Sun, 03 May 2026 01:05:11 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2571674 en-us © 2026 Andover Alumni Now: Class of 1991 yes 957cd19c-55d9-5bce-9dc2-bdfc6d9773ee Michael Meiners episodic false Where are we now? What are we into now? What are our lives like now? Mike Meiners catches up with our classmates in the lead-up to our 35th Reunion. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Michael Meiners https://storage.buzzsprout.com/3xrqsdrdn4ydmqkclid09yogm9c0?.jpg Episode 9: Francisco Contreras - "Through spans of distance and time, here we are!" This episode I caught up with Francisco Contreras at his current home in Houston. I say “current home” because Fran’s life since Andover has been marked by near constant movement: from Houston to Mexico where he went to college and got married, then to grad school in Germany and Pennsylvania, then to work in Santa Barbara, San Jose, Raleigh NC, BACK to Mexico and now in Houston again, crossing cultures and languages, with four kids in tow.

]]> This episode I caught up with Francisco Contreras at his current home in Houston. I say “current home” because Fran’s life since Andover has been marked by near constant movement: from Houston to Mexico where he went to college and got married, then to grad school in Germany and Pennsylvania, then to work in Santa Barbara, San Jose, Raleigh NC, BACK to Mexico and now in Houston again, crossing cultures and languages, with four kids in tow.

]]> Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-19106103 Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500 1979 full false Episode 8: Jon Odo - Our Overlapping Perspectives Jon Odo’s work focuses on the productive functioning of teams. In this episode, Jon and I explore how everyone on earth engages the world from their own unique subjective perspective and what that means for groups of people who hope to pull in the same direction and serve a common goal, whether that be in a corporation, a community, a nation or even a family. I caught up with Jon where he lives with his family in a quaint little Boston suburb you may have heard of.

]]> Jon Odo’s work focuses on the productive functioning of teams. In this episode, Jon and I explore how everyone on earth engages the world from their own unique subjective perspective and what that means for groups of people who hope to pull in the same direction and serve a common goal, whether that be in a corporation, a community, a nation or even a family. I caught up with Jon where he lives with his family in a quaint little Boston suburb you may have heard of.

]]> Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-19086831 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:00:00 -0500 1904 full false Episode 7: Meka Egwuekwe - Giving ...and Forgiving In this episode I caught up with Meka Egwuekwe in Memphis, where his simple dedication to fatherhood led to a shift in his career that, over the years, has expanded to impact every family in the state of Tennessee, but not before a significant shift in his understanding of his own family.

]]> In this episode I caught up with Meka Egwuekwe in Memphis, where his simple dedication to fatherhood led to a shift in his career that, over the years, has expanded to impact every family in the state of Tennessee, but not before a significant shift in his understanding of his own family.

]]> Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-19046985 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0500 2269 full false Episode 6: Mike Blanton - Managing Change, In Science And In Life In this episode I caught up with astronomer Mike Blanton in his office in Pasadena California, where he is the new director of Carnegie Observatories. I found Mike at a moment when he, his wife and their two high schoolers are all facing exciting life changes, and navigating them well.

]]> In this episode I caught up with astronomer Mike Blanton in his office in Pasadena California, where he is the new director of Carnegie Observatories. I found Mike at a moment when he, his wife and their two high schoolers are all facing exciting life changes, and navigating them well.

]]> Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-18967827 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0500 1831 full false Episode 5: Julia Bloch - At Work (And At Play) In A World Of Words In this episode, I caught up with Julia Bloch in Philadelphia, where she lives and works as the director of the creative writing program at the University of Pennsylvania. We talked about her life as a teacher, as a poet, as a mother and as a daughter, and found ourselves delighting in how the ever-changing nature of language impacts and enhances our lives. And I learned how poetry, in particular, has a unique power to challenge norms, make unexpected connections and change how we think and move in the world. 

]]> In this episode, I caught up with Julia Bloch in Philadelphia, where she lives and works as the director of the creative writing program at the University of Pennsylvania. We talked about her life as a teacher, as a poet, as a mother and as a daughter, and found ourselves delighting in how the ever-changing nature of language impacts and enhances our lives. And I learned how poetry, in particular, has a unique power to challenge norms, make unexpected connections and change how we think and move in the world. 

]]> Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-18928188 Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0500 1798 full false Episode 4: Sarah Gallagher - Endless Space for Discovery Sarah shares what it's like to be a professor of astronomy, the Director of The Space Institute at Ontario's Western University and the first Science Advisor to the president of the Canadian Space Agency.

]]> Sarah shares what it's like to be a professor of astronomy, the Director of The Space Institute at Ontario's Western University and the first Science Advisor to the president of the Canadian Space Agency.

]]> Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-18890436 Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:00:00 -0500 2019 full false Episode 3: Josh Tulgan - Finding A Home Away From Home In this episode - recorded March 1st - I caught up with Josh Tulgan in the hotel where he fled with his family as rockets criss-crossed the air over their Dubai home. And I learned that it’s not the first time THIS DECADE that global events have forced them to pick up and leave everything behind.

]]> In this episode - recorded March 1st - I caught up with Josh Tulgan in the hotel where he fled with his family as rockets criss-crossed the air over their Dubai home. And I learned that it’s not the first time THIS DECADE that global events have forced them to pick up and leave everything behind.

]]> Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-18852481 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0500 2168 full false Episode 2: Mara Raphael - Do all the things you've always wanted to do A beautiful discussion about the power of life’s trials to illuminate who we really are and remind us to do the things we’ve always wanted to do

]]> A beautiful discussion about the power of life’s trials to illuminate who we really are and remind us to do the things we’ve always wanted to do

]]> Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-18764140 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0500 2005 1 2 full false Episode 1: Sasha Kipka - The Value Of Being Exposed To New Things Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-18764433 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:00:00 -0500 2203 full false Trailer A catching-up podcast for Phillips Academy Andover's class of '1991, ahead of our 35th reunion.

]]> A catching-up podcast for Phillips Academy Andover's class of '1991, ahead of our 35th reunion.

]]> Michael Meiners Buzzsprout-18524056 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0500 42 1 trailer false