You’ll love this conversation with the legendary Jeremy Schaap, Cornell alum and Emmy-winning ESPN sports journalist. From his roots at the Cornell Daily Sun—where he spent more time than anywhere else on campus—to his 30+ years at ESPN, Jeremy has covered every major sporting event and the most fascinating athlete stories.

Known for award-winning documentaries like E:60 and Outside the Lines, he brings unparalleled depth and passion to his storytelling.

Today, Jeremy reflects on his time at Cornell—his favorite classes, close friendships, and how both his college years and his father, fellow Cornell alum Dick Schaap, shaped his path to becoming a world-class journalist.

Also, we want to be best, best friends with him. Yes, Jeremy?

Special thanks to Jimmy Pitaro, Bill Hofheimer, Bea Panitz and PETER KAPLAN for helping to make this interview happen.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

From pioneering patented construction technologies that transformed NYC’s infrastructure, to working underground for over a decade (and surviving to share  with us what’s really down there!), Stephen Paletta '87 has built a career and a life defined by innovation and purpose.

A life-changing trip to Rwanda sparked a mission of giving back, and he’s been reshaping philanthropy ever since.

As the "Biggest Giver" on Oprah’s Big Give, Stephen used his $1M prize to launch GiveBack, a platform empowering "everyday philanthropists" to create meaningful change. 

Stephen’s time at Cornell was also life-changing in more personal ways. His friendship with Frank Kelly sparked a spiritual awakening that has guided his purpose-driven path. And in an incredible twist of fate, he met his wife when she was recovering from an injury, sharing his perspective as a fellow Cornell athlete navigating the challenges of recovery. You've got to hear about his lacrosse career.

AND, find out what "Paletta Palooza" means, what the surprise is in the "Hot Truck Tuna Surprise," and what Oprah is really like.

Thank you to Frank Kelly, Jack and Callie Gitlin. Timmy Kelly and Carolyn Paletta for bringing Stephen to the podcast.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

This was the perfect conversation to have just days before Christmas.

We spoke with Beth and Dan Duffy, whose love story began on campus in 1978. Dan, a member of the Cornell hockey team, and Beth, known for her warmth and wide circle of friends, created lifelong connections during their time on campus. Their love story started as freshmen, took a pause, and then started again 20 years later when they got married.

Together, they’ve created the "Christmas Tree of Kindness," a project that encourages people to add ornaments to a paper tree for every kind deed they do, spreading positivity and connection during the holiday season. It started as a family tradition and was then embraced by their church and their town, and now people all over the world.

They've written the inspiring book The Christmas Tree That Changed the World  (by Cookie Claus, we will tell you why), and developed an app to make kindness the great global connector and soon a year-round habit.

You will love their story of building a movement that’s transforming families, schools, and communities. 

Their links:

• Christmas Tree of Kindness Project
• The Christmas Tree That Changed the World (Book)

Shout out to Nancy Winklestein for the introduction, thank you!

Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn: CornellthankU

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

This week we’re thrilled to celebrate the incredible Randye Ringer, who was recently introduced to us by Peter Kaplan (thank you, Peter!) and she was just inducted into her high school’s Hall of Fame! Why, you ask?

Randye’s career has been a testament to creativity, resilience, and a passion for making a difference. From her 15 years with the New York Mets to her humanitarian work with First Pitch: The US-Manipur Baseball Project, Randye has used sports as a bridge to foster joy and hope in many communities. She has held about every position you can think of in a baseball organization and was even a general manager!

In addition, as a two-time cancer survivor, Randye shares her current work helping people navigate cancer diagnoses through precision medicine.

We didn't get a chance to dive into her work on The Only Real Game, an acclaimed documentary that showcases how baseball brings inspiration to Manipur, India, but it's worth checking out! Watch The Only Real Game on Tubi.

Randye is one of the most interesting people we have spoken to and you can learn more about her on LinkedIn or on Facebook, she loves to connect. She's a grand slam!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/randye-ringler-376305/
https://www.facebook.com/public/Randy-Ringler/

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Meet Georgia Kelly, a fierce defender on Cornell’s field hockey team with ties to both England and Ireland. Georgia shares her inspiring journey of overcoming injuries, adjusting to life at Cornell, and making an impact on and off the field. Known for her stellar defensive skills and unstoppable spirit, Georgia gave us the inside scoop on life as a student-athlete. With her humor, energy, and authenticity, Georgia made this conversation as fun as it was inspiring—we couldn’t get enough of her!

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University.

Frank Kelly III’s journey is one of resilience, faith, and family. As a standout athlete at Cornell, he captained the lacrosse team, played football, and overcame injuries-- and most of all, he had a profound spiritual awakening his sophomore year. 

Now he’s the CEO of Kelly Benefits, a coach, speaker, and author!

Frank shares how his faith shaped his life and guides his work and family. And we want to be honorary members of that family! He and all the Kellys are incredible!

We are excited for you to hear his inspiring story--and wait until you find out about all the unbelievable lacrosse players! It's actually insane.

Find everything Kelly here:

https://kellybenefits.com

https://www.frankkellyiii.com

Books:
The Creator's Game
Look and See

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Welcome to season 4 of the Cornell (thank) U Podcast!

Meet Yanni and Nour, two extraordinary 20-year-old Cornell students who are revolutionizing the way we learn math with their groundbreaking platform, MathGPT.

They started MathGPT to make math more accessible and less intimidating, empowering students everywhere to truly understand the subject. Their website has quickly become the go-to resource for mastering complex math concepts.

Yanni and Nour share their Cornell experience so far, what they are doing for the next year, and their vision for the future of math education.

Get ready to be impressed, and also oddly excited about math!

Connect with Yanni and Nour: 
Website: https://math-gpt.org/MathGPT 
Social Media: TikTok: nour.mathgpt

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Join us as we look back on three incredible years of Cornell (thank) U with highlights from our anniversary party, guest shout-outs, and a thank you to our amazing community.

AND!

Ryan Greene, Cornell fiber science grad and returning guest, tells us about his life from the Cornell classrooms to the labs of NIST. Hear about his groundbreaking work in fiber science, the surprising applications of his research, and how he’s using his expertise to shape the future of materials and technology. Most importantly, he is going to Orange Theory and you probably know we are obsessed with that place.

This double episode is packed with celebration and inspiration!


Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Our 3-year celebration came with an unexpected twist—just the kind of story we love to tell. 

Thank you for being here every week for 3 years. We appreciate every single one of you, guest and listener--often that's one and the same!


Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Here's your exclusive peek into the mind of a true innovator!

Get ready for insights and laughs as we chat with Robyn Carter, CEO of Jump Rope Innovation!

Since 2005, Robyn’s been turning consumer trends into product ideas that make us ask, "Why didn’t I think of that?" (And yes, we pitched her a few trending ideas that we did  think of —tune in to hear her take!)

With an impressive background in advertising for brands you know and love (hello, Snickers and Kool Aid), Robyn knows how to keep companies ahead of the curve. She's got an amazing name for each of her services and she is getting inspiration in a way most others are not. We were riveted.

Almost forgot to mention: she didn’t graduate with a degree in communications from CALS. Not close. Curious?

Here's where you can find her:

https://www.jumpropeinnovation.com

LinkedIn: Robyn Carter

Instagram: jumpropeinnovation

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University