Lion Legacy

1989 Penn State graduate, Dave Wurtzel, is a hero among heroes! Not only is he a firefighter, he also created The First Twenty, a non-profit committed to the health and wellness of first responders. Dave brings the energy and passion with a touch of comedy to the episode. A special thank you to Dave and all the first responders who continue to keep us and our communities safe. Jump right into: (6:...

1995 Penn State graduate, E.J. Johnston is creating the most electrifying hockey league tour - 3ICE. Set to debut in the summer of 2022, E.J. tells us about how he came up with the idea and the differences compared to traditional hockey leagues. We also dive into his career journey and time spent in the fashion and entertainment industries. Jump right into: (5:08) - 3ICE background (14:03) - Succe...

2006 Penn State graduate Michal Naisteter is a modern day matchmaker. It's easy to see how Michal's infectious personality and passion for meeting and connecting people help people go from first dates to marriage. Michal also talks about the importance of teaching children about human sexuality earlier on in their lives, as well as her favorite food in State College! Jump right in: 8:23 - The role...

1992 Penn State grad Steve Moyer and 2008 grad Danielle Stemple are two of the main people behind our favorite Penn State retailer, Lions Pride . Beyond being a great partner of Lion Legacy, we wanted to learn about what it takes to operate a small business in a college town. Steve and Danielle also provide some great insights on how they work with Penn State and the licensing department to bring...

2007 Penn State graduate Justin King is one of the top cornerbacks in Penn State football history. After a career in the NFL, Justin jumped right into the sports business industry and recently started his own company, L.I.G. Sports. In this episode, Justin talks about his new venture, his thoughts on college football and the NFL, and of course, his time playing for the Nittany Lions. Jump right in...

2020 Penn State graduate Ashley Ferrara is the most recent alum to become a Hotdogger for Oscar Mayer! She spent a year touring the country in the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile and shares her time on the road, meeting some very interesting people (and dogs!) and of course driving the famous hot dog. An episode filled with puns, you'll be sure to laugh your buns off! Jump right into: (7:12) - Becoming a...

2007 Penn State grad Ashley Bisman entered college just a few years after her father's death in the September 11th World Trade Center terrorist attack. With an electric personality and positive outlook on life, Ashley shares her story on coping with the tragedy and finding love in her new book "Chasing Butterflies: The True Story of a Daughter of 9/11." The book is available on Amazon with a porti...

2003 Penn State graduate John Colaneri’s name may sound familiar! If you watch HGTV, you’ll know him as one “the cousins” from the franchise of home design and renovation shows. John shares his journey from the corporate world to television. We’re also excited for him as he will be the Grand Marshal for 2021 Penn State Homecoming. Jump right in: (5:43) - Moving from the corporate world to the fami...

1990 Penn State grad Mike Xenakis has had quite an adventure - from entering the Air Force to helping build OpenTable and guiding it through both an IPO and acquisition to joining Vacasa, a vacation rental company, just prior to the pandemic. Join Mike as he shares his wisdom and key lessons along the way, including his decision to choose Penn State over Notre Dame. Jump right into: (3:34) - Going...

1954 Penn State graduate Dave Jones is a true storyteller. Would you expect anything different from a former journalist and editor? Dave’s career spans two of the world’s most prestigious papers - The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Dave shares some amazing stories, including how he broke a story on confidential information, his coverage of a US President and his effort championing wom...

Special 25th episode edition presented by Lions-Pride.com ! Co-hosts Jared Melzer and Ross Weisbrot talk about their experiences at Penn State, their great friendship and their journeys post graduation. Jump right in: (1:43) - Meeting at Penn State (5:27) - Choosing Penn State (11:54) - Favorite Penn State memory (15:19) - Life after graduating (25:54) - Staying connected to Penn State Show off yo...

1993 Penn State grad Elizabeth Miller was stressed, feeling overwhelmed and faced with a longer than normal to-do list when she became a caregiver for her ailing parents and disabled brother - in addition to raising her children and working a full-time job. Elizabeth not only found a way to manage, she took control and made sure she focused on ways she could be happy and healthy. Realizing that sh...

1982 and 1984 Penn State graduate Lisa Baird is paving a new path for women and women's sports. As Commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), Lisa talks about her journey from Penn State to some of the biggest brands in the world to entering the sports business world in prominent roles at the NFL, USOC and now the NWSL. She also shares a great story involving The White House and ho...

2013 Penn State graduate Rob Lawless is on a big mission - to meet 10,000 strangers! Yes, that's a one with four zeroes! If you're wondering why, how and where - then you'll enjoy this episode with Rob. Jump right into: (5:49) - The genesis of the idea (9:31) - Student Question of the Episode presented by The Daily Collegian : Impact of the pandemic (14:58) - Common themes and favorite stories (21...

1984 and 1989 Penn State graduate, Dr. Cedric Bryant, has always found ways to get people moving for a healthier lifestyle. From academia to StairMaster and now the American Council of Exercise (ACE), Dr. Bryant's impact on the industry and people everywhere has earned him many recognitions, including this year's Penn State Distinguished Alumni Award. Jump right into: (7:27) - American Council of...

1983 Penn State graduate Joe Battista is one of the most passionate people you'll meet. In this episode, he shares his Pragmatic Passion philosophy that has shaped his career and impacted countless others. Coach Battista, commonly known as JoeBa, also gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how he helped take Penn State from club hockey to the varsity powerhouse it is today. After listening to t...

2016 Penn State graduate Matt Enderle enjoys sharing his passion of the outdoors and the National Parks with visitors. Currently based in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, Matt tells so many great stories, including his encounter with a bear and some changes he'd like to see to increase diversity. Jump right in: (8:13) - Life as a National Park Ranger (9:21) - Being an interpretive Ranger (10:4...

2010 Penn State graduate Ashlyn Sparrow is in one of the fastest growing industries - gaming. However, her role is a bit unique and goes beyond pure entertainment. As Assistant Director of the Weston Game Lab at the University of Chicago, Ashlyn works on developing games to create socio-cultural impact. In this episode, she dives into what that truly means, how she wants to see more Black women in...

2002 Penn State graduate Lisa Benson has walked the red carpet with her clients at the world's biggest fashion shows. As Vice President of IMG Models, Lisa gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the industry, how its evolved over the years, as well as stories of her family friend, the late professional golfer, Arnold Palmer. ** Apologies for some slight audio difficulties Jump right in: (4:51)...

1983 Penn State graduate Brian Cuban's time in Happy Valley was not all that happy. Battling numerous addictions (eating disorders, alcohol, cocaine, etc.) at Penn State and throughout his life, Brian shares his very honest journey to sobriety. Today, Brian spends his time as a public speaker and author - on a mission to help others who are in similar situations. Jump right in: (5:22) - The import...

1987 Penn State grad Jean Oelwang is determined to create a better world. Jean is President and CEO of Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group. In this episode, Jean shares about starting her career in the mobile phone business, some of the amazing projects she has worked on at Virgin Unite, how leaders can change their businesses to "do good" and more! Jump r...

2014 Penn State graduate Paul Suhey is on a mission to electrify urban mobility. In this episode, Paul shares his journey of going from a big oil company to founding an electric mobility company, the different ways Revel is helping people get around cities, how they helped during the pandemic, and more! Jump right in: (2:49) - The legacy of the Suhey name at Penn State (3:45) - Revel's mission to...

2002 Penn State graduate Bridget Lasda has worked at two of the world's largest beverage companies: Coca-Cola and Heineken. Currently, she serves as Chief Customer Officer at Calypso Lemonades. In this episode, Bridget talks about finding her way into the beverage industry, selling to major retailers such as Target, her transition to Calypso Lemonades, and more! Jump right in: (5:09) - Getting int...

2003 Penn State graduate Clifton Tay has worked for some of the world's most exciting tech companies - GE, Facebook, Uber, Zillow and now Genentech. In this episode, Clifton shares his work recruiting talent for these companies, his perspectives on the future of work and more! Jump right in: (4:06) - Getting into the talent acquisition field (5:45) - Moving from GE to Facebook (8:24) - The competi...

2005 Penn State graduate Neil Goldman saw a need in the hospitality market, created a solution and then figured out how to help underprivileged children. In this episode, Neil shares his entrepreneurial journey, why it's important to give back and more! Jump right in: (5:43) - The business of Hotels for Hope (6:56) - The birth of the idea (12:10) - The evolution of technology (13:30) - The challen...