Unstoppable Stories

Host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Joshua Nieubuurt, an assistant professor at UMGC in Asia whose path to the "ivory tower" was anything but direct. Josh shares how he pivoted from a budding career as a general contractor in booming Nevada to teaching English in South Korea and Japan after the 2008 housing crisis. He recounts the "ground-shaking" realization that his American upbringing was only one small piece of the human experience and how that perspective now fuels his work with Japanese bridge students and the military community. Josh dives into the fascinating intersection of digital rhetoric, AI, and memes, explaining how "cultural glue" can connect people even across language barriers. From hilariously awkward sushi dinners to witnessing the transformative pride of a graduating student, Josh’s story is a masterclass in the power of reinvention.

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Host: Lauren Cardillo

Guest: Joshua Nieubuurt, Assistant Professor, UMGC in Asia 

Time Stamps & Show Notes:

00:00 The Hammer Analogy

00:22 From Contractor to Professor

02:17 The Housing Crisis Pivot

03:53 Landing in South Korea

05:19 Cultural Ground Shaking

07:38 Teaching in Japan

09:43 Rearview Mirror Lessons

12:45 Joining UMGC Asia

14:54 Overcoming Language Anxiety

16:14 The Sushi Dinner Mistake

18:39 Writing as Magic

21:45 Memes as Cultural Glue

24:02 Bridging Cultural Touches

27:22 AI: Tools vs. Voice

32:53 Military Community Dynamic

36:00 Finding the Real Dream

In this bonus episode of Unstoppable Stories, host Nathan James brings together UMGC faculty members Dr. Kate Goldberg and Mary Crowley-Farrell for a dynamic, forward-thinking dialogue on artificial intelligence in higher education. Together, they look past the baseline tech and examine the core issues of equity, digital awareness, and why AI literacy must go deeper than learning how to input prompts.

Mary shares crucial insights from the communications and journalism landscape, explaining how machine learning impacts human collaboration, the vital necessity of interrogating our tools, and how AI can sometimes have a "blanketing effect" on natural human curiosity. Dr. Goldberg addresses the rapidly evolving data science field, arguing against the potential "extinction of the expert" and highlighting why domain expertise is more valuable than ever to identify bias, inaccuracies, and ethical gaps in automated outputs. From restructuring assignments around real-time problem-solving to balancing AI assistance with peer review, this conversation provides a necessary roadmap for educators, students, and workforce professionals striving to remain authentic and adaptable in a machine-assisted world.

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To learn more about UMGC, visit: UMGC.edu/

Host: Nathan James 

Guests: 

Dr. Kate Goldberg, UMGC Professor of AI & Data Analytics 

Mary Crowley-Farrell, UMGC Professor of Communications and Journalist

00:00 Welcome to the Bonus Episode

00:28 AI’s Classroom Challenges

01:11 Acclimating Students to Tech

02:23 AI Literacy vs. Tool Access

03:38 Defining Modern AI Literacy

04:15 The Vital Human Expert

05:30 Evaluating Visual Content and Reality

06:21 Comparing Platforms in the Classroom

07:32 Responsibility, Ethics, and Bias

08:56 Knowing Appropriate Use Cases

10:42 The Loss of Human Collaboration

11:55 Peer Review and Editing Workflows

14:13 Focusing on Process Over Product

15:20 Data Analysis as Storytelling

17:55 Grounding Instruction in Reality

20:43 Intellectual Property and Watermarks

22:59 The Complicated Math Debate

25:42 Defining Authentic Learning

28:59 Redesigning Higher Education Systems

30:27 Arguing for the Sages

32:14 Faculty Identity Under Pressure

34:52 Curiosity and the Blanket Effect

37:21 Audience Centricity in Media

38:14 Gumption to Question Data

44:18 AI as a Brainstorming Aid

47:29 Student Skepticism and Options

51:05 Content Creators and Workforce Trends

53:52 Individual Attention and Coaching

Host Nathan James sits down with Jake Messier, a former Marine Corps combat correspondent, PR executive, and public affairs specialist whose career has transitioned into urgent healthcare advocacy. Jake opens up about his non-linear journey, which began with dropping out of college after his junior year to find direction in the military. Stationed at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo as a broadcast journalist, Jake fulfilled a promise to his father by earning his sociology degree abroad through the UMGC Asian Division while capturing the diverse lives of service members across 43 countries.

Following his military service, Jake navigated intense corporate environments, working as a CBS news assignment editor during 9/11 before founding the largest non-profit marketing agency in New England, an achievement that landed him in Forbes as a prominent "olderpreneur". However, his path took a drastic turn at age 52 when a routinely dismissed lump under his arm led to a diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic male breast cancer. Now managing an incurable illness, Jake has mobilized his deep marketing expertise to combat toxic masculinity and emasculation within healthcare, building a massive digital community as "The Guy with Stage 4". Tune in to hear how Jake became the first male breast cancer patient appointed to a Susan G. Komen steering committee and why sharing our most vulnerable chapters is the ultimate catalyst for saving lives.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!

Host: Nathan James

Guest: Jake Messier, Marine Veteran, Stage 4 Breast Cancer Survivor, UMGC Alumnus

• 00:00 Deodorant Checks and Dismissed Symptoms
• 00:43 Introducing Jake Messier
• 01:21 Dropping Out of Traditional College
• 02:26 A Heritage of Seafaring Veterans
• 03:47 Discovering Public Affairs Job 4341
• 04:53 Good Morning Vietnam in Tokyo
• 05:39 Fulfilling Two Promises to Dad
• 06:27 Traveling Across 43 Global Countries
• 08:05 Capturing Every Marine Corps Specialty
• 10:04 The UMGC Asian Division Experience
• 11:43 Applying Sociology to Marketing Demographics
• 12:55 Desk Editing at CBS Affiliate WBZ
• 13:20 Reporting from the Center of 9/11
• 14:05 Navigating Historic New England News Crises
• 15:49 Finding Motivation in Loved Programs
• 18:12 Founding a Niche Marketing Agency
• 19:50 Embracing Humanitarian Uniform Ribbons
• 21:03 Scaling the Business for Social Change
• 22:20 Facing Stage Four Metastatic Diagnosis
• 24:37 Male Breast Cancer Mortality Rates
• 26:07 Finding the Hidden Axillary Lump
• 27:15 Transitioning to the Mammography Ward
• 27:57 Fast and Slow Realities Aloud
• 28:56 Psychological Trauma of Medical Emasculation
• 30:11 The Successful Strategy of Pink Marketing
• 31:07 Toxic Masculinity in Healthcare Settings
• 31:49 Mastectomy Surgeries and Inclusive Devices
• 33:16 Gender Inequalities in Patient Literature
• 34:31 Launching the Guy with Stage 4
• 36:08 Taking the Stairs for Chemo
• 38:25 Disproportionate Funding for Incurable Cases
• 39:08 Rare Disease Structural Disparities
• 41:15 Seated at Susan G. Komen Board
• 43:27 Empowering Men to Speak Bravely

Host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Ashley Esposito, a UMGC graduate, community organizer, and the first mother ever elected to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. Ashley opens up about her unconventional path through an education system that nearly left her behind. Diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at age 35, she reflects on falling "off the cliff" in third grade, navigating the foster care system, and the resilience it took to earn a degree after years of academic probation. Now a data analyst and executive director of Baltimore Unity Hall, Ashley shares how her lived experiences allow her to "poke holes" in outdated policies and advocate for students on the margins. From door-knocking with a toddler in a backpack to passing landmark foster care legislation, Ashley’s story proves that education can truly be an equalizer when those it once failed are given a seat at the table.

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Host: Lauren Cardillo 

Guest: Ashley Esposito, Executive Director of Baltimore Unity Hall, UMGC Alumna

Time Stamps:

00:00 Early Intervention and Diagnosis

01:13 Persistent Through the Gaps

03:12 Falling Through the Cracks

05:12 Life Hard for a Reason

06:51 Foster Care and Stability

09:10 Running for School Board

11:22 Campaigning with a Toddler

14:28 Overcoming Campaign Insecurity

18:09 Advocating from the Margins

22:16 Finding the Right Path

25:58 Systems Thinking and Data

31:08 Leading Baltimore Unity Hall

33:14 Harnessing ADHD Superpowers

35:16 Finding a Voice

38:55 Reimagining Community Spaces

44:42 Persistence in Mentorship

Join Lauren Cardillo on Unstoppable Stories as she sits down with Giovanna "Gia" Williams, a two-time UMGC master’s graduate - earning her MBA and MS in Project Management - whose life journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention.

In this episode, Gia shares her incredible story of growing up in Panama amidst systemic unfairness, moving to Brooklyn at age ten, and navigating an abusive household. She reveals how she broke generational cycles by using education as her ultimate strategy for stability, eventually pivoting from a dream in criminal justice to a profound career in healthcare management after the tragic passing of her mother.

Today, Gia leads a massive federal web modernization program for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). You’ll hear her powerful insights on the importance of self-awareness in leadership, why empathetic leadership always beats top-down management, and how therapy helped her uncover her blind spots. If you’re looking to turn your toughest circumstances into your greatest strengths, this episode will show you what it truly means to be unstoppable.

Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment! Learn more about the UMGC community at umgc.edu

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

01:11 Growing Up in Panama

05:56 Moving to the US

08:07 Overcoming Abusive Environments

10:00 Breaking the Cycle

11:15 Education as a Strategy

13:12 Reconnecting With Mom

15:58 Shifting to Healthcare

22:47 Pursuing Two Master's

27:15 Leading with Empathy

35:08 The Power of Mentoring

38:01 Moving to Baltimore

40:30 Navigating Complex Situations

43:56 Self-Awareness in Therapy

47:18 Closing

In this bonus episode of Unstoppable Stories, UMGC President Dr. Gregory Fowler sits down with Dr. Angie Besendorfer Martin, UMGC's Chief Learner Experience & Success Officer, to talk about the new role Dr. Fowler created to unite the university's approach to the entire student journey. Angie reflects on what drew her to the position, from Dr. Fowler's explicit vision for change to her own experience leading through crisis as an administrator in Joplin, Missouri, following the historic 2011 tornado.

The conversation explores what it really means to build a student-centered institution: rethinking degrees around demonstrated skills rather than seat time, using AI to enhance rather than replace the human elements of teaching, and creating a consistent UMGC experience for learners everywhere from military bases overseas to fully online classrooms. Dr. Fowler and Angie also discuss UMGC's recent trip to visit learners and staff across Asia, the new Digital Student Experience team charting individual learner journeys, and why practitioner faculty with real-world experience are central to closing the gap between a degree and a job.

In closing, they offer a vision for the next five years, explain why UMGC maintains rigorous standards alongside its open-enrollment policy, and reflect on how a nearly 80-year legacy of serving students in remote military outposts and war zones continues to define the university's mission today. 

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!

To learn more about UMGC, visit UMGC.edu

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome To The Bonus Episode

00:31 Creating A New Kind Of Role

01:47 What Student Centricity Really Means

02:36 Being Intentional About Disruption

03:00 Leading Through The Joplin Tornado

04:55 A Fulbright In Brussels And The Bologna Process

05:40 Rethinking Skills And Competencies

07:15 Making The Case For Skills-Based Hiring

08:07 Scaffolding Skills From K-12 Through Career

09:43 Credentialing Learning That Happens Outside The Classroom

11:03 A Plug-And-Play Model For Degrees

12:10 Rebuilding The Team Around The Strategic Plan

14:24 Broadening UMGC's Global Perspective

17:05 Serving 175+ Locations In 24+ Countries

18:30 Charting The Learner Journey

21:08 Learning From Disruption In Other Industries

22:52 Where AI Fits Into The Future Of Education

26:16 AI As Augmented, Not Artificial, Intelligence

27:50 Rethinking Assessment And Skill Signals

31:20 Holding UMGC Accountable For Outcomes

32:38 Moving From Inputs To Outputs

34:07 Why Practitioner Faculty Matter

35:00 Building A Skills-Based Culture Internally

39:01 Defining What Success Looks Like In Five Years

42:02 UMGC's 80-Year Mission And Closing Thoughts

Host Nathan James sits down with Air Force veteran and UMGC alumnus Matthew Ruchie to trace his remarkable path from academic probation to becoming a logistics supervisor for UMGC in Europe. As a first-generation college student, Matthew initially struggled at a private university, dropping out to enlist in the Air Force where he served as a mental health specialist. He shares how transitioning out of the military triggered a deep depression, leading to a 1.8 GPA and failing a foundational writing class multiple times. 

Through the vital support of his wife, a life-changing meeting with a dedicated academic advisor, and leveraging AI for structured planning, Matthew completely reversed his trajectory. Today, he oversees educational operations and complex logistics across forward operating stations in Germany and Poland. Matthew shares powerful insights into removing self-imposed barriers, treating mental health like proactive car maintenance, and why a fifth attempt can change your entire life.

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Time Stamps:

00:00 Breaking Self-Imposed Barriers

00:39 Introducing Matthew Ruchie

01:23 Mission of UMGC Europe

03:35 First-Generation College Obstacles

05:03 Enlisting for Higher Purpose

07:39 Mental Health Specialist Role

09:06 Preventing Personal Breakdowns

13:48 The Academic Downward Spiral

15:16 Finding the Way Out

16:36 Advisor Intervention in Europe

19:26 Building Confidence through Skills

22:02 From Sweeping Floors to Supervisor

22:38 Coordinating Logistics in Poland

24:43 Agility and Pivoting Under Pressure

26:48 Running Classes in Base Chapels

32:28 Mastering VA Benefit Policies

37:12 Leveraging AI for Study Blocks

42:28 Mindset Shift for Failing Students

Host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Joe Arden, who spent 40 years with UMGC as a professor and director. Joe recounts his incredible journey from serving as an Army intelligence officer in Vietnam to accepting a traveling teaching position in 1967 that changed his life forever. Taking a massive pay cut to leave a think tank, Joe found his true calling teaching American military personnel across Asia and Europe. 

He shares powerful stories of his time in the classroom, including teaching armed soldiers in Vietnam, helping a former Vietnamese faculty member escape as a "boat person," and receiving a life-changing letter from a student nearly 30 years later. Reflecting on his transition to administration and his decision to live in Thailand, Joe proves that doing your best is the key to an unstoppable career.

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Host: Lauren Cardillo

Guest: Joe Arden, Veteran, Retired UMGC Faculty Member

Time Stamps & Show Notes: 

00:00 Do Your Best 

01:08 Favorite Career Stops 

02:26 A Fortuitous Interview 

05:52 The Value of the Experience

08:33 Impacting Students' Lives 

12:29 Origins of UMGC Asia 

17:15 Passion for Travel 

19:52 Moving to Europe 

21:45 Transition to Administration 

28:54 Settling in Thailand 

32:17 The Fall of Saigon 

36:29 Advice to Younger Self

Host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Jesse Varsalone, a cybersecurity guru, UMGC faculty member, and the coach of UMGC’s award-winning cyber competition team, the Shells. Jesse shares his 32-year teaching journey, explaining how he transitioned from a high school math teacher to the fast-paced world of cybersecurity. He breaks down the biggest misconceptions about the field, emphasizing that it requires curiosity rather than advanced math, and boasts incredibly low barriers to entry. Jesse also dives into the diverse makeup of his championship team—which includes everyone from bartenders to military personnel—and how their online, flexible model helped them conquer major professional competitions and reach the Final Four in "Hack the Madness". Whether you are a career changer or a tech hobbyist, Jesse proves that anyone with passion can go pro in cybersecurity.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!To learn more about UMGC, visit: UMGC.edu/Unstoppable.

Host: Lauren Cardillo 

Guest: Jesse Varsalone, Associate Professor & Cyber Team Coach

Time Stamps & Show Notes: 

00:00 No Barriers to Entry

01:03 A 32-Year Teaching Journey

04:07 Pivoting to Cybersecurity

09:12 Diversity on the Cyber Team

11:50 Naming the Shells

15:12 Coaching Adult Learners Online

22:12 Recruiting Cyber Team Members

24:41 Inside a Cyber Competition

32:20 Beating Professional Cyber Teams

35:34 Reaching the Final Four

Host Nathan James sits down with Christina Barlas, a Senior Regional Marketing Specialist and UMGC MBA graduate who turned a life-altering trauma into a story of absolute resilience. At age 16, Christina’s world was shattered by a violent home invasion that left her feeling unsafe and disconnected from her education. 

After initially dropping out of school to work in the salon industry, Christina realized that her true potential lay beyond the stylist's chair. She shares the pivotal moment she rediscovered her childhood love for art and technology, leading her to enroll at UMGC. Balancing multiple jobs with a rigorous academic schedule, she not only earned her bachelor's degree but went on to complete her MBA with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Today, Christina advocates for "making the most of wherever you go," using her past experiences as a foundation for leadership, mentorship, and a future dedicated to helping other victims of crime.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!

Time Stamps:

00:00 It Is All Worth It

01:11 The Sixteen-Year-Old Self

02:56 Surviving a Home Invasion

04:40 Processing PTSD and Survival

07:12 Pivoting from Salon Life

10:33 Finding a Fit at UMGC

13:19 Falling in Love with Learning

15:04 The Hectic Dual Grind

16:47 Impact of Micro Internships

19:43 Achieving a 4.0 MBA

23:11 Climbing the Corporate Ladder

27:22 Leading Through Service

30:28 Advice for the Lost

32:58 What Felt Like the End