The Pre-Made Podcast

Tarsha Echols has lived a life that refuses neat categories. She grew up, in her words, “a hood rat" from Memphis, graduated from Amherst College as a biology and French double major, and went on to build a 28‑year career as a flight attendant, where she has had a front‑row seat to humanity at 35,000 feet. But it’s what happened in 2021 that reshaped everything. What she thought was a bout of Covid turned out to be severe pneumonia and life‑threatening blood clots. She flatlined, slipped into a coma, and somehow came all the way back. Tarsha talks about the resilience she developed early in life, the shock of feeling “less than” for the first time in her life at Amherst, the joy she finds in animals and rescuing dogs, the scariest thing she has encountered mid-air, and the thrill and purpose that comes from surviving something you weren’t supposed to survive.

From the forest pansy redbud she studies each morning to the students she teaches at Penn, Jo Park talks about the power of observation as both a discipline and a source of meaning. She reflects on how gardening during Covid sharpened her ability to see patterns and small transformations, and how that same attentiveness informs her scholarship on Asian American literature and the frameworks that shape identity. We also explore Jo’s research into the creative work produced by Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II, including the rock gardens whose arrangements reveal how people create beauty even under duress. Across gardening, teaching, and historical study, Jo makes a strong case for the power of the humanities and developing our understanding of what it means to be human. Show note: William Carlos Williams' poem, To Elsie: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46485/to-elsie

Edward Lees, like many Amherst College graduates, has generally gravitated toward breadth. That first manifested in his academic journey from physics to neuroscience to European studies, and later in a career that has taken him through biotech hedge funds and today into environmental investing from his home in London. To complement that arc, he’s carved out space for the outdoors and for poetry, two practices that ground him and give him outlets for inspiration. Edward also reflects on a more personal dimension of the last several years: understanding autism within his family and recognizing some of those traits in himself. That realization has reframed how he remembers his Amherst years, including why small groups felt easier than large ones and why some friendships have lasted his adult life. Edward's experience sheds light on how we can come to understand ourselves over time and how the pieces of our lives can reveal a clear and intentional design, even if we haven't always been aware of it.

Matt “Rudy” Ronfeldt grew up possessing a deep curiosity and passion for physics and Buddhism, but graduating from Amherst College having majored in physics left him with a gnawing doubt: whether he wanted to pursue physics professionally. He then did something some of us may only daydream about: he stepped off the grid and into the Himalayas. Months of trekking, six weeks of silence in a Buddhist monastery, and a vow to make compassion his North Star reshaped everything that came after. That included walking away from the foundation that physics had provided and pursuing a career in education and educational research devoted to identifying the qualities and inputs that are associated with better teachers. In this conversation, Rudy reflects on navigating uncertainty and the unexpected ways that purpose can emerge when we slow down enough to hear it. Contact Rudy via email: [email protected].

Dr. Peter Tothy (hematology/oncology) has spent nearly two decades guiding patients through some of life's hardest moments, including navigating terminal cancer diagnoses. In this episode, he reflects on the experiences that have shaped him and made him such a compassionate caregiver and advisor. From attending and working at a rustic Adirondack summer camp to being a student and resident counselor at Amherst College to his clinic in northern Indiana, he has learned how to treat people with honesty and deep empathy. Or, as he puts so emphatically in the context of his life's calling, Peter treats people, not cancer. We also explore the role of clinical medical ethics in meeting patients where they are and the ways he helps some patients process and navigate devastating news toward an outcome that at first might seem like a contradiction in terms: a good death. To contact Peter, email him at [email protected].

Bill Bares has lived a life that unfolded almost exactly as he planned it in his early twenties, when he completed a Tony Robbins-branded one‑year, five‑year, and 25‑year plan. That plan resulted in a career as a jazz pianist, scholar, and now Distinguished Professor of Humanities at UNC Asheville. These days, Bill finds his interests shifting to unlearning the habits that made him successful and designing a more relational, community‑centered future — much the way he sits at the center of jazz ensembles as a pianist. In this conversation, Bill talks candidly about the psychological forces that drove his early ambition, the joy he finds in leading from the middle, and the shift he’s making toward serving others. In the process, we explore how midlife invites a different kind of planning. That includes what it means to loosen the grip of individual achievement and how to build a second life phase dedicated to connection and generosity. You can learn more about Bill or get in touch with him via URSA Asheville (ursaasheville.com), Bill’s music site ( billbaresmusic.com), and email: [email protected].

Kate Lewis (nee Westerbeck) has willed every stage of her career into existence. In her childhood, she knew she wanted to work in media. Her very first job after Amherst College landed her at Conde Nast. She then joined Hearts and rose all the way to Chief Content Officer, overseeing some of the most iconic titles in American publishing. When she later set her sights on Apple, she made that happen too, bringing her editorial acumen into one of the most influential technology companies on the planet. Kate exudes the power of optimism, curiosity, and good old fashioned cheerfulness. She makes a compelling case for something every Amherst alum will feel in their bones: that a liberal arts education is awfully useful in a world where the ability to synthesize, communicate clearly and compellingly, and connect the dots across disciplines is as valuable as ever. Her recent shift from media to tech and from the East to the West Coast is instructive for anyone contemplating their own pivot. Her playbook also affirms why the skills we honed at Amherst still matter in some of the most competitive environments in the world. To reach Kate, email is best: [email protected]. Show note: Kate mentions a Radiolab podcast episode on the power of novelty. Listen to that episode here: https://radiolab.org/podcast/secret-long-life

Sara Keen has been a close friend of mine for more than three decades. She has a rare gift: she listens in a way that makes people feel fully seen, and even when she disagrees with them, she remains attentive, kind, and firm yet flexible in her own mind. Whether we’re talking sports, politics, or the messy realities of organizational life, she always brings curiosity, good humor, and a deep respect for other people’s perspectives. Professionally, Sara has spent more than 20 years helping organizations work through complexity, aligning teams, repairing strained partnerships, and guiding leaders through the choppy, human side of change. Her work spans biopharma, academic medicine, major health systems, and cross‑industry collaborations. She grounds all of it in an ability to uncover the deeper meaning beneath what people say and to help them find their shared 'what,' even if they disagree on the 'how.' This conversation is both professional and, for me, personal, because all her abilities are on such vivid display, especially the quiet strength of someone who makes every room and every relationship better.

For most of his adult life, JJ Haines has called Tokyo home. He didn't imagine that outcome while at Amherst College, but in retrospect it almost feels inevitable given his long-standing appreciation for Japanese culture. JJ traces the winding path from studying Buddhism and Japanese cinema at Amherst to building a global banking career that took him through risk management, real estate, the Lehman collapse, and now his role as Managing Director and Country Manager for Japan at ING. He reflects on the curiosities that first pulled him toward Japan, the self‑awareness practices that have shaped his entire life, and the family he and his wife have built in Tokyo, including how they navigated the perilous days immediately following the 3/11 earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster. Highlights include: The importance of his early service‑industry jobs and what they taught him about understanding human behavior Navigating the Lehman collapse, Fukushima, and major career pivots from inside Japan’s financial system Raising a family and watching his daughters explore the world on their own terms How meditation and presence guide his decision‑making and daily life You can email JJ at [email protected] and find him on LinkedIn.

Valerie Leipheimer may be the first person in human history who can persuasively and clearly show how much art history and tax law have in common. How'd she come to that conclusion? By way of a path that has taken her from Amherst College, where she studied art history, through law school, and into a serendipitous turn as a corporate tax law summer associate in London that helped her find her true professional calling. Along the way, she enjoyed a long detour through Florence that sparked a deep love of Italian culture. She has passed her passion for arts and culture to her 17‑year‑old son, who has become her museum buddy and is lobbying hard to have her speak to his class about her Amherst thesis on Francis Bacon. For the opportunity to bond with her kid in his native environment, it may be time to dust off that thesis, which she came *this close* to publishing her senior year at Amherst. To contact Valerie, email her at [email protected].

Anthropologist Anand Pandian joins me to explore the everyday walls—physical, social, and mental—that shape modern American life. Drawing from his book, Something Between Us, he explains how the boundaries built into our homes, cars, and information sources make it harder to imagine living in community with people who might think differently or come from another place. We talk about what it takes to lower those barriers and create better ways to coexist. Anand also reflects on Ayya’s Accounts: A Ledger of Hope in Modern India, his book about his family's ancestral homeland told through his grandfather’s harrowing refugee journey. We revisit Amherst, where he didn't study anthropology but where he definitely got the bug. He also fondly remembers the rooftop “beach” at Valentine, the professors who shaped him, and the unexpected ways and timing that our intellectual callings announce themselves. We close with thoughts about the world the next generations will inherit, the ecological futures he’s working to imagine, and the advice he won’t give his teenagers. To get in touch, email him at [email protected]. You'll find his books on Amazon and other booksellers, , and you also can visit his website: https://anand.studio/.

Aaron Carroll has spent his entire life following the instincts Amherst sharpened, especially the belief that learning never really stops. In this conversation, he traces the path from his first‑floor Morrow dorm room (where Bruno's pizza arrived through the window) to a career shaped by a liberal arts way of thinking. Aaron talks about the moment in residency when he nearly left medicine and how questioning assumptions became the through‑line of his work. We explore how the habits he built at Amherst show up everywhere: in the way he communicates complex ideas, in his drive to understand systems and symptoms, and in his commitment to helping others make sense of a messy world. Today, as CEO of AcademyHealth, Aaron continues to work at the intersection of evidence, public understanding, and policy. At its core, this is a story about how a liberal‑arts education can shape a life by teaching someone how to think, how to listen, and how to keep asking better questions. Aaron's professional contact information is publicly available. Listeners can also find him easily on social platforms and through his published work online.

Fans of the pod will know how often my college classmates’ lives have unfolded in ways none of us could have predicted back in the mid‑1990s. Geoff Klein is a perfect example of that non‑linearity. After Amherst, he nearly landed at Leo Burnett before being told (accurately) that he seemed more interested in film than advertising. That observation set off a chain of reinventions: working for Seth Godin in New York, heading to Temple Law without any intention of practicing, and ultimately moving to Los Angeles to work in the story department at major studios like Paramount and MGM. Just when it looked like he’d found his lane, life shifted again. Geoff married a woman from Manchester, England, moved overseas, worked in real estate, and eventually returned to Philadelphia. Today he teaches at Temple and Wharton, runs a story‑driven branding practice, speaks professionally, and helps organizations adopt AI in ways that keep people at the center. Through every pivot runs a consistent worldview: humans are wired for connection and stories are how we make sense of our lives. You can email Geoff at [email protected].

Russ Hanser arrived at Amherst as a self-described nerd with big ambitions: maybe law, maybe journalism, maybe even director of the CIA. His liberal arts education sharpened his thinking and ultimately launched him into a career shaping telecommunications and technology policy at the highest levels. Today, Russ serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Legal Officer of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association. In this episode, he reflects on how early interests in politics and computers converged into a career navigating spectrum policy, AI governance, broadband access, and the future of connectivity. He also speaks candidly about carving out space to support not-for-profit organizations and navigating fatherhood through a divorce. Highlights: How a high school computer nerd became a leader in tech policy, and the role of both skill and fortuity played in that outcome The policy debates shaping AI and why he’s an AI optimist The life challenges that redefined him as a father Why liberal arts thinking still matters in a tech-driven world Russ also nominates the next classmates he’d like me to interview. If you’d like to connect with Russ, you can reach him at: [email protected].

Elizabeth Doyle is one of the proprietors of Doyle & Doyle, a purveyor of antique and vintage jewelry based in New York City. We talk about her wonderfully serendipitous path from Amherst College to the Gemological Institute of America, and then into building a jewelry business that has now spanned decades. Her journey is a delightful example of the good things that can happen from saying 'yes,' learning by doing, and staying open to whatever unfolds. Elizabeth also gives a window into what makes her so good at her work. It's so liberal arts. She knows the chemistry, histories, and stories of the objects she sells. She also has what it takes to guide couples from engagement ring decisions to helping them celebrate life's most memorable milestones. Highlights: Why selling engagement rings can feel like providing couples therapy How Elizabeth went from pre-med to geology to gemology Her leap into entrepreneurship, starting from nothing, learning on the fly, and the early lesson of “don’t spread yourself too thin” Why it's a really bad idea to serve red wine during a store opening Visit https://doyledoyle.com and email Elizabeth at [email protected].

John Haskell has spent over 20 years living in Russia, a decision that began as a calculated professional bet in the post-Soviet 1990s and became, almost accidentally, a permanent life. John walks us through what it has meant to build a family, a business, and a sense of home in a place most Americans only know through headlines, and why the reality on the ground often looks very different from what we imagine from afar. We talk about the moment that anchored him there: a near-surreal episode involving forged documents, vanished partners, and a company secretly sold out from under him. Out of that chaos came an improbable outcome: John salvaged thousands of acres of farmland and eventually built a cattle operation that he still operates to this day. Along the way, he offers rare, thoughtful context about personal safety, perceived risk, and what daily life in Russia actually feels like for an American who has chosen to stay. John also reflects on the enduring value of a liberal arts education—especially language learning—as preparation for an uncertain future. Highlights include: What it’s really like to live in Russia as an American during decades of political and social upheaval How a near-fraud and forged signature unexpectedly rooted John there Why perceived danger and lived security often don’t line up The long-term value of language learning and a liberal arts toolkit The Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next. Email John at [email protected] or find him on Facebook. Big thanks to Evan Wollen for nominating John.

Ricky Quinones has spent his life exploring and expressing music across genres, geographies, and stages, from Amherst to New York, including Broadway, and Grammy-winning collaborations. Ricky opens up about his musical evolution, the artists who shaped him, and why the blues remains the emotional and structural foundation of everything he plays (and, surprisingly, what he sometimes hears in the music of JS Bach). We talk about the lessons learned from proximity to greatness, playing alongside artists like Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and India.Arie (with whom he won a Grammy). Ricky reflects candidly on what it takes to sustain a career in one of the most competitive and uncertain of professions, and why preparation and empathy matter more than virtuosity alone. He also revisits his Amherst years, a time he describes as creatively fertile but emotionally difficult, when music became something deeply personal and stabilizing. Today, Ricky continues to evolve as a musician and as a mentor and substitute teacher in Queens, finding new ways to keep his creative cup full while giving back. Highlights: Why the blues serves as Ricky’s musical “mother tongue” across genres What he has learned by watching and working alongside legendary collaborators The keys to sustaining a long career in professional music The classmate he wants me to interview next Email Ricky at [email protected]. Big thanks to David Young for nominating Ricky.

As a very amateur geologist, I've been looking forward to catching up with Sonia Nagorski ever since my podcast project started. That's because she's a geologist whose work focuses on understanding Earth’s history and what it can tell us about the world we humans are shaping today. Perhaps not surprisingly, she and I share a sense of wonder about the mind-bending qualities of Earth time and the pleasures of connecting to the geology right under our feet. We talk about her two decades living and teaching in Alaska, the sense of community that comes from life at the edge of wilderness, and her recent move to the University of Colorado Boulder. Along the way, Sonia explains how geology provides essential context for understanding topics that go beyond geology, and why learning to notice and name the landscape around us can deepen both curiosity and responsibility. Highlights: Why geology is best understood as history told on Earth’s timescale What living in Alaska taught her about community, resilience, and connection to place Simple ways to build curiosity about the geology all around us The three Amherst classmates she wants me to interview next You can email her at [email protected]. Also, check out the Rockd app to learn about the geology in your neck of the woods. Big thanks to Deb Thalheimer Long for nominating Sonia.

Mike Gold has built a life defined by range. He ran an art gallery in New York. He scaled an animation studio to nearly 200 artists. He has built backend systems for massively multiplayer online games, collaborated with DARPA on next-generation engineering tools, and even mined gold on a beach in Nome, Alaska. Mike traces the throughline that unites these pursuits: he loves learning, assembling strong teams, and building systems that improve the human experience. Today that compass points to two long-term missions: helping more children learn to read earlier, and reducing serious sports injuries through a short weekly training regimen that is proven to deliver outsized results. Highlights include: Mining gold in Nome and what it taught him about persistence and problem-solving Why early reading is one of the most studied areas of learning yet still lagging in successful outcomes An introduction to RIIP REPS, a 35 to 40 minute weekly program designed to reduce injuries and improve performance especially for teenage athletes The Amherst classmate he nominates for a future episode You can email Mike at [email protected]. Thanks to Jordan Hayslip for nominating him.

Asim Ahmed has three passions: the detection and workings of infectious diseases, sports (especially his hometown St. Louis teams), and music, and in this wide-ranging conversation, he shows how each one has shaped his life. We talk about his one-of-a-kind custom jerseys (clever mashups of teams, players, and music references), his journey from pediatric infectious disease (ID) in academic medicine to metagenomic diagnostics in biotech, and the “detective work” mindset that drew him to ID in the first place. We also close with something deeply personal: Asim reflects on the reality of caring for aging parents, including how complex the system can be, and why he’s willing to help others who find themselves learning it on the fly. Highlights include: The art (and satire) of his custom sports jerseys Why he was drawn to infectious disease The promise of “liquid biopsy”–style diagnostics for infections The live shows and venues that he'll never forget The Amherst classmate he wants me to interview next For those not familiar with "Seven Nations Army" by the White Stripes, you can listen to it here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J2QdDbelmY. You can email Asim at [email protected]. Big thanks to JC Leveque for nominating him.

Mariela Rexach's life reflects a combination of steadiness, self-knowledge, and humble assertiveness. From Amherst to Penn Law and back home to Puerto Rico, Mariela has raised a family and built a nearly three-decade career at the same women-owned labor and employment law firm. She shares the thinking that has helped her make decisions that align with her values rather than conventional expectations. Mariela reflects on the mentorship of a federal judge she credits with giving her more than any advanced degree ever could. She talks candidly about how fear fuels her courtroom preparation, the recurring discomfort that comes with new challenges, and how she has learned to recognize those feelings as signals that she’s exactly where she needs to be. Listen carefully and you'll take away so much wisdom, including what it looks like to advocate for yourself, how to shape your work around your life, how to ask for what you need, and the importance of leading with empathy. Highlights Why “getting comfortable being uncomfortable” has been one of Mariela’s most valuable skills acquired at Amherst How fear and self-doubt can be harnessed as tools for preparation and excellence Why there’s no single template for success, and why playing to your strengths is so much more important than playing to expectations The importance of asking for what you need and modeling humane leadership for the next generation Three new classmates she'd like to hear me interview next To get in touch with her, find her on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Big thanks to Alisa Pincus for nominating Mariela!

Kensei Nishikawa arrived at Amherst as a transfer student from Japan already holding a degree from the University of Tokyo, carrying with him two languages, two cultures, and a deep love of literature. What he didn’t yet know was how profoundly Amherst would shape not just how he reads and writes, but how he listens. We explore Kensei’s lifelong devotion to the humanities, especially poetry, and the role they have played in his life as both a student and a teacher. Now a professor of English and poetry in Japan, Kensei has spent decades moving between languages and academic traditions, translating words, structures, and ways of thinking. He shares why he believes the humanities remain essential for cultivating empathy, moral imagination, and the ability to hear one another. Kensei also speaks candidly about aging, memory, and the work of maintaining one’s intellectual vitality over time. Rather than chasing novelty, he is focused on preserving the richness of language and thought. Highlights include: What it meant to arrive at Amherst as an international transfer student in 1992, and how that moment shaped his understanding of America. How Amherst taught him to listen in the classroom, across differences, and in a second language. The challenges and rewards of teaching poetry and literature across Japanese and American academic traditions. Why the humanities matter now more than ever, and how they help us live more human lives. The classmate he hopes to hear from next. To get in touch, you can email Kensei at [email protected]. Many thanks to Brian Clark for nominating Kensei.

Amherst isn't known for launching fashion designers and entrepreneurs, but that's just one of the reasons why this conversation with Parke Lutter was so much fun. This talent has been building inside of him since his childhood in the Midwest, where he made clothes for one of us stuffed animals, his friends, and even a prom dress for his sister. Still, Parke hadn't awakened to that interest as a professional possibility when he arrived at Amherst imagining a Wharton-bound career in business. His study abroad in Paris, the friendships he formed, and his own coming-out process helped him understand that his childhood instinct to make things wasn’t just a hobby. We also talk about the birth and evolution of Parke & Ronen, the fashion and lifestyle brand he co-founded with his now-husband, and how building a business that has lasted nearly 30 years has required resilience, reinvention, and a willingness to keep learning. Parke shares how his creative process has changed with age and how he’s thinking about the next phase of life, including questions about legacy, freedom, and what work might look like when you finally have the option not to do it. Highlights include: The role Amherst played as a safe, transitional place where Parke learned to think, create, and understand himself more fully. The creative “constellations” Parke builds from travel, culture, mood, and the world around him. What aging has changed about his creative muscle. How he’s thinking about the future: succession, legacy, creativity, and the possibility of a very different rhythm of life. The classmates he wants to hear from next To get in touch, email Parke at [email protected], and follow Parke & Ronen on social. Recommendation we made in the episode: Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks. Note that the episode contains one use of profanity.

Deb Thalheimer Long's career and life since graduating with me from Amherst College have been marked by subtle yet profound transformations. From Wall Street to academia, from the Baltimore public schools to the hospital floor, Deb has navigated big career pivots with intentionality. Now a nurse specializing in wound care and infusion therapy, she brings to her patients the same attentiveness she has offered students, colleagues, and friends: an ability to read people gently, listen deeply, and act thoughtfully. The conversation explores how her gift for quiet perception, honed at Amherst through the close reading of texts and refined through her study of literature, theology, and now medicine, has shaped her approach to work, family, and community. Her story is one of continuous learning and service, and of finding profound meaning in small, human acts of compassion. Along the way, she shares lessons she’s passed on to her two grown sons, both out in the world now, and the two bits of terrific life advice they're most likely to say they hear from their mom. Episode Highlights: How Deb’s winding path from finance to French literature to nursing reflects a life lived with intention. The subtle art of listening, and how she uses it to discern both what people say and what they can’t quite express. What she’s learned about compassion from her students, her patients, and her own aging parents. The role Amherst played in teaching her to read closely, not only books, but people. The simple but powerful advice she’s passed along to her children about integrity and accountability. Plus, she nominates two new classmates to appear in the guest's chair. You can email Deb at [email protected].

Matt Sawyer has built a career rooted in one place: the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Mass., where he’s taught English, coached baseball and football, and served as ninth-grade dean for more than three decades. In a world that celebrates mobility and reinvention, Matt’s story is one of steadfastness and the value of deep community attachments. This conversation explores how teaching has changed since the 1990s, why he’s finally stepping away from coaching varsity baseball after 30 seasons, and how much he's looking forward to watching more of his children’s college athletics careers instead of leading practices himself. Matt reflects on building strong team culture, the lessons learned from Amherst football’s ups and downs, and how the classroom can remain a place for curiosity and honest disagreement, even in an age of AI and youthful risk aversion. Highlights include: Longevity with purpose: Matt has spent his entire post-Amherst career at Williston, finding new ways to grow within the same community rather than leaving it. Shaping culture over chasing wins: He believes that strong team culture not only enriches students’ lives but often leads to more success on the field. A coach’s evolution: After 30 seasons leading varsity baseball, he’s trading the dugout for the umpire’s mask and embracing a new vantage point on the game. Teaching in the AI era: His English department has gone “old school,” emphasizing pen-and-paper writing and face-to-face discussion as antidotes to digital crutches. Lifelong impact: Inspired by Amherst professors like Barry O’Connell, Matt sees teaching as a way to meet students where they are and help them through life’s hardest transitions. A family woven into campus life: Matt and Sarah’s (Class of '97) home, work, and family life intersect daily, making the Williston community an extension of their own. Matt also shares whom he hopes will take the mic next. You can email Matt at [email protected] or call or text him at 413.695.8370.

When I started the Amherst College part of this podcast, I wanted to capture the stories of my 1994 classmates who’ve navigated big pivots in their lives. Few stories embody that better than David Young. He joined me from Mozambique, where he and his husband make their home. David’s career has taken him from Amherst’s ROTC program to the Air Force JAG Corps, then into a remarkable 20-year run with USAID. His tenure ended abruptly when the agency was dismantled earlier this year. His reflections on that loss, and the grace and perspective he brings to this moment, are inspiring. We talk about his journey all over the world, his pivotal role in South Sudan’s independence referendum, and what it’s like to help shape democracy and development from the inside out. Highlights: How his upbring led to a life of global service. The emotional impact of USAID’s sudden shutdown, and how he’s processing it. His firsthand memories of historic moments like South Sudan’s independence and Ukraine’s 2013 revolution. Why he’s hopeful about helping rebuild the global development field, possibly from the classroom. The next classmates David wants to hear from next. You can email David at [email protected].

Since our freshman year in Morrow (“Psycho Ward”), Zack Henry has built a life that’s taken him across the globe. He’s lived on four continents, worked on six, and led projects ranging from energy dialogues in Saudi Arabia to business development in New York and São Paulo. But at the heart of his story is something simpler and deeper: a belief in what he calls “the hidden pass.” Borrowed from soccer, it’s his metaphor for the unexpected connections between people and ideas that unlock opportunity. In this episode, Zack and I talk about his life as a global connector and the balance he’s learning to strike now between professional ambition and being present for his two kids. We also get into how he’s reinvented himself over and over again, from entrepreneur to executive to coach, and what that’s taught him about curiosity, connection, and growth. Highlights include: Memories from the “Psycho Ward” and the Amherst friendships that started it all What it means to be a “recruiter’s worst nightmare,” and why that’s a good thing Lessons from a global career and the importance of staying curious The classmate he wants to hear from next You can email him at [email protected].

Thirty years ago, a Boston Globe classified ad launched Jessica Smith into a career at Harvard, where she built bespoke instruments and launched them on NASA’s converted U-2 aircraft, flying at 70,000 feet to read the chemistry of our stratosphere. In this conversation, she traces the improbable path from Amherst’s machine shop to equipping these delicate high fliers for experiments over the Arctic winter, tracking ozone recovery, and measuring changes in and storm impacts. After a federally funded program cut led to a layoff in March, Jessica is candid about resilience, reinvention, and where that Amherst-honed knack for figuring things out might take her next: faculty life, lutherie (look it up), or starting a delightfully serious soft-serve ice cream business. Along the way, she reflects on a pivotal senior-year “academic blowout,” the joy of hands-on work, and what’s at stake when long-running climate data sets and training pipelines are disrupted. To get in touch with Jessica, email her at [email protected] or find her on LinkedIn.

Erin Cowhey is an Amherst College classmate and architect whose profession is awfully interesting its own right, but it interests me more than ever now that my daughter works as an interior designer. Erin runs her own firm in Brooklyn but wasn't always destined for the field. She enrolled at Amherst with every intention to go pre-med before pivoting to architecture. In this episode, she talks about how personal tragedy reshaped her career path and how she’s balanced running her own firm with raising a family in New York City. What emerges is a portrait of someone who designs homes with the same care she’s taken to designing a meaningful life. Highlights include: Pivot with purpose: Erin’s fascination with art and architecture led her to trade medicine for design. Resilience in loss: After losing her first child, she rebuilt her life and career by starting her own firm, prioritizing flexibility and family. Brooklyn life, fully lived: She reflects on the joys and contradictions of raising kids in the city she and her husband, a landscape architect, love so deeply. Design as storytelling: Erin views every project as a chapter in her clients’ lives: spaces that evolve as families grow and change. Looking ahead: With her children nearing college, Erin is eager to take on larger, collaborative projects and to keep exploring creativity on her own terms. Plus, Erin nominates two new guests to go next. To learn more about her practice and get in touch, email her at [email protected] or visit her website, erincowhey.com.

Brian Clark transferred into our Amherst Class of 1994 having emerged from a childhood marked by instability and deep family pain. Today he serves as Director of Partnerships in Technology at the Spiritual Life Center in Hartford, where he helps others find healing through faith, psychology, and honest self-examination. Brian talks about growing up in a home dominated by an abusive father, the moment he chose to break free from the cult his dad started, and what it means to be both a healer and still healing. We also talk about post-traumatic growth, the “second half of life,” and the role Amherst and music have played in his journey toward wholeness. In this episode, we discuss: How Brian’s relationship with his controlling, abusive father shaped his understanding of faith and identity The moment he chose to end generations of trauma and begin his own healing What post-traumatic growth looks like and how pain can lead to purpose Whom from the Class of '94 he wants me to interview next To get in touch, email Brian at [email protected]. You can learn more about the Spiritual Life Center in Hartford at https://www.spiritlifectr.org/ Additional resources: To learn more about spiritual companionship, click here. https://www.spiritlifectr.org/find-spiritual-support#IndividualSpiritualCompanioning To hear some simple recordings of the chants that Brian sings: https://audio.com/brian-clark-4

On September 17, a 19th century warehouse located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, went up in flames, resulting in a five-alarm response that was unable to spare Justin Neely's art studio home of over 12 years. He's facing the loss of every painting he has ever made, photographs that chronicle his life, computer equipment, and a treasured collection of sports jerseys. In this episode, Justin demonstrates remarkable generosity of spirit, acknowledging that others have it worse and that authorities who are trying (and sometimes failing) to help have the best of intentions. He has a tough road ahead, but he's showing the sort of resilience that I believe will get him through it. If you'd like to help support Justin, there are a couple of ways to do it. You can reach out to him directly ([email protected], @jn33ly on Instagram). You also can contribute to a GoFundMe he has established to help him relaunch his art practice: https://www.gofundme.com/f/red-hook-fire-plea-and-protest-justin-neely Finally, at Justin's request he encourages listeners to enjoy his podcast at 2x speed. I don't think that's necessary, but I promised to mention it.

Jason Spero is going through a lot of change. His father recently passed away following a years-long battle with Alzheimer's. His youngest child is in the back half of her high school years, and after nearly two decades helping to build Google’s mobile advertising business, he is stepping away from a big job to chart a new path, one shaped by family, community, and the lessons of mortality and loss. In this candid conversation, Jason opens up about caring for his father during his battle with Alzheimer’s, preparing to send his daughters into adulthood, and the clarity he’s gained on how finite our time is. He reflects on the pride and worries that come from shaping the mobile and digital industry, and why he’s now turning his focus to entrepreneurship, technology for climate solutions, and reimagining community in an increasingly digital age. Jason also shares how Amherst set the foundation for his curiosity and critical thinking, what he hopes to impart to his own kids, and why liberal arts matter more than ever in an AI-driven world. And of course, he nominates the next classmates he hopes to hear on the show. You can email Jason at [email protected]. Resources Jason mentions: Video - We Only Deserve a Styrofoam Cup: https://youtu.be/FNf1pKRhay8?si=czeWR5fizxc0afbN Book - Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks: https://a.co/d/ignmyTZ

I published this episode about getting into college with my friend and former Amherst College Associate Dean of Admissions Will Dix (Amherst '77) a few years ago, but it has aged well. As teens and their parents explore and apply to colleges, I wanted to share it once again. It covers most of the major considerations: how to select colleges for application, the importance and pitfalls of campus tours, what to do if a college has an optional step in its application, essay writing, financial aid, and much more. If we were to record it again today, I'm sure we'd talk about the impact of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, as well as many colleges (including Amherst College) ending legacy admissions. Even without those elements, though, Will's advice is superb and timely. To learn more or contact Will, email him at [email protected].

It's time to catch up with my Amherst College birthday twin, Evan Wollen. While many of us left Amherst still unsure of what was next, Evan’s path was shaped by a love of history and a calling to service. He went on to spend more than 22 years in the U.S. Army, leading combat units in Iraq, teaching history at West Point, and running the ROTC program at Claremont McKenna. One of the most powerful parts of our conversation comes when Evan describes his work as a casualty notification officer. It is the hardest duty imaginable, showing up at a family’s front door with the worst possible news. Evan talks about the solemnity of that responsibility. It was, without question, one of the most poignant moments I have had in any interview. (For a deeper telling of that story, click here to read Evan's account.) We also talked about the challenges of leadership in combat, where bad leaders put lives at risk and good leaders can turn a struggling unit around. Evan also shared how rugby continues to anchor him today, both as a personal passion and as a successful coach of the Claremont Colleges women’s team, which has won multiple championships under his leadership. Evan and I also covered how he thinks about the years ahead, the importance of hobbies that fill your tank, and why he’s not a fan of the phrase “thank you for your service.” Key Takeaways Evan gives a first-hand account of one of the hardest jobs anyone in military life can ever have: being a casualty notification officer. Leadership was the through line of Evan’s Army career. Good leaders build trust and purpose, while bad leaders can bring an entire unit down. Why he's not a fan of the phrase, "thank you for your service." The gifts he took from Amherst, including ROTC, rugby, and lifetime friendships. Whom from the Class of '94 he wants me to interview next. You can contact Evan via email at [email protected]. Correction: I misidentified the rugby teams Evan coached to championships. They should be pronounced as plural "fifteens" and "sevens," not "fifteen-s" and "seven-s."

What do 1990s college radio, Richard Scarry's picture books, and complex spine surgery have in common? They’re all part of JC Leveque's journey. Today he’s the Section Head of Neurosurgery at Virginia Mason in Seattle, but his path included years on the road with his Amherst-born band Rosemary Caine, the decision to, as he put it, “step off the bus” before med school, and a career built around making some of the hardest conversations easier for his patients. In this episode, you’ll hear about: How JC knew it was time to walk away from his band Rosemary Caine to pursue medicine His take on spinal surgery as both engineering and art The Richard Scarry moment that made Seattle feel like home What he’s learned about patient communication from time on stage And, as always, JC names the classmates he'd like to hear on the podcast. You can email him at [email protected].

When you think of Amherst football in the early ’90s, you probably remember linebacker Jordan Hayslip, a four-year starter and anchor of the defense. But Jordan was much more than a gifted athlete. An English and Fine Arts double major, today he describes himself as a teacher, coach, and maker. I call him a Renaissance man who has woven together art, athletics, and community in ways that feel deeply intentional. After years teaching in Watts, working as a coach and educator in Hawaii, and experimenting as a furniture builder in Los Angeles, Jordan returned to Amherst in 2018 with his wife Sarah (a Hampshire grad) and their two children. He now works in the Amherst College athletic department, supporting student athletes’ development with a focus on mental health. Outside of that role, you’ll find him in his woodshop turning local trees into furniture, painting landscapes of the Pioneer Valley, and hosting classmates when they come back to campus. Jordan opens up about his own mental health journey, the lessons he’s drawn from coaching and teaching, and why Amherst — the town and the college — continues to shape his life decades after graduation. Conversation highlights include: Jordan lives at the intersection of teaching, coaching, and making, three pursuits that form the through-line of his life. On becoming a mental health advocate: Jordan speaks openly about his own mental health struggles and how they shape the way he supports Amherst student athletes today. The meditative power of making: Whether painting on trails or building furniture from local trees, Jordan sees his creative practice as both expression and therapy. The Amherst classmates he wants to hear from next To contact Jordan, email him at [email protected] or [email protected], or visit his website, jordanhayslip.com, to see his handcrafted furniture.

My favorite podcast episodes of all-time tend to feature friends, family, teammates, classmates, and others who love each other. Their warmth comes through every time. Every episode I publish is precious to me, but I love this one in particular because of the deep affection and respect that emerges between a beloved teacher and one of his former students. Classmate Ben Batory sits down with Amherst College Professor Emeritus Barry O'Connell and explores Barry's origin story and journey into higher ed. Along the way, you'll come to see just how Barry came to possess not only a powerful voice, but also how for over 50 years he has helped his students find their own voices. Kudos to Ben for his persistence and determination in making this happen. I never took a class with Barry. More than ever, I wish I had.

Alisa Pincus is in the 22nd year of a five-year plan to live in Sydney, Australia. After starting her legal career in New York, a blind date changed her trajectory, leading her to Australia, a global role with Nielsen, and extensive travel across the Asia Pacific region. In this episode, Alisa reflects on the ways being an expat has shaped her perspective on America, Australia, and herself. She also shares the highlights of her years in corporate law — and her decision to step back and focus on family and board work. Listeners will hear: What it was like to trade New York City law for Sydney — and how five years turned into 22 The challenges and rewards of working across vastly different Asia Pacific cultures Stories from a three-month family adventure around the world (including an Amherst reunion) How Amherst prepared her for a life of pivots and possibilities The classmates she’d like to hear from next To get in touch with Alisa, email her at  [email protected] and find her on Instagram: @alisapincus. Big thanks to Ed Castillo for nominating Alisa!

Curiosity and challenge have propelled Abbie Raikes ever since she left the stage at Amherst College in 1994 with her diploma in hand and launched her career in public service just five days later. Abbie describes the moves she’s made, from Nebraska to Paris and back again, as a series of deliberate choices to get closer to big, tough, important problems. She’s now tackling early childhood development on a global scale through her company, ECD Measure, and her role as a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. We talk about why she left the law school track, the revelation that hit her while working in a Nicaraguan health clinic, the philosophies that have guided her as a researcher and entrepreneur, and the ways that Amherst nurtured her early instincts. She shares a poignant remembrance of a classmate who left too soon, and offers insights about what she hopes to prioritize in the years ahead. Highlights: Abbie reflects on how a serious injury and a stubborn sense of curiosity led her to choose Amherst College over schools closer to home She shares what working for Senator Bob Kerrey and reading constituent letters illuminated how she could best tackle important problems Abbie explains what her company ECD Measure does. and why she prioritized cultural adaptability in its tools and output She discusses the balance between academic rigor and entrepreneurial agility, and why she seeks out discomfort and challenge Learn whom from the class of 1994 she'd like me to interview next To get in touch with Abbie, you can find her on LinkedIn or through her faculty profile at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Pete Lalor, a bariatric surgeon and medical director in Ohio, launched from Amherst College to Ireland to the hockey rinks of Holland—but today we find him leading a surgical weight loss program. A former student-athlete, Pete shares how his performance mentality evolved from athletics into medicine, and why he remains a student of psychology even decades after majoring in it at Amherst. Pete opens up about parenting five kids, the future of medicine (including the hype and limitations of GLP-1 weight loss drugs), and how youth sports today have left him feeling torn about their value and trade-offs. He also reflects on how emotional intelligence is a critical skill, whether you're in the operating room or the living room. Highlights include: His enduring interest in psychology helps him be a more empathetic physician and parent. Pete's perspective on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic is nuanced: they can help, but they're no magic bullet for obesity. The values he absorbed at Amherst and in sports—grit, teamwork, performance—still shape his life today. How he's envisioning the next 20 years, including how he might apply his extensive experience and curiosities in a new direction. The two Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next. To get in touch with Pete, email him at [email protected] and learn more about his practice at  http://www.woodcountyhospital.org.

Jane Rohde Bowers grew up both overseas and in the Pioneer Valley, with parents who graduated from Amherst College and Mount Holyoke. She also had a front-row seat to international public health via her father’s career. A self-described “beach gal” who dreamed of marine biology, she instead found herself pulled into anthropology at Amherst and later, public health herself. Today, Jane is a Health Program Manager in Los Angeles County, where she champions equitable access to HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) care, especially for vulnerable populations. In this conversation, Jane reflects on how her international upbringing shaped her ability to relate to others, how she found her footing in public health after a post-college journey that included backpacking and tour guiding, and how she now strives to mentor the next generation of practitioners. Throughout it all, she affirms her belief that health is a human right—and that connection, trust, and persistence are the keys to making real change. Key Takeaways: Jane shares how growing up abroad as the child of a global public health leader gave her a deep appreciation for diversity and a recognition of health disparities. She talks about how her early jobs—backpacking through Mexico, working as a camping tour guide, and volunteering in San Diego—helped clarify her professional path. Why meeting people where they are is central to Jane’s work today. Jane opens up about how she builds trust with vulnerable populations. The Amherst College classmate she wants me to interview next. You can email Jane at [email protected].

Adam Bonin’s voice, passion for politics, and Philadelphia sports devotion certainly will sound familiar to his Amherst classmates, but his post-college path has been anything but predictable. Adam takes us through his early certainty that law was his calling, the disillusionment he experienced practicing corporate law, and the path he carved into political law and election work. We hear how a career pivot allowed him to integrate his passion for politics with his legal skills, how he’s become the go-to expert in high-stakes election battles—and how his journey reflects a broader lesson in finding professional purpose. Highlights include: Adam's role in shaping election law and voter protection in Pennsylvania. How his Amherst experience—academically and socially—laid the groundwork for his intellectual agility and passion for public service. He's still a pop culture maven. From “The Simpsons” to wrestling, Adam’s enduring passions serve as both respite and connection points to his younger self. The Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next. To get in touch with Adam, email him at [email protected] and find him on BlueSky.

When I think of people who’ve allowed life’s serendipities to shape their course, Toby King comes immediately to mind. In this episode, he walks me through a zigzagging journey that began with a keg behind the geology building before his freshman year at Amherst College even started and took him to UNC Asheville, where he's Associate Professor and Chair of Music and, starting this fall, the chair of the UNC Faculty Assembly. Toby’s story is a reminder that we don’t always have to know where we’re going—as long as we stay open to what moves us. Highlights include: How Toby chose geology at Amherst after bonding with faculty during a pre-orientation outing—and a well-timed beer Why he walked away from a geology career after a frank conversation with a mentor during an oil company internship Why he taught himself how to play the banjo, and how he leveraged his passion for music into a spot at Columbia's graduate program and a teaching role at Sarah Lawrence The importance of prioritizing connections over content in teaching, and how the Amherst College geology department has influenced his approach to at UNC Asheville The Amherst College classmates he wants me to interview next To get in touch with Toby, check out his page on the UNC Asheville website: https://www.unca.edu/person/jonathan-king/.

Early on in this project, a close friend told me that he hoped I'd interview Ana-Claire Meyer. Now I know why. Take a listen, and you will, too. AC's professional and personal journeys are marked by curiosity, humility, and an eagerness to tackle big problems. After graduating from Amherst College, she held a variety of different jobs, but HIV test counseling piqued her interest enough to propel her to medical school. She studied neuroinfectious diseases, earned a Fulbright scholarship that took her to Kenya, and then joined the U.S. Army as an army civilian, becoming a senior clinical advisor for medical research and material command. It was in that role that she helped shape the Army's Covid-19 pandemic response. Today, she's senior medical director for Denali Therapeutics, a company that's focused on defeating neurodegenerative diseases. In this episode, we talk about: How testing patients for HIV in the mid-'90s led AC to pursue medicine What she learned while helping lead medical preparedness and innovation at the U.S. Army during Covid-19 Why she still hasn’t found her destination professionally, and why that’s not a bad thing The role Amherst played in shaping her journey—and the faculty members who showed up for her at just the right time The classmates she hopes I’ll interview next To get in touch with Ana-Claire, find her on Link

Maki Uchiyama grew up as an only child in upstate New York, where her family’s Japanese restaurant functioned as both a business and a fourth member of the household. The experience left her with a certain set of skills—versatility, the ability to multitask, customer diplomacy, and, of course, how to cook. After graduating from Amherst College in 1994 with a degree in political science, Maki joined the Japan Foundation, eventually pivoting to law school and a fulfilling career in real estate law. Today, she serves as general counsel for Advenir Azora Development, while also navigating the busy, blended rhythms of life as a stepmother to four children, wife, and grandmother. In this episode Maki reflects on: Her professional path The influence of her Amherst education A family-first mindset she’s cultivated over time Advice she wishes she could give the younger version of herself: No matter the bumps, pivots, or surprises—it will all work out The Amherst College Class of '94 classmates she wants to hear from next To get in touch with Maki, email at [email protected] or find her on LinkedIn.

Sean Gibbon lives a dual life. He has one foot planted firmly on the squash court, where he teaches the game, and the other in the imaginative realm of fiction writing. In this episode, we explore Sean’s journey from Amherst to professional squash coach, or what he playfully refers to as a talking ball machine. By that, he means the way he coaches towards experiencing the game fully versus preparing for elite competition. That vocation has given him the freedom and fuel to pursue a deep, deliberate writing practice. Sean reflects on how he integrates personal conflict into the characters he creates, the discipline of writing every day, and why he views both coaching and writing as acts of connection and observation. If you've ever considered a creative second act—or simply want to hear how someone balances a creative passion with a profession—Sean's story will inspire you. In this episode, you'll learn: How a chance visit to a squash club became a new career Why Sean fiercely protects at least one hour every day to write The role that the fiction he creates plays in processing real-life conflict Sean’s pick for which classmate should appear on the podcast next To get in touch with Sean, email [email protected], or call or text him at 917.684.6840. Check out his book on Phish, too: https://a.co/d/bfJCrKO

It's time to catch up with Dr. Bob “Buck” Tashjian, a leading orthopedic surgeon and researcher specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery at the University of Utah. Buck’s journey to medicine was anything but linear. Despite achieving academic and athletic excellence at Amherst College, he faced a major setback when he was initially rejected from all the medical schools he applied to. What followed was a year of physical labor, soul-searching, and a well-earned admission to Tufts School of Medicine. He has proved all those other schools wrong ever since. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about disappointment, growth, humility, and reconnecting with parts of yourself you may have left behind. Key Takeaways: Resilience through rejection: Buck’s path to medicine began with a painful setback, but he used that time to reassess and reapproach his goals with new perspective and humility. Mentorship matters: Buck emphasizes that personal and professional growth is rooted in leaning on others and helping those who follow. Pursuing long-held passions: Later in life, Buck returned to the visual arts, proving it’s never too late to explore creativity. (Check out the full blog post at mattcollinsblog.com for examples of his work.) Shoulder health tips for our 50s: Stretching, low weights with high reps, and attention to mental health all play a role in managing joint pain. Plus, Buck nominates two classmates he hopes to hear from next. To get in touch with Buck, email him at [email protected].

Ed Castillo’s post-Amherst path might be one of the most uniquely purposeful stories you’ll hear from our classmates. In this episode, we follow his journey from a philosophy major at Amherst to advertising Chief Strategy Officer - and registering and acting as a foreign agent. He may not drive an Aston Martin and pack a Walther PPK, but the man loves words and has a very spicey take on reading that will get you thinking. Highlights from our conversation: 🧠 Why Ed pursued philosophy not despite, but because of his desire to work in advertising 🛑 His early career “failure” that helped him find the field where overthinking is a superpower 📊 The limitation inherent in marketing degrees—and what he’s actually looking for when hiring 📚 His provocative argument against reading as the best vehicle for knowledge 🎯 How multicultural marketing needs to evolve beyond identity clichés 💜 The Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next Big thanks to Lee Maicon for nominating Ed.

Nate Smith's post-Amherst journey literally reads like an epic. At the age of 26, he got in his car after work one day at the school where he had been teaching and kept on driving, never to return to the job. Instead, he embarked on a life-changing, sometimes harrowing road trip all the way from Maryland to Central America, living out of his car and taking odd jobs to survive. His journey reached a turning point when he had to sell his car and found himself homeless in Panama. With the help of the US Embassy, Nate made his way back home, bringing with him invaluable lessons about privilege and the importance of giving back. Today, Nate is married with two kids, and he has returned to teaching with a passion. He also hasn't lost his wanderlust; Nate works as an eighth-grade mathematics teacher in Vietnam. Join Nate and me as we delve into the memorable moments of Nate's life, his thoughts on humankind, and the lessons he has learned along the way. His experience is a testament to the strength of family, the importance of self-reflection, and the enduring impact of a supportive community. Plus, learn whom Nate wants me to interview next. You can email Nate at [email protected].

Brian Schactman in many ways has become the voice of Connecticut. As a co-host of a morning radio talk show, he travels the state to meet residents of interest and explore the topics that animate the 169 towns and cities that call Connecticut home. Having listened to his stuff, I can tell you that he's awfully good at what he does. Thankfully, streaming makes it possible for anyone to listen to him, so I'll include a link to do just that in the notes below. Our candid conversation covers his journey from ESPN, through CNBC, MSNBC, and NBC Boston, to his current role at WTIC 1080 AM in Hartford. In the process, Brian helped me imagine a life I might have had if I had stuck with broadcast journalism as a career for myself. Plus, tune in to hear whom from the Amherst Class of 1994 Brian wants me to interview next. You can contact Brian via email ([email protected]) and find him X, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Audacy app by following this link so you can listen to his morning show, "Mornings with Ray and Brian."