The People of Penn State
Welcome to the People of Penn State Podcast — the podcast from the Penn State Alumni Association that brings you the incredible stories of Nittany Lions making their mark on the world! Each episode, a rotating cast of hosts sit down with Penn State alumni who are changing the game in business, science, sports, the arts, and beyond. You never know who you'll hear from next — but you do know it'll be a conversation worth tuning in for!
Episodes
A highly accomplished player and coach, Steven Williams ’14g spent several seasons in Happy Valley (2012-15), serving as an offensive and defensive assistant and assistant strength and conditioning coach. With the Nittany Lions, he created weekly scouting reports, organized practices and assisted with the Nittany Lions’ wide receivers, secondary and linebackers. On gamedays, he signaled play calls, assisted with special teams and a...
Volunteer leaders Joe Huxta ’71 and Michael Turk ’87 have deep ties to Penn State and possess a strong sense of volunteerism, especially with wanting to give back to the University and our alumni.
In overseeing our Lehigh Valley Chapter—one of our largest affiliate groups—they’ve aligned their personal and professional passions, while keeping more than 10,000 local Penn Staters connected through chapter watch parties, community ser...
On this episode of The People of Penn State podcast, we chat with Laura McKinney (’20 Com), founder of StrataBrand.
After graduating amid a global pandemic, Laura took the skills she developed at Penn State to New York City, where she launched StrataBrand to bridge the worlds of marketing, PR, and strategy. Her company helps to move ideas from concept to reality with speed and authenticity.
Her work spans industries and scales: from ...
This week's episode features Janelle Rushton ’15, longtime volunteer leader for our Philadelphia Chapter and current president-elect of our H&HD Alumni Society.
Janelle discussed her path to becoming a Penn Stater, the mission of the Philadelphia Chapter, why she's passionate about higher education fundraising and engagement, and much more.
To learn more, visit the chapter's website and follow the chapter on Face...
In this episode of The People of Penn State podcast, we talk with Joe Apgar (’08 Bus), CEO of Pelotonia.
During his senior year at Penn State, Joe was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After his recovery, he began riding and fundraising for Pelotonia, a nonprofit founded in 2008 to support lifesaving cancer research.
After earning his finance degree in 2008, Joe joined Rockbridge Capital, where he focused on capital raising and strat...
This week's episode features Jim Keib ’11g, president of our Greater Syracuse Chapter. Jim discussed following in his son's footsteps when he earned his graduate degree from World Campus in 2011, memories of spending time with his family on the University Park campus, and the importance of giving back to his community, both on behalf of Penn State and his neighbors.
The season premiere features volunteer leader Bethany Pace ’95, ’98g, vice president of our Upper Chesapeake Chapter. The two-time Penn State grad shared wonderful stories of her time at Penn State, why she’s kept the sweatshirt she bought downtown after taking her final exams as a senior, and the importance of staying connected through an affiliate group.
Learn more about the chapter on its website and follow the chapter on Faceboo...
In this episode of The People of Penn State, we chat with John Maurer ('15g A&A), a trumpet and flugelhorn artist, educator, and recording musician who has performed across North America.
He teaches trumpet at Marywood University in Pennsylvania and serves as a lead Teaching Artist at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the historic site of the Woodstock festival.
John has performed in renowned venues such...
In this episode of The People of Penn State podcast, we spotlight Drew Magid ('11 Com), a music industry leader and founding member of Track Management.
Drew has toured the globe with superstar acts including Imagine Dragons, Charlie Puth, alt-J, and Florida Georgia Line, earning the Live Production Summit’s Young Gun Tour Manager of the Year award. After a decade on the road, he transitioned into artist management with Big Lou...
On this episode of The People of Penn State, we chat with Kylee McGuigan (’20 Com), Associate Production Manager for Vogue.com.
Kylee always dreamed of living in New York City and working in fashion. But graduating during a global pandemic delayed those plans. She spent time working in local boutiques and freelancing before landing her first role as Associate Commerce Editor at Hearst Magazines, and the rest is history.
On this episode of The People of Penn State podcast, we talk with Aaron P. Brinen, PsyD (‘97, A&A).
Dr. Brinen is a co-developer of recovery-oriented cognitive therapy (CT-R), co-author of the original CT-R manual, and author of the recent book Living Well With Psychosis.
A clinical psychologist in private practice, he also serves as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center...
In this episode of The People of Penn State, we talk with Dr. Jenni Hesterman ('86, EMS), a retired U.S. Air Force colonel with an incredible story of leadership, service, and exploration.
Dr. Hesterman served in three Pentagon tours and held multiple field commands. Her final military assignment was as Vice Commander at Andrews Air Force Base, where she led installation security, including the protection of Air Force One.
Since...
In this episode of The People of Penn State, we welcome Tressa Glover ('97, A&A), actor, writer, and host of the Pittsburgh-based podcast Yinz Are Good.
Yinz Are Good is dedicated to spotlighting the positive stories happening in our communities and the individuals making a difference. In addition to interviewing organizations, groups, and everyday heroes who are helping those in need, Tressa invites listeners to share pers...
In this episode of The People of Penn State, we sit down with Tom Mosser ('82, A&A), founder of Tom Mosser Design and Lucas Paw, LLC.
Tom shares the story behind his inventive artistic style, ranging from his unique loop and flow techniques to his signature Sports Ball Impressionism, where he transforms ordinary sports balls into striking works of art. He also reflects on the viral success of his Museum Series, which featur...
In this episode of The People of Penn State, Katie sits down with Arianna Davis (’09 Com), the Digital Editorial Director at TODAY.
Arianna leads the TODAY Show's digital strategy and frequently appears on air to highlight the top stories making waves online. She’s also the author of What Would Frida Do? A Guide to Living Boldly, a vibrant tribute to the life and legacy of artist Frida Kahlo.
In this conversation, Arianna reflec...
In this episode of The People of Penn State, we speak with Dr. Victoria Heasley (’14 Eng - Schreyer, ’18g Medicine), assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati in the departments of Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Biomedical Engineering.
Victoria shares how her multidisciplinary background drives her work in adaptive sports medicine—providing comprehensive clinical care, designin...
Ever think it’s too late to start something new? Think again!
This week on The People of Penn State, we’re joined by Dave Blazek ('79), an award-winning cartoonist behind the syndicated comic "Loose Parts." Dave has drawn a cartoon a day for more than 25 years — but here’s the twist: he didn’t even learn to draw until he was 42!
"Loose Parts" is syndicated everywhere and appears daily in nearly 200 newspapers...
In this episode, we’re diving into the world of pastries, perseverance, and passion with Chef Danielle Sepsy ('12), founder and creative genius behind The Hungry Gnome, the popular and innovative wholesale bakery and catering company based in New York City.
Danielle’s love for baking began at just 13 when she launched a small business selling her now-famous scones to friends, neighbors, and local cafes. Fast forward to today, ...
In this episode of The People of Penn State, we're joined by Mikel Jones ('15), Senior Vice President of Marketing and Content at Citi.
Mikel explores the intersection of brand strategy, sponsorships, and social impact. From managing media coverage for Citi’s partnerships in sports, entertainment, and culture to leading PR campaigns that drive meaningful change, Mikel shares insights from his career shaping one of the worl...
Episode 80 — Making Connection Easy: Alumnus Chad Littlefield’s Formula For Meaningful Conversations
In a world where true connection can feel harder than ever, how can we foster meaningful conversations that build trust and engagement? In this episode, we sit down with Chad Littlefield ('13, '15g) , co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of We and Me, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author, to explore the power of asking better questions and creating conversations that matter.
Dubbed a “global expert on asking questions t...
Popular Podcasts
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.