Northwestern Intersections Career Podcast

Tune in as Northwestern alumni share stories about the moments, ideas, and experiences that propelled them. Each episode offers fresh perspectives and inspiration you can apply to your own personal and professional path.

How to Listen

Northwestern Intersections airs once per month, with special episodes released throughout the year. Subscribe via your favorite podcast platform or listen anytime directly on this website.

Want to listen on the go? Check out our smartphone listening tips. Have feedback, questions, or ideas? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at careers@northwestern.edu.

Latest Episode

Apr 13, 2026

Live From Feinberg Alumni Weekend 2026

This special episode of Northwestern Intersections features highlights from a discussion with Andrew Alexander ’96 MD; Lawrence Lenke ’86 MD (’14 P); Sandra Schorr ’76 MD; and Nicholas J. Volpe ’21 MD, ’21 MBA, captured during their recent class reunions at the Feinberg School of Medicine Alumni Weekend. In this conversation, the alumni reflect on their time at Northwestern, share insights from their careers in medicine, and offer advice for current and prospective students.

Live From Feinberg Alumni Weekend 2026

Northwestern Intersections Live from LA

Check out a live recording of the Northwestern Intersections podcast exploring career pathways in entertainment and media with three Los Angeles–based alumni: pioneering sportswriter Helene Elliott ’77, popular sports content creator Andrew Fenichel ’21, and executive producer and “godmother of reality TV” Toni Gallagher ’87. This episode was recorded live at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills.

Tracing The Beatles and Pop Culture

After DJ-hosting a 17-hour Beatles radio marathon as seniors at Northwestern, Castleman and Podrazik published All Together Now, the first complete Beatles discography book. They continued their pop-culture collaboration through several editions of Watching TV, a season-by-season history of American television. In this episode, discover how two lifelong friends forged careers in law and media while staying connected to Northwestern, the Beatles, and more.

Engineering a Multifaceted Career, with Aaron Miller ’94

Since earning an engineering degree at Northwestern, Miller has built a diverse career spanning food engineering, consulting, and financial services, and served on several nonprofit and company boards. In this episode, Miller shares insights from his career journey and offers advice for jobseekers.

Wickedly Talented, with Ana Gasteyer '89

Gasteyer reflects on her multifaceted career, from joining the cast of Saturday Night Live to starring in the Broadway staple Wicked, along with countless other standout roles in film and television.

Northwestern Intersections Best of 2025

Enjoy some highlights from the year in this special episode.

Advice from 2025 Alumni Medalist Michael D. Greenberg ’89

Tune in for important life lessons and campus memories from Michael D. Greenberg ’89.

Advice from 2025 Alumni Medalist Barbara Stewart ’85, ’95 MBA

Tune in for important life lessons and campus memories from Barbara Stewart ’85, ’95 MBA.

Advice from 2025 Alumni Medalist T. Bondurant French ’75, ’76 MBA

Tune in for important life lessons and campus memories from T. Bondurant French ’75.

Advice from 2025 Alumni Medalist Judith Toland ’94

This fall, four distinguished alumni received the Northwestern Alumni Association’s highest honor, the Alumni Medal. Tune in for important life lessons and campus memories from T. Bondurant French ’75, ’76 MBA (’07, ’21 P); Barbara Stewart ’85, ’95 MBA; Michael D. Greenberg ’89 (’23, ’25 P); and Judith Toland ’94.

Branding, Leadership, and Unforgettable Presence, with Lorraine K. Lee '12

As a founding editor at tech companies like LinkedIn and Prezi turned bestselling author and speaker, Lee has made a career out of helping people elevate their careers.

In Service of Chicago, with Deborah Witzburg ’10 JD

As Chicago’s top city watchdog, Inspector General Witzburg helps identify and prevent wrongdoing in city governance.

How to be Ubiquitous, with Keyaira Lock ’23 MBA

After receiving a Fulbright scholarship, Lock worked in university recruiting and brand strategy, founded her own marketing consultancy, and earned her MBA.

Live from Feinberg Alumni Weekend

This special episode features recordings from a live taping with Feinberg School of Medicine alumni.

Commanding an NFL Franchise, with Jason Wright '04

Wright has held high-stakes roles in an NFL player, a consulting firm partner, the president of the Washington Commanders, and now leading Ariel Project Level, a private investment vehicle for women's sports.

Taking a Fearless Northwestern Direction, with Omar Jimenez ’15

After graduating with a degree in journalism and excelling as a basketball student-athlete, Jimenez has built a distinguished career as an Emmy Award-winning correspondent for CNN.

Love and Northwestern in 2025

Discover stories from alumni who found their perfect matches through their connection to Northwestern.

Designing a Virtual World with Isaiah Andrew ’07

Discover how the Nike design directory has helped create memorable sneaker releases, managed his own product design studio, and launched a successful side project during the pandemic.

Northwestern Intersections Best of 2024

Enjoy highlights from the 25 episodes of the Northwestern Intersections podcast.

Advice from the 2024 Northwestern Alumni Medalists

Hear important life lessons and campus memories from Willard S. Evans Jr. ’77, ’81 MBA; Renetta McCann ’78, ’12 MS; and William Osborn ’69, ’73 MBA, ’18 H.

Building Excitement Around Science with Shonali Ditz ’13

Ditz cofounded STEM education nonprofit SparkShop in 2017 to help bring entertaining and informative science education to underserved schools in Chicago.

Honoring Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month with Forrest Bruce ’17, ’25 PhD

Find out more about Bruce's personal journey and the important lessons from Indigenous culture and tradition he calls upon in his work.

Commemorating Veteran’s Day with Darse “Del” Crandall ’84 (’14, ’16, ’21 P)

Vice Admiral Crandall has served in critically important roles in the US military during his 40-year career, most recently as the 45th Judge Advocate General of the Navy.

Welcome Back Wildcats with Greg Berlanti ’94 and Julie Plec ’94

Berlanti and Plec were classmates and friends at Northwestern and have remained close throughout their Hollywood careers that include projects ranging from Riverdale and The Vampire Diaries to Dawson’s Creek and Love, Simon—many of which they worked on together.

How 'Cats Reconnect with Jake Abraham '96 and Drew Stein '96

Digital advertising pioneers Jake Abraham and Drew Stein recently hosted the musical artist St. Lucia for their company during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, marking the first time they collaborated as concert producers since meeting as students nearly 30 years ago.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Isa Gutierrez '17

Isa Gutierrez has won Emmy nominations and made the 2022 “Forbes 30 Under 30” list as the youngest-ever national correspondent for NBC News. She has also been featured in award-winning reports on MSNBC and on the news shows Dateline and TODAY. Join us as we discuss her skillful storytelling.

From Paris with Love, an Olympics Special Episode with Raghav Khosla '26

Raghav Khosla, an undergrad in the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, came back from Paris with a lifetime of memories after working as an intern for NBC Universal at the Olympic Games.

Broadway Lights, with Michael Herwitz '18 and Russell Kahn '16

Learn more about the broadway show Job and how the Northwestern duo that has worked together to make it possible.

Queer Art and Pride, with Jonathan David Katz '95 PhD

As a professor and scholar, Katz has undertaken formative projects in gay and lesbian studies, including founding the Harvey Milk Institute, which was once the world’s largest queer studies institute.

Building Healthier Communities, with Grace Hong Duffin '95

With experience in public policy, law, and human services, Hong Duffin serves on the National Council for Mental Wellbeing; learn about her work with mental and physical wellness.

Making a Difference in Law, with Hannah Jurowicz '14 JD, LLM

Since graduating from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Jurowicz has worked on numerous projects centering around human rights.

Cats, in Medicine, with Feinberg Alumni

Join us for a conversation with five alumni of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Rock and Roll Royalty, with Paul Korzilius '76, Roland Mesa '82, and Walt Versen '77

This special episode centers around the cast and crew of the upcoming film Play the Game: A Jock ‘N’ Roll Story; the film covers the true story of how a group of Northwestern football players worked as security for the band Queen in its heyday.

Navigating the College Admissions World, with Julie Kelsheimer ’11, ’13 Mmus

Join us as Kelsheimer, a college admissions adviser based in greater New York City, gives advice to parents on the college admissions landscape and shares tips for students on how to market themselves in a job search.

Recovering the Philosophy of the Self, with Adina Bezerita '17

With her Numinous Threads foundation (2016), Adina provides leadership, education, consultation and collaboration to individuals, profit and non-profit organizations and to governmental bodies for achieving visionary goals in the polyvalent world.

’Cats in Sports Media, with Lisa Byington ’98, ’99 MS and Cassidy Hubbarth ’07

We discuss the changing sports media landscape and the rich legacy of Northwestern graduates in sports media.

Telling Unheard Stories of Women’s Suffrage, with Ronny Frishman ’72

Frishman, an author and former journalist discusses her recent book, Nina Allender: Suffrage Cartoonist, illuminates the life and work of an underappreciated hero in the women's suffrage movement.

A Northwestern Life, with MaryAnn Ihejirika Marsh ’85

We explore Marsh's fascinating career trajectory and the incredible story of how a Northwestern professor helped reunite her Nigerian family in Chicago.

Love and Northwestern

Six guests share short stories about finding true love on campus.

Memoir, Family, and Truth, with Leta McCollough Seletzky ’98

Join us as we discuss McCollough Seletzky's memoir, The Kneeling Man: My Father’s Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and her journey to discover her family history.

How to Reinvent Yourself in Media, with Joey Skladany ’09

We discuss the ubiquitous career path of Skladany, an icon across industries, working as a television and radio personality, writer, editor, publicist, and lifestyle content expert.

Lunch Tray Management, with Kathryn Hahn ’95 and Ethan Sandler ’95

Hahn and Sandler, who met on campus, discuss their time at Northwestern, finding their way in Hollywood, and working together in the industry.

Sports and Society, with Julie Kliegman ’13

A sportswriter and copy chief at Sports Illustrated, Kliegman's journalism often focuses on underrepresented topics in sports and society, including gender, asexuality, and mental health.

Writing Your Reality (TV), with Toni Gallagher ’87

Join us as Gallagher talks about her time in Hollywood and how she found the inspiration for her Twist My Charm young adult book series.

Chicago through Poetry, with Angela Jackson ’77

Jackson, an author, playwright, and poet, shares her creative trajectory and the sights, smells, and sounds of Chicago that influenced some of her most recognizable projects.

Navigating the News, with Bill Lord ’73

Lord went from a career in television news management to writing the book 50 Years After Vietnam: Lessons and Letters from the War I Hated Fighting in 2018.

Telling History's Most Neglected Stories, with Marie Arana ’71

Explore the extraordinary literary contributions of Arana, a prize-winning author, literary critic, and inaugural literary director of the Library of Congress.

Making Marketing Authentic, with Kristian Alomá ’02

Alomá went from working in communications and consulting to lecturing at Northwestern to founding his own marketing company, Threadline.

A Fireside Chat with Ginni Rometty ’79, ’15 H and President Michael Schill

We share a fireside chat between Rometty and Northwestern President Michael Schill in which the pair discusses changemaking leadership, the future of technology, and her new bestselling book, “Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World.”

Writing your own path, with Ayun Halliday ’87

Halliday—a writer, illustrator, actor, and creative jack-of-all-trades—discusses her new book, creative background, and wide-reaching (and usually hilarious) job history.

Becoming a Poet, with Mary Jo Bang ’71, ’75 MA

Professor Bang discusses her unique career trajectory from sociology to poetry and how she produced one of her most recognizable works, a pop-culture laden translation of Dante's Inferno.

Developing your career and personal identity, with Phil Yu ’00

Phil shares how his experiences at Northwestern and beyond helped to develop his own personal identity as an Asian American man and influenced his career as a blogger and author.

Embracing Opportunities When It Outpaces Your Experiences, with Bradley Akubuiro ’11

Akubuiro, partner at an advisory firm, has had many professional experiences made possible by taking the initiative to seize opportunities even when they outpaced his experiences.

What Does It Mean to Be a Woman in Medicine? With Shelly Vaziri Flais ’95, ’99 MD, ’02 GMER; Kavitha Gandhi ’94, ’98 MD, ’99 GMER; and Nupur Ghoshal ’01 PhD, ’03 MD

Flais, Gandhi, and Ghoshal share their thoughts on work-life balance for women in medicine, how allies can help move the needle forward, and the importance of showing up with intention.

What Does It Mean to Be a Woman in Medicine? With Shelly Vaziri Flais ’95, ’99 MD, ’02 GMER; Kavitha Gandhi ’94, ’98 MD, ’99 GMER; and Nupur Ghoshal ’01 PhD, ’03 MD

Flais, Gandhi, and Ghoshal share how they all came to be involved with Women In Medicne (subcommittee of the Medical Alumni Association Board) and highlight the subcommittee’s mentorship and philanthropic initiatives.

What’s Next Live from San Francisco! An Alumnae Panel with Emily Moy ’18, Erin Turner ’14, and Tori Wu ’20

Learn from a panel of recent alumnae in a range of tech specialties as they share how they navigated early career decisions.

The Intersection of the Humanities and Technology with Iga Kozlowska ’14 MA, ’17 PhD

Kozlowska joins the podcast to highlight the transferrable skills she learned as a student and share the process behind her transition into tech from a humanities background.

Bending the Arc of History toward Justice, with Terry Franklin ’84

Franklin shares how finding the will of his fourth great-grandfather, John Sutton, revealed the emancipation story of his fourth great-grandmother and their children, which included a legal battle over John’s intentions in freeing his family.

How Mental Health Companies and Social Media Are Shaping Private Practice, with Kevin Yu ’19 MS

Yu shares the personal story of how he pivoted from a career in finance to a licensed marriage and family counselor and founder of Soulstice Therapy, and how understanding of his relationships led to this unique transition.

Community Is a Foundation for Healing, with Inger Burnett-Zeigler ’09 PhD

Burnett-Zeigler is working to provide mental health resources—including accurate information, access to identity-based providers and treatments, and psychotherapy in community-based settings—to underserved populations in Chicago.

How to Make a Positive Impact, with 2022 Northwestern Alumni Medalist Cindy Chupack ’87

Chupack is a prolific storyteller whose work across television, film, and other media has been recognized with several accolades, including Emmy Awards and Golden Globes.

How to Make a Positive Impact, with 2022 Northwestern Alumni Medalist David Louie ’72

David Louieis a trailblazing reporter and editor; he worked in television for more than 50 years and has held leadership roles in several prominent news organizations.

How to Make a Positive Impact, with 2022 Northwestern Alumni Medalist Jeff Ubben

Ubben is founder, managing partner, and portfolio manager of Inclusive Capital Partners, a San Francisco–based investment management firm; he has championed environmental and social responsibility in business.

What’s Next Live from Chicago! An Alumni Panel with Jennifer Siedjak ’14, Jim Alrutz ’16, and Ameen Kishta ’22 MS

Alumni from the fields of user experience research, conflict resolution, and biomedical engineering share how they navigated early career decisions.

Finding Your North Star with Suchi Sethi Tuli ’10 MBA

Tuli offers her insights on the lessons she's learned about leadership and navigating failure, as well as how the connections she made with classmates helped her build a personal board of directors.

Helping Others Rewrite Their Stories with Mirielle Ranade ’09

Ranade shares the deeply personal story that inspired her career pivot into mental health and wellness with a focus in helping women navigate grief, anxiety, and depression.

‘GRACE: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America’ with Cody Keenan '02

Keenan shares of the 10 most dramatic days of the presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions put the character of the US on the line and a president’s words could bring the nation together or tear it apart.

Leadership is a Journey with Ameet Mallik ’94, ’95 MS

Mallik, CEO of ADC Therapeutics offers his insights on building diverse teams of experts and creating positive impact, and the importance of feeling shared sense of purpose within your organization.

A Conversation with Supreme Court and Appellate Lawyer Carter Phillips ’75 MA, ’77 JD

Phillips will share how his career trajectory started with ambitious clerkships, his most memorable cases, and how practicing in the Supreme Court has changed over the course of his tenure.

Welcome (Back) to the Northwestern Alumni Association, Yari Gallegos ’19, ’20 MS

Gallegos has recently returned to the NAA as assistant director of alumni engagement for student to alumni transitions.

Online Privacy Rights and the Datafication of Our Lives with University Trustee Jane S. Hoffman ’86 (’21 P)

Hoffman joins us for a conversation that highlights her recent book, Your Data, Their Billions: Unraveling and Simplifying Big Tech.

How Storytelling is a Powerful Form of Advocacy with Rebecca Kling ’07

Rebecca Kling shares how through performance studies she realized the radical power of telling your own story, and how she made the transition from performer to educator and activist.

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All About NUPAC and Their Podcast Who NU? with Len Iaquinta ’66 and Marc Staros ’09

Learn about the founding and evolution of NUPAC, including how the alumni group is creating resources for LGBTQIA+ students, like the NUPAC Scholarship Fund.

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What's Next in Your Career? An Alumni Panel

Alumni from the fields of international development, STEM, entrepreneurship, and consulting share how they navigated job and career changes, and decisions around pursuing advanced degrees.

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Strengthening Systems in the Service of Underserved Communities with Anoop Jain ’09

Anoop Jain shares how he founded Sanitation and Health Rights in India, and how he is committed to the service of underserved communities in India.

If It Clicks, If It Feels Right, Go with Your Gut with Irene Kang ’11

Kang talks about the inspiration behind Spark Collection, bilingual books for families, and how it is contributing to increased Asian representation and access to Asian languages in children's literature.

Preserving Memories and Creating Connections through Photography with Justin Barbin ’11

Barbin shares how he first became interested in photography as child and successfully pursued it as a full-time career as an adult.

Why It’s Important to Bring Your Full Self to the Lab with Brian Aguado ’13 MS, ’15 PhD

An Assistant Professor at UC San Diego, Dr. Aguado runs the Aguado iBiomaterials Research Group; he discusses an equity-based approach to biomedical engineering and how he is building an inclusive and supportive environment in his lab,

Authenticity, Kindness, and Vulnerability in Media with Liza Katzer ’08

Emmy-winning producer Liza Katzer shares personal stories of growth and uncertainty, her insights into the impact of media on women's well-being, and how she contributes to a positive and uplifting work environment at Doozer Productions.

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Following Your Intellectual and Creative Passions with Cristina A. Bejan '04

Historian, theatre artist, and poet, Cristina A. Bejan shares how her Northwestern experience encouraged her to pursue her intellectual and creative interests, and take advantage of fellowship opportunities abroad to expand upon her research.

Women-Led Stories and Spaces in TV with Ilana Peña '13

Peña shares her experiences being a writer on the supportive, women-led set of the renowned, musical comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and how she fostered that same uplifting, women-led space on her own show, Diary of a Future President

On Writing and Teaching, and the Black Horror Renaissance with Tananarive Due '87

Due reveals her tips for successfully collaborating, offers thoughtful advice for developing writers, and shares how started a podcast, "Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!"

On Writing and Teaching, and the Black Horror Renaissance with Tananarive Due '87

Tananarive Due '87, film historian, educator, producer, writer, and leading voice in Black speculative fiction, joins Northwestern Intersections in a special two-part episode.

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Universal Practices and (Some) Industry-Specific Insights in Mentoring with Michelle Lin ’05, ’09 MD and Rebecca Windsor ’98

Lin and Windsor offer some industry specific advice for those who are entering or currently navigating the fields of medicine and entertainment respectively.

The First Lady of Personal Branding, Melissa Dawn Simkins ’01 MS

Simkins' multidisciplinary approach led her to pioneer celebrity and influencer branding, which in turn helped transform the field of marketing and branding into what we know today.

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Leaders and Learners: How to Foster an Impactful Mentoring Relationship with Alexis Jeffries '08 and Janea Wilson '22

Mentoring pair Alexis Jeffries '08 and Janea Wilson '22 share their insights for creating impactful, personal connections and the benefit of a tailored experience for students seeking identity-based mentorship.

How Northwestern Shaped the Lives and Careers of the 2020–21 Northwestern Alumni Medalists, with Co-Founder and Former Chairman and CEO of Crate & Barrel, Gordon Segal ’60 (’93 P)

We will hear from Gordon Segal, co-founder of Crate & Barrel, and design visionary and retail industry pioneer, who also helped transform the appearance of the University’s Evanston and Chicago campuses in his role on the Board of Trustees

How Northwestern Shaped the Lives and Careers of the 2020–21 Northwestern Alumni Medalists, with Former Chairman and CEO of Combe Incorporated, Christopher B. Combe ’70 (’99, ’09 P)

We will hear from Christopher B. Combe, former chairman and CEO of Combe Incorporated—a private, family-held company that manufactures and markets health and personal care products globally and is known for such brands as Just for Men, Vagisil and Seabond.

How Northwestern Shaped the Lives and Careers of the 2020–21 Northwestern Alumni Medalists, with President and CEO of the California Wellness Foundation, Judy Belk ’75

We will hear from Judy Belk, President and CEO of the California Wellness Foundation, one of California's largest public health philanthropic institutions.

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How Northwestern Shaped the Lives and Careers of the 2020–21 Northwestern Alumni Medalists, with Senior Vice President of Research–Biology at Genentech, Andrew C. Chan ’80, ’80 MS

We will hear from Andrew C. Chan, senior vice president of research–biology at Genentech, a biotechnology company that works to develop medicines for people with serious and life-threatening diseases.

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