Northwestern Intersections

Latest Episodes:

Authenticity, Vulnerability, and Growth with Liza Katzer '08 Mar 31, 2022

Show notes

Liza Katzer '08 describes herself as a late bloomer. She applied to 21 different colleges before deciding on Northwestern; didn't quite know what she wanted to do after graduating (but thought "producer" sounded right); got laid off while working at Disney; and silently struggled with mental health and insecurity well into her 20s. An Emmy-winning producer for her work on the acclaimed comedy-drama series Ted Lasso, and recently named one of the Hollywood Reporter's 35 Under 35 Upcoming Entertainment Executives to Watch, these things about might surprise you. But that's the whole point of Ted Lasso: that regardless of your first impressions, everyone is deeply complex, layered, and capable of growth. Katzer has always wanted to be part of positive change in media and help tell more authentic stories that anyone watching can see themselves in. Sometimes art imitates life and sometimes TV shows—like Ted Lasso—reveal to us the possibilities for a kinder world.

On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Katzer shares personal stories of growth and uncertainty, her insights into the impact of media on women's well-being, and how she positively contributes to a positive and uplifting work environment at Doozer Productions. Finally, she talks about how Ted Lasso is contributing to the way we think about mental health, vulnerability, depictions of women and their relationships.

Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in recognition of Women's History Month, so we may uplift and celebrate the alumnae who are shaping their respective fields.

Following Your Intellectual and Creative Passions with Cristina A. Bejan '04 Mar 17, 2022

Show notes

Women-Led Stories and Spaces in TV with Ilana Peña '13 Mar 03, 2022

Show notes

Ilana Peña always wanted to write her own coming of age show featuring a tween/teenage Latina protagonist that audiences of all ages could enjoy. However, many of the shows she loved as a child celebrated boyhood, and the shows that did feature female leads were geared exclusively to young audiences. Peña is the creator, showrunner, executive producer, and director of the critically acclaimed Diary of a Future President, which tells the story of a young Latina girl whose experiences as a tween are foundational to becoming the leader of the country. On this episode of Northwestern Intersections, Peña shares her experiences being a writer on the supportive, women-led set of the renowned, musical comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and how she fostered that same uplifting, women-led space on her own show for cast and crew to thrive. She also underscores the importance of telling positive and joyous stories that show Latinx and LGBTQ folks as multifaceted, cultivating your community, and being loud about what you want.

Northwestern Intersections will be featuring all-female guests during the month of March in recognition of Women's History Month, so we may uplift and celebrate the alumnae who are shaping their respective fields.

On Writing and Teaching, and the Black Horror Renaissance with Tananarive Due '87 Feb 18, 2022

Show notes

Tananarive Due '87, film historian, educator, producer, writer, and leading voice in Black speculative fiction, joins Northwestern Intersections in a special two-part episode. In part 2 she shares how she developed her famous course at UCLA, "The Sunken Place: Racism, Survival, and the Black Horror Aesthetic," after watching Jordan Peele's Get Out. Jordan Peele's impact is immeasurable: Get Out sparked the Black Horror Renaissance and the creation of the documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (Due is an executive producer); his production company has opened doors for marginalized horror creators, particularly women; and much more for years to come. Peele's impact has extended to Due as well--he invited her and husband and collaborator Steven Barnes to write an episode of The Twilight Zone, her first television credit. We learn how Due and Barnes met at a science fiction, fantasy, and horror conference in 1997, and became partners and collaborators writing screenplays and teleplays together. Due reveals her tips for successfully collaborating, offers thoughtful advice for developing writers, and shares how she and Barnes have started their own podcast, "Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!", an extension of their Life Writing program.

On Writing and Teaching, and the Black Horror Renaissance with Tananarive Due '87 Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

Tananarive Due '87, film historian, educator, producer, writer, and leading voice in Black speculative fiction, joins Northwestern Intersections in a special two-part episode. Due was always writing stories, even before she got to Northwestern, but she wasn't writing about horror and the supernatural until well after graduation. In part 1 she shares how through encounters with legendary figures and influential books, she not only found the confidence to pursue writing in the genre of horror, but from the perspective of Black protagonists. Resulting in the publication of her first novel, The Between. Due shares her own reasons for being drawn to the genre, and guides us through how the renewed interest in horror is rooted in the horrific times we're living in and contemplating our own survival. Black Horror is also experiencing a renaissance in film and literature—sparked by Jordan Peele's Get Out—as more people turn to the horror genre as a means of escaping real monsters, processing trauma, expressing the intangible, illustrating genuine systemic dangers, and inspiring the fight to survive in the face of it all.

Universal Practices and (Some) Industry-Specific Insights in Mentoring with Michelle Lin '05, '09 MD and Rebecca Windsor '98 Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

On the occasion of National Mentoring Month, join us for a discussion with industry leaders in medicine and entertainment from the Northwestern Network Mentoring Program—Michelle Lin '05,'09 MD, and Rebecca Windsor '98. Through stories about zigzagging career paths, burnout, and impactful colleagues and professors; discover how mentorship advice is mostly universal even across two different fields. And in-between pieces of shared wisdom, Lin and Windsor offer some industry specific advice for those who are entering or currently navigating the fields of medicine and entertainment respectively.

Leaders and Learners: How to Foster an Impactful Mentoring Relationship with Alexis Jeffries '08 and Janea Wilson '22 Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

In recognition of National Mentoring Month and to celebrate a year since the launch of the Northwestern Alumni Association's Affinity Leaders and Learners (ALL) Mentorship Program, we invited a mentoring pair—mentor Alexis Jeffries '08 and mentee Janea Wilson '22—to share their insights for creating impactful, personal connections and the benefit of a tailored experience for students seeking identity-based mentorship.

To learn more about the ALL Mentorship Program and how you can participate please visit mentor.northwestern.edu/programs/affinity

How Northwestern Shaped the Lives and Careers of the 2020–21 Northwestern Alumni Medalists, with President and CEO of the California Wellness Foundation, Judy Belk '75 Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

Since 1932, the Northwestern Alumni Medal has celebrated alumni who have had a transformative impact on their fields, who have performed exemplary volunteer service to society, or who have demonstrated an outstanding record of service and support to the University. In this special episode of Northwestern Intersections, we will hear insights from this year's recipients of the Northwestern Alumni Association's highest honor: Judy Belk '75, Andrew C. Chan '80, '80 MS, Christopher B. Combe '70 ('99, '09 P), and Gordon Segal '60 ('93 P).

In episode 106a we will hear from Judy Belk, President and CEO of the California Wellness Foundation, one of California's largest public health philanthropic institutions.

If you missed the President's Alumni Panel, we've included a link to the recording here in the show notes. President Morton Schapiro leads a discussion with the Alumni Medalists about how the University shaped their lives and careers.

To our alumni listeners, if you know an alum whose life, work, and service truly exemplify the ideals of Northwestern University and deserve recognition for their accomplishments please visit alumni.northwestern.edu/medal to learn more or go directly to the nomination form.

How Northwestern Shaped the Lives and Careers of the 2020–21 Northwestern Alumni Medalists, with Senior Vice President of Research–Biology at Genentech, Andrew C. Chan '80, '80 MS Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

In episode 106b we will hear from Andrew C. Chan, senior vice president of research–biology at Genentech, a biotechnology company that works to develop medicines for people with serious and life-threatening diseases.

How Northwestern Shaped the Lives and Careers of the 2020–21 Northwestern Alumni Medalists, with Former Chairman and CEO of Combe Incorporated, Christopher B. Combe '70 ('99, '09 P) Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

In episode 106c we will hear from Christopher B. Combe, former chairman and CEO of Combe Incorporated—a private, family-held company that manufactures and markets health and personal care products globally and is known for such brands as Just for Men, Vagisil and Seabond.

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