Running to the Noise

The Power of an Oberlin Education

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:00:03 +0000

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!

From Big Dreams to City Hall: Ali Najmi ’06 on Electing Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Reshaping New York’s Courts

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:00:49 +0000

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

Running to the Noise podcast archive

Oberlin College and Conservatory

Cutting Through The Noise: Tamara Jade, EJ Marcus, and Seyquan Mack on Creativity, Community, and Building a Career That Lasts

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:38 +0000

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

Seyquan Mack

EJ Marcus

Tamara Jade on The Voice (NBC)

Season 19 Top 9

Tamara Jade on Freedom, Faith, and the Power of Using Every Part of Her Voice

I Love LA (HBO)

EJ’s episode on Hacks

TV debut as Nico, the nervous PA on “Hacks”/ Real-time reaction

Seyquan Mack: State

10 Management

Tony-Winning AIDS Epidemic Epic Remains Relevant

Democracy on Trial, Part Two: Benjamin Wittes ’91 on the Justice Department, Authoritarian Drift, and How Citizens Push Back

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 05:14:30 +0000

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

https://www.lawfaremedia.org

Brookings Institution – Governance Studies

https://www.brookings.edu/topic/governance-studies

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Politics”

CNN

Justice Department confirms in court filing it may prosecute Comey again

NYT

A Grand Jury Again Declines to Re-Indict Letitia James

Democracy on Trial: Benjamin Wittes ’91 on the Courts, Presidential Power, and the Future of American Justice (Part 1)

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 05:12:53 +0000

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

Artificial Intelligence: Tom Dietterich on the Promise and Pitfalls of Machines that Learn

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 04:15:51 +0000

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

The Empathy Machine: Joe Richman on Radio Diaries, Audio Storytelling, and Emotional Truth

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:51:18 +0000

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

Not Above Nature: Sonia Shah on What Other Species Teach Us

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:07:24 +0000

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.

Seriously Funny: Ed Helms on Rutherford Falls, SNAFU, and Facing Hard Truths with Humor

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 04:09:06 +0000

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

https://represent.us/

Ed Helms on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/edhelms

Oberlin College and Conservatory

https://www.oberlin.edu/

Finding Her Voice: the Power of Artistic Mentorship with Georgia Heers and La Tanya Hall

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:13:00 +0000

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

Telling Stories That Matter with Soledad O'Brien

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 04:45:00 +0000

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

Meeting the World As It Is with Rumaan Alam

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:07:00 +0000

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.

Leave the World Behind

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.

Entitlement

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.

Michael Haneke’s Funny Games

A deeply unsettling film that inspired Leave the World Behind’s sense of unexplained dread.

Thomas Mann’s Dr. Faustus

Discover the novel that Alam is currently reading, which explores art, ambition, and the supernatural.

All the World's a Stage with Julie Taymor

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:18:00 +0000

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.

Julie Taymor’s The Lion King

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.

Julie Taymor’s Titus (1999)

Discover Taymor’s cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, starring Anthony Hopkins, showcasing her signature blend of theatricality and film.

Game-Changing Expertise: Season 1’s Most Powerful Moments

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 05:17:00 +0000

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.

https://www.jamesmcbride.com

Snafu by Ed Helms

Delve into the history podcast that uncovers the world’s most astonishing blunders.

SNAFU Media

Shane Boris: The Art of Documentary

Learn more about Shane Boris’s Academy Award-winning work and his approach to storytelling.

Cottage M

Second Acts and Arias with Limmie Pulliam

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 05:17:00 +0000

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.

https://omaropera.com/

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

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/21/1150548950/opera-singer-tenor-limmie-pulliam-reflects-on-his-carnegie-hall-debut-at-the-age

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

Tracking the Flu with Disease Detective Dr. Timothy Uyeki

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 04:30:00 +0000

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.

Rethinking Our Place in Nature with Sonia Shah

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 04:20:00 +0000

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.

The Theater of Discomfort with Corey Stoll

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

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:

Getting Real About TV with Emily Nussbaum

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:35:00 +0000

For Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Emily Nussbaum ’88, it all started with a TV show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. When the cult hit first aired in 1997, Nussbaum, then a literature doctoral student, watched it like anyone else. However, it was love at first bite: Buffy would consequently alter her entire career trajectory.

“I wanted to abandon the old method of you can only praise TV in the most condescending possible way, by sort of patting it on the head and saying, “Good for you, TV. You did something good.” I actually wanted to have high standards,” says Nussbaum.

With an English major and creative writing minor from Oberlin, Nussbaum has written for the New York Times, New York Magazine, and The New Yorker. Her latest book, Cue The Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV, chronicles the history of reality TV and explores the genre’s vast sociopolitical implications — from how The Apprentice led to Trump’s presidency to the questionable ethics of the dating show.

Ahead of the book’s June release, Nussbaum joined host and Oberlin College and Conservatory President Carmen Twillie Ambar to discuss reality TV’s complex history and its complicated role in our culture, and why Nussbaum fell in love with television.

Running to the Noise is a production of Oberlin College and Conservatory and is produced by University FM.

Episode Links:

More than Music with Rhiannon Giddens

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In an industry that loves to put artists into neatly defined boxes, Rhiannon Giddens refuses to be pigeonholed. Trained as an operatic soprano at Oberlin College and Conservatory, the 2000 graduate moved back home to North Carolina, picked up the fiddle and fell in love with old-time banjo.

Her eclectic folk music has taken her into every imaginable space. She has won two Grammy Awards, a MacArthur Genius Grant, and the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for the opera Omar based on the autobiography of an enslaved Muslim man. A proud, mission-driven artist, Giddens is committed to shining a light on people whose contributions to America’s musical history have been overlooked or erased. And she uses her spotlight to highlight the banjo's roots in Black culture.

William Quillen, the dean of Oberlin Conservatory, calls her one of the most important creative and artistic voices of our time. A founding member of the all-female banjo supergroup, Our Native Daughters, Giddens has also published children’s books, has written and performed music for the soundtrack of Red Dead Redemption 2, one of the best-selling video games of all time.

She appeared on the ABC hit drama, Nashville, and throughout Ken Burns’s country music series on PBS. And most recently, she received a Grammy nomination for her 2023 album, You're the One, and played banjo and viola on Beyonce's TEXAS HOLD ’EM, a global number one hit and the first song from a Black woman to top Billboard's Hot 100 country songs chart.

Before delivering Oberlin College and Conservatory’s 2024 commencement address, Giddens sat down with Running to the Noise host and Oberlin president Carmen Twillie Ambar to discuss her genre-defying career, navigating the music industry, and smashing musical barriers.

Running to the Noise is a production of Oberlin College and Conservatory and is produced by University FM.

Episode Links:

How Black Women College Presidents Are Blazing the Trail for Future Generations

Thu, 09 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In this month’s special episode of Running to the Noise, host and president Carmen Twillie Ambar, the first Black chief executive in Oberlin’s nearly two-century history, talks with three other trailblazers about the challenges and the joys of being the first Black women to lead their long-standing institutions. Joining her are Joanne Berger-Sweeney of Trinity College, Lori White of DePauw University, and Danielle Holley of Mount Holyoke College.

They are members of a small, proud group: Black women presidents make up 1.6 percent of the leadership of predominantly white four-year colleges and universities in this country. The inauguration of Claudine Gay, the first Black president of Harvard University in the institution's 388-year history, was a cause for celebration. Her resignation six months later, in January of this year, marked a painful end to a historic appointment.

President Ambar and her guests explore the implications of Gay’s departure; why it's more important than ever to lean into diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on campus; the many things to love about their groundbreaking roles; and how their tenures can serve as inspiration to future generations of young women of color.

And they might even sing a little Aretha while they’re at it.

Running to the Noise is a production of Oberlin College and Conservatory and is produced by University FM.

Episode Links:

What it Means to be a Woman in Power with Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

During her six years as the mayor of Baltimore, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake wasn’t afraid to ruffle feathers to do what she thought was right for her city, a lesson she learned from her father, Howard “Pete” Rawlings, a child of Baltimore public housing and one of the most powerful political leaders in Maryland. He taught her that popularity and polls didn’t matter—it was the person in the mirror she had to answer to.

Before stepping into the mayor’s office, Rawlings-Blake was the youngest person ever elected to the Baltimore City Council—just three years after graduating from Oberlin in 1992, a feat that earned her the nickname “Council Girl” from an older colleague looking to put her in her place. She’s also the first and only Black woman to serve as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Now, she's heading up Airbnb's newly formed housing council — a collection of experts convened to advise the company on how it can help solve one of America's most pressing problems: the affordable housing crisis.

Rawlings-Blake joined Running to the Noise host and Oberlin College and Conservatory President Carmen Twillie Ambar to talk about her eventful tenure as Mayor of Baltimore, how to ignore the polls and survive sexist critiques, and why she’s partnering with Airbnb to tackle the country’s housing shortage.

Please note: President Ambar spoke with Rawlings-Blake three weeks before a massive cargo ship plowed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six. The former mayor appeared on MSNBC to react to the tragedy she called “devastating.” Listen to her commentary here.

Running to the Noise is a production of Oberlin College and is produced by University FM.

Episode Links:

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake at Oberlin

Oberlin Alumni Magazine profile Spring 2015

Baltimore Sun Obituary for Howard “Pete” Rawlings

SBR Voted one of the Top 10 Best-Dressed Mayors (Vanity Fair)

Airbnb’s new housing council

The Fearlessness and Faith of Documentary Filmmaking with Shane Boris

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Producer Shane Boris didn’t set out to make Oscar-worthy documentaries. He wanted to tell stories that moved him, helped people make sense of the world—and inspired them to change it for the better.

Through a chance encounter on an airplane soon after graduating from Oberlin College and Conservatory with a degree in politics, Boris built a successful career in filmmaking that has resulted in multiple Oscar nominations, including two in 2023 for the documentaries Fire of Love and Navalny. The latter—about Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Putin’s fiercest critic and the country’s best hope for a democratic future—took home the award for Best Documentary.

His films have premiered at festivals like Sundance and Venice, screened with museums including The Louvre and MOMA, received honors such as BAFTA and Peabody Awards, and were commissioned or acquired by distributors such as National Geographic, Netflix, HBO, and CNN. Recent films include: Hollywoodgate, King Coal, Stray, The Edge of Democracy, The Seer and the Unseen, and All These Sleepless Nights.

In anticipation of the 2024 Academy Awards, Host and Oberlin College and Conservatory President Carmen Twillie Ambar invited Shane Boris to join her for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Navalny and Fire of Love and to talk about the importance of making political films like Navalny—a model for how to resist authoritarianism everywhere, including in our our country.

The episode was recorded a week before the world learned Alexei Navalny had died in a remote Russian prison colony in the Arctic Circle at age 47.

Episode Links:

Films by Shane Boris (Cottage M)

Navalny trailer

Fire of Love trailer

Restoring Trust in the Media in an Age of Disinformation with Peter Baker

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent for the New York Times, admittedly wasn’t the best student at Oberlin. He was so wrapped up in his dreams of becoming a journalist, he spent more time down at the campus newspaper than in his classes. But the work paid off.

During his career, Peter visited Robben Island in South Africa with Nelson Mandela and once nearly knocked over the Queen of England during a press scrum at an international summit meeting.

Following the attacks of 9/11, he was the first American journalist to report from Afghanistan where he embedded with troops as coalition forces fought the Taliban. During the US invasion of Iraq, he rode with the Marines as they drove toward Baghdad.

Peter has covered the past five presidents, from Bill Clinton to Joe Biden. During a break from the White House, he spent four years in Moscow for The Washington Post, chronicling the rise of Vladimir Putin with wife Susan Glasser. The pair penned Kremlin Rising about Putin’s Russia and, most recently, co-authored the New York Times bestseller The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021.

On this episode of Running to the Noise, Peter talks with host and Oberlin College and Conservatory President Carmen Twillie Ambar about the erosion of trust in the media, the state of truth in America, and what he’s learned covering some of the most powerful men in the world.

Episode Links:

Peter Baker ’88 delivers the commencement keynote address to the class of 2021

Peter’s bio and his latest work at the New York Times

Peter on MSNBC

The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser

Helping Others Reach the Spotlight with Denyce Graves

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Emmy- and Grammy-winning opera singer Denyce Graves is one of the greatest classical music stars of the 21st century. After studying at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, she went on to perform in the world’s most storied opera houses and concert halls. Along the way, she has sung at the White House, harmonized with the Muppets, and performed at the memorial for her friend and fan, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

But before the acclaim and the accolades, she was a little girl from Washington, D.C., who loved music and had this passion nurtured by one of her first teachers. That teacher became a long-lasting mentor and helped inspire Graves to leverage her fame to create the Denyce Graves Foundation, which aims to uplift young artists of world-class talent from all backgrounds.

In this episode of Running to the Noise, Graves returns to campus and joins host and Oberlin College and Conservatory President Carmen Twillie Ambar to discuss the transformative power of mentorship and how her foundation is recognizing hidden voices and shaping the next generation of performers.

Show Links:

The Radical Truth of Fiction with James McBride

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000

New York Times bestselling author James McBride took a circuitous route to becoming a great American novelist. A communications major at Oberlin College and Conservatory, he also studied jazz with Wendell Logan, the influential founder of Oberlin’s jazz department. After graduating in 1979, McBride went to Columbia Journalism School, then onto bylines in the Boston Globe, Rolling Stone, the Washington Post and People magazine.

McBride left a successful career in journalism to “pursue happiness,” as he puts it: playing sax full time in New York. But his life took another turn when he penned a memoir about the person he loved most. The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother became an “instant classic,” in the words of one reviewer, and an accidental author was born.

In this episode of Running to the Noise, McBride—whose new book The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store was recently named Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year—joins host and Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar to discuss his writing process, the path to authentic creativity, and the pursuit of happiness through art.

About James McBride

James McBride is the author of Deacon King Kong, a New York Times bestseller and Oprah’s Book Club selection; the National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird; the American classic The Color of Water; the novels Song Yet Sung and Miracle at St. Anna; the story collection Five-Carat Soul; and the James Brown biography Kill ’Em and Leave. The recipient of a National Humanities Medal and an accomplished musician, McBride is also a distinguished writer in residence at New York University.

Show Links:

NPR Review: (7-minute listen) James McBride's 'Heaven & Earth' is an all-American mix of prejudice and hope
James McBride’s website

Repairing a Fraying Democracy with Richard Haass

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Author and diplomat Richard Haass began his education at Oberlin College during a pivotal year for American democracy. It was 1970 and four college students were shot and killed at the neighboring Kent State University by the Ohio National Guard. This event propelled Richard into action as he and his peers filmed a documentary about Oberlin’s response to the shooting.

After graduating from Oberlin in 1973, Richard continued to study American democracy and spent two decades heading the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan resource for American citizens across the political spectrum.

Richard joins host Carmen Twillie Ambar, president of Oberlin College and Conservatory, to discuss his new book, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens, an invaluable roadmap to how we can begin to repair our fraying democracy. They also tackle tough questions of why our democracy has never before been so imperiled and how we can all work to strengthen it.

Episode Quotes:

On why this moment feels more critical for America than past times of conflict

03:41 - “What's different now is what's at stake is the system itself, it's democracy itself. And the threat in that sense is much more fundamental. It's not simply about whether we should be doing what we're doing with Ukraine or abortion or this or that policy issue. It's much more fundamental. And people are beginning to do things that actually challenge the tissue, the fabric of American democracy, the system itself.”

Richard’s views on the art and importance of compromise

21:31 - “I'm not saying to compromise. I'm saying to stay open to it. It ought to be a choice. It ought to be something you consider. There might be certain situations where you say, well, if I compromise. Here are the consequences. So compromise may or may not be right for you under certain circumstances.”

On the role higher education institutions should play in shaping citizens

“I would think that one of the purposes of a college education, obviously we think about it to prepare people for life, and I would say here in the United States, one of our purposes ought to be to prepare people to be citizens in this democracy.”

00:43 - “I have spent my career studying, practicing, writing about, and speaking on American foreign policy. And a question I frequently hear is, "Richard, what keeps you up at night?" Often, even before I get to answer, the person posing the question suggests potential answers. Is it China? Russia? North Korea? Iran, terrorism, climate change, cyber attacks, another pandemic? In recent years, I started responding in a way that surprised me and many in the room. The most urgent and significant threat to American security and stability stems not from abroad but from within. From political divisions that, for only the second time in U.S. history, have raised questions about the future of American democracy. And even the United States itself.”

Show Links:

Using Your Platform For Good with Ed Helms

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Before he starred in hits like The Hangover trilogy and The Office, Ed Helms was an “Obie”—a kid from Georgia with talent for jazz guitar who found his way to Oberlin College. Since graduating in 1996, Ed has used his success and platform to open doors of opportunity for others and support causes he believes in.

Ed, now on the Board of Trustees of Oberlin College, joins Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar to talk about his time at the college, his work diversifying the writer’s room for his show Rutherford Falls, his new podcast SNAFU and how to use your platform to change the world (or even just a little slice of it).

Running to the Noise is a production of Oberlin College and is produced by University FM.

Our show music is composed and arranged by Bobby Ferrazza, Oberlin Conservatory professor of jazz guitar. Ferrazza is also director of the Oberlin Sonny Rollins Jazz Ensemble, the student group that performed the music.

Episode Quotes:

On the diversity of Rutherford Falls’ writer’s room

14:38 - “Oberlin really helped me try to think and appreciate broader perspectives. And so, I felt like I had a solid understanding of that in this process on Rutherford Falls in getting deeper in a really casual and fun and oftentimes very funny setting, which was our writer's room, hearing and just being with the experiences of a lot of these writers from very different backgrounds and a lot of Native American writers … And so hearing them reflect to each other, reflect off of us, me, other writers from other backgrounds. It just deepened my appreciation and commitment to having different voices involved.”

How Ed’s exploring history with his podcast SNAFU

26:51 - “There's so much history that is powerful and meaningful that has been lost or pushed aside, or just kind of maybe muddied because of whoever was the dominant storyteller at the time. And, you know, they say history's written by the winners. That's reductive, but true. And so it’s interesting to look, well, maybe the losers have some really powerful, meaningful stories.”

On finding mentors

31:20 - “Just look for lots of people who are doing cool things around you, things that you admire, and then just study them a little bit. You don't have to know them. If you do, great, then you can ask them directly.”

Show Links:

Trailer

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Running to the Noise, a podcast from Oberlin College and Conservatory hosted by President Carmen Twillie Ambar.

Starting this fall, President Ambar will speak with all manner of influential people on and off Oberlin’s campus who are taking on some of the toughest problems and working to spark positive change around the world.

Tune in for conversations surrounding a vast array of topics like diversity in Hollywood, repairing our democracy, and the repatriation of art.

Running to the Noise with us starting September 28 and on the last Tuesday of every month after that. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.