Running to the Noise

Oberlin College & Conservatory

When First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to the graduating class of Oberlin College and Conservatory in 2015, she encouraged students to embrace Oberlin’s history and run to the “noise”— those challenging, contentious situations that threaten to divide us.  As the first college in America to officially embrace the admission of black students, and the first co-ed school to grant bachelor’s degrees to women, Oberlin has been Running to the Noise almost since our inception. And that’s just what we’ll do in each episode of our podcast, hosted by College President Carmen Twillie Ambar. President Ambar will talk with all manner of interesting and influential people on and off our campus who are tackling some of the world’s toughest problems, working to spark positive change for everyone.

  1. Billion-Dollar Giving: Cecilia Conrad on Changing How Philanthropy Funds Big Ideas

    May 22

    Billion-Dollar Giving: Cecilia Conrad on Changing How Philanthropy Funds Big Ideas

    People closest to the world’s biggest problems often have the best solutions. They just don’t always have access to the dollars needed to bring them to life. That belief is at the center of Cecilia Conrad’s work to rethink how philanthropists find and fund big ideas. In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar speaks with Conrad, founding CEO of Lever for Change, the nonprofit that has helped direct more than $2.5 billion toward high-impact organizations around the world. Before entering philanthropy, Conrad spent years in academia as an economist and professor focused on equity, access, and opportunity. A Stanford-trained economist and former managing director at the MacArthur Foundation, she now helps donors identify and support innovative organizations whose ideas might otherwise go overlooked. Ambar and Conrad discuss how traditional philanthropy often relies on invitation-only networks that can miss promising ideas and organizations. The conversation centers on how efforts like Lever for Change and MacArthur’s 100&Change are opening those doors wider, helping philanthropists discover solutions they might never have otherwise encountered. The episode also explores Oberlin’s tradition of bold, unconventional thinking, including its distinction as the nation’s leading liberal arts college producer of MacArthur “genius grant” fellows. From there, the discussion turns to the evolving role of philanthropy, the responsibilities that come with concentrated wealth, and how major donors decide which ideas and organizations to support. Finally, the conversation closes with Cecilia’s thoughtful advice for Oberlin graduates and anyone stepping into the workforce who is interested in nonprofit work, philanthropy, and finding a meaningful way to leave their mark on their career and community. What We Cover in This EpisodeCecilia Conrad’s path from academia to philanthropyHow Lever for Change has helped move more than $2.5 billion to organizations around the worldWhy traditional philanthropy can overlook innovative organizations and ideasThe origins of MacArthur’s 100&Change competition and open-call philanthropyHow billionaires and major donors think about risk, trust, and impactWhat Conrad learned from leading the MacArthur Fellows ProgramWhy creativity and innovation often emerge from interdisciplinary thinkingThe importance of mentorship, friendship, and “diffusers” in sustaining leadershipOberlin’s culture of creativity, innovation, and public purposeWhat it means to “run to the noise” in philanthropy and leadershipEpisode LinksLearn more about Lever for ChangeLearn more about MacArthur FellowsMeet Oberlin’s 15th “Genius” Learn more about 100&ChangeRead more about Cecilia ConradLearn more about Oberlin College Commencement 2026Subscribe to Running to the NoiseFollow Oberlin College on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn

    38 min
  2. The Power of an Oberlin Education

    Mar 31

    The Power of an Oberlin Education

    In this special spring episode of Running to the Noise, President Carmen Twillie Ambar reflects on what makes Oberlin College and Conservatory a place where students don’t just imagine change—they step up and make it happen. From student-led initiatives to alumni shaping fields as diverse as the arts, artificial intelligence, public policy, and journalism, this episode brings together stories rooted in the Oberlin experience—time on an extraordinary campus where a top-tier college of arts and sciences and a world-class conservatory are seamlessly intertwined, and where a long tradition of educating leading scholars and musicians continues to evolve. Through excerpts from conversations with artists and innovators drawn from the past three seasons, we hear how Oberlin shaped their paths—from Broadway stages and opera houses to breakthroughs in machine learning, efforts to address climate and conservation challenges, bestselling novels, and national policy debates. These are not just careers—they are contributions that influence how we understand the world and how we live in it. At the heart of each story is a shared mindset: a willingness to take risks, embrace complexity, and, as Michelle Obama once said of Oberlin students, “run to the noise.”  Featured Guests LaTanya Hall – Associate Professor of Jazz Voice, Oberlin ConservatoryGeorgia Heers (Class of 2021) – Broadway performer (Good Night, and Good Luck)Thomas Dietterich (Class of 1977) – AI pioneer and professor emeritus, Oregon State UniversityRumaan Alam (Class of 1999) – Bestselling author (Leave the World Behind, Entitlement)Tamara Jade (Class of 2012) – Singer, actor, and performer (The Voice, HBO, Lincoln Center)Benjamin Wittes Part 1; Part 2 (Class of 1991) – Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; Editor-in-Chief of LawfareLimmie Pulliam – Operatic tenor and Oberlin Conservatory alumnusEpisode HighlightsMentorship that transforms lives: LaTanya Hall and Georgia Heers discuss the power of trust, discipline, and artistic growth in the conservatory model.AI, ethics, and the liberal arts: Tom Dietterich explains how Oberlin shaped his approach to machine learning and complex global challenges.Writing without fear: Rumaan Alam reflects on how Oberlin fostered creative risk-taking and intellectual courage.Artistry without limits: Tamara Jade shares how Oberlin empowered her to embrace multiple creative identities—and disrupt expectations.Finding your path: Benjamin Wittes on pivoting from fiction to journalism—and why close reading, critical thinking, and civic engagement matter now more than ever.Resilience and return: Limmie Pulliam’s journey back to the stage shows why it’s never too late to pursue your dreams..What You’ll Take AwayWhy Oberlin students “err on the side of doing”How mentorship, community, and curiosity shape lifelong successThe importance of embracing complexity—and rejecting easy answersWhat it really means to “run to the noise” in your own life Listen now and discover how Oberlin students and alumni are changing the world—for good!

    57 min
  3. From Big Dreams to City Hall: Ali Najmi ’06 on Electing Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Reshaping New York’s Courts

    Feb 28

    From Big Dreams to City Hall: Ali Najmi ’06 on Electing Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Reshaping New York’s Courts

    A decade ago, Ali Najmi ’06 ran for city council in Queens and lost. But that loss forged a partnership and a political foundation that would eventually help propel Zohran Mamdani to the mayor’s office in New York City. Today, Ali sits at the center of power in the nation’s largest city as Mayor Mamdani’s election lawyer, trusted advisor, and chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. From organizing immigrant communities to reshaping New York’s criminal and family courts, Ali’s story is about representation, persistence, and what it takes to move from insurgent campaigns to the hard work of governing. In this episode of Running to the Noise, President Carmen Ambar speaks with Ali about identity, authenticity in politics, and the courage to dream big. They explore what it means to build coalitions across communities, to lose and learn, and to carry big ambitions into real institutional power. Ali reflects on belief as a political force. Belief in yourself. Belief in your community. Belief that what sounds unrealistic today can become institutional reality tomorrow. From a hookah bar conversation about running for mayor to reshaping the city’s judiciary, his journey is a reminder that dreaming big is only the beginning. The work that follows is what turns vision into change. What We Cover in This Episode: ● Growing up in Queens as the son of immigrants and becoming the first in his family to graduate from college and law school ● Leadership at Oberlin, including organizing for a permanent Muslim prayer space on campus ● What he learned from running for city council and losing ● The origins of his partnership with Mayor Zohran Mamdani ● Lessons from insurgent campaigns and multiracial coalitions ● How authenticity and affordability became winning political messages  ● The transition from campaigning to governing ● The work of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary and why criminal and family court judges shape daily life in New York City ● What it means to run to the noise in public service Episode Links Mayor Mamdani Appoints Ali Najmi as Chair of Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary Mayor Zohran Mamdani Appoints Christine Clarke to Lead the New York City Commission on Human Rights Who’s who in Zohran Mamdani’s administration?: Meet the folks who are running New York City Office of the Mayor of New York City Running to the Noise podcast archive Oberlin College and Conservatory

    41 min
  4. Cutting Through The Noise: Tamara Jade, EJ Marcus, and Seyquan Mack on Creativity, Community, and Building a Career That Lasts

    Jan 29

    Cutting Through The Noise: Tamara Jade, EJ Marcus, and Seyquan Mack on Creativity, Community, and Building a Career That Lasts

    What does it take to get your talent noticed today? How do you sell your skills without selling out? In this wide-ranging and practical conversation on Running to the Noise, Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar brings together three young multihyphenate alums navigating today’s volatile creative economy: Tamara Jade ’12 (The Voice, HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show), EJ Marcus ’19 (comic and staff writer on HBO’s I Love LA), and Seyquan Mack ’21 (model, vocalist, and teaching artist). They talk candidly about what it takes to build momentum in saturated industries where talent alone is no longer enough. From opera stages and writers’ rooms to TikTok feeds and global ad campaigns, each guest traces how discipline, adaptability, and self-belief shaped their paths, and why visibility now plays a role alongside craft. But this episode goes deeper than career advice. It’s also a conversation about survival, agency, and belonging. The guests reflect on money, burnout, rejection, and the pressure to attract online followers, while making a powerful case for community over hyper-individualism. They explore what it means to pivot without losing your center, to use social platforms without being consumed by them, and to create work that still feels honest in a metrics-driven world. At its heart, this is a conversation about running toward uncertainty instead of away from it, about turning discomfort into momentum, and noise into opportunity. What We Cover in this Episode Why multihyphenate careers are becoming the norm in creative industriesHow opera training builds transferable discipline for other art formsThe role of social media and visibility in getting hired, and how to stay authenticWhat “pivoting” really looks like when industries shift or work dries upWhy community matters more than resilience aloneHow to think about money, stability, and creative freedom at the same timeWhat it means to “run to the noise” as an artist in an uncertain world Episode Links Tamara Jade Seyquan Mack EJ Marcus Tamara Jade on The Voice (NBC) Season 19 Top 9 Tamara Jade on Freedom, Faith, and the Power of Using Every Part of Her Voice I Love LA (HBO) EJ’s episode on Hacks TV debut as Nico, the nervous PA on “Hacks”/ Real-time reaction  Seyquan Mack: State 10 Management Tony-Winning AIDS Epidemic Epic Remains Relevant

    54 min
  5. Democracy on Trial, Part Two: Benjamin Wittes ’91 on the Justice Department, Authoritarian Drift, and How Citizens Push Back

    12/12/2025

    Democracy on Trial, Part Two: Benjamin Wittes ’91 on the Justice Department, Authoritarian Drift, and How Citizens Push Back

    In the second half of their urgent conversation on Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar and Benjamin Wittes ’91 turn from the Supreme Court to the Justice Department. They dig into what happens when the power to prosecute is steered toward political ends. Together, they confront the implications of government lawyers misleading judges, career public servants being purged or sidelined, and federal prosecutions increasingly targeting political opponents with little regard for long-standing norms. Wittes, a senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and co-founder and editor-in-chief of Lawfare, explains why the politicization of the Justice Department represents a distinct and dangerous inflection point for American democracy. Drawing on decades of reporting, relationships, and institutional knowledge, he illuminates why cases involving figures such as James Comey and Letitia James may be some of the clearest examples of vindictive prosecution in modern U.S. history. But this conversation is not just about institutions in distress. It is also about responsibility, imagination, and courage. Speaking directly to Oberlin students and young listeners, Wittes traces his own evolution from cautious, nonpartisan think-tank scholar to outspoken pro-democracy activist — projecting Ukrainian flags onto embassies, planting symbolic sunflowers, and rediscovering the defiant spirit he once had as an Oberlin student. His message is clear: civic virtue is not theoretical. This is a conversation about law, but also about hope, agency, and what it means to run toward the noise when democratic commitments are tested. What We Cover in this Episode Why the politicization of the Justice Department poses a unique threat to democratic normsHow misleading federal courts and purging career professionals erode institutional capacity and public trustWhat “vindictive prosecution” looks like in practice, and why the cases against James Comey and Letitia James are so troublingHow shifts inside the FBI and DOJ could shape the rule of law for decadesWhy bipartisan commitments to prosecutorial restraint once held — and what it means that they no longer doBenjamin Wittes’s journey from nonpartisan analyst to visible pro-democracy activistA concrete call to Oberlin students and young citizens to stay engaged, resist intimidation, and act creatively in defense of democratic values Episode Links Lawfare https://www.lawfaremedia.org Brookings Institution – Governance Studies https://www.brookings.edu/topic/governance-studies Ralph Waldo Emerson “Politics” CNN Justice Department confirms in court filing it may prosecute Comey again NYT A Grand Jury Again Declines to Re-Indict Letitia James

    29 min
  6. Democracy on Trial: Benjamin Wittes ’91 on the Courts, Presidential Power, and the Future of American Justice (Part 1)

    11/26/2025

    Democracy on Trial: Benjamin Wittes ’91 on the Courts, Presidential Power, and the Future of American Justice (Part 1)

    American democracy is being tested in ways few could have imagined even a decade ago. The Supreme Court’s emergency docket, presidential power, the durability of the Justice Department, and the independence of our legal institutions are all under intense strain. To understand how we got here and what may come next, there are few voices more clear eyed than Benjamin Wittes, Oberlin Class of 1991. A senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and co-founder and editor-in-chief of Lawfare, Wittes has spent his career at the intersection of law, national security, and public policy. His analysis has shaped our understanding of some of the most consequential legal questions of our time, from presidential immunity to the future of the federal courts. In this first of a two part conversation on Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with Wittes for a wide-ranging discussion about the Supreme Court’s seismic shifts, the behavior of the conservative majority, and the growing gap between emergency rulings and long-term judicial reasoning. Drawing on decades of work covering legal institutions, Wittes reflects on his path from Oberlin English major to one of the most influential court watchers in the country, revealing why the ability to read a text deeply may be the most important skill any legal analyst can have. Together, they explore the Court’s evolving relationship with presidential power, the risks posed by the current emergency docket, and the cultural and political forces reshaping public trust in the rule of law. This is not just a conversation about cases. It is a conversation about institutions, civic virtue, and the hard questions that determine whether democracy bends or breaks. What We Cover in This EpisodeHow an Oberlin English major became one of America’s most respected interpreters of the Supreme CourtWhy the current Supreme Court’s 6 to 3 conservative majority behaves so unpredictablyThe widening gap between emergency docket decisions and long-term judicial reasoningHow presidential power, administrative law, and the Court’s internal divisions are now collidingThe challenge of maintaining public faith in legal institutions during political polarizationWhy the future of democracy may depend less on new laws and more on civic cultureEpisode LinksLawfare: The national security and legal analysis publication co-founded by Benjamin Wittes. Brookings Institution: Governance Studies research where Benjamin Wittes serves as a senior fellow. Oyez Supreme Court Database: Case summaries and audio recordings for Supreme Court decisions referenced in discussions of precedent and judicial reasoning. United States Department of Justice: Context for institutional independence and the role of DOJ leadership. Wittes Wisdom: On Presidential Immunity: A Decision of Surpassing Recklessness in Dangerous TimesOn Brett Kavanaugh: 'I Wouldn't Confirm' Brett Kavanaugh, Says Law Scholar | Morning Joe | MSNBC

    44 min
  7. Artificial Intelligence: Tom Dietterich on the Promise and Pitfalls of Machines that Learn

    10/30/2025

    Artificial Intelligence: Tom Dietterich on the Promise and Pitfalls of Machines that Learn

    Artificial intelligence has evolved from an abstract concept into one of the most transformative forces of our time. When Tom Dietterich graduated from Oberlin in 1977 with a degree in mathematics, AI was still largely theoretical. Over the decades that followed, his pioneering research helped turn theory into reality.  A distinguished computer scientist and one of the early architects of machine learning, Dietterich’s work laid the groundwork for the algorithms that now drive everything from voice assistants and climate models to medical diagnostics and drug development. Tom’s work has made him a sought-after authority. He advises the U.S. government on AI technologies and has earned some of the field’s top honors, including the Award for Research Excellence from the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence — a career achievement shared by just 25 scientists since 1985. In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with Tom Dietterich, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University, to explore both the promise and the pitfalls of artificial intelligence. Together, they trace the evolution of AI from its beginnings to its current influence across nearly every industry, and discuss how a liberal arts education uniquely prepares us to ask not just what can AI do, but what should we do with it? From the environmental impact of large-scale computing to the creative and ethical questions facing artists and educators, Dietterich offers a nuanced, hopeful, and deeply human vision for how we can shape the future of intelligent machines. This isn’t just a conversation about technology; it is a reflection on curiosity, ethics, and what it means to stay human in an age of algorithms. What We Cover in This Episode The origins of machine learning and how early innovators taught computers to “learn.”The environmental and ethical implications of AI and how efficiency and innovation can coexist.Why AI’s biggest challenge is not what it can do, but what humans choose to do with it.How a liberal arts foundation fosters critical thinking, ethics, and responsible innovation.The promise of “computational sustainability” and AI’s role in addressing global challenges.Episode Links The Dartmouth Workshop (1956): The Founding of Artificial Intelligence Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction by Sutton & Barto Sony AIBO Robot DogeBird – Cornell Lab of Ornithology TAHMO: The Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory

    36 min
  8. The Empathy Machine: Joe Richman on Radio Diaries, Audio Storytelling, and Emotional Truth

    10/01/2025

    The Empathy Machine: Joe Richman on Radio Diaries, Audio Storytelling, and Emotional Truth

    Since 1996, Radio Diaries has been giving people tape recorders and working with them to report on their own lives and histories. That experiment, created by Joe Richman, became a groundbreaking audio documentary project that has redefined journalism as storytelling rooted in empathy. Richman’s work has aired on NPR, This American Life, and the BBC, winning multiple Peabody Awards while proving that every voice carries emotional truth. In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with Richman, an Oberlin history alum, lifelong WOBC devotee, and proud Oberlin parent, to explore why audio remains our most powerful empathy machine. From personal diaries of everyday people to the story of Willie McGee and the traveling electric chair, Richman shares lessons from decades of listening deeply, curating stories with care, and teaching journalism as a set of life skills. This conversation is about more than journalism, it is a guide for living with curiosity, courage, and compassion. As Richman reminds us, “a microphone is a passport to places and people we might not otherwise meet.” What We Cover in This Episode The origins of Radio Diaries and why handing over the microphone changed journalism.Why Richman calls radio “an empathy machine” and how sound carries emotional truth.Lessons for Oberlin students in his course “Journalism Skills as Life Skills.”Clarissa Shields’ journey from a Flint basement gym to Olympic gold and how her diary captured history in real time.The Willie McGee story and what it teaches us about justice, memory, and truth-telling across generations.Why talking to strangers and listening without agenda may be the most radical acts of our time.How Richman is returning to the diary form to document today’s contested truths. Episode Links Radio DiariesGhetto Life 101This American LifeStuds Terkel's WorkingNPR’s All Things ConsideredClarissa Shields: The Fire Inside (documentary)Oberlin College WOBC RadioHow Joe Richman makes 'Radio Diaries'

    48 min
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About

When First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to the graduating class of Oberlin College and Conservatory in 2015, she encouraged students to embrace Oberlin’s history and run to the “noise”— those challenging, contentious situations that threaten to divide us.  As the first college in America to officially embrace the admission of black students, and the first co-ed school to grant bachelor’s degrees to women, Oberlin has been Running to the Noise almost since our inception. And that’s just what we’ll do in each episode of our podcast, hosted by College President Carmen Twillie Ambar. President Ambar will talk with all manner of interesting and influential people on and off our campus who are tackling some of the world’s toughest problems, working to spark positive change for everyone.

Information

  • Creator
    Oberlin College & Conservatory
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Running to the Noise

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