Life's Ambition

Professor Daniel Howe discusses his journey into the planning field and the challenges and rewards of being a planner. He highlights the importance of public participation in the planning process and the impact it can have on creating better projects. He also discusses the growth and development of the Triangle area in North Carolina and the role of planning in shaping the community. The conversat...

Professor La'Meshia Whittington discusses her work on redistricting and the impact of gerrymandering on voting maps. She shares her experience of joining a congressman in DC to address this issue and speaks at a press conference on the steps of the US Capitol. She also talks about her winding path in education, from studying agriculture to sociology and criminology, and how her experiences sh...

Tim Healy discusses his journey from politics to education and the intersection of the two. He emphasizes the importance of living a life of purpose and impact, whether through politics or education. He also highlights the significance of local politics and the need for students to understand its impact. Additionally, he explores the effects of online education and the role of AI in the classroom,...

In this conversation, Zak Selwaeh shares his journey into videography and his passion for storytelling. He discusses his early beginnings in making videos with friends and the importance of learning how to tell a story before focusing on equipment. Zak talks about his transition to broadcasting and his experience working with the NC State hockey team. He emphasizes the close-knit community of hock...

Dr. Jennifer Richmond-Bryant discusses her career journey and the different tracks in academia, specifically focusing on the tenure track. She shares her experiences working at the EPA and conducting research on air quality. The conversation also touches on the monitoring and regulation of air pollutants, including the criteria pollutants and hazardous air pollutants. The recent change in the nati...

Joel Hughes joined the army right after high school and enlisted as an infantryman. He wanted to leave town quickly and start his future. He had the opportunity to work with Green Berets and was exposed to what special forces do in the army. Joel considered joining special forces but decided against it after some friends were killed. He eventually reenlisted in the army and went through training t...

Mark Lichtenstein discusses his career path from forest management to budgeting in the federal government. He highlights the challenges and rewards of working in budgeting and the importance of continuous learning. Mark also shares his experiences in the private industry and the government, comparing the two sectors. He discusses the impact of political regimes on budgeting and the need for effect...