UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Alumni Association has announced the launch of the fifth season of its flagship podcast, "The People of Penn State."
This season continues showcasing the journeys and achievements of Penn State alumni, offering listeners the chance to hear inspiring stories from Penn Staters at all levels of their careers in different fields and why Penn State is always home for its alumni.
Each episode, a rotating cast of hosts sit down with Penn State alumni who are changing the game in business, science, sports, the arts, and beyond.
Season five of the podcast premieres with a pair of exciting episodes featuring former Penn State student-athletes.
The first episode goes inside Penn State wrestling with Nick Lee, multi-time NCAA champion with the Nittany Lions. Now an assistant coach for the wrestling team, Lee discussed what it means to be part of one of the most successful wrestling programs in collegiate history as a student-athlete and a coach.
A graduate of the College of Health and Human Development in 2021 with a degree in health policy and administration, Lee shared his thoughts on leadership, discipline and the culture of excellence fostered under head coach Cael Sanderson.
The second episode features former Penn State men's lacrosse standouts TJ Malone and Jack Posey.
Malone and Posey helped guide the program to a NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship Semifinal in 2023, before taking their talents to the professional level in the Premier Lacrosse League.
In the episode, Malone and Posey discussed their journeys from student-athletes to professional competitors, reflecting on the pivotal moments that shaped their careers. With personal anecdotes and candid reflections, this episode offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at life as a professional lacrosse player.
Malone earned his bachelor's degree in finance (2023) and master's degrees in business analytics and business administration (2024) from the Smeal College of Business. Posey also is a graduate of the Smeal College of Business, having earned his bachelor's degree in finance (2023) and master's degree in business administration (2024).
Stay tuned for next week's episode of the podcast, which features Chad Littlefield, co-founder and chief experience officer of We and Me.
We and Me is an organization whose mission is to help leaders, educators and events make connection easy. Littlefield also is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and creator of "Connection Toolkit", which is now being used to create conversations that matter on campuses and companies in more than 80 countries around the world.
LIttlefield earned multiple degrees from Penn State, including a bachelor’s degree with honors in rehabilitation and human services from the College of Education and Schreyer Honors College, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of the Liberal Arts — both in 2013. He also received a master’s degree in learning, design and technology from the College of Education in 2015.
In 2024, the Alumni Association recognized Littlefield with an Alumni Achievement Award — which recognizes alumni 35 years of age and younger for their extraordinary professional accomplishments.
Listeners can access episodes biweekly on the Penn State Alumni Association's website, as well as on major podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. Video versions of each episode are also available on the Alumni Association's YouTube page.
For more than 150 years, the Penn State Alumni Association has provided alumni with a strong and welcoming community representative of the Penn Staters it proudly serves. The association keeps alumni connected to the University and to each other, while upholding Penn State traditions and supporting the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. The association also produces the award-winning Penn Stater magazine and other publications, and offers alumni and friends volunteer opportunities, educational programming, and many other services. For more information about the Alumni Association, visit alumni.psu.edu/youbelong.