Celebrating International Podcast Day with ‘This Is Purdue’

September 25, 2024 Kate Young

Sept. 30 marks International Podcast Day

“This Is Purdue” highlights stories about Boilermakers from across all disciplines, who, through research, innovation and determination, have persistently pursued their next giant leaps.

Join us every other Thursday as we interview students, faculty and alumni who are taking small steps toward their goals and inspiring others to do the same.

All Hail to 100 Episodes

In this special 100th episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re celebrating and reflecting on our past episodes, which highlight Boilermakers who — through research, innovation and determination — have persistently pursued their next giant leap. Over the last three years, our podcast team has featured more than 160 Boilermaker guests, produced over 50 hours of audio and created over 200 video clips. We’re celebrating these incredible milestones by answering questions from our loyal “This Is Purdue” fans. Tune in to hear behind-the-scenes stories of our listeners’ favorite episodes, from athletics to engineering to space discoveries. You’ll also hear a few burning questions for several of our previous guests. Join us for this look behind the microphone as we reflect on our stories with NASA engineers, two legendary men’s basketball head coaches, a 9/11 heroine, a mechanical engineering alumna who made IndyCar history and more. Plus, several of our “This Is Purdue” team members step up to the mic themselves as they share what it takes to bring these incredible Boilermaker stories to life on the podcast.

Ford Motor Co. HR Director Rochelle Dorn-Hayes on the Importance of Bringing Your Whole Self to Work

Tune in as Rochelle Dorn-Hayes, human resources director at Ford Motor Co., shares more about her time at Purdue, where she earned her MBA from the Mitch Daniels School of Business. She carries with her the lessons learned from her beloved mentor, Dr. Cornell A. Bell, and the importance of providing guidance to the next generation of Boilermakers by being involved in the Business Opportunity Program. Rochelle also dives into her 25-plus-year career at Ford, including her work creating an award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion training program and her transition from finance to human resources. You don’t want to miss Rochelle’s helpful insights, such as seeking out mentors and utilizing the buddy system when it comes to networking and exploring new career opportunities.

March Madness: Carolyn Peck, Stephanie White and Ukari Figgs Reflect on the 25th Anniversary of Purdue Winning the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship

In this special episode, former head coach Carolyn Peck and co-captains Stephanie White and Ukari Figgs reflect on the Purdue women’s basketball team’s 1999 NCAA National Championship. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this legendary win and listen as Coach Peck, Stephanie and Ukari share more about this historic season and the real story behind what happened when they arrived in San Jose for the Final Four of March Madness. From starting the season beating No. 1-ranked Tennessee and selling out Mackey Arena for the first time ever to finally hoisting the championship trophy and cutting down the net after beating Duke in that championship game, you’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories from these three women who experienced it all. The friendship, commitment, determination and, of course, Boilermaker spirit that led this legendary women’s team to a national championship will forever be celebrated in the Purdue community. Relive all the heart-wrenching, jaw-dropping and emotional moments in this special episode of “This Is Purdue.”

The Making of the Indy 500: Meet the Boilermakers Behind the Scenes of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to three Boilermakers who work behind the scenes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to execute “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” — the Indianapolis 500. Listen as David Letherman (BS management ’15), senior manager of event personnel; Meredith Walker (BS management, marketing ’11), senior manager of VIP and talent experience; and Louis Kissinger (BS chemical engineering ’17), senior manager of events and administration, share how the problem-solving skills they learned during their time at Purdue prepared them to host hundreds of thousands of people at the iconic IMS. Plus, you’ll hear stories on the infectious buzz surrounding the month of May in Indianapolis, can’t-miss Indy 500 events and the best spots to watch the race. Don’t miss this episode as these three Boilermakers go in-depth on what it takes — and how it feels — to pull off the largest single-day sporting event in the world.

Dan Hasler and David Umulis Discuss Purdue’s New Indianapolis Campus

Dan Hasler, chief operating officer, and David Umulis, senior vice provost and chief academic officer, of Purdue University in Indianapolis discuss Purdue’s first comprehensive urban campus and the exciting opportunities for students, faculty and the whole Boilermaker community. In this second episode of our Boilermaker Bites series, Dan and David discuss the importance of Purdue coming to downtown Indy, all while enjoying a delicious meal at the iconic Harry & Izzy’s, which is only four short minutes from campus. Don’t miss this episode that dishes out all the benefits and excitement for the future of our new urban campus — Purdue University in Indianapolis.

The “This Is Purdue” podcast team, part of Purdue Brand Studio, celebrated its 100-episode milestone in January 2024. (Purdue University photo/Greta Bell)

Rochelle Dorn-Hayes, human resources director at Ford Motor Co. and Boilermaker alumna, joined the “This Is Purdue” podcast in February 2024. (Photo provided by Rochelle Dorn-Hayes)

From left to right: Co-captain Ukari Figgs, head coach Carolyn Peck and co-captain Stephanie White joined “This Is Purdue” to celebrate and reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Purdue women’s basketball team’s 1999 NCAA National Championship. (Purdue Athletics photo)

From left to right: Purdue alums David Letherman (BS management ’15), Louis Kissinger (BS chemical engineering ’17) and Meredith Walker (BS management, marketing ’11) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood)

David Umulis, senior vice provost and chief academic officer, (left) and Dan Hasler, chief operating officer, (right) of Purdue University in Indianapolis joined “This Is Purdue” in June 2024 to discuss Purdue’s first comprehensive urban campus. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood)

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Kate Young

When she was a student in Purdue’s Brian Lamb School of Communication, Kate envisioned a career in broadcasting. She spent a few years as a news reporter before she fell in love with podcasting. Her optimism, enthusiasm and natural curiosity pervades every part of “This Is Purdue,” the official university podcast she writes, hosts and produces.