Formative

Niesha Foster is Vice President of Product Access, Global Health & Social Impact at Pfizer. Her work is focused on addressing patient affordability challenges and driving community engagement. Today, Niesha is joined by 8th grader, Carrera, to talk about what it means to be successful. In this episode, Carrera learns how the challenges she meets at every stage of life will require her to develop skills and come up with solutions that will propel her toward her own unique vision of success.

Eric Winterling is a costume maker whose life’s work is creating clothes that tell a story. You’ve seen his work on television shows like Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Gilded Age, as well as Broadway shows like Frozen, Beauty and the Beast and Wicked. On today’s episode of Formative, Eric joins 8th grader, Kaymani, to talk about his early love of sewing and the joys of being able to make, with your own hands, something out of nothing. Kaymani learns about the power of mentorship and how sometimes you have to learn to make your own luck. 

Alex Segura  joins us today to kick off the seventh season of Formative! Alex has written numerous comics and novels, including Secret Identity, which won the 2023 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery. Joining Alex is middle schooler and co-host, Amber, who learns the importance of seeing yourself represented in the stories you consume. In this episode of Formative, Alex shares how he was able to make a career shift into writing full time and why he believes that being engaged in a community of like-minded people has been one of his most career-defining achievements.

Cartoonist, Justin Thompson, is the final guest for this season’s Formative. He is joined in conversation by 7th grader and co-host, Isabella. Justin and Isabella talk about the importance of doing art, even if not for professional reasons, but just to express our feelings and ideas. Justin also tells Isabella about how, through his art, he was able to become all the characters he had on his list of things to be growing up; a knight, a superhero and a cartoonist.

Bassoonist, Adrian Morejon, joins us on today’s show! 8th grader and co-host, Laylanie, asks Adrian about the appeal of the bassoon to him as a young child and how he’s been able to maintain his dedication to the instrument. Adrian tells Laylanie about his strategic career planning in the beginning of his career. He explains why it’s important to seek financially rewarding work with the added benefit of allowing you to add skills related to your passion while you are in pursuit of gaining traction in your desired field.

Ray Hennessy joins us on today's show! Ray is a wildlife photographer who specializes in bird photography. 8th grader and co-host, Nathaniel, asks Ray about the grit and nimbleness it takes to succeed in a creative field. Ray’s biggest lesson? Don’t be afraid to showcase what sets you apart. Your instinct may be telling you to blend in and do everything your peers are doing, but all that makes you different will also make you memorable, and that’s how you make the path enjoyable for yourself too!

We’ve got Lenni Benson on today’s show! Lenni has been teaching and writing in the field of immigration law since 1994. She is the Distinguished Chair of Immigration and Human Rights Law at New York Law School. 8th grader and co-host, Kaeri, joins Lenni in a conversation about how to be of service— in the legal context and in our everyday lives— and what you gain back in return when you’re thinking of how to improve the condition of the communities you inhabit.

On this episode of Formative, Isaac-Davy Aronson is interviewed by 8th grader, Kayanna. Isaac is a radio and television journalist. For the last eight years, he’s been a producer on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. One of his most important pieces of advice for young people? Everyone can teach you something. Take your blinders off and become teachable because you never know who can give you your most valuable skill or piece of knowledge.

Megan Davidson joins us on today’s show! Megan is a certified labor doula and childbirth educator. 8th-grader and co-host, Kaelynn, learns that sometimes the perfect career looks unconventional from what you imagined. Following our curiosity can lead us to exactly what we’re meant to do. In this episode of Formative, Megan shares the story of how she went from studying anthropology to becoming a doula and how despite her career’s unpredictable hours and circumstances, she always feels like she is doing exactly what she is meant to be doing.

Craig Balsam joins us on today’s show! Craig Balsam is an American entertainment industry entrepreneur and Tony Award-winning producer. He is the co-founder of the children's music brand, Kidz Bop. Student co-host, Tymir, learns that businesses run on grit and reinvention. In this episode of Formative, Craig shares the origin story of his company, Kidz Bop, and how it was able to maintain its success across decades and through changing technological advancements.