In this episode, Max Du (’24 cohort) speaks with Barkotel Zememu (’24 cohort) who imagines a world where the mysteries of the physical universe are mysteries not just to those who are detectives but also to those who are not. Barkotel, who is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is pursuing a PhD in physics at Stanford. In this episode, Barkotel shares his journey from Addis Ababa to Stanford, discussing his first experience of the world beyond Ethiopia and his adaptation to new cultural contexts. He addresses the importance of cultivating deep and authentic relationships, and how writing became a valuable tool for reconnecting with himself. Barkotel also explores the role of community in life, his reflections on the role of chance in shaping our destinies, and his fascination with dark matter and the curiosity that fuels his physics studies. He concludes by offering insightful advice to prospective students.Highlights from this episode:(2:33) Journey from Addis Ababa to Stanford(3:54) Experiencing the world outside Ethiopia for the first time(7:49) Noticing and navigating cultural differences(14:28) Cultivating meaningful and vulnerable relationships(18:45) Journaling as a way to connect with oneself(27:28) Going through life in community with others(29:47) Reflecting on the randomness of life(33:19) What is dark matter?(42:05) Bringing unrelenting curiosity to the study of physics(48:44) Humanizing the scholar experience(53:30) Advice for prospective applicants
In this episode, Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) speaks with Ayo Dada (’19 cohort) who imagines a world where education is accessible to everyone regardless of any aspect of their identity. Ayo shares his journey from Nigeria to Stanford—an unexpected path set in motion by a single email—and reflects on how discovering Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset shaped his academic trajectory. He discusses his early steps after studying psychology at the University of Lagos, his PhD research on psychologically wise interventions, and his current postdoctoral work focused on expanding opportunities for girls in underserved regions. Ayo also reflects on how the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community broadened his perspective, the skills he gained through the program, and the global experiences that continue to inform his commitment to education as a collaborative, empowering process.Highlights from this episode: (2:08) Introduction(2:48) Recounting the journey from Nigeria to Stanford and how one email changed everything(4:38) Reflecting on the influence of Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset(6:22) Exploring his path after studying psychology at the University of Lagos(7:58) Describing his current postdoctoral work expanding opportunities for girls in underserved regions(9:05) Discussing his PhD research on psychologically wise interventions(14:02) Reframing education as a collaborative process (19:54) How Knight-Hennessy Scholars complemented his experience at Stanford(25:13) Identifying the main skill he gained from Knight-Hennessy Scholars(27:15) Takeaways from his Global Travel/Study program trip to Norway(30:00) Highlights from the Global Leadership Program(33:10) Remembering favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars traditions
In this episode, Sydney Hunt (’23 cohort) interviews fellow host Anson Zhou (’24 cohort) alongside special guest host Katherine Hu (’22 cohort). Anson imagines a world where all medical discoveries successfully translate into patient care. He discusses how his experiences in research, consulting, and clinical rotations deepened his commitment to addressing the “translation gap” in medicine — ensuring that innovations reach the patients who need them most. Highlights from this episode: (06:27) Journey from New York to Suzhou, China to D.C. and eventually California(11:02) Pursuing biomedical engineering in undergrad(20:01) Reasoning behind pursuing an MD and MBA dual degree at Stanford(29:34) Reflecting on the MD experience so far(34:50) Hopes for his MBA year(40:38) How he plans to use his MD and MBA in the future(45:34) Rapid questions, advice to Knight-Hennessy Scholars applicants, and improbable facts
This is the inaugural episode of the Imagine A World podcast, Alumni Edition, where host Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) sits down with alumni to explore their journeys since graduating from Stanford and how they are making an impact in their personal and professional lives. In this episode, Eli speaks with Bingyi Wang (’18 cohort), who imagines a world where technology and science transcend borders to bring benefits to everyday people. Bingyi shares her path from China to New Mexico, where she attended a United World College, and then to Williams College, where she studied physics before later pursuing a PhD in physics at Stanford University. Bingyi discusses her research on curing blindness, her experiences as a Knight-Hennessy scholar, and how being part of the KHS community has shaped her worldview and commitment to global collaboration. Highlights from the episode 2:46 Recounting the journey from China to Stanford4:36 Reflecting on how Immersion Weekend drew her to Stanford6:33 Connection between her work today and her time as a PhD student10:23 Framing how Knight-Hennessy Scholars fit into her experience at Stanford and beyond14:04 Thinking about scientific rigor beyond research in a time of uncertainty16:38 Founding her first company through Knight-Hennessy Scholars18:09 The value of improv and storytelling21:20 Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars memories
In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) and Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) speak with Alina Santander Vinokurova ('24 cohort) who imagines a world where the aerospace industry serves both humanity and Earth equally. Alina shares about her journey from growing up in Bolivia to pursuing a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford. She also reflects on how climate crises like the Amazon wildfires shaped her vision for an aerospace industry that not only advances exploration but also protects our planet.Highlights from the episode:(3:56) Exciting summer plans(10:53) Journey from Bolivia to Stanford(17:32) Navigating the application process for university(21:05) Becoming interested in engineering, aerospace, and climate tech(38:06) Being a Knight-Hennessy Scholar(50:17) Competing in the NASA Rover Challenge and other improbable facts
In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) interviews Willie Thompson ('22 cohort), one of the original creators of Imagine a World, and a person whose presence will be deeply missed within the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community. Throughout the episode, he reflects on what it means to be in community with others and how that has looked for him from where he grew up to his time as a husband and father at Stanford as part of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community.Don't miss: A surprise visit by another person who played a pivotal role in the creation of the Imagine a World podcast: Taylor Goss ('21 cohort).Highlights from the episode:(02:46) Imagine a World/Denning House-style guessing game(05:54) Surprise visit from Taylor Goss(07:18) Growing up in the Deep South, going to Morehouse College, spending a year in Taiwan as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, spending a year in Beijing as a Schwarzman Scholar, and working at The Bridgespan Group (11:29) Things Willie liked to do in his communities growing up and the inspiration behind his interest in education(15:51) Wanting to start a school(19:49) His experiences in high school leading up to Morehouse and how he was able to form a tight-knit community with his peers at Morehouse(29:25) Deciding to apply to Fulbright and Schwarzman(33:55) Elaborating on his Imagine a World statement(41:48) Being in the Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars community and being in community as a father, husband, and a Knight-Hennessy Scholar (47:19) Value of mixing fields and programs while at Stanford(54:44) Improbable facts, five favorite albums of all time, and Willie's walk-on song
In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) interviews Rachel Desch ('23 cohort) who imagines a world where trusted institutions and leaders are able to mitigate violent conflict and inspire innovative policymaking. Rachel is a second-year master’s student in international policy. Before coming to Stanford, she spent nearly a decade working in the federal government. In this episode, Rachel describes how her upbringing on a military base and wide-ranging academic background have fueled her commitment to building trust in government, adopting holistic approaches to conflict resolution, and potentially running for public office. She highlights the “start-up culture” pockets within government where mission-driven work thrives, and shares other personal interests.Highlights from the episode:(02:21) Reflecting on spring quarter(05:54) Growing up in a military community in Fayetteville, North Carolina(11:38) Going from high school to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to Stanford (19:59) Working on foreign policy analysis and making the decision to go back to graduate school(24:45) Reason behind working in the government after graduating from UNC(29:06) Building people's trust in institutions and leaders, mitigating violent conflict, and inspiring innovative policymaking(36:44) Reflecting on people's perceptions of government and government work(41:24) Advice for people interested in applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars(43:10) Improbable facts
In this special episode, Sydney Hunt (‘23 cohort), Anson Zhou ('24 cohort), and Max Du ('24 cohort) curate some of the most memorable moments of Season 2 through the lens of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars leadership model. Across four segments—curiosity, inspiration, open-mindedness, and visionary thinking—they revisit several standout clips from scholars who pushed boundaries in science fairs, forged lifelong friendships, embraced mentorship, and built new paths for their communities.Highlights from the episode:(01:46) Curiosity: Catharine Bowman ('22 cohort) recounts her first backyard water-filter experiments, her bacterial-growth grocery-bag study, and how a local science fair project led to a world-record baking soda volcano on the Discovery Channel.(05:43) Inspiration: Takondwa Priscilla Semphere ('23 cohort), Sanaa Alam ('23 cohort), Hannah Melville-Rea ('23 cohort), Jocelyn Ricard ('23 cohort), and Leona Neftaliem ('23 cohort) reflect on building enduring friendships across time zones and how the programming at Knight-Hennessy Scholars enabled their close bonds. We also hear about the friendships shared by Longsha Liu and David Jiang and Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort), Gianmarco Coronado Graci ('23 cohort), and Will Dwyer ('23 cohort).(17:16) Open-Mindedness: Jordyn Sanico and Christian Tanja share the teachers and early-career mentors who urged them to “just try,” followed by Eliza Ennis’s ('22 cohort) insights into empowering community leaders in global health policy.(25:38) Visionary: Quyên Nguyễn-Hoàng ('22 cohort) describes the beauty of slowing down in a fast-paced world, and Khushi Malde ('24 cohort) describes founding an entrepreneurship nonprofit that bridges Kenyan students with mentors.
In this episode, Max Du ('24 cohort) and Nikhil Gupta ('22 cohort) interview Madison Freeman ('22 cohort) who imagines a world where technological solutions drive a sustainable economy. Madison unpacks her passion for the venture capital climate technology space and what that work looks like day-to-day. She talks about how she became interested in climate issues and where her desire to do internationally impactful work comes from. Madison also shares how students, startups, and international climate initiatives fuel her optimism about solving climate challenges--even amid today's uncertain funding landscape.Highlights from the episode:(02:48) Her Austin upbringing, time studying in DC, and desire to do internationally impactful work(09:48) Becoming interested in climate matters(14:23) Understanding the increased interest in climate(16:01) Rapid fire questions about Madison and climate(20:17) Work before Stanford and breaking into the climate space(27:01) Elaborating more on her interest in the field of venture capital climate tech ecosystem(31:39) The day-to-day of someone in the venture capital climate tech space(35:22) Working in the State Department(41:22) Advice for those interested in working in policy(45:48) Advice for people interested in applying to Stanford and Knight-Hennessy Scholars(50:50) Breaking down why it is a strange time for climate right now and why Madison continues to be optimistic about eventually solving climate challenges
In this episode, Anson Zhou ('24 cohort) and Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) speak with David Jiang ('22 cohort) and Longsha Liu ('22 cohort) about their journeys to Stanford and the close friendship they've formed. David and Longsha share the accomplishments and vision behind their KHeystone Project: the Stanford Healthcare Design Challenge, which seeks to bridge the gap between healthcare innovation and implementation. Longsha discusses the motivation behind his interests in the intersections of healthcare with technology, research, and business. He also shares his elaborately planned and heartwarming proposal story (which David played a huge role in). David talks about the importance of community throughout his time as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar and what creating community during COVID times looked like.Highlights from the episode:(04:06) Longsha's journey from Hong Kong to California (and all the places between)(06:09) The motivation behind Longsha's interests in healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship(11:20) David's journey from the Gobi Desert to Japan and then Minnesota(13:21) David's path to law school(18:02) Their Immersion Weekend experience, how they ended up becoming close friends, and finding community in Knight-Hennessy during COVID times(28:46) Longsha's upcoming wedding, David's role as the officiant and co-best man, and Longsha's proposal story(41:55) Their KHeystone Project: the Stanford Healthcare Design Challenge(51:35) How Longsha's startup influenced the development of the KHeystone Project(1:00:07) Improbable facts(1:01:37) Advice for those applying to Knight-Hennessy
In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) and Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) speak with Khushi Malde ('24 cohort) about her hopes for education to spark curiosity, build resilience, and empower students to innovate, create, and lead for global responsibility. Khushi shares how growing up and attending high school in Kenya and then pursuing an undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley made her realize the gap in opportunities that she had compared to her peers--and how doing work to bridge those gaps brings her joy. She talks about founding a nonprofit that brings entrepreneurship education to high school students across Sub-Saharan Africa and shares insights into her current work at Stanford, where she's building tools that help students explore potential career paths through hands-on, immersive learning.Highlights from the episode:(03:45) Khushi's journey from Kenya to UC Berkeley to Stanford and how it has influenced her work and academic path(07:18) The gaps that Khushi is working to bridge and the point when she realized the gap in opportunities that she had compared to her Berkeley peers(11:13) Why Khushi chose to pursue data science and business at Stanford(17:33) Elaborating more on her decision to pursue nonprofit work in Africa, the journey of starting and running her nonprofit, and the work that her nonprofit is doing(25:47) Khushi's plans and aspirations for the future as well as the project that she is currently working on at Stanford(33:09) What Knight-Hennessy Scholars has meant to her work and her experience at Stanford(37:43) Her experience at Immersion Weekend and why she considers it a highlight of her overall Knight-Hennessy Scholars experience(39:44) Advice for those applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars(45:04) Improbable facts
In this episode, Max Du ('24 cohort) and Anson Zhou ('24 cohort) speak with Eliza Ennis ('22 cohort) about her journey from a close-knit community in New Mexico to Stanford’s Health Policy PhD program and how her upbringing, family, and community have shaped her interests. Eliza discusses her academic journey from Harvard to Stanford, plans for her upcoming dissertation, and some of the research and social impact projects that she has worked on around the world. She discusses her passion for health policy, the challenges of translating research into real-world solutions, and her vision for a more equitable healthcare system worldwide.Highlights from the episode:(02:23) Growing up in New Mexico(12:42) The role of Eliza's family and community on her academic path(18:12) Eliza's journey to studying health policy at Stanford and her experiences within the PhD program(25:02) Work she will do in summer 2025 and her past research projects(30:18) How community stories have impacted how she thinks about and approaches global health(36:22) Eliza's work in San Francisco and plans for her dissertation(44:42) Reflecting on community(48:35) Improbable facts
In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) and Will Dwyer ('23 cohort) speak with Gianmarco Coronado Graci ('23 cohort) about how his lived experiences have fueled his desire to work towards a world where access to justice is a right and not a privilege. Gianmarco also shares his experiences studying law in Mexico and then transitioning to Stanford after working as an adjunct professor of law at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and as a senior associate at a litigation law firm in Mexico City. Highlights from the episode:(04:12) Interviewing the Mexican Supreme Court Justice Hon. Margarita Ríos Farjat(08:21) The Neukom Center's Rule of Law Speaker Series(11:55) Gianmarco's journey from Mexico City to Stanford and decision to pursue law(19:01) Working as an adjunct professor of law at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México(21:00) Lived experiences that led him to pursue studying law(32:43) Elaborating on the motivations behind his Imagine a World Statement(38:23) Pursuing a master of law and master of public policy at Stanford(46:32) Being a Knight-Hennessy scholar(59:37) Improbable facts
In this episode, Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) and Max Du ('24 cohort) speak with Quyên Nguyễn-Hoàng ('22 cohort) about movement, belonging, and the search for stillness in a fast-paced world. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy, Quyên embraces the idea of finding home in transition and uncertainty. Quyên also shares her experiences attending Stanford as an undergrad and grad student and what it was like to move to the United States from Vietnam.Highlights from the episode:(01:55) Quyên's journey from Vietnam to Stanford(06:11) Her interest in poetry and feelings about how poetry evokes a sense of home--poetry as rhythm, release, and home(13:10) Home as both a physical place and an internal state(33:55) Experiences attending Stanford as an undergrad and grad student(39:01) Moving from one culture to another(45:43) Becoming interested in Buddhist thought(47:43) Pursuing a PhD in Art History
In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) and Max Du ('24 cohort) speak with Catharine Bowman ('22 cohort) about how her lived experiences have fueled her research focus on ensuring that patients living with lymphatic diseases are properly diagnosed and treated. Catharine also shares how her studies led to her falling in love with humanity, how she tries to keep a childlike sense of wonder and openness in her approach to research and life in general, and some of the people and research projects that give her hope.Highlights from the episode:(03:43) The motivation behind attending Stanford and her Imagine a World statement(14:49) Falling in love with humanity and maintaining a sense of wonder and openness everyday(19:26) Adding on a PhD in Epidemiology and Clinical Research(22:56) The challenges of diagnosing and treating people with lymphedema or lymphatic diseases(28:35) The people and research projects that give her hope(32:40) Participating in the International Science and Engineering Fair(43:37) Advice for those applying to Stanford and Knight-Hennessy(45:31) Improbable facts
In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) and Anson Zhou ('24 cohort) speak with Christian Tanja (Senior Assistant Director of Admission) and Jordyn Sanico (Admission Outreach Coordinator). Jordyn and Christian share their guiding values, experiences with mentorship, and interesting aspects of the work that they do at Knight-Hennessy Scholars. They also share their improbable facts--such as performing in the Carnegie Hall on two different occasions and being able to three prong spearfish!Highlights from the episode:(04:04) Home and their journeys to Stanford(13:40) Singing in the Carnegie Hall twice(15:07) Mentorship and the people who've supported them along their journeys(19:46) Handling negative inner voices and imposter syndrome(22:56) Interesting aspects about their work(27:17) The inspiration behind their Imagine a World statements(37:12) Improbable facts and rapid fire questions(44:20) What they wish scholars knew
In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) and Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) speak with Yousuf Khan ('19 cohort) about how basic science research can directly improve the lives of everyone, the role that tennis has played in his life, and his experience traveling to New Mexico for a game show.Highlights from the episode:(04:34) The story behind Yousuf's name(06:11) Growing up in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) and attending the University of Maryland(12:05) Developing his current research interests (28:15) Facilitating the KHS conversation(30:53) Writing his Imagine a World statement and reflecting on the importance of academic humility(36:12) Participating in a Netflix game show
In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) and Ashley Yeh ('24 cohort) speak with a group of scholars and friends about how their Knight-Hennessy Scholars friend group came to be. Sanaa Alam ('23 cohort), Hannah Melville-Rea ('23 cohort), Leona Neftaliem ('23 cohort), Jocelyn Ricard ('23 cohort), and Takondwa Semphere ('23 cohort) give us an insider's look at some of the beautiful moments within their friendship and discuss how various aspects of KH programming have helped them to meet and strengthen their bonds with each other--mentioning Immersion Weekend, Day One, the retreats, Storytelling with Dan and Lisa, and the Deep Dive sessions.Highlights from the episode:(05:43) How they met--reflecting on KH Immersion Weekend, Day One, Fall Retreat, Storytelling with Dan and Lisa, and Deep Dive sessions.(13:36) First impressions of each other.(18:16) How regularly meeting at Denning for Lunch helped with strengthening their bond(21:35) Sanaa's Dance Moms Instagram fan page(26:06) Watching Alma compete in the Miss USA competition on TV(30:53) Some favorite memories and experiences with each other(35:51) Staying in touch after graduating (41:30) Their similarities(44:12) Rapid fire questions about who is the most likely to start a viral TikTok trend, survive a Zombie apocalypse, plan a spontaneous trip to another country, and win an argument with a complete stranger.(51:43) Advice on building authentic and enduring friendships while in KH
In this episode, Willie Thompson ('22 cohort) and Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) speak with Marcus Frost ('19 cohort) about his memories of home, transition to Stanford, experiences navigating cancer, chemotherapy, and recovery, and ideas for how to check in on your friends. Highlights from the episode:(04:34) Delicious go-to dishes when cooking(07:07) Reminiscing on home and journey to Stanford(19:50) So you want to build a microscope? and reasons behind getting involved in medicine(27:17) Navigating cancer, chemotherapy, and recovery(32:56) How to check in on your friends(38:30) Improbable facts(42:29) Advice for those applying to Knight-Hennessy
Join us for Part 2 of a Knight-Hennessy Scholars Global Travel/Study trip to Turkey! In this episode, Willie Thompson (2022 cohort) speaks with Jocelyn Ricard and Pierce Garver (both from the 2023 cohort) as they recap their memories from their 10-day trek in Turkey.Highlights from the episode:(2:24) First impressions of Turkey and go-to Turkish treats.(13:33) Lessons learned from site visits.(19:34) Hopes, expectations, and reality of the Turkey Global Travel/Study trip.(30:19) Rapid-fire questions about the group dynamics and events.