Meet Dr. Eric Kusseluk ’97, a board-certified dermatologist, former Cornell soccer player, and a true example of persistence.

"Dr. K" (to us) shares the remarkable story of how sheer tenacity got him into Cornell off the waitlist, onto the soccer field as a walk-on, and eventually helped transform the program into an Ivy League championship team. That same determination followed him through Wall Street, medical school (another waitlist work of magic), and into building a successful dermatology practice in Manhattan.

We also get Dr. K’s no-nonsense take on current skincare trends, answering the questions everyone is asking in our game “Dr. K Yay or Dr. K Nay.” He breaks down what’s worth your time, what’s mostly hype, and how to keep skincare simple, healthy, and realistic.

You will love this conversation about showing up and proving what’s possible when you don’t quit.

Dr K's website:

https://www.kusselukmd.com/

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University 

Some people build careers.
Others build trust (and an incredible career).

Beloved return guest Dave Price joins us for a deeper conversation about what it means to show up — not just on television, but for people who need connection most.

From decades as a trusted television weather forecaster to traveling overseas to entertain U.S. troops, Dave reflects on service, consistency, and why presence matters more than recognition. We talk about how those trips began, what stays with him long after he returns home, and why this work continues to matter so deeply to him.

An absolute gift on a Monday morning — we even tested a few ideas we’re thinking about for 2026.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

This episode is a reset.

Lainie returns for a rare, mostly unedited conversation that unfolds like a masterclass in letting go. Her new book, Hold Nothing: An Invitation to Let Go and Come Home to Yourself, left us reflecting (and crying!) long after we finished — and questioning what we carry that no longer serves us.

We explore what it really means to “hold nothing,” how presence and stillness shape the way we think and relate, and why friendship, service, and trust steady the nervous system. We talk about grief, parenting, spiritual health, and the small, deliberate shifts that change how we move through the world.

If you’re heading into a new year looking for clarity, steadiness, and perspective, this conversation is worth everything.

And of course, we asked her to play along with us and comment on some tricks and trends for 2026.

Find Lainie here:

https://elenabrower.substack.com/p/when-friendship-cracked-me-open

Find her book on Amazon, and we strongly suggest you also download the audiobook to hear the content in Lainie's actual voice.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

What actually happens when companies run out of ideas—and who do they call next? Beth Yancey Storz ’92

Beth is an innovation leader, creative strategist, and co-author of Outsmart Your Instincts. For decades, she’s helped teams break through stuck thinking and lead better brainstorms. In this episode, she takes us inside the room where ideas are really made.

Do you know why “no idea is a bad idea” isn’t quite right? Or how negativity quietly kills creativity? And what great facilitators do differently to keep energy high all day long?

Tune in if you want those answers and to know why learning how to think may be more important than what you think.

WE think she's amazing. No brainstorming needed for that one.

LinkedIn: Beth Storz

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

We kick off the episode with the upbeat song from Looking Up, because it’s exactly the Monday energy you need. Elena Neuman ’88 joins us to share how a 10-minute video unexpectedly became a full feature documentary—filmed on the face of El Capitan in Yosemite.

Elena reflects on her Cornell experience, the professor who changed her path, and what it really takes to tell a powerful story—from creative pivots during COVID to finding the heart of a film in the edit.

She also shares her work leading the effort to build Cornell’s first standalone Hillel, creating the kind of community she wishes had existed when she was a student. 

It’s a conversation about perseverance, curiosity, and forward momentum. And it's clear that Elena is a gifted storyteller, maybe especially when it comes to telling her own!

Her documentary:

https://www.neumanfilm.com/lookingup

Hillel

 https://www.cornellhillelcampaign.org/

LinkedIn:

Elena Neuman Lefkowitz

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

This week we sit down with Dr. Shari Brasner, a (semi famous!) OB/Gyn, widely respected for her approach to patient care.

Dr. Brasner reflects on how her time at Cornell shaped her path in medicine and shares why the relationship between doctor and patient matters so deeply. Through honest, funny, and sometimes emotional stories, she highlights the impact of trust, communication, and compassion in moments that truly count.

This conversation goes beyond credentials. It’s about the importance of a great doctor, the human side of medicine, and why thoughtful, attentive care can make all the difference.

You will rethink everything.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Cornell-trained veterinary surgeon Dr. Jared Baum shares the unbelievable story of how he saved Steph’s dog Buddy from emergency surgery—using skill, compassion, and one very brave hand.

We talk about his Cornell Vet residency, the compassion award created in his honor, the night he drove 90 minutes to save a senior Chihuahua named Mabel, and his exciting new surgical clinic, PEAK Veterinary Surgical Care in Delray Beach.

We have been dying to speak to a Cornell veterinarian—Cornell vets really are special—and Jared was everything you’d imagine a Cornell-trained veterinarian to be.

He and his wife are launching a brand-new surgical clinic in Florida. Learn more here:
https://www.peak.vet/

And you can watch the beautiful story behind the award created in his honor:
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/about-us/news/20191125/college-clinicians-act-extraordinary-compassion-saves-imperiled-chihuahua

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University.

Cornell Hotelie and former Big Red football player Jesse Baker ’09 joins us to share the path that took him from a blue-collar upbringing to founding JET Hospitality, a company transforming distressed RV parks and motels into boutique outdoor destinations.

Jesse talks about discovering entrepreneurship early, finding his footing at Cornell, getting into real estate, and how flipping houses and experimenting with short-term rentals eventually shaped his approach to “lifestyle lodging.” He also explains what makes JET properties different, from tiny homes, to immersive outdoor experiences, to the secret behind his luxury bedding philosophy. The grit he built at Cornell still shows up in his work today.

Plus, we pitch Jesse our “Next Big Things in Lifestyle Lodging” ideas, and he surprises us with which ones he’d actually consider. He's the best, and we had a lot of fun with him!

Find Jesse here:

JET Hospitality: jet hospitality.com
Find Jesse on Instagram: @jethospitality

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Celebrating four years of the Cornell (thank) U Podcast with a special anniversary episode full of gratitude, laughter, and reflection.

We share what it’s really been like building the show, touch on a few behind-the-scenes moments, answer your most-asked questions, and look ahead to what’s coming (and who we’re dreaming of) in Season 5.

Thank you to our families, listeners, friends, and the entire Cornell community for making the last four years so unforgettable. Year Five… here we come!

Wishing you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

David Gura tells us how a kid from Chapel Hill found his way to Cornell and into some of the most respected newsrooms in the country. He shares how writing for the Cornell Daily Sun, spending a semester with Cornell in Washington, and an early internship at NPR sparked his love for journalism. 

From NPR to MSNBC to Bloomberg, David has built a career telling stories across radio, TV, and podcasting. The conversation is smart, fun, and full of the insight and authenticity that make David such a compelling presence in today’s news.

Also, he excels in our game with special thanks to Scarlet Fu for both introducing us to David and participating in the game. If everyone is like David and Scarlet, we want to work at Bloomberg.

Find David here:

https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AWxIJr64omw/david-gura

LinkedIn: David Gura

Podcast: The Big Take https://open.spotify.com/show/3xau7gwFqr29suMARYPkww?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University