Imagine A World
Main content start
The Imagine A World podcast provides a glimpse into the Knight-Hennessy scholar community of graduate students spanning all seven Stanford schools. In each episode, scholars talk with scholars about the world they imagine and what they are doing to bring it to life. Learn more about the origins of Imagine A World.
Most recent
Season 3 team
From left to right: Producer Willie Thompson and host Eli Cahan, both KHS alums
Imagine A World's theme music was composed and recorded by Taylor Goss. The podcast was originally conceived and led by Briana Mullen (2020 cohort), Taylor Goss, and Willie Thompson, along with Daniel Gajardo (2020 cohort) and Jordan Conger (2020 cohort).
All episodes
Site news
-
Venture capital through an anthropological lens
Rex Woodbury (2019 cohort) imagines a world where technology and startups are a force for good. -
Unrelenting curiosity: On knowing ourselves and the universe
Barkotel Zemenu (2024 cohort) 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. -
Deconstructing cultural barriers to girls’ education
Ayo Dada (2019 cohort) imagines a world where education is accessible to everyone, regardless of any aspect of their identity. -
Translating discovery into care
Anson Zhou (2024 cohort) imagines a world where all medical discoveries successfully translate into patient care. -
Dancing between worlds: IAW Alumni Edition
In the first alumni edition of Imagine A World, Eli Cahan (2019 cohort) talks with Bingyi Wang (2018 cohort), who imagines a world where tech and science transcend borders. -
Caring for Earth while reaching for the stars
Alina Santander Vinokurova (2024 cohort) imagines a world where the aerospace industry serves both humanity and Earth equally. -
Humbitious: The many lives of Willie Thompson
Willie Thompson (2022 cohort) reflects on transforming what the workplace looks and feels like, and what it means to be in community with others. -
Trust, transparency, and transformation
Rachel Desch (2023 cohort) shares her vision for a world where trusted institutions and leaders are able to mitigate violent conflict and inspire innovative policymaking. -
Highlights from Imagine A World, Season Two
Hear some of the most memorable moments from the second season of IAW, through the lens of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars leadership model. -
Building resilient climate companies
Madison Freeman (2022 cohort) imagines a world where technological solutions drive a sustainable economy. -
Designing a healthier future
David Jiang (2022 cohort) and Longsha Liu (2022 cohort) share their journeys to Stanford and the close friendship they've formed. -
Empowered to empower
Khushi Malde (2024 cohort) shares her hopes for education to spark curiosity, build resilience, and empower students to innovate, create, and lead for global responsibility. -
Health policy, global impact, and community roots
Eliza Ennis (2022 cohort) shares her journey from small-town roots to global health policy, tackling reproductive health and substance use with community-driven solutions. -
Making justice a right, not a privilege
Gianmarco Coronado Graci (2023 cohort) shares how he's working toward a world where access to justice is a right and not a privilege. -
Finding home in poetry and presence
Quyên Nguyễn-Hoàng (2022 cohort) discusses movement, belonging, and the search for stillness in a fast-paced world. -
Falling in love with humanity
Catharine Bowman (2022 cohort) shares the life-changing moments that inspired her journey to Stanford and KHS, what fuels her research focus, and more. -
Empowering and serving a community
From the KHS team, Jordyn Sanico and Christian Tanja share their guiding values, mentorship experiences, and highlights of their roles at KHS. -
Transforming lives through basic science research
Yousuf Khan (2019 cohort) discusses his pursuit of groundbreaking research, participating in a Netflix game show, and more. -
Friendship and belonging as Knight-Hennessy scholars
Hear from five KH scholars and friends in the 2023 cohort about scholar life and how deep friendship fuels their growth. -
The art of cultivating a community
Marcus Forst (2019 cohort) shares his memories of home; transition to Stanford; navigating cancer, chemotherapy, and recovery; and more. -
Traveling in Turkey with scholars
Pierce Garver and Jocelyn Ricard, both from the 2023 cohort, dive into Turkey’s rich history, culture, and contemporary challenges. -
Traveling Turkey with Ayça Alemdaroğlu
Ayça Alemdaroğlu, associate director of Stanford's Program on Turkey, explores how national identities are created and how people voice dissent. -
Tackling concussions and Alzheimer's disease through bioengineering
Douglas Henze (2023 cohort), a former Harvard defensive lineman-turned-Bioengineering PhD candidate, shares why he's passionate about the study of aging. -
The political power of music
Taylor Goss (2021 cohort) imagines a world where music and art are recognized and funded, as a means of emotional expression and driver of social change. -
Reimagining possibilities through representation
Sydney Hunt (2023 cohort) shares how she’s building environments that allow historically underrepresented groups to reimagine life’s possibilities. -
Meeting basic needs through deliberative democracy
Thay Graciano (2023 cohort) imagines a world where people feel they are enough, because their basic needs are met and they can do things that make them feel happy and accomplished. -
Advocating for inclusivity in STEM education
Aya Mouallem (2020 cohort) imagines a world where STEM education is not only accessible and equitable, but also inclusive. -
Uniting Americans through public service
Joe Nail (2023 cohort) imagines a world where faith, family, and courage are our guiding values, and where all Americans are bound together through service. -
Finding inspiration in the natural world
Will Dwyer (2023 cohort) imagines a world where future generations can look towards the natural world for joy and inspiration. -
Community engagement in global health
Zahra Fazal (2022 cohort) imagines a world where communities across Africa have an equal stake in setting the global health agenda. -
Democratizing and diversifying school boards
Briana Mullen (2020 cohort) discusses her work to empower underrepresented communities to create change in their school district, being a marching band kid, and more. -
A vision for dignity through healthcare
Nadine Jawad (2020 cohort) shares how she tempers cynicism, embraces joy and grief simultaneously, and works to make healthcare accessible for all. -
Social determinants of healthy aging
Courtney Burton (2022 cohort) discusses barriers to accessing resources for healthy aging, her passion for extending health spans, and more. -
Representation and resilience in medicine
Johnny Powell (2023 cohort), a first-year medical student, discusses being the first in his family to attend an Ivy League school, and his journey to medicine. -
How art drives scientific discovery
Vidal Arroyo (2022 cohort), a PhD student in biophysics, shares his journey to Stanford as a first-generation college student and his passion for biophysics, poetry, and music. -
The powerful force of compassion
Ashwyn Sam (2020 cohort), a PhD student in aeronautics and astronautics, reflects on the impact of a strong support system and the compassion of others on his professional journey. -
Creating ideal education systems
Aditya Vishwanath (2018 cohort), a graduate of the PhD program in Learning Sciences and Technology Design, shares his experiences with education and vision for its future. -
Dismantling systems of state violence
Emily Russell (2020 cohort) discusses combining theatrical performance with political science, how she uses both fields to understand state violence, and much more. -
Breaking barriers between people and art
Jaelynn Walls (2021 cohort) opens up about their cautious optimism for the future of art education, turning passion to action, and more. -
Encouraging empathy through art
Karishma Bhagani explores the power of art to unite people and encourage empathy, her journey from Kenya to New York, and more. -
Sustainability in agriculture and water
Tomo Kumahira discusses long-term sustainability solutions in agriculture and water in the midst of climate change, insights from his work in private equity in Japan, and more. -
Economics of equitable medicine
Maya Durvasula takes us through her journey of self-discovery, explores the questions that drive her curiosity at the intersection of economics, medicine, and policy, and more. -
Identity representation in literature
Lydia Burleson and Kay Barrett, both PhD candidates in the English department at Stanford, talk about their respective journeys to Stanford and KHS, the life and challenges of bein
Knight-Hennessy scholars represent a vast array of cultures, perspectives, and experiences. While we as an organization are committed to elevating their voices, the views expressed are those of the scholars, and not necessarily those of KHS.