Her Way Podcast

In today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Lindsey Felt, a scholar and educator in Stanford’s Writing and Rhetoric program. A former player on the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team at the Melbourne Deaflympics, Dr. Felt also served as ESPN’s primary U.S. Women’s Soccer columnist during an era marked by Abby Wambach, the professionalization of players, and accelerating investment in the women’s game. She reca...

Today we chatted with Professor Iris Stewart-Frey, a professor of hydrology and water resources at Santa Clara University's Environmental Studies Institute. Iris discusses her multifaceted role encompassing teaching, research, and service to both the university and the larger community. She elaborates on the unique mission and climate of Santa Clara, highlighting its Jesuit values. Iris also d...

In this episode, we talk to Professor Rabab Haider, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan's College of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Professor Haider discusses her work on infrastructure systems, with a focus on the future of integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. She shares her passion for sustainability, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and h...

In this episode of Her Way AAPI, we are joined by Shelley Lee, Professor of American Studies, History, and Humanities and Affiliate of Urban Studies at Brown University. She also co-organizes their Asian Pacific American and Diaspora Studies working group and was formerly the chair of Comparative American Studies at Oberlin College. Born in Seoul in the 70’s and raised in the intersection of Silic...

In this episode, we speak with Dawn King, Teaching Professor at the Institute at Brown for Environmental and Society, and Dean of the College for Curriculum at Brown University. Professor King shares insights on her career in sustainability education and policy, focusing on the impacts of local food economics and urban sustainability. She discusses her early interest in food systems, inspired by t...

In today’s episode, we welcome Mrs. Frey Dagne, a film director and actress best known for her 2021 short film Raine. Though she always carried a deep passion for filmmaking, Dagne reflects on how breaking into the industry required full immersion. She learned to study films relentlessly to understand the nuances of the whole business and slowly gain credibility. Dagne unpacks how her acting exper...

In today’s episode, we speak with Winnie Lu, Co-Founder of Fly Tot, known for its pioneering travel products. Drawing from her own long-haul flights between Asia and California, Lu shares how she identified a gap in the airline industry and validated a widespread need from fellow parents for comfort devices. She reflects on building the product organically and iterating the initial business model...

In this episode, we met with Dr. Christa Hasenkopf, Director of the Clean Air Program at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Dr. Hasenkopf discusses her work at the intersection of air pollution policy and technology, discussing the global implications of air quality monitoring. She details her transition from academia to a career that integrates technology, policy, and envir...

In this episode we’re joined by Ida Hempel, Vice President at Galvanize Climate Solutions. Ida shares her journey of working at the intersection of climate, technology, and investment, sharing how her passion for the natural environment converged with her interest in clean energy and climate tech. Ida shares her experience building an institutional-scale investment firm tailored for energy transit...

Today we’re speaking to Professor VanRiper, Lecturer of Environmental Studies and Co-Director of the Sustainability Exchange at Washington University in St. Louis. Professor VanRiper discusses her passion for sustainable sanitation and systems thinking, highlighting her international work and interdisciplinary approaches to community-based conservation. VanRiper’s research in container-based sanit...

In today’s episode, we welcome Justina Chen, young adult novelist known for North of Beautiful and A Blind Spot for Boys. Justina reflects on discovering the power of words from a young age and wanting to venture into investigative reporting and foreign journalism, industries that felt countercultural to her at the time. We discuss her journey into young adult fiction and how her mother’s dedicati...

In this episode of Her Way podcast, we sit down with Alice Siu, the Associate Director of Stanford's Deliberative Democracy Lab. Alice delves into the applications of deliberative polling in modern politics and its impact on public engagement. She shares her personal journey to her current role, highlighting the importance of listening and respecting diverse experiences in democratic processes. Th...

In this episode of Her Way Climate, we speak with Allison Wolff, the co-founder of Vibrant Planet, a tech platform specializing in advanced analytics for climate hazards including wildfires, floods, and droughts. Allison discusses how Vibrant Planet uses sophisticated machine learning models to provide real-time data for improving ecosystem health and community risk management. She shares her jour...

In this episode, we are joined by Celine Teoh– Unicorn CEO coach, team coach, and Stanford lecturer on Leading Effective Teams. Born and raised in Malaysia and shaped by global experiences across the U.K., Singapore, and the U.S., Teoh reflects on her early career in banking and consulting, where she honed the ability to navigate various industries, adapt quickly, and present to senior executives....

In this episode of Her Way Climate, we interview Lila Preston, Head of Growth Equity at Generation Investment Management, a Sustainable Management firm co-founded by Al Gore and David Blood. Lila shares her unconventional career trajectory from grassroots conservation work in Chile to leading sustainable investments. She explains Generation’s philosophy of integrating environmental, social, and go...

In this next episode of Her Way AAPI , we welcome Krystal Ka’ai, the former Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders under the Biden Administration. The first Native Hawaiian to lead this Initiative, Ka’ai also worked on Capitol Hill for nearly 15 years, where she was the Executive Director of the Congressional Asian Pacific Ameri...

In today’s episode, we are joined by Karen Polle, an equestrian athlete representing the Japanese National Team, a 2024 Paris Olympics Alternate, and an Asian Partner Rider at Hermés. Polle shares her exposure to this sport growing up in New York City and dives into the mental rigors of training, emphasizing how the psychological preparation is more difficult than the physical aspect at times, esp...

In today’s episode, we are joined by Cari Pang Chen, Director of Innovation, Strategy & Planning at the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP). At FFRP, she plays a crucial role in helping formerly incarcerated individuals transition into firefighting careers through comprehensive training, certifications, and mentorship. We discuss the significant barriers these individuals face, includ...

In this episode we welcome Claudia Polsky, the founding director and a clinical instructor at Berkeley Law's Environmental Law Clinic. Prior to the clinic, Claudia worked as the Deputy Attorney General for the Environment Section of the California DOJ for fourteen years. In our conversation, Claudia delves into the clinic's work in training law students to bridge the gap between theory and...

In this episode of Her Way Climate, we speak with Professor Sommer, a clinical instructor at Harvard's Emmett Environmental Law and Policy Clinic. Professor Sommer shares her journey from litigator at the DOJ to Deputy General Counsel at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and now an educator. She discusses the similarities and differences between these roles, her passion for work...

In this episode, we delve into the journey of Mauria Finley, Vice President of Google Store and Google Fi Wireless, Founder and CEO of multi million companies Allume and Citrus Lane, and adjunct lecturer at Stanford University. Finley shares her experiences of overcoming educational disparities, the impact of her work on major tech products like Netscape and Gmail, and her transition from startups...

In this episode, we welcome Christine Luong, the sustainability manager of Palo Alto. She shares her transition from pre-med to environmental policy, sparked by volunteering at an environmental justice organization. Christine discusses the development of Palo Alto's Climate Action Plan and the increasing governmental effort she has led to reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2030. She discusses leadi...

In the next episode of the series  Her Way AAPI ,  Her Way  spotlights Wendy Nguyen , co-founder of Stand with Asian Americans and Asian Americans Rise, two movements dedicated to amplifying Asian American political voices. As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Nguyen reflects on how being a beneficiary of the American system fueled her commitment to advocacy and equity. In the wake of the Atlan...

In today’s interview, we are joined by Rachel Quon, Head of Operations at Just Women’s Sports and a pivotal member of their startup team. Just Women’s Sports is a media company founded during the pandemic dedicated entirely to women’s sports.  Rachel herself is a former soccer player for the Canadian national team and the NWSL's Chicago Red Stars. During her time as a student-athlete at Stanfo...

We're kicking off the school year, and our new series HER WAY CLIMATE with an interview with Deborah Sivas, an Environmental Lawyer and Director of the Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford Law School. Professor Sivas shares her experience working in the nuanced intersection of climate policy and environmental law. Sivas predicts that due to a conservative Supreme Court, there will be less and...