sit down with Umeko Peterson, who is a former U.S. Navy Operational and Cyber Intelligence Analyst and…
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From Psychology to Entertainment: Building a Unique Path with Dr. Albert Bramante
In this episode of High-School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I talk with Dr. Albert Bramante, a veteran entertainment talent agent, entrepreneur, and psychology professor, about navigating a completely unique and non-linear career path. With over two decades of experience securing major roles…
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Beyond Good Grades: How to Build a Career You Love with Mike Wysocki
Are you terrified of picking a career path just for the money, only to end up stuck in a job that completely drains you? In this episode of High-School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I sit down with Mike Wysocki, who is a speaker, veteran of the tech sales industry, and the award-winning author…
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The Educator's Lens: College Apps, Advice, and Habits with Reena Bhasin
What are families actually getting wrong about the college admissions process? In this episode of High School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I talk with Reena Bhasin, a veteran high school teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience. As both an AP teacher and a parent who has been through...
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A Step Ahead: Navigating Research, Athletics, and Medicine with Rohan Bhasin
It’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to have everything figured out in high school, but most people don’t. In this episode, I talk to Rohan Bhasin, who was in that exact position not too long ago and is now on the pre-med path after graduating from Cornell. We get into what that journey…
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The Side of Tech No One Talks About with Matthew Fein
Most students think of tech careers as working at big companies, but there’s an entire side of the field focused on solving real-world problems within government systems. In this episode, I talk with Matthew Fein, a data scientist at Booz Allen, to break down what it actually means to work on...
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The Hidden Side of Healthcare: Insurance Coordination with Rachael Anzalone
Most people think of doctors and nurses when they imagine working in healthcare, but there are many important roles behind the scenes that help the system run. In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Rachael Anzalone, an Insurance Coordinator at Jain...
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From Data to Decisions: Suchi Shahani on Bridging Code and Business
When most people hear “data science,” they think of coding and algorithms. But there’s an entire side of this field that connects directly to business strategy and major decisions. In this episode, I sit down with Suchi Shahani, a Data Scientist at Arrow Electronics, to talk about how she uses…
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From Psychology to Recruiting: Rachel K. on Career Growth, MBAs, and Hiring
Most of us spend so much time thinking about college and how to get hired, but we rarely hear from the people actually doing the hiring. In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Koletski, a recruiter at McMaster-Carr, and this conversation was packed with honest, practical insight. She breaks down...
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Beyond the Braces: Inside Orthodontics with Dr. Payal Jain
In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Dr. Payal Jain, an orthodontist with over 15 years of experience, to break down what this field is actually like behind the scenes. From choosing a career that involves looking into people’s mouths all day to…
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Turning High School Ambitions into a Harvard Future with Sirja Joeever
In this milestone 20th episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana talks with Sirja Joeever, a Harvard freshman studying math and statistics, about navigating high school while exploring diverse passions. From competitive math and orchestra to founding Women on Wall Street,...
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Dr. Sibel Yalcin: The Physicist Bringing Science Into Focus
In this episode, Ayana talks with Dr. Sibel Ebru Yalcin, a biochemical physicist at Yale who works on one of the most interesting parts of science, which is building the microscopes and imaging systems that allow researchers to "see the invisible." From Turkey to Los Alamos to Yale, Dr. Yalcin…
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Dr. Jasmeet Khurana: Exploring the World of Dentistry
When most people think about dentists, they picture routine checkups or fixing cavities, but there’s so much more to the profession. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jasmeet Khurana of Hudson Family Dental to talk about what really goes into building a career in dentistry. She shares her...
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Turning Big Ideas into Real Companies with Vinny Minhas
What does it really take to turn a startup idea into something big? In this episode, Ayana sits down with Vinny Minhas, a growth and strategy leader who has helped multiple tech startups scale successfully find their edge, scale up, and thrive in competitive markets. They dive into how great...
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At the Heart of It All: Dr. Maithili Shenoy’s Journey in Cardiology
In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana talks with Dr. Maithili Shenoy, a non-invasive cardiologist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From studying medicine in Mumbai to practicing across the U.S., Dr. Shenoy shares her incredible journey through the world of…
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Beyond the Surface: Dr. Gauri Panse on Discovering Dermatopathology
Most of us have heard of dermatology, but what about dermatopathology? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Gauri Panse, a dermatopathologist and an Associate Professor at Yale, about what it’s really like to study diseases of the skin under a microscope. Dr. Panse shares how she discovered this…
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Coaching Companies to Success with Anuj Shahani
In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, I’m joined by Anuj Shahani, who is a strategist who works behind the scenes with some of the world’s largest financial brands helping them grow, adapt, and lead in a fast-changing world. We dive into what it means to be a “coach” in...
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Shagun Gupta: Where Math Meets Biology
What happens when you mix math, biology, and a curiosity about why we age? In this episode, I talk with Shagun Gupta, a Data Scientist at Calico Life Sciences, a biotech company studying the biology behind aging and age-related diseases. Shagun shares how she discovered her niche at the…
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Turning Passion into Purpose with Tanya Slehria (@tanya_tastes)
Social media isn’t just about trends...it’s about finding your voice. In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, I talk with Tanya Slehria, better known as @tanya_tastes, a microinfluencer who’s turned her love for food and creativity into something real and inspiring. Tanya...
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Coding Behind the Clothes: Rahul Purwah on Tech at American Eagle
You probably know American Eagle for their jeans, but have you ever thought about the tech that keeps everything running behind the scenes? In this episode, I talk with Rahul Purwah, a senior software engineer who’s spent the last ten years designing the systems that move every product from...
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Inside the Research: Hidden Power of Bacteria with Dr. Malvankar
Imagine bacteria that can literally conduct electricity. Sounds like science fiction, right? At Yale, Dr. Nikhil Malvankar and his team study microbial “nanowires”, which are tiny filaments that let bacteria move electrons like living power lines. Their discoveries could change how we think about...
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Krish V: Leading at the Intersection of Tech and Finance
Krish Venkataram has spent over two decades at the frontlines of finance and technology, leading at companies like the New York Stock Exchange, Lehman Brothers, and American Express, as well as fast-growing fintech and AI firms. With experience as President, CFO, COO, and Board Director, he has...
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From Test Tubes to Tech: Dr. Eyan Yeung’s Journey into ML
In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Dr. Eyan Yeung, a Machine Learning Engineer whose career path proves that your first passion doesn’t always define your future. Starting in chemistry, economics, and biochemistry research, Eyan thought she’d spend...
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Seeing the Unseen: Radiology with Dr. Puneet Pawha
What if you could help doctors see things no one else can? That’s exactly what radiologists do. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Puneet Pawha, a neuroradiologist at Mount Sinai, to talk about how radiology goes way beyond “just looking at pictures.” Dr. Pawha shares how he discovered…
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Building a Lasting Career on Wall Street with Deepta V.
In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Deepta Venkataraman who has spent nearly 25 years building her career in equities at Morgan Stanley. From leading global teams in delta one swaps and securities lending to spending a year working in London, Deepta...
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Astha Mehta: From Neuroscience to AI Applications
If you’ve ever felt pressure to “stick with” a major or career choice, this episode will give you a WHOLE new perspective! Astha Mehta came to the U.S. from India planning to study neuroscience, but along the way discovered her interest in cognitive science and machine learning. Since then, she’s...
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From Engineering to Surgery with Dr. Ananthakrishnan
In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Dr. Preya Ananthakrishnan, Director of Breast Surgery at White Plains Hospital. Dr. Ananthakrishnan shares how she went from studying chemical engineering in college to finding her calling in medicine, what drew…
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Dr. Deeksha Mehta on Medicine and International Journeys
In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, I sit down with Dr. Deeksha Mehta, an endocrinologist at Summit Health, and talk about her journey into medicine and how she discovered her specialty. Dr. Mehta shares challenges she faced, lessons from working across India, New York,...
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Finding Your Way in Tech with Nikhil Purwaha
If you're a teenager who's interested in tech but don't want to spend your life coding, then this episode is for you! Nikhil Purwaha studied computer science in college and later got his MBA, but his path into tech was anything but traditional. He's worked across product strategy and trust &…
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Unlocking the Leadership Side of Healthcare with Dr. Anuj Mehta
Think healthcare is only about becoming a doctor? Think again. In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder, we sit down with Dr. Anuj Mehta, Chief Clinical Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, to explore what leadership looks like in the world of medicine. He shares his journey from earning an MD…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to High School Pathfinder: For the Future You! I’m your host, Ayana Mehta- a high school student who, just like you, is figuring out what comes next. I started this podcast to make one thing easier for high school students: finding your path before you’re forced to choose it. Each week, I talk with people who are truly great at what they do and ask them how they got to where they are today. This includes everything from doctors, designers, biotech investors, engineers, and more! These aren’t just highlight reels or ”follow your dream” speeches. They are honest conversations about doubt, discovery, and decision-making. But this podcast isn’t just about job titles. It’s about the skills that help you succeed in ANY path: resilience, confidence, focus, and leadership. You’ll also hear from mentors and young professionals who’ve mastered the mindsets we rarely learn in school but absolutely need. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed when someone asks, ”So what do you want to do in t
HOSTED BY
Ayana Mehta
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does High School Pathfinder: For the Future You have?
High School Pathfinder: For the Future You currently has 31 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is High School Pathfinder: For the Future You about?
Welcome to High School Pathfinder: For the Future You! I’m your host, Ayana Mehta- a high school student who, just like you, is figuring out what comes next. I started this podcast to make one thing easier for high school students: finding your path before you’re forced to choose it. Each week, I...
How often does High School Pathfinder: For the Future You release new episodes?
High School Pathfinder: For the Future You has 31 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to High School Pathfinder: For the Future You?
You can listen to High School Pathfinder: For the Future You on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts High School Pathfinder: For the Future You?
High School Pathfinder: For the Future You is created and hosted by Ayana Mehta.
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