Running to the Noise

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 EpisodePeter 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 LinksThe DividerExplore 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: BooksRhiannon Giddens and the BanjoLearn about Giddens’s efforts to preserve the banjo’s cultural roots and redefine its legacy.https://www.rhiannongiddens.comJames McBride: The Heaven and Earth Grocery StoreDiscover McBride’s latest novel, set to become a Steven Spielberg production.https://www.jamesmcbride.comSnafu by Ed HelmsDelve into the history podcast that uncovers the world’s most astonishing blunders.SNAFU MediaShane Boris: The Art of DocumentaryLearn more about Shane Boris’s Academy Award-winning work and his approach to storytelling.Cottage M

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 EpisodeThe 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 LinksThe Story of Oberlin ConservatoryLearn 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/conservatoryRichard Miller: The Structure of SingingDiscover 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/0534255353Pulitzer Prize-Winning Opera: OmarExplore 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.htmlOpera singer Tenor Limmie Pulliam reflects on his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 47Read about how tenor Limmie Pulliam overcame rejection and a decade-long hiatus to make his triumphant Carnegie Hall debuthttps://www.npr.org/2023/01/21/1150548950/opera-singer-tenor-limmie-pulliam-reflects-on-his-carnegie-hall-debut-at-the-ageRunning to the Noise, Episode 9: More than Music with Rhiannon GiddensHear about Omar’s creation from Pulliam’s friend and classmate Rhiannon Giddenshttps://www.oberlin.edu/news-and-events/running-to-the-noise-podcast/running-noise-episode-9

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.

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.

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:Corey Stoll | IMDbAppropriate

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:Emily’s websiteAuthor page at The New YorkerIs “Love Is Blind” a Toxic Workplace?

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:Rhiannon Giddens Oberlin Commencement Speaker AnnouncementRhiannon Giddens - “At The Purchaser's Option”Rhiannon Giddens website“With Her First Opera, Rhiannon Giddens Returns to Her Roots” | The New York TimesOmar, by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels

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:Joanne Berger-Sweeney | Trinity CollegeDanielle Holley | Mount HolyokeLori White | DePauw University“Now Is the Time for Hard Decisions” by Shirley Collado and La Jerne Terry Cornish “The Cost of Leading While Black” by Sean Decatur

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 OberlinOberlin Alumni Magazine profile Spring 2015 Baltimore Sun Obituary for Howard “Pete” RawlingsSBR Voted one of the Top 10 Best-Dressed Mayors (Vanity Fair) Airbnb’s new housing council

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 trailerFire of Love trailer

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 2021Peter’s bio and his latest work at the New York Times Peter on MSNBCThe Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser

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 Denyce Graves FoundationDenyce Graves sings to ElmoOberlin Conservatory Joins Consortium Created by the Denyce Graves FoundationFor the Opera Singer Denyce Graves, a Great Voice Is Not Enough

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 McBrideJames 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 hopeJames McBride’s website

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 conflict03:41 - “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 compromise21:31 - “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:Richard’s bio for the Council on Foreign RelationsRichard’s 1970 documentary on Oberlin’s response to the Kent State shootingsThe Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens

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 room14:38 - “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:Represent UsEd Helms: Gerrymandering is like…really badSNAFU Podcast

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.