163. Elisabeth (Weinberg) Tavarez, From Finance to Higher Ed to Politics
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Elisabeth Tavares (Weinberg) describes her journey post-graduation, dividing it into three main chapters: private sector, higher education, and government sector. Travelling to Egypt, Israel, and Spain Elisabeth shares her initial post-graduation plans, including travel to Egypt and Israel, and her work with American teenagers abroad in Ireland and Spain. She discusses her passion for international travel and her decision to learn Spanish at Harvard, which later led to teaching Spanish. Elisabeth explains her motivation for learning Spanish, including her background in European...
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162. Liam T.A. Ford, From Journalist to Non-profit Startup Leader
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Liam T.A. Ford, also known as LTAF, shares his initial career plans after graduation. After writing for the Crimson at Harvard, he initially considered a career in academia, but pivoted to journalism. He discusses his first job at the Montgomery Advertiser, where he covered crime and interviewed notable figures including the man who headed the pulpit committee that hired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his pastorship in Montgomery. Liam recounts his transition to Chicago, where he became a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering notable events like Barack Obama's election to the...
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161. Elijah Siegler, Religious Studies Outside the Classroom
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Elijah Siegler recalls the day of graduation on June 5, 1992, and the prominent promotion of the movie Patriot Games, which seemed at the time an ominous omen, as graduates began to navigate their post-grad journey. Elijah shares his advice to his kids and students: "You don't need to have your whole life post-college figured out. You just need one cool thing lined up, and that'll lead to another cool thing." Elijah describes his first post-graduation job as the editor of the Greece and Turkey book for Let's Go travel guides, which he found out about due to a last-minute...
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160. Tobey (Weintraub) Collins, Energy Transaction Expert and International Enthusiast
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Tobey Weintraub Collins pursued a master's degree in international relations at Georgetown, where she met her husband who joined the US Foreign Service. Tobey worked in project finance in Brazil and Venezuela, focusing on energy projects, and later worked for AES Corp in the US and Chile. She eventually moved back to the US and has been at Astris for the past 13 years, specializing in energy and infrastructure investment banking. Life in Venezuela Tobey describes Venezuela in 2000-2001 as relatively normal, with the US still influential, and her work focused on Central America and...
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159. Josh Morgerman, World’s Top Hurricane Chaser
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Josh Morgerman describes his initial move to LA to work in the movie industry, which didn't work out. He then started a web design company called Symblaze in the late 90s, which survived the dot-com crash by expanding to Eastern Europe and working with Russia and Eastern Bloc countries while living in Prague. Josh shares his dual passion for weather and advertising, leading to a career as a hurricane chaser while still running Symblaze. A Pivotal Moment in the Philippines Josh explains his obsession with violent weather and how he started hunting hurricanes more...
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158. Allain Roy, A Career in Hockey: Player, Agent, Advisor, Entrepreneur
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Allain Roy shares that he left Harvard to become a professional hockey player, signing his first NHL contract out of college. He recalls winning the national championship in 1989 and the team's tradition of reuniting every 10 years. Al mentions attending Coach Clear's 90th birthday celebration and running into former teammates, Tim Burke, Kevin Sneddon, Rich DeFreitas, Brian McCormack and Greg Hess, along with Chuck Hughes at Harvard games. Participating in the 1994 Olympics Al discusses turning down an offer to play in Moscow before graduation and signing with the Winnipeg Jets....
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157. Noah Feldman, American Legal Scholar, Academic, and Author
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Noah Feldman, Harvard Law professor, author, and ethical advisor talks about his career in constitutional law and his experiences in Iraq and Tunisia, sharing stories from his time guiding, and in some cases, establishing, the law of countries in turmoil or collapse. He also talks about the themes explored in his books and current pursuits. Real World Projects in Constitutional Law Noah describes his academic journey, starting from his early love for school and his decision to pursue academia full-time, with brief interruptions for real-world projects. He shares his...
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156. Ted Caplow, Life at the Intersection of Society and Technology
The 92 Report
Show Notes Ted Caplow graduated with a degree in social science and has had a career in engineering and entrepreneurship. He describes his initial interest in science and his experience with physics at Harvard, which he found challenging. Ted shares his interest in humanities, particularly theater, and his involvement in various theater activities at Harvard. He discusses his consideration of theater conservatory programs and urban planning after graduation. Joining the Peace Corps and Sailing across the Atlantic Ted recounts his application to the Peace Corps and the unexpected...
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155. Lloyd Lee, A Blessed Life and Real Estate Private Equity
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Lloyd opens the conversation by talking about the infinite opportunities at Harvard and encourages incoming freshmen to make the most of their time there. Lloyd shares his initial plan to study pre-med but also pursued fine arts, specifically architecture, and theater work. He mentions meeting Professor James Stilgoe at the Graduate School of Design, which opened his eyes to opportunities beyond STEM. From Cornell to New York City Lloyd discusses his decision to attend Cornell and his subsequent move to New York City. He had two job offers: working at Disney or a consulting firm,...
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154. Trisha Pérez Kennealy, Culinary Arts & Community Building
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Trisha Pérez Kennealy describes her initial stint in New York in commercial banking, followed by investment banking and studying to become a chef at Le Cordon Bleu in London, where she lived for three years. She moved back to the United States, settling in Lexington. She has three children and while they were little, she was active in town meetings, became a town official, and advocated for public education. In 2010, Trisha bought a property near the Battle Green in Lexington and converted it into a luxury hotel with 22 guest rooms and a restaurant. It opened in 2014...
info_outlineShow Notes:
Josh Morgerman describes his initial move to LA to work in the movie industry, which didn't work out. He then started a web design company called Symblaze in the late 90s, which survived the dot-com crash by expanding to Eastern Europe and working with Russia and Eastern Bloc countries while living in Prague. Josh shares his dual passion for weather and advertising, leading to a career as a hurricane chaser while still running Symblaze.
A Pivotal Moment in the Philippines
Josh explains his obsession with violent weather and how he started hunting hurricanes more aggressively and frequently in his 30s. He was also working in the corporate world, still running his company. He led two parallel existences of a brand and advertising consultant, working as a strategist and creative director in his company, and also hunting hurricanes and typhoons around the world and collecting data. He describes a pivotal moment in the Philippines where his hurricane chasing career collided with his corporate life. Josh details his experience in the Philippines during a terrifying typhoon that left thousands dead. Surrounded by desperate people in the water, he jumped in to help rescue people, an act which was captured on video and broadcast on news outlets all around the world, including CNN. He discusses how his two careers coexisted and how he eventually moved to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to continue both.
At the Center of the Hurricane
Josh explains the process of hurricane chasing, focusing on collecting data from the calm center of the storm, which, he explains, is rich in data. He describes the adrenaline rush of being inside a hurricane and how it became a professional sport for him. Josh shares his experience of chasing Melissa, a category five hurricane in Jamaica, and the challenges he faced. He discusses the importance of data collection for scientists and how it helps in post-analysis of hurricanes. Josh describes the essential items in his hurricane go-bag, emphasizing portability and durability. He explains the importance of water and protein bars for sustenance during chases. Josh details the dangerous aspects of hurricane chasing, including the violent winds and flying debris. He shares his experience of being in the eye of a hurricane and the unique calm it brings.
The Storm Chasing Community
Josh discusses the storm chasing community, including tornado chasers and the cultural differences between them. He describes the competitive nature of hurricane chasing and his position as the world's leading hurricane chaser. Josh mentions the growing presence of women in the storm chasing community and the Instagram community called Girls Who Chase. He explains the versatility of storm chasers, who often cover various extreme weather events for media outlets.
Hurricane Chasing Technology
Josh explains the use of computer models to predict hurricane paths and intensities.
He describes the process of monitoring these models every six hours to stay updated on potential storms. Josh discusses the importance of knowing which storms to chase and which to avoid, and how to prepare for potentially dangerous and unexpected crises. He shares his experience of traveling to remote locations and the logistical challenges involved.
International Storm Chasing
Josh describes the process of booking flights and accommodations for international storm chases. He shares his experience of adapting to unexpected situations and the importance of staying calm.
Josh discusses the challenges of chasing storms in different cultures and the varying levels of police enforcement, and how he deals with these situations. He specifically mentions the stringent rules in Western Australia, and explains the role of his media credentials in gaining access to storm-affected areas.
Media and the Hurricane Man
Josh talks about his career as a paid storm chaser and his work with various media outlets. He mentions his involvement in reality series like Hurricane Man and his role as a brand ambassador for hurricane-resistant products. Josh discusses the financial aspects of his career and how it supports his storm chasing activities. He shares his experience of promoting brands like James Hardie and their hurricane-resistant products.
Measuring Hurricane Behavior
Josh explains the significance of measuring air pressure in the eye of a hurricane. He describes the role of his data in post-analysis by the National Hurricane Center. Josh shares his experience of chasing Melissa in Jamaica and the importance of accurate data collection. He discusses the broader impact of his data on understanding hurricane intensity and behavior. Josh reflects on his early interest in weather and how it influenced his career.
He shares his experience of chasing his first hurricane, Hurricane Bob, and the primitive methods used at the time. Josh discusses the cultural experiences he's had through storm chasing and how it has broadened his perspective.
Harvard Reflections
He mentions the influence of his Harvard education, particularly in Cold War foreign policy, on his current analysis of global threats. He mentions how his education introduced him to political cycles through history, and how principles learned he finds applicable today. He mentions professor Ernest May in the Department of History, who was a proponent of historical analogy and talked about the limitations of making aggressive comparisons. Josh still refers to his wisdom in his analysis of what's going on in the world.
Timestamps:
03:02: The Dual Life of a Hurricane Chaser
05:16: The Science and Thrill of Hurricane Chasing
06:51: Preparation and Equipment for Hurricane Chasing
09:16: The Community and Culture of Storm Chasing
15:34: The Role of Technology in Hurricane Chasing
19:33: The Practicalities of International Storm Chasing
19:51: The Business and Media Side of Hurricane Chasing
40:35: The Importance of Data Collection in Hurricane Research
41:07: Personal Reflections and Historical Connections
Links:
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/iCyclone/
https://www.instagram.com/icyclone1/
https://www.youtube.com/icyclone
Websites:
As a stormchaser: https://www.icyclone.com/
As an ad man: https://www.symblaze.com/
This episode on The 92 Report:
Featured Non-profit:
The featured non-profit of this week’s is brought to you by Kristen Hunter who reports:
Hi. I'm Kristen Hunter, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 report is the Goldie Initiative. The Goldie Initiative empowers women to become real estate industry leaders by providing scholarships, mentorship and professional development designed to cultivate future executives across the real estate sector. I'm honored to serve as a member of the Goldie Initiative's Boston Executive Advisory Council, supporting an organization that has transformed the professional trajectories of a number of our Harvard real estate students. You can learn more and support their mission at Goldie initiative. That's G, o, l, D, I, E, initiative.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.
This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/?post_type=podcast&p=1897&preview=true
*AI generated show notes and transcript