166. Miguel Sancho, Executive Producer, Showrunner, & Author
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Miguel Sancho shares his background, mentioning his small-town roots in eastern Kansas and his education at Harvard and Phillips Andover Academy where he studied government and history. He discusses his initial plan to pursue a PhD and become an academic but instead moved to New York City to try his hand at music. Miguel transitioned from music to journalism, starting in 1993, and worked in various roles, including as an investigative journalist for Inside Edition, and 20/20 a prime time show on ABC News, and CBS News. Launching a Production Company Miguel talks about his...
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165. Bridget A. Lyons, Author, Adventurer, and Artist
The 92 Report
Show Notes: In this conversation, Bridget Lyons describes her experience with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), which led her to a three-month course in Alaska. She shares her initial struggle with the urban environment of Cambridge after her wilderness experience. Bridget discusses her involvement with the Harvard Outing Club and her decision to teach in Marin County, California. From Teaching to the Tetons Bridget explains her transition from teaching to working full-time with NOLS, teaching various outdoor activities. She describes her lifestyle during this period,...
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164. John Milbauer, Pianist and Conservatory Leader
The 92 Report
Show Notes: John Milbauer explains that, although he didn't graduate from Harvard, his education and career followed a unique path involving music and academia. John reflects that his focus has been a combination of music and ideas, but the structure of academia often separates the two. He mentions his role as Dean of the School of Music at DePaul University in Chicago where they are bringing the two together to provide musicians with a more holistic approach to creative development and expression. Choosing a Career Path At 17 John was accepted into both Harvard Summer School and Aspen Music...
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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...
info_outlineShow Notes:
Miguel Sancho shares his background, mentioning his small-town roots in eastern Kansas and his education at Harvard and Phillips Andover Academy where he studied government and history. He discusses his initial plan to pursue a PhD and become an academic but instead moved to New York City to try his hand at music. Miguel transitioned from music to journalism, starting in 1993, and worked in various roles, including as an investigative journalist for Inside Edition, and 20/20 a prime time show on ABC News, and CBS News.
Launching a Production Company
Miguel talks about his personal life, including his marriage, children, and the challenges of raising a son with a rare immune deficiency. He describes the six-year journey to find a bone marrow transplant for his son, which ultimately succeeded at Duke University Hospital. Miguel left ABC News to start his own production company, working on specials and series for various networks, including A&E and News Nation. He mentions his book More Than You Can Handle, published in 2021, and his new book Evidence of the Extraordinary, set to be released soon.
Exploring Evidence of the Extraordinary
Miguel discusses his new book, Evidence of the Extraordinary, which explores unexplained phenomena like UFOs, legendary creatures, and miracles. It was derived from one of the television shows Miguel produced. He explains how the COVID-19 pandemic led him to take on a show on the History Channel called The Proof is Out There, which investigates anomalous phenomena. Miguel shares his initial skepticism about the paranormal but acknowledges the importance of investigating these phenomena with a journalistic approach. He talks about some of the most extraordinary unexplained phenomena, including deep-sea discoveries, and the Havana Syndrome. He highlights the challenges of balancing skepticism with the possibility of rare, unexplained events, and the importance of humility when addressing what we think we know.
Undercover Journalism at Inside Edition
Miguel describes his experience at Inside Edition, where he wore hidden cameras to investigate corrupt and criminal organizations. He shares specific cases, including infiltrating a pit bull fighting ring and a drug-dealing carnival worker. Miguel discusses the legal and ethical considerations of undercover journalism, emphasizing the importance of thorough research and planning. He reflects on the skills required for undercover work, such as acting stupid and eliciting information from subjects, and how the public’s cognitive dissonance plays a role in limiting detection.
Challenges of Working in Television
Miguel talks about the transition from being an employee at networks to running his own production company. He explains the process of setting up an SCorp and the responsibilities of managing a production company, including pitching shows and maintaining client relationships. Miguel describes the development process of selling a show to a network, including creating detailed pitch documents and securing talent. He discusses the challenges of the evolving TV industry, including the rise of streaming platforms and the need for scalable content.
Life Altering Challenges
Miguel shares the personal story of his son's rare immune deficiency and the journey to find a cure. He describes the emotional and practical challenges faced by his family, including the impact on their mental and physical health. Miguel highlights the importance of medical research and the role of institutions like the National Institutes of Health and Duke University Hospital in providing life-saving treatments. He reflects on the broader implications of rare disease diagnoses on families and the need for support and understanding.
Harvard Reflections
Miguel reminisces about his time at Harvard, mentioning influential professors like Bernard Bailyn, Elaine Scarry, and Judith Shklar. He discusses the impact of Judith Shklar's teachings on individual rights, group rights, and the importance of avoiding cruelty. Miguel shares his experience of reading E.O. Wilson's "On Human Nature" years after his course with Wilson, which led to a new appreciation for Wilson's work. He reflects on the lasting influence of these professors on his professional and personal life.
Current Projects
Miguel talks about his current projects, including a new show in development and his ongoing work with News Nation. He discusses the potential of prediction markets and interactive elements in future TV content to engage younger audiences. Miguel reflects on the evolving landscape of the TV industry and the importance of adapting to new technologies and platforms.
Timestamps:
02:02: Personal Challenges and Professional Pivots
04:26: Investigating Unexplained Phenomena
18:28: Investigative Techniques and Notable Cases
33:43: Transition to Independent Production
41:42: Impact of Rare Diseases on Families
42:21: Influence of Harvard Professors
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-sancho-b7aa37a/
More than You Can Handle: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/611475/more-than-you-can-handle-by-miguel-sancho/
Evidence of the Extraordinary: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Evidence-of-the-Extraordinary/Miguel-Sancho/9781668085455
*AI generated show notes and transcript