Deqa Aden '18 is all about making an impact. Working in the field of international development, she’s applied her research skills, degrees in political science and psychology, and lived experience towards improving the world. A 2022 Obama Scholar, she’s now wrapping up her master’s degree program at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. Her lived experience, professional background in the world of international development, and ongoing academic journey lends her a unique perspective on how the field can make positive change—and highlights the ways that the field itself must change in order to be truly responsive to community needs. 

In this conversation, Deqa reflects on her experiences working at both macro and the micro institutions—from the World Bank to an entrepreneurial incubator in Somaliland, and the unique challenges and opportunities innate to both. We touch on building a positive workplace culture, leading with enthusiasm, and the importance of personal mission in driving change.

This episode features music by Podington Bear ("All the Colors in the World") available under a ⁠Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

27 miles to the southwest of Grinnell is the Newton Correctional Facility. It is a medium and low security prison: one of the 1,500 state prisons that blanket our nation. Since 2002, the United States has had the highest incarceration rate in the world. In many parts of America, ⁠according to the Washington Post⁠, there are more people living in prisons than there are living on college campuses. 

Our guests on this episode are Grinnellians–Emily Guenther ‘07, Jason Ross, and Jason Darrah–whose classes did not take place on-campus but at the Newton Correctional Facility, as a part of the ⁠Liberal Arts in Prison Program⁠. Today, the initiative is one of 15 programs nationally in the Consortium for the Liberal Arts in Prison that offer access to a college education for incarcerated individuals.

This is a story about redefining what it means to be a Grinnellian, and how thanks to the power of a liberal arts education, we grant access to life-changing opportunities. 

For more information about mass incarceration and education in prison, visit the ⁠Prison Policy Initiative⁠, ⁠Bard Prison Initiative⁠, and the ⁠Population Reference Bureau⁠.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @goingforthpodcast to find out when new episodes are released.

If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

This episode features music by Podington Bear ("Easygoing" and "Now Son") available under a ⁠Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

Every spring break, dozens of Grinnell students venture across the world for externships—job-shadowing experiences with Grinnell alumni or parents. During their externships, students gain a holistic perspective on post-grad life. On this special episode of Going Forth, travel along with student hosts Xavier James `25, Indy Joseph `25, George Matthes `25, Maya Llewellyn `25 and Colin Singer `25 on their externship journeys across industries and the world.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @goingforthpodcast to find out when new episodes are released.

If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

This episode features music by Organs ("California Blues"), Jason Shaw ("Travel Light"), and Tim Taj ("Modern Electronic"), available under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

Eric Otoo 01’s resume is the stuff most people dream about. He’s worked across a range of business, finance, and consulting roles at firms like McKinsey and Goldman Sachs, only taking a break to graduate from Harvard Business School. Returning to his home country of Ghana, he’s implemented award-winning turnaround plans to ensure profitability for various companies and was appointed by the Minister of Finance to lead the restructuring of Ghana’s financial sector.

On this episode, we demystify the world of consulting, unpack career paths in finance, and explore questions about financial reform. We discuss the importance of mentorship, building and maintaining a successful network, and the value of hard work. For Eric, “paying it forward” is not just a job, but a mantra.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @goingforthpodcast to find out when new episodes are released.

If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

This episode features music by Podington Bear (entitled "Guestlist" and "Lola") available under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

Dr. Kartik Sheth `93’s career has spanned the solar system. A world-renowned astrophysicist, he’s currently a program scientist at NASA HQ while advising science and technology policy at the White House. A committed activist, he’s also had a parallel career in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility advocacy and is the founder and CEO of Empowered Earth Alliance: a non-profit that works with local leaders to empower them to create their own sustainable solutions for climate resilience.

In this episode, we discuss his advice for navigating and succeeding across academic, government and nonprofit spheres, especially for individuals who have been historically underrepresented in those spaces. The universe is unimaginably vast, but as Dr. Sheth shares with us, we live in a small world where connection is everything.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @goingforthpodcast to find out when new episodes are released.

If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

This episode features music by Giant Gutter from Outer Space (entitled "Sturm") available under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

We are thrilled to welcome Oscar-nominated comedian, writer, and actor Kumail Nanjiani '01 to Going Forth. In this episode, we chart his course rising through the ranks of stand-up comedy, landing his first writing gig, and making it onto the big screen. Whether you know Kumail’s work from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Welcome to Chippendales, Silicon Valley, The Big Sick, or his myriad other projects, we are excited to share this conversation about the power of storytelling, connection, and creativity. 

In his words, “All you can do is make something really meaningful to you and trust, because of shared human experience, it will be meaningful to other people.”

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @goingforthpodcast to find out when new episodes are released.

If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

This episode features music by Podington Bear (entitled "Good Times) available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported license and Herr Doktor (entitled "Intro") available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 license.

Going Forth is back, and there's a new voice behind the microphone. Host Jane Hoffman '25 joins Nicholas Lampietti ‘25 and Executive Producer, CLS Exploratory Advisor Katie Kriegel, to talk about their first jobs and what's in store for Season 3. Hear from a dynamic slate of alums, students, and CLS staff about civic engagement, Fulbright Grants, astrophysics, and more. From from finding your voice to shooting for the stars, we're going to cover it all. 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @goingforthpodcast to find out when new episodes are released.

If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

This episode features music by Herr Doktor (entitled "Intro") and The Zombie Dandies (entitled "Careful") available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 license.

According to Leslie Bleichner '07: "sometimes, the world moves for you in ways you are not prepared to move yourself." Other times, you are the one to make it move. Change is in the air on the Season 2 Finale of Going Forth as we revisit moments in our guests lives that can only be described as serendipitous and/or are the result of a "cold" call, email, or conversation. Their stories reaffirm that great things happen when you least expect them and that in the face of uncertainty, it's up to you to take the plunge. We also say goodbye to Producer & Co-Host Meredith Benjamin '24 as she goes forth on a new journey studying off-campus during Season 3. 

This episode features stories from Jenn Mattern Lalich '92 (Episode 23: "The Candyland Path - Dismantling Toxic 'Success' Culture"), Leslie Bleichner '07 (Episode 24: "Education is My Playground), Vivek Venugopal '01 (Episode 25: "We're Not in Kansas Anymore"), Anton Jones '02 (Episode 21: "It's a Party at CLIMB"), and Sachi Graber '12 (Episode 26: "It's Not The End Of The World"). 

As always, we invite you to connect with us by emailing [goingforth] or reaching out via our Instagram or Facebook: @goingforthpodcast

This episode features music by Podington Bear (entitled "Buddy Guy" and "Cracked Nut Suite") and Ketsa (entitled "Future Life") available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

Christa Desir '96 has a rule: Say yes. Say yes, and try everything. It is a rule that has led her to some pretty fascinating places. She’s been a radio producer. A kickboxing instructor. A young adult romance novelist. A small business founder, totally by accident. A chief financial officer who works in barter and trade. The talent manager of the Marlborough Cowboys. The editor for novelist E.L. James, author of 50 Shades of Grey. But perhaps the most amazing thing Christa has done is do all of these things in a world that prefers when people fit neatly into a single box.

Through all of it, Christa strives to maintain what she calls her 'center line:' the voice in her head and feeling in her gut that carries her through every leapfrog she makes. In this episode, we explore the lovely, scary, and downright zany parts of living by Christa’s rule. Wise, delightfully random, and filled with stories that will make you laugh out loud, this episode is a deep dive into what life looks like when we decide we are willing to try anything once.

TW: Christa has worked as a rape victim advocate, and this episode includes mentions of sexual assault/rape.

As always, we invite you to connect with us by emailing [goingforth] or reaching out via our Instagram or Facebook: @goingforthpodcast. This episode features music entitled "Sunset Vibes" and "Future Life," available under a Pixabay Attribution-Noncommercial license.

Why does good journalism matter? What does "work-life balance" look like for journalists covering a 24-hour news cycle? Do reporters ever struggle with the second-hand trauma of witnessing tragedy? As citizens, how can we discern fake news from truth? What is the line between appropriate skepticism and conspiracy, and why has this line begun to melt away? These are some of the hard-hitting questions we explore with today's guests.

At Grinnell, Silvia Foster-Frau '15 and Stephen Gruber-Miller '15 were classmates. Today, they are both journalists who spend each day asking questions, telling stories, and investigating truth. Silvia is the multiculturalism reporter at The Washington Post, where she reports on issues of race, identity, and the nation's changing cultural composition. Stephen is the Statehouse reporter at The Des Moines Register, where he covers Iowa's most pressing political news. As journalists, Silvia and Stephen are normally the ones asking questions, but today they have answers. This episode is your inside scoop on a career in journalism, and breaking news: it's one you don't want to miss. 

As always, we invite you to connect with us by emailing [goingforth] or reaching out via our Instagram or Facebook: @goingforthpodcast.

This episode features music entitled "Sunset Vibes" and "Future Life," available under a Pixabay Attribution-Noncommercial license.