education
Hosted by Penn State Alumni Association · education · EN-US · 157 episodes
Welcome to the People of Penn State Podcast — the podcast from the Penn State Alumni Association that brings you the incredible stories of Nittany Lions making their mark on the world! Each episode, a rotating cast of hosts sit down with Penn State alumni who are changing the game in business, science, sports, the arts, and beyond. You never know who you'll hear from next — but you do know it'll be a conversation worth tuning in for!
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Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
35%
Guest openness
Selective
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Signup to Generate a PitchWelcome to the People of Penn State Podcast, the podcast from the Penn State Alumni Association that brings you the incredible stories of Nittany Lions making their mark on the world! Each episode, a rotating cast of hosts sit down with Penn State alumni who are changing the game in business, science, sports, the arts, and beyond.
The People of Penn State is hosted by Penn State Alumni Association. The show has published 157 episodes to date.
Recent episodes include "Episode 118, Educational Equity and the Black Alumni Reunion with Forrest Coley" (15 October 2026, 36 minutes), "Episode 117, Behind the Scenes at ESPN with Amanda Gifford Lockwood" (1 October 2026, 28 minutes), and "Episode 116, The Family Plan with Jared Freid" (17 September 2026, 50 minutes).
The People of Penn State publishes roughly every two weeks, with episodes averaging 29 minutes across 157 episodes.
Booking probability for The People of Penn State is 35%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. The People of Penn State requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. The People of Penn State's contact route on record: verified email.
The strongest fits for The People of Penn State are Universities & Colleges. The People of Penn State has an education audience.
Penn State Alumni Association hosts The People of Penn State, an education show with 157 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Episode #118
In this special episode of The People of Penn State , we talk with Forrest Coley '85 HHD, '90g Bus , a member of the Educational Equity Advisory Board, about the University’s Office of Educational Equity and his...
Episode #117
In this episode, we chat with Amanda Gifford Lockwood ’04 Com, Edu , a senior vice president of production at ESPN, where she helps lead coverage of some of the network’s biggest sporting events. Amanda reflects on her...
Episode #116
This week, we chat with Jared Freid ’07 Bus , a stand-up comedian, podcaster, and author known for his sharp, relatable take on dating, relationships, and everyday life. But comedy wasn’t always the plan. After...
Episode #115
Jim Minarik ’75 Bus, ’77 MBA is an author, investor, board member, and CEO coach who began his entrepreneurial journey as a Penn State student. After a 25-year career as a CEO, Jim went on to create Sound United, a...
Episode #114
In this episode, we chat with Mattie Leon ’09 A&A , a soulful folk singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Ontario, whose journey from student-athlete to musician has taken him far from the golf course and back to Penn State...
Episode #113
In this episode, we sit down with Eric Yeamans, '10 A&A , to explore the intersection of design, technology, and digital strategy. As the leader of digital initiatives at Actual Size, Eric shares how he leverages...
Episode #112
In this episode, we sit down with Eric Wagner '96 Lib and Eric Vishnevetsky '15 Bus to explore their career journeys in wealth management, leadership, and the power of building meaningful relationships. Eric Wagner, a...
Episode #111
In this episode, Jackie Layer '13 EMS shares how childhood weather events sparked a passion that led her to a career in broadcast meteorology. Now the Chief Meteorologist at DC News Now, Jackie reflects on her Penn...
Episode #110
On this episode of The People of Penn State podcast, we chat with Dan Barefoot '13 A&A, a professional landscape architect and Team USA skeleton athlete who represented the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in...
Episode #109
On this episode of the People of Penn State podcast, we sit down with Jennifer Colvin ’97 Behrend, chief innovation officer at Learning Undefeated and self-described “crazy ideas captain.” Jen reflects on her time at...
Episode #108
On this episode of the People of Penn State podcast, we chat with Janelle Burrell '05 Lib, Emmy Award-winning journalist and morning anchor at CBS News Philadelphia. Janelle shares the story of how she almost didn’t...
Episode #107
On this episode of the People of Penn State podcast, we sit down with Brian Kappel ’98 A&A, whose creative career has taken him from Penn State to major brands like Nike, Jordan, Under Armour, ESPN, PlayStation, and...
Episode #106
In this episode, we talk with Cade Miller ’24 Com, Associate Director of Admissions at Shepherd University. Cade reflects on how his Penn State experience and involvement across campus shaped his path, how those...
Episode #105
In this episode, we talk with Katie Collins ’00 HHD, co-founder of both ECM Therapeutics, a regenerative medicine company, and Abigail Collins, a collegiate apparel brand. Katie reflects on how her Penn State experience...
Episode #104
In this episode, we talk with Emmy-nominated meteorologist Cheryl Nelson, ’02 EMS, about her journey from Penn State to national broadcast news and beyond. Cheryl shares why she almost didn’t choose Penn State (but is...
Episode #103
On this episode, we’re joined by Kennedy White ’23 Com , who has always known she wanted to use her voice to make a difference. Now a gift officer at Penn State, Kennedy combines her passion for communication with...
Episode #102
On this episode of The People of Penn State podcast, we’re joined by Kassie Hilgert ’97 Com , President and CEO of ArtsQuest, one of Pennsylvania’s largest nonprofit arts organizations. Kassie shares her unique journey...
Episode #101
Welcome to season 6 of The People of Penn State podcast! On this episode, we chat with Mohan Sivaloganathan, who earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2005 and an MBA in 2007. Known as the “Batman of social impact,”...
Episode #100
It’s our 100th episode! For five seasons, Penn Staters have shared their stories, inspiring past, present, and future generations. We’ve heard from alumni making an impact across every industry, and as our network...
Episode #13
As communications chair of our Vermont Chapter, Tara Bandy ’03 keeps her lifelong Penn State connection strong as one of our volunteer leaders. She discusses the chapter's inspiring community work in response to...
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