Flinn Talks

Flinn Foundation
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Interviews with Flinn Scholars about their careers and lives.

  1. 1D AGO

    Sarah Parmar on Shifting from Water Conservation to Community Conversation | Alumni Hour Interview

    In this Alumni Hour conversation, Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Sarah Parmar (’02) about her journey from growing up on a ranch in southern Arizona to a career shaping water policy and community engagement.Sarah’s path has been defined by a deep connection to place, culture, and conversation—from early experiences in Douglas, Arizona, to shifting her academic focus at ASU and ultimately building a long career in nonprofit work centered on natural resources. Her perspective bridges the worlds of land management, water conservation, and community dialogue, emphasizing the importance of listening across differences.In this interview, Sarah discusses how community and culture shape policy decisions, what it means to build a long‑term career in nonprofit work, and how inclusive conversation can drive more sustainable approaches to water and land use.Interview Highlights:0:00 — A day in the life of 10‑year‑old Sarah4:49 — Childhood dinner table conversations7:40 — Border culture and growing up in Douglas10:24 — The value of staying in Arizona13:08 — Giving yourself permission to explore15:23 — Why she switched to economics19:22 — Reflecting on the Fulbright decision25:33 — Staying at one organization for 18 years30:23 — Choosing the right nonprofit32:01 — What policymakers get right and wrong about water rights34:59 — Misconceptions between land and water communities38:03 — Returning to the family ranch43:02 — Addressing AI’s resource impact through policy47:58 — Uplifting underheard voices51:36 — The role of private landowners55:09 — Rethinking approaches to water resources

    59 min

  2. APR 25

    Alex Lau on Finding Stability in the Volatility of Film and Storytelling | Alumni Hour Interview

    In this Alumni Hour conversation, Flinn Scholars alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Alex Lau (’03) about his winding path through filmmaking, storytelling, and creative leadership.Alex’s career spans documentary filmmaking, political campaigns, startups, and large‑scale corporate media environments. From landing an early whale shark-filming gig through Craigslist to working on a presidential campaign and ultimately leading creative production at Meta, his journey reflects both the highs and lows of working in a competitive, fast‑changing creative industry.In this interview, Alex discusses how good storytelling transcends industries, what he learned from moments of professional defeat and reinvention, and how creatives can navigate uncertainty while building resilient, values‑driven careers.Interview Highlights:0:00 — Background, upbringing, and family history3:05 — Choosing college over the family business5:18 — Early mindset and academic direction9:03 — Landing the first professional filmmaking job13:22 — What makes storytelling work across clients15:42 — Working on the 2016 Clinton presidential campaign21:18 — Processing the election aftermath23:43 — Lessons from startup challenges28:07 — Executive production and creative work at Meta31:13 — Organizational change and AI in production teams33:04 — Key challenges for corporate media teams today34:07 — Advice for navigating anxiety and career uncertainty

    36 min

  3. MAR 26

    Sara Castro on Her Journey Through the International Defense Community | Alumni Hour Interview

    In this Alumni Hour conversation, Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Sara Castro, Ph.D. (’95), about her path from Flinn Scholar at Arizona State University to a career at the intersection of intelligence, academia, and national security.Sara began her journey with early ambitions in journalism before a pivotal decision to study Chinese reshaped her career toward international relations and intelligence analysis. She went on to serve as a CIA analyst, supporting policymakers through rigorous evaluation of evidence, before pursuing a PhD to examine deeper questions about Chinese ideology and U.S.–China relations. Today, she teaches military officers, helping future leaders understand China on its own terms within an increasingly interdependent global system.In this interview, Sara discusses how language study shaped her career path, what intelligence analysis actually entails behind the scenes, and why teaching strategic thinking requires resisting assumptions and bias.Interview Highlights: 0:00 — Early career aspirations and education 2:37 — Learning Chinese and changing career direction 5:43 — Experiencing the legacy of early PRC systems in China 15:06 — Becoming a CIA analyst and dispelling common myths 25:25 — Evaluation and promotion at the CIA 27:48 — Analyst briefing and preparation techniques 31:52 — Leaving the CIA for academic research 33:57 — Insights from the Dixie Mission and U.S.–China relations 41:10 — Teaching China to military officers 44:34 — Xi Jinping, ideology, and grand strategy 48:00 — Global interdependence and global enemies 50:52 — Shared human values across cultures 52:13 — Choosing discomfort as a path to growth

    54 min

  4. FEB 6

    Alumni Hour - Alexis Darby Discusses the Many Pivots to a Career that Truly Fits

    In this Alumni Hour conversation between Flinn alumna Sara Zervos and Alexis Darby, Lexi shares her winding path from switching majors eight times at ASU to pursuing — and ultimately leaving — a PhD program, and how stepping away opened the door to an unexpected and fulfilling career in executive search. She reflects candidly on burnout, values‑driven decision‑making, and the moment she realized it was okay to walk away from a path that no longer aligned with who she was. Along the way, Lexi offers practical insights on networking, interviewing, and navigating nonlinear careers, while highlighting the power of the Flinn community to support scholars and alumni through every pivot.

    58 min

  5. 12/08/2025

    Alumni Hour - Eric Jackson Discusses Life in China and Pivoting to Linguistics

    In this conversation between Flinn alumni Sara Zervos and Eric Jackson, Eric talks about the childhood dream of becoming an astronaut that shifted after a memorable launch delay—and how that moment opened the door to an even broader universe in linguistics. He discusses his transition into global language documentation, his work in China, and meeting his partner in the process. The episode also reflects on the profound impact Flinn-funded travel had on Eric’s academic and personal decisions.

    1 hr

  6. 11/05/2025

    Alumni Hour - Paul Burkhardt Discusses His Journey to University President

    In this engaging Alumni Hour, Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) sits down with Paul Burkhardt (’86), the newly appointed president of Naropa University, for a wide-ranging and insightful conversation. From living in the Bahamas and teaching scuba diving, to leading the closing of a liberal arts school, Paul offers thoughtful insights and heartfelt reflections on education, growth, and purpose.

    1 hr

  7. 09/16/2025

    Alumni Hour - Wylie Timmerman on Work-Life "Balance" and Data Science

    In this episode of Alumni Hour, host Sara Zervos (’87) sits down with Wylie Timmerman (’06) to talk about the many paths his journey has taken since graduating. Wylie reflects on his study abroad experiences and how living internationally shaped his perspective, as well as balancing career ambitions with family life. He also shares his strategies for maintaining meaningful connections with his professional and personal network when relocation happens. Finally, Wylie and Sara dive into the question on many young professionals’ minds: Is pursuing a graduate degree in data science worth it?

    54 min

  8. 08/25/2025

    Alumni Hour - Ryan Johnson Discusses Venture Capital, Startups, and City Design

    Enjoy our August Alumni Hour as Sara Zervos (’87) interviews Ryan Johnson (’02), co-founder and CEO of Culdesac, a company reimagining how we design cities and live together—without relying on cars. Based in Tempe, Culdesac is the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the United States. Ryan shares insights from his path through venture capital, startups, and city design, and reflect on how his Flinn experience impacted his values around community, innovation, and sustainability.

    58 min
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About

Interviews with Flinn Scholars about their careers and lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Flinn Foundation
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Flinn Foundation
  • Show Website
    Flinn Talks