This Is Purdue

Latest Episodes:

Lessons in Leadership and Loyalty From Purdue Men’s Basketball Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to P.J. Thompson, assistant coach for Purdue men’s basketball.

During his time at Purdue, P.J. (BS organizational leadership ’18), was a three-year starter on the team and helped the Boilermakers win the 2017 Big Ten Championship. Since then, he has been part of the coaching staff — helping lead the team to Purdue’s first No. 1 ranking and the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball national championship game.

In this episode you will:

Hear P.J.’s lessons in leadership from his first five years coaching at Purdue, especially what he has learned from head coach Matt Painter and the legendary former head coach Gene Keady
Learn about the unique culture of education, loyalty and family that brought the team to play in a national championship game — and helps recruit and retain some of the best players in the country
Discover P.J.’s focus as offensive coordinator when coaching Purdue-turned-NBA players like Zach Edey and Jaden Ivey, and current stars Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn
Find out what qualities Purdue looks for when it comes to recruiting young talent
Hear how Purdue navigates name, image, likeness in today’s modern college basketball landscape
Get excited for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season as P.J. shares what he is looking forward to most this season and beyond
Learn what P.J. wants people to know about Coach Painter and this legendary era of Purdue men’s basketball

Don’t miss this episode celebrating the successes of Purdue basketball on and off the court!

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Workplace Well-Being: Burnout Signs You May Be Avoiding Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Allie Gabriel, the Thomas J. Howatt Chair in Management in Purdue University’s Mitch Daniels School of Business and faculty director of the Center for Working Well.

As an award-winning advocate for workplace mental health and well-being, Allie studies how employees can thrive at work, both in person and virtually. She also leads the Center for Working Well, in the Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management department, which is at the forefront of researching various challenges facing modern workforces.

In this episode, you will:

Learn more about Allie’s timely research on employee wellness, burnout, and stress and recovery
Gain life-changing tips on how to recover from burnout, debunk the myths of “work-life balance,” and reframe how success in work and life looks for you
Find out what Zoom fatigue is and how identifying it can help organizations and businesses adopt a more intentional, human approach to improve their workplaces
Hear more about how Allie came to Purdue, how she became a new mother during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how her experience with postpartum depression has shaped her research and advocacy today
Learn how the Center for Working Well is disseminating Purdue’s groundbreaking, interdisciplinary wellness research

You don’t want to miss this eye-opening interview with a Purdue professor and researcher who’s shining a light on what it means to work well.

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College Majors That Didn’t Exist 10 Years Ago: How To Stay Future-Ready Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Dimitri Peroulis, senior vice president for partnerships and online at Purdue and the Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

As an executive leader, he guides the university’s online programs and the offices of Industry Partnerships, Global Partnerships and Engagement. He's also an expert on Purdue’s innovative degrees and courses for workforce development and advancement that prepare students to stay “future-ready.” And he brings a wealth of technical knowledge and teaching experience to the ever-evolving higher ed landscape.

In this episode, you will:

Hear about Purdue’s strategic relationships with corporate partners like Eli Lilly and Company and Wabash and how they’re enhancing student workforce preparation through research, internships and alumni mentorship.
Discover what it means to be “future-ready” and what experiences students need to be flexible, resilient problem-solvers as they enter a changing workforce.
Learn more about Purdue University Online’s new and expanded degree programs and microcredentials that didn’t exist 10 years ago, including the first and only ABET-accredited AI certifications and microelectronics and semiconductors certifications.
Explore how these unique virtual programs and certificates are helping thousands of students balance their lives as full-time professionals and thrive in the classroom and industry experiences.
Find out more about Dimitri’s journey growing up and studying in Greece to later winning Purdue’s Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award.

You don’t want to miss this episode with an award-winning educator and thought leader who’s helping empower Purdue students with the skills they need to solve today’s toughest challenges.

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Breaking News Producer on the Evolution of the Media Industry Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Sutton Tyson, producer for CBS News.

As a proud Purdue College of Liberal Arts alumna, Sutton is a rising talent in the broadcast journalism field. She’s currently the booking producer for “The Takeout With Major Garrett” and previously served as spokeswoman in the FBI National Press Office, covering national security, criminal activity and counterintelligence issues. And through these roles, she’s gained expert insights into a rapidly evolving media industry.

In this episode, you will:

Learn how traditional news networks are tailoring their content strategies to meet various demographics, like Gen Z, where they are leveraging streaming, podcasts and social media
Find out more about Sutton’s journey from Purdue to working for the FBI National Press Office in Washington, D.C., where she learned how to work under pressure and communicate effectively during crisis events
Hear what it’s like to be a producer for a major network like CBS News — including engaging with high-profile guests and covering breaking news in a 24-hour cycle, like the U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collision over the Potomac River
Explore Sutton’s advice for prioritizing mental health, well-being and work-life balance, especially when working in the news industry
Discover the foundational skills she learned while studying communication at Purdue, like cultivating meaningful relationships to set herself up for career success

Don’t miss this engaging, informative episode with a Boilermaker who’s helping shape the vital news and content we consume on air and online!

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Is College Still Worth It? (And How It’s Rapidly Changing) Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Matt Butler, the senior associate commissioner and chief academic officer for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and Brent Yeagy, president and CEO of Wabash National Corp.

Matt is a Purdue College of Liberal Arts alum and a higher education and workforce expert, previously serving as a senior policy advisor for former Gov. Eric Holcomb. Now he works to ensure that Indiana’s postsecondary offerings are meeting current and future workforces where they are. Brent has spearheaded strategic direction and operations for Wabash since 2018. As a campus partner and Purdue College of Engineering alum, he’s seen firsthand how Boilermakers are driving innovation and excellence at scale.

And today – in an intriguing roundtable discussion – they’re diving into a hot-button issue: Is college still worth it?

In this episode, you will:

Hear why a college degree remains crucial, now more than ever, empowering students to grow and plan for their futures.
Discover why a Purdue degree is an invaluable investment from both industry and government perspectives.
Learn how Purdue’s continued frozen tuition benefits bottom lines for Indiana students and families, addresses student debt, and sets a national standard.
Understand what traits and experiences top employers are seeking from new graduates and why Purdue’s role as a premier land-grant research institution is key to providing students with well-rounded opportunities.
Gain insights into Purdue and Wabash’s strategic relationship and how it’s delivering top-tier sustainability research and innovation in the transportation industry.
Find out how the university’s evolving offerings and the state’s higher ed initiatives overall are enhancing the ROI for students and families.

You don’t want to miss this timely episode with Boilermakers who are making great strides in Indiana higher ed and industry innovation to provide a wealth of academic and professional opportunities for current and future college students!

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Hard. Smart. Tough: A Conversation With Purdue Head Football Coach Barry Odom Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Barry Odom, Purdue University’s head football coach.

Last year, Coach Odom led the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to its winningest season in over 40 years, and he’s bringing that same grit to Purdue. He joins the official university podcast to reflect on his first seven months in West Lafayette, the mindset behind “Hard. Smart. Tough,” and why he believes this period of Purdue football isn’t a rebuild — it’s a reset of the standard.

In this episode, you will:

Learn how Purdue’s values attracted him to the university and how his early experiences shaped his leadership philosophy
Discover his mentality and the lessons he shares with the team, including that football is more than what happens on Saturday afternoons — it’s about representing something bigger than yourself
Hear how he’s approaching name, image and likeness (NIL) matters with structure and financial education in a time of ongoing change in college sports
Find out how family and community are shaping his Purdue journey, from coaching his own son to leaning on his wife’s support to awarding a scholarship to Ethan Trent, the younger brother of the late Tyler Trent
Learn how he envisions Ross-Ade Stadium becoming one of the toughest places to play in the country and why he believes Purdue football is positioned for sustained success

“Hard. Smart. Tough” only scratches the surface on what there is to know about Coach Odom. Don’t miss hearing from the new pillar of the Purdue football community.

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What It Takes To Run March Madness — and How Purdue Is Training the Next Sports Pros May 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jeanne Boyd, executive director of sport management and senior advisor to the provost.

Jeanne is a leader in the sports industry. As the former managing director of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, she leverages her unique experience and insights to pioneer Purdue University’s exciting new master’s program in sport management.

In this episode you will:

Learn more about the role this industry expert plays in an exciting new interdisciplinary master’s program in sport management, which has offerings in both West Lafayette and Indianapolis
Hear what Jeanne has to say about the wide variety of careers available to graduates of this program like sports marketing, venue management, AI and technology in sport — not to mention all the hands-on learning opportunities with Purdue Athletics, Indiana Sports Corp and others
Find out the range of disciplines, from communications to technology to education, that students can specialize in
Discover what makes Indianapolis such a unique ecosystem and the perfect host for large sporting events — and why that’s great for students
Go behind the scenes of the NCAA tournament and March Madness as Jeanne discusses her previous role and everything it takes to put on one of the largest collegiate sporting events of the year

Don’t miss this episode that dives into our new sport management program and what it takes to succeed in the sports industry.

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From Purdue to the Indy 500: How Alex Turner Landed His Dream Job at Dallara May 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Alex Turner, Purdue alum and design engineer at Dallara.

Alex is a 2022 graduate of Purdue’s motorsports engineering program and has used his skills and experience to earn his dream job at Dallara’s U.S. headquarters in Indianapolis, just steps away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — home of the Indy 500.

In this episode you will:

Learn about the motorsports engineering program at Purdue University in Indianapolis and the opportunities available to students through the new Dallara partnership
Hear how his passion for IndyCar racing led him to the motorsports engineering program at Purdue University in Indianapolis
Discover how Alex’s journey as a student in Indianapolis and his industry internships helped him land his current role at Dallara
Listen to exclusive stories from the IndyCar engineer, including his family ties to the Indy 500 and his favorite race-day memories of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”
Find out about the innovation and collaboration that goes into being a Dallara design engineer, including what a typical day in his life looks like
Learn about Dallara’s rich history with IndyCar as the exclusive chassis provider for every car on the grid since 2008

You don’t want to miss this special episode that takes you behind the scenes of the world’s fastest racing.

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Purdue Daniels School of Business Professor and Bestselling Author Cara Putman on Leadership, Guiding Students and Ethics May 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Cara Putman, clinical associate professor at Purdue University and director of the Daniels School of Business’ Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business.

Cara is a visionary Boilermaker and leader in many fields — she graduated from college at 20 years old, earned a JD and MBA, and is an award-winning author. She’s called Purdue home for over 20 years and has dedicated her life to being an educator and mentor to hundreds of students at the Daniels School.

In this episode, you will:

Hear about Cara’s education journey from her hometown of North Platte, Nebraska, to law school to Purdue, and her successes along the way, including being a first-generation college student
Learn what first sparked her passions for law, politics and education
Discover how mentors inspired her to become a force for good and why she wants to do the same for students at Purdue
Find out about the study abroad programs she’s led and business classes she’s piloted at the Daniels School, including a core ethics course for undergraduate students
Gain insights into her incredible work at the Brock-Wilson Center, including how she’s helped grow the ambassador program from dozens to hundreds and guided students during their transition to the professional world
Discover how she hopes the business world will evolve in the years to come and how she’s preparing Boilermakers to tackle real-world ethical challenges
Hear about her experience as an accomplished fiction author, why she started writing as a teenager and how it helps energize her work at Purdue

You don’t want to miss this exciting episode with a Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award-winning professor who’s making a global impact for Boilermakers in business!

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Purdue President Mung Chiang Talks Pharma Innovation and AI at Fast Company Panel During SXSW Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re featuring the live Brands That Matter panel spotlighted at the Fast Company Grill during the annual SXSW Conference and Festivals in Austin, Texas.

Purdue President Mung Chiang took the stage as a panelist for “Innovating What Matters: Driving Pharma Forward,” along with Sean Bruich, senior vice president of artificial intelligence and data at Amgen, and Tatyana Kanzaveli, chief operating officer of Open Health Network.

This special panel discussion was sponsored by Purdue University — a four-time recipient of Fast Company’s Brands That Matter distinction.

In this special recording moderated by Shibani Joshi, you will:

Learn about how the health care industry is using AI to improve the development and distribution of pharmaceuticals
Discover how Purdue and other pharmaceutical companies are leveraging cross-industry partnerships to drive innovation
Get to know how Purdue’s partnership with Eli Lilly and Company and Merck & Co. Inc. is driving opportunities in America’s Hard-Tech Corridor
Find out how technological advancements, including AI and research happening at Purdue, will shape the future of pharma

Don’t miss this special live episode that brought together pharmaceutical industry experts at one of the nation’s most esteemed festivals and conferences — SXSW.

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