50 X 50: HARVARD CLASS OF 1976

In this powerful episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff sits down with photographer, painter, and Harvard classmate Laura Zito for a deeply personal conversation about art, memory, identity, Ireland, and the lifelong struggle to preserve a creative legacy. Laura reflects on her journey from Harvard to rural Ireland, her decades of work as a photographer...

What does healthy aging really look like? In this thought-provoking episode, Michael Conniff sits down with Dr. Bruce Troen, Chief of Geriatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Director of the Landon Center on Aging, to explore the science behind aging well. From the Harvard Class of 1976 reunion to the latest research on resilience, mobility, cognitive health, and longevity, Dr. Tr...

What happens when one of America's most influential writers and cultural critics reflects on 50 years of life, journalism, and history? In this fascinating conversation, Michael Conniff sits down with Kurt Andersen —best-selling author, co-founder of Spy magazine, novelist, and renowned cultural commentator. They discuss:  ✅ Harvard and the Class of 1976  ✅ The rise of Spy magazine and its lasti...

In this deeply moving episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Magdalena Guernica Castleman speaks with Michael Conniff about a life shaped by resilience, ambition, heartbreak, and love. From defying family expectations to attend Harvard University, to building a successful career in international banking, Magdalena shares the determination that drove her toward independ...

What happened to the Harvard Class of 1976, fifty years later?   In this fascinating episode of 50x50 , Michael Conniff sits down with Bob Garrett and Nick Lemann to explore the changing landscape of elite education, leadership, and influence in America. From Harvard’s legacy to the broader question of whether today’s elite are advancing—or retreating from—their societal responsibilities, this con...

In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff speaks with classmate Rod Clark —retired law professor, author, and respected scholar of Justice Thurgood Marshall . Rod shares his extraordinary journey from serving as a teenage page at the U.S. Supreme Court to building a distinguished career in law and academia. Their conversation explores the legacy of...

In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff sits down with Elizabeth Vale to discuss her remarkable journey from banking and asset management to the White House and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Elizabeth shares reflections from the Harvard Class of 1976 reunion, the experience of being among the first generation of women...

Harvard Class of 1976 alumnus Dr. Mike Belmont reflects on lacrosse, lupus research, academic medicine, and the pursuit of knowledge across five decades. In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff sits down with classmate Dr. Mike Belmont, a longtime physician, professor, and leading expert in lupus and autoimmune diseases. Their conversation begins...

What does effective leadership look like in today’s rapidly changing workplace? In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff sits down with Joan Bragar for a thoughtful conversation about labor, leadership, and the evolving relationship between organizations and the people who power them. Drawing from decades of experience, Joan shares insights on wor...

What happens when a life takes unexpected turns—and each one leads to a new adventure? In this fascinating conversation, Marian Craighill shares her remarkable journey from growing up as a missionary child in Japan to attending Harvard, building a distinguished career in medicine, raising a family, and navigating profound personal transformations along the way. She reflects on the challenges of br...

What happens when a young Cuban refugee arrives in America, earns a scholarship to Harvard, builds an international career, and ultimately finds herself questioning the very country that gave her a new beginning? In this deeply personal episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff sits down with Teresita Alvarez-Bjelland to explore a remarkable life journey t...

What happens when a Harvard graduate chooses a path of public service over profit? In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff reconnects with Kurt Chilcott, a lifelong advocate for economic opportunity, community development, and social justice. From working with displaced workers and underserved communities to leading one of the nation’s largest no...

What happens when a Harvard graduate becomes a Rhodes Scholar, journalist, White House speechwriter, political strategist, bookstore owner, and bestselling author? In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff sits down with Lissa Muscatine for a wide-ranging conversation about a remarkable life shaped by ideas, public service, and a commitment to trut...

 In this inspiring episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff speaks with Doug Schmidt, whose remarkable journey spans technology investment banking, global travel, music, philanthropy, and public service. Doug reflects on growing up in Indiana, finding purpose through Phillips Brooks House at Harvard, traveling across Africa by motorcycle, and dedicating m...

What does it mean to be a true global citizen? In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff sits down with Jane Borthwick, whose remarkable life journey spans continents, cultures, and careers. Born in New Zealand and raised across Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Austria, Afghanistan, and beyond, Jane developed an early appreciation for history,...

50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? What does it mean to spend a lifetime creating, innovating, and adapting to a changing world? In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff welcomes Bob Rowley and Judy Graham for a thoughtful conversation about the paths they forged after Harvard and the lessons they learned along the way. From pi...

What does the American Dream really look like over a lifetime? In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff sits down with Joel Feldman for a remarkable conversation about opportunity, resilience, and reinvention. Joel shares how a newspaper delivery route in a small Pennsylvania steel town unexpectedly opened the door to a scholarship, prep school, H...

In this deeply personal and timely conversation, Dr. Mike St. Louis reflects on a remarkable career spent on the front lines of global public health. From investigating deadly outbreaks with the CDC to battling HIV/AIDS in Africa, his journey reveals the human side of medicine, science, and service. As part of the 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? series, Mike shares stories o...

Living With History — a deeply personal conversation between Michael Conniff and Sonnet Takahisa exploring identity, belonging, education, museums, and the evolving meaning of community across generations. From growing up as a Japanese-Jewish child in Brooklyn to helping build innovative museum-based learning programs in New York City, Sonnet reflects on the experiences that shaped her life and ca...

What happens when a pediatric neurologist, jazz guitarist, and world traveler reflects on a lifetime shaped by curiosity, creativity, and connection? In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff sits down with longtime friend Peter Heilbroner for a wide-ranging conversation about medicine, music, neuroscience, friendship, and birdwatching. From discov...

What happens when someone who seemed destined for success realizes Harvard was actually the hardest chapter of their life? In this candid episode of *50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976?*, Michael Conniff speaks with John Harnes about failure, depression, law, identity, reinvention, and the unexpected turns that shape a life. From getting kicked out of Harvard to becoming a succe...

What happens when ambition meets creativity at exactly the right moment? In this conversation, Michael Conniff sits down with Andrew Gellis — former Harvard lacrosse player, literary agent, producer, development executive, and media innovator — to trace a career that moved through Broadway, Hollywood, IMAX, and cutting-edge 3D technology. Andy reflects on the lessons that shaped him early: getting...

What happens when a Harvard freshman-year connection turns into a 50+ year marriage? In this deeply personal episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976? , Michael Conniff reconnects with Tim Benstead and Sally Shea — believed to be the first marriage to come out of Harvard Yard. From late-night dorm memories and the early days of coeducation at Harvard to careers in medicine,...

Roots. Reflection. Reunion. In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976?, Michael Conniff sits down with Mary Meagher to explore her Rhode Island roots, personal journey, and the experiences that shaped her life beyond Harvard. A thoughtful conversation filled with memory, insight, and the stories that stay with us over time. Watch now and join the conversation through...