Cornell (thank) U

When Ken Kunken took the field for a Cornell football game, he had no idea his life was about to change in an instant.
That moment left him a quadriplegic.
What happened next is hard to comprehend—because the life he went on to build wasn’t supposed to be possible.
This isn’t just a story of resilience. It’s a story of defying every expectation, again and again, in ways that feel almost impossible to believe.
We’ve never heard anything like it. And we will be thinking about him for a very long time.
Find everything Ken here: 
https://kenkunken.com/
And then read, or better yet, listen to his book which you can buy at many retailers. "I Dream of Things That Never Were - the Ken Kunken Story"

Special shout out to our recent guest and Ken's cousin, Roy Danis, episode 225 and to Ken's wife, Anna, who helped make this interview possible.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

We had a great time with Ivy Woolenberg — a freshman at Cornell’s Hotel School, Disney Bake-Off winner, and the creator behind the viral baking account Baked With Love by Ivy.
Ivy shares the baking fail that somehow turned into a 40-million-view video, how she started her baking business at just 11 years old, and what it’s like balancing Cornell life with a fast-growing social media brand.
Plus: behind-the-scenes secrets from Disney’s Magic Bake-Off, Ivy’s favorite food spots at Cornell (she knows the best ones), and a fun challenge where she invents desserts for Gen Z, midlife women, and even the 85+ crowd.
We loved her.
Here's where to find her on Instagram and TikTok:
@bakedwithlovebyivy

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Why are New Yorkers lining up for gelato in SoHo?
In this episode, we talk with the entrepreneur behind RivaReno Gelato about the moment in Italy that sparked an obsession—and ultimately led him to bring authentic Italian gelato to New York City.
From discovering what real gelato tastes like, to opening a shop in one of the toughest restaurant markets in the world, he shares the story behind the scoop everyone is talking about.
Along the way we dive into the craft of gelato, the realities of building a food business, and why sometimes one unforgettable experience can change everything.
Mathew was a GREAT guest. See you at RivaReno!

Find everything about RivaReno here: https://www.rivareno.com/us/

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

We had the joy of sitting down with Bill Nye the Science Guy to hear the story behind how he became the person who made Science feel fun, approachable, and even a little bit cool. 
Long before the bow tie and the TV shows, Bill was a Cornell student taking a transformative class with Carl Sagan, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and discovering how humor and critical thinking could live in the same space. 
He shares the unexpected turns that led him from Ithaca to becoming a voice that inspired generations, and reflects on what it meant to later receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 
Huge thanks to Scarlett Fu of Bloomberg TV for helping make this dream conversation happen. 
It’s a reminder that the moments that shape your future often start as ordinary chapters you don’t yet realize will matter most.

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University

Hayley Paige created the kind of wedding dresses brides pin, save, and dream about. By her mid-20s, she was leading a global bridal brand with her name on every gown. And then, after signing a contract at 25, everything shifted.
In this episode, Hayley shares what it felt like to suddenly lose control of her own name and how she navigated a chapter that could have ended her career. We rewind to her Cornell days in Human Ecology, the senior collection that launched her into bridal, and the early hustle that built her brand from trunk shows to national attention.
AND THEN... one of her designs appeared during the Super Bowl halftime show as Bad Bunny performed — a moment that brides everywhere were texting about and Cornellians posted about all over social media.
If you’re planning a wedding, building a brand, or figuring out your next move, this conversation is about ambition, creativity, and what happens when you refuse to let one chapter define your whole story.
We are obsessed!!
Start YOUR obsession here:
https://hayleypaige.com/
Instagram:
@Hayleypaigebride
@misshayleypaige
@sheischeval

Not sponsored by or affiliated with Cornell University