Cornell (thank) U

Join us as we look back on three incredible years of Cornell (thank) U with highlights from our anniversary party, guest shout-outs, and a thank you to our amazing community. AND! Ryan Greene, Cornell fiber science grad and returning guest, tells us about his life from the Cornell classrooms to the labs of NIST. Hear about his groundbreaking work in fiber science, the surprising applications of hi...

Our 3-year celebration came with an unexpected twist—just the kind of story we love to tell.  Thank you for being here every week for 3 years. We appreciate every single one of you, guest and listener--often that's one and the same! Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Here's your exclusive peek into the mind of a true innovator! Get ready for insights and laughs as we chat with Robyn Carter, CEO of Jump Rope Innovation! Since 2005, Robyn’s been turning consumer trends into product ideas that make us ask, "Why didn’t I think of that?" (And yes, we pitched her a few trending ideas that we did   think of —tune in to hear her take!) With an impressiv...

Get ready for the Empty Quester revolution as Donna Korren shares her inspiring take on life after kids in this uplifting episode! Donna, founder of the Empty Quester community, is on a mission to help women redefine their next years by embracing the excitement and opportunity of an empty nest (even if we all also miss our kids just a little bit). From her unforgettable Cornell days and lifelong f...

Meet Adele Smolansky, a charismatic and brilliant Cornell Engineering graduate with a master’s from Stanford. Yup. Adele has already made waves by creating AI Learners, a cutting-edge platform that helps kids of all abilities tailor their learning experiences. Wait until you hear what inspired her—or rather, who . We discuss her passion for inclusive and personalized education in the 2020s and hav...

BURST ALERT! We are bursting with this week's guest! A very fortunate introduction at Orange Theory led us to Anthony Petrillose, whose family legacy is intertwined with some of the most iconic spots in Cornell’s history (at least as far as we're concerned). For generations, the Petrillose family has been at the heart of Cornell’s college town culture, running Johnny’s Hot Truck and John...

Meet Rebekah Goldstein, a remarkable student from the Dyson School. As a dedicated RA and TA, Rebekah expertly balances her academic pursuits with a demanding work week. She shares her journey of transferring schools, building a competitive concrete boat, her passion for technology and data analytics, and the challenges she faces as a student during significant global events.  Rebekah manages her...

We loved our time with Peter! He is brilliant and a lot of fun. In this episode, we talk about his career that started at the Cornell Daily Sun and catapulted him to esteemed opinion writer for The New York Times.  Peter shares his experiences as a student journalist, where he honed his writing skills and developed a great sense for storytelling and attention to detail that shaped his career. AND!...

You asked, he answered. Brendan Kempff is back to tell us how he’s transitioned to a career in consulting, thriving in the heart of San Francisco.   We reminisce a bit about his campus reporting days as a Cornell Sun writer, what it's like to go back the first time after graduation, and he reveals his future plans to become a...  Tune in for a great conversation about living your dreams and e...

Clean house and clean slate, Gwen is back with exciting news. Her passion for healthy living shines through as she discusses her innovative new line of eco-friendly, wildly affective, aromatherapy-filled cleaning products. Ever since receiving ours, we are cleaning 10X more than normal just because her products smell so good! Find out what happened since the last time she was on the show, now that...

In this episode of Where Are They Now , we reconnect with two inspiring Cornellians: Jemma Hendricks, a first-semester freshman, and Kayla Singer, a first-semester senior. Both returning guests share updates on their lives since we last spoke, reflecting on the growth they've experienced and the excitement they feel for what’s ahead. Kayla discusses the profound changes she’s witnessed over h...

Meet Osei Boateng, A CNN Hero and Cornell Human Ecology Young Alumni Achievement Award winner. Osei is the founder of the OKB Foundation which provides critical clinical care and accessibility in Ghana. Osei’s passion for community and saving lives has made him an extraordinary leader, dedicated to making a big difference. We discuss how his work is changing lives and leaving a lasting impact, and...

Meet Derek Ting and Joyce Yung. Derek, a writer and martial arts enthusiast, and Joyce, a renowned photographer, teamed up to create films that pack a punch—literally. If you like action movies, you will like their latest movie Agent Recon. Derek may have caught the movie bug in Acting 101. Other than that, neither had filmmaking in their post grad plans. They transitioned from impressive corporat...

Jackie Garrido is a Cornell ILR graduate and seasoned Talent Development Leader with over 25 years of experience. She shares her journey in transforming workplaces into environments where people not only excel but also love what they do. Her career path is a highlight reel of dream employers. And she met her husband at one of them... Plus she is an expert on workflow and minimizing distraction. Gu...

We were thrilled to talk to Matthew, a rising junior and a rising star in the culinary world.    Matthew has captivated the hearts, appetites and inner chef of millions with his vibrant, humorous, and approachable cooking style, making his kitchen and his dorm room a global stage on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.  He’s got 3 million followers across his platforms. THREE MILLION. We met him on a p...

Melissa made a significant impact on Cornell campus life by organizing the iconic Slope Day and several other on-campus events. She was a natural-born promoter and leader. Her career in hospitality PR began with a series of impressive internships and study abroad that you've got to hear and tell any incoming or current Hotel School students about.  Melissa founded Benhaim PR, an agency dedica...

Jeanne is designing for gold!   We caught her right before she left for Paris and we are thrilled. She was one of the most fun and most interesting people we have ever met. We LOVED HER.   Behind the seams : Jeanne tells us all about how she became the designer of the STUNNING gymnastics leotards, how her company balances aesthetics, functionality and performance, and how she is prepared for any l...

That title is almost  a double entendre. In this episode we discuss the world of sensory-friendly fashion with Julia Deney, the visionary behind a revolutionary clothing line designed specifically for children with sensory issues. Julia shares her journey of creating Sense-sational You (that is a double entendre), that not only addresses the unique needs of these children but also blends style wit...

Get ready for an inspiring conversation and behind the scenes look with Margot Baker, a rising senior at Cornell and the executive director of some of the most fun Cornell campus events. Can you guess the 2024 Slope Day budget? Guess again. She picks up new skills with ease and balances a demanding work load and her jobs with time for friends and activities that make her happy (and sing?). She&apo...

We've had some pretty exceptional seniors on the podcast right before they graduated. Many of you have asked us, "Whatever happened to..." So in a new series "Where are they now," we will check back in with some of the students you all loved getting to know on the podcast. You will remember Zack as the drum major in the Cornell marching band. And you may remember he is the...

Jimmy Pitaro's journey from Cornell to ESPN exemplifies resilience, passion, hard work and the importance of relationships.   From his early days as a hometown football star, to leading one of the world's most famous and iconic sports networks, Jimmy's story is inspiring and filled with gratitude for the people that helped propel him to Chairman of ESPN; including football recruitin...

She does stand up but this is no joke. In this episode, we talk to Flavia Scott, an outstanding Cornell Human Ecology graduate who has left the campus and Ithaca better than she found it. Flavia’s curiosity and dedication to advancing the science of human thriving shine through as we explore her journey and are frankly floored by how brilliant and deep thinking she is at such a young age.  She exp...

Part recap and part news, we discuss the Cornell Human Ecology award ceremony and absolutely crazy things that went on. Keywords: Helen Bull Vandervort Award, D-listers and Brenda Bricker Also, I threatened to tackle Osei Boating, young alum award winner, even though he has saved 6000 lives. Community is one of my favorite concepts in the world. Steph's too. We are grateful for our friends, f...

Noah's dedication to justice advocacy and his involvement in critical human rights issues exemplify the importance of individuals striving to make a positive impact in society.  He's a 2024 Human Ecology graduate and we look forward to following his journey and the contributions he will undoubtedly make to the field of law and human rights.  He's had more involvement with Human Bond...

So…we were blown away by graduating senior Nina. She’s won awards. She’s had incredible Cornell experiences in other countries. She’s brilliant. That would be enough for us to highlight her on the podcast. But when you see and hear what she has created while being a full time CHE Fiber Science & Apparel Design major, you will be struck dumb.  You heard it here first (we think), she is one to w...