Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians

Hockey is Topher Scott’s life. When an injury in high school forced him to look outside the Big 10, he found himself at Cornell, a serendipitous twist of fate. Topher's Cornell experience has since shaped his life in almost every facet, from meeting his wife on campus, to assistant coaching the Cornell men's hockey team for five years, to remaining in upstate NY to raise his young family and pursue numerous hockey-related endeavors. Listen in as Topher chats with Juliana Garcia about playing on a championship Cornell Hockey team, what he loves about coaching, why he's an advocate for fighting in hockey, and much more. “It was an amazing experience for sure. Playing in front of a sold out crowd pretty much every night and hockey is such a big deal, not just at Cornell but the whole Ithaca area … I still kind of get goosebumps even thinking about it.” Check out Topher's podcast and hockey development website at https://thehockeythinktank.com/. Read the episode transcript. Episode recorded at the Language Resource Center on Cornell's Ithaca Campus. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly.  *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

After completing a landscape architecture degree at Cornell in 2001, Chris Merkley quickly discovered he actually wanted to pursue a career in music. Chris has performed over a thousand shows from the streets of Paris to venues through out Europe and across the United States. He has released nine albums with a variety of groups which include the song writing duo Merkley & Morgan, his high octane Bluegrass and Country Blues globetrotting band The Crooners, and the swampy blues rock trio of Digger Jones.   Listen in as Chris chats with Juliana Garcia '14 about a new music venue he's building on Main Street in Cortland, made possible by a $10M grant from NYS for downtown revitalization. You'll hear about how his Cornell degree and connections are helping him in this new venture and how bringing people together through music is one of the driving forces in his life. “More and more I realize just how important it is to bring people together.” Learn more about Chris's music career, his record company Old Boy Records, and The After School Special (a school bus he's transforming into an eco-minded tour bus and recording studio) on his website https://chrismerkley.com/.  Read the episode transcript. Episode recorded at the Language Resource Center on Cornell's Ithaca Campus. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Andrea Savage '94 is a comedic actress, writer, director and producer. Andrea created the hit television show, I'm Sorry, which is currently in production on season 3.  As an actress on television, Andrea has starred as President Laura Montez on HBO’s Veep, Helen Basch on Showtime’s Episodes, Vivian Stoll on CW’s iZombie, and as Rhonda on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Andrea has also been featured in The League, Modern Family, House of Lies, and The Kroll Show. On the film side, Andrea has starred in Stepbrothers, The House, Sleeping with Other People, Dinner for Schmucks, Life Happens, You're Not You and Summer ’03. As a creator/writer/producer, Andrea has developed pilots for ABC, NBC, FOX, Comedy Central, etc. Savage hails from stand-up and the legendary Groundlings Theater. Tune in to this incredibly fun and energetic episode of Fresh from the Hill where host Juliana Garcia '14 chats with Andrea about show business, motherhood, and her own podcast called Andrea Savage: A Grown-Up Woman #buttholes.  “I don’t know if [comedy] is any more difficult than anything else that you would do in the industry if it’s something that naturally comes to you. I would say one difficulty is often, you don’t get to shepherd a joke from beginning to end and that can be frustrating. Right now on my show I do get to, but often if you’re writing comedy, you don’t get to be there on set when it’s performed, you don’t get to direct it, and then you don’t get to edit it. Or, someone else wrote a joke that you wish it was a little different. And jokes really have beginning, middle, and ends in terms of their process, in terms of the writing, the performance, and then the edit. And when there’s too many people involved in that one joke’s journey, a lot can get lost in the translation.” *If you're sensitive to strong language, please note that there is swearing in this episode.  Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Meet our next host of Fresh from the Hill! Juliana Garcia is a 2014 graduate of the Industrial and Labor Relations. It's time to get acquainted as she'll be hosting the next five episodes of Fresh from the Hill! Hear about why she picked Cornell and how the transition to upstate NY from Dallas, TX was, what made her decide to remain in the area after graduation, and who you'll be hearing her interview in her series of episodes! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and rate Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians wherever you listen to podcasts.  Read the episode transcript. Hosted, created, and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Check out this very special cross-over episode of Fresh from the Hill, originally featured on Lou Diamond's podcast Thrive LOUD! Kathryn Boor is the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Since 2010 She has been responsible for developing and implementing the strategic direction of the college, with over 360 faculty, 3,700 undergraduate students and 1000 graduate students. Under her leadership, Cornell CALS is consistently recognized as one of the top global universities in agricultural – Plant and food sciences. She is highly decorated with awards and honors within her field however, it’s her warm smile and caring personality to help everyone around her — that shines brightest …  which is why she is featured on Thrive LOUD in this episode. Kathryn Boor connects with Lou Diamond '92 and shares her mission to rethink about the way we learn and find ways to save the planet. Read the episode transcript. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Psst! We have a holiday treat for you! In this short bonus episode, we’ve got a great story and some sound advice for the new year. Thanks for listening and we’ll see you in 2020! Featuring: Lou Diamond '92 Aaron Kominos-Smith '04 Alex Zalben '99 Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

How does your space feel? How could it work better for you? On this episode of Fresh from the Hill, hear how Eden Brachot ’15 used her Cornell degree to become a Design Strategist at HLW, an international design and architecture firm. Brachot helps companies create workspaces that evoke both feeling and functionality. Tune in for this lively discussion with host Lou Diamond ’92 and start looking at your space from a new lens. “What does cozy look like? You have an experience but, if you think about what you saw or what you heard or what people were doing around you that made you feel this way – that was what I was interested in.” Email Eden at evb7@cornell.edu, find her on Instagram @alwayseden or on LinkedIN. Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Kyle Scott ’11 is currently Head of Product & Production at Serhant Media Group, Ryan Serhant's media company. At the time of this interview Kyle was a producer/editor and content strategist with NBC News. Kyle stays connected to Cornell through the CALS Alumni Association and WVBR. Let Kyle captivate you in this interview with host Lou Diamond '92. He'll talk about launching the lifestyle video vertical "BETTER," how in media it's paramount to know and understand your audience, the place for targeted content in today's modern world, what he plans to do with his MBA, and much more.  “People right now are looking for inspirational content … [people] are looking for somewhere to go in order to feel good about themselves” Check out Kyle on Instagram @KyleScottOriginal and at his website, https://www.kylescott.com/. Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Hockey player. Full-time student at Cornell. Olympian. Dive into a discussion with gold medalist Brianne Jenner ’15 about managing the dual life of college student and accomplished athlete on this episode of Fresh From the Hill.  “Right away Cornell let’s you know that you don’t have everything figured out.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Yasmin Alameddine '16. Additional audio assistance from Michael Bell and Samuel B. Lupowitz. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Halloween is tomorrow and you know what that means?? Our special Cornell ghost stories episode is here! Listen in as we hear spooky Cornell stories from four Cornellians: Jacob Sackett '15, Marie Ceske '20, Subashiny Gengatharan '13, and Garrett Hastings '19.  For more information about the student group "Scare Me," please email their current president Eliza at ebf43@cornell.edu.  Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa, amanda.massa@cornell.edu. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Jeanne Hwang Lam ’04 wants to read your story. Her company, Wattpad, has created a network for users to read, write, and share stories within a platform of 80 million readers. Join host Yasmin Alameddine ’16 as she chats with Jeanne about her path at Cornell and how it led to Wattpad. “If you know there’s something else you want to do, just go do that. And it doesn’t have to be the right thing, it just has to be better than what you’re currently doing.” From Accenture to business school, Jeanne reminds us that not all routes in life are direct, but the Cornell community provides support with every turn. Don’t miss out on this inspiring interview! Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

In this episode of Fresh from the Hill, you'll hear from Jordan Pares-Kane '18, a Resident Naturalist with the University of Georgia Costa Rica in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica. Hear about Jordan's focus of study and how it relates to her work in sustainability today, how she decided to take a gap year after college to focus on travel and changing the world (and her advice to others who want to do the same), and her interest in disaster relief and how she contributed towards relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Also learn about how her involvement with Engaged Cornell afforded her a lot of the opportunities she received at Cornell and beyond.  “For a lot of my studies we would focus a lot on the environmental aspects of sustainability, and although that’s important, I think it’s really important to focus on social sustainability, because often it’s not focused on … it’s just something that was really emphasized during my program and just being able to see firsthand some of the disparities that different communities were facing because of environmental issues just really kind of inspired me to learn more about it.” Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Yasmin Alameddine '16, https://www.wittypod.com/. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Michael Charles is an American Indian scientist from the Navajo Nation pursuing a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The Ohio State University with research interest in bringing ecosystems into the design and decision-making of technical systems while exploring how to use academic research to impact social, political, and ethical issues. Whether it’s through his indigenous background, sports, music, his studies, or his friends, Michael has embraced the power of community throughout his life. It's something that helped him transition from a graduating high school class of 18 to Cornell, and eventually to a PhD program at The Ohio State University. Listen in as Michael chats with his friend and classmate Yasmin Alameddine '16 about balancing extra curriculars with a challenging major, how one of the first languages he heard on campus was Diné (Navajo), and his involvement in AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) and NAICCO (Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio), which led to his participation in the UN Climate Talks.  "The first reason I ever even started getting into this work was sitting at my desk in Columbus, Ohio, my first year of my PhD and watching things unfold at Standing Rock . . . there were a lot of people able to be there and long term camp out and show their support for that indigenous community . . . it was really at an international scale of people who were coming and staying at that camp . . . I felt very, not necessarily trapped, but I just couldn’t figure out what my role was as an indigenous person in sustainability, very concerned about climate change and the impacts on our peoples . . . I think I was still trying to figure out what could be my role and how can I make change in this issue." Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

Nina Coutinho is a Toronto native currently working as a Senior Product Manager at Shopify. Nina's path was anything but linear after graduating from Cornell in 2008 and she wants recent grads to know that they don't need to know exactly what they want to do right out of college. Hear Nina's fascinating conversation with host Yasmin Alameddine '16 as they talk about Nina's meandering path, how she was a "serial joiner" at Cornell, the number of careers she's had since graduation, how her first Cornell experience was getting ready for a wedding in the crypt of Sage Chapel, and much more.  “If you are a naturally curious person, you can find interesting things in so many different industries. I think you shouldn’t be afraid of that, because as long as you are paying your bills and you are learning something and you feel like you’re expanding your mind and you’re challenging yourself, I’d say don’t be afraid of taking a total risk on a totally new field.”  Read the episode transcript. Created and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.

We're on to season two of Fresh from the Hill and that means new episodes, new stories, and of course new hosts! On this mini-episode you'll be introduced to new host Yasmin Alameddine, class of 2016. Hear about Yasmin's best classes and experiences at Cornell as well as her favorite campus spot and what she's up to today.  Stay tuned this season of Fresh from the Hill to hear more from Yasmin and the amazing Cornellians she'll interview and also check out her own podcast WITTY: Women in Tech Talk to Yaz.  Read the episode transcript. Hosted, created, and produced by Amanda Massa. Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.