Imagine A World

In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) and Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) speak with Yousuf Khan ('19 cohort) about how basic science research can directly improve the lives of everyone, the role that tennis has played in his life, and his experience traveling to New Mexico for a game show. Highlights from the episode: (04:34) The story behind Yousuf's name (06:11) Growing up in the Dis...

In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) and Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) speak with a group of scholars and friends about how their Knight-Hennessy Scholars friend group came to be. Sanaa Alam ('23 cohort), Hannah Melville-Rea ('23 cohort), Leona Neftaliem ('23 cohort), Jocelyn Ricard ('23 cohort), and Takondwa Semphere ('23 cohort) give us an insider's look at some of the beautiful moments withi...

In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) and Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) speak with Marcus Frost ('19 cohort) about his memories of home, transition to Stanford, experiences navigating cancer, chemotherapy, and recovery, and ideas for how to check in on your friends. Highlights from the episode: (04:34) Delicious go-to dishes when cooking (07:07) Reminiscing on home and journey to Stanford (19:5...

Join us for Part 2 of a Knight-Hennessy Scholars Global Travel/Study trip to Turkey! In this episode, Willie Thompson (2022 cohort) speaks with Jocelyn Ricard and Pierce Garver (both from the 2023 cohort) as they recap their memories from their 10-day trek in Turkey. Highlights from the episode: (2:24) First impressions of Turkey and go-to Turkish treats. (13:33) Lessons learned from site visits....

Join us on a Knight-Hennessy Global Study Trip (GST) to Turkey! In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 Cohort) speaks with Ayça Alemdaroğlu, the Associate Director of the program on Turkey and a research scholar at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University, who also served as the Faculty Leader for the Turkey GST. Highlights from the episode: (3:04) Ayça's upbr...

We're back for Season 2 of IAW! Kick back, relax, and listen to Sydney and Willie's conversation with Douglas Henze (2023 Cohort). Highlights from the episode: (7:04) Douglas's journey from playing football in Birmingham, Alabama, to focusing on engineering at Stanford. (19:43) Douglas reflects on his struggles with concussions and how his experience shaped his research focus on aging and Alzheime...

Tune into our first episode of season 2 next week! We've got new hosts and new perspectives, but the same authenticity from our KHommunity.

While we've been hard at work on the next season of Imagine A World, so have the Executive Director, Tina Seelig, and Founder of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, John Hennessy, on a new podcast called "Leading Matters." We encourage you to listen anywhere you go for podcasts! IAW will return for Season 2 next month.

The Imagine A World season finale is here, and it’s a bittersweet goodbye to Taylor Goss, a KH scholar you’ve come to know and love as our podcast co-host. As Taylor completes his time with the Knight-Hennessy community and moves on from Stanford, he shares about the world he imagines—where music and art are recognized and funded, not only as means of emotional expression, but also as drivers of s...

The latest episode of Imagine a World features a familiar face… frequent co-host Sydney Hunt from the 2023 cohort joins the podcast, this time as the guest! Sydney, a first-year PhD student in electrical engineering, imagines a world where people see someone that looks like them doing what they would love to do. She shares her experience growing up in upstate New York, building environments that a...

Highlights from the episode: (7:23) Thay's childhood growing up in Brazil and London, and her reflections on being a non-traditional undergraduate student at Stanford (14:34) How Thay's interest in politics was fostered by discussions with her uncle (18:55) Thay's reflections on her Imagine a World Statement about meeting people's basic needs and providing them a foundation to thrive, and how it i...

Named one of 10 women changing the landscape of leadership by The New York Times, scholar Aya Mouallem is an advocate for diversity in STEM and cofounder of the award-winning initiative All Girls Code. She imagines a world where STEM education is not only accessible and equitable, but also inclusive to learners of all backgrounds and abilities. Hear her reflections on her upbringing in Lebanon and...

Joe Nail (2023 cohort), joint MBA/Master in International Policy student, imagines a world where faith, family, and courage are our guiding values, and where all Americans are bound together through service. He joins hosts Willie Thompson, Taylor Goss, and guest host Sydney Hunt to chat about emulating service exhibited by his parents, leading as an introvert, discovering his entrepreneurial spiri...

Will Dwyer (2023 cohort) imagines a world where future generations can look towards the natural world for joy and inspiration. He joins hosts Willie Thompson, Taylor Goss, and guest host Sydney Hunt to discuss his experience immigrating to the US from France, his love for plants and their otherworldly biochemistry, being captain of an ultimate frisbee league, and expressing himself through writing...

Zahra Fazal (2022 cohort) imagines a world where communities across Africa have an equal stake in setting the global health agenda. She joins hosts Willie Thompson, Taylor Goss, and guest host Takondwa Semphere to chat about her experience growing up in a scenic town in Tanzania, leaving home at 13 years old, addressing global health issues through a social epidemiology lens, and the danger of a s...

In this week’s episode of Imagine A World, KHS alum Briana Mullen (2020 cohort) discusses what led her to pursue master’s degrees in policy, organization, and leadership studies and in public policy at Stanford. She shares her experience of being a lifetime Californian, reflects on the joys of being a marching band kid, discusses building an organization that empowers underrepresented communities...

In her final year at Stanford Medical School, scholar Nadine Jawad joins the Imagine A World podcast to reflect on her upbringing, sharing how she tempers cynicism, embraces joy and grief simultaneously, and is working relentlessly to make healthcare accessible to all.  Highlights from the episode: (6:21) Nadine’s experience growing up in Dearborn and how it contrasted with her college experi...

In this episode of “Imagine a World,” Courtney Burton, a second year scholar pursuing a joint MBA/MS in Environment and Resources, discusses growing up in Atlanta, working in health care consulting, and her passion for extending healthspans. She sheds light on barriers to accessing resources for healthy aging, from health literacy to ageism, talks about embracing her inner clown, and reveals her v...

In Episode 10 of Imagine a World, Johnny Powell, first-year medical student and first 2023 scholar featured on the podcast, talks about being the first in his family to attend an Ivy League school and his journey to medicine. He shares how he balances grit with grace, where he gets his motivation to work out at 6AM every morning, and why he hopes to empower young people that look like him. Highlig...

In this week’s episode, Vidal Arroyo (2022 cohort), 2nd year PhD student in Biophysics, takes us through his journey to Stanford as a first-generation college student and his passion for biophysics, poetry, and music. He opens up about mental health, his relationship with faith, and the importance of creativity and joy in science. Highlights from the episode: (07:04) Vidal's path into science, fro...

In this week’s episode, Ashwyn Sam (2020 cohort), 4th year PhD student in Aeronautics and Astronautics, reflects on the profound impact that a strong support system and the compassion of others have had on his professional journey. He also explains the beauty of theoretical physics, shares his passion for cinema, and reveals the reason he was fed goat brains as a child. Highlights from the episode...

In this episode, Aditya Vishwanath (2018 cohort), a graduate of the PhD program in Learning Sciences and Technology Design, shares his experiences with education and his vision for its future. Tune in to hear about his journey from memorizing his way through school exams in India to founding education reform organizations, all while finding the time to catch some Pokémon along the way. Highlights...

In this episode, Emily Russell (2020 cohort), a Ph. D. candidate in Political Science discusses her upbringing in a large family, combining theatrical performance with political science, how she uses both to understand state violence, her sweet tooth and so much more. Highlights from the episode: (3:06) Emily's winter break dreams of launching a microgreens garden and her upbringing in Michigan (G...

In this episode, Jaelynn Walls (2021 cohort), a Ph. D. candidate in Art History discusses, their introduction to artistic expression through creative writing, their journey to pursuing opportunities in curation, creating space to discuss contemporary artists of color, and so much more. Highlights from the episode: (4:40) Jaelynn's love for Pixar, growing up in Houston and experiencing both homesch...

In this episode, Karishma Bhagani (2021 cohort), a Ph. D. candidate in Theatre & Performance Studies (TAPS), sheds light on the power of art to unite people and encourage empathy, her journey of growing up in Kenya as a fifth-generation East African to moving to New York to pursue a degree in theater and history, leveraging the arts to drive conversations of change, and so much more. Highlight...