Formative

On this episode of Formative, Catherine Treff and Nevaeh find beauty in all the colors of the rainbow. Catherine is the Director of Design for Macy’s, loves wearing heels, and taking it as easy as possible in the morning. We hear exactly how many hands went into making that favorite shirt of yours and we learn inspiration can come from anywhere — though there’s only one dress Catherine will never...

Lee Stringer joins us on today’s show! Lee is a 3-time published author. His memoirs are raw and inspiring and so is this interview. 7th-grader and co-host, Jamie, learns for every bad thing that's happened in our lives there just might be something in it for us — we grow or we get strength. In this episode of Formative, Lee shares his history of addiction and homelessness and why he’s never given...

On this episode of Formative 8th grader, Cesar, interviews Bob Knakal! Bob is Senior Managing Director and Head of New York Private Capital Group for JLL. He’s had a hand in the sale of thousands of buildings in New York. One of his best pieces of advice? Pick a job because you really love it — not because you think you're gonna make a lot of money doing it. If you love what you do, you’re likely...

It’s Season 5 of Formative and we’re so happy you’ve tuned in! This season of the show, our students interview some of our best guests ever — from tech, education, sports, real estate, and publishing. And for this season's launch, Clover Hope joins 13-year-old Sharod! Clover is a writer, journalist, producer and so much more. She’s going to share her love of hip hop — especially women creatives. W...

He didn’t always know who he wanted to be — but for the past 3 decades becoming Mayor was his goal. NYC Mayor Eric Adams joins us on this episode of Formative. Co-host Akadir asks him about everything from his dyslexia, to his time in juvenile detention to how he credits plant-based eating with changing his life.

It’s episode 9 ¾ on this season of Formative! We’re heading back to school with Barbara Marcus, President and Publisher of Random House Children’s Books. She’s the woman we can thank for bringing Harry Potter to the states! Today, she talks publishing with 11-year-old Cece. We learn what makes a book worth writing, what makes an author great to work with, and we learn we’re never too old or too yo...

So, how does a self-described “high pitched energetic guy that you can't shut up” end up with millions of fans? We say you take a dash of bravery, an ounce of love, 2 cups of creativity, and more confidence than you can fit in a bread box. Today’s guest, Cory B., is a social media content creator with more than 10 million followers on TikTok. A lot of his latest clips are 1-minute reaction and re-...

Finding the cure for cancer: that’s what set Dr. Damon Love out to make a dream bigger than himself. Now the co-founder of S.E.E.D. STEM program, Dr. Love’s legacy is all about finding and raising next generation’s scientists. He and his wife are redefining the way STEM education is taught — and they’re making science fun and accessible to all students.

What’s it mean to advocate for women across the country? One strategy is to “be the buffalo”. 6th-grader Nylah learns a bit of what that means from Teresa Younger, CEO of the Ms. Foundation For Women. On this episode of Formative, we hear the joys of family support, some of the big challenges facing women this year, and the intersection of women’s rights and Black history. We just might even tackl...

In this episode of Formative, Sunni gets the lowdown on what it’s like being the president of Pace University and she gets some encouragement that she’ll be able to handle college like a champ when it’s her time. Marvin Krislov used to prosecute cases involving police brutality and racial violence in the 1990s. Now, as Pace’s chief, he wants to build a nurturing and supportive environment where st...

What’s it like being in a male-dominated field? Well, sports anchor Tina Cervasio is here to tell us it’s now a womens’ game! On this episode of Formative, 8th grader, Tamia, takes a conversational spin on the uneven bars and sticks the landing with a deep-dive discussion on the reality (or not) of dramatized sports entertainment. We round the bend and get some tips for students considering a care...

Even though he’s 6’3” and weighs over 200, this week’s guest still goes by “Baby Dave” to those who love him. David Barclay Moore is an author who sees “reading as a form of listening” and wants his work to be a vehicle for identifying with people all over the world who may be pretty different from us. In this episode of Formative, we get to listen to his thoughts on everything from comic books, t...

Growing up, Keith Howard knew he was the best — and he was going to the NBA. How’s he then find himself as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)? How does his love for the game influence his work? And what basketball dreams are still alive? These are just some of the things Kureem asks him about on this episode of Formative.

It’s the season 4 launch of Formative! This week’s guest was so focused on surviving transitional life in foster care, she didn’t think she’d attend college — much less accomplish a PhD and keep going. Dr. Shanika Hope is now the Director of Education for Social Impact at Google. In this episode, 8th grader, Emily, shares her own hopes and concerns and hears what it’s like for one woman in technol...

After 25 years in the public eye, Sportscaster John Chandler still gets nervous before going on the air. On this episode, of Formative, he tells co-host Khody how those nerves show him he still cares after all this time. Coming into his career through a deep love of sports, John talks about the highlights and challenges of being the face fanatics see.

Author Chrystal D. Giles had a son and began to crave seeing him and her family reflected in children’s books. In this episode she tells 6th grader, Christina, how this absence of diversity spurred her on to write the books missing from the shelves. Once an accountant, she’s now a full-time author who believes we have time to do “all the things” we’re interested in.

After a successful nonprofit career, Rich found himself pivoting to an organization that had made his community work possible. Now the CEO of Robin Hood, he’s getting to support projects he loves, in neighborhoods he loves. In this episode, 7th grader Chanse picks his brain on everything from the importance of pre-k and afterschool programs — to anime. 

It’s not every day you meet someone who can catch a speeding tap shoe mid-air in the dark — fix it — and then send it back out to finish the show. This week’s guest can do just that. Islah Abdul-Rahim is a successful visual artist and Broadway wardrobe professional. In this episode, co-host Prianna asks her what in her career she’d do exactly the same — and what she’d make alterations on.

Entrepreneur, podcast professional, and New York Edge board member, Robert Tuchman joins 12-year-old Rokiat to discuss the winding path many of our careers take. We dream of one thing and a couple of pivots down the road we’re enjoying a career we didn’t expect. 

In this episode of Formative, 7th grader, Angel, connects with Simone Harris-Laws who’s in charge of DEI marketing and community partnerships for Macy’s. We learn to find common ground through ice cream, get less rigid with our schedules, and the importance of mentors as an alternate family who want us to be happy.

Let’s get our butterflies into formation and make the next right move. On this episode of Formative, former U.S. Ambassador, and aspiring aerospace engineer, Suzan LeVine deep dives with 8th grader, Allyson. They mull over the power of the listening ear and how, as women leaders, it’s sometimes hard to be heard.

How does Overwatch teach valuable life lessons? Should I be a chef…or psychotherapist? And how can chocolate make a difference in a borough…and the world? That’s just some of the things we learn on this episode of Formative as D’Angelo from 362K interviews Carlos Cortes of Chocobar Cortés.

What’s the difference between and E and E10+ rating? It’s just one of the things we learn on this episode of Formative where 13-year-old Sandesh interviews Pat Vance — president of Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her role, Pat oversees and directs momentum of the organization that helps us know which video games are the right ones for us. 

Amaurys Grullon kicks off the Season 3 premiere of Formative. He’s a self-described “multipotentialite” who has his feet in creative worlds from illustration, to fashion, to music. We caught up with him in The Bronx — where he’s in love with his community and finding the most creative ways to give back. In this episode, co-host Allyson shares some Dominican pride and learns a little about the grin...

Jameel McClain played in the NFL for the New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens. In retirement, he’s only picking up the pace. He’s currently Director of Player Engagement for the Baltimore Ravens as well as a multi-faceted entrepreneur and philanthropist. On this season two finale of Formative, he tells co-host Jonathan how he ended up in football, how his education is still serving him, and ho...