Podcasts about alumni

Many retreat leaders are stuck running one-off retreats - constantly reinventing the wheel, hustling for new sign-ups, and exhausting themselves with fresh marketing every time. But the smartest, most sustainable retreat businesses? They build signature retreats that become a recognizable, in-demand part of their brand. In this episode, Shannon breaks down how to turn your retreat into a powerful brand asset that builds loyalty, grows every year, and creates recurring revenue through alumni and long-term client pathways. You'll learn how to create a retreat theme people return to annually, how to build anticipation year-round, and how to turn your retreat into the top of a pipeline for courses, coaching, memberships, and more. This is next-level retreat business strategy - and every leader who's tired of starting from scratch needs to hear it. Key Takeaways A signature retreat theme creates recognition, trust, and brand identity. Alumni are your easiest, most profitable guests - and a signature retreat keeps them coming back. One-off retreats are exhausting and keep you in constant hustle mode. A successful retreat begins the day the previous one ends - anticipation-building matters. A signature retreat becomes a pipeline for courses, coaching, memberships, and next-level offers. When done right, your retreat becomes a cornerstone asset - not a one-time event. The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links: Learn to Host Retreats Join our private Facebook Group Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide Get your legal docs for retreats Join Shannon in Denver at the Retreat Industry Forum  Join our LinkedIn Group Apply to be a guest on our show Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let's create a vibrant retreat community together! Subscribe:  Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify ----- TIMESTAMPS Benefits of a Signature Retreat Theme (00:01:24) Discusses how a signature theme creates consistency, builds trust, and encourages repeat attendance. Choosing the Right Theme (00:03:46) Advice on selecting a retreat theme that aligns with your brand and attracts annual returnees. Leveraging Alumni for Retreat Sales (00:04:56) Explains why alumni are the best source for retreat sales and how to nurture them. Delivering Unforgettable Experiences (00:05:50) Stresses the importance of providing memorable retreats to encourage alumni to return. Alumni Perks & First Access (00:06:45) Describes offering alumni early booking, priority, and small discounts or bonuses. Year-Round Alumni Engagement (00:07:42) Shares strategies for maintaining genuine connections with alumni throughout the year. Pitfalls of One-Off Retreats (00:08:34) Explains how constantly reinventing retreats leads to burnout and inconsistent revenue. Building Anticipation Year-Round (00:09:36) Outlines ways to keep excitement high for your signature retreat all year, not just before launch. Content Pillars & Ongoing Promotion (00:12:39) Recommends creating and using content pillars to promote retreats and build anticipation. Integrating Retreats into a Revenue Pipeline (00:13:47) Shows how retreats can feed into other offers (courses, memberships, coaching) and vice versa. Final Thoughts & Call to Action (00:15:02) Encourages listeners to build legacy retreats and invites them to the Retreat Industry Forum.

Welcome back for S5E24 of Inside Cyclones Hockey, and Happy New Year!One of the most exciting promotion nights of the 2025-26 season is coming to Marathon Park Ice Arena this weekend...Corgi Races! We have Corgi's coming from all around the world (even Florida) to race on the ice of Marathon Park this weekend, and you definitely won't want to miss it. Mark is joined by Zach Serwe on this weeks episode to talk about the Corgi Races, as well as some other promotional housekeeping items for the next few weeks of home hockey. Mark is also joined by Cyclones alumni and current goaltender for the Lawrence University Vikings, to talk about his experience playing with the Cyclones, and how he transitioned into playing NCAA hockey. Mark closes out this weeks episode with a stats and standings update, framed around one specific feat that only one Cyclones player has achieved this season.Now, from the Eye of the Cyclone…Intro: (1:00-1:50)Corgi Race/Promotions with Zach Serwe: (1:58-25:56)Collin Lemanski Interview: (27:06-53:36)Stats and Standings Update: (54:24-1:10:56)Outro: (1:11-28-1:11:42)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Printable Home Schedule: https://www.wausaucyclones.com/52524-2/Purchase Single Game, Group Tickets, Founders CLub & Flex Packages Here: https://www.wausaucyclones.com/tickets-2/Don't Miss a Second of Cyclones Action this Season! Sign up for our Email Newsletter here: https://www.wausaucyclones.com/newsletter/Tender Signings & Other News: https://www.wausaucyclones.com/category/news/  Make sure you follow the Cyclones across your favorite social media @WausauCyclones  You can find Mark on Instagram and TikTok @markrobinsonsports and X @mwrsports_

Matthew NorrisBS, School of Education and Human Sciences, 2024Teacher, Helena Middle SchoolMore InformationUAB News - "There you are, not here I am" - Elementary education graduate uses personal journey to impact future studentsBirmingham Times - "If hopelessness had a basement, I would be living in it due to my given circumstances; but God, being rich in mercy, had a different plan for me."

Guest: Ronald White. Chamberlain returned to Bowdoin College as its president, attempting to modernize the institution by introducing science and broader curricula. He faced resistance from conservative trustees and alumni but persisted in his vision for a progressive education. Religious tensions also arose as Unitarianism gained influence; Chamberlain remained inclusive, even as Fanny and his daughter left the Congregational church. Throughout this era, he continued to be a highly sought-after speaker at veterans' reunions, outshining famous generals like Grant and Sheridan with his ability to weave classical literature and deep meaning into his war recollections.1863 GETTYSBURG

The Break Room (FRIDAY 1/9/26) 6am Hour 1) If you could compete for your former high school now as an adult, would you sign up to join the team? 2) Embarrassed by your old email address 3) Buffalo Bills expectations

As The Cambridge School marks twenty years, An Examined Education opens a new season by turning to the voices that know its formation from the inside: its alumni. In this season-opening episode, we hear from Alyssa Kim, Class of 2022, now a senior at Georgetown University studying history on a pre-med track. Alyssa reflects on a journey shaped by Cambridge from pre-K through graduation, one that cultivated not only academic excellence but a way of seeing the world. From “living history” in grammar school to translating Latin and Greek in the upper school, Alyssa describes how the humanities at Cambridge became more than a subject of study. They became a practice of immersion, context, and empathy, training students to understand people across time, culture, and circumstance. History, literature, and language were not merely facts to master but lenses through which to inhabit another's world. As she prepares for a vocation in medicine, Alyssa connects the humanities to the sciences, arguing that education aimed at excellence must also train us to understand the human person. At its core, she reflects, education is ordered toward people, toward service, wisdom, and a life lived with purpose. This episode sets the tone for a season of alumni stories that explore how a formative education continues to echo long after graduation, shaping habits of mind, guiding vocation, and reminding us what it means to live a fully human life.

Ready to learn how Leslie transformed her KDP frustration into a luxury Bible study? Today I am teaching you how she created her dream journal using the Print School process.   Video Summary: In this episode, Polly interviews Print School alumni Leslie Martinez, creator of the SOAP Bible Study. Leslie shares how she went from overwhelmed on Amazon KDP to producing a custom, high-quality journal she's proud of. She opens up about her faith journey, restoring joy, and why Print School gave her the clarity, support, and confidence to finally create what God put on her heart.  

As a first-generation American from Saudi Arabia, Rzan Yunus '17 learned from an early age what ambition and perseverance can lead to. She credits her immigrant father's determination to build a successful career and life for his family in the U.S. as inspiration for her own strong work ethic and drive. It was that drive that led her first to a career in insurance at American International Group (AIG), and eventually all the way to Rice Business. Since pivoting from insurance into consulting, Rzan has put her Rice MBA to use as a senior director at Alvarez & Marsal, where she's helping companies solve tough problems. Rzan chats with co-host Brian Jackson '21 about how her father's pursuit of the American dream inspired her, the critical skills she picked up at AIG, why she was drawn to the Professional MBA program and how her experience at Rice has left a mark on her forever. Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Rzan Yunus01:00 Early Life and Family Influence05:39 Career Beginnings at AIG09:40 Pursuing an MBA at Rice18:28 Transition to Consulting23:07 Current Role and Consulting Insights35:40 Balancing Career and Personal Life39:46 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:Finding community, support, and belonging at Rice[12:32] When you learn entrepreneurship, you learn to hustle. You learn to think like an owner, or take  accountability to be resourceful, to drive results. I really appreciated Rice's pathways with other organizations and other companies, particularly consulting. I knew I wanted to explore that eventually and knew that they recruit based on certain programs. And then my favorite thing about Rice, and when I went and visited, is the team and peer atmosphere. You know, you spend so much time at work, but you also spend so much time in this program. And the people that I met and the camaraderie and the collaboration and the fact that you rarely ever achieve anything alone in life. I really wanted to be surrounded with people that were smart and hardworking and capable and collaborative and supportive. Very similar to the support system that I think everybody needs in life to be successful.Why the MBA program was an important investment in Rzan's future.[16:17] My two years in the program, and I think I said this earlier, it really changed my life. I am becoming and am the person now that I never thought I could have been 10 years ago, 15 years ago. I mean, the program is hard. It's a top MBA program for a reason. Balancing school and your personal life is difficult. Working full-time while earning an MBA is not a casual commitment, but it's the most important step that you can take to invest in yourself. Surround yourself with people that reflect the ambition and the dedication that is contagious. Why she chose to pivot to consulting[19:11] I chose consulting because I loved the variety of work that they got to do, you know, in every year, and this was something that really attracted me to it when I was meeting with people from Alvarez & Marsal. You know, you work in different industries and different projects. One year you might be doing a transformation for a media company. The next, working on a financial services operational improvement. The following year on a manufacturing cost reduction. And I think that continuous learning really appealed to me.Show Links: TranscriptGuest Profile:Rzan Yunus | LinkedInRzan Yunus | Rice Business

FULL SHOW: Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 Curious if we look as bad as we sound? Follow us @BrookeandJeffrey: Youtube Instagram TikTok BrookeandJeffrey.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's Masked Speaker found an insane way to be in the room for his high school reunion, while also being completely invisible, just to listen to his classmate's conversations!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicholas Clar is an Ohio native actor and content creator. Alumni of Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance, Neighborhood Playhouse and Atlantic Theatre Company Acting School. Nicholas has worked with Cleveland's Playwright's Local and Ceaser's Forum among other New York and North East Ohio theatre companies. Nicholas has been on staff at Little Known Facts Podcast since 2019. @iamnickclar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on AOTA Shorts: In what can only be described as silicon valley's educational wet dream, the Alpha School expands its footprint across the nation. The private school, which packs a $75K/year price tag, touts its ability to have kids learn twice as much in just 2 hours of AI based “instruction” per day. And contrary to what you might expect, the school claims its guides (the adults who work there rather than teachers) offer a more humane environment than traditional schools. And, as the Alpha School eyes expansion to Palo Alto, just down the road, computer science graduates of Stanford University are finding a dearth of jobs, as the industry shifts entry level jobs to AI. What are the implications of this AI mess we find ourselves in? Manuel and Jeff discuss! Woah, new format! AOTA Shorts give a brief, quick-hitting breakdown of a single story in this increasingly wild world of education that you can enjoy in the car, at work, or in those precious minutes of down time you (maybe) get during your busy day.  Let us know what you think in the comments!MAXIMUM WOKENESS ALERT -- get your All of the Above swag, including your own “Teach the Truth” shirt! In this moment of relentless attacks on teaching truth in the classroom, we got you covered. https://all-of-the-above-store.creator-spring.com Watch, listen and subscribe to make sure you don't miss our latest content!Listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify Website: https://AOTAshow.com

We are wrapping up our Belhaven Dance Alumni Series with the very first graduate of the Belhaven Dance Department, Jill Pelhan Day! It was such a joy to spend this time with Jill and hear more about the beginnings of the dance program. While so much has changed over the years, we both reflect on how the heart of Belhaven has remained the same.Jill shares her inspiring journey from a small town in South Carolina to becoming a pioneer in the Belhaven Dance Department. She reflects on her experiences at Belhaven, the evolution of dance education, and the importance of community and personal growth along the way. Jill also opens up about health challenges she's faced in recent years and the journey of healing. We chat about the significance of authenticity and pursuing what God calls you to in your life. Jill offers such valuable wisdom, encouraging each of us to embrace failure, enjoy the journey, and remain open to change.Several other Belhaven Dance Alumni have shared their stories on the podcast over the years, so we've gathered all the episodes together in a playlist for you! Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!. . . . .Welcome to The Creative Impact Podcast, where you will find encouragement to live out your calling as an artist.. . . . .Watch this episode on YouTube! Check out our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!⁠http://www.youtube.com/@creativeimpactpodcast⁠Join our Patreon community for behind-the-scenes and bonus content!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ patreon.com/creativeimpactpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find the show notes and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creativeimpactpodcast.com/episode-139/⁠Some topics we chat about in today's episode include:Belhaven University, dance, dance education, personal growth, health, community, authenticity, life lessons.. . . . .Let's Connect!Instagram & Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@creativeimpactpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. . . . .The podcast music was produced by Michael Cash.

What a gift to spend time with Kim Holloway for part eleven of our Belhaven Dance Alumni series! Kim is a choreographer, performer, teaching artist, and Pilates instructor based in Seattle, Washington. I love Kim's heart for connection and community and her belief that movement has the power to bring healing and change.In our conversation, Kim shares her artistic journey from her early influences to her experiences at Belhaven University and beyond. She discusses the challenges of navigating the professional dance world, the importance of understanding the business side of art, and her personal health struggles that have shaped her perspective on creativity and healing. Kim emphasizes the significance of community, self-kindness, and redefining success in the arts. Whether you are an aspiring or seasoned artist, Kim's wisdom and insight offer encouragement for the journey.Several other Belhaven Dance Alumni have shared their stories on the podcast over the years, so we've gathered all the episodes together in a playlist for you! Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!. . . . .Welcome to The Creative Impact Podcast, where you will find encouragement to live out your calling as an artist.. . . . .Watch this episode on YouTube! Check out our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!⁠http://www.youtube.com/@creativeimpactpodcast⁠Join our Patreon community for behind-the-scenes and bonus content!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ patreon.com/creativeimpactpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find the show notes and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creativeimpactpodcast.com/episode-138/Some topics we chat about in today's episode include:Belhaven University, dance, community, creativity, healing, artistic journey, health challenges, movement, professional growth, business as an artist, personal development.. . . . .Let's Connect!Instagram & Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@creativeimpactpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. . . . .The podcast music was produced by Michael Cash.

In part 2 with Missouri Sophomore Kaia Tanskanen, we talk all about her decision to compete for Finland, how it came to be, and what it was like joining the Finnish National Team. Kaia has some cool stories about her initial experiences and competing for Finland at the beginning. We talked about her freshman season in Part 1 and we continue with 2nd half of her year long gymnastics season with the fall elite competitions. The Risk and Reward of doing new routines and a brand new skill on floor which became the first Finnish women to ever compete. She gives more stories and facts about leading into this season and competing the double double along with competing with her boyfriend Robert Kermes, a fellow Finnish National Team member. All this and a bit more in this fun part 2 with Kaia. 

In this powerful JAMODI Podcast episode, Matt Sayman sits down with longtime high school and college coach Harold Baber for a deep, honest conversation about coaching, leadership, growth, and legacy.Coach Baber reflects on his journey from playing at The Colony High School and Oakland University to decades of coaching at the high school and collegiate levels. He shares stories about legendary mentors like Coach Thomas and Greg Campy, the evolution of his coaching style, and what experience has taught him about relationships, culture, and perspective.This episode dives into the realities of coaching beyond wins and losses — reaching the 9th–12th players, creating program continuity, building alumni connections, and balancing family life while fully committing to the profession. Coach Baber also discusses how insecurity can show up early in a coaching career, how growth changes leadership style, and why being authentic matters more than emulating others.Whether you're a young coach just starting out or a veteran reflecting on the journey, this conversation offers wisdom, humility, and practical insights you can apply immediately.Topics Covered

Lisa AltamiranoMS, School of Health Professions, 1998More InformationAgile Physical Therapy - homepageAgile Physical Therapy - Lisa Altamirano bioUAB News - Lisa Altamirano, PT, BBU (Class of 1998)Vestavia Voice - Women in Business: Lisa Altamirano - Agile Physical Therapy

The Gavel Podcast is the official podcast of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc., and is dedicated to keeping you updated on the operations of the Legion of Honor and connecting you to stories from our brotherhood. To find out more from the Fraternity, you can always check out our website at www.sigmanu.org. Also consider following us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | FlickrHave feedback or a question about this episode? Want to submit an idea for a future topic you'd like to see covered? Contact the Gavel Podcast team at news@sigmanu.org. Hosts for this EpisodeChristopher Brenton - Beta Tau Chapter (North Carolina State) Alumnus and Sigma Nu Fraternity's Director of CommunicationsGuest for this EpisodeDominic Frattura - Zeta Upsilon Chapter (Arizona State) Alumnus and Director of Advocacy for the North American Interfraternity ConferenceEpisode ReferencesNorth American Interfraternity Conference - The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is a trade association representing 58 inter/national men's fraternities.ENGAGE - ENGAGE is the go-to network for sorority and fraternity campus leaders and alumni who are passionate about advocating for the fraternal movement. Through various programs and initiatives, ENGAGE supports and promotes participation in government, public policy, and on-campus student government opportunities. Programs and initiatives include FGRC Capitol Hill Visits, ENGAGE Ambassadors, Student Government Grants, and the First Amendment Institute. General ResourcesRegistration for the Sigma Nu Institute - The Sigma Nu Institute is designed to assist with the officer transition process and the learning curve that accompanies taking on new positions of chapter leadership. Both newly elected and mid-term officers will benefit from the program through increased exposure to and education on the knowledge and skills required for their roles. Attendees will also learn about key Fraternity programs, policies, and procedures.Prospective Member Referral - Do you know a young man who would be an ideal candidate for Sigma Nu? Please submit a membership referral.Employment and Staff Hiring Resources - If you are interested in learning more about working for the Fraternity as a consultant. Please visit the employment webpage for resources and access to the position application. The application deadlines are October 15 and March 1. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Contact Scott Smith at scott.smith@sigmanu.org for more information.Become a Volunteer - Learn more and take the next steps to become a volunteer for the Fraternity.Establish or Serve an Alumni Chapter - Learn more about how to help establish and maintain an Alumni Chapter.Organize an Alumni Club - Learn more about how to become engaged with or set up an Alumni Club.Donate to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation - Give a gift to help advance the Fraternity's honorable Mission.

When I started the poddy, I scribbled on scruff paper a list dream brands Top of list: Innocent Innocent are THE OG challenger brand. The Innocent Illuminate (or Alumni) all built WHOPPPA brands:Giles, Barney, Emma, Peter Oden, loads more All extol fruitful learnings from Fruit Towers. Many see Innocent as a Brand & Marketing machine (they are). In this episode Adam Balon revealed something much DEEPER Something surprising. Something you've not thought about. ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It'll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here

Alumni Melave Malkah 5786 by Shapell's Rabbeim

Alumni relations isn't broken but it is changing.In this episode, I close out the 12 Days of Player Development by tackling alumni relations in a portal-happy world. With athletes transferring more than ever, programs are being forced to rethink alumni identity, engagement, and connection.You'll hear:Why alumni relations still matter deeplyHow to define alumni in today's landscapeThe importance of short-term but intentional engagementWhat current players must commit toHow to support graduates immediately after they leaveThis episode is for player development professionals, athlete engagement staff, coaches, and administrators navigating the new reality of college sports.BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

Merry Christmas, alumni! We have one last special episode for you as we round out 2025. We are joined once again by Ekemini and Christina from Get in The Word with Truth's Table and they are going to gift us with a reading of Luke 2:1-20. Enjoy, have a Merry Christmas, and we will see you in 2026, alumni!And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!RELATED EPISODEE194: The Truth About Listening (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)Follow Get in The Word with Truth's TableExploreApple, Spotify, YouTubeSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

Hour 1 opens with a quick recap of Thursday Night Football, where the Seahawks edged the Rams in an overtime thriller, before the conversation shifts to Dolphins alumni night, which Joe hosted and featured several franchise legends. The overwhelming message from former players was clear: the Dolphins need to move on from Tua Tagovailoa, with concerns ranging from his contract to the long-term effects of head injuries. Tua dominated the conversation at the event, with Mike McDaniel not far behind, as the guys discuss whether Miami needs a complete organizational reset to truly move forward. The hour also previews Miami's matchup with Texas A&M, stressing that the Hurricanes' stars must rise to the occasion, before wrapping with college football playoff talk and whether Group of Five programs deserve a seat at the table.

The guys open with a quick recap of Thursday Night Football, where the Seahawks outlasted the Rams in an overtime thriller, before shifting to Dolphins alumni night. With plenty of former Dolphins legends in attendance, the overwhelming sentiment was clear: the franchise needs to move on from Tua Tagovailoa, with concerns ranging from his contract to the toll head injuries may have taken. Tua was the No. 1 topic of conversation at the event, with Mike McDaniel not far behind. The discussion expands to the idea that Miami may need a full organizational reset, because until the Dolphins find a true franchise quarterback, they'll continue to trail teams like the Bills and Patriots.

Check out our latest Alumni Panel after the November 2025 Career Conference. Brock Dudley sits down with: Cody Williams (Army Air Defense, Major | Caterpillar, Senior Production Manager) Ian Burgess (Air Force Intelligence, Captain | Twist Bioscience, Account Manager) You cannot control the market, but you can control how prepared you are. Cody and Ian started early, stayed open to learning, and trusted the process. In turn, their preparation led to fantastic, well-aligned career launches. This is not just about landing a job. It is about building a long-term leadership career. For more than 50 years, Cameron-Brooks has helped JMOs do exactly that. If you are considering your next move, now is the time to prepare. https://youtu.be/oSYdpYoVfPQ If you'd like to learn more from other recent alums about their experience, listen to the alumni roundtable from after the August 2025 Career Conference.  If you'd like to speak with a career coach, we're happy to talk. Follow Cameron-Brooks on LinkedIn.

#225. This year brought some of the most incredible conversations with founders, creators, and women building lives on their own terms - and I'm breaking down the biggest lessons that stuck with me. From building sustainable routines to redefining success, these are the notes from my Note to Self alumni that changed how I think about intentional living. FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhSUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 Sponsors:Visit 47brand.com to shop best sellers and new arrivalsCanopy: Go to getcanopy.co to save $25 on your Canopy Humidifier purchase today with Canopy's filter subscription. Even better, use code NOTETOSELF at checkout to save an additional 10% off your Canopy purchase.Woo: Listeners can get 20% off sitewide at woomoreplay.com with code NOTETOSELFJoyrise: Go to Joyrise.com and use code NOTETOSELF for15% off plus free shipping nationwideQuince: Go to quince.com/payton for free shipping on your order and 365 day returnsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special alumni edition, three Penn Staters (Jill Ferguson '98, Jaden Crudup '25, and Alysha Foo '25) reflect on their unexpected career paths and the lessons they learned along the way. From operational leadership to legal strategy and organizational transformation, they offer candid stories about growth, purpose, and navigating an industry where people, food, and values intersect.Music credit: "West in Africa" by John Bartmann is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

We had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Missouri sophomore Kaia Tanskanen after long season and balancing both college gymnastics and elite gymnastics representing Finland. In this part 1 of our two part podcast with Kaia, we talk all about Mizzou and the moments that stood out from her freshman year and how she balanced competing in college while still maintaining her elite routines. She gives some BTS insights to the teams and her thoughts during the crazy NCAA Regionals and Nationals experience and of course we take her back to memories of being part of Region 5. That and more in this Part 1 with Kaia. Part 2 - Finland: Competing in elite while in college, Europeans, the first for a Finnish Women on floor and 3 time is a charge at Worlds. 

Week Two of our holiday break AKA we're re-releasing another goodie from 2025! Be sure to listen to this episode (or listen again) with David DeWitt to hear him talk about the importance of state and local news. Original Air Date: August 12th, 2025David is the Ohio Capital Journal Editor-in-Chief and a Opinion Columnist. He has been covering government, politics, and policy in Ohio since 2007, including education, health care, crime and the courts, poverty, state and local government, business, labor, energy, the environment, and social issues. He has worked for the National Journal, The New York Observer, and The Athens NEWS. He holds a bachelor's degree from Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and is a board member of the E.W. Scripps Society of Alumni and Friends.Resources:* Sign up for The Eye-Opener Newsletter* Ohio Gerrymandering: A brief and Awful History of the Very Recent Past by David DeWitt* Find a Nonprofit Newsroom (Powered by Institute for Nonprofit News)* Social Media Accounts:* Ohio Capital Journal on Bluesky* Ohio Capital Journal on Facebook* David DeWitt on X/Twitter* David DeWitt on BlueskyConnect with USS:* Substack* Instagram* TikTok* ThreadsThis episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:* Website* Instagram This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

This episode is a recording from the 2025 Alumni Forum of a panel entitled “Making Sense of AI, and the Revolution Reshaping How We Think, Work, Learn, and Relate.” The panel was moderated by Marina Chase Carreker '03, founder of Galleon Strategies. Joining her were Lane Dilg '99, former head of infrastructure policy and partnerships at OpenAI, and Thompson Paine '05, head of product strategy and operations at Anthropic.Music creditsThe episode's intro song is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ‘22, guitarist of the band South of the Soul. How to listenOn your mobile device, you can listen and subscribe to Catalyze on Apple Podcastsor Spotify. For any other podcast app, you can find the show using our RSS feed. You can let us know what you thought of the episode by finding us on social media @moreheadcain or you can email us at communications@moreheadcain.org.  

We loved studying the Bible on campus with our chapter. How do we keep that up in life after graduation?In this episode, we take a look at our final method for engaging with scripture: Bible study. More specifically, the communal discovery method that so many of us learned and grew to love during our time on campus with InterVarsity. Veteran Campus Staff Minister, Meghan Fisher joins us to refresh our inductive methodology of Bible study and to help us contextualize the practice to life after graduation.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month! (Enjoy Meghan's study of Luke 8:40-56 HERE!)RELATED EPISODESE197: The Provocation Toward Praying (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)BONUS: A Guided Prayer (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)MEGHAN'S RECOMMENDED RESOURCESIVP Bible Background Commentaries (Old Testament & New Testament) IVP's Bible DictionaryInterVarsity's "How To" resourceThe Bible for Everyone - N.T. Wright & John GoldingayThe Bible ProjectSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

Charles ScribnerMPA, College of Arts and Sciences, 2015Executive Director, Black Warrior RiverkeeperMore InformationUAB School of Public Health - Black Warrior Riverkeeper receives 2025 Lou Wooster Public Health Hero AwardBlack Warrior Riverkeeper - websiteBlack Warrior Riverkeeper - Charles Scribner bioCollege of Arts and Sciences News - I am Arts and Sciences: Charles ScribnerBham Now - Charles Scribner celebrates 20 years with Black Warrior Riverkeeper

Brandon Sammut (Chief People and AI Transformation Officer at Zapier), Jenny Molyneaux (VP of People, Vercel), and Valerie Gobeil (Head of Talent Management, Workleap) joined us for a live session on how HR teams are actually using AI today. We talked about how to get organizations AI-ready, avoid “AI debt,” make smarter build vs buy decisions, and we walked through live demos of AI-powered performance reviews, hiring workflows, interview coaching, engagement insights, and more.----  Downloadable PDF with top takeaways: https://modernpeopleleader.kit.com/episode272Sponsor Links:

Phil Simms, Ottis Anderson, Mark Collins, and Carl Banks swap stories from their Super Bowl championship seasons, presented by Tommy’s TavernSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're pleased to feature Steve Brown in this episode of Wolf Greenfield's Alumni Spotlight series. He was previously a technology specialist in Wolf Greenfield's Biotechnology Practice.  Today, Steve serves as Associate General Counsel at Orna Therapeutics. Orna is reshaping RNA therapeutics to open an entirely new world of possibilities in the treatment of disease.Here are some highlights from Steve's turn in the Alumni Spotlight on IP Talk with Wolf Greenfield.00:47 - Steve's current responsibilities at Orna02:19 - Making the transition from a law firm into corporate roles03:26 - An overview of Orna Therapeutics05:18 - Steve's favorite memory of Wolf Greenfield07:25 - When Steve thinks of his time at Wolf Greenfield, what comes to mind?09:10 - Steve's dream travel destination10:09 - His favorite movie###

In this episode of One Vision the Fintech Fuse, we chat with Kristen Castell, Managing Director, Fintech CAFE (Center for Accelerating Financial Equity) and Ryan Venderlic, Program Manager at CAFE. The trio discuss the accelerator program's evolution, its focus on financial equity for low to moderate-income communities, and the transformative power of collaboration among founders. Kristen and Ryan also share insights on the impact of AI in fintech and future disruptions in financial services. Tune in to learn how CAFE is fostering mission-driven fintech innovations and supporting their founders post-program.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:17 Insights from the CAFE Accelerator Program03:32 Evolution of the FinTech Ecosystem05:32 Post-Program Support for Alumni and the Founders Circles09:52 Mission-Driven FinTech and Challenges13:21 The Role of AI in FinTech17:24 Future Disruptions in Financial Services#AI #Fintech #FinancialServices #FinancialInclusion #BankingIndustry 

Liam Morris '23 manages one of the most complex corners of United Airlines — airport operations quality control across more than 80 stations spanning Latin America, Central America and the Southwest U.S. In this conversation, he shares how early travel experiences opened the door to a career in aviation, the path that led him from loading bags in El Paso to overseeing global safety audits, and what it takes to lead with precision, clarity and calm under pressure.Liam also reflects on United's customer-centric transformation, the moments that shaped his commitment to the industry, and how the Rice Online MBA gave him the flexibility and confidence to grow as a leader while navigating an ever-moving, always-on operational world.Episode Guide:00:00 Introduction to Aviation and Role at United Airlines00:29 Ensuring Safety and Compliance in Airport Operations02:56 Passion for Aviation and Early Influences06:08 Managing Multiple Stations and Time Zones08:00 Why United Airlines Stands Out12:16 Best Flight Experience and Customer Insights13:54 Decision to Pursue an MBA at Rice19:58 Mutual Learning and Decision Making22:27 Leadership Growth and Student Association26:47 Career Journey and Future Goals30:02 Travel Tips and Flying Etiquette37:19 Conclusion and FarewellThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode QuotesFrom cleaning planes to leading global operations25:34: I never, ever envisioned that I would be where I'm at now, and I can honestly say from when I was a business partner with United — cleaning aircraft and loading bags for another company, right — but working the United product, I never had a plan to get to where I was. My internship with United came up out of nowhere, and I moved to Jersey. Then, midsummer, I got a full-time offer to stay, and I transferred schools. You know, at the very last minute, I went up to Rutgers from UT El Paso. And then, you know, an opportunity came to transfer to Dallas, and there I ended up. You know, our CEO lives there. Ended up meeting him and a lot of executives all the time, and my name got out there really great. And then I came down to Houston to go to Rice as an assistant manager here in the airport. Then I finished my B.A. and went into the current role that I'm at, which is safety and regulatory. I can honestly say I never really had a plan to get where I was, but I'm thankful that I was always willing to walk through the door, because every single opportunity that I've had — both promotion and a lateral — was a great move, and it was such an instrumental, pivotal move.On being part of something bigger than yourself04:06: I wanted the ability to be in an industry where I am a part of something bigger, right? And being a part of an airline is really cool because even though, you know, my work now may not directly affect a flight leaving on time out of here, it does affect the customer experience some way. So I just wanted to be a part of a really, really big machine that gets people where they need to go.Show Links: TranscriptGuest Profile:Liam Morris | LinkedIn

00:00 INTRO01:00 First reaction to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2026 schedule!04:38 Grey Cup Week One rematch?08:10 Bomber receivers going into 2026.11:12 Of the remaining unsigned QBs, should the Bombers be kicking the tires on any of them?15:17 Line One breaking up, do you like Iaffalo on the first line?19:58 Heritage Classic Starting 5 for the Alumni game!Fahrenheit Airbrushing - https://www.facebook.com/fahrenheitairbrushing?mibextid=LQQJ4dFOLLOW US ON...Website: https://www.raybennysports.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/raybennysportsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/raybennysports.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/raybennysports/Twitter: https://twitter.com/raybennysportsTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@raybennysportsApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3rPuut8Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3rO0AFFLinktree: https://linktr.ee/raybennysportsReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/raybennytalksports/Discord: https://discord.gg/VcHXqu7mSupport: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1864423/supportSupport the show

Former Cane Robert Hall joined the show last night! Please support alumniapparelcompany.com Great Quality apparel!

What if your alumni network could help fuel the next generation of biotech startups? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Evan Nicoll, MBA, and Patrick Hernandez of 1834 Ventures, a new investment fund created by Tulane alumni, for founders with Tulane DNA. They share how their alumni-powered model is helping to close regional funding gaps, strengthen emerging biotech ecosystems, and support founders through trust-driven, relationship-first investing. From navigating today's tough fundraising climate to understanding what really catches an investor's eye, this conversation offers practical lessons for founders, universities, and anyone building innovation communities. In this episode, you'll learn: How alumni networks can become powerful engines for venture funding, mentorship, and deal flow. What investors are really looking for in early biotech pitches, and why trust, clarity, and curiosity matter more than perfection. Why founders should embrace relationship-building over rapid-fire pitching, and how regional markets like Louisiana can attract coastal investors. Tune in to discover how connection-driven investing is helping shape the next chapter of biotech growth across the Gulf South — and how you can be part of it. Links: Connect with Evan Nicoll, MBA, and Patrick Hernandez, and check out 1834 Ventures. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Check out Cadenza Bio and the book The Speed of Trust. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Check out BIO on the BAYOU. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast. Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

CEO & FOUNDER of Alumni Apparel Company Robert Hall will be joining the show! He is giving 20% off EVERYTHNG until January 1st 2026 for those who tune in on Tuesday @ 8:00 p.m. Discount Code will be provided doing the show! #utalk #alumniapparelcomany #utalkwinningatthegameoflife #roberthall

Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin with Andi Bill, Mara Bunderson, Kayla Kintzele and Emily Elek. Listen in and share with friends!Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Andi Bill is the head coach for the University of Wisconsin - Madison Equestrian Team and owns Sugar Creek Stables LLC teaching both hunt seat and dressage lessons. She started her equestrian career showing ponies then moving up to the 3'6” equitation. She attended Mount Holyoke College and competed on their IHSA team, serving as captain her junior and senior years. She won Nationals in the Alumni division. When she's not at the barn, she is a civil engineer focusing on traffic safety. She is the Director of the Wisconsin Local Technical Assistance Program and Associate Director of the Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory and Eastern Tribal Technical Assistance Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She is a passionate advocate for making research tangible to practitioners and to foster implementation and widespread adoption.  Guest: Mara Bunderson is a 2025 graduate of UW Madison and competed on the Wisconsin Equestrian Team for four years. She earned titles of IHSA Reserve National Champion in 2023 and National Champion in 2024 under her trainer and coach, Andi Bill. She's remained active in the equestrian world, working for Emily Elek as a groom at Pony Finals and riding/taking lessons at both Stonewall Farm and Sugar Creek Stables. Outside of horses, Mara is attending grad school at UW Madison as well as working full time at Wisconsin Athletics as an accountant. Guest: Kayla Kintzele competed on the University of Wisconsin - Madison Equestrian Team for four years and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering. She remains active in IHSA, having competed as an alumni and also helping organize the IHSA Zone 7 Championships the past two years. Outside of her day job as a project engineer, she trains with Andi Bill, competes as an adult amateur in the hunters with her horse, Levi, and also grooms for Emily Elek. Guest: Emily Elek is the owner of Stonewall Farm in Ixonia, Wisconsin where she operates one of the largest pony leasing, sales, breeding and training operations. Emily takes a holistic view in developing ponies and riders for lifelong success.Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineRead the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person event!

Enjoy engaging with Andrea's example of using scripture as a guide for prayer using Nehemiah 1:5-11.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!RELATED EPISODEE197: The Provocation Toward Praying (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)STAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

Have you ever felt provoked to pray? Do you ever feel so touched by time spent in the Bible that you just have to tell God what you're experiencing? OR have you ever felt like you wanted to pray but just didn't know what to say? Both of these instances indicate the usefulness of scripture in prayer. Sometimes God's word moves us to respond to him. And sometimes it gives us the right words to say when we just don't have them ourselves.Today, InterVarsity prayer specialist Andrea Anderson walks us through the process of incorporating the Bible as a tool for prayer and helps us continue exploring the best practices for engaging with scripture after graduation.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!OTHER RESOURCESBe sure to check out the Guided Prayer that accompanies this episode! (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)RELATED EPISODE(S)E196: The Tenderness of Memorizing (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)STAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of One Vision the Fintech Fuse, we chat with Kristen Castell, Managing Director, Fintech CAFE (Center for Accelerating Financial Equity) and Ryan Venderlic, Program Manager at CAFE. The trio discuss the accelerator program's evolution, its focus on financial equity for low to moderate-income communities, and the transformative power of collaboration among founders. Kristen and Ryan also share insights on the impact of AI in fintech and future disruptions in financial services. Tune in to learn how CAFE is fostering mission-driven fintech innovations and supporting their founders post-program.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:17 Insights from the CAFE Accelerator Program03:32 Evolution of the FinTech Ecosystem05:32 Post-Program Support for Alumni and the Founders Circles09:52 Mission-Driven FinTech and Challenges13:21 The Role of AI in FinTech17:24 Future Disruptions in Financial Services#AI #Fintech #FinancialServices #FinancialInclusion #BankingIndustry

It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR guest is Darren Cooke, Interim Chief Innovation & Entrepreneurship Officer, UC BerkeleyYOUR co-host is Brent Ramdin, CEO, EducationDynamicsYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does a university with over 100 innovation & entrepreneurship organizations on campus coordinate them all to become #1 in the world for venture backed startups founded by undergraduate alumni, beating Stanford 3 years in a row?What happens when a university wins 4 Nobel prizes in 1 week & makes innovation & entrepreneurship activity count as a positive in faculty tenure evaluations?How does a public university leverage 600,000 living alumni & scale to 1,000X alumni engagement while maintaining its mission of providing long term societal benefits?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Then ⁠​subscribe today​⁠ to lock in YOUR $5.99/m lifetime supporters rate! This offer ends December 31, 2025!

We're back for more stories about the impact the David Eccles School of Business has on the lives and careers of our alums. In this episode, host Frances Johnson is joined by Justin Spangler and Diego Alvarez for a conversation about the power of making connections through the David Eccles Alumni Network. Frances talks to Justin and Diego about the start of their mentor/mentee relationship, as well as discussing some of the benefits of staying involved with the Eccles Alumni Network. Justin, an Information Systems graduate and current executive MBA student, serves as the chair of the David Eccles Alumni Network Board and is actively involved in mentoring students like Diego. Diego, a senior studying marketing and information systems, shares how his connection with Justin helped him secure a Google internship and offers insights on the value of building strong alumni ties. Both of them emphasize the importance of relationships, mentorship, and staying engaged with the alumni network to enhance career success and personal growth.Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm.Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts. Episode Quotes:Diego reveals the mistake he made when connecting with alumni and what he's learned since[06:58] Diego Alvarez: Going back to my early college career, and especially when I met Justin my sophomore year, the idea of meeting alumni at the beginning was pretty intimidating, especially when you think about networking too, and reaching out to people and like, oh, what does that look like? What does that mean? But as I've gotten to meet so many great alumni, I've realized just how great of a resource they are and how many people are out there willing to speak to you, willing to help you out. And what I really appreciate about it is it connects the theory or skills that you learn in classes to your actual career work. [08:03] And in my experience, I admit this is a mistake I've done in the past too. I think people jump all the way to the end where it's like, "Hey, can I have a referral?" or "Hey, I'm applying for this position; can you help me out?" But starting to build those relationships now during your undergrad experience and not at the end of your undergrad experience is super valuable because, like both of you mentioned, it is a relationship, and if you just look at it as, "Oh, I just want that referral," or "I just want that extra push in a position that I'm applying for," I feel like you're missing out on the entire experience that you can have.How having Justin as a mentor helped Diego find direction as a first-generation college student[19:36] Diego Alvarez: Just the feedback and practice that I received with Justin was monumental [and] was huge for me. Being able to have that person to bounce ideas back and forth to practice. We did a few interview prep sessions. He really helped me learn how to kind of sell myself as an individual when it comes to, not just interviews, but the moment you meet someone, the moment you talk to someone. And that was huge. Just in making myself more personal, making myself a friendlier person just in general, but also with my career as well. So having that feedback was massive, and not having someone to bounce those ideas back with, honestly, it would've been like wandering around in the dark, not knowing, okay, is it working or not? And when I find out if it is working or if it's not working, I'm probably finding out once they're sending me an email saying, "Hey, we're going to move on with someone else," or, "Hey, we'd like to continue on." So having that feedback, having that input, was awesome. And then going back to that support, just having those people who are champion for you, who push for you, is awesome. Those people who remove barriers for you has been huge. So those things, like knowing the barriers that could have been in my way if I didn't have someone like Justin or have the other mentors that I've had in my life, knowing the feedback and the conversation I've had. If I didn't have that, I don't know if I would've been able to go as far as I have. Justin shares how mentoring a first-gen student reignited his own motivation[23:40] Justin Spangler: I learned a lot from Diego. As I mentioned, Diego's a self-starter. He's overcome a lot. First generation in college, as we've talked about on this podcast, that inspires me as a mentor to be better and think of ways that I can help. And you know, when you're in that rut that I spoke about just a couple of minutes ago, you know, I'll get you out of it, and Diego's a shining great example of that. So definitely from a motivation perspective, relationships are a gem. I think we spoke about that earlier in the podcast, and there's value in having relationships and not just thinking those so short-term, as you mentioned, Frances, but long-term. I think there's a huge benefit to having friends and friends that you care about for a long period of time. It's been fun to watch Diego learn and grow over these last couple of years, and in my life, that helps me be more motivated to continue to learn and grow. When you get to where I am, about almost 10 years into the working field, you can kind of hit a low, you can kind of hit a plateau, and sometimes you need that motivation to help you keep coming up.Show Links:Justin Spangler | LinkedInDiego Alvarez | LinkedInMy Eccles Experience: Diego Alvarez | ArticleDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

In this episode of The P.A.S. Report Podcast, Professor Giordano sits down with Steve McGuire of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni to expose the catastrophic collapse in academic preparedness across America's education system. Using UC San Diego's alarming new data showing freshmen unable to add single digit numbers, round to the nearest hundred, or subtract fractions, this episode examines how decades of lowered standards, ideological distractions, and exploding education spending have produced a generation unprepared for college or citizenship. Nick and Steve break down why taxpayers spend more than $1.5 trillion a year on education with worse results than ever, why there is no public outrage, and what reforms are urgently needed to restore competence, knowledge, and real accountability.   Episode Highlights UC San Diego's data reveal a nationwide academic collapse and the dangers of lowering standards How more than $1.5 trillion in annual education spending produces catastrophic results with no accountability What ACTA sees behind the scenes and the reforms needed to rescue American education  

TigerTalk turns its attention to adult education in Mississippi as Marketing and Public Relations Specialist Liz Calvery meets with Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford for an in-depth look at one of the state's strongest programs. Calvery leads the conversation as Ford highlights how Northeast's award-winning approach serves as a model for colleges across the Magnolia State. Their discussion explains how adult education supports individuals who did not complete high school and often faced setbacks that kept them from earning a credential. Ford outlines why adult education plays a key role in strengthening Mississippi's workforce. Programs focus on literacy and practical work skills that can help drive economic growth, though he notes the need for sustainable funding to meet the scale of demand. Current estimates show 301,301 Mississippians lack a high school diploma, and statewide programs helped 8,465 people reach that milestone last year. Challenges remain significant. Many students enter reading at a third-grade level or below, and 97 percent fall under an eighth-grade learning level. Ford details how programs like Northeast's work to close those gaps and offer a pathway toward long-term success for learners and communities across the state. Plus, get the latest updates on athletics, academics, workforce development, and all the incredible things happening at one of the nation's premier community colleges.

From losing his $25,000 life savings on his first startup investment to democratizing venture capital for everyday investors, Gerry Hays shares proven strategies for making early-stage investing accessible through VentureStaking while teaching founders outside traditional tech hubs how to raise capital and build sustainable businesses. In this episode of the DealQuest Podcast, host Corey Kupfer sits down with Gerry Hays, founder and CEO of Doriot and Senior Lecturer at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Gerry has made 75+ startup investments, taught venture capital for 20 years, and built multiple companies from zero to exit, including HomeYeah.com and Charlie Biggs Food Company. His current mission focuses on expanding venture capital access beyond coastal hubs through innovative funding models. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: In this episode, you'll discover how to participate in early-stage startup investing with as little as $10 through the VentureStaking model, why the right to invest later in winning companies proves more valuable than over-investing today, and how collapsing startup costs are fundamentally changing capital requirements for founders. Gerry shares strategies for avoiding what he calls "the fool's tax" when making your first investments, the critical importance of backing founders over ideas, and why venture investing resembles poker more than roulette. You'll also learn about building venture ecosystems within universities where students and alumni can collaborate on funding and growth, navigating the decision between raising capital versus bootstrapping your business, and the difference between venture-appropriate businesses versus lifestyle companies. The conversation explores tokenization's potential to create an ownership economy, why cultivation mindset beats consumption thinking for long-term wealth building, and what freedom from scarcity truly means in both dealmaking and life. GERRY'S JOURNEY: Gerry's path into venture capital came through painful education. After leaving law practice after just six months, he made his first investment at age 27, putting his entire life savings of $25,000 into a hazardous waste processing technology. He knew the space intimately from running lobbying for Indiana's Department of Environmental Management. The technology made sense. The market opportunity was clear. But the founder couldn't execute, and Gerry lost everything. That lesson kept him away from startup investing for a decade. Instead, he became a founder himself, launching HomeYeah.com during the dot-com boom. He acquired a small Indianapolis company with 25 lawn signs and built it into the 11th largest real estate company in Indianapolis by transactions, growing from zero to $1.8 million in revenue in just 20 to 24 months. The company sold to Help-U-Sell Real Estate in 2003, but not before Gerry experienced the challenge of raising capital outside traditional tech hubs. After the HomeYeah.com exit, Indiana University invited him to teach a new venture capital course. He's been there since 2004, creating what he calls a bridge between academic theory and real-world startup practice. Meanwhile, he co-founded Charlie Biggs Food Company, scaling it from zero to $10 million in revenue with distribution in over 1,000 retail locations before exiting through a private equity deal. FIRST INVESTMENT LESSONS: That initial $25,000 loss taught Gerry what he calls "avoiding the fool's tax." The fundamental insight was simple but profound. When you invest, you're really investing in founders more than ideas. He was simply a bad picker of founders at that point. The technology expertise didn't matter. Market knowledge didn't matter. What mattered was identifying founders who could execute through inevitable obstacles and pivots. This lesson shaped everything that followed. Gerry wouldn't touch startup investing again for ten years after that loss. When he did return, his approach centered on cultivating relationships with founders over time, watching how they respond to challenges, and building diversified portfolios that acknowledge most investments will fail. VENTURESTAKING MODEL: The VentureStaking approach emerged from Gerry's years of teaching and investing. The model allows investors to participate with as little as $10 in early-stage founders. Instead of writing large checks for immediate equity, venture stakers provide small grants to founders just getting started. If those founders break out and raise a real equity round, the stakers get invited to invest at 10 times their initial stake. The math works elegantly. Out of 25 investments of $10 each totaling $250, you might only see three worth backing in a real round. But when winners emerge, you've earned the right to participate in meaningful equity rounds without the traditional barriers to entry. This democratizes access while maintaining sophisticated portfolio construction principles. Gerry likens venture investing to poker rather than roulette. You play many hands with small amounts. You fold most of them. But when you spot real winners, you bet heavy. This is cultivation versus consumption, a long-term wealth-building game that Warren Buffett exemplifies, having created 99% of his wealth after age 65. THE COLLAPSING COST OF STARTING: One of the most profound shifts Gerry identifies is how startup costs have collapsed. What required $5 million to build ten years ago can now be created in a day for $50 thanks to AI agents, no-code platforms, and cloud services. This changes everything about capital requirements and who can be a founder. This trend combines with tokenization to create what Gerry calls an ownership economy. Instead of owning a few stocks generating passive income, people could hold tokens in 150 companies, each generating small amounts of passive income without traditional barriers to entry. The infrastructure for this future is being built now through blockchain technology and regulatory evolution. UNIVERSITY VENTURE ECOSYSTEMS: Gerry's work brings the VentureStaking model to universities, creating ecosystems where students, alumni, and faculty can participate in funding and building the next generation of startups. Indiana University has 70,000 students and 800,000 alumni. Imagine creating an arena where students pitch ideas, alumni back them with small stakes, and the community participates in the upside when founders succeed. Shared information, shared risk, shared prosperity. This approach captures innovation traditional VCs miss entirely. Founders outside coastal hubs gain access to capital. Alumni gain access to investment opportunities typically reserved for accredited investors with six-figure minimums. Students learn by doing rather than just studying theory. The model scales to any university willing to build the infrastructure. KEY INSIGHTS: Geographic location shouldn't determine access to capital. Gerry experienced this firsthand with HomeYeah.com in Indianapolis. He wasn't in California. He didn't have the right connections. That challenge drives his current work at Doriot, focused on democratizing venture capital for founders and investors outside traditional hubs. The Sam Altman example illustrates how network effects compound. Altman invested $15,000 in Stripe in 2009, now worth $650 million. That wealth creates access to more deals. Those deals create more wealth. The rich get richer not because they're smarter but because they have access. VentureStaking aims to expand that access. Contracts matter, but people matter just as much. Gerry's experience shows that when something seems too easy, like tenants responding unusually quickly to lease documents without redlines for 10-15 year commitments, it raises red flags. You can have perfect legal documents but still face challenges if you're working with the wrong people. THE SHARK TANK STORY: Gerry shares his Shark Tank experience where his former student pitched a business and received a $250,000 offer from Mark Cuban for 35% equity. Gerry advised him that existing SAFEs would push him below 50% ownership. The founder turned down Cuban's offer. That "no" to Mark Cuban kicked off Season 4 of Shark Tank and generated publicity that proved more valuable than the deal itself. The company continued growing without the investment. CULTIVATION VERSUS CONSUMPTION: One of Gerry's most powerful insights addresses how society trains people for consumption rather than cultivation. We've made sports betting legal. Prediction markets are booming. We're training young people about fast-moving money and dopamine hits. But venture investing is a cultivation game. You're dropping seeds into the ground and watching what the universe brings back. He gave a student $5,000 who wanted to build something in the travel industry. The founder pivoted to AI and Shopify and just raised $8 million at a $55 million valuation. That $5,000 investment is now worth over $200,000. The bet wasn't on the idea. It was on a founder who wouldn't quit. That's something you discover by playing the game, getting yourself into wealth-building activities where you're patient, watching, and learning. FREEDOM FROM SCARCITY: When asked about freedom, Gerry's answer cut to something fundamental. Being free from a scarcity mindset is profoundly important. Everything around us reinforces scarcity. But when you let go of that and realize how abundant things really are, it changes how you see opportunities. You can afford to be patient. You can take calculated risks. You can help others succeed knowing there's enough to go around. This mindset applies to venture capital, to dealmaking, to entrepreneurship, and to life. When you operate from abundance rather than scarcity, you see opportunities differently. Capital formation is evolving. The question is whether that evolution will democratize opportunity or concentrate it further. Gerry's betting on democratization. Perfect for investors curious about venture capital but feeling locked out of traditional opportunities, founders outside coastal tech hubs seeking capital, university administrators exploring venture ecosystem development, and anyone interested in how capital formation is evolving to become more accessible while maintaining sophisticated portfolio construction principles. FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE: https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/gerryhays FOR MORE ON GERRY HAYS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerryhays/ https://doriot.com FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFERhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today! Episode Highlights with Timestamps [00:00] - Introduction to Gerry Hays and the VentureStaking model [02:15] - Growing up around real estate and finding it boring initially [04:30] - The $25,000 first investment loss and avoiding the fool's tax [07:45] - Launching HomeYeah.com during the dot-com boom and growing to $1.8 million [10:20] - Capital raising challenges outside traditional tech hubs [12:30] - Selling HomeYeah.com to Help-U-Sell Real Estate in 2003 [14:15] - Teaching venture capital at Indiana University since 2004 [16:45] - Building Charlie Biggs Food Company from zero to $10 million in revenue [19:30] - The VentureStaking model explained with $10 minimum investments [22:15] - Why venture investing is poker, not roulette [25:00] - The collapsing cost of starting companies from millions to dollars [27:30] - Tokenization and the ownership economy vision [30:45] - The $5,000 investment now worth $200,000 after founder pivoted to AI [33:20] - Sam Altman's $15,000 Stripe investment now worth $650 million [36:00] - Building venture ecosystems within universities [39:15] - The Shark Tank story where student turned down Mark Cuban [42:00] - Cultivation versus consumption mindset for wealth building [44:30] - Warren Buffett creating 99% of wealth after age 65 [46:45] - Freedom from scarcity mindset in dealmaking and life Guest Bio Gerry Hays is the founder and CEO of Doriot, a platform focused on democratizing venture capital by expanding access for entrepreneurs outside traditional coastal hubs. He is also a Senior Lecturer at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, where he has taught Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Finance since 2004. Gerry began his career in politics and law before founding HomeYeah.com, an online real estate platform that grew from zero to $1.8 million in revenue in 20-24 months and became the 11th largest real estate company in Indianapolis by transactions. The company was acquired by the private equity firm behind Help-U-Sell Real Estate in 2003. He co-founded Charlie Biggs Food Company, growing it to over $10 million in annual revenue with distribution in over 1,000 retail locations before exiting through a private equity deal. He also co-founded Apparel Media Group, later acquired by Custom Ink. An active investor, Gerry has backed 75+ early-stage companies, several of which have raised over $20 million or achieved profitability. He has been investing in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Layer 2 infrastructure since 2013. Gerry is the author of The First-Time Founders Equity Bible and has led student venture immersion trips to Asia for over a decade. Host Bio Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Show Description Do you want your business to grow faster? The DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer reveals how successful entrepreneurs and business leaders use strategic deals to accelerate growth. From large mergers and acquisitions to capital raising, joint ventures, strategic alliances, real estate deals, and more, this show discusses the full spectrum of deal-driven growth strategies. Get the confidence to pursue deals that will help your company scale faster. Related Episodes Episode 350 - Tom Dillon on Fractional CFOs and Alternative Funding Sources: Learn how fractional CFO services help companies explore diverse funding options beyond traditional venture capital. Episode 351 - Solocast on Deal Structures Beyond M&A and Capital Raising: Explore joint ventures, strategic alliances, licensing agreements, and other creative partnership models that expand growth options. Episode 89 - Sherisse Hawkins on the Capital Raising Journey: Discover the practical realities of securing investment as a founder and navigating the funding landscape. Episode 85 - Nick Adams on Seed Stage Venture Capital Funds: Understand how traditional VCs evaluate early-stage deals and what metrics matter most to institutional investors. Episode 175 - Natasha Miller on Developing Strategic Partnerships: Master the concepts of shared risk, shared resources, and creative collaboration structures that bring communities together. Episode 185 - Maximilian Rast on How to Raise Capital for Your Company: Build the fundamentals of capital raising that apply across venture, real estate, and business growth strategies. Social Media Follow DealQuest Podcast:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/Website: https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Follow Gerry Hays: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerryhays/ Company: https://doriot.com Twitter: @gerryhays Keywords/Tags venture capital democratization, VentureStaking model, early stage investing, startup funding alternatives, university venture ecosystems, tokenization investing, accredited investor alternatives, cultivation mindset wealth building, venture capital accessibility, startup investment diversification, capital raising strategies, founder backing strategies, angel investing, entrepreneurship education, blockchain tokenization, ownership economy, portfolio diversification, founder selection strategies, dealmaking strategies