Cornell (thank) U

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-openFind 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 ’92Beth 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 StorzNot sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

We kick off the episode with the upbeat song from Looking Up, because it’s exactly the Monday energy you need. Elena Neuman ’88 joins us to share how a 10-minute video unexpectedly became a full feature documentary—filmed on the face of El Capitan in Yosemite.Elena reflects on her Cornell experience, the professor who changed her path, and what it really takes to tell a powerful story—from creative pivots during COVID to finding the heart of a film in the edit.She also shares her work leading the effort to build Cornell’s first standalone Hillel, creating the kind of community she wishes had existed when she was a student. It’s a conversation about perseverance, curiosity, and forward momentum. And it's clear that Elena is a gifted storyteller, maybe especially when it comes to telling her own!Her documentary:https://www.neumanfilm.com/lookingupHillel https://www.cornellhillelcampaign.org/LinkedIn:Elena Neuman LefkowitzNot sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

This week we sit down with Dr. Shari Brasner, a (semi famous!) OB/Gyn, widely respected for her approach to patient care.Dr. Brasner reflects on how her time at Cornell shaped her path in medicine and shares why the relationship between doctor and patient matters so deeply. Through honest, funny, and sometimes emotional stories, she highlights the impact of trust, communication, and compassion in moments that truly count.This conversation goes beyond credentials. It’s about the importance of a great doctor, the human side of medicine, and why thoughtful, attentive care can make all the difference.You will rethink everything.Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Cornell-trained veterinary surgeon Dr. Jared Baum shares the unbelievable story of how he saved Steph’s dog Buddy from emergency surgery—using skill, compassion, and one very brave hand.We talk about his Cornell Vet residency, the compassion award created in his honor, the night he drove 90 minutes to save a senior Chihuahua named Mabel, and his exciting new surgical clinic, PEAK Veterinary Surgical Care in Delray Beach.We have been dying to speak to a Cornell veterinarian—Cornell vets really are special—and Jared was everything you’d imagine a Cornell-trained veterinarian to be.He and his wife are launching a brand-new surgical clinic in Florida. Learn more here:https://www.peak.vet/And you can watch the beautiful story behind the award created in his honor:https://www.vet.cornell.edu/about-us/news/20191125/college-clinicians-act-extraordinary-compassion-saves-imperiled-chihuahuaNot sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University.