What is life in the operating room really like? And for women in surgery, how much has actually changed for the better?

In this episode, we talk withDr. Sarah Temkin '93 - gynecologic oncologist, physician-scientist, filmmaker, and now a leader at the American Cancer Society — about her path from Cornell to medicine, what drew her to surgery, and the hidden realities of working in the OR as a woman, even in 2026.

Sarah also shares the story behind her powerful documentary 1001 Cuts, which explores the everyday challenges women surgeons still face — from equipment and infrastructure not built for them, to the subtle pressures that add up over time.

This one is eye-opening, and a fascinating conversation about medicine, storytelling, and what still needs to change.

She's great at telling both her personal Cornell story, and the story of the operating room. We loved her.

Shout out to Ray Mirza, a total fave, for the introduction!

Find D. Sarah on LinkedIn: 
Sarah Temkin, MD, FACS

All about her documentary here: https://www.1001cuts.org/

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

He’s back—and a lot has changed.

Since we last spoke with Ex-CIA Officer Marc Polymeropoulos, he’s gone from a somewhat private recovery to national headlines, including a powerful appearance on 60 Minutes.

In this episode, we catch up on everything:

• what really happened behind the scenes of that 60 Minutes story
• his unfiltered take on Iran and where things stand now
• how his experience with Havana Syndrome has evolved—and what he believes today

Marc also opens up in a way he didn’t last time:
about recovery, resilience, and what it’s like to go from covert operations to speaking publicly.

This isn’t just an update—it’s a deeper look at a story that’s still unfolding.

He's been our friend for 40 years and he and his story are extra special to us.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

The headlines say women’s sports is booming.
Digit Murphy isn’t so sure.

We brought back hockey legend, Cornell alum, and one of the most well-spoken and outspoken voices in sports for our first Since We Last Spoke episode—and she came in with takes.

Not just on the Olympics, the gold medal, and the controversial phone call that followed…
but on what’s actually happening behind the momentum everyone’s celebrating.

Because according to Digit, the system itself?

Still broken.

In this episode, we get into:

• the uncomfortable truth about who’s still making the decisions
• why “growth” doesn’t always mean sustainability
• and what needs to change if this is actually going to last

And then we go deeper.

Digit shares what she’s building now—a new model inside women’s sports through a female-led private equity platform designed to connect teams, athletes, and capital in a smarter, more sustainable way.

Not just more attention.
Not just bigger headlines.
But real infrastructure. Real ownership. Real change.

This isn’t just a conversation about hockey.
It’s about who controls the future of women’s sports—and whether this moment is real progress… or just hype.

And yes, we also tackle the most important question of all:
Lunch vs. Luncheon.

Find everything Digit Murphy here, including her Substack:
https://www.digitmurphy.com/

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University.

78% of Cornell students left campus for spring holidays.
But what about everyone else?

From sorority house seders…
to Easter traditions…
to surviving on matzah and tuna —

we realized we all experienced this time differently.

So we turned it into a game.

Matzah ball soup: essential or no one's gonna miss it?
Honey baked ham: yes or no?
Peeps vs healthy candy.
And the afikoman… should everyone win, or just one?

Pick your side — and let us know where you land.

Featuring our besties of 40 years: Nic, Jojo, Mick and Lizzie

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

When Ken Kunken took the field for a Cornell football game, he had no idea his life was about to change in an instant.

That moment left him a quadriplegic.

What happened next is hard to comprehend—because the life he went on to build wasn’t supposed to be possible.

This isn’t just a story of resilience. It’s a story of defying every expectation, again and again, in ways that feel almost impossible to believe.

We’ve never heard anything like it. And we will be thinking about him for a very long time.

Find everything Ken here: 

https://kenkunken.com/

And then read, or better yet, listen to his book which you can buy at many retailers. "I Dream of Things That Never Were - the Ken Kunken Story"

Special shout out to our recent guest and Ken's cousin, Roy Danis, episode 225 and to Ken's wife, Anna, who helped make this interview possible.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

We had a great time with Ivy Woolenberg — a freshman at Cornell’s Hotel School, Disney Bake-Off winner, and the creator behind the viral baking account Baked With Love by Ivy.

Ivy shares the baking fail that somehow turned into a 40-million-view video, how she started her baking business at just 11 years old, and what it’s like balancing Cornell life with a fast-growing social media brand.

Plus: behind-the-scenes secrets from Disney’s Magic Bake-Off, Ivy’s favorite food spots at Cornell (she knows the best ones), and a fun challenge where she invents desserts for Gen Z, midlife women, and even the 85+ crowd.

We loved her.

Here's where to find her on Instagram and TikTok:

@bakedwithlovebyivy

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Why are New Yorkers lining up for gelato in SoHo?

In this episode, we talk with the entrepreneur behind RivaReno Gelato about the moment in Italy that sparked an obsession—and ultimately led him to bring authentic Italian gelato to New York City.

From discovering what real gelato tastes like, to opening a shop in one of the toughest restaurant markets in the world, he shares the story behind the scoop everyone is talking about.

Along the way we dive into the craft of gelato, the realities of building a food business, and why sometimes one unforgettable experience can change everything.

Mathew was a GREAT guest. See you at RivaReno!

Find everything about RivaReno here: https://www.rivareno.com/us/

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University 

We had the joy of sitting down with Bill Nye the Science Guy to hear the story behind how he became the person who made Science feel fun, approachable, and even a little bit cool. 

Long before the bow tie and the TV shows, Bill was a Cornell student taking a transformative class with Carl Sagan, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and discovering how humor and critical thinking could live in the same space. 

He shares the unexpected turns that led him from Ithaca to becoming a voice that inspired generations, and reflects on what it meant to later receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

Huge thanks to Scarlett Fu of Bloomberg TV for helping make this dream conversation happen. 

It’s a reminder that the moments that shape your future often start as ordinary chapters you don’t yet realize will matter most.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Hayley Paige created the kind of wedding dresses brides pin, save, and dream about. By her mid-20s, she was leading a global bridal brand with her name on every gown. And then, after signing a contract at 25, everything shifted.

In this episode, Hayley shares what it felt like to suddenly lose control of her own name and how she navigated a chapter that could have ended her career. We rewind to her Cornell days in Human Ecology, the senior collection that launched her into bridal, and the early hustle that built her brand from trunk shows to national attention.

AND THEN... one of her designs appeared during the Super Bowl halftime show as Bad Bunny performed — a moment that brides everywhere were texting about and Cornellians posted about all over social media.

If you’re planning a wedding, building a brand, or figuring out your next move, this conversation is about ambition, creativity, and what happens when you refuse to let one chapter define your whole story.

We are obsessed!!

Start YOUR obsession here:

https://hayleypaige.com/

Instagram:

@Hayleypaigebride

@misshayleypaige

@sheischeval

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Meet our new idol, Rebecca Rutstein ’93, an artist whose creative process takes her somewhere almost no one else has ever been: more than 2,000 meters beneath the ocean’s surface.

Rebecca collaborates closely with scientists, joins deep-sea research expeditions, and climbs into a six-foot submersible to explore the hidden landscapes of the ocean floor — from bioluminescent life in total darkness to a vast underwater world that feels completely otherworldly.

We talk about how a geology class at Cornell helped shape the direction of her work, what it’s actually like spending hours inside a tiny sphere with no bathroom, and how she transforms scientific discovery into breathtaking, immersive art.

Along the way, we uncover one of Rebecca's biggest fears.

It’s a funny, fascinating, and unforgettable conversation about curiosity, creativity, and seeing the world in a way most of us never will.

And wait till you see her art. Go NOW to her website: rebeccarutstein.com

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University.