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Greg Grunberg Shows How Life Expands When You Trust Your Own Path
Greg Grunberg’s story is a study in self‑determination. From Amherst College onward, he’s developed what I call a quiet rebel streak that I admire. He possesses an instinct to question rules and identify paths that might not be apparent to most of us. Greg talks about discovering academic and personal… Listen ⇢
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Suzette Duncan Rebuilds Her Life With Creativity And Purpose
Suzette Duncan is a study in resilience and purpose. She graduated from Amherst College and entered a PhD program. But 9/11 happened, and the things she wanted to talk about among her peers and instructors weren’t welcome, so she left the program to teach. She was really good at teaching,… Listen ⇢
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Geoff Swift Shows Why Intimate, Place‑Based Education Still Matters
Geoff Swift — California‑born, New England‑made, and now the vice president for finance and administration, as well as treasurer at Bates College — reflects on a life shaped by small institutions and the enduring value of the liberal arts. He traces his path from Amherst as an econ major to… Listen ⇢
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Jeremy Kugel Uses Humor To Create Connections We’ll Never Forget
Jeremy Kugel has spent his life turning so many ordinary moments into shared comedy and joy. In doing so, he’s built communities where people feel safe enough to laugh, open up, and create lasting connections. From the Chicken Nugget Hour of Power in Valentine, to Tuesday Night Toothbrush Fest in… Listen ⇢
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JoJo Thirasilpa Pushes His Learning To The Edges Of Land, Sea, And Sky
Like many people who pursue a liberal arts education, Jojo Thirasilpa has been drawn to learning and acquiring new knowledge and skills his entire life. Where and how he acquires knowledge and skill is rather unique, however. When not working in finance from his home in the United Kingdom, Jojo… Listen ⇢
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The Pod Has A New Name: After Amherst
I’ve been interviewing exclusively people with an Amherst connection for several years now. It’s time the podcast’s name reflects that. Listen ⇢
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James Glazer Discovered What Matters After Losing What Mattered Most
When I first decided to focus this podcast on fellow Amherst College graduates, my guest for this episode was the first person I thought of. That’s because more than anybody else I know, James Glazer has lived intentionally, choosing his life rather than letting anyone else choose it for him.… Listen ⇢
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Keya Khayatian Found His Voice and the Power of Storytelling
Keya Khayatian’s life reads like the kind of story he now champions in Hollywood: one shaped by the search for identity. Keya traces his journey from immigrating to the U.S. as a child fleeing Iran to becoming a partner and co‑head of Media Rights at UTA, where he represents some… Listen ⇢
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Tarsha Echols Is A Portrait Of Resilience
Tarsha Echols has lived a life that refuses neat categories. She grew up, in her words, “a hood rat” from Memphis, graduated from Amherst College as a biology and French double major, and went on to build a 28‑year career as a flight attendant, where she has had a front‑row… Listen ⇢
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