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.

Roy Danis ’78 never took Cornell’s famous wine tasting class — and yet he went on to build a 40-year career at the top of the wine and spirits world.

Roy takes us from Oceanside, Long Island to Cornell, where he captained the men’s gymnastics team, and into an extraordinary professional journey including Seagram, Campari, start-ups, and his newest venture, Revival Spirits — alongside business partner Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Roy shares what actually makes a brand succeed, why great leadership is about humility and credibility, and the “all in” mindset that’s guided him through every chapter.

We also explore Roy’s deep commitment to giving back through his work with the Viscardi Center and the UJA-Federation’s Wines & Spirits Division.

And of course, we end with our speed round — including the one cocktail even Roy had never heard of until today. Can you guess it?

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University 

Dr. Nicole McNichols ’97 is a professor whose work explores sex, intimacy, and how people connect.

In this episode, Nicole breaks down what’s actually happening in modern dating and relationships — why so many people feel disconnected, how expectations around sex have shifted, and what the research really says about pleasure, desire, and communication. 

Drawing from both her classroom and her own work, she explains the myths we’ve absorbed, the pressure people feel to “get it right,” and what actually leads to more connected experiences.

Nicole also reflects on her journey from Cornell to leading the most popular undergraduate course in the history of the University of Washington, and shares key ideas from her book, You Could Be Having Better Sex, about what helps people feel more confident, connected, and fulfilled.

She's incredibly fun and she's gone viral on social media - here's where you can find her:

Instagram and TikTok: nicole_thesexprofessor

Sign up for her newsletter at: https://nicolethesexprofessor.com/

Her book is sold wherever you buy books starting February 3, 2026

And thank you to past guest and author Alli Frank for the introduction.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Asian Americans make up a small percentage of artists on major stages — and Lily Tung Crystal is actively changing that.

Lily is the Artistic Director of East West Players, the nation’s largest and longest-running Asian American theater company. She shares her journey from Cornell to Shanghai to Minneapolis to Los Angeles, and how her work is reshaping who gets hired, who gets supported, and whose stories are told.

We talk about representation, leadership, and why lasting change in the arts takes systems — not just talent — along with the creativity and care that make live theater matter.

We had so much fun with Lily. Fun fact: she’s a sorority sister we hadn’t connected with since 1990!

Read about Lily here:

https://www.eastwestplayers.org/blog/ewp-announces-artistic-director-lily-tung-crystal

Find East West Players and their schedule here:

https://www.eastwestplayers.org/

And a special thank you to Beth Storz, a recent guest and sorority sister, for making the connection.

Not sponsored or affiliated with Cornell University

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