Podcast Episode Notes

Prologue to Greatness: Author, Astrophysicist, and Mentor

5/12/2023

Maryam Esmat’s 24 years of life have played out like a greatest hits album. She’s graced the pages of Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 for her work in astrophysics and donned the title of the youngest published author in the Middle East — yet, if you ask her where we are in her life’s story, she’d tell you we’ve only read the prologue.

Maryam is currently pursuing her PhD at Johns Hopkins University, and if that’s any indication, her story is shaping up to be one for the history books.

Listen on:
   •   Apple
   •   Spotify
   •   Stitcher
   •   iHeartRadio
   •   Amazon Music

Elevating the Student Voices of Tomorrow

3/7/2023

Danny Nguyen returns for Part 2 of his two-part interview. In this episode, Danny shares his optimistic outlook for the future of international students and the importance of elevating student voices.

Despite his optimism, he sees areas for improvement, particularly in accounting for the experiences of international students.

Join Simon and Danny as they discuss the state of job prospecting, the weight of comparison, and the importance of community.

Listen on:

Escaping 1977 Vietnam: Finding a Place to Belong

2/7/2023

1977 — In a year remembered for the Fall of Saigon and Black April, Danny Nguyen and his family were caught in the middle of a war-torn Vietnam.

Call it courage or call it desperation — Danny’s parents wanted a better life for their four children, and if that meant sailing out into the dark, cold ocean to find it, then so be it.

The VP of Administrative Services at Mission College you see today is in stark contrast to the four-year-old who’d just landed in America in 1977. As the saying goes, “sometimes you have to lose yourself to find who you are.”

Listen on:

Rewriting the Code: Black Women in STEM

1/19/2023

Jessie Gentles is the 3%. The world of IT has thrived as a highly-lucrative, high-growth industry — but the caveat? You’re not going to find many Black women crowding in to become the next IT specialist.

As a Jamaican-born woman and software engineering student at Miami University, Jessie represents a demographic that’s shied away from IT — one that’s representing only 3% of the IT space, but she’s not alone.

Jessie is a Black Wings Hackathon Committee Member. Black Wings is a small, but growing community of 950+ women within Rewriting the Code, a non-profit organization that represents minority populations in the tech space.

Listen on:

The Future of EdTech: Hope, Empathy, and Connection

11/22/2022

Paige Steffy returns for Part 2 of a two-part interview. In this episode, Paige reflects on themes that follow every international student on their journey; hope, empathy, and connection. She’s walked the walk of an international student, and now she’s walking beside them on their student journey as part of Unibuddy. Join us to hear how Paige envisions the future of international students.

Listen on:

    • Apple
    • Spotify
    • Stitcher
    • iHeartRadio
    • Amazon Music

Chasing the Hogwarts Fantasy: Transporting to the U.K.

11/1/2022

The magic of Harry Potter captivated a generation of dreamers and stood as a gateway to another world; for one Paige Steffy, it was also a glimpse into her future. Paige graduated from UC Davis with a double major in psychology and Spanish, then worked in the admissions office at Willamette University.

Her next adventure wasn’t quite Hogwarts, but, for her master's program, Paige moved to the U.K. and attended Royal Holloway, University of London. Today, Paige is taking the lessons she’s learned and using them to guide international students through the Unibuddy, student ambassador program, platform. Join us for part one of our two-part interview!

Listen on:
   •   Apple
   •   Spotify
   •   Stitcher
   •   iHeartRadio
   •    AmazonMusic

Engineering a Legacy: Overcoming Expectations, Gender Roles, and Cancer

10/13/2022

Juliana Pereira returns for Part 2 of a two-part interview. In this episode, Juliana talks about her career as a Geotechnical Engineer who’s carrying the weight of purpose for women in STEM — and that’s not even her greatest challenge. Juliana was diagnosed with uterine cancer just a few years ago, and her most daunting opponent has taught her that life waits for no one. Juliana’s never been one to accept her circumstances, however, and she’s determined to write a legacy that’ll stand the test of time.

Listen on:
   •   Apple
   •   Spotify
   •   Stitcher
   •   iHeartRadio

Breaking Societal Norms: Women Do Belong in STEM

10/3/2022

Juliana Pereira is a trailblazer; raised by a single mother in Florianópolis, Brazil, she learned at an early age that there’s nothing women can’t do. She began college at the age of 16 and earned her degree in journalism. Her desire to impact the world led her to forego that degree in pursuit of civil engineering. The journey that ensued saw her traveling to five countries, with Juliana making a lasting difference wherever she went. Today, Juliana is continuing to pave the way for women in engineering at Purdue University. Join us for part one of our two-part interview!

Listen on:
   •   Apple
   •   Spotify
   •   Stitcher
   •   iHeartRadio

Court's in Session: Restarting a Law Career in a New Country: Episode 13 with Rezarta Mataj

9/16/2022

Rezarta Mataj had already achieved a great deal in her career at a young age — a federal judge by the age of 24, a lovely family soon after, and the accolades to be an adjunct professor at public and private law schools all across Albania. There was one caveat, however; she couldn’t rid herself of the thought that she’d be able to build a better life for herself and her family in the U.S. Rezarta took a leap of faith, and the future she envisioned started to take shape. Arizona State University gave her a chance, and she’s well on her way to reclaiming everything she once had and more.

Listen on:

Reporting to You Live: From Germany to U.S. Television — Episode 12 with Luisa Wiewgorra (Part 2)

6/30/2022

Luisa Wiewgorra joins us for Part 2 of her two-part interview. In this episode, Luisa reflects on her most memorable experiences studying journalism, and the doors that were opened during her time at Madonna University. It’s one thing to dream, but another to see your dreams become reality. Join us to hear how Luisa is living out her dream of being an honorary reporter on television!

Listen on:

<<Previous