The Duck Stops Here: University of Oregon

Today, we're excited to welcome Sunny Rubenstein, a true

At AEG Live, she was Vice President of Marketing and Special Events where she helped to revive the concept of Las Vegas residencies and worked with key stars like Elton John and Barry Manilow. She also led the marketing campaign for Celine Dion's first residency, which grossed $385 million. Sunny even gave Garth Brooks pivotal business advice on the differences in strategy between touring and working in Vegas.

Before that, she made her mark in the sports world with the Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers. And fun fact—while she was a student at Oregon, Sunny had a front-row seat to the filming of Animal House.

In this episode we explore the revival of "The LastDragon," a UO musical sensation from the 1980s. Alumni John Mansfield andJean Robison join us to talk about the process of bring this fantasy rockmusical back to life. With performances on August 8th, 9th, and 10th in Portland, this revival is not just a trip down memory lane—the show’s proceeds will support scholarships for UO’s theater department.

John and Jean discuss the logistical challenges and personal joys of coordinating this project with alumni who are scattered around the world. This production not only showcases the lasting bonds and the enduring creative spirit of UO alumni, but also underscores their commitment to

Tickets are still available: https://www.portland5.com/winningstad-theatre/events/last-dragon

GoFundMe to raise funds for production: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-last-dragon-fantasy-rock-musical-scholarship?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_content=buttons_swapped_var_a&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

Hosted by Michelle Joyce-Fyffe, senior director of strategic engagement.

Music credits: "Leaving Home" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under

This week we talk to Karin Elstad Wholey, an industry leader with over 25 years at HBO, now part of Warner

 Join us as Karin shares her insights and experiences navigating the ever-changing landscape of the entertainment industry. From her time at the University of Oregon, to her various roles at HBO, Karin offers valuable lessons on seizing opportunities, overcoming challenges, and thriving in a competitive environment.

Throughout the conversation, Karin emphasizes the importance of being adaptable, embracing change, and continuously learning in order to succeed in the entertainment industry. Karin’s insights provide actionable advice and inspiration for anyone diving into their career.

In this episode we're thrilled to bring you Barbara Blangiardi ('79, Journalism). Her adventure began in the fast-paced world of television marketing, leading her to impactful roles at major networks like NBC and Fox Sports. Her story is all about grabbing opportunities and building meaningful connections along the way.

Barbara spills the secrets of successful networking, sharing stories from her own impressive career. As an entrepreneur, she's taken her passion for marketing and content creation to new heights, all while mentoring UO students with her wealth of knowledge.

Join us for an engaging chat with Barbara and Michelle Joyce-Fife, Senior Director of Strategic Engagement at the University of Oregon. From navigating the ever-evolving world of television marketing to inspiring the next generation of professionals, Barbara's journey is as inspiring as it is enlightening. Don't miss out!

Join Tom Goldman, former NPR global sports correspondent and UO School of Journalism and Communication alum (’79) as he sits down with SOJC instructor Charlie Deitz, for a lively conversation about Tom’s path from UO to the living rooms of millions of people. From his early days as an associate producer for

In this episode, though he refers to his recent retirement as the “R word”, Tom reflects with humor and enthusiasm on his nearly three-decade-long career, where he covered every major athletic competition imaginable, from the Super Bowl to the Olympics. But what truly set apart Tom was his commitment to uncovering the human stories behind the sports headlines. Whether it was profiling an aspiring Olympian or exploring the motivations of a solo sailor, Tom's reporting went beyond the scores and statistics to capture the essence of athleticism and the human spirit.

Tune in as we delve into the fascinating world of sports journalism with Tom Goldman, exploring some of his favorite stories, and the many people who have defined his career along the way. Plus, we'll uncover the secrets behind Tom's award-winning storytelling and discover what motivated him to continue pushing the boundaries of sports journalism. Get ready for an insightful conversation with one of the industry's most respected voices – being

Tom Goldman is being interviewed by SOJC Instructor Charlie Deitz.

SOJC students Millicent Hopkinson and Julia Boboc contributed to this

In this episode of The Duck Stops Here, we sit down

Join us as Brian delves into the strategies and mindset

Throughout the conversation, Brian emphasizes the

Brian would like to reinforce to the listeners that there has never been a better time to start a business. With SaaS software solutions sold as monthly subscriptions and ecommerce platforms like Shopify also incredibly inexpensive the risks have never been lower. Everyone who has an inkling to do it, should!

Music credits: "Leaving Home" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under

As a student in the University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business (‘02) Matt Thomas never dreamed that a simple prompt in class senior year would turn into a $50+ million business.
As the founder and CEO of Brew Dr. Kombucha, Matt is a massively successful beverage entrepreneur who leads with a growth mindset.

Assigned a straightforward student project -- develop a business plan for an underserved market – Matt landed on tea drinkers. His vision? A teahouse, with all things tea under one roof. 

Hear Matt chart the course of this success story, from his early days scraping by on capital loaned by family and friends, to the founding of seven teahouses and ultimately a product now sold nationally, including at Starbucks. Learn about the turning point in 2008, when Matt dared to dream bigger for his company and produce a beverage – kombucha, a fermented tea prized for its healing properties since ancient times but still little known in the US at the time –that his customers kept asking for. From initial seed money coming exclusively from family and friends, to the hustle years, to why Matt’s kids help him come up with the funny phrases under each Brew Dr. Kombucha bottle cap, learn about the many other challenges Matt met along the way, including those that ultimately inspired him to found the world’s first and only tea distillery.

Matt Thomas is being interviewed on the podcast by Lisa

To connect with Matt, visit: https://www.brewdrkombucha.com

Shoot us an email at [email protected]

Music credits: "Leaving Home" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under

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Today we're joined by Soledad Hurst '88. If her voice sounds familiar it’s probably because she spent years on-air, covering the New York Stock Exchange for Bloomberg Television. She’s also spent time as an attorney and an investment banker, but these days she’s best known for her transformative philanthropic work. As the board member of several charitable nonprofits, she works to help provide opportunities to people who wouldn’t otherwise have them.

She knows first hand how hard it can be to beat the odds and carve out opportunity. Growing up in Springfield, her father was self employed as a driver and mechanic, ultimately owning his own trucking business. Her incredibly strong work ethic allowed her to pay her own way not only through the University of Oregon, but also through Yale Law School. 

In this very special episode, Soledad offers inspiration to all who aspire to create a positive impact and to dream big. Her story is one of perseverance, and dedication to making a difference.

Links:

Jaidyn’s music links on Spotify (she’s on Apple and all the

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2iljxYv3hM7WiVclzrkNJN

https://open.spotify.com/track/7uCGw1PCdZtM7w7RQMuW6l?si=be23ffb9d34c43ad

https://open.spotify.com/track/04xKEl6KhlnaokMXWS3IQJ?si=69e0108279214452

Jaidyn's music videos:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jaidyn+hurst+music

International Nonprofits

FINCA

https://www.meridian.org/

Keep in touch!

Follow the team @uo_the_duck_stops_here on IG to stay up on the latest podcast and alumni news and events.

Shoot us an email at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Music credits: "Leaving Home" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed  under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ • "Funkorama" Kevin MacLeod  (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0  License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 Today’s show features the Lerner twins: Andrew, a divorce lawyer and Mike, a marriage therapist. And they work across the hall from each other!

Throughout the episode, the brothers discuss the symbiotic nature of their professions, despite the initial humorous contrast. They emphasize their shared goal of helping people through tough times and highlight the advantages of their collaborative approach when working together on cases. They also touch upon the challenges and emotional aspects of their work, acknowledging the importance of having someone who truly understands the weight of their roles.

Andrew shares his experience as a family law attorney, having graduated from the University of Oregon and California Western School of Law. After practicing law for some time, he decided to explore alternative ways of helping the community, leading him to pursue a master's degree in dispute resolution from Pepperdine. He now runs Lerner Conflict Resolution Center, mediating cases and practicing family law.

Mike, on the other hand, pursued a different path. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor's degree in Clinical Psychology and went on to obtain a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Cal Lutheran University. Currently, he is pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology with the California School for Professional Psychology. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, Mike runs his own practice.

They emphasize the positive and inclusive environment at the University of Oregon, where egos are set aside, and connections are formed easily.

Tune in to this thought-provoking podcast episode as Andrew and Mike delve deeper into their roles as conflict resolution professionals and provide valuable insights into their respective fields.

Keep in touch!

Follow the team @uo_the_duck_stops_here on IG to stay up on the latest podcast and alumni news and events. Leave us a voicemail through Anchor that we can play on the air: ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/theduckstopshere⁠⁠. Shoot us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Music credits: "Leaving Home" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed  under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ • "Funkorama" Kevin MacLeod  (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0  License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Today’s guest is Gurdeep Singh Pall (’89, MS Computer and Information Science), Corporate Vice President for Business AI at Microsoft. He is an "intrepreneur," a product strategist, and an enthusiastic technologist.

Having spent more than three decades at Microsoft, Gurdeep is now focusing on creating scalable and ethical Autonomous Systems. His tenure at Microsoft began during the advent of the internet, and he played a key role in developing critical technologies such as TCP/IP, VPN, and cloud-based communications that underpin today's digital economy.

When he arrived in Eugene in the late 1980s, Gurdeep secured a teaching assistantship to support his graduate studies at the University of Oregon. It's been rumored that he spent long hours in the computer lab, even sleeping there with a sleeping bag to finish his thesis. He joined Microsoft in January 1990.

He’s being interviewed by Dr. Ramón Alvarado, a Philosophy faculty member at UO and a key contributor to the Presidential Initiative in Data Science, which led to the creation of the UO School of Computer and Data Sciences. His areas of expertise include Data Ethics, AI Ethics, Epistemology of Computer Simulations, and Philosophy of Computation. Dr. Alvarado designed and teaches the first Philosophy course required by another major on campus, demonstrating the importance of philosophical thinking in a rapidly changing technological society. In 2023, he was awarded the Tykeson Teaching Award.

Dr. Alvarado’s publications on philosophical issues related to computational methods and data science can be seen here https://ramonalvarado.net/

Keep in touch!

Follow the team @uo_the_duck_stops_here on IG to stay up on the latest podcast and alumni news and events. Leave us a voicemail through Anchor that we can play on the air: ⁠https://anchor.fm/theduckstopshere⁠. Shoot us an email at ⁠[email protected]⁠

Music credits: "Leaving Home" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed  under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ • "Funkorama" Kevin MacLeod  (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0  License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/