Shows
CatalyzeLeading with intention, with Kristina Chapple ’22 of 11 Tribes VenturesIn this episode, Kristina Chapple ’22 joins scholar host Stella Smolowitz ’26 to share her fast-tracked journey from UNC–Chapel Hill to becoming a general partner at 11 Tribes Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in values-driven founders.Kristina reflects on how her undergraduate experience at Carolina, including her interdisciplinary coursework, entrepreneurship minor, and time abroad with the UNC Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship, set the foundation for a purpose-led career. A Phi Beta Kappa inductee and Wilberforce Leadership Program alumna, Kristina discusses how community and curiosity continue to shape her approach to leadership.She offers an inside look a...
2025-07-0134 min
CatalyzeWhy you shouldn’t miss the 2025 Alumni Forum, with co-chairs James Dean ’89 and Madhu Vulimiri ’14Join co-chairs Madhu Vulimiri ’14 and James Dean ’89 as they share what will make the 2025 Alumni Forum this fall an unmissable event! This invigorating weekend is a chance to reconnect, learn, and grow with alumni from around the world. The Alumni Forum will take place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from October 17 to 19. Learn more and secure your spot on the Morehead-Cain Network. How to listenOn your mobile device, you can listen and subscribe to Catalyze on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For any other podcast app, you can find the show using ou...
2025-06-1001 min
CatalyzeInvesting in the future, with North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner ’99On this episode, North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner ’99 shares about his new role managing the state’s financial assets. He offers insights into how North Carolina’s financial processes compare to other states; the importance of strategizing long-term fiscal stewardship; and his leadership approach for the department’s 400-person team. The conversation, hosted by Stella Smolowitz ’26, also explores his take on healthcare spending and what went into choosing the coverage plan for over 750,000 state employees. Brad assumed office in January 2025.The alumnus also discusses how his experiences as a Morehead-Cain Scholar led him to his career in finance...
2025-06-0335 min
CatalyzeKickin’ It in the Kitchen, with Elizah Van Lokeren ’25 and host Allyson Horst ’27Welcome to Kickin’ It in the Kitchen, a miniseries by the Catalyze podcast that showcases Morehead-Cain seniors. The second edition of the series features Elizah Liberty Van Lokeren ’25, a professional photographer, small business owner, and member of UNC football’s creative team. In this episode, the advertisement and public relations double major discusses her experiences developing a photography business, creating social media content and websites in Greece, and studying the relationship between grief and food in Japan. She also reflected on her journey from growing up in Western North Carolina to receiving the Morehead-Cain. The video series is host...
2025-05-0635 min
CatalyzeSenior miniseries: Kickin’ It in the Kitchen, with Nigel Parker ’25 and host Allyson Horst ’27Welcome to Kickin’ It in the Kitchen, a Catalyze podcast miniseries showcasing Morehead-Cain seniors. The first episode features Nigel Parker ’25, a founding member of the Food for Thought breakfast and conversation series, the chief of staff for UNC Student Government, an Agora Fellow, and a philosophy major at Carolina.This video series is hosted by Allyson Horst ’27 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team. Watch the episode on YouTube.Music creditsThe episode’s intro song is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ’22, guitarist of the band South of the Soul.How to listenOn yo...
2025-04-0139 min
CatalyzeEight alumnae on was it was like to be in the first class of women Morehead-Cain ScholarsIn 1974, a dozen women became the first female Morehead-Cain Scholars at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the same year the Equal Credit Opportunity Act was passed, granting women the right to open a bank account without a husband’s signature.This past fall, eight members of the class of 1979 reunited to celebrate their 45th anniversary. During their visit, they shared memories and insights with current scholars at a coffee chat. Afterward, they sat down with Catalyze co-host Allyson Horst ’27 to reflect on their groundbreaking experiences.We’re sharing these conversations today in honor...
2025-03-0419 min
CatalyzeMeet the Sophomore Selection scholars in the class of 2027This past fall, fifteen students enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill joined the Morehead-Cain Class of 2027 through its Sophomore Selection process.Morehead-Cain launched this initiative in fall 2023 to identify sophomores at UNC–Chapel Hill who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship, leadership, and character, and invite them to join the Morehead-Cain Program.In this episode, we have members of the class sharing about the moment they received the news, their campus involvements, and what they’re looking forward to in the Program.Music creditsThe episode’s intro song is by...
2025-02-1124 min
CatalyzeState of Morehead-Cain, with President Chris BradfordHappy New Year! Morehead-Cain President Chris Bradford sat down with scholar host Stella Smolowitz ’26 to share what we’ve learned since launching the Sophomore Selection process and Morehead-Cain’s Community Standards, and what he hopes scholars take away from their time in the Program. Morehead-Cain launched Sophomore Selection in fall 2023 to identify sophomores at UNC–Chapel Hill who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship, leadership, and character, and invite them to join the Morehead-Cain Program. Meet the sophomores in the class of 2027.Music creditsThe episode’s intro song is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ’22, guitarist of the band S...
2025-01-0633 min
CatalyzeScholar stories: Celebrating 50 years of the Morehead-Cain Summer Enrichment ProgramAs Morehead-Cain celebrates 50 years of the Summer Enrichment Program, we asked scholars to share a few of their highlights from the past year. This episode is hosted by Allyson Horst ’27 of the Scholar Media Team. First up, we hear from Sahil Kapadia ’28 about his Outdoor Leadership expedition trekking around Lake Superior, followed by Carolina Hoyt ’28 and her expedition in the Talkeetna Mountains of Alaska. Next, Amanda Jesuca ’27 shares about making surprising connections during her Civic Collaboration summer working at Policy Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio. Charles Konkolics ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 take us to snow-capped mountains in New Zealand on...
2024-12-1709 min
CatalyzeWhere the University is headed, with UNC–Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee RobertsLee Roberts, the thirteenth chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, sat down with scholar host Allyson Horst ’26 to share his vision for Carolina under his leadership. The two discuss the University’s strategic priorities, with a focus on the areas of artificial intelligence, enrollment growth, investments in applied sciences, a physical master plan, the launch of the School of Civic Life and Leadership, and athletics. Roberts also responds to theUNC System’s DEI policy and rollout, recent campus protests, and his perspective on free speech at a leading public university.Roberts was elected chance...
2024-11-1924 min
CatalyzeMeet John Rose, Morehead-Cain’s faculty director for Dialogue and DiscourseDr. John Rose joined the Morehead-Cain community this fall as faculty director for Dialogue and Discourse. The initiative is designed to enhance scholars’ ability to listen, discuss, and engage in contemporary issues.Rose speaks with Catalyze co-host Stella Smolowitz ’26 about his approach to facilitating “charity-centric” dialogue with college students, the connection for him between theology and civic leadership, and advice for navigating political conversations ahead of the November election. Rose came to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from Duke University, where he was the associate director of the Civil Discourse Project and an instru...
2024-10-2217 min
CatalyzeThe Catalyze podcast: So you’re thinking of taking a gap year, with Sachi Akmal ’28Sachi Akmal ’28 visited campus during a break in her International Gap Year to speak with Catalyze host Allyson Horst ’27. So far, Sachi has traveled to ten countries over the span of nine months. From climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with fellow incoming scholars to exploring Italian monasteries, Sachi shares some of the highlights from her time abroad. She also touches on some of the more challenging aspects of a gap year, such as coping with loneliness and navigating unfamiliar environments. Sachi will join the scholar community at UNC–Chapel Hill this fall as a public policy major.If...
2024-07-1629 min
CatalyzePatton McDowell ’89 of PMA Nonprofit Leadership on the strategies that empower change makers in philanthropyPatton McDowell ’89 is the founder and president of PMA Nonprofit Leadership. The firm provides philanthropic and organizational consulting services. Patton is also the host of the podcast Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, a career development series focused on philanthropy.Patton shares with Catalyze host Charles McCain ’27 how interning at Special Olympics International as a Morehead-Cain Scholar launched his career in nonprofits. The alumnus also tackles key challenges facing organizations today, from fundraising dilemmas to strategic vision and effective board governance. Music creditsThe episode’s intro song is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ’22, guitarist of the ba...
2024-06-1129 min
CatalyzeNandini Kanthi ’27, CEO and co-founder of Sensible, on increasing women’s access to cervical screeningsNandini Kanthi ’27 is the CEO and co-founder of Sensible, a startup that provides an affordable menstrual hygiene product that screens for cervical diseases. The diagnostic device uses naturally discharging menstrual blood. The scholar shares with Catalyze host Allyson Horst ’27 about her entrepreneurship journey, from competing on a high school debate team to filing for a patent. Nandini is studying public policy and neuroscience at UNC–Chapel Hill. Music creditsThe episode’s intro song is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ’22, guitarist of the band South of the Soul.How to listenOn your...
2024-05-2123 min
CatalyzeMeet some of the new scholars through the Morehead-Cain Sophomore Selection InitiativeMorehead-Cain launched the Sophomore Selection initiative in fall 2023 to identify current sophomores at Carolina who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship, leadership, and character. Fifteen students joined the Program as members of the Morehead-Cain Class of 2026.Four members of the class joined Catalyze co-host Allyson Horst ’27 to share about the moment they received the good news, their campus involvements, and what they’re looking forward to in the Program. Learn more about the initiative.Today’s guests: Christopher Jaime Arraya ’26, Kassandra Ciriza-Monreal ’26, Mary Esposito ’26, and Daniel Simon ’26. Music creditsThe episode’s intro song is by schola...
2024-04-0917 min
CatalyzeKevin Guskiewicz, UNC–Chapel Hill Chancellor Emeritus, on his legacy at CarolinaToday’s guest is Kevin Guskiewicz, the twelfth chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Food for Thought speaker at Morehead-Cain. The chancellor emeritus spoke with Catalyze as his final engagement on campus before moving to East Lansing, Michigan, to serve as president of Michigan State University. Guskiewicz shares with scholar host Benny Klein ’24 insights on the current landscape of public higher education in North Carolina, how he uses roadmaps as a leadership tool, and some of the highlights from his tenure at the University.Guskiewicz received his bachelor’s of scie...
2024-03-1931 min
CatalyzeJosh Lee ’04 releases Lucha: A Wrestling TaleMost Morehead-Cain Alumni know Josh Lee ’04 as the co-founder of Green Top Farms, a farm-to-table catering and food service company based in New York City. But after the work day, you’ll find the entrepreneur in the South Bronx coaching girls how to wrestle. Josh is the founder of the Taft High School women’s wrestling team, one of the first of its kind in the city. A new film by Nike’s Waffle Iron Entertainment chronicles the team’s path to championship over the course of two years. Centering on the experiences of four team members...
2024-02-2732 min
CatalyzePeter Hans, president of the University of North Carolina system, on the sustainability of affordable public educationToday’s guest is Peter Hans, president of the University of North Carolina system and a Food for Thought speaker at Morehead-Cain. On this episode, President Hans shares about how growing up in rural North Carolina has informed his work, his experiences as president of the North Carolina Community College System, and his perspective on the future of affordable public education in the state.Hans received his bachelor’s in political science from UNC–Chapel Hill and a master’s of liberal arts in extension studies from Harvard. The president served as the first Food...
2024-02-0616 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Kartik Tyagi ’23: “Haste and Hustle”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Kartik Tyagi ’23, is entitled, “Haste and Hustle.” Kartik was the senior class president at UNC–Chapel Hill. You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. Morea bout KartikBorn and raised in Cary, North Carolina, Kartik Tyagi ’23 received his BSPH in Health Policy and Management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. As a senior Morehead-Cain Scholar, Kartik served as International President at HOSA-Future Health Professionals, an international c...
2024-01-0708 min
CatalyzeWelcoming sophomores as new scholars, celebrating educators, and what’s ahead in 2024, with Morehead-Cain President Chris BradfordMorehead-Cain President Chris Bradford sat down with scholar co-host Benny Klein ’24 to share about an initiative that welcomed more than a dozen sophomores from UNC–Chapel Hill into the Program last fall, recent efforts to celebrate and support educators in North Carolina and beyond, and what’s ahead for the Morehead-Cain Foundation in 2024.How to listenOn your mobile device, you can listen and subscribe to Catalyze on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For any other podcast app, you can find the show using our RSS feed.Catalyze is hosted and produced by Sarah O’Carr...
2024-01-0433 min
CatalyzeFrom the class of 1985 to 2020: Quick takes with five Morehead-Cain Alumnae leading in consulting, tech, nonprofits, and governmentNavigating leadership transitions. Tackling education inequities. Finding inspiration within cancel culture.Five Morehead-Cain alumnae share with Benny Klein ’24 about their entrepreneurship journeys from the worlds of consulting, tech, nonprofits, and government. The group shares their role models, most impactful Morehead-Cain summers from college, and what’s keeping them motivated at the moment. Today’s guests: Jane Sommers-Kelly ’85, founder of JSK Leadership (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)Chesca Colloredo-Mansfeld ’87, co-founder and strategic advisor for MiracleFeet (Chapel Hill)Caroline Lowery ’16, product and customer insights manager at Amazon (Seattle, Washington)Cecilia Polanco ’16, director of community growth and outreach for...
2023-12-1215 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Tai Huynh ’20: “80 Days Around the Mustache”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Tai Huynh ’20, is entitled, “80 Days Around the Mustache.” Tai is a Chapel Hill Town Council Member and the co-founder and CEO of Acta Solutions LLC.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about TaiTai Huynh ’20 is a co-founder at Acta Solutions and a sitting member of the Chapel Hill Town Council. Born to Vietnamese refugees, Tai was a real estate agent before attending UNC Chapel-Hill as a first-generation college stu...
2023-12-0709 min
CatalyzeA friendship forged in the wilderness: David von Storch ’80Today we have a story from Morehead-Cain Ambassador David von Storch ’80 about how he met his classmate, Andy Spencer ’80. It’s one of resilience, connection, and gratitude.It begins in the wilderness.The Morehead-Cain Day of Giving is this Friday, November 17. Support the Program by the end of the Day to help us reach our goal of 50 percent alumni giving participation.Thank you for supporting the next generation of scholars!About Morehead-Cain AmbassadorsMorehead-Cain Class Ambassadors engage in outreach to their peers on behalf of the Foundation. The group compri...
2023-11-1303 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Frank Bruni ’86: “We Are Starfish”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Frank Bruni ’86, is entitled, “We Are Starfish.” Frank is a Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. The alumnus is also author of four New York Times best sellers, including his new memoir The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about FrankFrank Bruni ’86 has been a prominent journalist for more than...
2023-11-0709 min
CatalyzeRay Sawyer ’13 on re-thinking time management: ‘How do I think about where to invest my energy in the places of maximum impact?’Ray Sawyer ’13 is the director of community health partnerships at Well, a health tech and services company co-founded by Dave Werry ’06.On this episode of Catalyze, Ray shares about his path from a small, rural North Carolina town to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He touches on his public service project in Uganda as a Morehead-Cain Scholar and the “happy accident” that led him to South Korea on a Fulbright fellowship. The self-designed curriculum he built in South Korea turned the English block into an exploration of dialogue on poetry and pronunciation, sports and segregat...
2023-11-0727 min
CatalyzeLeadership lessons from five Morehead-Cain Young AlumniA group of Morehead-Cain Young Alumni, all of whom graduated from UNC–Chapel Hill within the last five years, spoke with Catalyze co-host Stella Smolowitz ’26 about leadership lessons gained at Carolina. Today’s guests include André Ceccotti ’18, Malik Jabati ’19, Sarah Mackenzie ’20, Ashton Martin ’20, and Andrew Buchanan ’23. The alumni have pursued careers in investing (Malik), entrepreneurship (Andrew), and law (André, Sarah, Ashton). In addition to sharing reflections from their leadership positions as Morehead-Cain Scholars, the guests discuss their most impactful mentors at the University and Summer Enrichment Program experiences through the Program.Along with Sean Nguyen ’21 and...
2023-10-1710 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Bex Frucht ’05: “Free Your Tumbleweed Queen”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Bex Frucht ’05, is entitled, “Free Your Tumbleweed Queen.” Bex is the program manager for The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about BexBex Frucht ’05 is a self-ascribed “Tumbleweed Queen” whose eclectic personal and professional journey has taken her from the red carpet to the Rocky Mountains. After a decade of big-city adventures in media, communications, sustainability, freelance writing, and finally anchoring a daily cable TV...
2023-10-0711 min
CatalyzeSkip Griffin, senior associate at Dialogos, on productive discourse: ‘We are much more golden than we’ve been taught to believe’Today’s guest is Skip Griffin, a senior associate at Dialogos and an expert on engaging in productive discourse. Griffin was a plaintiff in Virginia’s 1964 school desegregation lawsuit; led Harvard’s Black students through the tumult of the late 1960s; and later worked in a range of community leadership roles in public schools, at Northeastern University, andat the Boston Globe.Griffin received his bachelor’s in government from Harvard and a master’s of education in organizational and social policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.Dialogos is a management...
2023-10-0323 min
CatalyzeThe Catalyze podcast: Ashton Martin ’20 of the USET Sovereignty Protection Fund on championing rights for Tribal NationsToday’s guest is Ashton Martin ’20, a health policy analyst for United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit is an intertribal organization that advocates on behalf of thirty-three federally recognized Tribal Nations, from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. On this episode, Ashton shares about their social justice work as student body president at Carolina (and reflections from the 2023 reunion of former student body presidents at the Morehead-Cain Foundation), their path to working in public policy for Tribal Nations as a recent graduate, and the c...
2023-09-1927 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Ricky Hurtado ’11: “Roses in the Concrete”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Ricky Hurtado ’11, is entitled, “Roses in the Concrete.” Ricky is the state representative for the North Carolina House of Representatives. He is the first Latino Democrat to serve in the N.C. House.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about Ricky Ricky Hurtado ’11 is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing the state’s sixty-third district. As a first-generation college student, Ricky found his passion for public ser...
2023-09-0707 min
CatalyzeFrom Capitol Hill: A sit-down with Aaron Hiller ’03, chief counsel and Democratic deputy staff director for the U.S. House Committee on the JudiciaryToday’s guest is Aaron Hiller ’03, chief counsel and Democratic deputy staff director for the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. On this episode, Aaron reflects on the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and what it was like to work on the ensuing two impeachments of former president Donald Trump. The alumnus also shares his thoughts on having a free and fair presidential election this November, his legal heroes, and why he thinks college students should consider working in politics. Aaron spoke with Morehead-Cain from his office on the Hill before the 2023 D.C. R...
2023-09-0531 min
CatalyzeSam Lowe ’20, Scott Diekema ’19, Nicholas Byrne ’19, and Jonny Huang ’24 of recycleReality on launching a creative technology studio in New YorkToday’s guests are Sam Lowe ’20, Scott Diekema ’19, Nicholas Byrne ’19, and Jonny Huang ’24, who Zoomed with Morehead-Cain from Brooklyn. Sam, Scott, and Nicholas are the co-founders of recycleReality, a creative technology studio in New York that specializes in bespoke design and software solutions in music, fashion, art, and architecture. Jonny interned with the alumni this summer for his Morehead-Cain Professional Experience summer. On this episode, the Morehead-Cains share about the early collaborations at UNC–Chapel Hill that led to forming their own company, how their different backgrounds and skillsets (computer science to communications and music) complement one...
2023-08-2232 min
CatalyzeDirector and producer Taylor Sharp ’16 of Blue Cup Productions on his founding story, following the NBA G League through creative storytelling, and upcoming worksTaylor Sharp ’16 is a director and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. The alumnus co-founded the independent production company Blue Cup Productions with Holland Randolph Gallagher, a writer and director. Taylor spoke with Catalyze at a neighborhood cafe a day after the 2023 New York City Regional Event for alumni and scholars.Hailing from a creative household in Burke County, North Carolina, Taylor recounts his upbringing alongside two older brothers, both Carolina alumni, who immersed themselves in music and imaginative projects (Taylor’s brother, Jacob, is one of the founding members of the string band Mipso). These...
2023-08-0828 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Malini Moorthy ’91: “We Are Not in Golden Rock Anymore”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Malini Moorthy ’91, is entitled, “We Are Not in Golden Rock Anymore.” Malini is the General Counsel of argenx, a biotech company.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about MaliniSince 2022, Malini Moorthy ’91 has served as the General Counsel of argenx, a biotech company committed to innovating and delivering lifechanging immunology solutions to patients. She has extensive global legal and compliance experience in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries and is a de...
2023-08-0708 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Bruce Gellin ’77: “Serendipitous Lessons”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Bruce Gellin ’77, is entitled, “Serendipitous Lessons.” Bruce is the Chief of Global Public Health Strategy at The Rockefeller Foundation. You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about BruceBruce Gellin ’77 has pursued a career that’s blended medicine, science, policy, and public health with a focus on infectious diseases and pandemics. He traces all of this to his days at Carolina, where he crafted an interdisciplinary studies program in human biology...
2023-07-0710 min
CatalyzeFrom the dugout to the boardroom: Bobby Evans ’91 and his path to becoming general manager of the San Francisco GiantsOn a spring day in Chapel Hill, Bobby Evans ’91 joined scholar host Benny Klein ’25 outside the Morehead-Cain Foundation to share about his life and career as a Major League Baseball executive. Bobby is the former general manager of the San Francisco Giants, a role he served from 2015 to 2018. Bobby speaks about his grandmother’s pivotal advice as a high schooler, his start in baseball as an intern at UNC–Chapel Hill, the opportunities that led to the general manager role, and the highs and lows of working with the Giants. He also gives his perspective on a people-fi...
2023-06-2746 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Sophie Cho ’23: “Searching Beyond the Well”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Sophie Cho ’23, is entitled, “Searching Beyond the Well.” You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about SophieSophie Cho ’23 of Raleigh received her bachelor’s in public policy, business, and statistics from Carolina. During her time as a scholar, she interned with the U.S. House of Representatives and a sustainability consultancy with Amirah Jiwa ’15, sharpened her Korean langauge skills in Seoul, and embarked on various Lovelace Fund for Discovery projec...
2023-06-0709 min
CatalyzeSeniors Spotlight: Advice and reflections from Roli Enonuya ’23 and Maggie Helmke ’23Maggie Helmke ’23 and Roli Enonuya ’23, two graduating scholars, joined Catalyze to reflect on their four years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Maggie and Roli share with scholar host Stella Smolowitz ’26 about their favorite classes and memories, challenges they overcame, and advice for incoming and current scholars. The seniors also share their plans following graduation on May 14. At UNC–Chapel Hill, Maggie designed her own C-START (Carolina Students Taking Academic Responsibility through Teaching) class about poetry, while Roli was involved in the UNC Campus Y’s Helping Youth by Providing Enrichment (HYPE) program, whe...
2023-05-1227 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Janel Monroe ’10: “Finding Freedom Through Fertility”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Janel Monroe ’10, is entitled, “Finding Freedom Through Fertility.” Janel is the strategy senior manager for Accenture.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. Janel Monroe ’10 is an inclusion, diversity, and equity practitioner who currently works as a strategy senior manager at Accenture. Prior to joining Accenture, she led inclusion and diversity at Campbell Soup Company and spent seven years in strategy consulting, focusing on talent and human potential. Janel resides in Philadelphia but enjoys...
2023-05-0710 min
CatalyzeMiniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina, Pt. 3: Carolyn Roff Henry ’87 of Tryon Mountain FarmsFor Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina. Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it. The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry ’87 of Tryon Mountain Farms. The alumna moved back to her hometown to take over the family business after a career in the food industry.On this episode, Carolyn shares how she and...
2023-04-2122 min
CatalyzeMiniseries (extra!) on sustainable farming in North Carolina: Sights and sounds of Tryon Mountain Farms, with co-hosts Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26For Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina. Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it. The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry ’87 of Tryon Mountain Farms. The alumna moved back to her hometown to take over the family business after a career in the food industry.In this audio tour, Elias and Stella d...
2023-04-2101 min
CatalyzeMiniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina, Pt. 2: Jen Perkins, owner of Looking Glass Creamery in Columbus CountyFor Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina. Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it. The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry ’87 of Tryon Mountain Farms. In the episode, Elias and Stella chat with Jen Perkins, the owner of Looking Glass Creamery (Columbus County). Jen shares about why visitors are one of the most i...
2023-04-2015 min
CatalyzeMiniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina, Pt. 1: Maranda Williams and Jessica Mullen of Travelers Rest Farmers MarketFor Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina. Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it. The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry ’87 of Tryon Mountain Farms. In this episode, Elias and Stella sit down with Maranda Williams and Jessica Mullen of Travelers Rest Farmers Market, the executive director and director of marketing and...
2023-04-1927 min
CatalyzeTRAILER: Miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina, with Carolyn Roff Henry ’87 of Tryon Mountain FarmsFor Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina. Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it. The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry ’87 of Tryon Mountain Farms. For the first episode, Elias and Stella sat down with Maranda Williams and Jessica Mullen of Travelers Rest Farmers Market. That episode drops Wednesday, April 19, on all podcas...
2023-04-1802 min
CatalyzeJosh Stein, attorney general of North Carolina and gubernatorial candidate, on academic freedom in public universities, college access, and increasing economic equity in the stateJosh Stein, attorney general of North Carolina, spoke with the Scholar Media Team’s Cate Miller ’25 and Content Manager Sarah O’Carroll before his Food for Thought talk this spring.Stein shares about his career path to serving as attorney general, his views on academic freedom and college access, and his plans to run for state governor. Food for Thought is a breakfast and conversation series held on Friday mornings at the Foundation. You can learn more about the initiative and RSVP for upcoming events on the Morehead-Cain Network. Music creditsThe intr...
2023-04-1116 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Naimul Huq ’08: “The Un-blockable Chain”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Naimul Huq ’08, is entitled, “The Un-blockable Chain.” Naimul is the senior vice president of operations at VaynerNFT, a Web3 consultancy.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about NaimulNaimul Huq ’08 is the SVP and head of operations for Vayner3, a Web3 consultancy. Founded by entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk in 2021, Vayner3 guides enterprises, blockchain startups, and nonprofits into the next era of human interaction through NFTs, cryptocurrencies, mixed-reality experiences, and the use of...
2023-04-0708 min
CatalyzeCindy Parlow Cone, president of U.S. Soccer, on the historic agreements that achieved equal pay for women soccer playersCindy Parlow Cone, president of U.S. Soccer, spoke with the Scholar Media Team’s Laurelle Maubert ’25 and Content Manager Sarah O’Carroll before her Food for Thought talk this spring. On this episode, Cone shares about historic equal pay agreements she led as president, her goals for the federation, and advice for female college athletes. Cone is the first female president of U.S. Soccer and the first former player of a senior U.S. National Team to serve in the role. She is also the youngest player to win an Olympic gold medal and a Women’s...
2023-04-0410 min
CatalyzeEdward Ndopu, UN SDG Advocate for Accessibility and Inclusion, on “radical humanity”Humanitarian Edward Ndopu joined Catalyze co-hosts Sarah O’Carroll and Elias Guedira ’26 during his visit to the Morehead-Cain Foundation this spring. Ndopu represents accessibility and inclusion as one of the 17 official UN Advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals.Ndopu shares about his experiences becoming the first disabled Black man to receive a master’s degree from Oxford University, his career in activism for intersectional disability justice, and advice for leaders in higher education to envision “radical inclusion” on college campuses. Ndopu also previews his upcoming memoir, Drinking Dom Perignon Through a Straw, and talks about what it wou...
2023-03-2126 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Emily Vasquez ’06: “The Social Life”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Emily Vasquez ’06, is entitled, “The Social Life.” Emily is a Bridge to the Faculty Fellow in Sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The alumna is also an ethnographer of science, medicine, and public health.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. Emily is also a previous guest on the Catalyze podcast: “How a ‘national genome’ can reinforce social inequality, with Emily Vasquez ’06, ethnographer of science, medicine, and public health.” (November 15, 2022)More abo...
2023-03-0708 min
CatalyzeHow sports entrepreneurship can cultivate social change, with Steven Aldrich ’91, chair of the Oakland Roots Sports Club and former chief product officer of GoDaddySteven Aldrich ’91, a seasoned entrepreneur and executive with a wealth of experience in growing successful companies, joined Catalyze during a visit to UNC–Chapel Hill this spring. Steven shares with scholar co-hosts Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 about his experiences starting GoDaddy’s California offices and taking the company public as chief product officer; selling an online insurance marketplace he co-founded to Intuit; and his current role as chair of the Oakland Roots Sports Club, a community-focused pro soccer team in Oakland, California. The alumnus also serves on the Boards of Blucora, Xero, and Ruby Receptionists.Steven...
2023-02-2134 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Antonio McBroom ’08: “Pardon My Passion”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Antonio McBroom ’08, is entitled, “Pardon My Passion.” Antonio is a franchise developer at Ben & Jerry’s.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about AntonioAntonio McBroom ’08 is the franchise developer of Ben & Jerry’s with multi-unit double-digit retail and business locations throughout the Southeast and Midwest. Antonio grew up in rural North Carolina and began his journey with Ben & Jerry’s while he was a scholar at Carolina, “scooping his way up...
2023-02-0712 min
CatalyzeDavid Price ’61 retires from Congress after more than three decades of service to North Carolina’s fourth districtFormer congressman David Price ’61 joined Catalyze with scholar co-hosts Benny Klein ’24 and Elias Guedira ’26 in December 2022 during the politician’s final month in office. Price, who retired this January, represented North Carolina’s fourth district, including Orange County, Chapel Hill.The alumnus visited the Foundation to share about his lifetime career of public service and his over three decades serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Price also spoke about his involvement as a scholar in the civil rights movement at UNC–Chapel Hill, some of his proudest political accomplishments, and his post-retirement plans. Price release...
2023-01-2428 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Debbie Weston Harden ’79: “Can I Do It All?”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Debbie Weston Harden ’79, is entitled, “Can I Do It All?” You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. Debbie is a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson. The alumna was a member of the first class of women scholars.More about DebbieDebbie Weston Harden ’79 is a member of the first class of female scholars, who were dubbed the “Dirty Dozen.” As a scholar, she was one of the first to participate i...
2023-01-0708 min
CatalyzeThe Catalyze podcast: State of Morehead-Cain, with Foundation President Chris Bradford and scholar host Elias Guedira ’26Morehead-Cain president, Chris Bradford, joined Catalyze with scholar host, Elias Guedira ’26, to share about the state of the Program after his first year and a half in the role. The president talks about the progress the Morehead-Cain community made in 2022 and what opportunities he sees for the Program in 2023 and beyond.You can learn more about the Program by viewing the online 2021–2022 Year in Review. Chris joined the Morehead-Cain Foundation in the summer of 2021 after 17 years with African Leadership Academy (ALA), an educational institution based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Music creditsThe in...
2023-01-0328 min
CatalyzeThe Travel Episode TRAILER: Elias Guedira ’26 describes climbing Erg Chebbi in MoroccoTo hear more from Elias about the Morehead-Cain International Gap Year, catch his Catalyze podcast to be released on Tuesday, November 13, 2022, on all podcast apps. A night under the stars in the Himalayas. A lion hunt from a safari van in Africa. A sand dune climb in Morocco. Aayas Joshi ’26, Olu Kopano ’26, and scholar host Elias Guedira ’26 will share about their global experiences on the Morehead-Cain International Gap Year. At the end of the episode, we’ll also hear from current gap year scholars Abbey Beebe ’27 about swimming in bioluminescent waters in the Caribbean Sea and Chandler Beals ’27 f...
2022-12-1202 min
CatalyzeThe Travel Episode TRAILER: Aayas Joshi ’26 describes a night under the stars from the base of Mount EverestTo hear more from Aayas about the Morehead-Cain International Gap Year, catch his Catalyze podcast to be released on Tuesday, November 13, 2022, on all podcast apps.A night under the stars in the Himalayas. A lion hunt from a safari van in Africa. A sand dune climb in Morocco. Aayas Joshi ’26, Olu Kopano ’26, and scholar host Elias Guedira ’26 will share about their global experiences on the Morehead-Cain International Gap Year. At the end of the episode, we’ll also hear from current gap year scholars Abbey Beebe ’27 about swimming in bioluminescent waters in the Caribbean Sea and Chandler Beals ’27...
2022-12-1201 min
CatalyzeThe Travel Episode TRAILER: Olu Kopano ’26 describes a lion hunt during an African safariTo hear more from Olu about the Morehead-Cain International Gap Year, catch his Catalyze podcast to be released on Tuesday, November 13, 2022, on all podcast apps.A night under the stars in the Himalayas. A lion hunt from a safari van in Africa. A sand dune climb in Morocco. Aayas Joshi ’26, Olu Kopano ’26, and scholar host Elias Guedira ’26 will share about their global experiences on the Morehead-Cain International Gap Year. At the end of the episode, we’ll also hear from current gap year scholars Abbey Beebe ’27 about swimming in bioluminescent waters in the Caribbean Sea and Chandler Beals ’27...
2022-12-1201 min
CatalyzeSEVEN Talk, by Harvey Kennedy ’74: “Carolina Memories and Inspiration”Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Harvey Kennedy ’74, is entitled, “Carolina Memories and Inspiration.”Harvey is a partner at Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy & Kennedy LLP. The alumnus was the second Black Morehead-Cain Scholar.You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel. More about HarveyHarvey Kennedy ’74 has spent the last 45 years practicing law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in the law firm of Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy & Kennedy, LLP. He represents individuals against major corporations and the government in employme...
2022-12-0711 min
CatalyzeHow a ‘national genome’ can reinforce social inequality, with Emily Vasquez ’06, ethnographer of science, medicine, and public healthEmily Vasquez ’06 joined Catalyze on the Saturday afternoon of the 2022 Morehead-Cain Alumni Forum in Chapel Hill this past October. Earlier that morning, she delivered a SEVEN Talk entitled, “The Social Life,” to over 500 Forum attendees. During this episode, recorded on campus in the Pit, Emily shares with scholar host Elias Guedira ’25 about her ethnography research in Mexico and its parallels to the U.S. healthcare system. Her work investigates how the development of a national human genome has exacerbated social inequalities.Emily is a Bridge to the Faculty Postdoctoral Fellow in the department of sociology at the Un...
2022-11-1530 min
CatalyzeWhat public universities can do to improve accessibility on their campuses, with UNC Campus Y co-president Laura Saavedra Forero ’25 and activist Eleanor Bolton ’25Laura Saavedra Forero ’25 and Eleanor Bolton ’25 joined Catalyze with scholar co-host Elias Guedira ’26 from the Scholar Media Team to talk about their call to activism for disability rights on the campus of UNC–Chapel Hill. The two also share about how Morehead-Cain Alumni can support disabled college students at Carolina through their advocacy, expertise, and other resources. Laura and Megan Murphy (UNC–Chapel Hill ’23) were elected co-presidents of the UNC Campus Y for the 2022–2023 academic year this past spring. Eleanor serves as the co-chair of the Disabilities Advocacy Committee for the social justice hub.Music credits...
2022-10-1842 min
CatalyzeThe Catalyze podcast: Oscars announcer and Forum emcee Janora McDuffie ’99 on reframing successThe year of 2022 has been a remarkable one for Janora McDuffie-Ryan ’99, an actress, voiceover artist, and host. The alumna catches up with Catalyze about the past eight months, which have included movie deals, hosting Kia’s launch event in Phoenix for their first-ever electric vehicle, attending Pride Celebrations at the White House and Vice President Harris’s residence, announcing the Institute for Responsible Citizenship’s 20th anniversary celebration at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., and, of course, serving as the first African American and openly gay female announcer for the 94th Academy...
2022-09-2747 min
CatalyzeFederal judge nominee Jerry Blackwell ’84 on the story behind the Chauvin trial as special prosecutorTrial lawyer Jerry Blackwell ’84 sat down with Catalyze hosts Sarah O’Carroll and Benny Klein ’24 to share his story of joining the prosecution team, some of the strategies behind the case, and what it was like to deliver the closing remarks of the trial.Jerry has been nominated by President Biden to become a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The alumnus is the founding partner, CEO, and chairman of Blackwell Burke P.A. Listen to the episode.“You were told . . . that Mr. Floyd died because his heart...
2022-07-2632 min
CatalyzeBrad Rathgeber ’01, CEO of One Schoolhouse, on a relationships-first approach to online learning, with scholar host Benny Klein ’24Brad Rathgeber ’01 is the head of school and CEO of One Schoolhouse, a “partner to independent schools that envisions and embodies what’s next in education, online learning, and professional development.” The alumnus talks with host Benny Klein ’24 of the Scholar Media Team about working with three other Morehead-Cains as a rising second-year college student for a nonprofit scholarship program in Zimbabwe (co-founded by Galahad Clark ’99 and Jeff Pike ’99), teaching and coaching at Holton-Arms School in Washington, D.C., and how his time at the school for girls formed the groundwork for building his own company. Brad talks...
2022-07-1227 min
CatalyzePodcast producer Nick Andersen ’12 on navigating his career in media and what it’s like to work for PBS MASTERPIECENick Andersen ’12 is a podcast producer for GBH Boston, the primary PBS member station in Boston. Nick shares with host Benny Klein ’24 of the Scholar Media Team about his work on the PBS MASTERPIECE series. Before joining GBH, the producer worked for WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station, and NPR’s On Point show.The alumnus is also the senior producer for Ministry of Ideas, a “small show about big ideas.” The Harvard Divinity School series is dedicated to investigating and illuminating the ideas that shape our society.As a Morehead-Cain Scholar, Nick wrote for the...
2022-06-2832 min
CatalyzeJamie DeMent Holcomb ’01 on how saying ‘yes’ led her to success as a museum CEO, venture capitalist, writer, chef, and farmer, with scholar host Benny Klein ’24Jamie DeMent Holcomb ’01 stopped by the Foundation in March 2022 to speak with host Benny Klein ’24 of the Scholar Media Team during her campaign for North Carolina Senate (District 23). Jamie shares about growing up in Franklin County, North Carolina; watching the Duke vs. UNC game during her final selection weekend; spotting Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino on the Universal Studios set, and her love of science museums. Jamie is CEO of the Kidzu Children’s Museum in Chapel Hill, where she seeks to increase access to science for youth in fun and engaging ways. The alumna is also...
2022-06-1442 min
CatalyzeA quick message from the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team, with Tucker Stillman ’25Tucker Stillman ’25 from the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team shares about the latest stories from the team. First up, a series on self-starters by Sarah Chocron ’25 and Ria Patel ’25 features Morehead-Cains who took the initiative to fill gaps within their communities. The first edition highlights Isabella Grandic ’25 and her startup Boob Blurb, a card-game-turned-social-movement inspired by women’s liberation, women’s health and wellness, and women’s rights. Up next is Mercy Adekola ’25 of Nails Have Mercy, an affordable Gel-X nail business that caters to the budgets and tastes of college students at Carolina.The series wraps w...
2022-06-1401 min
CatalyzePortfolio manager Ying Hua ’10 on the two approaches to investing and what college students should know about getting startedYing Hua ’10 is a portfolio manager at Balyasny Asset Management, a hedge fund with $15 billion of assets under management. On this episode, Ying breaks down the two approaches to investing (fundamental and quantitative) and gives personal finance advice for college students. She also shares how to embrace volatility and risk in your career. Prior to joining Balyasny in 2020, Ying was an analyst at Citadel for four years and an equity research associate at Goldman Sachs before that. She studied economics at Carolina and later received a master’s degree in data science from the University of California at Be...
2022-03-0423 min
CatalyzeMeet Dr. Brandi Brimmer, Morehead-Cain Alumni Associate Professor in the Department of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies at UNC–Chapel HillCatalyze is honored to have Dr. Brandi Brimmer on the series to talk about her first year so far at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her background in African American social and political history, and her current and upcoming research projects.Dr. Brimmer, an associate professor in the Department of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies (AAAD), is one of three Morehead-Cain Alumni Professors teaching at UNC–Chapel Hill. She joined the Morehead-Cain and Carolina communities in summer 2021 from Spelman College in Atlanta, where she was an associate professor of history and a Mellon-HBCU Fe...
2022-02-0818 min
CatalyzeMLK Day Special: Wendell McCain ’92, son of Greensboro Four civil rights activist Franklin McCain, with scholar host Benny Klein ’24For MLK Day, scholar host Benny Klein ’24 interviews Wendell McCain ’92, the son of activist Franklin McCain of the Greensboro Four. Wendell shares about what it was like to grow up around one of the leaders of the civil rights movement and the lessons he learned from his father about pursuing justice. He also talks about his journey through the financial world and how he’s found ways to support and uplift those around him. Wendell is the chair and CEO of Onset Capital Partners, a global asset management firm based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The alumnus receive...
2022-01-1743 min
CatalyzeWhat women want at work and what companies can do to reduce the gender gap in the post-pandemic workforce, with Ursula Dimmling Mead ’02 and Anna Pickens ’23 of InHerSightSince the beginning of the pandemic, millions of women have dropped out of the workforce, and many have yet to rejoin. Ursula Dimmling Mead ’02 has been studying what women want at work for the bulk of her career. She built a tool to help women make data-informed decisions about where to apply (and where to avoid applying).Ursula is the founder and CEO of InHerSight, the largest company-reviews platform for women. The alumna joined Catalyze to share how the pandemic has changed the ways in which women seek and conduct work, how companies can become mor...
2021-11-1631 min
CatalyzeHow Chattanooga is building a model for smart cities, with Geoff Milliner of the Chattanooga Enterprise Center, and Morehead-Cain’s Montez ThomasCatalyze is joined by Geoff Milliner, the COO of the Chattanooga Enterprise Center and a 2021 Civic Collaboration host for Morehead-Cain, and Montez Thomas, assistant director of scholar advising at Morehead-Cain. This episode is the second in a two-part series on the Civic Collaboration program. The Enterprise Center tasked their team of Morehead-Cain Scholars to explore the impact of “smart city” investments and technologies on quality of life, as well as its intersection with social determinants of health. The center is a nonprofit devoted to establishing Chattanooga as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. More than a doze...
2021-10-2621 min
CatalyzeLiz Kistin Keller ’04 of Albuquerque’s Office of the Mayor on increasing access to digital services in local governmentCatalyze is joined by Liz Kistin Keller ’04 of the City of Albuquerque’s Office of the Mayor and a 2021 Civic Collaboration host for Morehead-Cain. This episode is the first in a two-part series on the Civic Collaboration program. The Office of the Mayor tasked their team of Morehead-Cain Scholars to explore the online user experiences of the 50+ population in order to improve their access to internet-based services provided by local government. More than a dozen teams of scholars participated across the country in this year’s Civic Collaboration program. Rising second-year scholars investigated their designated communit...
2021-10-2614 min
CatalyzeWe’re back! Fall events lineup for Morehead-CainCatalyze is back for the fall season, and we have a lot to share about. RSVP for this semester’s events: Find your class-year decade event with Morehead-Cain President Chris Bradford.Learn more about the (Mini) Forum’s events, beginning the week of November 15th and leading up to our Day of Giving.Music creditsThe music for this episode is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ’22, guitarist of the band South of the Soul.How to listenOn your mobile device, you can listen and subscribe to Catalyze on Apple Podcasts...
2021-09-2801 min
CatalyzeManaging an international business in Myanmar through a military coup and the COVID-19 pandemic, with J. R. Ching ’01 of Yoma Strategic HoldingsWe’re launching our fall season with J. R. Ching ’01, the chief financial officer for Yoma Strategic Holdings. We asked J. R. to join the show to help us understand the military coup in Myanmar and to hear how his company has managed the ongoing crisis as the Delta variant continues to surge throughout the country. CreditsThe music for this episode was produced and contributed by Nicholas Byrne ’19 of Arts + Crafts.Nicholas is a producer, guitarist, and singer, and a graduate student at the Parsons School of Design in NYC. The alumnus earned...
2021-09-2820 min
CatalyzeAds, algorithms, and reversing capitalism in art, with producer and musician Nicholas Byrne ’19Catalyze invited Nicholas Byrne ’19 of Arts + Crafts back to the series to talk about his latest music projects, and because we thought you might want to learn more about the artist behind the music that’s featured on the show. We first brought Nicholas to Catalyze in October 2020 as the producer, guitarist, and singer was road-tripping across the country with Eric Lee ’18 and Sam Lowe ’20. Nicholas spoke with us from Smithonia, an unincorporated community about 20 minutes outside Athens, Georgia. He shared about his collaborations with Sam (whose music project is called Sacra Monet) and singer-songwriter and guitar...
2021-04-1528 min
CatalyzeGap Year Dispatch: Emile Charles ’24 (and ft. Taylor Shinal ’25, Mark Finamore ’25, Asher Wexler ’25, and Noah Gottlieb ’25)For this special segment of Catalyze, Emile Charles ’24 shares the most impactful aspects of his international gap year, pandemic disruptions included. The scholar interned at a children’s hospital in Cape Town, South Africa; visited his father’s Caribbean home in St. George’s, Grenada; worked on a global public health collaboration between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Malawi Ministry of Health; and organized Black Lives Matter protests in Chapel Hill. Gap year scholars Taylor Shinal ’25, Mark Finamore ’25, Asher Wexler ’25, and Noah Gottlieb ’25 also sent in audio diaries from their current corners of the world. You...
2021-03-3010 min
CatalyzeChris Bradford, incoming president of Morehead-Cain, on building transformational educational opportunities in Africa; reimagining ‘lifelong impact’ at Morehead-CainThe road that brought Chris Bradford to Chapel Hill began in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and included stops in New Haven, Connecticut; Palo Alto, California; Oundle, England; and Johannesburg, South Africa. Chris spoke with Morehead-Cain from his home in Johannesburg to share his story of founding African Leadership Academy (ALA), his personal mission (which he says is to “build platforms that enable individuals to reimagine what’s possible for themselves and their societies”), and his vision for Morehead-Cain as the incoming president.Chris, CEO and co-founder of ALA, will succeed Executive Director Chuck Lovelace ’77, who leaves this summer af...
2021-03-1630 min
CatalyzeAmber Koonce ’12, civil rights attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, on juvenile justice advocacy; redefining beauty standards for women of colorAmber Koonce ’12 is a civil rights attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Amber shares how her Morehead-Cain summers working at a women’s correctional center in Ghana and at a young boys’ correctional center in Scotland helped inform her vocation to defend human rights and civil rights in representing incarcerated people, particularly people who’ve been incarcerated as children. Following the alumna’s graduation from Carolina and before entering Yale Law School, Amber worked as a juvenile justice policy analyst at the Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation in the Philippines on a Luce scholarship...
2021-03-0225 min
CatalyzeKaren Stevenson ’79 on her nontraditional path to federal court judge: “No one else can tell you what your path should be”When reporters and public relations professionals come calling, Karen Stevenson ’79 knows what to expect: They are going to ask her about being “the first.”As a high school senior, Karen became the first African American woman to receive the Morehead-Cain Scholarship as part of the inaugural group of female Morehead-Cain Scholars. In 1979, the alumna made national headlines as the first woman from the University and the first African American woman from the United States to receive the Rhodes Scholarship.On this episode, Karen shares her thoughts about the renown she's received for being "the first" of so...
2021-02-1618 min
CatalyzeAndrew Patterson ’06 of Greenfly, Inc., on growing online communities through brand ambassadors in sports, politics, and businessAndrew Patterson ’06 is the vice president of partnerships and strategy at Greenfly, Inc., a software platform that helps organizations build their communities through brand advocacy. Andrew shares about Greenfly’s role in connecting major sports leagues to fans through more authentic and personalized game coverage; successful strategies that the Biden campaign and 2020 Democratic National Convention Committee implemented through the technology; and what any organization can do to empower their communities to be co-creators and ambassadors. Before joining Greenfly, Andrew was the senior director of new media at MLB. If you’re interested in learning more about An...
2021-02-0220 min
Outspoken with Shana CosgroveHello, World! : Dana Ledyard, Regional Managing Director at Catalyte.Send us a textIn this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Dana Ledyard, Regional Managing Director at Catalyte. Dana talks about her time as the managing director of the nonprofit, Girls Who Code, and the work she now does with Catalyte. She also discusses what she’s seen in regards to equity and diversity in the tech industry. Listen to how Catalyte recruits and trains their talent.QUOTES“Honestly, I think 90% of adulting is showing up and follow through.” -Dana Ledyard [22:35]“I think that if I’m going to spend 40-50-60 more hours a we...
2021-02-021h 10
CatalyzeAlan Murray ’77 of Fortune on political polarization, growing revenue streams in media, & the future of workAlan Murray ’77 is CEO of Fortune Media. Prior to joining the media organization in 2015, Alan served as president of the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C. For nearly two decades, he held a number of roles at The Wall Street Journal, including deputy managing editor, executive editor online, and the Washington bureau chief. Alan also served as the Washington bureau chief at CNBC and as a cohost of the nightly show Capital Report.Alan will headline Morehead-Cain’s spring Virtual Alumni Speaker Series on Wednesday, January 27, at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). The alumnus will talk...
2021-01-1923 min
CatalyzeUNC-Chapel Hill’s 51st Rhodes Scholar: Sarah Mackenzie ’20 on the connections between poverty and participation in the criminal justice systemSarah Mackenzie ’20 of Calgary, Alberta, has received the Rhodes Scholarship to pursue a fully funded postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford beginning this fall. The recent graduate is one of 11 Canadians selected to join the 2021 cohort, and she is the 51st Rhodes Scholar from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, according to the University’s announcement of the award on November 23.Sarah is the 32nd Morehead-Cain to receive the scholarship and one of just two Carolina students to receive it this year. The second awardee, Peter Andringa, graduated in 2020 with degrees in journalism and comp...
2021-01-0514 min
CatalyzeMorehead-Cain Mentoring Pair: Tom Thriveni ’10, comedy writer for The Late Late Show with James Corden on CBS, and guest co-host Lauren Gornto ’21Our first guest for this episode is Tom Thriveni ’10, a comedy writer on The Late Late Show with James Corden on CBS. As a Morehead-Cain Scholar, he interned with Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, an opportunity offered by Jon Benson ’06 (Jon produced field segments on the show at the time). Following his graduation from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Tom began pursuing a career in investment banking. As he shared in a Virtual SEVEN Speaker Series event this past spring, it took a traumatic brain surgery to help him realize that he...
2020-11-1024 min
CatalyzeMorehead-Cain election roundup: Ricky Hurtado ’11 elected to NC House of Representatives as only Latino to serve in state legislature, other victories across the stateWe’re sharing a brief roundup from the 2020 General Election on November 3. We had a number of Morehead-Cain Alumni running for office; here’s how their races turned out. Ricky Hurtado ’11 was elected to North Carolina’s House of Representatives. The alumnus will represent District 63 in Raleigh. The Representative-elect will be the only Latino to serve in the current state legislature, according to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. Ricky is the co-executive director and co-founder of LatinxEd, an educational initiative that provides multi-year support to Latinx students and immigrant families seeking access to higher education in North Carolina. The alumn...
2020-11-0503 min
CatalyzeMindfulness miniseries Pt. 1: Walking meditation (10 mins), with Reiki practitioner Jenny Cimaglia ’07We're sharing two episodes as a special miniseries on mindfulness to help you relieve some stress. The first is a 10-minute walking meditation that you can do indoors or outside (wherever you have at least 10 to 15 feet of space). This session is guided by wellness professional Jenny Cimaglia ’07. The following episode is a five-minute breathing exercise guided by the alumna.About Jenny Jenny Cimaglia ’07 is a yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner based in Westport, Connecticut. Following her graduation from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the alumna worked in cultural heritage preser...
2020-10-2709 min
CatalyzeMindfulness miniseries Pt. 2: Breathing exercise (5 mins), with Reiki practitioner Jenny Cimaglia ’07For the second episode in our miniseries on mindfulness, wellness professional Jenny Cimaglia ’07 guides a five-minute breathing exercise. All you need is a quiet space. The previous episode is a 10-minute walking meditation guided by Jenny.About Jenny Jenny Cimaglia ’07 is a yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner based in Westport, Connecticut. Following her graduation from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the alumna worked in cultural heritage preservation at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, as a Fulbright Scholar and later in culture-tourism strategy in Hanoi, Vietnam, as a Luce Scholar. Her e...
2020-10-2706 min
CatalyzeSanya Shah ’22 on the life and legacy of composer Florence PriceA performance by Sanya Shah ’22 will release this Friday, October 2, 2020, at 1 p.m. EDT through an online event hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Department of Music and Arts Everywhere.Sanya (soprano) and UNC junior Lauren Ragsdale (mezzo-soprano) will perform the works of composers Florence Price and Betty Jackson King. Price became, in 1933, the first African American female composer whose work was played by a major orchestra. King was an African American pianist, singer, educator, conductor, and composer. This “Virtual First Fridays” series, founded by the department in collaboration with Arts Ever...
2020-09-2907 min
CatalyzeLearn to Win and the rise of e-coaching, with Andrew Powell ’15 and Sasha Seymore ’15Andrew Powell ’15 and Sasha Seymore ’15 (as well as UNC alumnus and former football player Tommy Hatton) are the co-founders of Learn to Win, a mobile learning platform that uses a content creation engine and data analytics suite to build and deliver training materials for instructors, coaches, and teachers of all kinds. The two alumni worked on building the startup as undergrads at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later as master’s students on the West Coast.Learn to Win has collaborated with athletic departments at Carolina, as well as at the University of Michig...
2020-09-1518 min
CatalyzeCivic Engagement Pt. 1: Voting this November, with political scientist John Sides ’96To launch our fall season, we spoke with John Sides ’96, a professor and William R. Kenan, Jr. Chair in the Department of Political Science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. His research focuses on comparative and American politics. The alumnus is co-author of the book, “Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America.” John is also co-founder, former editor-in-chief, and publisher of The Monkey Cage via The Washington Post.Learn more about John’s work.This episode is the first of our two-part series on civic engagement. The following episode features activist...
2020-09-0124 min
CatalyzeCivic Engagement Pt. 2: Community organizing and activism, with Greear Webb ’23For our second episode of our two-part series on civic engagement, we spoke with Greear Webb ’23 of Raleigh, co-founder of Young Americans Protest (YAP!) and the NC Town Hall. At Carolina, the scholar serves on the Commission on Campus Equality and Student Equity and as co-chair of the political action committee for the Black Student Movement (BSM) at UNC-Chapel Hill. This summer, Greear was selected by Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education to participate in the Making Caring Common program as a Voter Mobilization Ambassador. If you haven’t already, you’ll want to catch our previous...
2020-09-0114 min
CatalyzeWhen the coronavirus takes over your beat: Laurel Wamsley ’06, reporter for NPR, on covering the pandemicBefore March of this year, Laurel Wamsley ’06 covered stories for NPR focusing on cities, technology, policy, and criminal justice. Now, the Washington, D.C.-based alumna covers the coronavirus which, of course, has impacted all aspects of society.In between filing stories, Laurel spoke with Morehead-Cain from her home in the Columbia Heights neighborhood to share what the past two months have been like, how NPR has changed its approach to reaching Americans, and her thoughts on the impact the pandemic will have on public trust in local media and national news organizations. Morehead-Cain has als...
2020-05-1220 min
Hearts Of Gold - Reflections from Gold Award Girl Scouts33: Makayla Key - Maks Bare Necessities Girl Scout Gold Award ProjectFind our blog and more resources at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Makayla shares her experiences creating an underwear and sock drive for 8 schools in her area. More from Makayla: I have been a Girl Scout since 4th grade. I am now a Senior in high school and I just completed my Gold Award. I am from North Carolina and have lived here my whole life. Next year, I will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar and Jack Kent Cooke College Scholar. In school, I have been involved in Student Government, PTSA, the...
2020-05-0714 min
CatalyzeOnline events, kudos, other news from Morehead-Cain. Also: an update from Corrie White Conrad ’02 of SephoraThese are strange times to be living in, but it’s also a very busy time for Morehead-Cain, so we wanted to get everyone up to speed.Last Thursday, we announced the Morehead-Cain Class of 2024. We want to wish a warm welcome to the 70 new scholars who are joining the Carolina community.This week, we’re launching our Virtual Morehead-Cain SEVEN Speaker Series, starting with Shilpi Somaya Gowda ’92. The bestselling author will offer advice and encouragement about getting started as a writer. Her talk begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 29.Next Wednes...
2020-04-2813 min
CatalyzeBruce Gellin ’77 on the race for a coronavirus vaccine and the defense against COVID-19’s returnMorehead-Cain called Bruce Gellin ’77, president of global immunization at the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington, D.C., to get a better understanding of what would need to take place before a coronavirus vaccine could protect against the next global outbreak.We also asked scholars to share their coping strategies amidst the pandemic (thanks to Nina, Drew, Lauren, Cameron, Lizzie, Michael, Cho, Grayson, and Luke for sharing their creative ideas). You’ll hear their responses at the end of the episode. The music for this episode is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ’22, guitarist of the band South of the Soul.
2020-04-1417 min
CatalyzeNiki Shamdasani ’15 on launching Sani, bringing South Asian-inspired formalwear to Rent the RunwayThe Catalyze podcast returns with Season Four, headlining with Niki Shamdasani ’15, the co-founder and CEO of Sani Designs.People told Niki and her sister, Ritika, that they were “delusional” for aspiring to break into the fashion world with South Asian formalwear. But in the past two years, the sisters have proved the naysayers wrong in big ways.Sani recently launched a partnership with Rent the Runway, a fashion subscription service for luxury items, to increase access to Indian occasion wear for women across the globe. In between business trips, Niki stopped by the Foundation in Chapel...
2020-03-3120 min