Jim Minarik ’75 Bus, ’77 MBA is an author, investor, board member, and CEO coach who began his entrepreneurial journey as a Penn State student. After a 25-year career as a CEO, Jim went on to create Sound United, a billion-dollar global home audio business with brands including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, and Polk Audio.

Now, Jim is the author of Reckoning: A Journey Through Tragedy, Triumph, and Transcendence, a deeply personal book about navigating tragedy, achievement, loss, and transformation.

Jim shares his story and reflects on how those experiences changed how he sees life, success, and what it means to be present in the moment.

Learn more about Jim and purchase Reckoning: A Journey Through Tragedy, Triumph, and Transcendence.

Listener note: This episode includes conversations about suicide, murder, death, and grief. Some listeners may find these topics difficult or emotionally challenging.

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In this episode, we chat with Mattie Leon ’09 A&A, a soulful folk singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Ontario, whose journey from student-athlete to musician has taken him far from the golf course and back to Penn State in an unexpected way.

Mattie shares what it was like balancing life as a student-athlete at Penn State, accepting a golf scholarship, and making memories that would stay with him long after graduation.

We also talk about his transition from competitive golf to a career in music and the stories, places, and experiences from his time at Penn State that inspired his newest album, 607 West College Avenue.

Listen to part one of the album!

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In this episode, we sit down with Eric Yeamans, '10 A&A, to explore the intersection of design, technology, and digital strategy. As the leader of digital initiatives at Actual Size, Eric shares how he leverages emerging technologies, data-driven insights, and innovative marketing strategies to help organizations grow their digital presence and create meaningful audience engagement. 

We also discuss Actual Size's work on the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the evolving role of digital experiences in design, Eric's Penn State journey, and the impact of recognizing the next generation of creative talent through the Ryan Russell Award for Design Excellence in Graphic Design.

Learn more about the Ryan Russell Award for Design Excellence in Graphic Design.

For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Wagner '96 Lib and Eric Vishnevetsky '15 Bus to explore their career journeys in wealth management, leadership, and the power of building meaningful relationships.

Eric Wagner, a Managing Director at UBS Private Wealth Management and co-founder of PWJ, has helped build one of New York City’s premier wealth management teams while bringing together his background in finance and law to serve clients and lead with a people-first approach. 

Eric Vishnevetsky has spent his career at UBS, growing from the firm’s Graduate Talent Program into a senior role with The Wagner Abrams Group, where he focuses on next-generation client initiatives, financial planning, and team strategy.

Together, they share insights from their professional paths, discuss the importance of mentorship and lifelong learning, and reflect on how their Penn State experiences continue to shape their careers and connections.

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In this episode, Jackie Layer '13 EMS shares how childhood weather events sparked a passion that led her to a career in broadcast meteorology. 

Now the Chief Meteorologist at DC News Now, Jackie reflects on her Penn State experience, covering everything from devastating tornado outbreaks to tropical storms, earning her AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation, and the responsibility that comes with keeping communities informed before, during, and after severe weather. 

She also discusses mentoring future meteorologists and why her connection to Penn State remains as strong as ever.

For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

On this episode of The People of Penn State podcast, we chat with Dan Barefoot '13 A&A, a professional landscape architect and Team USA skeleton athlete who represented the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. 

Dan shares how he discovered the sport after graduating from Penn State, what it took to balance a full-time career with the demands of elite international competition, and the journey from complete beginner to Olympian. 

He also reflects on the power of perseverance, embracing uncertainty, and chasing ambitious goals while staying connected to his profession and community. Plus, hear what's next as he sets his sights on the 2030 Winter Olympics.

For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

On this episode of the People of Penn State podcast, we sit down with Jennifer Colvin ’97 Behrend, chief innovation officer at Learning Undefeated and self-described “crazy ideas captain.”

Jen reflects on her time at Penn State Behrend, where she earned her biology degree in 1997, and shares how her Penn State experience helped shape her passion for STEM education and community impact. 

She shares how Learning Undefeated allows her to fulfill her mission of making STEM education equitable and accessible for all learners, including the development of more than 20 mobile laboratory programs, the importance of community partnerships, and the Penn State values and experiences she carries with her every day.

For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

On this episode of the People of Penn State podcast, we chat with Janelle Burrell '05 Lib, Emmy Award-winning journalist and morning anchor at CBS News Philadelphia. 

Janelle shares the story of how she almost didn’t attend Penn State — and why changing her mind became one of the best decisions she ever made. She also reflects on her journey from working behind the scenes to earning a seat at the anchor desk, the lessons she learned along the way, and how Penn State helped shape her career. 

Janelle also offers advice for new graduates navigating their next chapter, discusses the importance of perseverance and authenticity in journalism, and more.

Follow Janelle on Instagram @janelleburrell

For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

On this episode of the People of Penn State podcast, we sit down with Brian Kappel ’98 A&A, whose creative career has taken him from Penn State to major brands like Nike, Jordan, Under Armour, ESPN, PlayStation, and more. 

Brian reflects on his time as a student, how Penn State helped shape his creative journey, and why he decided to move back to Happy Valley after living in Oregon for more than 20 years. 

He also shares the importance of staying connected to the University through mentorship and giving back—and sticks around for a special announcement you won’t want to miss!

Learn more about Hintzpiration: Artistry at the Alumni Center.

For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com

In this episode, we talk with Cade Miller ’24 Com, Associate Director of Admissions at Shepherd University.

Cade reflects on how his Penn State experience and involvement across campus shaped his path, how those experiences led him to his current role in higher education, and how he brings storytelling and student engagement into his work. 

Plus, hear how a podcast project turned into an unforgettable experience with a particularly stubborn dairy cow named Barbara Jean.

Listen to the podcasts Cade mentions in the episode:

Franco's Immaculate Legacy

East Palestine: One Year Later

Inside Appalachia

Read the Penn Stater magazine's feature on Cade & Barbara Jean

For more alumni stories, visit pennstatermag.com