Roads Taken

Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley will be returning for an all new season this summer— but don't expect frothy beach-read material. We're getting into the heavy stuff of the current moment—the opioid epidemic, higher education, the climate crisis and scariest of all, online dating. As in all our previous seasons, we will talk with new guests—all a quarter-century-plus after college—about who they were as they graduated, who they thought they'd become, and how they've traveled down various roads to get where they are today. But this time, interspersed with those new voices, we will be sitting down anew with some previous guests to get an update on the paths they've trod since our last conversation. It might not all be fun and games but, in talking to these special humans, we will certainly be finding the humanity in it all.//You might want to re-listen to a few previous episodes.Particularly handy might be the episodes withBrandon del Pozo (The Philosopher Officer),Kira Lawrence (Better Environments), andAdam Medros (Disruptive Mindset). Or visit our full archive at RoadsTakenShow.com. And be sure you've subscribed or you're following in your favorite podcast app and that your auto download feature is turned on so you don't miss any new episodes when they start dropping later in July 2024. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Welcome back to Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. We are thrilled to be bringing you another great season of stories that remind us that you don't have to know exactly where you're going, you just need to be open to the adventure that awaits. As in all our previous seasons, in each episode we will talk to our guests—all a quarter-century-plus after college—about who they were as they graduated, who they thought they'd become, and how they've traveled down various roads to get where they are today. Interspersed with these new voices, we will be sitting down anew with some previous guests to get an update on the paths they've trod since our last conversation. New episodes post every Monday during each active season. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

When we last spoke with Doug Asano, he talked about how our notions of success were a little skewed in the early days and it took a little time—and the help of friends—to figure out what a good life really looks like. In this Roads Taken Revisited, Doug reflects—as his daughters fledge and leave him with an empty nest—on words of wisdom dispensed as he was making his own full leap into the world. Realizing how special his friendships were and taking the time to nurture them has been a lifelong process and one that continues to pay dividends.In this episode, find out from Doug how keeping up connections and tapping in can make even the quietest moments joyful…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestDoug Asano continues to serve as Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Roseburg Forest Products. He lives in an empty though still really fun nest in North Carolina with his wife, with room for his daughters to come in and out from time to time.For Doug's first appearance on Roads Taken, listen to our episode Redefining Success. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

When Mario Barge got to college, he was thinking medicine but eventually realized his love since childhood for the outdoors was leading him to environmental law. Once at law school around others with deeper environmental roots, he found another way to serve and advocate through labor law. Initial stumbles in the law firm track pointed him to the legal and compliance side of corporate human resources. He served in a variety of HR capacities within Nationwide and had other corporate experiences before hitting it out in his own firm.Along the way, however, he had a number of unorthodox life experiences that made helped give him the perspective that stuff is just stuff and the outward trappings of success might not really be what we're after anyway.//In this episode, find out from Mario how paying attention and being self-aware can help us see that life is really just for living, not perfecting…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestMario Barge is Co-Founder and Principal at Geneva Executive Partners, and is an expert in human resource development, coaching and consulting having previously served in a variety of HR leadership roles for Fortune 100 companies. He spends lots of time with his family and continues to learn more about himself.For another story about someone who hones self-awareness and helps others do likewise, listen to our episode with Jennie Tranter.  Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

When Mal Wrenn Corbin got to college, the bucolic, peaceful campus seemed not only like a haven but a world away from the turbulence of her life in post-industrial Worcester, Massachusettes. As she set out to find success in the professional world, there was always a feeling that perhaps she hadn't tucked that history far back enough and she would be found out as who she'd been. Once she decided to face the trauma in her past, she was able to recognize that her full story was worth telling.In this episode, find out from Mal how looking back and bridging the distance can sometimes show how far we've come…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestMal Wrenn Corbin has had a full career in the financial services industry, with experience in Fortune 500 companies, deepening client engagement and cultivating high profile client relationships, particularly with C-suite executives. Her successes there have tended to be shadowed, though, by deep seated trauma from her youth that she is finally addressing in her newly-published book Raising Wrenns: A Memoir. The book captures stories of her family's life in post-industrial Worcester and how, unlike her brother and father whose lives were cut short there, she was able to leave and create a different life. Comparing and contrasting the Wrenn family's behaviors with those of their avian namesake, the memoir touches on trauma and the strength it takes to fly. Find out more at malwrenncorbin.com and be sure to get a copy of Raising Wrenns: A Memoir wherever you buy books.  For another story about someone coming to terms with who their parents could and couldn't be for them, listen to our episode with Jackie Kim Chappel. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

When we last spoke with Michelle Villalobos, in our very first month of producing this podcast, she talked about how sometimes you need to quiet the noise and listen more carefully inside to figure out who you are and where you're going. Recently, that voice from inside woke her up to a new message she couldn't shake. In this Roads Taken Revisited, Michelle talk about how that has manifested into a book that is growing its own wings but not precisely on her imagined timetable.In this episode, find out from Michelle how letting nature take the lead can show us that everything has its season…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestMichelle Villalobos helps empower people to share their gifts, grow their impact, and “monetize their magic” as she puts it. She offers courses and retreats through her Superstar Activator brand. Her newest creation is But I Want to Fly: An Adventure Book for Dreamers of All Ages. Check it out, along with all of her other wisdom and offerings at SuperstarActivator.com. (174) For Michelle's first appearance on Roads Taken, listen to our episode Superstar Activator. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Last we spoke with Joey Hood, he was between assignments with the State Department, waiting for word on where he and his family would go next. It seemed everything from his language study to early career experiences were setting him up for the ultimate big league position. In this Roads Taken Revisited, Joey talks about being nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia, the confirmation process, and what he sees as the potential in growing our bilateral relationship.In this episode, find out from Joey how taking everything as it comes can sometimes lead you to where you're meant to be…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestJoey Hood was confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia by the U.S. Senate in December 2022.  He served in leadership positions in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, including as Acting Assistant Secretary. He has served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Iraq and in Kuwait, as well as Consul General and Principal Officer in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Prior to these assignments, Mr. Hood was Acting Director of the State Department's Office of Iranian Affairs. For Joey's first appearance on Roads Taken, listen to The Generalist Diplomat. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

When we last spoke with Keshav Puttaswamy, he told us about spending 20 years at Microsoft, finally making the break for a new venture in Australia and ultimately coming back home again. In this Roads Taken Revisited, Keshav talks about the five years that passed at Microsoft since his return from Australia and how the coincidence of 25 years at one company and his daughter's prep for her college career jumpstarted a new venture for him.In this episode, find out from Keshav how being open and staying in the present can provide options for the future…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestKeshav Puttaswamy, a Seattle-based product manager, recently hit his 25th work anniversary at Microsoft and took it as an opportunity to take a chance on a new experience. His new chapter has begun with a leap to the Foundations team at Meta where he will weave his product management experience into something new and far-reaching. Check out the picture from his going-away party at Microsoft, complete with cupcakes with his face on them.For Keshav's first appearance on Roads Taken, listen to Time Traveler. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

A very early interest in the business world, planted by his father's explanations of his own work and nurtured by mentors in the investment industry, gave Jamie Keenan a vision for what his future might hold. He decided to seek out breadth through his history major, foreign study in France, club water polo and his fraternity. When he started to think venture capital would be his direction, he learned there is no straight path to get there. He took the advice to pursue investment banking to get both the breadth of experience it afforded and the deep industry-specific knowledge he was lacking but would need in the future. And even though his mentors instilled in him the discipline to keep an eye on the long game, his chance to realize some of his dreams came a lot earlier than he'd thought possible.Find out from Jamie how asking for guidance and following up on good advice can help in both the short and long run…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestJamie Keenan has been in the investing world nearly three decades. He is Managing Partner at Keenan Capital, which he's run since 2012. His long stint of managing portfolios for his partners and family has kept him busy but also has afforded him time to be with his extended family in the Bay Area.For another story about someone hitting it out on their own, listen to our episode with Jessica Drolet Wadlow. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Last we spoke with Karen M. Smith Debolt she was continuing her campaign to Make Karen Great Again and yet didn't know what might be the next chapter. The conversation actually proved to be a bit of a kickstart to get her involved in something new. In this Roads Taken Revisited, Karen talks about Humble Design, the organization that she found that gave her a new perspective on the talents and passions she has and how they can go to work for the benefit of others.//In this episode, find out from Karen how helping others feel at home can sometimes help you find your own place…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley.About This Episode's GuestKaren M. Smith Debolt is involved with Humble Design, an organization that changes the lives of families emerging from homelessness by furnishing and decorating their bare homes with donated funds and goods from individuals, institutions, and corporate partners. Since 2009, they have transformed nearly 3,000 spaces for single mothers, children, and veterans nationally. Especially if you live in the Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, San Diego, or Seattle area, Karen invites you (or your friends and family in those towns) to check out the organization. And, since she's been feeling LinkedOut, give her a shout-out, too.For Karen's first appearance on Roads Taken, listen to Making Karen Great Again.  Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Welcome to Roads Taken and another great season of stories that remind us that you don't have to know exactly where you're going, you just need to be open to the adventure that awaits. As in all our previous seasons, we will greet new guests—all a quarter-century-plus after college—and ask them about who they were as they graduated, who they thought they'd become, and how they've traveled down various roads to get where they are today. (From what we've hearned thus far, where we end up is rarely what we anticipated.) Interspersed with these stories from new guests this season, we will be sitting down anew with some previous guests to get an update on the paths they've trod since our last conversation. You can find our full archive at RoadsTakenShow.com and get a new episode each Monday when you subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcasts. Every time, our guest's story will show us what Robert Frost was trying to tell us: It doesn't really matter which way we turn….a full life awaits, regardless of the ROADS TAKEN. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley will be returning for an all new season soon—this time with a bit of a twist. As in all our previous seasons, we will talk with new guests—all a quarter-century-plus after college—about who they were as they graduated, who they thought they'd become, and how they've traveled down various roads to get where they are today. But this time, interspersed with those new voices, we will be sitting down anew with some previous guests to get an update on the paths they've trod since our last conversation. You might want to re-listen to a few previous episodes. Particularly handy might be the episodes with Karen M. Smith Debolt (Making Karen Great Again), Keshav Puttaswamy (Time Traveler), and Joey Hood (The Generalist Diplomat). Or visit our full archive at RoadsTakenShow.com. And be sure you've subscribed or you're following in your favorite podcast app and that your auto download feature is turned on so you don't miss any new episodes when they start dropping on January 1, 2024. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Sunni Chauhan and Sheryl Jacobson became friends freshman year of college, living in the same distant dorm near the river. Across the years, never living in the same city, they have maintained a close friendship that has sustained them. In this conversation, they discuss their friendship's origin story, how they have kept the relationship going over the years and what it has meant to each of them.You can hear each one of their stories on a previous Roads Taken Episode. Sunni was featured in Episode 143 called Merging Interests and Sheryl was featured in Episode 144 called The Sometimes Lonely Road.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com 

Coming from a family of accountants and engineers, Sheryl Jacobson didn't have any real models of what to do with a liberal arts degree. But with a love of history, culture, and story she knew she wanted an international experience after graduation. She landed a job with the boutique Monitor Group, working first in marketing and market research, just beyond her comfort zone. Her consulting life bounced her all over the world and presented her with opportunities she never could have imagined from London and Hong Kong to Istanbul and Shanghai, even as Monitor became part of Deloitte. Meeting her husband along the way and contemplating motherhood after many years, she realized she could come home and still have other adventures.In this episode, find out from Sheryl how balancing adventure and loneliness is a dance that can work out in the end…on today's Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestSheryl Jacobson is the lead strategy partner for one of Deloitte's Life Sciences clients. She has spent the last 20+ years helping clients and her sole employer Deloitte tackle strategic challenges and make the most of opportunities for growth and innovation. She lives in her to-the-studs renovated Brownstone in Harlem with her husband and their son. For another story about the ups and downs of expat life with Heather McNemar.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Although Sunni Chauhan had embraced the idea of becoming a doctor, as she knew she loved both problem solving and helping people, she thought if she was going to in medicine the rest of her life she'd take pre-med classes alongside something else that interested her. She became an economics major. At graduation, she decided to take a two-year break before jumping into med school and figured she'd be a management consultant. But if it really was going to be only two years, she realized she'd see a lot more from a deal perspective in banking where the cycles are shorter. Somehow, the two years turned into 16 and the MD her parents thought would be medical doctor turned to managing director.Her love of mergers and acquisitions allowed her to see a lot and learn a lot over those many years. When given a chance to reinvent herself, she took those skills, found ways to acquire new ones, and landed in new spots a few times over.//In this episode, find out from Sunni how keeping open to new things can lead to unexpected joys …on today's Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestSunni Chauhan is a strategic business leader with more than 25 years of experience advising leaders on value creation through talent, strategy, M&A and corporate finance, sustainability and stakeholder engagement. Currently she is exercising her broad skillset, gained over a wide range of professional experiences, as a consultant in the board and CEO practice at Spencer Stuart. She and her family live in London. For another story about someone who thought they'd take a two year break and go back to the plan (and also about taking a new path after a long run) listen to our epsidoe with Cameron Turner.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com 

As a young person, Louis Chang would make lists. Lists of long term, mid-term, and short-term goals as well as the daily tasks that he needed to do to achieve them. When he didn't finish his daily list, he would push it to another day. One major goal was medical school right after college. But after a less than stellar grade in his intro chem class, he felt his chances at med school were over. A momentary detour afforded him the opportunity to take a range of other classes from government to German, but he actually stuck with chemistry as a major, facing the challenge head on. The breadth of experiences he had during college and his true interest for organic chemistry, however, made him question his original idea of medical school so he didn't even take the MCATs before graduating. Instead, he worked in a chem lab at the NIH, almost pursued a PhD, and ultimately realized bench science was a little too isolating.Unsure what was next, he tried his hand at a law firm in DC but pretty soon he knew that wasn't the right fit either and finally applied to med school. The mix of tenacity and a willingness to try something new came in handy again when he actually did follow the to-do list toward his anticipated speciality, only to find out life had other plans. In this episode, find out from Louis how checking out the detours can help you leave no regrets …on today's Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestLouis Chang a neurosurgical spine specialist with expertise in minimally invasive surgery for spinal disorders. He also is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine. For another story about navigating the path to the medical life that feels right (this time in urology!), listen to our episode with George Huang. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

A chance selection of a freshman seminar on environmental health made Derek Shendell recognize there were entirely new ways of using his interest in science and medicine. A subsequent international experience showed him first-hand how geography and other social factors were involved. Public health had been an unknown career path to him, but rather quickly he realized it was exactly how he wanted to make an impact in the world. Getting a little bogged down by joint MD/MPH programs, he stumbled a bit at the start but got on the right track and found he could make impact with a number of different lines of work, all focusing on shining light on inequities and doing good science to help shift policies to make society healthier.In this episode, find out from Derek how looking beyond your own environment can sometimes help you see how you can do the most good…on today's Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestDerek Shedell is Professor and Concentration Leader  for Environmental Health Sciences in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Justice at the Rutgers School of Public Health. He is also the Director of the New Jersey Safe Schools Program there. He is widely published and continues churning out high-impact work. For another story about seeing the world around you and wanting to make it healthier, listen to our episode with John Peoples.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

In his younger days, when many of his contemporaries didn't really know what they wanted, David Reynolds was pretty clear on where he'd end up. And things ultimately came to pass just as he had imagined in both professional and recreational pursuits. He parlayed his engineering degrees into roles in technology and manufacturing and honed his leadership skills in business school. Spending twenty years in the same company afforded him the opportunity to flex those skills and build a broad toolkit. But now, with some years behind him, he is wondering about the opportunity costs of staying in one spot. In this episode, find out from David how sticking with things for a while can both help you get better and leave you guessing about alternatives …on today's Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestDavid Reynolds has a wide variety of experiences and a deep skill set in technology manufacturing management. He has spent more than two decades with Cabot Corporation in the greater Boston area, where he lives with his family. He is still into competitive sailing and on and off the water wants to keep getting better at things while always looking to what's on the horizon. For another story about balancing stability and change, listen to our episode with Keshav Puttaswamy.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

With an inclination toward making things, Ben Mitchell was drawn to an engineering path until differential equations came along. The promise of being able to get his hands dirty with tools right away made the computer science major more appealing. The burgeoning tech world seemed the natural fit after graduation and an MBA gave him the management skills to complement his coding ones so that he could flex in product management roles. Luckily the ebbs and flows of the tech industry gave him opportunities to get his hands dirty in not only a variety of companies but also outside pursuits.In this episode, find out from Ben how keeping the maker spirit alive outside the day job can sustain you in important ways …on today's Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestBen Mitchell has had a bunch of experiences in the online world, including product management, service delivery, and privacy in such settings as PayPal, Cisco, and Facebook. He's also gotten into lobster diving, has built a boat with his dad, and continues to build large scale mechanical contraptions for theatrical shows all in his non-working hours. And, as promised, here's a picture of Ben with a really big lobster. For another story about working to live, listen to our episode with (Ben's fellow Zete) Zack Stein.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com  

Believing that her future was in the ministry, Kristen Carlone Hurley saw a future in divinity school with a husband and kids somewhere in the Northeast. When her parents blindsided her with the news of their divorce in just before her junior year and she was going through relationship issues of her own, her faith was shaken. She dealt with a period of depression and first put the divinity school on hold until she realized she needed another path. After regrouping, she took opportunities as they came, no matter how divergent from the original ideal. Ultimately where she landed diverged quite a bit.In this episode, find out from Kristen how sometimes exercising faith means knowing you'll find something good where it is, not necessarily where you thought it would be…on today's Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestKristen Carlone Hurley followed opportunities as they came about, ultimately finding herself in the financial sector. She lives in Florida with her husband, enjoying the sunshine and living her bliss. For another story about faith taking you to unexpected places, listen to our episode with Michelle Erickson Waters.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

When Ilana Davidi Reeves walked into the computer science placement test at the start of college and she was the only woman, she walked out and found a new major. But tech-related internships at ESPN and an early internet company kept her interest piqued and on the second day of her first consulting job out of college, she found herself in their Java lab and kept programming and technology front and center in her career.Seemingly against the odds, she exceled in software engineering as one of the only women in the field. She had to deal not only with the volatility of the industry but also the discrimination there during the 2009 recession and later when she needed to juggle it all with motherhood. The struggles and the support she found from her network at that time, however, would prove to be beneficial when she found the odds stacked against her in other ways in her personal life later on.In this episode, find out from Ilana how sticking through the hard things can set you up for success and a sense of gratitude later…on today's Roads Taken, with me, Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestIlana Davidi Reeves is a software engineering and architecture leader with 25 years of experiences across diverse industries, who currently serves as Engineering Lead, Fulfillment at Square. She has managed, mentored, and directed local, off-shore, and near-shore teams including the new wave of women in the space. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and their two boys. (252) For another story about being an outlier in your industry and leading through it, listen to our episode with Tim Chow. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Having decided on a life of public service, Kristina Marty pursued public administration immediately after graduating college—first in a masters of public administration program and then in various practitioner roles, mostly focused on health and human services agencies. After these work experiences, which included a little research, she decided to go back for her PhD and looked at public administration from the academic side. Starting in a tenure track position and a newborn and felt the crush of trying to do it all but somehow she kept things together. At a certain point, however, she learned that all was not as it seemed and the marriage that she was relying on dissolved. The lessons she learned from dealing with this unexpected and unwelcome wrench in the plans taught her a lot about what to do when your first choice outcome is no longer in the set of realistic options. And when health became something more than academic for her, she relied on the lessons learned with her earlier dose of adversity. In this episode, find out from Kristina how learning what you can and can't control can ultimately guide you to a little serenity and gratitude. About This Episode's GuestKristina Marty is a mother and cancer survivor Kristina Marty who also currently serves as Senior Associate Dean in the College of Community and Public Affairs, and Professor of Public Administration at Binghamton University. As she suggested, if you have young people in your life, learn more about the HPV vaccine at cdc.gov/hpv and encourage them to get the vaccine, if eligible. For another story about learning fundamental lessons from adversity, listen to our episode with Doug Asano.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

We wanted to provide quick update about a previous set of episodes. Nakiah Cherry Chinchilla was kind enough to share the story of her husband and son's struggles with Huntington's Disease. In March of this year, her son August Gianpiero King Chinchilla passed away.  In just one week, on what would be Auggie's birthday, Nakiah will be holding the celebration of life that Auggie helped planned. As Nakiah says: "While it took many iterations over the years, he never went too far from his original beach party idea. He wanted a party at the Santa Monica Pier and for his friends to ride the rides all day and eat cotton candy. And so that's what we are going to do!!" Find out more about Auggiepalooza on Facebook or GoFundMe, keep Nakiah and Auggie in your thoughts next Friday, August 4, and be sure to hug those you love.

Throughout her career, Jamie Hansen would often find herself at a juncture where a leap was necessary. She first needed to navigate a start in the start-up world on the wrong coast and then got to the Bay Area just before the dotcom bust. She then needed to navigate her way from web development roles to solutions engineering to find more stability. But the stability afforded by a big company didn't fit with her personality and so she took another leap into food entrepreneurship.Along the way, where some people would see high risk, she just saw something to navigate through. Eventually, that outlook prepared her for what she'd face in her personal life, too.In this episode, find out how from Jamie how defining risk is all in the eye of the beholder…on today's Roads Taken, with me, Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestJamie Hansenan experienced solutions leader currently working to help a startup in the procurement space, Zip, move to the next level. She has worked at companies companies large—including Salesforce—and small—including her own wholesale bakery business. She lives in the San Diego area with her twin girls, living it up by the water and basking in the sunshine. For another story about leaping across careers with baked goods and family in the middle, listen to our episode with Chesley Homan Flotten.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Always with a medical future in sight, George Huang figured he would be a pediatrician just like his father. But when he got to med school and saw what surgery looked like, he changed his plans even as his father worried about the kind of work life balance that he might have in the surgical world. He ultimately found his niche performing surgeries on urologic cancers and progressed in  a successful academic medical career.Not necessarily due to the speciality, but the rather the environment in which he practiced, he did start to question whether the balance was right in his life. At just the right time, he learned about a place that might suit him better. But again, outside voices questioned his desire to go in the new direction. In this episode, find out from George how realizing what will make you truly happy sometimes requires quieting the voices around you…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley.About This Episode's GuestGeorge Huang is a urologist at Kaiser Permanente at Redwood City Medical Center, a physician and surgeon who treats diseases and conditions of the genito-urinary system. He sub-specializes in the treatment of genito-urinary cancers and treasures the patient-doctor relationship he now has in his community practice. He lives in the Bay Area with his wife and two daughters.  For another story about listening to others and finding your way in medicine, listen to our episode with Woojin Kim.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com  

Local to the area where he'd eventually go to college, Marc-François Bradley felt it was a happy accident to land there and benefit from good experiences with hockey, friends, education and the opportunity to kindle a relationship with the woman who would eventually become his wife. But like the spirit of accepting what will come for college, he didn't launch into a career with a particularly pathway in mind. Instead, he said he set a few guardrails based on the guiding principles of seeking to make a difference and expecting good outcomes. He parlayed his computer science skills into various technology opportunities but when his first child was born very early and needed extensive care, a new path took shape, guided by his guardrails and new priorities.In this episode, find out from Mark how setting your guardrails sometimes provides all the structure you need…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestMarc-François Bradley is a digital healthcare strategist and manager with extensive experience in innovation, information technology, and development of strategic corporate relationships. For the last decade, he has been founder and CEO of Sophrona, an online patient-physician communication technology and SaaS solution for ophthalmology. He lives with his family in Idaho, racing his bike and appreciating all he has done and will do. For another story about grounding decisions in values, listen to our episode with Jennie Tranter.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Almost defying her own expectations, Eva Sheibar Heyman navigated a fast-track trajectory as a high-powered career woman with relative ease. She had started out on a marketing track in a company that embraced the digital wave just before it crested and so she developed exertise not only in content but management. After a long initial run at that company and the grounding of business school, she found C-suite roles in a number of organizations.And while she appreciated her achievements and lifestyle on a cerebral level, it took the covid pandemic and attendant lockdowns with family to help her recognize how much more joy she could cultivate by slowing down and being present.In this episode, find out from Eva how sometimes it takes settling into the experience to find the joy… on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestEva Sheibar Heyman is a seasoned marketing and communications executive who has held C-suite roles in a diversity of industries, most recently as Chief Brand Officer and Global Head of Commercial Operations and Marketing Services, Bloomberg Media, and Marketing and Communications Executive at Civic Entertainment Group. When not in a board room, she can be found in the middle of a comfy sofa in New York, intertwined with her husband and their three children.  For another story about finding joy through being present, listen to our episode with Karen M. Smith DeBolt.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com 

Although generally a good student, Eric Jensen wasn't particularly driven to excel in the classroom. Slightly more interested in keeping track of his favorite jam bands than his studies, he ditched a science track for an English major. Upon graduation, he still found a way to meld his longstanding interest in science with his English degree, ultimately ending up in advertising for the bio pharmaceutical world. When the time came to try pivoting, he went to business school. Yet when given the chance to choose something new, he stuck with the industry and through a stroke of fate ended up on the track to stay with the same company for nearly two decades. Only when the groove started feeling repetitive did he look elsewhere, finding a new way to amp up the impact.In this episode, find out from Eric how letting yourself get in the groove can often keep the jam going.… on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestEric Jensen currently serves as Vice President, Head of Clinic Channel at Grail, where his team detects cancer early when it can best be treated and cured. Prior to his current role, he spent nearly two decades in a variety of positions at biotechnology giant Amgen. He lives with his family in the Columbus, Ohio area. For another story about finding impact through early-stage therapies, listen to our episode with Drew Natenshon.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com 

Since he didn't have a solid idea of where or how he would make a career in biology, Stephen Haddadveered away from science in the early part of his career. He started out in management consulting and was happy to get a broad view of how business works, but the siren call of science made him take a smattering of research positions before realizing that he needed to go back to school for more specialized training in genetics and epidemiology.As it turned out, not getting into a scientific role earlier was a good thing as the field that ultimately was a match for his interests and his skills didn't even exist until more than a decade after graduation. And in the end, it turned out that moving more slowly and methodically in the personal realm was as advantageous as in the professional one.In this episode, find out from Steve how proceeding slow and steady is required not only for winning the race but sometimes even getting to the starting line… on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestStephen Haddad is an expert in applied human genetics with degrees in epidemiology from Harvard and Boston University. He is currently a scientific investigator at GlaxoSmithKline. He lives in the Boston area with his wife and young daughter. For another story about the letting the path open to you slowly, listen to our episode with Jennie Tranter.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

As a kid, Amy Harman Burkart wanted to be a lawyer like you see on tv with the courtroom lawyering and criminal procedure. After law school, she honed in on being a federal prosecutor and set herself up to be in the right place at the right time. Timing, though, is a funny thing. When her husband wanted to go to business school she decided it would be good to try to expand their family so was an adjunct law professor when she became a mother. Then just as she was ready for the role in Boston, there was a hiring freeze and no openings meant she needed an alternate plan.In this episode, find out from Amy how staying true to yourself can sometimes steer you to the original dream after all … on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestAmy Harman Burkart is a litigation specialist who has been associated with many esteemed law firms and has had a variety of experiences in the law. Her dreams of serving as a federal prosecutor came true when she served as an Assistant United States Attorney for nearly a decade and was the Chief of the Cybercrime Unit. She is currently a trial attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. She lives with her husband and kids in the Boston area and is always up for a fun time. So call her if the need for a costume box should arise. For another story about hanging on until the timing is right, listen to our episode with Elizabeth Manheim.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com 

Entering college, Laura Bright was drawn to both French and math, two subjects she exceled in in high school. French remained something that came easily and she took for fun. But the math she took in college didn't look like high school math and she wondered if that was the right path. As the department was combined with computer science, she took the advice of a female researcher and tried her hand at computer science.She was drawn the more technical sides of her field but never considered herself a programmer. She thought she wanted to teach and make computer science come alive for other learners so pursued the PhD. She realized, though, that she wanted more hands on opportunities. Going into industry, she did more applied work and ultimately made a discovery about herself.In this episode, find out from Laura how taking the opportunity just outside your comfort zone often leads to insights about who you are… on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestLaura Bright is a software engineer who has spent time in academia and industry and who currently serves as a Senior Software Engineer at Finastra, a fintech company based in Portland, Oregon. For another story about graduate school leading to personal insights, listen to our episode with Oliver Will.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com 

In college, Nathan Paine exhibited an unbridled free spirit—playing Hacky sack, riding a motorcycle, and letting his long hair flow like his multi-colored graduation robes. His love of languages and cultures—inspired by living in France in high school and taking language study in Brazil in undergraduate days—took him to Japan to teach English for a year. That turned into nearly two decades in Japan with a number of international adventures and left him with a resume that reads decidedly more corporate than one could have imagined. Despite the professional path, he has maintained his free spirit, though, by continuing to not take himself seriously and to treat both himself and others with compassion. Even an unanticipated diagnosis during COVID and his move back home to Boston allowed him to a look a little more deeply and realize he's always been the same person.In this episode, find out from Nathan how the external trappings of this life are just a cover to the true essence of being that's inside.… on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.About This Episode's GuestNathan Paine is Senior Vice President, Client Relations at Prologis, where he's worked for nearly two decades across continents and multiple time zones. He is also into impact investing and making the most of life with his wife and two kids in Boston. For another story about international living, listen to our episode with Shuhei Sekiguchi.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com 

Going into college, Heather Morein French thought that success meant pursuing either business, law, or medicine as those would provide the kind of stability her childhood hadn't afforded her. She had an interest in science and though the classes she experienced were quite challenging, she knew the humanities courses with reading heavy curricula would be even more intimidating, given her dyslexia diagnosis. She made it through with an eye toward a career in medicine, though wasn't so sure about it at graduation. She took some lab jobs and tutored MCAT prep to make sure it was the path for her. She tied herself to a primary care route to avail herself of a tuition break but realized that it didn't make sense for the long term and she needed to turn to an external support system.In this episode, find out from Heather how friends and family often end up providing the most stability...on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestHeather Morein French, MD is the Neonatology Fellowship Program Director, Assistant Director of the Neonatal Education Simulation Training Program, and an attending neonatologist with the Division of Neonatology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is also Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania. She lives in the greater Philadelphia area with fellow Dartmouth '96 husband Charley French and their two kids. For more stories about approaches to pediatric medicine, listen to our episode with Mary Romano, John Peoples, Kristen Calcagni Johnson, and Blair Seidler Hammond.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com 

With visions of a biology PhD dashed in a senior lab experiment gone way wrong, Andrew Obenshain envisioned a business career that would ultimately land him as CEO of a biotech firm. The industry being in its nascent days, there weren't many avenues there, but he found his way into a biotech consulting firm and later a biotech venture capital firm. Realizing if he wanted to be a CEO he'd need to know what CEO's do and realized they all had on-the-ground operations experience within a company. So to even get a foot in the door, he had to take some odd-looking sidesteps including taking a post business school job as a sales guy which he then parlayed to some other opportunities.His highly successful type A wife, who had her own career. And while paving the way for many of the family's moves, she made it possible for them to live out a dream to move with their kids to Paris. A period full of exploration and fun, however, was upended by a set of unexpected diagnoses.In this episode, find out from Andrew how finding joy can be possible even in the hardest times … on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestAndrew Obenshain is CEO of Bluebird Bio, a biotech company focused on advancing therapies for rare diseases. He lives with his three kids in a suburb of Boston and is surrounded by the love of family and friends, present and past, at all times. (250) For another story about finding joy in parenthood and community despite loss, listen to our Christy Hansel Lohof. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

When Jackie Kim Chappel left Hawaii for college in the east, she was leaving more than the island lifestyle behind. For her own mental wellbeing, she severed ties from her tiger mother and started exploring all the different ways she could be in the world. She was happy reading and writing and researching and started a career in marketing. The New York life wasn't hitting all the marks and her eventual husband moved back to Hawaii, so she found a job in media planning and research back home. Once there, she eventually decided to reach out to her mother again but found that what she'd chalked up to their personal differences actually went much deeper. Her mother's mental health diagnoses changed not only her perspective but the way that she would navigtate her own life.In this episode, find out from Jackie how recognizing who someone can and can't be for you can help bring clarity to who you are and what your purpose is … on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestJacquelyn Kim Chappel is a writer, teacher, and researcher who lives in Honolulu. She earned her Master's in Literary studies and PhD in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and now teaches Composition and Developmental English at Kapiolani Community College. Jackie also serves as a supervisor for teacher candidates at Leeward Community College and is active in many other support and advocacy organizations. And, of course, she is still in formation. For another story about how revelations about our parents can affect our own adulthoods, listen to our episode with Jonathon Stewart.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

New Hampshire native Jessica Drolet Wadlow felt college was home away from home being so close. She got involved in many things and was an economic major who went directly into the corporate world mostly out of interest but also because she had some loans to pay off. She landed in a management rotation program at JP Morgan and then went to business school. She switched careers into brand management and found herself at Johnson & Johnson where she stayed for many years.Needing to make a physical move for family reasons, she asked for a telecommuting situation long before that was en vogue and when it meant days spent on no-video conference calls. When she realized she needed another kind of move with the company to accommodate a growing family, she knew what she needed to do.In this episode, find out from Jessica how sometimes the only way to get what you need is to ask for it. About This Episode's GuestInnovation and marketing strategist Jessica Drolet Wadlow is founder and president of J. Wadlow Consulting. For the past fifteen years, she has been an independent consultant working with large firms such as Johnson & Johnson, McKinsey, and Walgreens, as well as start-ups in need of accelerating growth via new business ventures and new business models. For another story about forging your own path to make life work for you, listen to our episode with Shakari Cameron Byerly.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

After high school, guest Michael Anderson was wrestling whether he wanted to arrive at college as a Michael or Mike. It became a moot point after his Boy Scout qualities were immortalized a nickname given to him in orientation: Ranger. Known thusly ever since, Ranger soaked up the experiences of college and yet didn't leave with a clear path in mind. Early jobs in Boston were of the "work to live" sort, providing him enough structure and income to allow him to concentrate being in the moment with friends, a marker of achievement at the time. Recognizing he wasn't enjoying his work, he decided to pack it in for home in Chicago and press reset. After some soul searching he realized he was interested in urban planning and public policy and went back to graduate school.An early position in municipal planning led him to understand that many of the ways his hands were tied at the local level came from decisions made at the federal level. So he headed to Washington and landed in the Department of Commerce, where he would ultimately spend his career in various analyst and budget director roles. When he realized that the pendulum of achievement had shifted too far to the career and too far from other markers of a well-lived life, he decided he needed to refocus once more. Making some major adjustments later in life, he found what achievement looks like changes as life experiences and circumstances change as well.In this episode find out from Ranger how the desire to make a difference can remain strong even as the scope changes from the wider world to the world within your own four walls. About This Episode's GuestFormer Boy Scout Michael 'Ranger' Anderson has a master's degree in urban planning and public policy. He is a long-time budget director within the U.S. Department of Commerce, currently working within the International Trade Administration. He lives in Fairfax County with his wife and pandemic baby. Luckily, Ranger has the balance necessary to be there for them.  For another story about discerning a truer source of personal achievement, listen to our episode with John Strayer.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Guest Amy McLean Sprole grew up in Kansas and knew two things when she was graduating high school: She wanted to go into medicine and she wanted to spread her wings outside the midwest. She immediatly dove into the pre-med track and was so focused that she was able to do all of those requirements and still make time for international study abroad opportunities, including an art history experience in Italy. She thinks that out-of-the-ordinary adventure made her stand out in med school applications and may have been a reason for her acceptance to Cornell.She entered into med school thinking that she would pursue surgery without being able to articulate why, except that it seemed the hardest thing to do, a pattern she realizes she had had throughout life. She had to consciously set out to choose instead what she liked. She found plastic surgery and fell in love.After 10 years of training in New York, she found just the right mix of surgery and enterpreneurship that she'd been looking for, but it sprang up where she least expected it.In this epsiode, find out from Amy how, when looking for where you belong, sometimes there really is no place like home...…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley.About This Episode's GuestAmy McLean Sprole is a board certified plastic surgeon, trained in both aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. Having returned to her native Wichita, she is now one of the only female plastic surgeons in the area. In addition to her clinical work, she is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita. You can find out more about her practice at pscwichita.com. For another story about an unexpected homecoming, listen to our episode with Jenny Land MacKenzie.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Welcome back to Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. We are thrilled to be bringing you another great season of stories that remind us that you don't have to know exactly where you're going, you just need to be open to the adventure that awaits. As in all our previous seasons, in each episode we will talk to our guests—all a quarter-century-plus after college—about who they were as they graduated, who they thought they'd become, and how they've traveled down various roads to get where they are today. This season, we will be talking about sizing up achievement, finding home, experiencing loss, and picking yourself up again.You can find our full archive (which used to be three really long seasons but we recently renumbered them into shorter seasons to make the sifting through a little easier) at RoadsTakenShow.Com and get a new episode each Monday when you subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcasts.  Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsFind more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Hi, Roads Taken listeners. The show will returning for another season on Monday, April 17. We have spent our hiatus going to bed at a reasonable hour on Sunday nights and lining up a slew of great guests for you. So you have only a couple more weeks of waiting to hear their journeys. (Listen to find out how we went from season 3 to season 8!) Just make sure you have subscribed or you're following in your favorite podcast app and that your auto download feature is turned on so you don't miss any new episodes when they start dropping on April 17 with all new guests and Leslie Jennings Rowley on Roads Taken. Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsFind more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

After a successful Season 3, which hosted our 120th guest, Roads Taken will take another brief hiatus. During the break, revisit the rich archive of past episodes at RoadsTakenShow.com and also nominate yourself or another storyteller to be on the show. We will do some interviews this winter and come back in the spring with a new slew of stories for Season 4.

Guest Peter Jastreboff had considered a variety of paths to travel at college, from politics to medicine. When he actually started, his interests remained varied, diverging from those early thoughts and staying seemingly scattered. He ended up melding computer science and psychology into a major to better understand neural networks and minoring in religion. Put those pursuits together with his extensive time at the college radio station and it's clear that at the core of his interests lies a fascination with the nature of human interaction.Ultimately, after college, he found himself where technology and finance interact—first creating his own company with a college classmate and then taking on a number of technology management roles at financial firms large and small. Over time, though, he learned that it was the human side of the business that appealed as much as the technology.In this episode, find out from Pete how searching for a sense of belonging and listening to the nuances of culture can sometimes be the key to everything…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestPeter Jasterboff is a global technology leader who has spent a career in the finance industry. He is currently VP of Client Services at Talos, helping provide institutional-grade technology infrastructure for digital assets trading. Though he's been in all the world's financial centers, he's recently moved with his wife and children to London. For another story about moving around the world and finding the core meaning in what you're doing beyond the industry, listen to our episode with Shuhei Sekiguchi.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Going along with the flow was the natural way for Jack Kolodny. He tended to stick with what he knew--particularly those things where there were cut-and-dried, right-and-wrong answers but he also followed his interests and things that other nice people were interested in and cultivated an interesting life in college. Upon leaving, he didn't change course so much, hearing from a friend that management consulting was fun and following nice people to a good firm. He characterizes this approach as being a leaf in a streamBut at some point, around the time of attending business school, he realized that the people that were paddling all around him might be on to something and he started paying attention to how his skills and values pointed him on the right course. He wanted more skin in the game so worked at a hedge fund helping the newly acquired businesses run. Eventually he wanted even more of. say in the values that would underlie the decision-making so co-founded his own firm. He finally shifted from being a leaf in the stream to paddling his own course.In this episode, find out from Jack how getting the right people in the boat with you can make all the difference…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestJack Kolodny is Managing Partner at Auxo Investment Partners, an operationally-focused private investment firm that specializes in investing in and growing founder- and family-owned industrial, manufacturing and business-services companies. He lives in one of the L.A. area canyons, growing wine grapes on his back slope. He's accompanied on his life's boat by his wife and their three children—one who envisions paddling toward far off oceans, one already blowing up Instagram with his fashion designs, and one who will figure it out in time.  For another story about centering other people in our lives, listen to our episode with Jonathon Stewart. Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Guest Ben Brainard had cared for only a goldfish before getting to college but he somehow had the idea of becoming a veterinarian. He thinks it might have been on account of reading James Harriot's tales of days spent bucolically going from farm to farm treating animals of all sizes. But even after doing the pre-med track and shadowing vets in Vermont he still didn't have the full picture of what a diary animal doctor did. In vet school he discovered much of the reality of that work was caring for the farm rather than the individual animals and he realized he needed to switch gears. Going into critical care for people's pets, he got to exercise his interests in both problem solving on the fly and communicating with people. Along the way he needed to negotiate with the person closest to him and ultimately decide on caring for his own.In this episode, find out from Ben how figuring out who we want to care for is often a path to contentment…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestBen Brainard is currently Edward H. Gunst Professor of Small Animal Critical Care at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, where he is also director of clinical research. He is an expert in fish anesthesia, coagulation, and--as we heard earlier--dealing with primates of all sorts through the Great Ape Heart Project. Ben and his wife are raising their inquisitive daughter in Athens, Georgia. And though he seems to have put his basement band dreams to rest with Vegetative Propagation, he thankfully still wears bow ties. For another story centered on caring for creatures great and small (and even our own), listen to ourepisode with Liz Rawson.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Guest Shilyh Warren was comfortable in college having uncomfortable conversations about inequality and gender and felt herself to be a bit of a ramble-rouser. She wasn't exactly sure what her path would be like but she wanted to emulate the activists who went out and made a difference in the world dismantling systems. Her first job after college was doing political organizing, where she realized how hard that work was and the pace of change didn't meet her expectations. After investigating a few more options, she decided to join a boyfriend's dream to travel and work in South America. A twist in that story that made her take a look at what her own dreams held, led her to a few different kinds of adventure. Ultimately the cultural pieces that she was learning on the road intersected with the life of the mind she'd loved cultivating in the classroom.In this episode, find out from Shilyh out how casting a critical eye and reflecting deeply can manifest in different kinds of activism…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestShilyh Warren is currently at the University of Texas, Dallas where she is Associate Professor of Visual and Performing Arts & Film Studies as well as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. Her research takes up debates in film history, feminist theory, documentary studies, and film theory. She and her writing, including her award-winning piece "Revolution is Another Climax," can be found @shelikeswhat on Twitter (if that's still a thing.) For another story centered on finding an outlet for gender-related activism in the arts and the academy, listen to ourepisode with Erika Meitner.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Guest Chris McGee loved science--even lab work--but it was really the story behind the science that captivated him. He thought that probably meant being in the biotechnology industry, but wasn't exactly sure how that would manifest in his life right after college. In an early attempt, he realized he was too far removed from the impact of the work. At the next company, he was getting closer to the actual work, but it wasn't the kind of work I wanted to be doing. At that point, the suggestion from a friend to pack it up and take an adventure to Nepal provided the welcome break he needed. He extended his adventuring with another friend but finally decided to move across the country for both professional and professional reasons.In this episode, find out from Chris out how momentarily getting off the path you're on—even the right one—sometimes lets you travel it more wisely…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestChris McGee currently serves Portfolio and Project Management Team Leader at Pfizer, where he has worked in various capacities since 2006. While dodging potentially ill-advised adventure offers from friends, he has his own adventures with his wife and two children in Brooklyn. (207) For another story centered on pharmaceutical development, listen to ourepisode with Drew Natenshon.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Guest Christopher Kelly spent many a night during his college career in a film screening, honing a knowledge and love of cinema. But even more than his abiding love of film was his passion for writing about it and reflecting on culture more broadly. It wasn't immediately obvious, however, how to make a life's work of that. After a few placements at magazines and a freelance career that could keep ends meet, he applied on a whim to an open film critic position at a newspaper in Fort Worth, Texas, and he got it. That remained the dream job for a few years and then he was ready for new opportunities, just as the two worlds on which his career was built—the film industry and print journalism—were undergoing complete transformation.In this episode,find out from Chris how staying attuned to the tastes of the audience and being open to change can help you navigate the critical junctures…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestChristopher Kelly is Vice President of Content of NJ Advance Media, overseeing all content for NJ.com and the Newark Star-Ledger. He is also a novelist, who won the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Debut Fiction in 2008 for his combination “coming-of-age and revenge story” A Push and a Shove. His second novel, The Pink Bus, was published in 2016, just before he found other ways to spend his free time with his husband and two kids. For another story featuring a writer about culture and film, listen to ourepisode with Suzanne Leonard.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com 

Guest Blair Seidler Hammond navigated her freshman year of college knowing that her mother was sick with cancer. Her mother died at the end of that year and when Blair returned after the summer break, she was still trying to process and understand what the purpose of life was. Feeling the answer was to live into every moment, she prioritized daily joys such as painting and sailing. Realizing her fatalism might be a little outsized, she started reevaluating what a well-lived life was, and was determined to final a vocation that felt full of purpose. The problem was, even though everyone was telling her she should be a doctor, she couldn't stand the sight of blood. Eventually, she let her love of science manifest it in teaching and research but finally felt the pull back to the classroom and entered med school. When she found pediatrics, she realized she could live out the purpose-driven life imagined after all.In this episode, find out from Blair how leaning into joy and relationships can actually be the same thing as finding meaning…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestBlair Seidler Hammond is a board certified pediatrician at the Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice where she founded the General Pediatrics Faculty Practice. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Mount Sinai, where she has received their Excellence in Teaching Award. Along with classmate Aliza Pressman, Blair is Co-Founding Director of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center, where she also serves as Director of Medical Education, helping to transform the way pediatric healthcare is delivered by maximizing opportunities to promote strong parent-child relationships and early childhood development within everyday healthcare interactions. She applies her work at home, too—living and parenting as she does with her husband and classmate Scott Hammond and their three children—in Westchester, New York. For another story featuring the Mount Sinai Parenting Center that Blair discussed founding, listen to ourepisode with Aliza Pressman, the program's co-founder.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.comExecutive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Guest Heather McNemar experienced a taste of world travel while in high school, when her father took a sabbatical and the family visited many spots, including Siberia for a slightly extended stay. Heather was drawn to the language and the culture and knew she would study both in college. Later, as she was making her way into the world, she didn't know exactly how she would use her skills but knew she wanted to help people. She got a job helping newly settled immigrants to the U.S. get jobs and realized that good language skills were key to their success. She began taking classes to teach English as a Second Language and landed a spot as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan. While there, she met the man who would become her husband, also a Peace Corps volunteer but had his sights set on diplomatic work with the U.S. Department of State.In this episode, find out from Heather how finding your way in a new place can also help others do likewise…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestHeather McNemar is a former Peace Corps volunteer who has gone round this girdled earth a number of times with her family as her husbnad has been posted with the U.S. State Department. Her fluency in Russian and her expertise in helping others find their footing in new places and new careers has been helpful in many of her posts. She is currently in the middle of a stint in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and continues running, finding that it is often a great way to get to know a new place.  For another story about the peripatetic life that comes with a State Department gig, listen to our episode with Joey Hood.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Guest Kristen Calcagni Johnson pinned her early thoughts of being a doctor on her ability to stay calm when everyone else was stressing out. But even more core to her personality is her drive to experience many things, find joy in varied activities, and live into many facets of her identity and a balanced life. Since she was choosing colleges to today, she has always known that—while she takes her work and her activities seriously—she is willing to accept a little imperfection if it means that she will have more room in her life for different experiences and time for loved ones. She even finds it imperative to find room in her life to engage in activities she “is bad at”—like tennis—to balance out a work environment in pediatrics that demands more precision.In this episode, find out from Kristen how making space for being good at things and bad at things can help you bring a whole person approach to care-giving…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley. About This Episode's GuestKristen Calcagni Johnson, as a friend once described her, is a woodworker, she sews clothes, she's a big reader, she speaks Italian, by, the way, she's a pediatrician. She practices with Core Physicians, affiliated with Exeter Hospital, in the New Hampshire Seacoast Region. She lives with her husband and two children there, where she was awarded the 2021 Exeter Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, chiefly for her work on the front line of the pandemic, as a critical partner to the community and school district on health and safety issues. Had there been a furniture- or shed-building category, we are sure she would have come out on top of that one, too.For another story about making sure you make time for multiple activities, even ones in which you're less than talented, listen to our episode with Stephanie Argamaso.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com

Guest Jenny Land Mackenzie grew up in Vermont and figured she would likely return there one day. However, her college career—filled as it was with all sort of creative explorations and outdoor adventures—set her up to delve into one passion only to have it lead her to another passion. This began when her interest in the history of clothing led her to an internship at a museum led by a mentor who would ultimately spark a passion for organic farming. The love of the land led her to other gardening adventures which led her to teaching adventures. Teaching led to a break for her own schooling, which led to more teaching and the development of a family life. Passion for her family ultimately led her to create the type of teaching and writing career that fills her soul.//In this episode, find out from Jenny how planting seeds for tomorrow's bounty can sometimes nurture your own sense of place…on Roads Taken with Leslie Jennings Rowley.About This Episode's Guest//Jenny Land Mackenzie lives in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom with her husband—with whom she teaches at St. Johnsbury Academy—and their twins. Along with having a soft spot for organic farming, hiking, singing and the history of fashion, Jenny enjoys the process of writing in all genres. She is the author of The Spare Room, a historical novel for middle grade readers, as well as the non-fiction volume Teaching Rules! 52 Ways to Achieve Teaching Success. In 2015, Jenny was the grand-prize winner for that year's Reader's Digest Poetry Contest for her poem “After the Death of Their Child,” inspired by the infamous Lindberg baby. The following year, she won another top honor, as her poem “Morning E.R.” was selected by the Telegraph newspaper as the winning entry in the poetry contest to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday.Read Jenny's award-winning poem, “Morning E.R.” about Queen Elizabeth II. And to see examples of the homemade Halloween costumes Jenny mentioned, see this year's dragon and gnome.For another story about being called to one thing and following another to find your way home, listen to our episode with Michelle Erickson Waters.Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings RowleyMusic: Brian BurrowsEmail the show at RoadsTakenShow@gmail.com