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Itamar Har-Even Turned A Late Start Into A Remarkable Run
Itamar Har-Even admits he was a late bloomer, but boy has he had a remarkable run. Like so many of us, he’s had a winding path, post-Amherst College. It ran through Hollywood, then film school, the first internet boom, Wall Street, and a company he built and sold to Alibaba… Listen ⇢
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Leo Bernstein Transformed A Layoff Into A Big Bet On Himself
Leo Bernstein arrived at Amherst with a fear of failure that shaped his academic choices and early career. A layoff at the age of 40, however, forced him to reset. He made a big bet on himself, starting a commercial real estate business that invested in properties the market had… Listen ⇢
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Greg Grunberg Shows How Life Expands When You Trust Your Own Path
Greg Grunberg’s story is a study in self‑determination. From Amherst College onward, he’s developed what I call a quiet rebel streak that I admire. He possesses an instinct to question rules and identify paths that might not be apparent to most of us. Greg talks about discovering academic and personal… Listen ⇢
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Suzette Duncan Rebuilds Her Life With Creativity And Purpose
Suzette Duncan is a study in resilience and purpose. She graduated from Amherst College and entered a PhD program. But 9/11 happened, and the things she wanted to talk about among her peers and instructors weren’t welcome, so she left the program to teach. She was really good at teaching,… Listen ⇢
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Geoff Swift Shows Why Intimate, Place‑Based Education Still Matters
Geoff Swift — California‑born, New England‑made, and now the vice president for finance and administration, as well as treasurer at Bates College — reflects on a life shaped by small institutions and the enduring value of the liberal arts. He traces his path from Amherst as an econ major to… Listen ⇢
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Jeremy Kugel Uses Humor To Create Connections We’ll Never Forget
Jeremy Kugel has spent his life turning so many ordinary moments into shared comedy and joy. In doing so, he’s built communities where people feel safe enough to laugh, open up, and create lasting connections. From the Chicken Nugget Hour of Power in Valentine, to Tuesday Night Toothbrush Fest in… Listen ⇢
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JoJo Thirasilpa Pushes His Learning To The Edges Of Land, Sea, And Sky
Like many people who pursue a liberal arts education, Jojo Thirasilpa has been drawn to learning and acquiring new knowledge and skills his entire life. Where and how he acquires knowledge and skill is rather unique, however. When not working in finance from his home in the United Kingdom, Jojo… Listen ⇢
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The Pod Has A New Name: After Amherst
I’ve been interviewing exclusively people with an Amherst connection for several years now. It’s time the podcast’s name reflects that. Listen ⇢
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James Glazer Discovered What Matters After Losing What Mattered Most
When I first decided to focus this podcast on fellow Amherst College graduates, my guest for this episode was the first person I thought of. That’s because more than anybody else I know, James Glazer has lived intentionally, choosing his life rather than letting anyone else choose it for him.… Listen ⇢
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