Season 2

Sam Richards never planned to become a sociology professor whose lectures would be viewed hundreds of millions of times. Starting as a working-class kid from Toledo who skipped school to read in libraries, his path has been defined by curiosity rather than calculation. In this fascinating conversati...

What if your biggest failure became the foundation for your life's purpose? Dr. Angela Pham's journey from academic struggle to mental health occupational therapist reveals the transformative power of resilience and self-discovery. As a first-generation college student from a low-income single-paren...

What happens when you trust your gut and step off the expected career path? For Pam Haering, that decision transformed her life and eventually led to her most meaningful work. Growing up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Pam was among the "lucky ones" whose parents prioritized education, setting her on a ...

My "Tetherball" Path How do you navigate career decisions when you can't predict the future? For Nathan Hillson, Department Head of Biodesign at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the answer lies in what he calls "career tetherball" – a journey tethered by your context but bouncing in different ...

When Dr. Kenneth Kwon applied to Columbia Medical School, he never expected his college DJ experience would become the connection that helped him secure admission. This unexpected twist exemplifies his entire career—a journey of calculated risks and pivots within a traditionally conservative field. ...