Unstoppable Stories

University of Maryland Global Campus
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to UMGC’s "Unstoppable Stories," a podcast that showcases extraordinary journeys of individuals who turned their dreams into reality. Join hosts Lauren Cardillo and Nathan James as they sit down with inspiring people who have broken barriers, defied expectations, and achieved remarkable success in their fields. In each episode, Lauren and Nathan dive deep into the real, unvarnished stories behind their guests' accomplishments. From military veterans turned entrepreneurs to working parents who became industry leaders, these inspiring individuals share the obstacles they overcame and the pivotal moments that shaped their paths to success. They offer compelling insights for anyone looking to transform their own life and achieve their dreams. "Unstoppable Stories" goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the grit, determination, and resilience it takes to achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, career changer, or simply someone seeking inspiration, these powerful narratives prove that with dedication and perseverance, there's no limit to what you can achieve.

  1. 5d ago

    Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 20: Building Global Bridges: From Construction to the Classroom

    Host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Joshua Nieubuurt, an assistant professor at UMGC in Asia whose path to the "ivory tower" was anything but direct. Josh shares how he pivoted from a budding career as a general contractor in booming Nevada to teaching English in South Korea and Japan after the 2008 housing crisis. He recounts the "ground-shaking" realization that his American upbringing was only one small piece of the human experience and how that perspective now fuels his work with Japanese bridge students and the military community. Josh dives into the fascinating intersection of digital rhetoric, AI, and memes, explaining how "cultural glue" can connect people even across language barriers. From hilariously awkward sushi dinners to witnessing the transformative pride of a graduating student, Josh’s story is a masterclass in the power of reinvention. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! Host: Lauren Cardillo Guest: Joshua Nieubuurt, Assistant Professor, UMGC in Asia  Time Stamps & Show Notes: 00:00 The Hammer Analogy 00:22 From Contractor to Professor 02:17 The Housing Crisis Pivot 03:53 Landing in South Korea 05:19 Cultural Ground Shaking 07:38 Teaching in Japan 09:43 Rearview Mirror Lessons 12:45 Joining UMGC Asia 14:54 Overcoming Language Anxiety 16:14 The Sushi Dinner Mistake 18:39 Writing as Magic 21:45 Memes as Cultural Glue 24:02 Bridging Cultural Touches 27:22 AI: Tools vs. Voice 32:53 Military Community Dynamic 36:00 Finding the Real Dream

  2. Oct 14

    Unstoppable Stories - Bonus Episode Beyond the Prompt: Building True AI Literacy

    In this bonus episode of Unstoppable Stories, host Nathan James brings together UMGC faculty members Dr. Kate Goldberg and Mary Crowley-Farrell for a dynamic, forward-thinking dialogue on artificial intelligence in higher education. Together, they look past the baseline tech and examine the core issues of equity, digital awareness, and why AI literacy must go deeper than learning how to input prompts. Mary shares crucial insights from the communications and journalism landscape, explaining how machine learning impacts human collaboration, the vital necessity of interrogating our tools, and how AI can sometimes have a "blanketing effect" on natural human curiosity. Dr. Goldberg addresses the rapidly evolving data science field, arguing against the potential "extinction of the expert" and highlighting why domain expertise is more valuable than ever to identify bias, inaccuracies, and ethical gaps in automated outputs. From restructuring assignments around real-time problem-solving to balancing AI assistance with peer review, this conversation provides a necessary roadmap for educators, students, and workforce professionals striving to remain authentic and adaptable in a machine-assisted world. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! To learn more about UMGC, visit: UMGC.edu/ Host: Nathan James  Guests:  Dr. Kate Goldberg, UMGC Professor of AI & Data Analytics  Mary Crowley-Farrell, UMGC Professor of Communications and Journalist Time Stamps:00:00 Welcome to the Bonus Episode 00:28 AI’s Classroom Challenges 01:11 Acclimating Students to Tech 02:23 AI Literacy vs. Tool Access 03:38 Defining Modern AI Literacy 04:15 The Vital Human Expert 05:30 Evaluating Visual Content and Reality 06:21 Comparing Platforms in the Classroom 07:32 Responsibility, Ethics, and Bias 08:56 Knowing Appropriate Use Cases 10:42 The Loss of Human Collaboration 11:55 Peer Review and Editing Workflows 14:13 Focusing on Process Over Product 15:20 Data Analysis as Storytelling 17:55 Grounding Instruction in Reality 20:43 Intellectual Property and Watermarks 22:59 The Complicated Math Debate 25:42 Defining Authentic Learning 28:59 Redesigning Higher Education Systems 30:27 Arguing for the Sages 32:14 Faculty Identity Under Pressure 34:52 Curiosity and the Blanket Effect 37:21 Audience Centricity in Media 38:14 Gumption to Question Data 44:18 AI as a Brainstorming Aid 47:29 Student Skepticism and Options 51:05 Content Creators and Workforce Trends 53:52 Individual Attention and Coaching

  3. Oct 7

    Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 19: Words as Currency: The Marine, the Marketer, & Metastatic Advocate

    Host Nathan James sits down with Jake Messier, a former Marine Corps combat correspondent, PR executive, and public affairs specialist whose career has transitioned into urgent healthcare advocacy. Jake opens up about his non-linear journey, which began with dropping out of college after his junior year to find direction in the military. Stationed at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo as a broadcast journalist, Jake fulfilled a promise to his father by earning his sociology degree abroad through the UMGC Asian Division while capturing the diverse lives of service members across 43 countries. Following his military service, Jake navigated intense corporate environments, working as a CBS news assignment editor during 9/11 before founding the largest non-profit marketing agency in New England, an achievement that landed him in Forbes as a prominent "olderpreneur". However, his path took a drastic turn at age 52 when a routinely dismissed lump under his arm led to a diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic male breast cancer. Now managing an incurable illness, Jake has mobilized his deep marketing expertise to combat toxic masculinity and emasculation within healthcare, building a massive digital community as "The Guy with Stage 4". Tune in to hear how Jake became the first male breast cancer patient appointed to a Susan G. Komen steering committee and why sharing our most vulnerable chapters is the ultimate catalyst for saving lives. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! Host: Nathan James Guest: Jake Messier, Marine Veteran, Stage 4 Breast Cancer Survivor, UMGC Alumnus Time Stamps:00:00 Deodorant Checks and Dismissed Symptoms00:43 Introducing Jake Messier01:21 Dropping Out of Traditional College02:26 A Heritage of Seafaring Veterans03:47 Discovering Public Affairs Job 434104:53 Good Morning Vietnam in Tokyo05:39 Fulfilling Two Promises to Dad06:27 Traveling Across 43 Global Countries08:05 Capturing Every Marine Corps Specialty10:04 The UMGC Asian Division Experience11:43 Applying Sociology to Marketing Demographics12:55 Desk Editing at CBS Affiliate WBZ13:20 Reporting from the Center of 9/1114:05 Navigating Historic New England News Crises15:49 Finding Motivation in Loved Programs18:12 Founding a Niche Marketing Agency19:50 Embracing Humanitarian Uniform Ribbons21:03 Scaling the Business for Social Change22:20 Facing Stage Four Metastatic Diagnosis24:37 Male Breast Cancer Mortality Rates26:07 Finding the Hidden Axillary Lump27:15 Transitioning to the Mammography Ward27:57 Fast and Slow Realities Aloud28:56 Psychological Trauma of Medical Emasculation30:11 The Successful Strategy of Pink Marketing31:07 Toxic Masculinity in Healthcare Settings31:49 Mastectomy Surgeries and Inclusive Devices33:16 Gender Inequalities in Patient Literature34:31 Launching the Guy with Stage 436:08 Taking the Stairs for Chemo38:25 Disproportionate Funding for Incurable Cases39:08 Rare Disease Structural Disparities41:15 Seated at Susan G. Komen Board43:27 Empowering Men to Speak Bravely

  4. Sep 23

    Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 18: The Equalizer: Representation and Resilience in Leadership with Ashley Esposito

    Host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Ashley Esposito, a UMGC graduate, community organizer, and the first mother ever elected to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. Ashley opens up about her unconventional path through an education system that nearly left her behind. Diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at age 35, she reflects on falling "off the cliff" in third grade, navigating the foster care system, and the resilience it took to earn a degree after years of academic probation. Now a data analyst and executive director of Baltimore Unity Hall, Ashley shares how her lived experiences allow her to "poke holes" in outdated policies and advocate for students on the margins. From door-knocking with a toddler in a backpack to passing landmark foster care legislation, Ashley’s story proves that education can truly be an equalizer when those it once failed are given a seat at the table. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! Host: Lauren Cardillo  Guest: Ashley Esposito, Executive Director of Baltimore Unity Hall, UMGC Alumna Time Stamps: 00:00 Early Intervention and Diagnosis 01:13 Persistent Through the Gaps 03:12 Falling Through the Cracks 05:12 Life Hard for a Reason 06:51 Foster Care and Stability 09:10 Running for School Board 11:22 Campaigning with a Toddler 14:28 Overcoming Campaign Insecurity 18:09 Advocating from the Margins 22:16 Finding the Right Path 25:58 Systems Thinking and Data 31:08 Leading Baltimore Unity Hall 33:14 Harnessing ADHD Superpowers 35:16 Finding a Voice 38:55 Reimagining Community Spaces 44:42 Persistence in Mentorship

  5. Sep 9

    Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 17: Building Stability Through Education with Giovanna Williams

    Join Lauren Cardillo on Unstoppable Stories as she sits down with Giovanna "Gia" Williams, a two-time UMGC master’s graduate - earning her MBA and MS in Project Management - whose life journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. In this episode, Gia shares her incredible story of growing up in Panama amidst systemic unfairness, moving to Brooklyn at age ten, and navigating an abusive household. She reveals how she broke generational cycles by using education as her ultimate strategy for stability, eventually pivoting from a dream in criminal justice to a profound career in healthcare management after the tragic passing of her mother. Today, Gia leads a massive federal web modernization program for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). You’ll hear her powerful insights on the importance of self-awareness in leadership, why empathetic leadership always beats top-down management, and how therapy helped her uncover her blind spots. If you’re looking to turn your toughest circumstances into your greatest strengths, this episode will show you what it truly means to be unstoppable. Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment! Learn more about the UMGC community at umgc.edu Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:11 Growing Up in Panama 05:56 Moving to the US 08:07 Overcoming Abusive Environments 10:00 Breaking the Cycle 11:15 Education as a Strategy 13:12 Reconnecting With Mom 15:58 Shifting to Healthcare 22:47 Pursuing Two Master's 27:15 Leading with Empathy 35:08 The Power of Mentoring 38:01 Moving to Baltimore 40:30 Navigating Complex Situations 43:56 Self-Awareness in Therapy 47:18 Closing

  6. Aug 26

    Unstoppable Stories - Bonus Episode: Reimagining Higher Education and the Learner Experience

    In this bonus episode of Unstoppable Stories, UMGC President Dr. Gregory Fowler sits down with Dr. Angie Besendorfer Martin, UMGC's Chief Learner Experience & Success Officer, to talk about the new role Dr. Fowler created to unite the university's approach to the entire student journey. Angie reflects on what drew her to the position, from Dr. Fowler's explicit vision for change to her own experience leading through crisis as an administrator in Joplin, Missouri, following the historic 2011 tornado. The conversation explores what it really means to build a student-centered institution: rethinking degrees around demonstrated skills rather than seat time, using AI to enhance rather than replace the human elements of teaching, and creating a consistent UMGC experience for learners everywhere from military bases overseas to fully online classrooms. Dr. Fowler and Angie also discuss UMGC's recent trip to visit learners and staff across Asia, the new Digital Student Experience team charting individual learner journeys, and why practitioner faculty with real-world experience are central to closing the gap between a degree and a job. In closing, they offer a vision for the next five years, explain why UMGC maintains rigorous standards alongside its open-enrollment policy, and reflect on how a nearly 80-year legacy of serving students in remote military outposts and war zones continues to define the university's mission today.  Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! To learn more about UMGC, visit UMGC.edu Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome To The Bonus Episode 00:31 Creating A New Kind Of Role 01:47 What Student Centricity Really Means 02:36 Being Intentional About Disruption 03:00 Leading Through The Joplin Tornado 04:55 A Fulbright In Brussels And The Bologna Process 05:40 Rethinking Skills And Competencies 07:15 Making The Case For Skills-Based Hiring 08:07 Scaffolding Skills From K-12 Through Career 09:43 Credentialing Learning That Happens Outside The Classroom 11:03 A Plug-And-Play Model For Degrees 12:10 Rebuilding The Team Around The Strategic Plan 14:24 Broadening UMGC's Global Perspective 17:05 Serving 175+ Locations In 24+ Countries 18:30 Charting The Learner Journey 21:08 Learning From Disruption In Other Industries 22:52 Where AI Fits Into The Future Of Education 26:16 AI As Augmented, Not Artificial, Intelligence 27:50 Rethinking Assessment And Skill Signals 31:20 Holding UMGC Accountable For Outcomes 32:38 Moving From Inputs To Outputs 34:07 Why Practitioner Faculty Matter 35:00 Building A Skills-Based Culture Internally 39:01 Defining What Success Looks Like In Five Years 42:02 UMGC's 80-Year Mission And Closing Thoughts

  7. Aug 12

    Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 16: Failing Forward: How Trial & Error Built an Unstoppable Future

    Host Nathan James sits down with Air Force veteran and UMGC alumnus Matthew Ruchie to trace his remarkable path from academic probation to becoming a logistics supervisor for UMGC in Europe. As a first-generation college student, Matthew initially struggled at a private university, dropping out to enlist in the Air Force where he served as a mental health specialist. He shares how transitioning out of the military triggered a deep depression, leading to a 1.8 GPA and failing a foundational writing class multiple times.  Through the vital support of his wife, a life-changing meeting with a dedicated academic advisor, and leveraging AI for structured planning, Matthew completely reversed his trajectory. Today, he oversees educational operations and complex logistics across forward operating stations in Germany and Poland. Matthew shares powerful insights into removing self-imposed barriers, treating mental health like proactive car maintenance, and why a fifth attempt can change your entire life. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! Time Stamps: 00:00 Breaking Self-Imposed Barriers 00:39 Introducing Matthew Ruchie 01:23 Mission of UMGC Europe 03:35 First-Generation College Obstacles 05:03 Enlisting for Higher Purpose 07:39 Mental Health Specialist Role 09:06 Preventing Personal Breakdowns 13:48 The Academic Downward Spiral 15:16 Finding the Way Out 16:36 Advisor Intervention in Europe 19:26 Building Confidence through Skills 22:02 From Sweeping Floors to Supervisor 22:38 Coordinating Logistics in Poland 24:43 Agility and Pivoting Under Pressure 26:48 Running Classes in Base Chapels 32:28 Mastering VA Benefit Policies 37:12 Leveraging AI for Study Blocks 42:28 Mindset Shift for Failing Students

  8. Jul 29

    Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 15: A Life Overseas: 40 Years of Teaching the Military with Joe Arden

    Host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Joe Arden, who spent 40 years with UMGC as a professor and director. Joe recounts his incredible journey from serving as an Army intelligence officer in Vietnam to accepting a traveling teaching position in 1967 that changed his life forever. Taking a massive pay cut to leave a think tank, Joe found his true calling teaching American military personnel across Asia and Europe.  He shares powerful stories of his time in the classroom, including teaching armed soldiers in Vietnam, helping a former Vietnamese faculty member escape as a "boat person," and receiving a life-changing letter from a student nearly 30 years later. Reflecting on his transition to administration and his decision to live in Thailand, Joe proves that doing your best is the key to an unstoppable career. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! Host: Lauren Cardillo Guest: Joe Arden, Veteran, Retired UMGC Faculty Member Time Stamps & Show Notes:  00:00 Do Your Best  01:08 Favorite Career Stops  02:26 A Fortuitous Interview  05:52 The Value of the Experience 08:33 Impacting Students' Lives  12:29 Origins of UMGC Asia  17:15 Passion for Travel  19:52 Moving to Europe  21:45 Transition to Administration  28:54 Settling in Thailand  32:17 The Fall of Saigon  36:29 Advice to Younger Self

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to UMGC’s "Unstoppable Stories," a podcast that showcases extraordinary journeys of individuals who turned their dreams into reality. Join hosts Lauren Cardillo and Nathan James as they sit down with inspiring people who have broken barriers, defied expectations, and achieved remarkable success in their fields. In each episode, Lauren and Nathan dive deep into the real, unvarnished stories behind their guests' accomplishments. From military veterans turned entrepreneurs to working parents who became industry leaders, these inspiring individuals share the obstacles they overcame and the pivotal moments that shaped their paths to success. They offer compelling insights for anyone looking to transform their own life and achieve their dreams. "Unstoppable Stories" goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the grit, determination, and resilience it takes to achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, career changer, or simply someone seeking inspiration, these powerful narratives prove that with dedication and perseverance, there's no limit to what you can achieve.

Information

  • Creator
    University of Maryland Global Campus
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Unstoppable Stories