Professional Perspectives
Hosted by high school students Aarav Akella and Praneeth Vemuri, Professional Perspectives is a podcast built on curiosity, connection, and the belief that stories have the power to inspire change. Each episode features a conversation with professionals, innovators, and leaders from diverse industries: from finance, law, and entrepreneurship to sports, entertainment, and technology. Through thoughtful questions and genuine dialogue, Aarav and Praneeth uncover the personal journeys behind each guest’s success: the challenges they faced, the decisions that defined them, and the lessons they wish they’d known earlier. Aimed at high school and college students, and anyone eager to learn from experience rather than theory.
Episodes
Building a Safer World: Leadership, Building Codes, and Public Safety with John Belcik #29
Every day, billions of people enter homes, schools, hospitals, and workplaces without thinking about the building codes that keep them safe.In this episode, we welcome John Belcik, Chief Executive Officer of the International Code Council, to discuss leadership, public service, and the global impact of building safety. John shares lessons from his decades of executive leadership, the importance of
Inside Fintech & Crypto: Building the Future of Finance with Darius Kraucionis #28
Fintech and blockchain are transforming the way the world thinks about money, investing, and innovation.In this episode, we sit down with Darius Kraucionis, CEO of Fintexus and an experienced fintech and blockchain advisor, to explore the rapidly evolving world of digital finance. Darius shares insights from advising more than 200 fintech and Web3 companies, discussing entrepreneurship, fundraisin
Building Award-Winning Research: How Students Can Publish, Innovate, and Succeed with Ishan Jain #27
What does it take to become a published researcher while still in high school? In this episode, we sit down with Ishan Jain, Founder of YRI, Regeneron ISEF Finalist, angel investor, and published researcher, to discuss how students can break into scientific research, publish papers, and compete at the highest levels.Ishan shares his journey from student researcher to entrepreneur, the system behin
From Tragedy to Triumph: Building EYEHESIVE and Empowering Thousands with Shelby Perry Ep #26
After losing her eye in a life-changing accident, Shelby Perry searched for a community that understood what she was going through. When she couldn't find one, she built it herself.In this episode, Shelby shares the story behind EYEHESIVE, the emotional journey of rebuilding confidence, and how she transformed one of the most difficult moments of her life into a global movement supporting people w
Leading Healthcare Through Innovation: Business, Leadership, and Patient Care with René Hermes EP #25
Healthcare is about much more than medicine. Behind every successful practice is strong leadership, strategic planning, and operational excellence. In this episode, we speak with René Hermes, Chief Operating Officer of Hermes Health, about his journey from finance to healthcare leadership. René discusses business strategy, healthcare innovation, patient-centered care, leadership, and how organizat
The Truth About High School NIL: What Every Athlete and Parent Needs to Know with Dr. John DeWitt #24
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has changed the landscape of high school and college athletics, but many families still don't fully understand the opportunities and risks involved.In this episode, former professional football player, educator, and author Dr. John DeWitt explains what athletes and parents need to know about NIL, recruiting, the transfer portal, eligibility, and long-term decision-m
Coaching Around the World: Leadership, Basketball, and Building Winning Teams with Scott Flemming S5 Ep3 #23
What does it take to coach basketball across multiple countries and cultures?In this episode, internationally recognized basketball coach Scott Flemming shares lessons from leading teams around the world, developing players at every level, and adapting to different cultures. We discuss leadership, communication, resilience, and what students can learn from sports that extends far beyond the game i
The Future of Journalism: Politics, Media, and Storytelling with Jack McKissen S5 Ep2 #22
In today's fast-moving media landscape, journalism plays a critical role in helping people understand the world around them.In this episode, political reporter Jack McKissen discusses his career in journalism, covering major stories, building trust with audiences, and navigating the challenges facing modern news organizations. We also explore the future of media, misinformation, and advice for asp
Building Better Teams: Leadership, Conflict, and Inclusion in Sports with Dr. Jen Fry S5 Ep1 #21
Strong teams aren't built by avoiding difficult conversations, they're built by learning how to have them. In this episode, conflict literacy expert, sports geographer, and entrepreneur Dr. Jen Fry discusses leadership, communication, diversity, inclusion, and how healthy conflict can strengthen teams both on and off the field. We also explore entrepreneurship, education, and practical lessons tha
Season 5 Intro
Season 4 Recap
Inside Business Journalism: Dan DeFrancesco on Markets, Media, and Making Sense of Finance - S4 Ep5 #20
In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we are joined by Dan DeFrancesco, Deputy Executive Editor and anchor of Business Insider Today, Business Insider’s flagship daily newsletter. Based in New York, Dan has built a career covering financial markets, fintech, and major business stories that shape the global economy. Dan shares what it’s like writing and curating a daily newsletter read by m
Breaking Into Sports Sales: Andrew Yu on Business, Motivation, and Growth - S4 Ep4 #19
In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Andrew Yu, a sports business professional working as a Sales Development Representative for the Arizona Cardinals. After graduating from UNLV with a degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Andrew turned his passion for sports into a career focused on ticket sales, fan engagement, and business development. Andrew walks us through his
Calling the Game: Alex Cohen on Broadcasting, Storytelling, and the Big Stage - S4 Ep3 #18
In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we are joined by Alex Cohen, a play-by-play broadcaster with over 15 years of experience across professional, collegiate, and international sports. Alex is entering his second full season with Marquee Sports Network, the television home of the Chicago Cubs, where he calls select regular season and spring training games and contributes to digital conten
Behind the Broadcast: Brady Jones IV and the Technology Powering Live Sports S4 Ep2 #17
In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Brady Jones IV, a two-time Emmy Award–winning EVS replay operator, educator, and LSM-VIA ambassador who has spent over a decade working behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports. Based in Atlanta, Brady has worked on major championships across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA Men’s Basketball, and more. Recording during Super Bowl week
Building a Career Through Adaptability and Purpose. Featuring Jonathon Clark - S4 Ep1 #16
Season 4 of Professional Perspectives opens with a powerful and inspiring conversation featuring Mr. Jonathon Clark, a consultant at Microsoft whose career spans business, finance, healthcare, sports, and public service. His journey is one of adaptability, versatility, and intentional growth, and it set the tone for the entire season. Mr. Clark has held roles across a wide range of industries, inc
Season 3 Recap
Rapid-Fire with Varun Prashant Gangal: AI Careers, Research Advice, and Life Lessons - S3 Ep5 #15
Part 3 of our series with Varun Prashant Gangal is a fast-paced quickfire session covering career advice, research habits, productivity tips, and his personal take on the future of AI
Breaking Down Big Ideas in AI. Varun Prashant Gangal Explains the Future of LLMs - Season 3 Episode 4 #14
In Part 2 of our conversation with Varun Prashant Gangal, we go deeper into the technical and practical challenges behind modern AI systems. Varun explains how large language models work, the obstacles researchers face when scaling them, and what trends are shaping the next wave of AI development. He shares insights from his experiences across leading AI organizations and gives students a clear se
Inside AI Research with Varun Prashant Gangal: Foundations, Curiosity, and the Path to Innovation - S3 Ep3 #13
In this first part of our conversation with Varun Prashant Gangal, we explore the foundations of his journey into AI and natural language processing. Varun is a researcher with experience at Patronus AI, Amazon AGI, ASAPP, and multiple high-impact NLP projects. He walks us through how he became interested in machine learning, what early experiences shaped his research mindset, and how students can
How High-Impact Software Gets Built. Featuring Siddarth Pai - S3 Ep2 #12
In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Siddarth Pai, Software Development Engineer III at Walmart Global Tech, to explore the world of modern software infrastructure and design.Mr. Pai shares how high-impact software is built, what goes into designing scalable and reliable systems, and the skills and mindset engineers need to thrive in the tech industry. We discuss his jour
How Startups Win: Shefqet Avdullau on Angel Investing - S3 Ep1 #11
Season 3 of Professional Perspectives begins with a thoughtful conversation featuring Mr. Shefqet Avdullau, an angel investor who supports early stage founders across both the United Kingdom and the United States.He shares how he identifies promising startups, what qualities he believes define strong founders, and how students can begin preparing for future roles in entrepreneurship and innovation
Season 3 Trailer
Season 2 Recap
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How Panini Built Basketball’s Biggest Brand with Tone Stakes - S2 Ep5 #10
In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Tone Stakes, Head of Basketball Licensing at Panini America, to go behind the scenes of how Panini became basketball’s biggest brand. As high school students passionate about learning from industry leaders, this conversation was both inspiring and eye-opening, and we know it will motivate other students interested in sports, business,
From IIT to Goldman Sachs: Giridhur Sriraman’s Journey in FinTech - S2 Ep4 #9
S2 Ep4 - In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Giridhur Sriraman, Vice President of Product at Goldman Sachs, to explore his journey from studying at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to leading innovative financial products at one of the world’s top investment banks. Giridhur shares valuable insights on navigating the intersection of technology and finance, adaptin
The Art of Marketing with Ari Grief - S2 Ep3 #8
In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Mr. Ari Grief, Director of Marketing & Advertising for the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, to dive into the world of sports marketing. Mr. Grief shares his journey from getting started in the industry to leading marketing efforts for two of the biggest sports franchises in Detroit. We explore his approach to creating campaign
Behind the Seats: Sales and Sports with Steve Reed - S2 Ep2 #7
S2 Ep2 - In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Steve Reed, Creator of Experiences and top seller for the Minnesota Vikings. A lifelong fan turned professional, Steve has built a career around making every game-day unforgettable, meeting clients at the stadium, ensuring they feel valued, and creating memories that go far beyond the seats. His deep passion for the Vikings fu
Beyond the Smile: Dr. Chung on Dentistry, Patient Care, and Lifelong Learning - S2 Ep1 #6
S2 Ep1 - In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Dr. Chung, a dedicated dentist and passionate advocate for patient-centered care. With a background in biochemistry from UCSD and a D.D.S. from UCSF, Dr. Chung has built a career around making dentistry more comfortable, accessible, and personalized. We talk about his path into dentistry, the importance of continuous learning,
Season 2: Trailer
Season 2 is here, and we’re ready to bring you even more incredible stories and valuable insights! As we continue this journey, we dive deeper into the challenges, successes, and lessons shaping different careers. Whether you’re exploring potential paths, seeking advice, or love hearing about people’s journeys, this season is packed with fresh inspiration and practical takeaways. Join us for anoth
Season 1: Recap
Season 1 was an incredible journey, filled with meaningful conversations and insights from a wide range of professionals. From navigating legal careers to the lessons learned in sports and real estate, we explored what it takes to succeed, grow, and find fulfillment in different paths. In this special episode, we’re reflecting on the highlights of Season 1—what we learned, the advice that stuck wi
Real Estate with Heart: Blair Ballin on Community, Clients, and Career Success - S1 Ep5 #5
S1 Ep5 - In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Blair Ballin, a Phoenix-based realtor with over 23 years of experience. Blair shares his journey from a frustrating first home-buying experience to becoming a trusted guide for others navigating real estate. Known for his exceptional customer service and community-building expertise, Blair talks about creating the thriving Liv
The Art and Craft of Golf: A Conversation with PGA Teaching Professional Mike Barnett - S1 Ep4 #4
S1 Ep4 - In this episode, high school hosts Praneeth and Aarav sit down with legendary PGA teaching professional Mike Barnett, whose name is iconic in the Missoula golf community. From winning high school championships to competing nationally and mentoring students across the country, Mike’s journey is filled with achievements and insights. Currently teaching at The Ranch Club during summers and d
Inside the Courtroom: A Journey into Criminal Law with Neil Hallinan - S1 Ep3 #3
S1 Ep3 - In this episode of Professional Perspectives, we sit down with Neil Hallinan, a seasoned third-generation lawyer and founder of Hallinan Law Firm. Specializing in criminal law, Neil shares his journey through the legal profession and offers invaluable insights into the intricacies of a legal career. As high schoolers exploring various career paths, we dive into the realities of law, the i
Educating a Generation: Lessons in Leadership and Growth with Professor Mathew McCarthy - S1 Ep2 #2
S1 Ep2 - In this episode of Professional Perspective, we sit down with Mathew McCarthy, a celebrated professor known for teaching one of the largest classes in the nation. Mr. McCarthy's engaging teaching style and innovative curriculum have transformed the learning experience for thousands of students, making him a prominent figure in the academic world. As a bestselling author, he has not only s
Building Digital Worlds: Tech and Storytelling with Christopher Swiedler - S1 Ep1 #1
S1 Ep1 - In our inaugural episode of Professional Perspectives, we chat with Christopher Swiedler, an engineering director at Roblox and the author of two insightful books. Mr. Swiedler shares his journey through the tech industry, revealing how his passion for gaming led him to play a pivotal role in shaping vibrant online communities. We dive into his experiences and the skills he's honed along
Professional Perspectives: Trailer
Welcome to Professional Perspectives, We are Aarav Akella and Praneeth Vemuri, in this podcast we will dive into the world of careers and share valuable insights through in-depth interviews. Join us every Friday as we bring on a special guest for each episode. Get ready to gain valuable insights and discover new career possibilities, all while having fun! Remember, the future is yours to shape, an
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