Providence College Podcast

In this podcast, hear remarks from the formal opening and blessing of the Center at Moore Hall, which was renovated as part of the College’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Speakers include Rafael Zapata, associate vice president for institutional diversity and chief diversity officer; College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80; trustees Duane M. Bouligny ’94 and Andre E. Owens ’85; and Phionna-Cayola Claude ’18, the first student of color to be elected president of Student Congress and founder of Believers of Words, the College’s Spoken Word club.

This episode of the Providence College Podcast with former PC men’s hockey player and current student assistant coach, Garrett Gamez ’19, was streamed live on YouTube and Facebook on November 30. Gamez discusses his journey from prized hockey recruit, with dreams of playing in the NHL, to being forced to retire for medical reasons. To watch the video broadcast of this episode, find it on PC's Facebook (Facebook.com/providencecollege) and PC’s news site, http://prov.ly/2BxIxpT.

In this episode, we welcome back John Sweeney '15P & '19P, senior vice president of finance and business and chief financial officer, our first repeat guest on the Providence College Podcast. He gives an in-depth analysis of the recent construction projects that have changed the landscape of PC's campus. Sweeney also discusses the projects that are currently underway and what effect they will have on PC students and faculty. Follow these campus improvements by visiting www.providence.edu/momentum. Finally, in preparation for Giving Tuesday on November 28, Sweeney talks about the importance of the Angel Fund and why he chooses to contribute to this fund that helps PC students whose families are affected by unforeseen financial emergencies.

In this episode of the Providence College Podcast, Rev. James F. Quigley, O.P. ’60, associate chaplain of the National Alumni Association, gives a meditation on the power of gratitude. With Thanksgiving upon us, Father Quigley reminds us of the power of reflection and introspection as we prepare to give thanks to those who have blessed our lives.

Craig Belhumeur '11 always believed that he would have a career in sports. When he set foot on PC's campus, he dedicated himself to that goal only to realize, four years later, that the sports world wasn't for him. In this episode, Belhumeur talks about how he turned a side hustle into a career in website development and multi-channel marketing, how to make the most of the PC alumni network, and how he knew when to make a pivot in his career.

This week, we are fortunate to talk with World War II veteran Joseph DeStefano '52. DeStefano entered the Navy division of the Army in 1943 and served until 1946. In that time, he served throughout the Pacific helping to secure various islands and defeat the Japanese. After leaving the army, he enrolled at Providence College, played college basketball and baseball, and began his career in education. In this episode, DeStefano talks about what he learned in the army, the advice he gives most often, and what it was like to teach Ed Cooley at Central High School.

In honor of Halloween, we are releasing a re-broadcast of our episode featuring a master of horror and award-winning author Paul Tremblay '93. Tremblay won the Massachusetts Book Award in 2016 for his fifth novel, “A Head Full of Ghosts” — a book so frightening that Stephen King tweeted that it scared even him. In this episode, we talk to the author and AP calculus teacher at St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, Mass., about how he went from a master’s degree in math to writing fiction, his analytical approach to the writing process, and his advice for younger authors.

As natives of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aura Rexach '20 and Gabriela Short '18 experienced the devastating effect of Hurricane Maria from the security of Providence College. In this episode, they discuss what it was like to communicate with family members during and after the storm, the effect Maria had on their communities, and and their emotional response to being safe while their family and friends were in harm's way.

Jeremy Duffy '93, co-founder and partner at Isle Brewers Guild, has always had an entrepreneurial mindset. Before starting Isle Brewers Guild (IBG), Duffy was a partner and led business development efforts for one of the largest independently owned marketing communications agencies in New England, Duffy & Shanley, Inc. In this episode, we talk about why he left a great job to start a new venture, what kind of work that career change requires, and how passion played a part in all of his career decisions.

For members of Red Sox Nation, October provides a sense of hope and possibility of a deep playoff run. For Sean Walsh ’03, assistant director of client services for the Boston Red Sox, it is another opportunity to work with avid Red Sox fans as they help will their team to victory. In this episode, Walsh talks about his rise from a three-month temporary employee to a 14-year (and counting) career with a premium sports franchise. We also discuss what his advice for fellow Friars pursuing a career in the sports industry, what his early days with the Red Sox were like, and the shifting nature of a dream job.

In this episode, we are joined by two people who are helping lead women's volleyball to a scorching hot start to the season: Head coach Margot Royer-Johnson and Jenae Alderson '20. They talk about the importance of being hyper-focused on the details of the sport, managing the mental and emotional swings from point to point, and staying focused on improvement when you are in a winning streak.

In this episode of the PC Podcast, we are joined by Phionna-Cayola Claude ’18, the first woman of color to serve as president of Student Congress. There is much more to Claude than her student government involvement. In our conversation, she talks about the one thing she would change about her PC experience, the importance of embracing the unknown, her plans for the future of the college, and her goal that every student on campus has a chance to be heard.

Dr. Sharon Ann Murphy, professor of history, is an expert on banking and insurance in the 19th and 20th century America. In this episode, we talk about the one characteristic that separates the best students she has had from the rest, the Wild West nature of the early American banking system, and her BIG EAST roots.

This week, we are joined by Dr. Victoria Templer, assistant professor of psychology and principal investigator in the neuroscience & animal cognition lab, and Keith Lee ’18. They, along with other students, completed an incredible research study this year that showed that rats possess “metamemory” — meaning that, in some situations, they are aware of what they don’t know. In this episode, we dive into what the study means for humans and animals, and how this type of hands-on lab work benefits our students.

In this episode, we are joined by Rick Cordella '99, executive vice president and general manager of digital media for NBC Sports Group. Cordella discusses how his career started by following his passion for sports with a start-up in fantasy sports. We also discuss how he develops products and teams for all aspects of NBC Sports Group Digital, which consists of Playmaker Media, NBC Sports Gold, NBCSports.com, NBCOlympics,com, Rotoworld.com, ProFootballTalk and the NBC Sports, NBC Sports Talk and NBC Sports Scores apps. Cordella graduated from Providence College with a degree in Business Management with a minor in Computer Science. He was a member of the 1997 Providence Friar men’s basketball team that went to the NCAA Elite Eight. A four-time Sports Emmy winner, Cordella was named one of SportsBusiness Journal’s “Forty Under Forty” as one of the best and the brightest of the rising generation in sports business in 2012 and 2014.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Sheila Adamus Liotta​, associate p​rofessor of chemistry and dean of the​ Scho​ol of Arts and Sciences. Adamus Liotta, a member of the PC faculty since 1993, discusses the development, impact, and structure of the upcoming science complex addition and renovation. We also discuss about the role of the sciences in the liberal arts and why a primarily undergraduateinstitution is a good destination for student research.

Karen Vargas, the associate dean of admission for multicultural recruitment at Providence College, has guided students through the college admissions process for 15 years. In this episode, she details how students and their parents should communicate with admissions staffers at college fairs, high school visits, or through email and phone calls. Vargas also describes PC's multicultural recruitment and why she remains a resource for students long after they enroll at PC.

Horror writer Paul Tremblay ’93 won the Massachusetts Book Award in 2016 for his fifth novel, “A Head Full of Ghosts” — a book so frightening that Stephen King tweeted that it scared even him. In this episode, we talk to the author and AP calculus teacher at St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, Mass., about how he went from a master’s degree in math to writing fiction, his analytical approach to the writing process, and his advice for younger authors.

In this episode, we are joined by Rev. Peter Martyr Yungwirth, O.P., Providence College’s chaplain. We talk about his transition from engineering student to candidate for the priesthood; student involvement and peer ministry; and the feast day of St. Dominic, which is celebrated on August 8.

The Providence College Podcast is one year old! To celebrate, we’re re-airing one of our most popular episodes, featuring Robert G. Driscoll, Jr., associate vice president and athletic director. Driscoll has helped make PC’s athletic program a national power. The College is in an unrivaled period of success, thanks in part to his leadership. In this episode, Driscoll details his athletic background, his experience moving from small schools to high-level athletic programs, what he looks for in coaches, and the daily routine that enables him to maintain his ever-present focus and energy.