Episodes

  • Toby King Made His Own Path—From Geology To Bluegrass To Academia

    Toby King Made His Own Path—From Geology To Bluegrass To Academia
    Jul 3 2025
    When I think of people who’ve allowed life’s serendipities to shape their course, Toby King comes immediately to mind. In this episode, he walks me through a zigzagging journey that began with a keg behind the geology building before his freshman year at Amherst College even started and took him to UNC Asheville, where he's Associate Professor and Chair of Music and, starting this fall, the chair of the UNC Faculty Assembly. Toby’s story is a reminder that we don’t always have to know where we’re going—as long as we stay open to what moves us. Highlights include: How Toby chose geology at Amherst after bonding with faculty during a pre-orientation outing—and a well-timed beer Why he walked away from a geology career after a frank conversation with a mentor during an oil company internship Why he taught himself how to play the banjo, and how he leveraged his passion for music into a spot at Columbia's graduate program and a teaching role at Sarah Lawrence The importance of prioritizing connections over content in teaching, and how the Amherst College geology department has influenced his approach to at UNC Asheville The Amherst College classmates he wants me to interview next To get in touch with Toby, check out his page on the UNC Asheville website: https://www.unca.edu/person/jonathan-king/.
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    54 mins
  • Ana-Claire Meyer Finds Meaning in Medicine By Going Where The Problems Are

    Ana-Claire Meyer Finds Meaning in Medicine By Going Where The Problems Are
    Jun 26 2025
    Early on in this project, a close friend told me that he hoped I'd interview Ana-Claire Meyer. Now I know why. Take a listen, and you will, too. AC's professional and personal journeys are marked by curiosity, humility, and an eagerness to tackle big problems. After graduating from Amherst College, she held a variety of different jobs, but HIV test counseling piqued her interest enough to propel her to medical school. She studied neuroinfectious diseases, earned a Fulbright scholarship that took her to Kenya, and then joined the U.S. Army as an army civilian, becoming a senior clinical advisor for medical research and material command. It was in that role that she helped shape the Army's Covid-19 pandemic response. Today, she's senior medical director for Denali Therapeutics, a company that's focused on defeating neurodegenerative diseases. In this episode, we talk about: How testing patients for HIV in the mid-'90s led AC to pursue medicine What she learned while helping lead medical preparedness and innovation at the U.S. Army during Covid-19 Why she still hasn’t found her destination professionally, and why that’s not a bad thing The role Amherst played in shaping her journey—and the faculty members who showed up for her at just the right time The classmates she hopes I’ll interview next To get in touch with Ana-Claire, find her on Link
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    58 mins
  • Maki Uchiyama Realized Everything Would Be Okay

    Maki Uchiyama Realized Everything Would Be Okay
    Jun 20 2025
    Maki Uchiyama grew up as an only child in upstate New York, where her family’s Japanese restaurant functioned as both a business and a fourth member of the household. The experience left her with a certain set of skills—versatility, the ability to multitask, customer diplomacy, and, of course, how to cook. After graduating from Amherst College in 1994 with a degree in political science, Maki joined the Japan Foundation, eventually pivoting to law school and a fulfilling career in real estate law. Today, she serves as general counsel for Advenir Azora Development, while also navigating the busy, blended rhythms of life as a stepmother to four children, wife, and grandmother. In this episode Maki reflects on: Her professional path The influence of her Amherst education A family-first mindset she’s cultivated over time Advice she wishes she could give the younger version of herself: No matter the bumps, pivots, or surprises—it will all work out The Amherst College Class of '94 classmates she wants to hear from next To get in touch with Maki, email at smuchiyama@gmail.com or find her on LinkedIn.
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    45 mins
  • Sean Gibbon Is A Storytelling Talking Ball Machine

    Sean Gibbon Is A Storytelling Talking Ball Machine
    Jun 5 2025
    Sean Gibbon lives a dual life. He has one foot planted firmly on the squash court, where he teaches the game, and the other in the imaginative realm of fiction writing. In this episode, we explore Sean’s journey from Amherst to professional squash coach, or what he playfully refers to as a talking ball machine. By that, he means the way he coaches towards experiencing the game fully versus preparing for elite competition. That vocation has given him the freedom and fuel to pursue a deep, deliberate writing practice. Sean reflects on how he integrates personal conflict into the characters he creates, the discipline of writing every day, and why he views both coaching and writing as acts of connection and observation. If you've ever considered a creative second act—or simply want to hear how someone balances a creative passion with a profession—Sean's story will inspire you. In this episode, you'll learn: How a chance visit to a squash club became a new career Why Sean fiercely protects at least one hour every day to write The role that the fiction he creates plays in processing real-life conflict Sean’s pick for which classmate should appear on the podcast next To get in touch with Sean, email spgibbon2@gmail.com, or call or text him at 917.684.6840. Check out his book on Phish, too: https://a.co/d/bfJCrKO
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    43 mins
  • Dr. Bob “Buck” Tashjian Makes His Mark In Medicine, Mentorship, And Art

    Dr. Bob “Buck” Tashjian Makes His Mark In Medicine, Mentorship, And Art
    May 29 2025
    It's time to catch up with Dr. Bob “Buck” Tashjian, a leading orthopedic surgeon and researcher specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery at the University of Utah. Buck’s journey to medicine was anything but linear. Despite achieving academic and athletic excellence at Amherst College, he faced a major setback when he was initially rejected from all the medical schools he applied to. What followed was a year of physical labor, soul-searching, and a well-earned admission to Tufts School of Medicine. He has proved all those other schools wrong ever since. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about disappointment, growth, humility, and reconnecting with parts of yourself you may have left behind. Key Takeaways: Resilience through rejection: Buck’s path to medicine began with a painful setback, but he used that time to reassess and reapproach his goals with new perspective and humility. Mentorship matters: Buck emphasizes that personal and professional growth is rooted in leaning on others and helping those who follow. Pursuing long-held passions: Later in life, Buck returned to the visual arts, proving it’s never too late to explore creativity. (Check out the full blog post at mattcollinsblog.com for examples of his work.) Shoulder health tips for our 50s: Stretching, low weights with high reps, and attention to mental health all play a role in managing joint pain. Plus, Buck nominates two classmates he hopes to hear from next. To get in touch with Buck, email him at Robert.Tashjian@hsc.utah.edu.
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Ed Castillo Is Not Your Average Strategist-Philosopher-Foreign Agent

    Ed Castillo Is Not Your Average Strategist-Philosopher-Foreign Agent
    May 22 2025
    Ed Castillo’s post-Amherst path might be one of the most uniquely purposeful stories you’ll hear from our classmates. In this episode, we follow his journey from a philosophy major at Amherst to advertising Chief Strategy Officer - and registering and acting as a foreign agent. He may not drive an Aston Martin and pack a Walther PPK, but the man loves words and has a very spicey take on reading that will get you thinking. Highlights from our conversation: 🧠 Why Ed pursued philosophy not despite, but because of his desire to work in advertising 🛑 His early career “failure” that helped him find the field where overthinking is a superpower 📊 The limitation inherent in marketing degrees—and what he’s actually looking for when hiring 📚 His provocative argument against reading as the best vehicle for knowledge 🎯 How multicultural marketing needs to evolve beyond identity clichés 💜 The Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next Big thanks to Lee Maicon for nominating Ed.
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    52 mins
  • Nate Smith Missed His Exit But Found His Way

    Nate Smith Missed His Exit But Found His Way
    Apr 21 2025
    Nate Smith's post-Amherst journey literally reads like an epic. At the age of 26, he got in his car after work one day at the school where he had been teaching and kept on driving, never to return to the job. Instead, he embarked on a life-changing, sometimes harrowing road trip all the way from Maryland to Central America, living out of his car and taking odd jobs to survive. His journey reached a turning point when he had to sell his car and found himself homeless in Panama. With the help of the US Embassy, Nate made his way back home, bringing with him invaluable lessons about privilege and the importance of giving back. Today, Nate is married with two kids, and he has returned to teaching with a passion. He also hasn't lost his wanderlust; Nate works as an eighth-grade mathematics teacher in Vietnam. Join Nate and me as we delve into the memorable moments of Nate's life, his thoughts on humankind, and the lessons he has learned along the way. His experience is a testament to the strength of family, the importance of self-reflection, and the enduring impact of a supportive community. Plus, learn whom Nate wants me to interview next. You can email Nate at nathansmith.ghana@gmail.com.
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    44 mins
  • Brian Shactman Finds His Voice – And Amplifies Voices All Over Connecticut And Beyond

    Brian Shactman Finds His Voice – And Amplifies Voices All Over Connecticut And Beyond
    Apr 14 2025
    Brian Schactman in many ways has become the voice of Connecticut. As a co-host of a morning radio talk show, he travels the state to meet residents of interest and explore the topics that animate the 169 towns and cities that call Connecticut home. Having listened to his stuff, I can tell you that he's awfully good at what he does. Thankfully, streaming makes it possible for anyone to listen to him, so I'll include a link to do just that in the notes below. Our candid conversation covers his journey from ESPN, through CNBC, MSNBC, and NBC Boston, to his current role at WTIC 1080 AM in Hartford. In the process, Brian helped me imagine a life I might have had if I had stuck with broadcast journalism as a career for myself. Plus, tune in to hear whom from the Amherst Class of 1994 Brian wants me to interview next. You can contact Brian via email (bshactman@gmail.com) and find him X, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Audacy app by following this link so you can listen to his morning show, "Mornings with Ray and Brian."
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    58 mins