Best Whitman College Podcasts (2024)

1
How to Worry, Not Panic, about Artificial Intelligence 35:30

3h ago35:30

35:30

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence in the last few years has drawn a growing chorus of advocates offering proposals for how to regulate this new technology. Many of them want to treat AI as an entirely new kind of challenge that calls for entirely new regulatory tools. But starting from scratch is unlikely to lead us to effective r…

1
Job search expert Mark Dyson says beware of scams, know AI & keep learning 36:07

9d ago36:07

36:07

For some people, launching a job search seems more challenging than ever. Our repeat guest, Mark Anthony Dyson, says “think about it like the weather.” Job market conditions vary a good deal, depending on many factors, including your location, profession and skill set. But there are some broad trends worth watching. Mark warns that in some countrie…

1
Try these techniques to reduce stress, says Judge Gayle Williams-Byers 35:12

26d ago35:12

35:12

This is the second of two episodes about how stress reduces your job performance and satisfaction, and what you can do about it. Our guest, Gayle Williams-Byers, a retired judge, now teaches judges in her role as Senior Fellow with the National Judicial College. She has developed a course on mindfulness to help judges reduce stress, allowing them t…

1
Mindfulness enhances your work, and your life, says Judge Gayle Williams-Byers 34:02

1M ago34:02

34:02

This is the first of two episodes about how stress impacts your career. When you’re stressed out, you’re not creative or good at solving problems. or making decisions. But our guest, Gayle Williams-Byers, a retired judge, says there are many was to manage stress. In her role as Senior Fellow with the National Judicial College, Judge Gayle not only …

1
The American Founding Has Gone Missing from High-school History Classes 29:36

1M ago29:36

29:36

The textbooks most commonly used in high-school history classes are badly deficient. These books, which shape the rising generation’s perception of the country they are inheriting, often leave out the core ideas that defined the American founding and the nation’s ideals. To recover America’s sense of itself, it’s crucial to teach high-school studen…

1
Education as The Great Equalizer feat. Annie Weinberg ’10 40:11

2M ago40:11

40:11

Middlebury has a long standing relationship with Alexander Twilight. Twilight graduated from our institution in 1823. He has been noted as the first person of color to graduate from an American college, and later became the first American of African descent to serve in a state legislature in the United States, when he was elected to the Vermont Gen…

1
New jobs are opening in 2024, says WorkingNation exec Joan Lynch 42:21

2M ago42:21

42:21

Our guest, Joan Lynch, is head of video and other content at WorkingNation, an innovative media company that creates well-researched and inspiring stories about everything related to jobs. Today, she discusses the state of employment in rural areas, which for years have struggled with aging populations and a lack of job opportunities. She says that…

1
Identify what matters, then build a retirement portfolio, says Tom Hodson 47:15

2M ago47:15

47:15

Today’s guest is our good friend – and WOUB colleague – Tom Hodson. His career has involved many types of expertise, and it seems like Tom never did just one job at a time. He spent years sitting as a judge, and also teaching other judges. He’s played many roles as a media expert. And he has enjoyed positions as an academic leader. In 2019, Tom and…

1
How to Think about Voting in 2024 28:00

2M ago28:00

28:00

Voting should be straightforward: Figure out which candidate or party best fits one’s political views or interests, and vote accordingly. But the last few elections have shown many Americans that it’s not nearly that simple. We could benefit from a new framework for thinking about voting, and not just for elections in which we find ourselves especi…

1
Enjoy your job and make it count, says Greg Martin 34:55

3M ago34:55

34:55

Our theme is why and how to keep pursuing greater happiness -- as well as success – at work. Our guest is merger and acquisition expert Greg Martin. He’s a managing director at Origin Merchant Partners, a top-ranking investment bank working with industrial sectors across North America. But Greg is not just an M&A guy and an entrepreneur. He also is…

1
Kerry Hannon describes positive workplace trends 38:27

3M ago38:27

38:27

Today’s returning guest is our good friend, Kerry Hannon. She’s a leading expert and futurist on careers, jobs, entrepreneurship, personal finance and retirement. Kerry is the author of more than a dozen books, including her most recent, In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work. She is a dynamic and popular speaker, and her Yahoo …

1
College students & faculty need a change, says Dave Goldberg 40:03

4M ago40:03

40:03

In this episode we discuss the changing world of higher education. Our guest is Dave Goldberg, an AI pioneer, engineer, executive coach and respected computer scientist. He is also an educator, and until 2010 was a professor emeritus and prolific researcher. Then he switched paths and began to call for radically changing engineering education. Now …

1
No Time to Waste feat. Nick Whitman ’97 43:27

4M ago43:27

43:27

Food waste is a major issue not only in the United States, but around the world. Whether it's the mass waste that gets dumped by restaurants and grocery stores or the bag of lettuce that was never opened, rotting away in the back of your refrigerator, it touches each of us daily. Nick Whitman is the co-founder and COO of Divert, an impact technolog…

1
Preparation and listening can empower pitches, says sales expert Connie Whitman 37:03

4M ago37:03

37:03

A skill set that promotes success on almost any career path is the ability to sell. Whether you’re promoting a product, an idea, or yourself, sales savvy can make a huge difference. Today’s guest, Connie Whitman, is a high energy, enthusiastic teacher, coach, podcaster and consultant about sales. Her company – Changing the Sales Game – helps busine…

1
The Climate Assessment sheds light on workforce trends, says Prof. Geoff Dabelko 39:46

5M ago39:46

39:46

The Fifth National Climate Assessment summarizes the best available information on the risks, impacts and responses to climate change in the U.S. Our expert guest, Geoff Dabelko, is one of the 500 distinguished authors of the massive Assessment. He is a Professor at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, and he’s an in…

1
The Uniquely American Classical-Education Movement 37:13

5M ago37:13

37:13

Classical schools are distinctly American. Just as our country was founded both as a modern engineering project and as a recollection of ancient political philosophy and the traditional rights of Englishmen, the contemporary classical-education movement is an act of construction — one might say an invented tradition — seeking to revivify and partic…

1
The Cold Open #51-The Priscilla Edition 57:09

5M ago57:09

57:09

In the Cold Open # 51, Kynde Kiefel and Robert Sickels wax poetic about the many reasons they both adore Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla. Our intro and outro this week are Spectrum’s “How You Satisfy Me” and Dan Deacon’s “The Crystal Cat” from the Priscilla (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). The Cold Open Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spo…

1
The Cold Open #50-The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar Edition 59:36

5M ago59:36

59:36

In the Cold Open # 50, Kynde Kiefel and Robert Sickels dissect the four Wes Anderson short film adaptations of Roald Dahl’s short stories now playing on Netflix: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Rat Catcher, Poison, and The Swan. The Cold Open Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, so please subscribe!…

1
Stories remain powerful when data is forgotten, says Karen Eber 39:39

5M ago39:39

39:39

Our guest, Karen Eber, says stories build connection and trust, inspire new thinking, and are more memorable than other forms of information. Karen is a global leadership consultant who works with corporate leaders and universities to build teams and transform cultures. And she understands the science of why storytelling is such an effective way to…

1
Top job seekers share 12 habits, says William Vanderbloemen 35:13

6M ago35:13

35:13

Today’s returning guest is William Vanderbloemen, a pioneer in executive searches for faith-based organizations. Since he started the Vanderbloemen firm 15 years ago, he and his team have done in-depth interviews with about 30,000 of their top candidates. And they have studied the information from the best of their best candidates, working to under…

1
America’s Party System and the Problem of Union 29:21

6M ago29:21

29:21

What type of party system best suits the American regime? What can we do to cultivate such a party system? Amid the current tumult and polarization of our politics, much of it the result of the degradation of our parties, it behooves us to seek answers to these questions, and to learn from past efforts to give shape to the American party system. Gu…

1
Mentorship can change everything, says Gerald Leonard 35:49

6M ago35:49

35:49

Not only is today’s return guest, Gerald J. Leonard, an accomplished professional musician, but he is also an expert on workplace culture, strategy and productivity. On top of that, he is an author. The full title of his interesting new book is long and descriptive: A Symphony of Choices – How Mentorship Taught a Manager Decision-Making, Project Ma…

1
Your story on LinkedIn can attract opportunities, says Donna Serdula 30:18

7M ago30:18

30:18

When it was launched about 20 years ago, LinkedIn felt like a fancy Rolodex -- a robust digital address book for professionals. But today this platform (now owned by Microsoft) is the place to build and nurture your career network, forge a strong brand, and research many kinds of professional opportunities. Our guest today, Donna Serdula, wrote a b…

1
It matters how you decide, says Aaron Finegold 34:47

7M ago34:47

34:47

The value of good decision-making is a theme in this episode. Our guest is Aaron Mitchell Finegold, the chief marketing officer at Kingsley Gate, a global executive search firm. As far back as college, Aaron wanted a career involving creative expression, a focus on human behavior, a business environment and a global setting, and those elements do s…

1
Old Stories Being Told Differently (Pt. 2) feat. Carolyn Finney, PhD 36:26

7M ago36:26

36:26

Carolyn Finney, PhD is a storyteller, author, cultural geographer, and a self-described accidental environmentalist whose work explores the intersection of identity, privilege, and our natural surroundings. She's the author of Black Faces White Spaces: Re-Imagining the Relationship of African-Americans to the Great Outdoors. And lately she's been w…

1
Young people can impact global issues, says Erin Lewellen 34:45

7M ago34:45

34:45

Today we explore ways to help young people prepare for careers that are meaningful. Our guest, Erin Lewellen, had an opportunity as a college student to live in Cape Town, interning at a center for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. There, Erin says, she learned in a new way, and transformed how she viewed the world. Now Erin is CEO…

1
Old Stories Being Told Differently (Pt. 1) feat. Carolyn Finney, PhD 29:06

8M ago29:06

29:06

Carolyn Finney, PhD, is a storyteller, author, cultural geographer, and self-described “accidental environmentalist” whose work explores the intersection of identity, privilege, and our natural surroundings. She's the author of Black Faces White Spaces: Re-Imagining the Relationship of African-Americans to the Great Outdoors. And lately she's been …

1
Drugs Are Killing More Americans than Ever Before. How Should Policymakers Respond? 38:14

8M ago38:14

38:14

Almost nobody is taking America's drug crisis seriously. We talk about it plenty, but that talk rarely acknowledges what distinguishes today's drug epidemic from past ones: Those earlier crises inflicted many more or less equally weighty harms — to users' health, to families, to communities. In this crisis, one problem dwarfs all others: death. Dru…

1
Cultivate an authentic brand, says digital strategist Tyler Mount 36:12

8M ago36:12

36:12

In this episode we talk about personal branding, and about how your brand impacts your career, whether or not you choose to manage it. Our lively guest, Tyler Mount, is a business consultant and international branding expert. And he is the CEO of Henry Street Creative, a New York agency with expertise in social media, video production, and digital …

1
Consider side-gigs & be flexible, suggests innovator Alex Atwood 34:35

8M ago34:35

34:35

Our guest, Alex Atwood, has been interested in creating and managing businesses since childhood. And in the last 20 years this serial entrepreneur has created and led 4 startups in the hospitality and staffing space. Today he tells us about how, at the start of COVID-19, he and his staff quickly reinvented their organization and kept workers busy s…

1
Biden’s Student-loan Entitlement 30:11

9M ago30:11

30:11

As his term has progressed, President Joe Biden has acted more aggressively on student-loan forgiveness than anyone might have expected. And even now, the scope of what he proposes is not obvious to many. Little-noticed changes to income-driven repayment rules could dwarf the more familiar loan-forgiveness agenda, transforming the federal student-l…

1
You can short-circuit stress, says neuropsychologist Amy Serin 38:34

9M ago38:34

38:34

According to Dr. Amy Serin, many in our society suffer from stress, anxiety and all sorts of trauma. Our nervous systems are over-active; we lie awake at night, consumed by worries; and our bodies and minds become chronically unwell. In this episode, Amy describes her own struggles with excess stress, as well as her journey to “democratize” various…

1
Smarter collaboration serves both employers and employees, says Professor Heidi Gardner 34:26

9M ago34:26

34:26

Heidi Gardner is a Distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School, a former professor at Harvard Business School, and the leader of multiple executive education programs. She and her team have compiled vast research on why collaboration matters, and how we can be better at it. And today she shares tips from her book (written with Ivan Matviak), Smarter…

1
A portfolio of jobs means a safer career, says Harvard expert Christina Wallace 33:45

10M ago33:45

33:45

The term “work/life balance” can feel simplistic because the relationship between your career and the rest of your life can be complicated and intense. Our guest today, Christina Wallace, a senior lecturer at the Harvard Business School, says we need a broader relationship with work. She describes how diversification can help you navigate change an…

1
The climate economy brings new jobs, says cleantech visionary Linda Kinney 36:28

10M ago36:28

36:28

Today we talk about the work force implications of climate change. Our guest, Linda Kinney, is a global legal advisor on environmental, social and governance matters. She understands how big changes happen because she played active roles in the internet and telecom revolutions. Linda says the crisis is huge, but the good news includes considerable …

1
Positivity increases productivity, says Dr. Joey Faucette 35:30

11M ago35:30

35:30

Today’s guest is Dr. Joey Faucette, an executive coach, a culture architect, and the host of the Work Positive podcast. In this episode Joey talks about how he realized that an upbeat, caring work culture can enhance a team’s satisfaction and productivity. And he shares tips from his latest book, Work Positive in a Negative World: Team Edition. He …

1
The Complex Legacy of Slavery and the Constitution 29:17

11M ago29:17

29:17

Slavery’s relation to the American Constitution has always been a point of great contention. The debate has never been resolved because the reality is complex: The Constitution did lend legal support to the practice of slavery, but it did not lend the institution legitimacy. The difference has a lot to tell us about the American political tradition…

1
The book Commencement describes a new era in higher ed 37:48

11M ago37:48

37:48

This episode is about your opportunity to help shape the future of higher education. Our guests are Kate Colbert and Joe Sallustio, EdD, the authors of Commencement, a massive and important new book about the future of academia. The book is an outgrowth of a popular podcast, The EdUp Experience, hosted by Sallustio and Elvin Freytes. The authors dr…

1
Every Book You Write Is a Mystery feat. Rebecca Makkai, MA English ’04 35:55

11M ago35:55

35:55

For some, finding your career, life, and purpose can be a lifelong task. But Rebecca Makkai knew she wanted to be a writer since she was 7 years old. But it wasn't until graduate school that her journey took her to Middlebury. Rebecca Makkai is the Chicago-based author of the novels I Have Some Questions for You, The Great Believers, The Hundred-Ye…

1
A Class-based Approach to College Admissions 25:50

11M ago25:50

25:50

If the Supreme Court curtails racial preferences in college admissions, Americans should celebrate the triumph of the truth that people should be treated as individuals rather than as members of racial groups. But we should also recognize that good-faith efforts to uplift economically disadvantaged students of all races help fulfill another cherish…

1
Remote teams can thrive, says expert Kevin Eikenberry 36:18

12M ago36:18

36:18

Our return guest, Kevin Eikenberry, is widely known as one the world’s top leadership experts. And his comments are always fun, interesting, timely and helpful. In this episode, Kevin shares insights and tips from his latest book (with co-author Wayne Turmel): The Long-Distance Team – Designing Your Team for Everyone’s Success. He shares his model …

1
Judges learn to manage stress & emotions, say 2 experts 47:04

12M ago47:04

47:04

Today’s extraordinary guests, Dr. Mishkat Al Moumin and Judge Gayle Williams-Byers, create curriculum for the nation’s judges. Dr. Mishkat is Academic Director, and Judge Gayle is the Judicial Fellow, at the National Judicial College. Together they create not only programs focused on legal issues, but ways to support judges’ leaderships skills -- s…

1
Performance guru Jim Loehr says it’s time to make better decisions 41:12

1y ago41:12

41:12

Our satisfaction and success at work – and our character -- are shaped by small choices we make all day long. But often our choices aren’t so good, so today we talk about how to make better decisions. And our expert guest, Dr. Jim Loehr, has all the latest research on exactly how to do that. Jim is a world-renowned performance psychologist who has …

1
The Virus Hunter feat. Anne Rimoin ’92 40:54

1y ago40:54

40:54

A fearless virus hunter. That’s how many describe today’s guest, who has been on the front lines researching emerging infectious disease for nearly three decades. Anne Rimoin is an epidemiologist who is an internationally recognized expert on global health, disease, surveillance, and immunization. Anne is a 1992 graduate of Middlebury College and e…

1
Joan Lynch describes workforce trends and solutions 34:26

1y ago34:26

34:26

Our return guest is Joan Lynch, a prize-winning producer and Chief Content Officer of WorkingNation. That’s a non-profit journalism and media company that brings attention to issues impacting the workforce, and shines light on solutions that can make a difference. Joan explains how implementing the Infrastructure Act requires more trained workers, …

1
Season 3 Trailer 0:50

1y ago0:50

0:50

Hi, this is Laurie Patton, President of Middlebury, Professor of Religion, and host of this podcast, MiddMoment. Though there is still about a foot of snow on the ground here in Vermont, my thoughts are on spring and the return of this podcast, my conversations with Middlebury folks that tackle ideas of the day. I'm so excited for this season, seas…

1
To bring people together, solve a shared problem, says social scientist David Livermore. 26:23

1y ago26:23

26:23

Today we discuss ways to overcome the polarization that’s everywhere in our society, and sometimes is a destructive, wasteful element in the workplace. Our guest, David Livermore, is an expert on how people from different cultures can bridge the gap and find ways to talk and work together. He shares insights from his interesting and instructive boo…

1
Most of us need a retirement plan, says leading journalist Mark Miller 32:42

1y ago32:42

32:42

Our guest, Mark Miller, writes about financial matters for publications like the New York Times, Reuters, and Wealth Management. And Mark is widely recognized as an expert on retirement and aging. His latest book -- Retirement Reboot: Commonsense Financial Strategies for Getting Back on Track – is a terrific guide to planning for a secure and rewar…

1
What the Federalist Papers Can Teach Us Today 39:43

1y ago39:43

39:43

The Federalist was written more than two centuries ago with a particular purpose: persuading Americans to back the Constitution. Yet far from being a period piece, it initiated nothing less than a revolution in political thought — one that fundamentally redefined how we understand popular government. Grasping this point could help today’s Americans…

1
“Treat silence like another word,” says expert on listening, Oscar Trimboli 32:16

1y ago32:16

32:16

Many agree that listening is a career superpower. But just because it’s important, doesn’t mean we’re all good listeners. Today’s guest, Oscar Trimboli, is a coach, consultant and podcaster who helps leaders, and lots of other people, become better, deeper listeners. His most recent book, how to listen, offers practical tips for improving the way w…

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