For this episode of "The Separation is in the Preparation" podcast I am joined by Cyrus Ghaffari MD. Cyrus is in his first year of residency after graduating from Drexel University's Medical School last year. Cyrus talks about how a series of events in his life led to him pursuing a career in medicine, the manner in which he has tried to prepare himself for each level of medical training, and much, much more. Cyrus' passion for his profession, as well as the immense humility with which he approaches his work, really stood out to me throughout our conversation. There is something for everyone in this interview, regardless of your interest level in medicine. Enjoy! 

For Episode 26 of "The Separation is in the Preparation" podcast I'm joined by journalist Philip Kiefer. Philip covers healthcare in New Orleans for the Lens, and is also a regular contributor to Popular Science. Philip shares how he gravitated towards a journalism career, the methodologies he uses in his reporting, as well as how he tries to make the science he writes about accessible to his readers. Philip approaches his profession with a profound thoughtfulness and curiosity that was inspiring to hear about, and I know the listener will feel the same. Enjoy! 

For Episode 25 of "The Separation is in the Preparation" podcast I am joined by TJ Shorts. TJ is a professional basketball player currently playing for the Hamburg Towers of the Basketball Bundesliga in Germany. TJ is a Tustin, CA native and, after playing at Saddleback College, starred at UC Davis for his last two years of collegiate eligibility. From there TJ got his first professional opportunity in Latvia, and after strong performance in his first professional season, signed with Hamburg. TJ has taken an unconventional route to playing high level professional basketball and his journey there has been fueled by his elite work ethic, unwavering self belief, and gritty toughness. I hope you enjoy this inside look at TJ's basketball journey. Rest assured the best is yet to come for TJ! 

For Episode 24 of "The Separation is in the Preparation" podcast I'm excited to be joined by Austin Giavanni. Austin is a signer/songwriter/producer based out of Seattle, WA. Austin talks about his earliest musical influences and how he ended up choosing music as his profession. We also dive into his creative process and discuss the various places he finds inspiration for his music. Austin is a fantastic musician, but an even better person. I'm so grateful to him for making time to come on. Enjoy! 

My guest for Episode 23 of "The Separation is in the Preparation" podcast is Chima Moneke. Chima is a professional basketball player for Orleans Loiret in France and, in addition, recently made his first appearance for the Nigerian national team. Chima talks about how he first got involved in the game, trying to find a collegiate opportunity in the U.S., transferring from junior college in Nebraska to UC Davis, and his experiences as a pro. Chima's authentic energy and unapologetic ambition have allowed him to succeed when many said he would not. He and I became friends while both redshirting in our respective sports at UC Davis, and its been incredible to follow his success since then. I'm so happy that the listener will get a chance gain some insight into the hard work and perseverance that has gotten Chima to this point in his career, and will continue to serve him going forward. Enjoy! 

For this episode of "The Separation is in the Preparation" podcast I am honored to be joined by Dr. Jessica Whiteside. Dr. Whiteside is an Associate Professor of Geochemistry at the University of Southampton. Dr. Whiteside is a molecular paleontologist who specializes in studying ancient fossilized molecules as they pertain to mass extinction events and the habitability of earth and other planets. Dr. Whiteside discusses her introductions to fossils at an early age, her unique scientific education experiences, as well as some insights on her current work with the NASA Mars rover Perseverance. This was a fascinating chat that I'm really excited to share with you all. Enjoy!

For Episode 22 of "The Separation is in the Preparation" podcast I am joined by professional basketball player Morgan Bertsch. Morgan played collegiately at UC Davis where she finished her career as one of the all time greats in Aggie history. The 2019 Big West Conference Player of the Year finished her career with 2,422 points making her the leading scorer in the history of both the women's and men's programs at UC Davis. Morgan also competed for four years in Track and Field as a high jumper at UC Davis. Morgan was the 29th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft, she has since played professionally in both Russia and Poland. She is currently gearing up for the 2021 WNBA season where she will be playing for the Connecticut Sun. I'm so grateful to Morgan for coming on and sharing her story, I really enjoyed this conversation. Let me know what you think! 

For Episode 20 of "The Separation is in the Preparation" podcast I am joined by Ike Okoroike. Ike is a strength and conditioning coach as well as a speed expert and specialist based out of Davis, CA. Ike was also a track and field standout at UC Davis where he competed in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and triple jump. Ike competed professionally for 2 years before transitioning full time into coaching during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ike talks about his experiences as an athlete, how he got involved in coaching, how he's had to get creative during the pandemic, and much more. For anyone looking to optimize their performance and body mechanics in the greater Sacramento area Ike is your guy. I really enjoyed this conversation and I know the listener will too!

For Episode 19 of "The Separation is in the Preparation" podcast I am joined by professional soccer player Sebastian Elney. Seba is in entering into his third professional season after signing with Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship this past offseason. Seba is also a University of Maryland graduate where he earned a Criminology degree and also won a National Championship in 2018. Throughout the interview Seba shares his meteoric rise to the highest levels of youth soccer, his experiences at Maryland (including their run to the College Cup), and his mindset and mentality after going undrafted. As a former teammate of Seba's I can speak firsthand to the high level of professionalism, work ethic, and mentality that he brings to work every day. I'm excited for the listener to get an inside look at some of the things that have led to Seba's success. Enjoy!

For episode 18 of “The Separation is in the Preparation” podcast I am joined by Michelle Urrea. Michelle works as an educator and software engineer for an organization called GOKiC (Geeking Out Kids of Color). At GOKiC Michelle teaches tech in several weekly after school programs where she seeks to advance the organization’s mission of creating project-based tech classes that are informed by anti-racism, anti-sexism, multiculturalism, socioemotional learning, and decolonization frameworks. Michelle shares how her experience as a student has shaped how she serves her students as an educator, her strategies for lesson planning, and the hard work she does to make herself available as a trusted and reliable resource to her students and their families. Michelle’s purposeful work in creating an inclusive and safe space for students to learn was really inspiring for me to hear about, and I know the same will be true for the listener. Enjoy!