Story Exchange with Alex Strong

On this episode of the Story Exchange, Alyson Chun and I discuss how she came to Stanford, her love of Sublime, growing up in Ann Arbor Michigan, her experience traveling abroad in Morocco in college, her travels through the peace core in Botswana, her struggle with depression and what keeps the light coming back, how she is starting to become more intentional with her time and travels, and so much more.A list of songs in this episode can be found here:https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVdjkkjfq5bXfGefCJO_O233vZ9Pas2&si=0JeYY6MBDgbjWoXm

In this episode Paul Calvo and I discuss, being a transfer student at Stanford, tattooing in prison, what it means to be a convict, legacy admissions, the transformative power of education, Paul's family and faith, and so much more.Songs in this episode can be found here:https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVdjkkjfq4LJ6LkWDbXt5UEkDn9Wezz&si=DAcl-I1xNYYqkqOqOne more note:More of Paul Calvo's story will be posted as part of the podcast State of the Human, from the Stanford Storytelling Project, in the coming weeks. In that episode, Paul goes deeper into how he landed in prison, how he fought his case, and then jumped to be an undergrad in EE at Stanford, and his thoughts about what it means to live in both worlds.

In this episode, Chance and I discuss finding yourself through art, the transformative power of music, living in New York city and its influence on him, how chance got to Stanford, his family's influence on him especially the role his grandparents played to stoke curiosity, and so much more.Songs for this episode can be found here:https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVdjkkjfq4lZIb1wkbd6_uB3tMi6bsb

In this episode of the Story Exchange, Andrew Mancini and I discuss Andrew's interest in all things transportation, traveling around the USA, his honest love for and obsession with the Old Spaghetti Factory, how he came to intern for Amtrak in Jefferson city, , his time playing trombone for the band in highschool and later at Stanford, Alex's thoughts on grass, and much more!Songs for this episode can be found here:https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVdjkkjfq4Eaf_JG7cwqQGtKzavHolI&si=5ccPCNt5XYkGxh2M

In this episode of the story exchange Caeden Green and I discuss growing up speaking Spanish and playing soccer, welding mail boxes and getting really into fixing cars, NOLS and how it has precipitated a lot of growth in Caeden, how jazz piano has become such a big part of Caeden's life, and so much more!Songs in this episode can be found:https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVdjkkjfq7JExgtINsDU9aFeLbZYUcJ&si=EB4tKZE2z_t_iJlf

In this episode of the story exchange, Jane and I discuss her time growing up in north Dakota, her entry into science, her experience at the center of "science's me to" movement, and what the future of her work looks like.Songs in this episode can be found here:https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVdjkkjfq4s1Ea3HJINCDS7ojBh2JId&si=Vq3RoYAwnxtWY_nx

In this episode Robert and I discuss how he came to be a Design Major at Stanford, his deeply influential days as a rowing in high school, his COVID gap year spent traveling around the USA in a modified school bus and what he took away from that experience to the rest of his life, his time working in restaurants and starting Street Meat, and what the future of his craft looks like.Songs heard in this episode can be found here:https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVdjkkjfq6qFgDOV3vDfe7JKYMtjlPf&si=EUNNQCvQewgKlJqS 

In this episode Annika and I discuss the people who helped her learn French and integrate into Swiss society, learning classical piano, traveling with her friends, the value of education, and what it means to be an expert.A playlist of songs can be found here:https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVdjkkjfq6xy71So9sZ5-T8GeVBYLCg&si=Rr58_ubBymQqUlqP