The Supporting Cast

<p>Maz Jobrani is an Iranian-American actor and comedian, whose work spans from roles in major movies to global comedy tours to NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me.” In this episode, Maz speaks to how comedy changes during...

<p >Bela Bajaria is Chief Content Officer at Netflix, where she oversees a $20 billion budget for content accessible in 190 countries worldwide. In this episode, Bela speaks about how Netflix operates globally—including...

<p>On May 12, 2026, the world lost Jason Collins ’97. In the wake of his passing, we re-share a conversation with Jason from episode 9 of this series, which was recorded on February 28, 2020.</p>

<p>Mariko Silver ’95 is the President and CEO of Lincoln Center, the largest performing arts campus in the United States, featuring eleven resident arts organizations ranging from the Metropolitan Opera to Julliard to...

<p>Curtis Stone is a renowned chef and author whose charisma and culinary skill has made him a mainstay on United States and Australian television for more than two decades. Here in LA, Curtis’s restaurants Maude and...

<p>Dan Alig is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Harvard-Westlake, having arrived in 2024 after serving as CIO for more than a decade at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, Dan...

<p>In the fall of 2026, Harvard-Westlake will open River Park (www.hwriverpark.com), a new campus dedicated to athletics, wellness, community partnership, and environmental sustainability. What you may not know...

<p>Bear Ride ’71 is the only sister of astronaut and American hero, Sally Ride ’68, who in 1983 became the first American woman in space. In this episode, Bear tells Sally’s story—but also her own, which includes...

<p>Adrián González had a 15-year career as a Major League Baseball player, punctuated by two five-year stints with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers—including numerous Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers, and...

<p>For the last ten years (up until this past February), Deborah Rutter ’74 was President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the national cultural center of the United States. In this episode...

<p>In June of 2025, Dr. Jon Carroll will depart Harvard-Westlake after thirteen years—the first three leading HW Aquatics and the last ten as a middle school dean. Jon is not departing to join another school community...

<p>Liz Neubauer Freinberg ’98 is Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for the LA 2028 Olympics. In this episode, Liz discusses LA28’s proposed athletic venues, transportation challenges, and “Olympic Village” site—as...

<p>Ben Sherwood ’81 is the publisher, CEO, and co-owner of the digital news platform The Daily Beast, a position Ben assumed in 2024 after a long and illustrious career as a media executive. For example, Ben has served...

<p>Nicole Brown ’98 is the president of TriStar Pictures, the famed Sony Pictures division responsible for producing many of the most influential films in movie history. In this episode, Nicole tells her story—from...

<p>In the season 6 opener, The Supporting Cast welcomes back its very first guest, Rick Commons, the Charles B. Thornton President of Harvard-Westlake. In this episode, Rick speaks to the many challenges and...