Imagine A World

Knight-Hennessy Scholars
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Inspiring stories of the Knight-Hennessy Scholar community, discussing their visions for a better world and their impactful work to bring it to life. From representation in the media to access to medicine, climate change, and more, we delve into meaningful conversations that will leave you feeling inspired. Follow us on social media @knighthennessy and visit our website (kh.stanford.edu) for more information.

  1. Remain Open to Learning: The Foundation for Real-World Impact

    2D AGO

    Remain Open to Learning: The Foundation for Real-World Impact

    In this episode, Eli Cahan (2019 cohort) talks with Abuzar Royesh (2018 cohort), who imagines a world where there is no inequality between developing and developed worlds. Abuzar reflects on how his childhood spent between Afghanistan and Pakistan shaped his worldview, and how his time in the United States as an exchange student sharpened his awareness of global inequality. He recounts how he decided to attend college in the United States and focus on policy, a path that led him years later to Stanford, where he earned two master's degrees: one in international policy and one in management science and engineering. Abuzar also shares the start of his entrepreneurial journey during his time at Stanford, as well as his current work developing fraud detection and anti-money-laundering solutions for banks in Nigeria. Finally, Eli and Abuzar discuss Abuzar's efforts to help evacuate 450 Afghan girls through the 30 Birds Foundation, and the lessons in leadership and courage he learned from that experience. Highlights from the episode (2:54) Growing up between Afghanistan and Pakistan (5:56) Experiencing the United States for the first time as an exchange student (9:34) Returning to Afghanistan with newly formed perspectives (13:26) Coming to Stanford as a Knight-Hennessy scholar (17:57) Lessons from entrepreneurship at Stanford and beyond (27:26) Helping evacuate 450 young girls from Afghanistan through the 30 Birds Foundation (33:59) Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars core memories

    43 min
  2. Human Connection Over Loneliness and Division

    FEB 25

    Human Connection Over Loneliness and Division

    In this episode, Anson Zhou (2024 cohort) interviews Amanda Morrison (2024 cohort), a JD student at Stanford Law School, about the through line connecting her upbringing in Montana, her longtime relationship to dance, her work in documentary filmmaking, and her decision to pursue law. Amanda imagines a world where human connection prevails over loneliness and division. She reflects on how the outdoors and ballet trained her in discipline, endurance, and growth through discomfort, and how those lessons continue to shape the way she moves through new challenges. Highlights from the episode: (03:06) Growing up in Helena, Montana and getting into ballet (08:11) Why she began studying policy (10:50) Going to China and studying U.S.–China relations (16:55) Becoming immersed in the world of film and then law (27:37) Storytelling as a tool in law (34:55) Pursuing her interests in law school (52:30) Improbable fact, Denning House snack takes, and advice for future applicants

    47 min
  3. Building Pathways to Higher Education that Everyone Can Access

    FEB 11

    Building Pathways to Higher Education that Everyone Can Access

    In this episode, Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) speaks with Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca (’24 cohort) who imagines a world where every child has access to quality education that can get them to a college experience as they wish, where they wish, regardless of where they were born. Sarahi reflects on her journey from being told she was not meant for college to becoming a Knight-Hennessy scholar. She shares how finding mentors helped her carve out her own path, and how her experiences empowered her to build platforms that support undocumented students in pursuing higher education. Sarahi also speaks about the role of community, faith, and religion in her life. She reflects on the opportunity of the current moment to imagine and build systems that work for everyone. The episode concludes with Sarahi sharing her favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars memories, including an iconic trip to Japan. Highlights from the episode (3:00) When her college dreams were shattered (12:48) Reckoning with an identity crisis (18:16) Navigating systems that were not built for her (22:24) The place of faith and religion in her journey (28:34) How joining Knight-Hennessy Scholars enriched her life (34:40) Reflecting on the present and looking ahead. (40:57) Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars core memories

    48 min
  4. Where Linguistics Meets the Law

    JAN 28

    Where Linguistics Meets the Law

    In this episode, Ashley Yeh (’24 cohort) and Tanajia Moye-Green (’24 cohort) speak with Tilly Brooks (’24 cohort) about her interdisciplinary work at the intersection of linguistics, law, and justice. Tilly shares her path from studying ancient languages to examining how meaning is constructed in legal texts, why ambiguity and “ordinary meaning” shape legal outcomes, and how linguistic expertise can inform legal reform. Highlights from the episode: (03:57) How early exposure to Latin and ancient languages sparked Tilly’s fascination with language and meaning (25:30) Tilly’s three research areas: language of law, law of language, and linguists as advocates (35:10) Research on the California Racial Justice Act and identifying racially discriminatory language in courtrooms (48:19) What it’s like pursuing a joint JD/PhD and navigating interdisciplinary training (53:14) How Knight-Hennessy Scholars shaped Tilly’s intellectual community and collaborative opportunities (56:33) Advice for students interested in interdisciplinary paths and building meaningful scholarly impact

    1h 2m
  5. Venture Capital through an Anthropological Lens

    JAN 14

    Venture Capital through an Anthropological Lens

    In this episode, Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) speaks with Rex Woodbury (’19 cohort) who imagines a world where technology and startups are a force for good. Rex reflects on his decision to leave the world of investment to attend business school and on how he began sharing his ideas on social media. He discusses how writing on Substack helped him pivot from private equity to venture capital, where he now supports early-stage founders as they develop their ideas. Rex believes technology can have a positive impact on society, and he describes how this work has given him a sense of meaning and purpose. He explains how Knight-Hennessy expanded his understanding of impact, situating impact entrepreneurship within broader structural issues. The episode concludes with Rex sharing his favorite memories from his time at Stanford and offering thoughtful advice to prospective students. Highlights from the episode (3:21) Deciding to leave TPG and come back to school (7:54) A typical day in an investing career (12:10) Daybreak Ventures and how he got there (18:30) On sharing his ideas with the world (27:58) How does social media influencing fit in? (29:53) Knight-Hennessy Scholars changing his understanding of impact (35:33) Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars memories (39:45) Advice for prospective applicants

    42 min
  6. Unrelenting Curiosity: On Knowing Ourselves and the Universe

    12/10/2025

    Unrelenting Curiosity: On Knowing Ourselves and the Universe

    In this episode, Max Du (’24 cohort) speaks with Barkotel Zememu (’24 cohort) who imagines a world where the mysteries of the physical universe are mysteries not just to those who are detectives but also to those who are not. Barkotel, who is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is pursuing a PhD in physics at Stanford. In this episode, Barkotel shares his journey from Addis Ababa to Stanford, discussing his first experience of the world beyond Ethiopia and his adaptation to new cultural contexts. He addresses the importance of cultivating deep and authentic relationships, and how writing became a valuable tool for reconnecting with himself. Barkotel also explores the role of community in life, his reflections on the role of chance in shaping our destinies, and his fascination with dark matter and the curiosity that fuels his physics studies. He concludes by offering insightful advice to prospective students. Highlights from this episode: (2:33) Journey from Addis Ababa to Stanford (3:54) Experiencing the world outside Ethiopia for the first time (7:49) Noticing and navigating cultural differences (14:28) Cultivating meaningful and vulnerable relationships (18:45) Journaling as a way to connect with oneself (27:28) Going through life in community with others (29:47) Reflecting on the randomness of life (33:19) What is dark matter? (42:05) Bringing unrelenting curiosity to the study of physics (48:44) Humanizing the scholar experience (53:30) Advice for prospective applicants

    59 min
  7. Deconstructing Cultural Barriers to Girls’ Education

    11/26/2025

    Deconstructing Cultural Barriers to Girls’ Education

    In this episode, Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) speaks with Ayo Dada (’19 cohort) who imagines a world where education is accessible to everyone regardless of any aspect of their identity. Ayo shares his journey from Nigeria to Stanford—an unexpected path set in motion by a single email—and reflects on how discovering Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset shaped his academic trajectory. He discusses his early steps after studying psychology at the University of Lagos, his PhD research on psychologically wise interventions, and his current postdoctoral work focused on expanding opportunities for girls in underserved regions. Ayo also reflects on how the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community broadened his perspective, the skills he gained through the program, and the global experiences that continue to inform his commitment to education as a collaborative, empowering process. Highlights from this episode: (2:08) Introduction (2:48) Recounting the journey from Nigeria to Stanford and how one email changed everything (4:38) Reflecting on the influence of Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset (6:22) Exploring his path after studying psychology at the University of Lagos (7:58) Describing his current postdoctoral work expanding opportunities for girls in underserved regions (9:05) Discussing his PhD research on psychologically wise interventions (14:02) Reframing education as a collaborative process (19:54) How Knight-Hennessy Scholars complemented his experience at Stanford (25:13) Identifying the main skill he gained from Knight-Hennessy Scholars (27:15) Takeaways from his Global Travel/Study program trip to Norway (30:00) Highlights from the Global Leadership Program (33:10) Remembering favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars traditions

    39 min
  8. Translating Discovery into Care

    11/12/2025

    Translating Discovery into Care

    In this episode, Sydney Hunt (’23 cohort) interviews fellow host Anson Zhou (’24 cohort) alongside special guest host Katherine Hu (’22 cohort). Anson imagines a world where all medical discoveries successfully translate into patient care. He discusses how his experiences in research, consulting, and clinical rotations deepened his commitment to addressing the “translation gap” in medicine — ensuring that innovations reach the patients who need them most. Highlights from this episode: (06:27) Journey from New York to Suzhou, China to D.C. and eventually California (11:02) Pursuing biomedical engineering in undergrad (20:01) Reasoning behind pursuing an MD and MBA dual degree at Stanford (29:34) Reflecting on the MD experience so far (34:50) Hopes for his MBA year (40:38) How he plans to use his MD and MBA in the future (45:34) Rapid questions, advice to Knight-Hennessy Scholars applicants, and improbable facts

    1h 1m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Inspiring stories of the Knight-Hennessy Scholar community, discussing their visions for a better world and their impactful work to bring it to life. From representation in the media to access to medicine, climate change, and more, we delve into meaningful conversations that will leave you feeling inspired. Follow us on social media @knighthennessy and visit our website (kh.stanford.edu) for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Knight-Hennessy Scholars
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Knight-Hennessy Scholars
  • Show Website
    Imagine A World

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