Multi Story Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh

Multi Story Edinburgh is a student-produced podcast that brings you stories, experiences and wisdom of Edinburgh alumni. In the latest season, titled ‘Multi Story Mentors’, our student host Nilufer Aumeerally catches up with five Edinburgh alumni to talk about their university days, the paths they've taken since, and any advice they want to pass on. From the BBC to UNICEF, teaching to non-profit work, business to writing - they've done it all and have plenty of wisdom to share.  Find out more: https://edin.ac/4mYROhb #MultiStoryEdinburgh Previous Seasons: Season 6 features five recent graduates from the Class of 2024. Matt O'Malley, our student host, chats to them about the ins and outs of post-graduation life. Each episode features a different path and a different story. In Season 5 titled 'All Roads Lead to Edinburgh', we feature guests from the Class of 2023. Our student host, Andrew McGillivray, takes them five years into an ideal future and asks where they would like to be, and how they would return to Edinburgh if presented the chance to give a speech to the new student cohort.For season 4, we spoke to our 2022 graduates and asked them: Are we back to normal yet?In season 3, we expanded our scope and decided to chat to a mix of graduates about returning to a place. Is going back a negative, an acceptance of defeat? Or does time and experience change our perspective and our priorities?Season 2 is a little bit of the same but quite a lot different. As the world emerges from pandemic paralysis, are our 2021 graduates feeling inspired or inhibited, glad or gloomy, chaotic or calm?In season 1, we talked to our 2020 graduates about how things were going, or not going, for them. All opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Edinburgh. Multi Story Edinburgh has been created and produced by the Alumni Relations team at the University of Edinburgh.  Artwork:2025, 2024 and 2023: vector created by freepik from www.freepik.com2022: vector created by upklyak from www.freepik.com2021: vector created by redgreystock from www.freepik.com  Music:Since When by Mise Darling Shake It! by JahzzarAvientu by JahzzarGentle Chase by Podington Bear(all sourced from freemusicarchive.org under license CC BY-SA.)Detective Begining Adventures by KonovalovMusic. Sourced from Tribe of Noise. Multi Story Edinburgh is distributed and licensed CC BY-SA

  1. Episode 96: On all things motivation

    11/10/2025

    Episode 96: On all things motivation

    Featuring the four finalists of the 2025 Being Edinburgh Alumni Award  The Being Edinburgh Alumni Award is given every year to an exceptional alum, who’s work has created undeniable, transformative change in their local or global communities. This season, Nilufer was beyond thrilled to be able to talk to the four finalists of the 2025 award; Jimmy Paul, Giselle Gonzales, Hana Mahmood and Hammed Kayode Alabi. These amazing alumni compose our special episode, sharing their advice, insights and stories on all things motivation. Jimmy Paul, MA Geography 2012 | MSc Integrated Service Improvement: Health and Social Care 2015 Jimmy’s life and career has been driven by one mission - to affect real, lasting change for people whose voices are too often unheard. Growing up around violence, and spending much of his childhood in the ‘care system’, his passion is rooted in his own journey, which is why he works to ensure others experience love and care in their early years. In 2023, aged 33, Jimmy became the youngest ever Head of Scotland’s critically acclaimed Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), drawing on his wide range of professional and personal experiences to oversee prevention programmes and to break cycles of harm.  Giselle Gonzales, MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2019 Giselle Gonzales is the Founder and CEO of EqualReach, an award-winning social enterprise connecting vetted teams of displaced tech talent with dignified digital work. Having worked for some of the most well-known companies in the world - including Amazon.com, AWS, the Walt Disney Company, and National Geographic - Giselle leverages technology, storytelling and impact sourcing to empower displaced communities and form bridges between the public and private sector. Hana Mahmood, PhD Global Health 2022 Hana is a public health expert and researcher specialising in health informatics and mHealth (mobile health) technologies. One of her most ground-breaking contributions was leading fieldwork for Pakistan’s first national psychiatric morbidity survey, which involved months in the field, hundreds of team members, and late-night data checks. The survey gave voice to more than 11,000 households and forced mental health into the spotlight of national policy. Hana has led over 35 large-scale studies, but more importantly, she has turned research findings into national health policies that impact millions of children. Hammed Kayode Alabi, MSc Africa and International Development 2021  Hammed Kayode Alabi is an EdTech (education technology) leader and social entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and author, dedicated to advocating for education, youth empowerment, and sustainable development. Originally from Nigeria, he overcame a challenging upbringing marked by personal loss and financial struggles, which inspired him to empower young leaders in his community through education.  In 2023, Hammed founded Skill2Rural.Org, an EdTech start-up, which reached over 415 users in just eight months and educators signed up on the platform are currently reaching 128,000+ young people across Africa. And his work doesn't end there. About Multi Story Edinburgh Multi Story Edinburgh is a student-produced podcast that brings you the stories, experiences and wisdom of University of Edinburgh alumni. We hope they will inspire you, reassure you and remind you that you are part of the global University community that is here to support you as you make your own way in life. The podcast is run by the Alumni Relations team at the University of Edinburgh. All opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Edinburgh.   Music Detective Begining Adventures by KonovalovMusic. Sourced from Tribe of Noise.

    1h 1m
  2. Episode 92: Multi Story Mentors - Juan Venegas on exploring experiences

    10/27/2025

    Episode 92: Multi Story Mentors - Juan Venegas on exploring experiences

    Juan Venegas (PhD Physics, 2013) joins Nilufer to talk all things balance, exploration and cultivating a passion.  Having graduated with Physics PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 2013, working in technical science communications all while publishing two sci-fi novels - Juan knows a thing or two about balance! Juan believes that order gives structure to our life, but chaos gives it beauty - and that phrase guides many of his philosophies.  Juan’s latest book 'The Infinite Walk: A Tango Novel for Those Who (Don't) Dance (Yet)'  is now available on eBook and paperback.  "It's all about discovering tango in Edinburgh and all the necessary adjustments one has to do to survive a PhD. More than anything, it's a love letter to the student life in Edinburgh." - Juan About Multi Story Edinburgh Multi Story Edinburgh is a student-produced podcast that brings you the stories, experiences and wisdom of University of Edinburgh alumni. We hope they will inspire you, reassure you and remind you that you are part of the global University community that is here to support you as you make your own way in life. The podcast is run by the Alumni Relations team at the University of Edinburgh.  All opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Edinburgh.   Music Detective Begining Adventures by KonovalovMusic. Sourced from Tribe of Noise.

    47 min
  3. Episode 89: Multi Story Mentors - Tim Johns on producing passions

    10/06/2025

    Episode 89: Multi Story Mentors - Tim Johns on producing passions

    Tim Johns (MA Geography, 2007) works with BBC Radio 2 as a Producer on The Jeremy Vine show. He joins Nilufer to talk about all things media, creative industries and the importance of taking a leap of faith. Tim’s work has covered all elements of radio production, and he credits it to his time at Edinburgh’s very own student radio station - FreshAir!  Tim joins us 18 years after graduation, to share his advice, some jokes and to encourage pursuing your passion.  “I think the hardest thing is, if you're absolutely committed in your mind and driven towards a very specific thing, and that very specific thing across the course of a number of years is proving impossible to get to. It's totally fine to relax your parameters and look elsewhere. So I just think, take it all with a big dose of big dose of chill. Work hard, but just don't stress about it.” - Tim  About Multi Story Edinburgh Multi Story Edinburgh is a student-produced podcast that brings you the stories, experiences and wisdom of University of Edinburgh alumni. We hope they will inspire you, reassure you and remind you that you are part of the global University community that is here to support you as you make your own way in life. The podcast is run by the Alumni Relations team at the University of Edinburgh.  All opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Edinburgh.   Music Detective Begining Adventures by KonovalovMusic. Sourced from Tribe of Noise.

    48 min

About

Multi Story Edinburgh is a student-produced podcast that brings you stories, experiences and wisdom of Edinburgh alumni. In the latest season, titled ‘Multi Story Mentors’, our student host Nilufer Aumeerally catches up with five Edinburgh alumni to talk about their university days, the paths they've taken since, and any advice they want to pass on. From the BBC to UNICEF, teaching to non-profit work, business to writing - they've done it all and have plenty of wisdom to share.  Find out more: https://edin.ac/4mYROhb #MultiStoryEdinburgh Previous Seasons: Season 6 features five recent graduates from the Class of 2024. Matt O'Malley, our student host, chats to them about the ins and outs of post-graduation life. Each episode features a different path and a different story. In Season 5 titled 'All Roads Lead to Edinburgh', we feature guests from the Class of 2023. Our student host, Andrew McGillivray, takes them five years into an ideal future and asks where they would like to be, and how they would return to Edinburgh if presented the chance to give a speech to the new student cohort.For season 4, we spoke to our 2022 graduates and asked them: Are we back to normal yet?In season 3, we expanded our scope and decided to chat to a mix of graduates about returning to a place. Is going back a negative, an acceptance of defeat? Or does time and experience change our perspective and our priorities?Season 2 is a little bit of the same but quite a lot different. As the world emerges from pandemic paralysis, are our 2021 graduates feeling inspired or inhibited, glad or gloomy, chaotic or calm?In season 1, we talked to our 2020 graduates about how things were going, or not going, for them. All opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Edinburgh. Multi Story Edinburgh has been created and produced by the Alumni Relations team at the University of Edinburgh.  Artwork:2025, 2024 and 2023: vector created by freepik from www.freepik.com2022: vector created by upklyak from www.freepik.com2021: vector created by redgreystock from www.freepik.com  Music:Since When by Mise Darling Shake It! by JahzzarAvientu by JahzzarGentle Chase by Podington Bear(all sourced from freemusicarchive.org under license CC BY-SA.)Detective Begining Adventures by KonovalovMusic. Sourced from Tribe of Noise. Multi Story Edinburgh is distributed and licensed CC BY-SA