Best UCLA Alumni Podcasts (2025)

1
The Puzzle of the Puck: NHL Media Distribution and International Strategy with Dan Kim, MBA '06 49:29

1d ago49:29

49:29

Dan Kim, MBA ’06 is Executive Vice President of Media Distribution and International Strategy at the National Hockey League. From his days at UCLA Anderson to leading the NHL’s global media initiatives, he shares insights on navigating the landscape of sports media and the pivotal role his Bruin experience played in shaping his career. Tune in to h…

1
Student Leader to State Legislator: California Senator Dean Florez '87 1:02:19

9d ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Senator Dean Florez's journey from UCLA to the California State Senate reflects a lifelong commitment to public service and policy innovation. A proud Bruin and champion of accountability, Senator Florez shares how his UCLA experience shaped his leadership values, the lessons he learned navigating the political landscape, and why bold ideas still b…

1
Behind the Scenes of Building Better Media: Developmental Psychologist Yalda Uhls, M.B.A. '90, M.A. '10, Ph.D. '13 41:13

23d ago41:13

41:13

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls is the founder and CEO of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at UCLA, which is the only youth-centered organization to bridge the gap between social science research and media creation to help storytellers better reflect the lives of adolescents. She is an internationally recognized research scientist, educator, author, …

1
Finding Your Voice: Untapped Leadership with Jenny Vazquez-Newsum Ed.D. '14 1:04:17

29d ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, Ed.D. '14 is redefining leadership. Inspired by her experiences in the nonprofit world, her organization, Untapped Leaders, is dedicated to empowering the voices of historically underrepresented professionals. Tune in to hear her insights on imposter syndrome, sustainable work practices and making an impact by embracing authen…

1
Nano Steps to National Impact: Former Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office Branden Brough '00, M.S. '03, Ph.D. '06 1:29:23

1M ago1:29:23

1:29:23

Branden Brough '00, M.S. '03, Ph.D. '06 was drawn to big ideas and bringing people together long before his career as the Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO). In this episode, he reflects on his UCLA legacy, the lifelong relationships built as one of the founding members of The Den and the power of collaborative leade…

1
Choreographing a Joyful Career: Professional Dancer Jessica Warshal '23 49:52

1M ago49:52

49:52

Jessica Warshal '23 reflects on how her lifelong love of dance transformed at UCLA, where she began exploring movement as an academic discipline and cultural practice. After training at the London School of Contemporary Dance and completing a residency in Cameroon, she speaks on navigating dance professionally and the bravery to choose joy. Follow …

1
From Neighborhoods to Newsfeeds: L.A. in a Minute Creator Evan Lovett '00 1:01:42

2M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

Evan Lovett '00 started his social media career with a newspaper and a TikTok – now he's LA famous. This self-described "relentlessly curious" Bruin created L.A. in a Minute, a platform that celebrates the dynamic and often lesser-known history of the city he's proud to call home. Tune in for a conversation about the evolution of storytelling journ…

1
Episode 52: Innovation in Defense Tech- Key Insights for Entrepreneurs and Emerging Leaders with Rahul Singh 47:16

3M ago47:16

47:16

Hey everyone! Welcome back to Student Entrepreneur 101! Tune in to this episode to hear from Rahul Singh, Managing Partner at Dual Use Ventures and Chief Growth Officer at defense tech startup: Hybron Technologies. Rahul started his career in the Marine Corps and then went on to earn degrees from UCLA and USC. He’s worked at Amazon identifying inno…

1
Episode 51: From Space Systems Command to Startup Strategy- Navigating Space Security with Kevin Plascencia 40:50

5M ago40:50

40:50

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another episode of Student Entrepreneur 101! Tune in to this episode to hear from Kevin Plascencia, the founding Chief of Staff for the Space Systems Integration Office at Space Systems Command. Kevin previously taught aerospace studies at UCLA as an assistant professor and has experience evaluating startups for Space …

1
🎉 FIESTA BOWL 🎉: Penn State vs Boise Preview and Predictions 48:47

5M ago48:47

48:47

WE ARE DOWN TO THE ELITE EIGHT IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS! The Penn State Nittany Lions will travel to Glendale, Arizona, to play the Mountain West Champion Boise State Broncos in the always-electric Fiesta Bowl. (0:00-5:30) College Football Playoff Elite Eight (5:31-10:30) Boise State Impact Players NOT named Ashton Jeanty (10:31-20:29) How …

1
College Football Playoff Round One: Penn State vs SMU Preview 50:28

5M ago50:28

50:28

IT IS THE FIRST-EVER 12-TEAM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS! The Penn State Nittany Lions will host a home playoff game against ACC Runner-Ups, the SMU Mustangs. The boys discuss some impact players on the Mustangs roster and matchups Penn State needs to win to advance. Lastly, some impact players for the Nittany Lions could be keys to a victory and com…

1
Episode 50: Moon Missions, Mars Landers, and Space Startups with Dr. Leon Alkalai 51:25

6M ago51:25

51:25

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from Dr. Leon Alkalai, the founder and CEO of Mandala Space Ventures– a venture fund and studio supporting startups in the emerging space economy. Leon earned his PhD from UCLA and established his career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where he conducted research and later became responsible …

1
Big Ten Football Championship Preview: Penn State Oregon Predictions 52:02

6M ago52:02

52:02

IT IS THE BIG TEN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND! The Penn State Nittany Lions will face the undefeated Oregon Ducks, led by Heisman contender quarterback Dillon Gabriel, in the Big Ten Championship as College Football reaches its finale on conference championship week. (0:00-8:20) Ohio State Blows It Again! New College Football Playoff Bracket (8:2…

1
Penn State at Minnesota Week 13 College Football Preview 51:57

6M ago51:57

51:57

(0:00-3:37) College Football Playoff Bracket Projections Revealed (3:38-12:11) Minnesota Football Season Review (12:12-23:19) PJ Fleck and the Golden Gophers Impact Players (23:20-30:18) Penn State Week 13 Must Win Matchups (30:19-35:39) Iron Lions and Penn State Minnesota Predictions (35:40-51:57) Week 13 College Football Best Bets- Big Ten Editio…

1
Episode 49: From University to Industry: Advice on launching your career with UCLA Alumni 50:22

6M ago50:22

50:22

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from co-founders Alex Kroll and Brandon Florian, two UCLA alumni and aerospace professionals. Currently working on stealth-mode aerospace startup Aero.Grid, which is reshaping aerial cargo mobility- Alex and Brandon share valuable insights for current students. Consider this episode a career guide—packe…

1
College Football Week 12: Penn State Travels to Clash with Purdue 50:28

7M ago50:28

50:28

(0:00-8:02) First 2024 College Football Playoff Bracket Revealed (8:02-11:41) Nick Singleton's status and Injury Report (11:42-19:57) Boilermakers Football Program STRUGGLING (19:58-31:13) Purdue Impact Players & Must Win Matchups (31:14-50:27) Week 12 Penn State Iron Lions & Best Bets Subscribe HERE! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdoTL0BmD1GFBL…

1
Washington Penn State Preview & Predictions | College Football Week 11 32:31

7M ago32:31

32:31

IT IS PENN STATE FOOTBALL WHITE OUT WEEK! Check our preview of the most incredible show in college football as the Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Washington Huskies under the lights in Week 11. (0:00-5:33) Ohio State and James Franklin Therapy (5:34-17:12) Washington Huskies Offense Preview (17:13-23:41) Steve Belichick and the Huskies Defens…

1
Episode 48: The Entrepreneurial Journey- Real Talk with Matthew Semegran 45:04

7M ago45:04

45:04

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from Matthew Semegran, a seasoned entrepreneur with a dynamic career journey. From art dealing to jet sales, scaling a cleaning company to property management and e-commerce – Matt’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. He’s here to share the lessons learned from his unique path, so t…

1
TOP FIVE CLASH! #3 Penn State vs. #4 Ohio State Week 10 Preview and Best Bets 37:32

7M ago37:32

37:32

(0:00-6:23) Drew Allar and Penn State's Injury Report (6:24-13:49) Will Howard and Ohio State O-Line Struggles (13:50-22:21) How to attack the Ohio State defense? (22:22-29:50) Penn State vs Ohio State Week 10 Preview (29:51-37:31) Week 10 Penn State Iron Lions Subscribe to our channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdoTL0BmD1GFBLYw1r8zCDg?view_…

1
Episode 47: Quantum Senses with Justin Lee 42:13

7M ago42:13

42:13

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from Justin Lee, the founder and CEO of Quantum Senses, a Maryland-based company that’s providing innovative assistive technology solutions such as their Earcoustic headphones, which improves the hearing experience for those with hearing impairments. Before Quantum Senses, Justin had a successful career…

1
College Football Week 9 Penn State Football Jumps Around at Wisconsin 1:05:24

7M ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Subscribe to our Penn State Football YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdoTL0BmD1GFBLYw1r8zCDg?view_as=subscriber?sub_confirmation=1 (0:00-7:57) College Football Playoff is WIDE OPEN (7:58-11:21) Penn State Football News (11:22-23:11) Wisconsin Football Offense Preview (23:12-32:10) Wisconsin Football Defense Preview (32:11-34:27) T…

1
Penn State UCLA Week 6 Preview and Predictions: LA Series Part 1 1:11:55

8M ago1:11:55

1:11:55

0:00:00-0:05:16 Penn State Illinois Highlights 0:05:17-0:14:05 New Big Ten Foe! UCLA Week 6 Preview 0:14:06-0:26:55 UCLA Offensive Impact Players 0:26:56-0:41:29 UCLA Defensive Impact Players 0:41:30-0:53:07 Penn State Iron Lions & UCLA Predictions 0:53:08-1:11:05 Week 6 Best Bets- Big Ten Edition Subscribe to our channel! https://www.youtube.com/c…

1
Bruins Triumphs: Sports Highlights, Campus Buzz, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Legacy 5:44

8M ago5:44

5:44

In episode three of UCLA Weekly, Matilda Stocking and Eric Marquette bring you all the action from the Bruins' athletic scene, including football, volleyball, and soccer highlights. We explore upcoming campus events like the club fair, cultural nights, and Sustainability Garden Day, offering plenty of opportunities to get involved. Hear the inspiri…

1
Episode 46: Building the Next Frontier: Drew Busbee on Space Startups and the Future of the Space Economy 27:35

8M ago27:35

27:35

Hey everyone! Tune in to this episode to hear from Drew Busbee: a founding member at SpaceWERX and the current COO at the Disruptive Technology Index (DTI), a California nonprofit that partners with SpaceWERX to bring technological advancement and innovation to the US Space Force. In this episode you’ll learn about Drew’s experience building innova…

1
Big Ten Football Begins: Illinois Penn State Week 5 Top 25 Preview 47:55

8M ago47:55

47:55

Subscribe to our channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdoTL0BmD1GFBLYw1r8zCDg?view_as=subscriber?sub_confirmation=1 (0:00-8:30) Penn State Kent State Week 4 (8:31-22:09) Big Ten Top 25 Clash: Penn State Illinois Week 5 (22:10-27:15) Week 5 Penn State Illinois Preview (27:16-31:12) Penn State Illinois Predictions & Iron Lions (31:13-47:54) Coll…

1
UCLA Weekly: Sports, Campus Buzz, and Alumni Success 6:03

8M ago6:03

6:03

In this episode of UCLA Weekly, hosts Matilda Stocking and Eric Marquette cover the Bruins' recent football loss to LSU and their upcoming game against Penn State. They also dive into women’s soccer and volleyball highlights, alongside updates on campus events like the Bruin Welcome series and the Enormous Activities Fair. Alumni success stories fe…

1
Return of the MAC: Penn State Hosts Kent State in Week 4 41:12

8M ago41:12

41:12

It's Week 4 in the 2024 College Football season, and the Nittany Lions head out of their bye week hosting another MAC opponent. After the scare against Bowling Green, Penn State needs to come out of the gates on fire against a lowly 0-3 Kent State football team. The Golden Flashes have severe offense and defense weaknesses that James Franklin can e…

1
College Football Week 4 Preview and Best Bets 35:09

8M ago35:09

35:09

The boys review some Penn State football news coming out of the bye week, including a critical injury to the secondary that the Nittany Lions will have to overcome. The boys go around the college football world talking about the Georgia versus Kentucky defensive battle, Michigan and Florida State struggling HARD this season, and more. Before previe…

1
Bruin Block Party, Olympic Glory, and Academic Innovations 9:55

9M ago9:55

9:55

By Jellypod, Inc.

1
Penn State Football Battles Bowling Green in Week 3 47:24

9M ago47:24

47:24

THANK THE LAWD!! We no longer have to deal with those scumbag West Virginia fans, and we are on to Bowling Green. The Falcons are not a team to be taken lightly from the MAC conference, as the boys dive into their depth chart and find critical mismatches. Lastly, the Big Ten betting bonanza keeps rocking with another week of picks, all from the mos…

1
Rematch in Morgantown: Penn State vs. West Virginia Football Week One Preview 56:13

9M ago56:13

56:13

It is Week One of the brand new 2024 College Football season, and the boys are ready for Penn State’s rematch in Morgantown against West Virginia. After discussing the Mountaineers' “bulletin board material” and Pat McAfee’s effect on the game, the boys dive deep into the West Virginia roster to exploit any weaknesses or strengths on this roster. T…

1
The Ultimate 2024 Penn State Football Preview 1:07:34

9M ago1:07:34

1:07:34

It is a brand new college football season, and hopes are sky-high for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2024. The guys discuss their experience with EA College Football 25 before diving into the depth chart, which includes all the names you need to know. Both take turns predicting their breakout candidate for Penn State football, both on the offensiv…

1
From Code to Campaigns: Technology and Public Service with Regina Wallace-Jones, M.P.P. '99 40:10

10M ago40:10

40:10

Regina Wallace-Jones is the CEO and President of ActBlue, an organization established in 2004 that builds a fundraising platform for Democratic candidates, progressive organizations and the small-dollar donors that support them. In her decades-long career in technology, Regina has held executive roles at Mindbody, Inc., Yahoo, eBay, Facebook, and L…

1
Opening New Doors: Leading with Grit and Grace with Shirley Wang '90 27:04

11M ago27:04

27:04

Shirley Wang '90 is founder and CEO of Plastpro Inc., an award-winning fiberglass doors manufacturer which has been recognized for innovation by Construction Tech Review and Window and Door Magazine. In 2022, CIOViews listed Ms. Wang among the year’s most admired women business leaders. She was the first Asian American Woman chair for the UCLA Foun…

1
From Classroom to Newsroom: Broadcast Journalist LaMonica Peters '94 30:43

11M ago30:43

30:43

LaMonica Peters '94 is a News Reporter for KTVU Fox 2, covering Silicon Valley and South Bay. Her work has been seen on CNN, ABC News Live, CBS News, Spectrum News Network and Fox Live Now. She was selected as a Knight Digital Media Center Fellow by the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in 2011. In 2013, she was given the Mississippi Associ…

1
Law and Leadership: California Agricultural Labor Relations Board Member Cinthia Flores '10 23:17

11M ago23:17

23:17

Cinthia Flores ’10 is a Board Member of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board. Prior to her appointment, she practiced immigration law with a focus on removal defense defending individuals from deportation. Cinthia has a background in labor law having previously represented public and private sector unions. Currently, Cinthia serves as …

1
Bridging Tradition and Transition: Thoughtful Mergers and Acquisitions with Kevin Berson '96 24:22

11M ago24:22

24:22

Kevin Berson ’96 is the founder of Kinected Advisors, a Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Exit Planning Advisory firm. Kinected helps lower-middle market business owners (businesses generating $5M-$50M in annual revenue) navigate the process of selling their businesses for maximum value. Prior to founding Kinected in 2014, Berson spent 18 years wi…

1
Out N About: Navigating Identity in the Workplace 47:54

11M ago47:54

47:54

In partnership with UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives, the Bruin Success Podcast presents a collaboration episode: Out N About: Navigating Identity in the Workplace. Moderated by Cleve Wong ’10, featured speakers Devon Dickau ’07, MBA ’15 and Matt Kaczmarek ’05 share their insights, reflections, and strategies on navigating the professio…

1
Global Voices: Cultural Storyteller Samantha D'Souza '18 51:31

1y ago51:31

51:31

As a cultural storyteller, Samantha D'Souza specializes in developing communities of change through robust brand identities, dynamic communications strategies, and artful content. She is captivated by the “in-between” moments and delves into the intersection of industries such as entertainment and science, social impact and sport. In her journey th…

1
From Ice to Assets: Olympic Bobsledder and Financial Strategist Carlo Valdes '13 31:59

1y ago31:59

31:59

Olympic bobsledder Carlo Valdes grew up playing almost every sport you can think of. He was on the football team for a year at UCLA and also competed on the track team during his four years, participating in decathlon and javelin. At the encouragement of his coach, he tried out for the USA bobsled team once he graduated. This led to an 8-year caree…

1
Heartfelt Healing: AI Driven Healthcare Robotics with Mineh Badmagharian '13 26:29

1y ago26:29

26:29

Mineh Badmagharian, OTD, OTR/L, received a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA in 2013 and a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from USC in 2020. She is registered with the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy and has experience working with the pediatric population in a variety of settings such as schools, outpatient clinics, and homes. I…

1
Forecasting Success: Singing Meteorologist Marina Jurica '99 52:46

1y ago52:46

52:46

Marina Jurica is a passionate advocate for climate education as a meteorologist and climatologist for KCBS/KCAL Los Angeles. Previously, she spent four years with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and worked on many Earth missions there including SWOT, Sentinel-6, NISAR, and the landing of the Perseverance Mars rover. She has a master's degree in ge…

1
Lima to LA: Award-Winning Journalist Enrique Chiabra '09 39:25

1y ago39:25

39:25

Enrique Chiabra '09 is an Emmy, GLAAD and Ruben Salazar award-winning journalist currently serving as primetime news anchor for Telemundo 52 in Los Angeles. Born and raised in Lima, Peru, his dedication to reporting on impactful stories within the Latino, immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities has been a central focus throughout his career. Tune in to le…

1
Episode 45: Rotate Your Closet with Jessie Somekh 35:10

1y ago35:10

35:10

Hey rising entrepreneurs! Tune in to this episode to hear from Jessie Somekh: Co-Founder of Rotate Your Closet, a peer-to-peer platform where users can rent trendy clothes from others and generate money from their own closet. In this episode, you’ll learn about Jessie’s experience building Rotate, the importance of community engagement when buildin…

1
Episode 44: Sake High with Brenna Turner 24:07

1y ago24:07

24:07

Hey rising entrepreneurs! Tune in to this episode to hear from Brenna Turner: Co-Founder of Sake High- the company making sake fun, approachable, and bringing it to new audiences. In this episode, you’ll learn about Brenna’s experience building Sake High, the importance of finding a unique niche for your product, why networking can help you establi…

1
Episode 43: Cohere with Lena Zhang 25:32

1+ y ago25:32

25:32

Hey rising entrepreneurs! Tune in to this episode to hear from Lena Zhang: Co-founder and COO of Cohere- a company building the Glassdoor for the retail industry that is committed to connecting retailers with emerging consumer brands. In this episode, you’ll learn about Lena’s experience building Cohere, why iteration and market feedback are critic…

1
Episode 42: Perkies with Rosie Mangiarotti 33:42

1+ y ago33:42

33:42

Hey rising entrepreneurs! Tune in to this episode to hear from Rosie Mangiarotti: founder and CEO of Perkies- a startup creating innovative undergarments for women, including sticky bras with replaceable adhesives. Perkies is dedicated to sustainability, inclusivity, and empowering women to feel confident. In this episode, you’ll learn about Rosie’…

1
Episode 41: Making 2024 Your Best Year Yet! 7:43

1+ y ago7:43

7:43

Hey rising entrepreneurs! In this episode, we're diving headfirst into 2024 with enthusiasm and a game plan for success. Together, we’ll walk through a journey of self-reflection, sharing personal wins and challenges from 2023. Together, we’ll also walk through the SMART method, breaking down each letter to help you set goals that are Specific, Mea…

1
Penn State Ole Miss Peach Bowl Preview 37:03

1+ y ago37:03

37:03

Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdoTL0BmD1GFBLYw1r8zCDg?view_as=subscriber?sub_confirmation=1 Penn State football finishes their season 10-2 after a 42-0 thrashing of Michigan State, their third shutout of the season. The Nittany Lions got their New Year’s Six Bowl Bid and will face Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl with the opp…

1
Episode 40: Qode Space with Carol Shih 43:29

1+ y ago43:29

43:29

Hey rising entrepreneurs! Tune in to this episode to hear from Carol Shih: the co-founder and CEO of Qode Space- a web development agency that specializes in building and enhancing Shopify eCommerce stores. In this episode, you’ll learn about Carol’s experience building Qode Space, the importance of being a solutions seeker, why you should be bold …

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