Taylor Swift, Baseball, and Type 2 Diabetes: Other WJPZ Alumni Podcasts, Part 1

Taylor Swift, Baseball, and Type 2 Diabetes: Other WJPZ Alumni Podcasts, Part 1

Author: WJPZ April 4, 2024 Duration: 6:40

I wanted to call your attention to some OTHER WJPZ Alumni who are doing great podcasts.  In fact, we’ve got a little something for everyone.  Today, in part 1, I’m going to introduce you to three podcasts hosted by WJPZ Alumni.

There’s no bigger star in the world right now than Taylor Swift – and you’d be hard pressed to find a bigger Swiftie than Molly Nelson, class of 2014.  She and her best friend Ryan co-host “Hits Different,” a podcast devoted to all things Taylor, from news to theories, and many other Swiftie rabbit holes.  It’s edited and produced by Molly’s husband who she met at WJPZ, Alex Brewer from the Class of 2012.

From America’s sweetheart to America’s pastime and the class of 2015’s Jeff Kurkjian.  Jeff grew up with baseball, thanks in large part to his reporter father, ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian.  If you love baseball, you’ll love this show, co=hosted by father and son, featuring Tim’s encylopedic knowledge, Jeff’s quick wit, and some great guests.

Finally, we turn to one of WJPZ’s “OG’s” in the world of podcasting.  Stacey Simms, Class of 93.  Over 8 years ago, she began hosting Diabetes Connections, a podcast dedicated to providing news and information to those with Type 1 Diabetes.  She’s just launched “Diabetes Connections, Type 2” – dedicated to superserving those individuals with Type 2.  It’s easy to hear her WJPZ and news chops as she tells you about the show.

Now these folks aren’t the only WJPZ alumni doing great podcasts.  We’ve got more to tell you about in the spaces of true crime, comedy, and more.  And if you or a WJPZ Alum you know has a podcast – be sure to let me know.   

Podcast Links:

His Different: A Taylor Swift Podcast: https://linktr.ee/ithitsdiffpod

Is This a Great Game Or What: https://greatgameorwhat.com/

Diabetes Connections Type 2: https://diabetes-connections.com/diabetesconnectionstype2/

Want to be on the show? Email JAG at jag@jagpodcastproductions.com

Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/


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For fifty years, the student-run airwaves of Syracuse University's WJPZ at 50 have been more than a radio station; they've been a launchpad. This oral history project captures that legacy not through dry facts, but through the voices that built it. Each episode is a conversation with a different alumnus, from the pioneers of the 1970s to recent graduates, tracing how their hands-on experience in what's called the "world's greatest media classroom" shaped careers in broadcasting and far beyond. You'll hear personal stories of late-night broadcasts, technical mishaps turned into triumphs, and the forging of lifelong bonds that created a unique professional family spanning generations. This podcast digs into the real, often messy, work of learning by doing, revealing how a campus station became an enduring institution. Tune in for a collection of fifty interviews that together form a living archive, celebrating the people, not just the programming, behind five decades of student-led radio.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

WJPZ at 50
Podcast Episodes
Kelly Sutton, '92, WJPZ's First Female GM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
Kelly Sutton, '92, is the first female general manager in the history of WJPZ. And, like many of us, the station launched her into a prolific media career.This Buffalo native went to Syracuse, in part, because of the opp…
Jordan Capozzi, Class of 2019 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:10
Jordan Capozzi grew up in Syracuse, and like many Salt City Natives, did not know WJPZ was run by college students. When his high school guidance counselor released how much he liked to talk (sound familiar?) she recomme…
SiriusXM Morning Mash Up Host Ryan Sampson, Class of 1999 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Many of us have spent time on the air at various radio stations, but if there's one jock the current students know, it's probably Ryan Sampson, '99, the host of the Morning Mashup on SiriusXM's Hits 1.Like many of us, Ry…
Philly's Tina Stoklosa, Class of 1995 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:42
Today's guest is one of many alumni who took the lessons of WJPZ and applied it to every job she had before and after graduation.Tina Stoklosa is a Philadelphia native who was obssessed with the news growing up. The firs…
"Cousin" Danny Corsun, Class of 1987 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:10
"Cousin" Danny Corsun shares much in common with many of our alumni - a New York kid who liked sports and went to Syracuse. But as you'll hear today, his life's journey is as unique as they come.Danny started at WJPZ doi…
Jeanne Schad on Making The Alumni Association More Inclusive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:22
In her current role at LinkedIn and Microsoft, Jeanne Schad (Class of 1994) specializes in employee engagement. So it's not surprising that she's part of the team that's working to make the WJPZ Alumni Association and Ha…
A Tribute to Hall of Famer Larry Barron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:52
For episode 89 of this podcast, we wanted to pay tribute to a man who sits on the Mount Rushmore of WJPZ History, Hall of Famer Larry Barron, from the Class of 1987. As we celebrate his life, career, and mentorship, we a…
GM Shruti Marathe, Class of 2019, on Larry Barron and JPZ Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:04
You might say Shruti Marathe was destined to be General Manager of WJPZ. She followed other alumni in working at her high school radio station in New Jersey. And when she got to Syracuse, her peer mentor was none other t…
DEI and Higher Ed Guru Kafele Khalfani, Class of 1995 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:55
Since graduating SU in 1996, Kafele Khalfani has done it all - moving from the advertising world to following his passion to help young people. Today you'll hear about his career in higher education, as well as his time…
Emmy Winning Reporter Eva Zymaris, Class of 2014 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:18
Eva Zymaris, Class of 2014, has gone from Z89 News Director to Emmy winning reporter in New Haven Connecticut. And she credits so much of her career success to the WJPZ family.This New Jersey news aficionado quickly lear…