- From Oberlin to The Voice: Tamara Jade on Creativity, Risk, and Building a Career on Your Own Terms
What does it take to build a creative career when there’s no clear roadmap?
In this special live episode of Running to the Noise, President Carmen Twillie Ambar welcomes singer, actor, comedian, and Oberlin alumna Tamara Jade ’12 back to campus for a candid conversation about ambition, resilience, and life as a working artist.
Recorded before a live audience of Oberlin students just weeks before Commencement, the discussion becomes an extended mentoring session as Jade shares lessons on networking, social media, auditions, financial survival, creative risk-taking, and staying true to yourself in an industry that often asks artists to fit a mold.
From teaching special education and sleeping on air mattresses to performing with Lizzo, appearing on HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, competing on The Voice, and debuting a one-woman show at Lincoln Center, Jade offers an honest look at the realities behind a creative career—and answers students’ questions about navigating the entertainment industry and creating opportunities rather than waiting for permission.
Topics include:
• Life after Oberlin and building a creative career
• Lessons from The Voice and working with John Legend
• Social media, visibility, and audience building
• Taking strategic risks and betting on yourself
• Mentorship, networking, and community
• Navigating the entertainment industry as a Black woman
• Why creativity is a daily practice
• Live audience questions from Oberlin students
Recorded live at Oberlin College and Conservatory.
Links:
See this conversation on You Tube
Tamara Jade Interview for The Voice Season 19
Tamara Jade - 'Cuz I Love You' | The Voice 2020 | Blind Audition
1h 0m - Jun 30, 2026 - Billion-Dollar Giving: Cecilia Conrad on Changing How Philanthropy Funds Big Ideas
People closest to the world’s biggest problems often have the best solutions. They just don’t always have access to the dollars needed to bring them to life. That belief is at the center of Cecilia Conrad’s work to rethink how philanthropists find and fund big ideas.
In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar speaks with Conrad, founding CEO of Lever for Change, the nonprofit that has helped direct more than $2.5 billion toward high-impact organizations around the world.
Before entering philanthropy, Conrad spent years in academia as an economist and professor focused on equity, access, and opportunity. A Stanford-trained economist and former managing director at the MacArthur Foundation, she now helps donors identify and support innovative organizations whose ideas might otherwise go overlooked.
Ambar and Conrad discuss how traditional philanthropy often relies on invitation-only networks that can miss promising ideas and organizations. The conversation centers on how efforts like Lever for Change and MacArthur’s 100&Change are opening those doors wider, helping philanthropists discover solutions they might never have otherwise encountered.
The episode also explores Oberlin’s tradition of bold, unconventional thinking, including its distinction as the nation’s leading liberal arts college producer of MacArthur “genius grant” fellows. From there, the discussion turns to the evolving role of philanthropy, the responsibilities that come with concentrated wealth, and how major donors decide which ideas and organizations to support.
Finally, the conversation closes with Cecilia’s thoughtful advice for Oberlin graduates and anyone stepping into the workforce who is interested in nonprofit work, philanthropy, and finding a meaningful way to leave their mark on their career and community.
What We Cover in This Episode
- Cecilia Conrad’s path from academia to philanthropy
- How Lever for Change has helped move more than $2.5 billion to organizations around the world
- Why traditional philanthropy can overlook innovative organizations and ideas
- The origins of MacArthur’s 100&Change competition and open-call philanthropy
- How billionaires and major donors think about risk, trust, and impact
- What Conrad learned from leading the MacArthur Fellows Program
- Why creativity and innovation often emerge from interdisciplinary thinking
- The importance of mentorship, friendship, and “diffusers” in sustaining leadership
- Oberlin’s culture of creativity, innovation, and public purpose
- What it means to “run to the noise” in philanthropy and leadership
Episode Links
38m - May 22, 2026 - The Power of an Oberlin Education
In this special spring episode of Running to the Noise, President Carmen Twillie Ambar reflects on what makes Oberlin College and Conservatory a place where students don’t just imagine change—they step up and make it happen. From student-led initiatives to alumni shaping fields as diverse as the arts, artificial intelligence, public policy, and journalism, this episode brings together stories rooted in the Oberlin experience—time on an extraordinary campus where a top-tier college of arts and sciences and a world-class conservatory are seamlessly intertwined, and where a long tradition of educating leading scholars and musicians continues to evolve.
Through excerpts from conversations with artists and innovators drawn from the past three seasons, we hear how Oberlin shaped their paths—from Broadway stages and opera houses to breakthroughs in machine learning, efforts to address climate and conservation challenges, bestselling novels, and national policy debates. These are not just careers—they are contributions that influence how we understand the world and how we live in it.
At the heart of each story is a shared mindset: a willingness to take risks, embrace complexity, and, as Michelle Obama once said of Oberlin students, “run to the noise.”
Featured Guests
- LaTanya Hall – Associate Professor of Jazz Voice, Oberlin Conservatory
- Georgia Heers (Class of 2021) – Broadway performer (Good Night, and Good Luck)
- Thomas Dietterich (Class of 1977) – AI pioneer and professor emeritus, Oregon State University
- Rumaan Alam (Class of 1999) – Bestselling author (Leave the World Behind, Entitlement)
- Tamara Jade (Class of 2012) – Singer, actor, and performer (The Voice, HBO, Lincoln Center)
- Benjamin Wittes Part 1; Part 2 (Class of 1991) – Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; Editor-in-Chief of Lawfare
- Limmie Pulliam – Operatic tenor and Oberlin Conservatory alumnus
Episode Highlights
- Mentorship that transforms lives: LaTanya Hall and Georgia Heers discuss the power of trust, discipline, and artistic growth in the conservatory model.
- AI, ethics, and the liberal arts: Tom Dietterich explains how Oberlin shaped his approach to machine learning and complex global challenges.
- Writing without fear: Rumaan Alam reflects on how Oberlin fostered creative risk-taking and intellectual courage.
- Artistry without limits: Tamara Jade shares how Oberlin empowered her to embrace multiple creative identities—and disrupt expectations.
- Finding your path: Benjamin Wittes on pivoting from fiction to journalism—and why close reading, critical thinking, and civic engagement matter now more than ever.
- Resilience and return: Limmie Pulliam’s journey back to the stage shows why it’s never too late to pursue your dreams..
What You’ll Take Away
- Why Oberlin students “err on the side of doing”
- How mentorship, community, and curiosity shape lifelong success
- The importance of embracing complexity—and rejecting easy answers
- What it really means to “run to the noise” in your own life
Listen now and discover how Oberlin students and alumni are changing the world—for good!
56m - Mar 31, 2026 - From Big Dreams to City Hall: Ali Najmi ’06 on Electing Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Reshaping New York’s Courts
A decade ago, Ali Najmi ’06 ran for city council in Queens and lost. But that loss forged a partnership and a political foundation that would eventually help propel Zohran Mamdani to the mayor’s office in New York City. Today, Ali sits at the center of power in the nation’s largest city as Mayor Mamdani’s election lawyer, trusted advisor, and chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. From organizing immigrant communities to reshaping New York’s criminal and family courts, Ali’s story is about representation, persistence, and what it takes to move from insurgent campaigns to the hard work of governing.
In this episode of Running to the Noise, President Carmen Ambar speaks with Ali about identity, authenticity in politics, and the courage to dream big. They explore what it means to build coalitions across communities, to lose and learn, and to carry big ambitions into real institutional power.
Ali reflects on belief as a political force. Belief in yourself. Belief in your community. Belief that what sounds unrealistic today can become institutional reality tomorrow. From a hookah bar conversation about running for mayor to reshaping the city’s judiciary, his journey is a reminder that dreaming big is only the beginning. The work that follows is what turns vision into change.
What We Cover in This Episode:
● Growing up in Queens as the son of immigrants and becoming the first in his family to graduate from college and law school
● Leadership at Oberlin, including organizing for a permanent Muslim prayer space on campus
● What he learned from running for city council and losing
● The origins of his partnership with Mayor Zohran Mamdani
● Lessons from insurgent campaigns and multiracial coalitions
● How authenticity and affordability became winning political messages
● The transition from campaigning to governing
● The work of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary and why criminal and family court judges shape daily life in New York City
● What it means to run to the noise in public service
Episode Links
Mayor Mamdani Appoints Ali Najmi as Chair of Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary
Mayor Zohran Mamdani Appoints Christine Clarke to Lead the New York City Commission on Human Rights
Who’s who in Zohran Mamdani’s administration?: Meet the folks who are running New York City
Office of the Mayor of New York City
40m - Feb 28, 2026 - Cutting Through The Noise: Tamara Jade, EJ Marcus, and Seyquan Mack on Creativity, Community, and Building a Career That Lasts
What does it take to get your talent noticed today? How do you sell your skills without selling out? In this wide-ranging and practical conversation on Running to the Noise, Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar brings together three young multihyphenate alums navigating today’s volatile creative economy: Tamara Jade ’12 (The Voice, HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show), EJ Marcus ’19 (comic and staff writer on HBO’s I Love LA), and Seyquan Mack ’21 (model, vocalist, and teaching artist).
They talk candidly about what it takes to build momentum in saturated industries where talent alone is no longer enough. From opera stages and writers’ rooms to TikTok feeds and global ad campaigns, each guest traces how discipline, adaptability, and self-belief shaped their paths, and why visibility now plays a role alongside craft.
But this episode goes deeper than career advice. It’s also a conversation about survival, agency, and belonging. The guests reflect on money, burnout, rejection, and the pressure to attract online followers, while making a powerful case for community over hyper-individualism. They explore what it means to pivot without losing your center, to use social platforms without being consumed by them, and to create work that still feels honest in a metrics-driven world.
At its heart, this is a conversation about running toward uncertainty instead of away from it, about turning discomfort into momentum, and noise into opportunity.
What We Cover in this Episode
- Why multihyphenate careers are becoming the norm in creative industries
- How opera training builds transferable discipline for other art forms
- The role of social media and visibility in getting hired, and how to stay authentic
- What “pivoting” really looks like when industries shift or work dries up
- Why community matters more than resilience alone
- How to think about money, stability, and creative freedom at the same time
- What it means to “run to the noise” as an artist in an uncertain world
Episode Links
Tamara Jade on The Voice (NBC)
Tamara Jade on Freedom, Faith, and the Power of Using Every Part of Her Voice
TV debut as Nico, the nervous PA on “Hacks”/ Real-time reaction
53m - Jan 29, 2026 - Democracy on Trial, Part Two: Benjamin Wittes ’91 on the Justice Department, Authoritarian Drift, and How Citizens Push Back
In the second half of their urgent conversation on Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar and Benjamin Wittes ’91 turn from the Supreme Court to the Justice Department. They dig into what happens when the power to prosecute is steered toward political ends. Together, they confront the implications of government lawyers misleading judges, career public servants being purged or sidelined, and federal prosecutions increasingly targeting political opponents with little regard for long-standing norms.
Wittes, a senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and co-founder and editor-in-chief of Lawfare, explains why the politicization of the Justice Department represents a distinct and dangerous inflection point for American democracy. Drawing on decades of reporting, relationships, and institutional knowledge, he illuminates why cases involving figures such as James Comey and Letitia James may be some of the clearest examples of vindictive prosecution in modern U.S. history.
But this conversation is not just about institutions in distress. It is also about responsibility, imagination, and courage. Speaking directly to Oberlin students and young listeners, Wittes traces his own evolution from cautious, nonpartisan think-tank scholar to outspoken pro-democracy activist — projecting Ukrainian flags onto embassies, planting symbolic sunflowers, and rediscovering the defiant spirit he once had as an Oberlin student. His message is clear: civic virtue is not theoretical.
This is a conversation about law, but also about hope, agency, and what it means to run toward the noise when democratic commitments are tested.
What We Cover in this Episode
- Why the politicization of the Justice Department poses a unique threat to democratic norms
- How misleading federal courts and purging career professionals erode institutional capacity and public trust
- What “vindictive prosecution” looks like in practice, and why the cases against James Comey and Letitia James are so troubling
- How shifts inside the FBI and DOJ could shape the rule of law for decades
- Why bipartisan commitments to prosecutorial restraint once held — and what it means that they no longer do
- Benjamin Wittes’s journey from nonpartisan analyst to visible pro-democracy activist
- A concrete call to Oberlin students and young citizens to stay engaged, resist intimidation, and act creatively in defense of democratic values
Episode Links
Lawfare
Brookings Institution – Governance Studies
https://www.brookings.edu/topic/governance-studies
Ralph Waldo Emerson
CNN
Justice Department confirms in court filing it may prosecute Comey again
NYT
29m - Dec 12, 2025 - Democracy on Trial: Benjamin Wittes ’91 on the Courts, Presidential Power, and the Future of American Justice (Part 1)
American democracy is being tested in ways few could have imagined even a decade ago. The Supreme Court’s emergency docket, presidential power, the durability of the Justice Department, and the independence of our legal institutions are all under intense strain. To understand how we got here and what may come next, there are few voices more clear eyed than Benjamin Wittes, Oberlin Class of 1991.
A senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and co-founder and editor-in-chief of Lawfare, Wittes has spent his career at the intersection of law, national security, and public policy. His analysis has shaped our understanding of some of the most consequential legal questions of our time, from presidential immunity to the future of the federal courts.
In this first of a two part conversation on Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with Wittes for a wide-ranging discussion about the Supreme Court’s seismic shifts, the behavior of the conservative majority, and the growing gap between emergency rulings and long-term judicial reasoning. Drawing on decades of work covering legal institutions, Wittes reflects on his path from Oberlin English major to one of the most influential court watchers in the country, revealing why the ability to read a text deeply may be the most important skill any legal analyst can have.
Together, they explore the Court’s evolving relationship with presidential power, the risks posed by the current emergency docket, and the cultural and political forces reshaping public trust in the rule of law.
This is not just a conversation about cases. It is a conversation about institutions, civic virtue, and the hard questions that determine whether democracy bends or breaks.
What We Cover in This Episode
- How an Oberlin English major became one of America’s most respected interpreters of the Supreme Court
- Why the current Supreme Court’s 6 to 3 conservative majority behaves so unpredictably
- The widening gap between emergency docket decisions and long-term judicial reasoning
- How presidential power, administrative law, and the Court’s internal divisions are now colliding
- The challenge of maintaining public faith in legal institutions during political polarization
- Why the future of democracy may depend less on new laws and more on civic culture
Episode Links
Lawfare: The national security and legal analysis publication co-founded by Benjamin Wittes.
Brookings Institution: Governance Studies research where Benjamin Wittes serves as a senior fellow.
Oyez Supreme Court Database: Case summaries and audio recordings for Supreme Court decisions referenced in discussions of precedent and judicial reasoning.
United States Department of Justice: Context for institutional independence and the role of DOJ leadership.
Wittes Wisdom:
- On Presidential Immunity: A Decision of Surpassing Recklessness in Dangerous Times
- On Brett Kavanaugh: 'I Wouldn't Confirm' Brett Kavanaugh, Says Law Scholar | Morning Joe | MSNBC
43m - Nov 26, 2025 - Artificial Intelligence: Tom Dietterich on the Promise and Pitfalls of Machines that Learn
Artificial intelligence has evolved from an abstract concept into one of the most transformative forces of our time. When Tom Dietterich graduated from Oberlin in 1977 with a degree in mathematics, AI was still largely theoretical. Over the decades that followed, his pioneering research helped turn theory into reality.
A distinguished computer scientist and one of the early architects of machine learning, Dietterich’s work laid the groundwork for the algorithms that now drive everything from voice assistants and climate models to medical diagnostics and drug development. Tom’s work has made him a sought-after authority. He advises the U.S. government on AI technologies and has earned some of the field’s top honors, including the Award for Research Excellence from the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence — a career achievement shared by just 25 scientists since 1985.
In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with Tom Dietterich, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University, to explore both the promise and the pitfalls of artificial intelligence. Together, they trace the evolution of AI from its beginnings to its current influence across nearly every industry, and discuss how a liberal arts education uniquely prepares us to ask not just what can AI do, but what should we do with it?
From the environmental impact of large-scale computing to the creative and ethical questions facing artists and educators, Dietterich offers a nuanced, hopeful, and deeply human vision for how we can shape the future of intelligent machines.
This isn’t just a conversation about technology; it is a reflection on curiosity, ethics, and what it means to stay human in an age of algorithms.
What We Cover in This Episode
- The origins of machine learning and how early innovators taught computers to “learn.”
- The environmental and ethical implications of AI and how efficiency and innovation can coexist.
- Why AI’s biggest challenge is not what it can do, but what humans choose to do with it.
- How a liberal arts foundation fosters critical thinking, ethics, and responsible innovation.
- The promise of “computational sustainability” and AI’s role in addressing global challenges.
Episode Links
35m - Oct 30, 2025 - The Empathy Machine: Joe Richman on Radio Diaries, Audio Storytelling, and Emotional Truth
Since 1996, Radio Diaries has been giving people tape recorders and working with them to report on their own lives and histories. That experiment, created by Joe Richman, became a groundbreaking audio documentary project that has redefined journalism as storytelling rooted in empathy. Richman’s work has aired on NPR, This American Life, and the BBC, winning multiple Peabody Awards while proving that every voice carries emotional truth.
In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with Richman, an Oberlin history alum, lifelong WOBC devotee, and proud Oberlin parent, to explore why audio remains our most powerful empathy machine. From personal diaries of everyday people to the story of Willie McGee and the traveling electric chair, Richman shares lessons from decades of listening deeply, curating stories with care, and teaching journalism as a set of life skills.
This conversation is about more than journalism, it is a guide for living with curiosity, courage, and compassion. As Richman reminds us, “a microphone is a passport to places and people we might not otherwise meet.”
What We Cover in This Episode
- The origins of Radio Diaries and why handing over the microphone changed journalism.
- Why Richman calls radio “an empathy machine” and how sound carries emotional truth.
- Lessons for Oberlin students in his course “Journalism Skills as Life Skills.”
- Clarissa Shields’ journey from a Flint basement gym to Olympic gold and how her diary captured history in real time.
- The Willie McGee story and what it teaches us about justice, memory, and truth-telling across generations.
- Why talking to strangers and listening without agenda may be the most radical acts of our time.
- How Richman is returning to the diary form to document today’s contested truths.
Episode Links
48m - Oct 1, 2025 - Not Above Nature: Sonia Shah on What Other Species Teach Us
Before she became a Guggenheim Fellow and a leading voice on pandemics, migration, and the environment, Sonia Shah ’90 was a student at Oberlin. Thirty-five years later, she returned to campus to deliver a powerful commencement address, reminding us of our interconnectedness with the natural world around us.
In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar revisits her conversation with Shah, exploring how her reporting confronts long-held assumptions about science, health, and humanity’s place in the world. From the history of malaria cures and the hidden biases of animal testing to the overlooked intelligence of dolphins, trees, and microbes, Shah pushes us to see our entanglement with other species in ways that could reshape medicine, policy, and our politics.
As season two comes to a close, this timely episode reminds us why Oberlin voices like Shah’s are needed now more than ever, voices unafraid to challenge orthodoxy, translate complexity, and speak truth to power.
What We Cover in this Episode
A Return to Oberlin: Shah reflects on her journey back to campus 35 years after graduating, and why Oberlin remains central to her voice as a truth-teller.
Pandemics in Context: From malaria to COVID-19, Shah reframes outbreaks as products of human behavior, inequality, and environmental exploitation, not just “foreign germs.”
The Myth of Human Exceptionalism: Why her forthcoming book Special: The Rise and Fall of a Beastly Idea challenges the widely held belief that humans are superior to other species.
Language Beyond Humans: The surprising ways dolphins, birds, and other species communicate, and what that means for how we measure intelligence.
Animal Testing Under Scrutiny: How hidden biases in lab studies, from who handles mice to how they’re housed, expose flaws in drug development and biomedical research.
Microbes as Kin: Why thinking of microbes and animals as “invaders” blinds us to their role as long-term partners in evolution and survival.
Running to the Noise: How Shah steps outside her comfort zone, from canvassing swing states to challenging scientific orthodoxy, in order to confront polarization and defend democracy.
40m - Aug 28, 2025 - Seriously Funny: Ed Helms on Rutherford Falls, SNAFU, and Facing Hard Truths with Humor
Before he became a comedic force on The Office or the creator of a podcast about near-miss nuclear disasters, Ed Helms ’96 was a music major at Oberlin, exploring bluegrass, improv, and performance on a campus that embraced his curiosity. What began as an artistic experiment turned into a career shaped by collaboration, humility, and the desire to tell stories that matter.
In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with Helms to talk about his path from Oberlin to Hollywood, the power of diverse writers’ rooms, and why he believes humor still has the power to spark civic change. From acapella auditions to activism against dark money in politics, this is a story about paying attention, using your platform, and staying hopeful in uncertain times.
What We Cover in This Episode
Finding His Voice: How Oberlin’s creative community helped Helms discover his passion for comedy and performance, and why he still credits the college for shaping his artistic worldview.
Behind Rutherford Falls: The origin of the hit series, the unexpected lessons Helms learned about representation, and the role that Native American writers played in making the story more authentic and nuanced.
Comedy with a Conscience: Why Helms supports the nonpartisan organization RepresentUs, how he uses satire to fight corruption, and what fairness really means in a divided political climate.
Mentorship and North Stars: The comedians who inspired Helms growing up, the quiet encouragement that kept him going, and how he now extends faith to the next generation of storytellers.
The Origins of SNAFU: What led Helms to create a history podcast about global mistakes, and why learning from past disasters may be the key to preventing future ones.
Humor as a Tool for Change: Why kindness, empathy, and small acts of participation still matter, and how Oberlin students and listeners alike can start where they are and make a difference.
Hard Truths and Honest Optimism: Helms opens up about climate anxiety, the limits of human attention, and why his children motivate him to keep working for a better world.
Episode Links
SNAFU Podcast
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-snafu-with-ed-helms-102539700/
Rutherford Falls on Peacock
https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/rutherford-falls
RepresentUs
Ed Helms on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/edhelms
Oberlin College and Conservatory
39m - Jul 10, 2025 - Finding Her Voice: the Power of Artistic Mentorship with Georgia Heers and La Tanya Hall
Before she captivated Broadway audiences in Good Night, and Good Luck, Georgia Heers ’21 was a jazz voice major at Oberlin Conservatory—among the first students mentored by Associate Professor La Tanya Hall, a working artist and visionary educator. What began as voice lessons soon became something deeper: a mentorship grounded in trust, truth, and the transformative power of music.
In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with Heers and Hall to explore how meaningful mentorship shapes artistic careers. From gospel choir performances and improvised studio sessions to standing ovations on Broadway, this is a story about risk, resilience, and redefining success on your own terms.
What We Cover in This Episode
A Conservatory Connection: How Hall helped build Oberlin’s jazz voice program from the ground up—and why it became the perfect space for Heers to find her artistic voice.
Finding Ella: The journey from Oberlin to Heers' breakout Broadway role as Ella in Good Night, and Good Luck—and how she embodied the spirit of jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan onstage.
Mentorship in Practice: Why Hall believes teaching jazz is more than technical training—it's about fostering courage, care, and creative risk-taking.
Safe to Fail: How their relationship built a foundation of trust, allowing Heers to embrace uncertainty, make bold artistic choices, and push through self-doubt.
Broadway Debut: Behind the scenes of Heers’ experience working with George Clooney, shaping the mood of the show with her voice, and interpreting iconic jazz songs for a new era.
Hard Truths and Second Chances: The pivotal moment when Hall challenged Heers to keep going—and how that moment led to Juilliard and ultimately New York City.
Art as Activism: Why telling the story of Edward R. Murrow’s stand against McCarthyism matters now more than ever—and how art can illuminate truth in dark times.
Georgia Heers and La Tanya Hall remind us that mentorship isn’t just about instruction—it’s about seeing the full potential in someone before they see it themselves. This conversation is a testament to the power of artistic relationships to shape lives, launch careers, and keep artists anchored in purpose—even when the path ahead is uncertain.
Episode Links
S2E19 - 43m - Apr 30, 2025 - Telling Stories That Matter with Soledad O'Brien
Before she became one of America’s most recognizable journalists, Soledad O’Brien was a young woman growing up on Long Island—the daughter of immigrants who faced housing discrimination and defied the odds. That early experience shaped a lifelong commitment to telling stories from the margins.
In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with O’Brien—award-winning journalist, producer, author, philanthropist, and Oberlin parent—for a candid conversation about race, representation, and the high-stakes work of covering uncomfortable truths. From navigating newsroom politics to launching her own production company and foundation, O’Brien shares how she’s built a career amplifying stories others overlook—and what keeps her hopeful in a polarized world.
What We Cover in This Episode
The Oberlin Connection: Why O’Brien is proud to be an Oberlin parent, and how her own children’s college journeys mirror deeper themes of identity and belonging.
Outsider’s Integrity: How being “both in and outside” mainstream culture sharpened her journalistic perspective.
The Myth of Objectivity: Why centering marginalized voices is not activism—it’s just good reporting.
Latino in America, Black in America: The behind-the-scenes story of how O’Brien pushed back against early editorial decisions—and reshaped CNN’s approach to identity-based reporting.
Newsroom Blind Spots: What happens when no one in the room understands the communities being covered.
Building Her Own Platform: Why O’Brien left traditional networks to found her own company—and the power and responsibility that comes with it.
Her Foundation’s Mission: The personal roots of the PowHERful Foundation, which helps underserved young women get to and through college.
The Case for DEI: How inclusion isn't just the right thing—it's smart business.
Soledad O’Brien has spent her career asking tough questions, telling hard stories, and creating space for voices too often ignored. This is a conversation about courage, clarity—and why sometimes, the most powerful way to run toward the noise is to simply stay in the fight.
Episode Links
S2E18 - 45m - Mar 27, 2025 - Meeting the World As It Is with Rumaan Alam
Long before his novel Leave the World Behind became a blockbuster, Obama-produced Netflix thriller, Rumaan Alam '99 was a creative writing major at Oberlin College, learning the craft of storytelling in rigorous workshops. His time at Oberlin shaped his approach to fiction—one that explores race, power, and the unseen forces shaping our lives.
In this episode, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar speaks with the acclaimed author about his path from student journalist to National Book Award finalist, how wealth and privilege shape identity, and why he believes writing is an act of discipline, not inspiration. From navigating the rarefied world of magazine publishing to questioning our collective obsession with money and influence, Alam reflects on the themes that drive his work—and what’s next.
What We Cover in This Episode
- The Oberlin Influence: How a dinner with an Oberlin alum led to Alam’s first job in publishing—and how those connections shaped his career.
- From Magazines to Novels: Why he left a promising career in journalism to pursue fiction full-time.
- Predicting the Future: How Leave the World Behind eerily captured societal dread before the pandemic.
- The Allure of Wealth: Entitlement and the moral compromises we make in the orbit of billionaires.
- The Writing Process: Why Alam writes five pages a day—by hand.
- Adaptation and Control: How he felt about Leave the World Behind becoming a Netflix film produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
- What’s Next: Why his next novel takes on a topic most contemporary writers shy away from—faith.
Rumaan Alam’s writing holds a mirror to society’s anxieties, desires, and contradictions. Don’t miss this thoughtful conversation with one of today’s most prescient literary voices.
Episode Links
Oberlin College & Conservatory
Learn more about Oberlin College, where Rumaan Alam honed his storytelling craft as a creative writing major in a rigorous workshop environment.
Explore Alam’s bestselling novel, which was adapted into a Netflix film produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
Netflix Adaptation of Leave the World Behind
Watch the eerie, apocalyptic thriller starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke.
Dive into Alam’s latest novel, which explores wealth, privilege, and moral compromise in the orbit of a billionaire.
Mike Nichols’ Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
A major influence on Leave the World Behind, this classic film captures psychological tension in a single setting.
A deeply unsettling film that inspired Leave the World Behind’s sense of unexplained dread.
Discover the novel that Alam is currently reading, which explores art, ambition, and the supernatural.
41m - Feb 27, 2025 - All the World's a Stage with Julie Taymor
Julie Taymor made history as the first woman to win the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical with The Lion King. But long before Broadway, her journey began at Oberlin College, where she created her own major in mythology and folklore. From there, she traveled the world, immersing herself in the theatrical traditions of Indonesia, Japan, and beyond—experiences that would go on to shape her groundbreaking approach to storytelling.
In this episode, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar speaks with the visionary director about her fearless approach to art, the lessons she learned from world theater, and why she continues to push boundaries in both film and stage. From her early inspirations to her latest projects, Taymor shares insights on creative collaboration, cultural storytelling, and what it really means to take risks as an artist.
What We Cover in This Episode
- The Oberlin Influence: How Taymor’s self-designed major in mythology and folklore set the foundation for her career in visual storytelling.
- World Theater as Inspiration: How living in Indonesia for four years and studying global theater traditions shaped her artistic vision.
- Bringing The Lion King to Life: The challenge of adapting an animated film into a groundbreaking stage production—and how she fought for authentic representation.
- Taking Risks in Storytelling: Why Taymor never repeats herself and how she chooses projects that challenge both herself and the audience.
- Shakespeare and the Power of Language: How Taymor’s work in Titus, The Tempest, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream explores the visual power of Shakespeare’s poetry.
- Who Gets to Tell Stories? Taymor’s perspective on the debate around cultural appropriation, authenticity, and why storytelling should be universal.
- Breaking the Broadway Mold: Why she believes Broadway is creatively stagnant and what it will take to push musical theater into new territory.
- The Grand Delusion: A sneak peek into Taymor’s latest musical project, a boundary-breaking production that blends modern New York, mythology, and surrealism.
*Photo © ANNIE LEIBOVITZ
Episode Links
Oberlin College & Conservatory
Learn more about Oberlin College, where Julie Taymor developed her unique approach to storytelling by designing her own major in mythology and folklore.
Explore the official Broadway production of The Lion King, which has captivated audiences worldwide with its groundbreaking visual storytelling
Richard Schechner’s Performance Theory
A foundational text in performance studies, this book explores many of the theatrical concepts that influenced Taymor’s approach to storytelling.
Frida (2002) – A Film by Julie Taymor
Watch Frida, Taymor’s Academy Award-winning film about the life and art of Frida Kahlo, featuring a visually stunning and theatrical approach to biography.
Discover Taymor’s cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, starring Anthony Hopkins, showcasing her signature blend of theatricality and film.
S2E16 - 39m - Jan 30, 2025 - Game-Changing Expertise: Season 1’s Most Powerful Moments
As we celebrate the holidays and embark on Season 2, we’re pausing to reflect on some of the most memorable conversations from Season 1 of Running to the Noise. This special “Best Of” episode revisits moments with trailblazing guests whose diverse expertise is driving meaningful change across industries, communities, and cultures.
From journalism and politics to music, literature, history and filmmaking, these highlights showcase the depth of knowledge, creativity, and leadership of Oberlin alumni.
What We Cover in This Episode
- Peter Baker ’88: The New York Times Chief White House Correspondent shares insights gained from covering five presidents and what we can expect from a second Trump presidency.
- Stephanie Rawlings-Blake ’92: The former Baltimore mayor discusses grappling with gender bias in politics and the leadership lessons she’s learned during moments of crisis, including protests following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody.
- Rhiannon Giddens ’00: The Grammy-winning artist reflects on discovering banjo, its cultural history, and her journey from Oberlin Conservatory to international acclaim.
- James McBride ’79: The best-selling author of The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store shares his writing process, the importance of joy in creativity, and why following happiness is the best career advice.
- Ed Helms ’96: The actor and comedian breaks down history’s greatest blunders in his podcast Snafu, exploring how the lessons of the past can prepare us for the future.
- Shane Boris ’04: The Oscar-winning documentary producer of Navalny recounts the serendipitous moment that launched his career and the importance of authenticity in human connection.
Episode Links
The Divider
Explore Peter Baker and Susan Glasser’s in-depth analysis of the first Trump presidency and its implications.
The Divider by Peter Baker, Susan Glasser: 9780593082966 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
Rhiannon Giddens and the Banjo
Learn about Giddens’s efforts to preserve the banjo’s cultural roots and redefine its legacy.
https://www.rhiannongiddens.com
James McBride: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
Discover McBride’s latest novel, set to become a Steven Spielberg production.
Snafu by Ed Helms
Delve into the history podcast that uncovers the world’s most astonishing blunders.
Shane Boris: The Art of Documentary
Learn more about Shane Boris’s Academy Award-winning work and his approach to storytelling.
35m - Dec 26, 2024 - Second Acts and Arias with Limmie Pulliam
Limmie Pulliam made his debut at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera at the age of 47, an improbable achievement for a man who left the opera world in his early 20s, disheartened by an industry that prioritized image over talent, Pulliam spent years working as a debt collector and security guard—rarely singing at all.
In this episode, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar speaks with the dramatic tenor about his inspiring return to music, including the serendipitous moment in 2007 that reignited his career. From his transformative years at the Oberlin Conservatory with legendary vocal pedagogue Richard Miller to his triumphant performance at Carnegie Hall with the Oberlin Orchestra, Pulliam’s story is one of resilience, faith, and reclaiming a voice that was meant to be heard.
What We Cover in This Episode
The Early Years: How Pulliam’s gospel roots and middle school choir teacher uncovered his gift for singing.
Oberlin Conservatory and Richard Miller: The role Oberlin played in shaping Pulliam’s artistry and the impact of Miller’s mentorship.
Overcoming Industry Bias: The challenges Pulliam faced as a young tenor and how rejection nearly silenced his voice.
A Career Reignited: The surprising 2007 moment that brought Pulliam back to music after years away from the stage.
From Carnegie Hall to Omar: Pulliam’s powerful performances, including his recent collaboration on the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Omar by Oberlin alumna Rhiannon Giddens.
Lessons in Resilience: Why Pulliam believes setbacks are opportunities to grow and how he inspires audiences with every performance.
Episode Links
The Story of Oberlin Conservatory
Learn more about the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, its renowned alumni, and its role in shaping the careers of artists like Limmie Pulliam.
https://www.oberlin.edu/conservatory
Richard Miller: The Structure of Singing
Discover the book that introduced Limmie to Oberlin. Richard Miller’s The Structure of Singing is a must-read for vocalists seeking to refine their technique and artistry.
https://www.amazon.com/Structure-Singing-System-Vocal-Technique/dp/0534255353
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Opera: Omar
Explore the groundbreaking opera Omar by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels, where Limmie Pulliam takes on a starring role in Oberlin’s upcoming production.
He Quit Singing Because of Body Shaming. Now He’s Making a Comeback.
Learn more about Pulliam’s remarkable return to the stage
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/23/arts/music/limmie-pulliam-opera-body-shaming.html
Opera singer Tenor Limmie Pulliam reflects on his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 47
Read about how tenor Limmie Pulliam overcame rejection and a decade-long hiatus to make his triumphant Carnegie Hall debut
Running to the Noise, Episode 9: More than Music with Rhiannon Giddens
Hear about Omar’s creation from Pulliam’s friend and classmate Rhiannon Giddens
https://www.oberlin.edu/news-and-events/running-to-the-noise-podcast/running-noise-episode-9
41m - Nov 27, 2024 - Tracking the Flu with Disease Detective Dr. Timothy Uyeki
Before Dr. Timothy Uyeki became one of the nation’s foremost experts in influenza and pandemic preparedness, he studied biology and environmental ecology at Oberlin College, while nurturing a love for the blues. Today, as the Chief Medical Officer of the Influenza Division at the CDC, Dr. Uyeki works on the frontlines of global health, tirelessly combating threats like avian flu and Ebola, which have the potential to impact populations worldwide.
In this episode, Dr. Uyeki and Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar delve into the latest bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle—a concerning development for scientists monitoring the potential for animal-to-human transmission. Together, they explore the challenges and nuances of public health in an interconnected world and the lessons learned from past pandemics, including Ebola and COVID-19.
What We Cover in This Episode:
- The Spread of Avian Flu in Mammals: Why the recent discovery of H5N1 in U.S. dairy cattle signals a unique and concerning trend in zoonotic diseases.
- Public Health’s Battle Against Disinformation: The growing public skepticism toward vaccines and health expertise, and strategies to restore trust in critical health communications.
- The Human Toll of Public Health Crises: Insights into the sacrifices and risks undertaken by health professionals who serve on the front lines, often at great personal cost.
- Global Health Partnerships: Dr. Uyeki's experiences building trust and collaborative relationships internationally, which are essential for combating global outbreaks.
- A Career in Pandemic Preparedness: Dr. Uyeki’s inspiring journey from Oberlin College to the CDC, including his on-the-ground experiences in places like Uganda during Ebola outbreaks.
Show Notes & Resources:
- CDC H5N1 Bird Flu Resources: This CDC page provides a comprehensive overview of the current H5N1 bird flu situation in the U.S., covering spread in wild birds, poultry, and mammals, along with public health guidelines. View it here.
- Guidance for Prevention and Monitoring of H5N1 in Animals: Interim CDC recommendations for preventing exposure to avian influenza A (H5N1) in animals, with guidance on public health monitoring and protective measures for those working with potentially infected animals. Access it here.
- CDC Bird Flu Situation Updates: Regularly updated with surveillance data on H5N1, this CDC page includes information on human cases, affected livestock, and zoonotic transmission risks. Visit it here.
S2E13 - 39m - Oct 31, 2024 - Rethinking Our Place in Nature with Sonia Shah
Before Sonia Shah became a renowned science journalist and award-winning author, she got her start at Oberlin College and Conservatory, where studied philosophy and neuroscience and served as editor-in-chief of The Oberlin Review. That early experience at the student-run newspaper, she says, was “absolutely foundational . . It was what made me decide to be a journalist."
Shah has written extensively on global health, human rights, and the environmental crises of our time. Her work on pandemics, the spread of diseases, and humanity’s place in nature has garnered worldwide attention. In this Season 2 Premiere of Running to the Noise, Shah sits down with Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar to discuss her upcoming book, Special: The Rise and Fall of a Beastly Idea, and the dangers of human exceptionalism.
In this conversation, Shah challenges the widely held belief that humans are superior to other species. She shares how our self-perceived dominance has shaped our relationship with nature, disease, and technology, and argues that understanding other species' communication, intelligence, and emotions could redefine our place in the world—ultimately improving life on the planet for everyone.
What We Cover in This Episode:
Sonia Shah’s exploration of human exceptionalism in her latest book, Special: The Rise and Fall of a Beastly Idea.
The moral and economic consequences of treating animals as resources or biological tools, rather than as sentient beings.
How historical events, such as the development of the cholera epidemic, reflect humanity’s role in the spread of pandemics.
The unrecognized communication and intelligence of animals and what we can learn from them.
Sonia’s personal journey from activist journalism to her involvement in electoral politics and why she believes the stakes today are higher than ever.
Show Notes & Resources:
- Sonia Shah’s latest book: Special: The Rise and Fall of a Beastly Idea.
- Sonia Shah’s TED Talk: "3 Reasons We Still Haven’t Gotten Rid of Malaria".
- The Nation article by Sonia Shah on COVID-19 and human responsibility in the environmental crisis.
S2E12 - 39m - Sep 26, 2024 - The Theater of Discomfort with Corey Stoll
Whether it’s a morally-ambiguous politician like Peter Russo in House of Cards, the Marvel villain Yellowjacket, or the ghost of Ernest Hemingway, for actor Corey Stoll, it all starts with finding truth in the script.
Stoll began his acting education somewhat reluctantly in fifth grade, but he hit his stride at the legendary New York performing arts high school LaGuardia — the Fame school. Rather than following in the footsteps of his classmates, like future co-star Sarah Paulson, Stoll opted to further his education and enrolled at Oberlin College and Conservatory where he studied interdisciplinary performance.
From his freshman year at Oberlin, Stoll was dazzling audiences and earning rave reviews for his performances in school and student-led productions. He even began his own theater company while at Oberlin with a few friends.
His most recent Broadway role of Bo in Appropriate — Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Tony Award-winning play centered around an Arkansas family reckoning with their racist roots — earned Stoll a Tony Award nomination.
Stoll sits down with host and Oberlin College and Conservatory President Carmen Twillie Ambar to discuss his development as an actor, taking on complex and challenging roles, and how plays like Appropriate confront the systemic issue of racism.
Running to the Noise is a production of Oberlin College and Conservatory and is produced by University FM.
Episode Links:
S1E11 - 32m - Aug 8, 2024
