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Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians

Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians

By Cornell Alumni Association

Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians will give you an inside look into the lives of some of our most notable young Cornellians. Learn who they are and what role Cornell University played in their professional and personal lives.

Communicator Award of Excellence winner 2020.

Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.
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Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy CornelliansApr 15, 2020

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39:18
CLAA Series: Manuel Muñoz MFA '98

CLAA Series: Manuel Muñoz MFA '98

In the sixth of the CLAA Series for the Fresh from the Hill Podcast, CLAA board members interview the 2023 MacArthur ‘genius grant’ recipient, Manuel Muñoz, MFA ‘98.

In his writing, Muñoz draws on his roots growing up in a Mexican-American family of farmworkers in California’s Central Valley to explore the impacts of racial politics and limited economic opportunities in this region. He tells the stories of a wide spectrum of people, including mothers and sons, U.S.-born citizens and immigrants, young gay men and teenage parents.

Manuel details how his academic work at Harvard lead to him teaching young minds in Boston and how that experience led him to pursue a Master of Fine Arts at Cornell. Manuel details how mentors like Helena Maria Viramontes shaped his love for writing and his appetite for short stories.

Muñoz, who is professor of English at the University of Arizona, has published three story collections, “Zigzagger” (2003), “The Faith Healer of Olive Avenue” (2007), and “The Consequences” (2022), as well as the novel “What You See in the Dark” (2011). He received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1994.

Plug into this episode as our hosts connect the landscape of topics with one of the luminaries in the novelist world!

Read the ⁠episode transcript⁠.

Hosted by Freddy Terrazas Escamilla MHA '19. Fresh from the Hill was created by Amanda Massa. The CLAA episodes were edited and recorded by Joseph De Los Santos, Freddy Terrazas Escamilla, and Kety Esquivel. Intro music, which that incorporates the sound of the coqui, a frog indigenous to Puerto Rico, by Leonard Washington & Joseph De Los Santos. Closing music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠koa3@cornell.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jan 10, 202448:51
Winners of the Inaugural Robert S. Harrison '76 Recent Alumni Volunteer Award
Dec 27, 202348:60
CLAA Series: Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson '97

CLAA Series: Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson '97

Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson '97 takes on our fifth episode of the CLAA series. Mary Carmen charts her path from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico and how it took a chance bet for her to apply to Cornell. She talks about the community she built with folks like Kety during Summer/Fall of 1993 with COSEP as well as some of the struggles she had with English as she was making the transition in the first couple years of school. She then speaks to her drive as a young chemical engineer whose turn in Marketing shifted and elevated her career to where she is at today as Chief Marketing officer of Pandora.

Read the ⁠episode transcript⁠.

Hosted by Kety Esquivel '97. Fresh from the Hill was created by Amanda Massa. The CLAA episodes were edited and recorded by Joseph De Los Santos, Freddy Terrazas Escamilla, and Kety Esquivel. Intro music, which that incorporates the sound of the coqui, a frog indigenous to Puerto Rico, by Leonard Washington & Joseph De Los Santos. Closing music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠koa3@cornell.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Dec 13, 202328:35
CLAA Series: Eduardo Peñalver '94

CLAA Series: Eduardo Peñalver '94

Eduardo Peñalver is our next esteemed guest for the fourth episode of the CLAA series. During the discussion, Eduardo tracks his early life from a farm town in the Pacific Northwest, to being thrust as the leader of the Day Hall Takeover. He speaks to some of the awkwardness of being the point person to the Takeover, while receiving a Rhodes scholarship (wow!) just a few days later. He then moves into how he transitioned a successful law career into academia, including some time at Cornell as a professor and dean, before heading into his current role as President of Seattle University. Please join us for this lively conversation.

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by Kety Esquivel '97. Fresh from the Hill was created by Amanda Massa. The CLAA episodes were edited and recorded by Joseph De Los Santos, Freddy Terrazas Escamilla, and Kety Esquivel. Intro music, which that incorporates the sound of the coqui, a frog indigenous to Puerto Rico, by Leonard Washington & Joseph De Los Santos. Closing music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠koa3@cornell.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Nov 29, 202337:42
CLAA Series: The Day Hall Takeover with Kety Esquivel '97

CLAA Series: The Day Hall Takeover with Kety Esquivel '97

Kety Esquivel '97 headlines the third episode of the CLAA series as we dive into the Day Hall Takeover. During the discussion, Kety discusses her path to Cornell and sets the scene as a young first-year student entering Cornell in the Summer/Fall of 1993 with COSEP. She then explores the celebration of several exhibits focused on Latino culture and the devastation in seeing the Revalaciones/Revelations Exhibits by Daniel J. Martinez defaced with discriminatory remarks and how the students turned that anger into action. Kety closes the discussion out with reflections on the successes and the room we still have to go, today.

Read the ⁠episode transcript⁠.

Hosted by Joseph De Los Santos MHA '19 Fresh from the Hill was created by Amanda Massa. The CLAA episodes were edited and recorded by Joseph De Los Santos, Freddy Terrazas Escamilla, and Kety Esquivel. Intro music, which that incorporates the sound of the coqui, a frog indigenous to Puerto Rico, by Leonard Washington & Joseph De Los Santos. Closing music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠koa3@cornell.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Nov 15, 202347:56
CLAA Series: Ana Pinczuk '84, MEng '85

CLAA Series: Ana Pinczuk '84, MEng '85

Ana Pinczuk headlines the second episode of the CLAA series and is the first Board of Trustees member interviewed. Ana is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Dexterity, Inc. and serves on the boards of Aptiv and SentinelOne. Throughout her career, Ana has worked for AT&T, Cisco Systems, Veritas Technologies, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Ana discusses her path to Cornell which started from her upbringing in Argentina as she and her family fled to the United States due to a coup d’etat in her native country. Ms. Pinczuk shares with the group how that experience and the impact it had on her family provided her with the needed grit and perspective to excel in Ithaca. Ana holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and she also holds degrees from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University.

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by Joseph De Lost Santos MHA '19 Fresh from the Hill was created by Amanda Massa. The CLAA episodes were edited and recorded by Joseph De Los Santos, Freddy Terrazas Escamilla, and Kety Esquivel. Intro music, which that incorporates the sound of the coqui, a frog indigenous to Puerto Rico, by Leonard Washington & Joseph De Los Santos. Closing music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠koa3@cornell.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Oct 25, 202327:42
CLAA Series: Los Anfitriones (the hosts)

CLAA Series: Los Anfitriones (the hosts)

How long have Latinos been at Cornell? Is there a story to tell about the LatinX community at this Ivy League University and its involvement in grassroots activism and the Board of Trustees? How has the Latine community contributed to Cornell’s commitment to any person, any study over the University’s 158 years? Join Cornell Latino Alumni Association at large board members Joseph De Los Santos MHA '19 and Freddy Terrazas Escamilla MHA '19 and Vice President Kety Esquivel '97 as they discuss the upcoming CLAA Series on the Fresh from Hill Cornell podcast. Over this limited series the trio interview key Latino/Latina alumni and Board of Trustees members while discussing key events in CLAA history at Cornell.  

Put your earbuds in and join us for this first episode where Kety, Joseph, and Freddy walk through their background, their decision to attend Cornell, and the impact that the university has had on their lives and careers. We welcome all students, alumni, family and friends of the university to hear how CLAA has had an impact on Cornell since some of the first classes graduated from the University. 

Read the ⁠episode transcript.⁠

Fresh from the Hill was created by Amanda Massa. The CLAA episodes were edited and recorded by Joseph De Los Santos, Freddy Terrazas Escamilla, and Kety Esquivel. Intro music, which that incorporates the sound of the coqui, a frog indigenous to Puerto Rico, by Leonard Washington & Joseph De Los Santos. Closing music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠koa3@cornell.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Oct 11, 202334:12
Any Person, As Many Studies As You Want - Bryce Demopoulos '23
Jul 19, 202348:07
REBROADCAST: Being a Cornell Trustee - Doug Mitarotonda '02, MEng '03, MA '07, PhD '09 (original air date: 2/3/21)

REBROADCAST: Being a Cornell Trustee - Doug Mitarotonda '02, MEng '03, MA '07, PhD '09 (original air date: 2/3/21)

The 2023 Alumni Trustee Election is officially OPEN so what better time to learn about what it means to be an alumni elected trustee and why YOU should vote?!

Check out this year's ballot and make your voice heard!
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What does it take to be on Cornell’s Board of Trustees? Four Cornell degrees? Not necessarily. But Doug Mitarotonda’s decade plus (yep! undergrad, two masters’ and a PhD) as a Cornell student gives him a unique perspective on the Board.

Tune in to hear his journey from student to Trustee and why you should vote for your next alumni-elected trustee.

Learn about the candidates and cast your vote today!

Read the episode transcript.

Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jan 18, 202329:03
Try the Things - Alison Leiby '06
Jan 04, 202353:23
Living the Best Life in Paris - Adja Toure '18
Dec 21, 202246:43
Put Yourself Out There - Alexis Wilson '19
Dec 07, 202249:11
A Premium on Collaborations - Dr. Glenn Altschuler MA '73, PhD '76
Nov 23, 202256:40
Meet Sydney Mann '18

Meet Sydney Mann '18

It's time for a new series of Fresh from the Hill (finally!)

The name of our new host may be familiar to you - that's because she was a guest on the podcast back in 2021! Get to know her better by revisiting that episode today (Check Your Privilege - original air date 8/18/21) and stay tuned for brand new episodes in the upcoming weeks with Sydney hosting. 

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by Camila Salazar '16.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Nov 09, 202241:52
Cornelliana with Corey: Halloween Haunted History (REBROADCAST: original air date 10/26/21)
Oct 26, 202250:05
REBROADCAST: The Business of Broadway - Dana Lerner '14 (original air date: 5/15/19)

REBROADCAST: The Business of Broadway - Dana Lerner '14 (original air date: 5/15/19)

Dana Lerner '14 is currently the co-producer of the revival of COMPANY. COMPANY was recently nominated for nine Tony Awards and won five, including best revival of a musical. As a producer, Dana was nominated and won best revival of a musical. Revisit this episode from 2019 to get an exclusive look behind the scenes of Broadway.
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Dana M. Lerner '14 is a Tony-nominated theater producer and entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Red Pelican Creative, LLC a social media consulting and management agency providing strategic advice and management consulting on social media, brand enhancement and development primarily in the live entertainment space .

In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, Dana sits down with host Aaron Kominos-Smith '04 to chat about what life as a theater major at Cornell was like, how to get into the business side of theater, how Hamilton is changing the game in ticketing and subscription models, what it takes to be a Broadway producer, and how she got involved with the Tony-nominated show Indecent. Also hear about the numerous ways Dana stays involved with Cornell in her very limited free time!

Learn more about Dana and Red Pelican Creative at  https://officialdml.com/ and https://redpelicancreative.com/. 

Read the episode transcript.

Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jun 29, 202232:43
Cornellians in Podcasting: Interview Hour
Jun 08, 202253:05
Cornellians in Podcasting: BYOB: The Healthcare Podcast
May 25, 202235:46
Cornellians in Podcasting: Entreprenista feat. Susan Danziger '86
May 11, 202248:20
Cornellians in Podcasting: Entreprenista Podcast feat. Gwen Whiting '98

Cornellians in Podcasting: Entreprenista Podcast feat. Gwen Whiting '98

"Gwen Whiting of The Laundress – Innovation, Big Risks, and Thinking Outside the Box," first aired March 23, 2020.

Success as an Entreprenista involves innovation, taking big risks, and thinking outside the box. In the case of Gwen Whiting '98, Founder of The Laundress, a successful line of eco-friendly laundry and home products, it’s all of these. Inspired with an idea while working in the fashion industry at Ralph Lauren and trying to maintain her wardrobe while using the local laundromat, Gwen teamed up with her friend who had a complimentary skillset to create a solution. Gwen joins Socialfy co-founder Stephanie Cartin for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success including how Gwen and her partner found money early on, from business loans to throwing for-profit parties, launching an e-commerce website over 15 years ago when Amazon was still a bookseller, the challenges of building an ecommerce brand and generating buzz in the pre-social media era, how The Laundress got  ahead of the market in creating detergents free of petroleum products (long before the trend of green eco-friendly products,) why the co-founders made a risky decision to fund the business by amassing considerable credit card debt rather than taking VC money, the process of selling the brand to Unilever, and why having the right lawyer and a team behind you during such a pivotal time mattered so much.

Check out the Entreprenista website for more episodes. 

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by Stephanie Cartin '06

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Apr 27, 202255:02
Cornellians in Podcasting: "I" Statements

Cornellians in Podcasting: "I" Statements

Cornell University’s Intergroup Dialogue Project (IDP) proudly presents “I” Statements, a podcast where complexity, vulnerability, and curiosity collide. Music written and performed by Evan Wilhelms. You can learn more about IDP here

This episode, "Authenticity," was first aired September 8, 2021. 

Three different people, three different perspectives on authenticity. We share stories about when our authenticity brought others closer to us or caused them to pull away, raise questions about the relationships between authenticity, conformity, and agency, and, at one point, don some rose-colored glasses to appreciate the vibrancy and humanity that can accompany authenticity.

Hosted by Rachel Sumner PhD '15, featuring graduate students Janani Hariharan and Trevor Franklin.

Read the episode transcript.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.


Apr 13, 202229:35
REBROADCAST: No Need to Settle - Hilary Lashley Renison '05, MEng '07, MBA '09 (original air date: 9/16/20)

REBROADCAST: No Need to Settle - Hilary Lashley Renison '05, MEng '07, MBA '09 (original air date: 9/16/20)

Enjoy the final revisited episode from the Wall of Wonder series celebrating Women's History Month!

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Hilary Lashley Renison '05, MEng '07, MBA '09 knows resiliency. Though she was one of three African American women in engineering during undergrad, she stayed at Cornell for almost a decade pursuing a bachelor’s, masters in engineering, and an MBA. Yep, that makes her a triple red! Now at the top of her game at General Electric and founder of her own company Tinker and Fiddle—promoting STEM education for K-12 students—prepare to be inspired.  As we all grapple with the new normal of 2020, Renison says, “Don’t be afraid of change, lean into it.”

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by Madeline Dubelier '20.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University

Mar 30, 202239:03
REBROADCAST: Designing the World Around us - Erica Fischer '07 (original air date: 9/2/20)
Mar 16, 202241:51
REBROADCAST: From Finance to Fashion - Joanna Dai '08 (original air date: 8/19/20)

REBROADCAST: From Finance to Fashion - Joanna Dai '08 (original air date: 8/19/20)

In celebration of Women's History Month, the next three episodes will be rebroadcasts of our Wall of Wonder series from last summer, featuring interviews of three women profiled in the book by authors Madeline Dubelier, Catherine Gurecky, and Abigail Macaluso, all Class of 2020. Need a refresher on the book itself? Go back to season 3, episode 8 to hear an interview with Madeline, Catherine, and Abigail and how the book came about. And for the next three episodes of Fresh from the Hill, enjoy this look back on these interviews with some incredible women.

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The world is better when women succeed. Joanna Dai’s eight year finance career in New York and London instilled a sense of effortless style with cool attitude, but lacked the comfort and ease from her Californian upbringing. Yet, when it came to workwear shopping, she felt increasingly discouraged by a market where fabrics restricted movement, designs lacked function and versatility, and quality mismatched value. She had the vision of a brand where none of these factors were compromised – a brand of tailored performance wear where comfort empowers confidence.

Listen in to the second episode of our Wall of Wonder series as Abigail Macaluso '20 chats with Joanna about her journey - from being one of five women in an incredibly difficult major at Cornell, to landing a job at Bear Stearns right before the Great Recession, to eventually finding her footing in the fashion world by creating a brand committed to sustainability, empowering women, and promoting comfort and style.

“I really believe that brands have that power, they have the platform. And through their platform and voice they can really impact change.”

Read the episode transcript.

Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Mar 02, 202247:04
Cornellians in Podcasting: Cidiot
Feb 16, 202235:38
REBROADCAST: Find Your North Star - Svante Myrick '09 (original air date: 10/31/18)
Feb 02, 202245:37
Cornellians in Podcasting: Law & Society Talk

Cornellians in Podcasting: Law & Society Talk

Law & Society Talk is a bi-weekly podcast series hosted by Co-Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Harris. This conversational component of the Review will feature discussions pertaining to recent case law, happenings from the steps of the Supreme Court and federal courts, and projects and articles underway by our current writers and contributors. Learn more on their website.

In this episode of Law & Society Talk (first aired April 19, 2021), Jonathan Harris '21 and Andrew Gilmore '21 are joined by Joseph Margulies, Professor of Law and Government at Cornell University, to discuss the City of Ithaca's proposal to restructure its police department, and how the conservative leaning Supreme Court has and will interact with the Biden Administration.

Read the episode transcript. 

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jan 19, 202246:48
Introducing Cornellians in Podcasting

Introducing Cornellians in Podcasting

We've got a fun series in store for you over the next few months! Tune in to learn what's coming down the pike.

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted, created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.


Jan 05, 202203:41
REBROADCAST: Who Made Your Beats For You? - Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo '08, MA '15 (original air date 11/28/18)

REBROADCAST: Who Made Your Beats For You? - Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo '08, MA '15 (original air date 11/28/18)

UPDATE: Since this episode aired, Enongo earned her PhD from Cornell in 2019 making her a triple red!

And because we've been on a music theme lately, we thought it was a good time to rebroadcast this episode from the very early days of the podcast. Hope you enjoy!

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Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo '08, MA '15 aka Sammus is an Ithaca-raised, Philadelphia-based rap artist, producer, and PhD student in the Department of Science & Technology Studies at Cornell University. Through her music she has spent the past several years cultivating a strong following of activists, hip hop heads, punks, and self-identified nerds and geeks, among others.

Enongo will talk about growing up in Ithaca and the different lenses she's seen Ithaca through, and how she never felt like she had to choose between her "Ithaca-ness" and "Cornell-ness." You'll also hear about her musical influences, her heroes, what role video games play in her music, sexism in the music industry, and what we can expect from her next project coming out in 2019. Not only that, Enongo is currently pursuing her PhD from Cornell (triple red!) and is exploring the politics of studios and community studios in low-income areas and how there's a need for studios in the public space.

Learn more about Sammus.

Read the Episode Transcript.

Hosted by Alex Zalben '99.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly. 

Episode transcribed by Cait Collins.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Dec 22, 202136:59
World-Renowned - Colin Hancock '19
Dec 08, 202137:00
Coming Through in the Gig Economy - Kobina Ansah '08
Nov 24, 202133:23
Music and Mental Health - Alex Kresovich '08

Music and Mental Health - Alex Kresovich '08

Alex Kresovich '08 is a Billboard #1 and RIAA-Platinum certified music producer, songwriter, and composer from Ithaca, New York who's best known for his work with Panic! at the Disco, Cee Lo Green, Niykee Heaton, MAX, Hoodie Allen, Snow Tha Product, Chris Webby, and Jocelyn Alice.

But when the music business took a toll on his own well being, he took take a break from the producing world to explore how music can affect mental health. Alex is now pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is studying the influence of popular music which references anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts on the mental health attitudes and behaviors of U.S. youth, and all that relates back to how he used music as a young person to regulate his own depression and anxiety.

Hear this candid and vulnerable conversation about the less glamorous sides of the music business, why it's so important to talk about mental health, and if something isn't working for you, it's ok to change paths. Oh yeah and you'll hear some fun stories, including that time he danced with Rhianna. 

"The main appeal of music to me as a young person was, it was this place I could go to escape.”

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by Armon Sadler '17 & Nic Earley '17.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Nov 10, 202143:53
 Cornelliana with Corey: Halloween Haunted History

Cornelliana with Corey: Halloween Haunted History

From Halloween pranks to campus hauntings - tune in for tales of murder, mayhem, creepy classes and unsolved mysteries of Cornell’s spookier past from unofficial university historian Corey Ryan Earle ’07.

This podcast was repurposed from a live online event that took place on 10/26/21. If you’re near a computer and would like to see the whole program with visuals, you can watch the recording here.

Read the episode transcript. 

Check out prior Cornelliana with Corey videos.

Listen to season one of Ten Fold More Wicked about Edward Rulloff.

Fresh from the Hill is created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Oct 27, 202150:05
Meet Armon Sadler '17 and Nic Earley '17

Meet Armon Sadler '17 and Nic Earley '17

You briefly met Armon Sadler and Nic Earley on the previous episode of Fresh from the Hill through their own podcast, Stay Busy with Armon Sadler. Now it's time to REALLY get to know them. 

Hear their Cornell origin stories and how they met each other, along with some nuggets of advice for Cornellians pursuing creative fields. Do you remember a little fraternity called Alpha Phi Alpha that was featured last season?? Learn the role it played in their on-campus experiences and how it still impacts their lives today. And of course, you'll get a sneak peak into what their series has in store and what they're both up to today.

It's all very exciting stuff that you DO NOT want to miss. 

Read the episode transcript.

Episode photo by Rubi Hernandez.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Oct 13, 202143:13
Stay Busy - Armon Sadler '17 & Nic Earley '17

Stay Busy - Armon Sadler '17 & Nic Earley '17

Meet our new hosts of Fresh from the Hill through this promo of their OWN podcast - Stay Busy with Armon Sadler

Stay Busy with Armon Sadler features responsible discussions about music culture and business. Hosted by Armon Sadler, executive produced by Nic Earley.

Get a taste of Armon and Nic's podcasting style and be sure to check out their upcoming episodes of Fresh from the Hill to kick off season 5. 

Read the episode transcript

Fresh from the Hill is created and produced by Amanda Massa with music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Fresh from the Hill logo  was created by Chris Kelly.   

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Sep 29, 202119:33
REBROADCAST: Second Chances - Darnell Epps '19 (original air date: 6/26/19)

REBROADCAST: Second Chances - Darnell Epps '19 (original air date: 6/26/19)

Since last episode was all about the criminal justice system, we thought it appropriate to follow it up with this episode from season 1. Featuring Darnell Epps, a recent grad who, after spending almost two decades in prison turned his life around and earned his degree from Cornell. Originally aired June 26, 2019. Enjoy!

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From the Brooklyn housing projects, to private Catholic School, to a near 17-year incarceration at Five Points Correctional Facility, to Cornell University, Darnell Epps '19 is not your typical Cornell Senior.

Hear Darnell's fascinating and inspirational story about taking the wrong path in life, lessons learned, and coming out the other side.

“One thing that struck me deep was seeing the pain… When I walked in the courtroom and I would see a packed courtroom and I would see families on both sides, feeling pain. I would see the tears in my mother’s eyes, the embarrassment that I caused her, the shame that I brought. She was a New York City Police Officer, but yet had to explain to her colleagues that her two sons were incarcerated for murder. And she was at trial every day. She stuck by me. She came up on the visit practically every month to see Darrell and I. It was that. It was witnessing that. It was seeing that. That really brought me face-to-face with the need to ultimately become a responsible adult and to break out of this way of thinking that seemed to dominate my teenage years.”

Check out Darnell's Op Ed in the New York Times.

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by Lou Diamond '92.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.    
Episode transcribed by Cait Collins.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Sep 15, 202142:33
Prisoners are People Too - Maurice Chammah '10

Prisoners are People Too - Maurice Chammah '10

Maurice Chammah ’10, author of Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty and journalist at the Marshall Project, has dedicated his life’s work to illuminating the injustices in the American prison system through writing about individual stories while also shedding light on the larger issues at hand. 

Tune in today and hear how his love of writing and a class at Cornell helped inspire him to pursue the work he does today.

“People who have committed really horrific crimes, even the very worst crimes, they are more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.”

Read the episode transcript

Hosted by Camila Salazar '16.
Episode photo by Tamir Kalifa.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Sep 01, 202152:10
Check Your Privilege - Sydney Mann '18

Check Your Privilege - Sydney Mann '18

Check your privilege. It’s a phrase that you’ve likely heard, but what does it really mean? Prior to her involvement in Cornell’s Intergroup Dialogue Project (IDP), Sydney Mann ’18 didn’t like the term. Who’s to judge what privilege one may have based on the color of their skin? But through having tough conversations and listening instead of taking up space in those talks, Sydney started to understand the privilege white women hold in America. She now devotes her time to allyship through her work with From Privilege to Progress and in her personal life.

“When you have a white person uplifting a person of color or somebody who’s marginalized, more white people are going to listen.”

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by Camila Salazar '16.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Aug 18, 202141:52
A Powerful Voice - Dawn Kamoche '07
Aug 04, 202151:30
The Sky's the Limit - Flori Marquez '13

The Sky's the Limit - Flori Marquez '13

In 2017, with limited knowledge about cryptocurrency and bitcoin but a dream of founding her own startup, Flori Marquez ’13 co-founded BlockFi. The financial services company for cryptocurrency now has over 800 employees and 500,000 clients worldwide.

So what is cryptocurrency? And how is BlockFi revolutionizing it to make it more accessible to the average consumer? You’re going to find out. Think earning 8% in an interest-bearing account is impossible? Think again! Is a crypto credit card a possibility for the (not so distant) future? Yes! 

It's Flori's love of building things from the ground up that landed her as Co-Founder and SVP of Operations at the fastest growing fintech company in history; "It's been wild."

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by Camila Salazar '16.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jul 21, 202137:38
Ten Million Miracles - Will Gluck '93
Jul 07, 202130:00
Meet Camila Salazar '16
Jun 23, 202143:50
CBAA Legacy - Current CBAA Board

CBAA Legacy - Current CBAA Board

In this Cornell Black Alumni Association (CBAA) series, you’ve heard from the organization’s founders and its past presidents. You’ve heard how CBAA has evolved since 1976, both in the great progress made and the unfortunate obstacles we still endure. In this last episode of the series, we chat with CBAA’s current executive board highlighting their pivot to virtual programming in the pandemic and the future of the organization.

Don’t forget to learn more about CBAA, including how you can get involved at cbaa1976.com.

“There is something special about Cornell, and about CBAA, that keeps it near and dear to my heart. And that’s why I stay engaged.” – Shannon Cohall '14

Featuring:
Wilma Ann Anderson '92
Shannon Cohall '14
Kamillah Knight '13, MPA '15, EMBA '22
Yvette Lapompe '10 

Read the episode transcript

Hosted by John Rawlins III '06.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jun 09, 202101:00:13
Amplifying Black Voices - John Rawlins III '06
May 26, 202119:31
A Force for Change - CBAA Presidents Roundtable Pt. 2
May 12, 202141:56
A Labor of Love - CBAA Presidents Roundtable Pt. 1
Apr 28, 202156:06
Standing Strong - The Founders of the Cornell Black Alumni Association (CBAA)

Standing Strong - The Founders of the Cornell Black Alumni Association (CBAA)

In 1969, every Black student at Cornell knew all of the other Black students on campus. They were a small, but powerful community and Irene Smalls '71 advocated for the group to create a legacy beyond graduation. She and four other founding members created CBAA: the Cornell Black Alumni Association. Forty five years later, the CBAA legacy is stronger than ever and we’re so fortunate to chat with the founders today. 

Featuring Irene Smalls '71, Carlton Holmes '72, Sandra Black '73, Dr. Renee Alexander '74, and Conway Boyce '75.  

“CBAA was a way to normalize, to connect Cornell’s past, and all the sacrifices and the commitment we had made into a concrete future. It was meant to be a conduit. That we could heal, that we could come together, we could laugh, we could reminisce, we could be ourselves.”  - Irene Smalls '71 

Read the episode transcript.

Hosted by John Rawlins III '06.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Apr 14, 202158:52
A Syllabus for Adulting - Tiffany Southerland '06

A Syllabus for Adulting - Tiffany Southerland '06

How am I supposed to Adult? We all attended Cornell as a result of our hard work and dedication, but once that diploma is in hand… what’s next? Tiffany Southerland ’06 looked for a syllabus on All The Things: career, relationships, mental health, etc. Now a coach and motivational speaker, she has practical insight and positive perspective to share in the fourth episode of our CBAA series. 

Check out Tiffany’s podcast How Does She Do It?

Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIN.

“One of the things that I’ve always been able to do is find the practical and the positive perspective, even through the most challenging aspects of life.”

Read the episode transcript

Hosted by John Rawlins III '06.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Mar 31, 202127:16
Alpha Phi Alpha: A Legacy of Leadership - Eric Elmore '86, JD '89 & Ernie Jolly '09

Alpha Phi Alpha: A Legacy of Leadership - Eric Elmore '86, JD '89 & Ernie Jolly '09

Did you know the first intercollegiate historically African American Greek-lettered fraternity was founded here at Cornell? Now 114 years old, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has grown to 706 chapters across the country. Hear from Alpha Brothers Eric Elmore '86, JD '89 and Ernie Jolly '09 about the impact this organization had on their Cornell experience and how they view and serve in the world today.

“Almost at our inception we were about developing leaders and lifting our community and we have continued to do so today.” - Eric Elmore

“One of the things Alpha Phi Alpha is known for is developing leaders. Look to any industry, you’re going to find an Alpha somewhere leading an organization or making history somehow.” - Ernie Jolly

Read the episode transcript

Hosted by John Rawlins III '06.
Created and produced by Amanda Massa.
Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu.
Artwork by Chris Kelly.

*The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Mar 17, 202145:08
There Was Nothing Wrong With My Dream - Ahmed Ahmed '17
Mar 03, 202145:47