Viterbi Voices: The Podcast
Welcome to life at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Classes, student organizations, faculty, research, hands-on projects, and don't forget our social lives outside of class - it's all up for discussion with regular appearances and interviews with special guests. Viterbi Voices: The Podcast is hosted by Paul Ledesma (Executive Director, Undergraduate Admission) and current student Hannah Fonseca (Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2027).
Episodes
In this episode, Cecilia Betancourt (ECE '27) sits down with a heavily involved RPL member and ASPEN lead, Autumn Zaretsky (ASTE '27), and discusses what it's like to be heavily involved in campus extracurriculars and what that means for academics. They highlight how to manage your time while simultaneously getting the most you can out of your college experience.
In this episode, Keilani (CSBA '27) sits down with Daisy Fregoso (CS '28) and Sophie Hyun (CS Games '28) to discuss the variety and overlap of the different Computer Science majors and their different experiences and applications. They discuss their various CS classes and interdisciplinary curriculum, as well as how these are all integrated with engineering by design and potential career options.
In this episode of USC Racing Spotlight, Naya (Mechanical Engineering ’26), Powertrain Co-Lead, sits down with Katherine (Mechanical Engineering ’26), Project Manager for SCR26, Monica (Mechanical Engineering ’27), Composites Co-Lead, and Caroline (Mechanical Engineering ’27), Powertrain Co-Lead, to dive into the technical and collaborative efforts that define USC Racing.
USC Racing is a student-run design team with 25+ years of rac...
In this episode, Xavier (CE '27) sits down with members of the USC chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), including the current president Mitch Kirby (CE '26), project executive Ariana Robles (CE '25), and the leaders of several different design teams.
Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
If you're planning on applying as a First-Year student for Fall 2026, go to https://ap...
In this episode, Mitchell Kirby (Civil Engineering ’26) who is Founder and President of the Association of Energy Engineers sits down with David Moseley (Environmental Engineering ‘27) the AEE Design Teams Lead & Marine Energy Design Team Lead and Reeth Kawad (Mechanical Engineering ‘26) the AEE Outreach Lead & Wind Design Team Lead to talk about USC’s Hub for all things renewable energy— the Association of Energy Engineers...
In this episode, Gerson (BME '26) sits down with Dominic (BME '27) and Jaron (BME '26) to chat about their involvement in the Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering (ASBME). They reflect on the impact ASBME has had on their careers and personal lives, all while sharing fun anecdotes.
Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
If you're planning on applying as a First-Year student for Fall 20...
In this episode, Jessica (AME '28) sits down with Hannah (BME '28) to talk about her role as a Build Lead and Lab Manager of USC's student-led AeroDesign Team. Hannah shares an exclusive insight into the team's aircraft design process, the ins and outs of their lab space, and her path to team leadership as an underclassman. This conversion explores how students interested in hands on experience can get involved ...
In this episode, Paul sits down with Daisy Benitez, an environmental engineer at PepsiCo, to talk about her work in global sustainability initiatives, her journey from engineering student to sustainability professional, and her experiences living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Daisy shares insights on reducing plastic use, developing sustainable packaging, and why sustainability has become a business imperative. Along the way, she ...
In this episode, Paul reconnects with Viterbi alumna Alex Coco, Amazon AIR manager, to discuss his path from earning both a B.S. in Astronautical Engineering and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at USC to building a career in aerospace and logistics. Alex reflects on his professional journey from Boeing to Amazon, the lessons he carried forward from his time at USC, and how he has developed systems to balance work, family, and per...
In this episode, Paul and Hannah sit down with Lauren (Howe) Johnson to reflect on the twists and turns of her USC journey, from navigating indecision around majors to finding unexpected opportunities in engineering, leadership, and travel. Lauren shares how studying abroad in Rome shaped her perspective, how she used data to improve admissions strategy, and what transitioning from consulting to program management at Intuit was lik...
In this episode, Paul sits down with Erik Johnson and Gaurav Sukhatme to discuss the launch of a brand-new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree program coming in Fall 2026. Together, they explore how the program was developed, the three specialized tracks it will offer, and what makes it distinct from computer science and other engineering majors. The conversation also covers AI’s growing role across industries, th...
In this episode, Paul sits down with Viterbi alumna Makana Krulce to explore her journey from studying polymers at USC to working in global pharmaceutical consulting. Makana shares how her hands-on experience in Germany shaped her career, reflects on founding the USC student organization Queers in Engineering, Science, and Technology (QUEST), and discusses the challenges of bringing cutting-edge therapies to market. They also dive ...
In this episode, Paul sits down with Jennifer, a college admission counselor best known as Jenn the Tutor, to debunk myths and misconceptions about getting into college. Jennifer shares her journey from law school to education, her community-oriented approach to guiding students, and why she believes authenticity matters more than chasing prestige. They dive into how social media and cultural pressures fuel admission anxiety, the i...
In this episode, Paul speaks with Viterbi alumna Natalie Dana (Alvarez) about her interdisciplinary path through civil engineering and architecture, her career in sustainable construction at Turner Construction, and how her time at USC, from study abroad to football games, shaped her journey. They also discuss the future of engineering education, AI literacy, and the evolving role of universities in a rapidly changing world.
Welcome to Viterbi Voice Season 11! In this episode, Paul sits down with Viterbi alumna Pooja Sharma Rao to talk about her unique career journey at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and business. From hands-on experiences in cadaver labs to developing and marketing medical devices, Pooja shares how her time at USC prepared her for a dynamic career in the healthcare industry.
Join us for Saafiyah's last podcast as our co-host! Saafiyah and Paul wrap up season 10 of the Viterbi Voices podcast and introduce the next co-host... Hannah! They reflect on Saafiyah's year as co-host, share plans for the end of the semester, and discuss what’s next for the podcast.
Signing off, see you all in August!
Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
In this episode, Satwika talks with 5th year PhD student Nathan Justin about his take on software engineering, CS ethics and his journey towards a PhD.
Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
If you're planning on applying as a First-Year student for Fall 2026, go to https://apply.commonapp.org/login?ma=492 to start your application now! More on deadlines and how we run admission is at https://viterb...
In this episode, Jessica (AME ‘28) sits down with Emma (ASTE ‘28), Norah (ECE ‘28), and Alan (ASTE ‘28) to explore what it's like balancing the rigors of engineering with their passion for music. From acapella rehearsals to band camp, they dive into what inspired them to continue learning and performing music, how they got involved in their current music organizations at USC, and give insightful advice on managing problem sets...
In this episode, Michaela (CHE ‘27) sits down with Zoe (CHE ‘27) to discuss what chemical engineering is really like, keys to success in a challenging major, balancing academics and fun clubs, and finding joy with friends and self-care at USC.
Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
If you're planning on applying as a First-Year student for Fall 2026, go to https://apply.commonapp.org/login?ma=492 to start...
In this episode, Keilani (CSBA ‘27) talks to Ellis (CS ‘28) about the underlooked significance of journalism and science communications for STEM-related issues applicable to the real world. They discuss how accessible newsletters and publications can be used to garner traction towards wider issues such as sustainability, computer science, and engineering as an overall discipline, while also highlighting the current information cris...
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