Imagine A World

In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) interviews Willie Thompson ('22 cohort), one of the original creators of Imagine a World, and a person whose presence will be deeply missed within the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community. Throughout the episode, he reflects on what it means to be in community with others and how that has looked for him from where he grew up to his time as a husband and father at Stanford as part of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community.Don't miss: A surprise visit by another person who played a pivotal role in the creation of the Imagine a World podcast: Taylor Goss ('21 cohort).Highlights from the episode:(02:46) Imagine a World/Denning House-style guessing game(05:54) Surprise visit from Taylor Goss(07:18) Growing up in the Deep South, going to Morehouse College, spending a year in Taiwan as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, spending a year in Beijing as a Schwarzman Scholar, and working at The Bridgespan Group (11:29) Things Willie liked to do in his communities growing up and the inspiration behind his interest in education(15:51) Wanting to start a school(19:49) His experiences in high school leading up to Morehouse and how he was able to form a tight-knit community with his peers at Morehouse(29:25) Deciding to apply to Fulbright and Schwarzman(33:55) Elaborating on his Imagine a World statement(41:48) Being in the Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars community and being in community as a father, husband, and a Knight-Hennessy Scholar (47:19) Value of mixing fields and programs while at Stanford(54:44) Improbable facts, five favorite albums of all time, and Willie's walk-on song

In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) interviews Rachel Desch ('23 cohort) who imagines a world where trusted institutions and leaders are able to mitigate violent conflict and inspire innovative policymaking. Rachel is a second-year master's student in international policy. Before coming to Stanford, she spent nearly a decade working in the federal government. In this episode, Rachel describes how her upbringing on a military base and wide-ranging academic background have fueled her commitment to building trust in government, adopting holistic approaches to conflict resolution, and potentially running for public office. She highlights the “start-up culture” pockets within government where mission-driven work thrives, and shares other personal interests.Highlights from the episode:(02:21) Reflecting on spring quarter(05:54) Growing up in a military community in Fayetteville, North Carolina(11:38) Going from high school to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to Stanford (19:59) Working on foreign policy analysis and making the decision to go back to graduate school(24:45) Reason behind working in the government after graduating from UNC(29:06) Building people's trust in institutions and leaders, mitigating violent conflict, and inspiring innovative policymaking(36:44) Reflecting on people's perceptions of government and government work(41:24) Advice for people interested in applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars(43:10) Improbable facts

In this special episode, Sydney Hunt (‘23 cohort), Anson Zhou ('24 cohort), and Max Du ('24 cohort) curate some of the most memorable moments of Season 2 through the lens of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars leadership model. Across four segments—curiosity, inspiration, open-mindedness, and visionary thinking—they revisit several standout clips from scholars who pushed boundaries in science fairs, forged lifelong friendships, embraced mentorship, and built new paths for their communities.Highlights from the episode:(01:46) Curiosity: Catharine Bowman ('22 cohort) recounts her first backyard water-filter experiments, her bacterial-growth grocery-bag study, and how a local science fair project led to a world-record baking soda volcano on the Discovery Channel.(05:43) Inspiration: Takondwa Priscilla Semphere ('23 cohort), Sanaa Alam ('23 cohort), Hannah Melville-Rea ('23 cohort), Jocelyn Ricard ('23 cohort), and Leona Neftaliem ('23 cohort) reflect on building enduring friendships across time zones and how the programming at Knight-Hennessy Scholars enabled their close bonds. We also hear about the friendships shared by Longsha Liu and David Jiang and Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort), Gianmarco Coronado Graci ('23 cohort), and Will Dwyer ('23 cohort).(17:16) Open-Mindedness: Jordyn Sanico and Christian Tanja share the teachers and early-career mentors who urged them to “just try,” followed by Eliza Ennis's ('22 cohort) insights into empowering community leaders in global health policy.(25:38) Visionary: Quyên Nguyễn-Hoàng ('22 cohort) describes the beauty of slowing down in a fast-paced world, and Khushi Malde ('24 cohort) describes founding an entrepreneurship nonprofit that bridges Kenyan students with mentors.

In this episode, Max Du ('24 cohort) and Nikhil Gupta ('22 cohort) interview Madison Freeman ('22 cohort) who imagines a world where technological solutions drive a sustainable economy. Madison unpacks her passion for the venture capital climate technology space and what that work looks like day-to-day. She talks about how she became interested in climate issues and where her desire to do internationally impactful work comes from. Madison also shares how students, startups, and international climate initiatives fuel her optimism about solving climate challenges--even amid today's uncertain funding landscape.Highlights from the episode:(02:48) Her Austin upbringing, time studying in DC, and desire to do internationally impactful work(09:48) Becoming interested in climate matters(14:23) Understanding the increased interest in climate(16:01) Rapid fire questions about Madison and climate(20:17) Work before Stanford and breaking into the climate space(27:01) Elaborating more on her interest in the field of venture capital climate tech ecosystem(31:39) The day-to-day of someone in the venture capital climate tech space(35:22) Working in the State Department(41:22) Advice for those interested in working in policy(45:48) Advice for people interested in applying to Stanford and Knight-Hennessy Scholars(50:50) Breaking down why it is a strange time for climate right now and why Madison continues to be optimistic about eventually solving climate challenges

In this episode, Anson Zhou ('24 cohort) and Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) speak with David Jiang ('22 cohort) and Longsha Liu ('22 cohort) about their journeys to Stanford and the close friendship they've formed. David and Longsha share the accomplishments and vision behind their KHeystone Project: the Stanford Healthcare Design Challenge, which seeks to bridge the gap between healthcare innovation and implementation. Longsha discusses the motivation behind his interests in the intersections of healthcare with technology, research, and business. He also shares his elaborately planned and heartwarming proposal story (which David played a huge role in). David talks about the importance of community throughout his time as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar and what creating community during COVID times looked like.Highlights from the episode:(04:06) Longsha's journey from Hong Kong to California (and all the places between)(06:09) The motivation behind Longsha's interests in healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship(11:20) David's journey from the Gobi Desert to Japan and then Minnesota(13:21) David's path to law school(18:02) Their Immersion Weekend experience, how they ended up becoming close friends, and finding community in Knight-Hennessy during COVID times(28:46) Longsha's upcoming wedding, David's role as the officiant and co-best man, and Longsha's proposal story(41:55) Their KHeystone Project: the Stanford Healthcare Design Challenge(51:35) How Longsha's startup influenced the development of the KHeystone Project(1:00:07) Improbable facts(1:01:37) Advice for those applying to Knight-Hennessy

In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) and Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) speak with Khushi Malde ('24 cohort) about her hopes for education to spark curiosity, build resilience, and empower students to innovate, create, and lead for global responsibility. Khushi shares how growing up and attending high school in Kenya and then pursuing an undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley made her realize the gap in opportunities that she had compared to her peers--and how doing work to bridge those gaps brings her joy. She talks about founding a nonprofit that brings entrepreneurship education to high school students across Sub-Saharan Africa and shares insights into her current work at Stanford, where she's building tools that help students explore potential career paths through hands-on, immersive learning.Highlights from the episode:(03:45) Khushi's journey from Kenya to UC Berkeley to Stanford and how it has influenced her work and academic path(07:18) The gaps that Khushi is working to bridge and the point when she realized the gap in opportunities that she had compared to her Berkeley peers(11:13) Why Khushi chose to pursue data science and business at Stanford(17:33) Elaborating more on her decision to pursue nonprofit work in Africa, the journey of starting and running her nonprofit, and the work that her nonprofit is doing(25:47) Khushi's plans and aspirations for the future as well as the project that she is currently working on at Stanford(33:09) What Knight-Hennessy Scholars has meant to her work and her experience at Stanford(37:43) Her experience at Immersion Weekend and why she considers it a highlight of her overall Knight-Hennessy Scholars experience(39:44) Advice for those applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars(45:04) Improbable facts

In this episode, Max Du ('24 cohort) and Anson Zhou ('24 cohort) speak with Eliza Ennis ('22 cohort) about her journey from a close-knit community in New Mexico to Stanford's Health Policy PhD program and how her upbringing, family, and community have shaped her interests. Eliza discusses her academic journey from Harvard to Stanford, plans for her upcoming dissertation, and some of the research and social impact projects that she has worked on around the world. She discusses her passion for health policy, the challenges of translating research into real-world solutions, and her vision for a more equitable healthcare system worldwide.Highlights from the episode:(02:23) Growing up in New Mexico(12:42) The role of Eliza's family and community on her academic path(18:12) Eliza's journey to studying health policy at Stanford and her experiences within the PhD program(25:02) Work she will do in summer 2025 and her past research projects(30:18) How community stories have impacted how she thinks about and approaches global health(36:22) Eliza's work in San Francisco and plans for her dissertation(44:42) Reflecting on community(48:35) Improbable facts

In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) and Will Dwyer ('23 cohort) speak with Gianmarco Coronado Graci ('23 cohort) about how his lived experiences have fueled his desire to work towards a world where access to justice is a right and not a privilege. Gianmarco also shares his experiences studying law in Mexico and then transitioning to Stanford after working as an adjunct professor of law at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and as a senior associate at a litigation law firm in Mexico City. Highlights from the episode:(04:12) Interviewing the Mexican Supreme Court Justice Hon. Margarita Ríos Farjat(08:21) The Neukom Center's Rule of Law Speaker Series(11:55) Gianmarco's journey from Mexico City to Stanford and decision to pursue law(19:01) Working as an adjunct professor of law at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México(21:00) Lived experiences that led him to pursue studying law(32:43) Elaborating on the motivations behind his Imagine a World Statement(38:23) Pursuing a master of law and master of public policy at Stanford(46:32) Being a Knight-Hennessy scholar(59:37) Improbable facts

In this episode, Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) and Max Du ('24 cohort) speak with Quyên Nguyễn-Hoàng ('22 cohort) about movement, belonging, and the search for stillness in a fast-paced world. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy, Quyên embraces the idea of finding home in transition and uncertainty. Quyên also shares her experiences attending Stanford as an undergrad and grad student and what it was like to move to the United States from Vietnam.Highlights from the episode:(01:55) Quyên's journey from Vietnam to Stanford(06:11) Her interest in poetry and feelings about how poetry evokes a sense of home--poetry as rhythm, release, and home(13:10) Home as both a physical place and an internal state(33:55) Experiences attending Stanford as an undergrad and grad student(39:01) Moving from one culture to another(45:43) Becoming interested in Buddhist thought(47:43) Pursuing a PhD in Art History

In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) and Max Du ('24 cohort) speak with Catharine Bowman ('22 cohort) about how her lived experiences have fueled her research focus on ensuring that patients living with lymphatic diseases are properly diagnosed and treated. Catharine also shares how her studies led to her falling in love with humanity, how she tries to keep a childlike sense of wonder and openness in her approach to research and life in general, and some of the people and research projects that give her hope.Highlights from the episode:(03:43) The motivation behind attending Stanford and her Imagine a World statement(14:49) Falling in love with humanity and maintaining a sense of wonder and openness everyday(19:26) Adding on a PhD in Epidemiology and Clinical Research(22:56) The challenges of diagnosing and treating people with lymphedema or lymphatic diseases(28:35) The people and research projects that give her hope(32:40) Participating in the International Science and Engineering Fair(43:37) Advice for those applying to Stanford and Knight-Hennessy(45:31) Improbable facts

In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) and Anson Zhou ('24 cohort) speak with Christian Tanja (Senior Assistant Director of Admission) and Jordyn Sanico (Admission Outreach Coordinator). Jordyn and Christian share their guiding values, experiences with mentorship, and interesting aspects of the work that they do at Knight-Hennessy Scholars. They also share their improbable facts--such as performing in the Carnegie Hall on two different occasions and being able to three prong spearfish!Highlights from the episode:(04:04) Home and their journeys to Stanford(13:40) Singing in the Carnegie Hall twice(15:07) Mentorship and the people who've supported them along their journeys(19:46) Handling negative inner voices and imposter syndrome(22:56) Interesting aspects about their work(27:17) The inspiration behind their Imagine a World statements(37:12) Improbable facts and rapid fire questions(44:20) What they wish scholars knew

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 District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) and attending the University of Maryland(12:05) Developing his current research interests (28:15) Facilitating the KHS conversation(30:53) Writing his Imagine a World statement and reflecting on the importance of academic humility(36:12) Participating in a Netflix game show

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 within their friendship and discuss how various aspects of KH programming have helped them to meet and strengthen their bonds with each other--mentioning Immersion Weekend, Day One, the retreats, Storytelling with Dan and Lisa, and the Deep Dive sessions.Highlights from the episode:(05:43) How they met--reflecting on KH Immersion Weekend, Day One, Fall Retreat, Storytelling with Dan and Lisa, and Deep Dive sessions.(13:36) First impressions of each other.(18:16) How regularly meeting at Denning for Lunch helped with strengthening their bond(21:35) Sanaa's Dance Moms Instagram fan page(26:06) Watching Alma compete in the Miss USA competition on TV(30:53) Some favorite memories and experiences with each other(35:51) Staying in touch after graduating (41:30) Their similarities(44:12) Rapid fire questions about who is the most likely to start a viral TikTok trend, survive a Zombie apocalypse, plan a spontaneous trip to another country, and win an argument with a complete stranger.(51:43) Advice on building authentic and enduring friendships while in KH

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:(06:09) Delicious go-to dishes when cooking(09:07) Reminiscing on home and journey to Stanford(25:00) So you want to build a microscope? and reasons behind getting involved in medicine(35:00) Navigating cancer, chemotherapy, and recovery(45:16) How to check in on your friends(51:59) Improbable facts(57:28) Advice for those applying to Knight-Hennessy

Join us for Part 2 of a Knight-Hennessy Global Study Trip (GST) to Turkey! In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 Cohort) speaks with Jocelyn Ricard and Pierce Garver (both '23 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.(19:34) Hopes, expectations, and reality of the Turkey GST.(30:19) Rapid fire questions about the group dynamics and events.

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 upbringing, journey to Stanford, and love of political theory.(8:44) Ayça's research on the most recent election in Turkey.(17:50)Ayça's experience coordinating GSTs and what she hopes the our group learns from our time together in Turkey.

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 Alzheimer's.(25:18) Douglas discusses balancing gratitude with acknowledging life's challenges.(33:25) What do people often get wrong about STEM folks?(48:11) Improbable Fact(s)!

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 social change. Taylor reflects on his homeschooling days in Louisiana, his passion projects, and the core childhood memories that helped shape where he's going next.Stay tuned! Imagine A World will return in fall 2024 with a brand-new season and new co-host Sydney Hunt. (6:12) Taylor's experiences growing up in Lacassine, Louisiana, being homeschooled, and becoming interested in the guitar (19:23) Transitioning from high school to college by taking dual enrollment classes at McNeese State University, attending a program at the Berklee College of Music, and then attending Louisiana State University on a Stamps Scholarship(25:46) How music became a lifelong pursuit for Taylor through providing a community, whether the mentorship he received from the Lake Charles music community, or the Coastal Voices project in the LASAL Scholars program(32:55) What brought Taylor to apply for Stanford and Knight-Hennessy and his advice to applicants(37:11) Taylor's thoughts on his Imagine a World Statement about valuing the social and political potential of the arts and increasing public funding for arts education(44:55) Taylor's research at Stanford studying music technology and policy at CCMRA and on homeless housing policy through the MPP program(49:00) Taylor's upcoming move to Malibu to work as a recording engineer(51:25) The history of Taylor's hair(54:58) Rapid-fire mailbag questions for Taylor, on everything from transmogrified kitchenware to Halloween costumes(1:05:11) An original song by Taylor

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 allow historically underrepresented groups to reimagine life's possibilities, dad jokes, and more.Highlights from the episode:(5:59) Growing up in Cornwall, New York in a close-knit group of family friends(12:59) Transitioning to undergraduate life at Duke University academically, athletically, and socially(21:44) How Sydney ended up majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies, and how she combines her humanities and STEM background through advocacy for diversity in STEM(33:58) How the Knight-Hennessy community has helped Sydney pursue her Imagine a World statement of increasing(39:47) Sydney's experiences serving on the board of trustees at Duke, as a way of giving back in gratitude for the full scholarship that allowed her to study there(43:25) Sydney's PhD research on brain-computer interfaces that can restore function for paralyzed people(50:49) Sydney's improbable facts about room-temperature water and meal points, and her advice to applicants(56:09) Bonus dad joke

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 informs her approach to deliberative democracy and her nonprofit, Skaped(26:37) Thay's PhD research on political polarization, and how she hopes to combine theory and practice in her work in Brazil(34:50) The role of music and writing in bringing balance to Thay's life (read her Stanford Daily article on coming back to herself)(38:48) Thay's advice to Knight-Hennessy applicants and the role of KH in her Stanford experience(41:01) Thay's improbable fact about her arboreal interlocutors(45:08) A special musical performance from Thay

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 her Knight-Hennessy Scholars journey, a community she calls “a home in the world and the world in a home.”Highlights from the episode:(4:56) Aya's transformative experiential learning opportunities growing up in Beirut, Lebanon, from participating in a science fair to protests to building her own nonprofit (10:10) Founding All Girls Code, a nonprofit to encourage girls to study STEM (16:12) How the privilege of experiential learning should be accessible to everyone (20:00) Moving at Stanford from researching biochips to making engineering tools accessible to marginalized communities, and fighting the ableism of engineering field, inspired by the experiences of a blind classmate (26:46) Handing All Girls Code onto future generations, by building up pathways for girls who went through the program in high school to eventually lead the program (30:58) Aya's connection to Lebanon, from a necklace she wears to remind herself of home, participating in anti-corruption protests in 2019, founding a fellowship program for Lebanese students, and cooking Lebanese food (40:40) How Aya thinks about using her online presence to magnify attention to the causes she cares about (44:5) Knight-Hennessy program has enriched Aya's experience at Stanford, from programming to community to growing her appreciation for and involvement in the arts (50:46) Aya's improbable fact about having visited over 50 museums, and her advice to applicants to the program

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 spirit, launching a new initiative for US military veterans, and so much more. Highlights from the episode:(4:38) Joe's trajectory from growing up in Kansas to attending UNC Chapel Hill, serving in the military, and applying to Knight-Hennessy(10:28) How Joe's love for public service and sports are inspired by his parents(16:23) Joe's passion for long-distance running, and the adventures he's had pursuing this passion(24:10) The story of the start of Lead For America, Joe's nonprofit creating public service leadership opportunities across the US, and Joe's style of leadership as an introvert(30:52) Project 1310, a fundraising campaign Joe is doing by running a marathon in every state to raise money for a veteran's fellowship for Lead for America(37:10) How Joe thinks about the role of military service today(44:45) Joe's improbable facts about running in Anarctica, and his first business venture Joe's Snack Shop(53:33) Joe's advice to Knight-Hennessy applicants to think purposefully about why Stanford and Knight-Hennessy make sense as a next step for them

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. (Also, special guest appearance by Taylor's guitar and original song, flower facts!) Highlights from the episode:(6:23) Will's experience growing up in France and moving to America as a teenager and running track in high school(16:40) How Will became interested in plant biology through reflecting on plants during a summer in New York City(21:53) Will's experiences working at the Carnegie Institute before matriculating as a PhD student at Stanford, and his current research using electron microscopes(27:20) Will's Imagine a World statement about creating ways for future generations to have non-extractive and joyful relationships with nature(29:10) The role of storytelling in Will's experiences with Knight-Hennessy, from a story he told in a weekly storytelling workshop about going to see Hyperion and subsequently published on Knight-Hennessy's website, to leading last quarter's Community Reads program(35:59) Will's thoughts on the importance of language and writing in science, from his research on the language of scientific taxonomies to his work writing and editing newsletters for the nonprofit The Good Scientists(44:52) Will's hobbies at Stanford, getting to sf to play ultimate frisbee in a queer league, and taking weekend trips into nature(48:56) How Knight-Hennessy has shaped Will's Stanford experience, including his friendship with Imagine a World co-host Sydney Hunt(52:28) Will's improbable facts collecting the periodic table of elements as a kid and affection for the snooze button of his alarm clock(57:18) Flower Facts with our friend, Will Dwyer (featuring an original composition by Taylor Goss)(59:16) Will's advice to applicants to Knight-Hennessy, to not be afraid to think out of the box and put your “weird foot forward” in the application

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 single story in sub-Saharan Africa. Plus, her many creative endeavors, from creative writing to earring-making to crocheting!Highlights from the episode:(7:12) Zahra's experience growing up in Morogoro, Tanzania, living alone in the city at age 12, and deciding to pursue education beyond secondary school(17:30) The role that art has played in Zahra's life in carrying home with her and reminding her of the community that took care of her growing up(23:01) What moving from Tanzania to Canada and then the US has been like from Zahra, and how she grounds her work in her experiences growing up and those of her family, especially her little sister(31:31) Zahra's Imagine a World Statement about communities in Africa having a stake in setting the global health agenda, and how that focus led her to focus on social epidemiology in her time at Stanford and her thesis project on health outcomes for people with albinism in Tanzania(43:02) How Zahra's experiences with poetry and literature shaped her interactions with the world, from reading voraciously as a child, writing her own stories on Wattpad, and creating an advocacy song for her work(56:10) Zahra's improbable facts about crocheting and board games and advice to Knight-Hennessy applicants and scholars about the importance of mentorship

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 to create change in their school districts, and so much more. Highlights from the episode:(6:21) Briana's experiences growing up working class in the Bay Area, and finding an enduring sense of home and community, as a band kid in high school; her first experience getting involved in school boards to try to save the school music program from budget cuts(17:00) Learning about the history of public education and the experiences of her peers in the public education system at Berkeley and finding a home there(21:05) How Briana's Imagine A World statement shifted over time, from how school boards can build vibrant, multiracial democracies, to building villages and communities for children in and out of schools(24:29) Finding inspiration about leadership and vision for public education from colleagues at the California Department of Education(28:59) Working with communities to build up representative school boards and raise public awareness of their importance through the Education Justice Academy, a nonprofit Briana founded when she was at Stanford and now works on full time(43:30) How Briana deals with overwhelm by slowing down, meditating, and building lasting change at a sustainable pace through meeting people where they are at(48:26) Briana's advice to Knight-Hennessy applicants by finding ways to fit what you want to say into the application rather than just answering the questions(51:52) Briana's Improbable Fact about crafting a syllabus about Avatar: Legend of Korra, and how the insights of the show relate to children's experiences encountering vast political forces and give insights into how it takes community to make a change(59:12) the story of the start of the Imagine A World podcast at an Asilomar Knight-Hennessy retreat(1:04:46) Working with teachers, students, and families to save the music program at her high school 12 years later

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 experience attending the University of Michigan(11:59) How the public policy major at Michigan shaped Nadine's college experience, and how it related to her aspirations to become a doctor(18:10) How Nadine tempers and wrestles with cynicism about change, from her nonprofit initiative Books for a Benefit, to her experiences in student government, to working for Amnesty International(28:12) Nadine's Imagine a World Statement about the importance of accessible healthcare (check out her video: “Collective Grief, A Cup of Chai and Blood Pressure Medication”)(32:12) The role that Nadine hopes writing will play in her work in the future, as a way to open hearts and minds and bring about impact the world, and how she thinks about her positionality as a Knight-Hennessy and Rhodes Scholar in putting out writing(39:52) How Nadine thinks about activism, and balances the reckoning with atrocity and feelings of guiltwith joy(44:29) The support the Knight-Hennessy community has given to Nadine throughout her medical school experience(46:54) Nadine's improbable facts, advice to Knight-Hennessy applicants , and plans for the immediate future!

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 vision for her life at 67 years old. Highlights from the episode:(5:01) Courtney's packed schedule at quarter's end, juggling improv comedy, presentations, and classwork(9:52) Courtney's journey from her childhood in Atlanta, to consulting on health at Deloitte, to pursuing an MBA + EIPR master's at Stanford(16:47) How Courtney's family reacted to her decision to pivot away from her initial dream to become a doctor, and how other influences in her life shaped that decision(20:34) Courtney's interest in extending health span, driven by watching family members age, experiences at Deloitte, and a Mexico City internship on a startup on healthy aging(25:11) Courtney's blog on healthy aging and her plans for a post on balance(31:30) Discussing barriers to accessing resources for healthy aging, from health literacy to ageism(38:07) Courtney's upcoming trip to a blue zone in Costa Rica and what she aims to learn there(41:06) Courtney's vision for her life at 67(42:56) How Knight-Hennessy has helped Courtney meet people from different disciplines(45:37) Courtney's improbable facts and advice to KH applicants

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.Highlights from the episode:(6:28) Johnny's experience growing up in North Carolina; his decision to apply to an Ivy League school, taking a different path from his family, who attended HBCUs, and the culture shock and transformative experiences that Johnny had at Harvard(15:18) How Johnny first became interested in medicine, motivated by the experiences of his family members, and his path to eventually pursuing an MD through consulting and clinical research(19:12) Johnny's experience running the Harvard Black Men's Forum, as well as other advocacy and leadership positions, and how they inform his notion of good leadership(22:40) Johnny's thoughts on his Imagine a World statement, about addressing all people's health and social needs(26:25) Johnny's approach to handling bad days maintaining a sense of optimism without sliding into toxic positivity, and balancing his practice of grit and grace(31:55) The role of the medical school community, Knight-Hennessy, and family in supporting Johnny during his time at Stanford, and the support he's gotten from his mother throughout his life(35:22) How Johnny views his role in empowering future generations and his thoughts on the inaccessibility of med school application process(40:35) Johnny's experience applying to the Knight-Hennessy and his improbable facts about his experience staying with a host family in Japan; his advice for applicants to the program

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, from getting interested in kinesiology through wrestling growing up in Orange County, to his undergraduate studies in biochemistry and molecular biology at Chapman University (16:25) The story of how Vidal came to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship, and how he thinks about the obstacles he faced on his journey (22:42) Why Vidal identifies as a humanitarian scientist, and how that ethos developed out of his struggles with depression at Oxford and Stanford drawing him to reflect through faith, music and poetry(35:09) Vidal's reflection on his Imagine a World Statement about turning work into art, and the role of Knight-Hennessy in cultivating that approach (43:20) The advice that Vidal gives to Knight-Hennessy applicants(49:10) One of Vidal's improbable facts (which is also a pun)

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: (3:40) Ashwyn's path to immigration to the United States from India, the advocacy of his parents in finding a scholarship to attend college, and how his experiences inform his Imagine a World statement(22:30) The origination of Ashwyn's interest in physics in The Big Bang Theory, and the factors leading to his his switch to engineering in college(29:26) Aswhyn's current research on the detection of small orbital debris (32:30) Ashwyn's interest in teaching and storytelling, how Knight-Hennessy has allowed him to develop these skills, and the best story he's heard recently(37:50) How Aswhyn's faith influences his approach to life(41:26) Ashwyn's improbable facts and advice for Knight-Hennessy applicants

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 from the episode: (3:24) How Aditya's education growing up in India and the Middle East motivated his desire to become an education researcher(11:20) What Aditya's experiences as an undergraduate in computer science taught him about the limits of using technology for education reform(16:20) The potential Aditya sees for technology in education when it is integrated with curricula and best curricular practices(20:57) The work that Aditya thinks must be done to reimagine education(26:43) Aditya's experiences with Knight-Hennessy and advice to Knight-Hennessy applicants (30:30) Aditya's improbable facts, namely his prolific knowledge of the Pokémon catalogue

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 (Go Blue!) (12:56) Emily's personal and professional introduction to the idea of state violence and how she envisions a world with no state violence (23:08) Emily's experience building Playwriting for Peace, a project aimed at channeling empathy through expression in communities affected by conflict & state violence and her dissertation research (35:51) How KHS has affected Emily's experience, her improbable facts and advice for future KHS applicants

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 homeschool and public school (13:45) How Jaelynn sparked an interest in art and began to build a following through their YouTube Channel "Art in Color"(26:38) Why Jaelynn focuses on youth in their work, their experience writing a book "The Queer Girl is Going to Be Okay," and how they handle critique(46:22) Jaelynn's improbable facts and advice for future KHS applicants

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.Highlights from the episode:(5:10) Karishma's upbringing in Kenya and childhood training in dancing(9:35) Karishma's journey into acting and her degree at NYU; her experiences directing and producing, and how they relate to her interest in history(16:06) Karishma's thoughts on decolonizing the theatre canon by expanding it and critiquing it through a decolonial lens(19:05) The role of mentoring from strong women and parental support in navigating a career in the arts (25:50) Karishma's motivations for pursuing a PhD in theater and performance studies at Stanford, and closing the gap between academia and practice by using the university as a space for resistance(32:22) How the diversity of the Knight-Hennessy community has shaped Karishma's vision for the arts(34:54) Karishma's experience directing and producing the play Haldi and Honey, written by the playwright Aleya Kassam, for her second-year candidacy exam(39:24) Karishma's improbable facts and her polyglotism (41:24) Karishma's advice to applicants for Knight-Hennessy

In this episode, Tomo Kumahira (2022 cohort), who is pursuing a joint MBA and MS degree in environment and resources (EIPR), talks about thinking creatively about agriculture and water use in response to climate change, working at a startup in coastal Kenya, inspiring communities through blogging, and dishwashing at a Michelin restaurant. He also discusses learning in multicultural environments, the Knight-Hennessy application, curiosity at Denning House, and so much more. Highlights from the episode:(2:18) Tomo's upbringing in Japan and his experiences studying as an undergraduate at Brown University(9:30) What motivated Tomo to work in finance for water and agriculture (15:58) Tomo's time working for Komaza, a forestry company in Kenya(20:11) What brought Tomo to Stanford and Knight-Hennessy, experiences at Knight-Hennessy, and where he hopes to head next(27:50) Tomo's experiences starting a blog, experimenting with photography and working at a Michelin-star restaurant (35:36) Tomo's hopes for what the world will look like in 15-20 years(38:52) Tomo's improbable facts and tips on udon-making (41:17) Tomo's advice for applicants to Stanford and Knight-HennessyWant to learn more about Tomo's work? Check out his blog and his current water and agriculture venture, Project Mizu.Imagine a World is a podcast sharing the stories of scholars in the Knight Hennessy community, an interdisciplinary, multicultural graduate fellowship funding scholars across all seven schools of Stanford University (learn more about how the podcast started here!). To stay up to date, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, follow Knight Hennessy Scholars on social media (@KnightHennessy) and visit our website to learn more about our fellowship program and our vibrant community.

In this episode of the Imagine A World podcast from Knight-Hennessy Scholars, we explore the potential of improving access to high-quality medical and scientific technologies. Our guest, Maya Durvasula shares her personal journey from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Duke University. In addition to sharing her experience at Duke, which was precluded by a gap year in local New Mexico politics , Maya shares what led her to pursue a J.D. /Ph.D. joint degree between Stanford Law School and the Department of Economics, the power of mentorship, where she feels most optimistic about the future, and so much more. Highlights from this episode:(4:12) Maya's upbringing and her journey to Stanford / Knight-Hennessy Scholars(13:16) What life as a J.D./Ph.D. is like(19:27) Maya's perspective on the focal points for improving access to medicine and where she finds optimism(28:14) Maya's testament to the power of mentorship, her hobbies, and how her priorities have changed over time(34:45) Maya's Improbable facts(37:49) Maya's advice to prospective Knight-Hennessy ScholarsDon't miss this captivating conversation that will ignite your own sense of exploration and self-discovery. Follow Knight Hennessy Scholars on social media (@KnightHennessy) and visit our website (kh.stanford.edu) to learn more about our fellowship program and our vibrant community.

In this episode of the Imagine A World podcast from Knight-Hennessy Scholars, we explore the power of words and the impact they can have. Our guests, Kay Barrett and Lydia Burleson share their personal journeys from Tennessee and rural Texas to the University of Virginia and Yale respectively. In addition to sharing their journeys to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, Kay and Lydia both expound on why they chose the Ph.D. program in Stanford's English department, where they get inspiration from their work, how they navigate the challenges of graduate student life, literary hot takes, and so much more. Join us as we engage in thought-provoking discussions and gain insights into creating a better world.Highlights from this episode:(2:49) Kay and Lydia's upbringing and their journeys to Knight-Hennessy Scholars(15:04) Why Kay and Lydia chose English Literature as their medium for work(20:10) Representation in media and where Kay and Lydia find optimism and hope in their work (30:38) Reflections on navigating the challenges of graduate student life Overcoming obstacles as a student from a rural background(37:19) Kay's literary hot takes(42:34) Lydia's reflections on access to education (46:51) Kay and Lydia's advice to prospective Knight-Hennessy Scholars(50:38) Kay and Lydia's Improbable facts Don't miss this captivating conversation that will ignite your own sense of exploration and self-discovery. Follow Knight Hennessy Scholars on social media (@KnightHennessy) and visit our website (kh.stanford.edu) to learn more about our fellowship program and our vibrant community.

Welcome to the Imagine A World podcast. Join us as we explore the inspiring stories of the Knight-Hennessy Scholar community, discussing their visions for a better world and the impactful work they're doing to bring it to life. From representation in the media to access to medicine, climate change, and more, we delve into meaningful conversations that will leave you feeling inspired. Follow us on social media @KnightHennessey and visit our website for more information.