Cornell (thank) U

In this episode, we interview Lauren Hass ‘96, aka The Clutter Kicker, who’s helping people clear their spaces and their minds. Inspired by her organizing magic, we tackled our own spring cleaning — and let’s just say, it felt amazing. Lauren shares her Cornell story, how a toddler playdate sparked a new career, and her go-to method for deciding what stays and what goes — it's genius, and you...

She’s back — and she’s published.  In one of our most beloved episodes ever, Stacy Smith Ross opened up about parenting a child with borderline personality disorder. Now, two years later, she returns to our podcast with the release of her deeply moving memoir, Searching for Slippers . In this conversation, we talk about love, mental illness, and what it means to come of age as an adult. She reflec...

Introducing...Jessica O'Toole — the hit TV writer, producer, and showrunner behind Jane the Virgin , Greek , Charmed , The Summer I Turned Pretty , The Carrie Diaries , and more. Jessica shares how she went from English major at Cornell to shaping some of the most binge-worthy shows on TV. We dive into how shows get made, what really happens in writers' rooms, and the script that launche...

We had the honor of meeting Gerry Howard, Class of 1972—one of publishing’s most beloved and influential editors. Gerry reflected on his time at Cornell, where he luckily made the switch to an English major, continued a lifelong love of reading, and enjoyed a social life that included a lot of music. A LOT. He shares stories from his legendary career, including what it’s like to edit literary gian...

Here’s what you can look forward to in this episode with Josh Gully: What it’s like to be part of a five-generation Cornell legacy How he almost majored in horticulture—and why he didn’t His unexpected journey into family financial planning The story behind the flower empire he and his dad ran from their backyard  How legendary coach Richie Moran changed his life Why Cornell continues to hold deep...

From the Hill to the White House, Seth Harris has shaped labor policy at the highest level—and he’s got the stories to prove it. He worked with Clinton, Obama, and Biden. He sat at the Cabinet table. But before all of that, he was a Cornellian enjoying Cornell to the fullest—from learning what really matters, to finding his voice—and discovering a path that would take him all the way to the West W...

Before he was reinventing teeth whitening and launching cutting edge dental tech, smile icon Dr. Jonathan Levine was lighting up the lacrosse field as a two-time Cornell all-star.  In this episode, we discuss his Big Red beginnings, an amazing Cornell program he launched with Dr. David Levine, and how he built a family business rooted in innovation and compassion. And Lenny Kravitz...how does he f...

In this special episode, we honor the life and legacy of Michelle's mom, Marilyn Stuzin — a woman whose heart belonged to Cornell and whose presence left a lasting mark on everyone lucky enough to know her. Marilyn was elegant, funny, and full of love — the kind of love that showed up in big ways, whether it meant racing down the highway, embracing Michelle's friends like family, or dati...

Scarlet Fu, a longtime Bloomberg anchor and chief markets correspondent, has spent over 25 years covering the biggest stories in finance. Turn on your TV, you will blown away. And here's what else you need to know: She’s a Phi Beta Kappa graduate She interned at the White House under President Clinton She once auditioned to be an MTV VJ in Hong Kong She was a producer at CNBC Asia She’s absol...

Scott Oliaro won’t say it himself, but we will—he’s a Cornell Football legend. A two-time captain, multiple record holder, and Cornell Athletic Hall of Famer, Scott embodies the ultimate team player, both on the field and in his role as Director of Sports Medicine at UNC. From the moment he set his sights on sports medicine, Scott dedicated his career to keeping athletes healthy, preventing injuri...

This week we talk to Sue Scheiner about her path from beautiful Cornell to the vibrant world of Sesame Street. We had an incredibly fun and nostalgic conversation about education, inspiration, and the magic of mentorship.  As an HDFS major in Cornell Human Ecology, she was guided by the wonderful Professor John Condry, whose influence helped launch her 35-year career at Sesame Street.  Sue shares...

Melissa Gellman Weiss is a brand strategist and marketing leader who has shaped major companies like Amazon, J.Crew, Theory and Barry’s Bootcamp. Melissa has built and transformed businesses by combining data-driven insights with creative storytelling—a skill she credits in part to her English major at Cornell. Beyond her corporate success, Melissa pursued a deeply personal dream—launching her own...

In this episode, we talk to Joe Holland—a Cornell football All-American and Academic All-American who went on to become a minister, lawyer, author, politician, and community leader. His impact spans industries and generations. Joe shares his remarkable journey—transferring from Michigan, finding his path at Cornell, excelling on the football field despite challenges, and ultimately dedicating his...

We’ve been looking forward to this episode! Kim Murstein ('18), the brilliant creator and co-host of Excuse My Grandma , joins us to talk about her time at Cornell, what led her to launch a podcast with her hilarious Grandma Gail, and how their multi-generational banter has taken over TikTok and Instagram. From dorm life and sorority days to fashion, dating, and building a media empire, Kim g...

From the Cornell Hotel School to leading Fischer Travel (with his grandpa and mom!), Max Rosenthal (‘16) shares his journey into the world of exclusive, ultra-luxury travel (that's the only way to categorize it - wait till you hear!).  He discusses working in a multi-generational family business, creating seamless experiences for high-profile clients, meeting his wife at Cornell, and keeping...

Meet Yaneris Rosa, Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at WWE and a trailblazer in sports entertainment.  Yaneris shares her inspiring story from growing up in the Dominican Republic and then Long Island, NY, to attending Cornell University as a first-generation student, and ultimately earning a degree from Harvard Law School! She has a remarkable career path, including her time at startu...

In this powerful episode, we reconnect with Holly Zax Shuter, a beloved sorority sister from Los Angeles.  Holly shares stories of resilience during the recent California wildfires, detailing the challenges of evacuation, the generosity of her community, and the inspiring efforts to rebuild and support those affected. We also delve into Holly's treasured memories of Cornell—her experience as...

Tara "Blitzy" Blitzer Benson ’93 brings her signature humor, sharp insights, and favorite Cornell memories to the podcast! From her days as an enthusiastic social chair to her impressive career as Vice President and General Counsel at Proscia, a cutting-edge digital pathology company, Tara’s story is as inspiring as it is fun.  She raised two Cornellians, one starting next fall, and she...

You’ll love this conversation with the legendary Jeremy Schaap, Cornell alum and Emmy-winning ESPN sports journalist. From his roots at the Cornell Daily Sun—where he spent more time than anywhere else on campus—to his 30+ years at ESPN, Jeremy has covered every major sporting event and the most fascinating athlete stories. Known for award-winning documentaries like E:60 and Outside the Lines , he...

From pioneering patented construction technologies that transformed NYC’s infrastructure, to working underground for over a decade (and surviving to share  with us what’s really down there!), Stephen Paletta '87 has built a career and a life defined by innovation and purpose. A life-changing trip to Rwanda sparked a mission of giving back, and he’s been reshaping philanthropy ever since. As t...

This was the perfect conversation to have just days before Christmas. We spoke with Beth and Dan Duffy, whose love story began on campus in 1978. Dan, a member of the Cornell hockey team, and Beth, known for her warmth and wide circle of friends, created lifelong connections during their time on campus. Their love story started as freshmen, took a pause, and then started again 20 years later when...

This week we’re thrilled to celebrate the incredible Randye Ringer, who was recently introduced to us by Peter Kaplan (thank you, Peter!) and she was just inducted into her high school’s Hall of Fame! Why, you ask? Randye’s career has been a testament to creativity, resilience, and a passion for making a difference. From her 15 years with the New York Mets to her humanitarian work with First Pitch...

Meet Georgia Kelly, a fierce defender on Cornell’s field hockey team with ties to both England and Ireland. Georgia shares her inspiring journey of overcoming injuries, adjusting to life at Cornell, and making an impact on and off the field. Known for her stellar defensive skills and unstoppable spirit, Georgia gave us the inside scoop on life as a student-athlete. With her humor, energy, and auth...

Frank Kelly III’s journey is one of resilience, faith, and family. As a standout athlete at Cornell, he captained the lacrosse team, played football, and overcame injuries-- and most of all, he had a profound spiritual awakening his sophomore year.  Now he’s the CEO of Kelly Benefits, a coach, speaker, and author! Frank shares how his faith shaped his life and guides his work and family. And we wa...

Welcome to season 4 of the Cornell (thank) U Podcast! Meet Yanni and Nour, two extraordinary 20-year-old Cornell students who are revolutionizing the way we learn math with their groundbreaking platform, MathGPT. They started MathGPT to make math more accessible and less intimidating, empowering students everywhere to truly understand the subject. Their website has quickly become the go-to resourc...