Rob Karp, the visionary founder of MilesAhead, a luxury travel agency, is here!

In high school he started a points and travel business that got a lot of attention. Clients saw early on that he was brilliant and trustworthy, and in his own words, scrappy. He has always managed to solve even the most difficult travel problems for his clients, and now he is orchestrating extravagant adventures for celebrities, heads of industry, family and friends.

Rob's journey is one of inspiration and innovation-- he is thriving.  He is also funny and fun, and we have inside information that he was once a dangerous baseball pitcher!

Shout out to Amy Susman Stillman for the referral (she's Rob's aunt) - thank you, Amy!

You can find his company here:
milesahead.co

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Cornell Human Ecology is THRIVING!

One reason?

Dean Rachel Dunifon is a vibrant force behind the exciting changes and future of the school.

Human Ecology has always been forward thinking, graduating students who feel a deep love for their professors and classes, and taking a wide breadth of experience and science based knowledge into the "real world."

With her background in psychology and public policy, Dean Dunifon is helping to reshape the future of the school. She played a key role in the redesign of the Martha Van Rensselaer Building, getting the students through the challenges of covid, and identifying areas for further growth within the university and in the community beyond (lookin' at YOU, New York City!).

This is your chance to really understand Cornell Human Ecology while also being entertained by great anecdotes and life lessons. We could have talked to her for hours.

Despite her busy schedule, which includes conducting her own research, Dean Dunifon prioritizes recreational activities such as running, paddle boarding and attending hockey games, bringing her energy and spirit to the everything she does.

And will she sprint up Libe Slope and go up in a hot air ballon? 

It's been inspiring to hear from Dean Dunifon, who is revolutionizing Human Ecology at Cornell and she is also considering our invitation to be our best friend.

She's written a great book called You've Always Been There for Me: Understanding the lives of Grandchildren Raised by Grandparents

Special thank you to Gwen Whiting for making this happen and to Lori Isman Greene who gave us lots of exciting news to talk about.

You can find more info about Dean Dunifon here:
https://www.human.cornell.edu/spotlights/dunifon-named-dean

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Another yay/boo situation for The Cornell (thank) U Podcast.
HUGE yay: we were invited to be part of a panel at the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference alongside three amazing social media stars: Matthew Merril, JC Dombrowski and Macy Hung.
This conference is really special.
We were excited.
We booked our travel.
We prepared.
We picked out outfits.
Steph got Covid. (That's the boo, obviously).
So Michelle flew solo and represented, even while feeling sad about it.
That aside, our co panelists were fabulous, the conference was an unbelievable opportunity to network, learn and have fun and the conference director Lindsey Murtland is incredible AND our podcast guest this week. Find out who was there and mark your calendars for next year. It is not to be missed!

Hoping to get our co panelists on the podcast soon.


Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

A total thrill.
 
Our friends Lori and Greg Greene introduced us to Tim and Steph (Carter) Barry, both entrepreneurs, both brilliant and both have a GREAT sense of humor.

Tim and Steph have remained deeply involved in the Cornell community. Their passion for supporting a wide array of initiatives, ranging from human centered design to athletics is truly inspiring.

BIG NEWS: Tim's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication were recently recognized when he was awarded Cornell University Entrepreneur of the Year 2024—which speaks volumes about his innovative contributions at VillageMD, Cornell, and beyond.

Outside of their impressive achievements, Tim and Steph bring a lot of laughs to this episode as they reflect on how they met, their most embarrassing moments, and how Tim and his former football teammates recently lost relay races to families with small children. You will love them as much as we and the Greenes do!

 Also, have you heard of PM Dawn?


 Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

He's one of the most charismatic guests we've had.

Nelson's career has been dynamic and multifaceted, and it started early. He juggled classes, friends, internships, clubs and being part of a very exciting start up while at Cornell.

He leaned into everything the Hotel School had to offer and had a chance to experience some very exciting industries during and after Cornell.

An expert on luxury vacations, he entertained our ideas for brand ambassadors at Belmond, where he is Account Director.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entrepreneurial hospitality world and life as a hotelie!

Find Nelson here:
LinkedIn: Nelson Billington
Instagram: Nelson Billington

Belmond:
https://www.belmond.com/

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

We've missed him! He's a former Cornell bestie whom we could not find for decades.
 
He was in the CIA.
 
In fact, he was one of the CIA’s most highly decorated operations officers who served in multiple field assignments for the U.S. government. 

Here are some of his medals: he received the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Intelligence Commendation Medal, the Intelligence Medal of Merit, and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. 

He specialized in counterterrorism, in the Middle East and South Asia, including extensive time in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And now, with his wealth of knowledge and insights, he has become a trusted commentator, offering valuable perspectives on global affairs through various media platforms. Maybe you've also seen him talk about Havana Syndrome.

This is an episode unlike any other not just because he takes us inside the CIA, but because even with all that he has seen (and done), he is still the same great guy we knew (and pranked) at Cornell. You will love his story and love him equally.
 
There is so much to know and read about Marc.
Start here:
https://marcpolymeropoulos.com/about/

Buy his incredible book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Clarity-Crisis-Leadership-Lessons-CIA/dp/B08QZZ31G5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=331XGW8ZZ8T1H&keywords=clarity+in+crisis&qid=1707780288&sprefix=clarity+in+%2Caps%2C315&sr=8-1

X/Twitter:
@Mpolymer

LinkedIn:
Marc Polymeropoulos

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Whether you are on a budget or not, everyone likes free stuff. Especially in New York City.

In today's episode, we dive into Rebeka Tannenbaum Getty's story of turning her passion for uncovering freebies in New York City into a thriving Instagram and website.

Shout out to her mom for the introduction and to Joanne for listening to this podcast! Thank you!

We had a lot of fun, one big surprise, and pitched some of our ideas for free events to get Rebeka's expert opinion.

You can find Rebeka here:
Website:
https://www.nycforfree.co/
Instagram
nyc_forfree
and TikTok:
nycforfree

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Some might say that Camden Winkelstein pours himself into everything he does. His life is one of incredible discipline, creativity, learning and fun.

Cam shares his experiences as a member of Cornell's ROTC program- from the rigorous schedule to the camaraderie forged. We get an inside look at the unique dynamics of military life at Cornell.

And then we discover the unexpected parallels between Cam's military service and the engineering prowess required to successfully operate his distillery, Bellemara. 

He graciously entertains our cocktail suggestions and arms us with the drink order that increases our coolness factor exponentially.

Whether you're a cocktail enthusiast, curious about ROTC at Cornell, or just interested in unique alum life journeys, this episode is for you! We loved him!

Shout out to his aunt Nancy Winkelstein for the introduction!

Everything Bellemara:
Instagram:
bellemaradistillery
Website:
https://www.bellemaradistillery.com

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

In this episode we welcome Dr. Lauren Elman, a distinguished and beloved neurologist-- considered one of the best in the country.
 
Lauren's academic roots at Cornell, both in undergrad and med school, have laid the foundation for her stellar career. Spoiler alert: Canaries were involved.
 
 She is a childhood friend of Steph's and is loved by Steph and every single patient that has gone to see her.  And now Michelle too: 

5 star ratings abound. She is incredibly caring, patient and kind- exactly the type of doctor we all need in very tough times.
 
She is fun and brilliant and gives us some hope for the treatment of neurological illnesses. 
 
 We had a great time reflecting on her Cornell experience and we learned a lot too.
 
 You can read about her here:
 https://www.pennmedicine.org/providers/profile/lauren-elman
 
 
 
 Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University
 

This week Jess Saunders launches her first novel called Love, Me.

We're hooked, it's a winner, we want more (No pressure, Jess).

From law to love, she's got us covered. This episode is a story of a lifetime avid reader turned gifted writer while still managing a full time law career (guess where...), and she's an incredible mom, wife and friend too!

She has a very exciting launch week coming up, including a discussion with Lindsay Brooke Weiss/Coco in Cashmere (episode 26) on January 17 at the Upper East Side Barnes and Noble, 6 pm.

You can find more information here:
https://www.jessicasaundersbooks.com
and on her Instagram:
@jessicasaundersbooks

She's fun and smart and she also puts her editing skills to the test when she critiques our writing.

This is a really fun interview, plus we need your help with the name of her favorite on-campus dining. DM us on Instagram, please.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University