Roads Taken

Recently, ROADS TAKEN sat down to talk with Justin Boyd about his journey through being a student-athlete in college, managing his time well enough to get into dental school, and emerging as the fourth generation of his family to practice dentistry. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, he had to help his family shut down the practice and then use the time to rethink dental care in this modern age. Join Leslie Jennings Rowley as she talks to Justin about this for a special covid-19 Bonus Episode of ROADS TAKEN.

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Clancy Rowley on a theme by Worth Rowley

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Justin Boyd, Dartmouth '96, may have been destined to practice dentistry with three generations of dentists on his father’s side preceding him. But as captain of the men’s lacrosse team, Justin realized his first job was to learn to juggle his role as a student-athlete (and fraternity member) with his pre-med studies.

Knowing dentistry wasn’t the only game in town, he found himself seeking advice from a teammate’s father who was a prescient physician: He told him that it appeared that general medicine of the future was going to be in the hands of big insurance and that dentistry would remain rather insulated from that trend. At the same time, Justin looked around at the lifestyle that dentistry afforded his father—who could stop seeing patients in Manhattan at noon and still make a mid-week lacrosse game in Hanover to see him—and the path seemed clear.

In this episode, find out from Justin how sometimes observing those closest to you can give you useful information about the life you should be living …on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Justin Boyd is among the fourth generation of Boyds to practice dentistry in the family business, a mainstay of dentistry in mid-town Manhattan since 1930. Though he may be on the sidelines or among the coaching staff at one of his five kids' games when you look for him, you can try to find him at drsboyd.com.

BONUS EPISODE NOTE: Listen to the Roads Diverged bonus episode with Justin published on November 6 in which he discusses how his practice was shut down at the start of the Coronavirus, how he and his family used the time to rethink dental care in this modern age, and what the practice has felt like since reopening.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Michelle Erickson Waters, Dartmouth '96, had originally thought she’d be a lawyer, but after she spent a fellowship term with a legal aid organization at the border doing more grant-writing and bureaucratic stuff and less helping people, she listened more carefully to the call to the ministry. A path to divinity school took a slightly different turn than expected when she chose to attend the same school as non-Christian-boyfriend-turned-Christian-fiancé. They have now served together as a pastoral couple for over twenty years. 

When their family expanded to four children—later six—she took an early retirement from the church and devoted her time to homeschool the flock. With one now out of the house at college and others in public school now, Michelle has found many other ways to exercise all of the skills required by a pastor—public speaking, counseling, celebrating, and business management. She writes a blog and co-hosts a podcast and continues to work side-by-side with her husband in various ways at the church. In this episode, find out from Michelle how faith and flexibility are often the best guideposts…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley

About This Episode's Guest

Michelle Erickson Waters is a retired pastor who continues to do pastoral work in a number of ways, including through her writing and the podcast Pastors Confidential, which she co-hosts with husband Eric Waters, Dartmouth ’95. Find her writing and the podcast at Michellejoywaters.com.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Joey Hood, Dartmouth '96, had originally thought he’d spend a life in government service or maybe in politics, but after he realized government majors were mostly really passionate, argumentative lawyers in training, he concentrated in his beloved French. Taking opportunities that presented themselves and ones he concocted on his own, he did every foreign study program in France available, taught English and studied west African literature in Senegal, and pursued a Fulbright Fellowship in Burkino Faso, investigating the colonial roots of the current educational system and policies there.

So when he landed a spot in the U.S. foreign service, it might make sense that his language and cultural skills would send him back to West Africa. Instead, this generalist diplomat has spent more than two decades chiefly in the middle east. Every new assignment has been a graduate seminar on a new culture and geopolitical chess game and he considers the best job out there, the hardship posts and difficulties in leaving somewhere just when it’s starting to grow on you, notwithstanding.

In this episode, find out from Joey taking things as they come, but making the most of every moment once you’ve reached your destination, is a winning strategy when your career bounces you all over the world…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley

About This Episode's Guest

Joey Hood, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, has spent over two decades in the foreign service. A generalist diplomat who has been assigned chiefly in the middle east, he has served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Iraq and Kuwait and Consul General in Dharan, Saudi Arabia. His current role keeps him in Washington, D.C. but who knows where the next assignment will take him. 

Mentioned in this episode is the book Our Kids by Robert Putnam.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

"My main objective of starting the ROADS TAKEN podcast was to highlight the stories of my classmates as we travel the road this year to our 25th college reunion – to reflect on who we were when we graduated, who we thought we’d be, and how we’ve traveled down various roads to get where we are today. I wanted to hit home the idea that, regardless of the paths we’ve taken, we’ve still lived into these full lives.

"But at this time when so many young adults out there are wondering what their future will hold, I’m hoping that ROADS TAKEN will also help others interested in living a full life and reflecting on what that means.

"Many of us remember thinking that the direction we would choose at the beginning of adulthood was so crucial because it would lock us into our future path leading either to success or not.  

"Already in the first couple dozen or so episodes—featuring guests with drastically different stories about their time in business or the military or education or domestic life—some very clear themes are emerging. I thought today I’d pull out a bit of the wisdom that my guests up to now have shared when reflecting on their own journeys, particularly what they wish they’d known when they were younger or what they might tell to someone just starting out on their life’s journey."

Thanks for Listening! - Leslie Jennings Rowley

HIghlighted in this episdode:

Gabe Schlumberger from Episode 4

Zack Stein from Episode 14

Dan Gonzalez from Episode 1

Jeneen DiBenedetto Graham from Episode 7

Michelle Villalobos from Episode 5

Pace Duckenfield from Episode 6

Fiona Danks from Episode 12

Chris Newell from Episode 8

Sarah McAlister Woelfle from Episode 3

Betsy Miller from Episode 10

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Host Leslie Jennings Rowley wanted to take a moment to say thank you to the ROADS TAKEN listeners.

"I know you are out there – From Seattle to Austin, Aspen to Cranford, Brasilia to Nairobi. And I really appreciate that you keep coming back.

"When I started this podcast, I wanted to share the stories of my classmates and how they’ve navigated their sometimes winding roads since college.  I knew the stories would be as varied as the individuals telling them.

"What I didn’t anticipate was that you – our listeners – would share such wonderful feedback about our interviews and how hearing these stories have helped you reflect on your own life journeys.

"Because I’m now greedy for more, I invite you to fill out our survey at RoadsTakenShow.com by clicking the Contact Us page.  All entries submitted by October 1 will have the chance to win a ROADS TAKEN journal that includes thoughtful quotes from some of our previous guests.

"Of course, as much as I want to hear from you directly, it would be so helpful if you could leave a review on your podcast platform of choice.  It makes the platforms like us and helps others find the show.

"But again, I’m so glad you’ve been listening and enjoying the show.  

"Next week we will look back at some of the words of wisdom from our guest so far and then I look forward to bringing you more stories in the coming weeks and months on ROADS TAKEN."

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Aleph Henestrosa, Dartmouth '96, knew that he needed good grades and an Ivy League degree in order not to disappoint his father, who had staked out a “central plan” for young Aleph from an early age. This dutiful son did what was expected. Though a personal wake-up call came during his junior year, making him realize he’d always relied on that central plan, he heard the call but didn’t quite have an alternative to the path to the top.  Onward to McKinsey and then Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and then the hottest industry in the early days of the new millennium – venture capital. But when the bubble burst and he found himself far from home, it was time to realize he needed to make decisions based on something other than the biggest name and what everyone else was talking about.  He needed to find his inner compass.

Years in international development and other globetrotting pursuits ultimately let him embrace his entrepreneurial spirit. Returning home to Mexico, he founded a rapidly expanding hair removal chain, and now lives a rich life with his wife and daughter.

In this episode, find out from Aleph how reflecting on the way we make our choices is sometimes just as important as the choices we ultimately make…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley

About This Episode's Guest

Aleph Henestrosa is the founder and CEO of Wax Revolution, a rapidly expanding (but we don't think we can say growing) hair removal chain headquartered in Mexico City. Find his company at WaxRevolution.com.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Recently, ROADS TAKEN sat down to talk with Brandon del Pozo about his journey from philosopher in the academy to the police academy and back again. Having spent nearly two decades as both an on-the-ground patrol officer and a leader in precincts and districts.  In a moment when current events have led society to question the role of policing in America, we sat down with the guy who wrote the book on it—his dissertation on police and the state—to hear what he thinks of the defunding movement and his ideas on how policing can become more effective if it works collaboratively with other social support systems around them. Join Leslie Jennings Rowley as she talks to Brandon about this for a special "Policing in America" Bonus Episode of ROADS TAKEN.

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Clancy Rowley on a theme by Worth Rowley

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Brandon del Pozo, Dartmouth '96, stood on a folding chair on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange after the first tower fell on 9/11, tasked with shutting down the exchange and getting people to safety. Some people weren’t listening until a patrician old banker said “This officer’s talking, and we’re going to listen and do what he says.”  In time, a lot more people would echo that sentiment: This officer’s talking, and we’re going to listen and do what he says.

A public health, drug policy, and policing expert, Brandon helps others formulate policy by drawing on lessons learned at the intersection of on-the-street practice and his academic investigations of political philosophy over a career spent in both policing and research. He looks to both theory and evidence-based behavioral science to boil things down to systems that a person can use to improve a life on a given day.

In this episode, find out from Brandon how the philosophical and the practical can come together in ways that can be of real and deep consequence for the well-being of others…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley

About This Episode's Guest

Brandon del Pozo spent nearly two decades in the New York City Police Department and served as the chief of police in Burlington, Vermont, where he tackled a number of pressing societal issues, including the opioid addiction crisis. He is currently a postdoctoral public health researcher at Brown University and continues to think deeply on the systems-level reforms necessary to optimize public health and policing in America. Find him at brandondelpozo.com.

BONUS EPISODE NOTE: Listen to the Roads Diverged bonus episode with Brandon published on September 18 in which he discusses his vision for how policing in America can become a truly positive affirming force for our society provided we view it through a collaborative, systems-based lens.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows
 

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Zack Stein, Dartmouth '96, found that his early stint as a consultant seemed a less (ful)filling, cheap imitation of the romantic life in the craft beer he had imagined for himself. When he finally made it into the beer biz, though, he realized that the lifestyle wasn’t quite as romantic as he’d made it out. What he loved, however, was telling a story about the brands. 

On the road to his marketing future, though, he was given the opportunity to take control of the operations and buying side of his products.  And a world of just beer turned into cheese, turned into produce, turned into everything under the sun.

In this episode, find out from Zack how following your taste buds, and a penchant for acquiring a broad field of knowledge, can open up a whole new buffet of options…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley

About This Episode's Guest

Zack Stein is a purchasing consultant who—while no longer our direct line to the best beer deals— is still the one to go to for recommendations of the best craft brews around. He loves cooking and spending time with his family, including his partner, Margaret Chang, Dartmouth ’96. 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]