Cornell (thank) U

Asian Americans make up a small percentage of artists on major stages — and Lily Tung Crystal is actively changing that.
Lily is the artistic director of East West Players, the nation’s largest and longest-running Asian American theater company. She shares her journey from Cornell to Shanghai to Minneapolis to Los Angeles, and how her work is reshaping who gets hired, who gets supported, and whose stories are told.
We talk about representation, leadership, and why lasting change in the arts takes systems — not just talent — along with the creativity and care that make live theater matter.
We had so much fun with Lily. Fun fact: she’s a sorority sister we hadn’t connected with since 1990!
Read about Lily here:
https://www.eastwestplayers.org/blog/ewp-announces-artistic-director-lily-tung-crystal
Find East West Players and their schedule here:
https://www.eastwestplayers.org/

And a special thank you to Beth Storz, a recent guest and sorority sister, for making the connection.
Not sponsored or affiliated with Cornell University

Meet Dr. Eric Kusseluk ’97, a board-certified dermatologist, former Cornell soccer player, and a true example of persistence.
"Dr. K" (to us) shares the remarkable story of how sheer tenacity got him into Cornell off the waitlist, onto the soccer field as a walk-on, and eventually helped transform the program into an Ivy League championship team. That same determination followed him through Wall Street, medical school (another waitlist work of magic), and into building a successful dermatology practice in Manhattan.
We also get Dr. K’s no-nonsense take on current skincare trends, answering the questions everyone is asking in our game “Dr. K Yay or Dr. K Nay.” He breaks down what’s worth your time, what’s mostly hype, and how to keep skincare simple, healthy, and realistic.
You will love this conversation about showing up and proving what’s possible when you don’t quit.
Dr K's website:
https://www.kusselukmd.com/
Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Some people build careers.
Others build trust (and an incredible career).
Beloved return guest Dave Price joins us for a deeper conversation about what it means to show up — not just on television, but for people who need connection most.
From decades as a trusted television weather forecaster to traveling overseas to entertain U.S. troops, Dave reflects on service, consistency, and why presence matters more than recognition. We talk about how those trips began, what stays with him long after he returns home, and why this work continues to matter so deeply to him.
An absolute gift on a Monday morning — we even tested a few ideas we’re thinking about for 2026.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

This episode is a reset.
Lainie returns for a rare, mostly unedited conversation that unfolds like a masterclass in letting go. Her new book, Hold Nothing: An Invitation to Let Go and Come Home to Yourself, left us reflecting (and crying!) long after we finished — and questioning what we carry that no longer serves us.
We explore what it really means to “hold nothing,” how presence and stillness shape the way we think and relate, and why friendship, service, and trust steady the nervous system. We talk about grief, parenting, spiritual health, and the small, deliberate shifts that change how we move through the world.
If you’re heading into a new year looking for clarity, steadiness, and perspective, this conversation is worth everything.
And of course, we asked her to play along with us and comment on some tricks and trends for 2026.
Find Lainie here:
https://elenabrower.substack.com/p/when-friendship-cracked-me-open
Find her book on Amazon, and we strongly suggest you also download the audiobook to hear the content in Lainie's actual voice.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

What actually happens when companies run out of ideas—and who do they call next? Beth Yancey Storz ’92
Beth is an innovation leader, creative strategist, and co-author of Outsmart Your Instincts. For decades, she’s helped teams break through stuck thinking and lead better brainstorms. In this episode, she takes us inside the room where ideas are really made.
Do you know why “no idea is a bad idea” isn’t quite right? Or how negativity quietly kills creativity? And what great facilitators do differently to keep energy high all day long?
Tune in if you want those answers and to know why learning how to think may be more important than what you think.
WE think she's amazing. No brainstorming needed for that one.
LinkedIn: Beth Storz

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University