Had I Known

Jim Rushton’s love of media started in high school and flourished while working at, and ultimately running, WHCL. He turned that love into a career that went from radio to professional sports. In this episode Jim shares insight into the business side of sports and how it teaches you to watch a different game.

Get tickets to Gabe Mollica’s one-hour comedy show, Solo: A Show About Friendship

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

Tom Vilsack grew up a Democrat  in a family of Republicans. The skills learned then have served him well throughout his 35 years in politics. This week he shares how he got his start in public service, how lessons learned at Hamilton have served him thorough out his career and what’s different the second time around serving as the Secretary of Agriculture.

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods 

David Chanatry has long had a love of long form storytelling. This week he shares how that love fueled a career in journalism and how along with a love of Utica, it drove him to help create the documentary film Utica: The Last Refuge.

Learn more about the film Utica: The Last Refuge 

Learn more about David’s show, The Ivory Tower on WCNY

Read about Marge Pettey’s retirement from Hamilton

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

Photographer Helen Morse says the pandemic drained her creative desire to make images. But it awakened her desire to write. This week she joins the show to give insight into her art and why now was the right time to write her memoir, The Difficult Girl. She shares some details into the heartbreaking stories in the book and how they have helped her connect with people on a different level than she’s used to.

Buy The Difficult Girl

Learn more about Helen and her art at https://www.helenmorse.com/

Register to attend Hamilton’s virtual event, “Author Talk with Helen Morse K’76”

Listen to Jazz Backstory, the new podcast from Monk Rowe.

As a high school  student in Germany, Peter Muggleworth fell in love with TV & Movies. Hear how he went from Hamilton College to a wide ranging career that has seen him involved with many aspects of entertainment. He shares how he’s played a collection of villains as an actor, worked long hours as a member of production crews and how an NFL coach questioned his physical fitness.

Watch The Wag Movie, produced, written & directed by Peter Muggleworth

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

Ryan Serhant moved to New York City after college determined to be successful. This week he shares how he found that success but not in the way he originally planned.  Hear how he went from actor to real estate agent to launching a successful real estate company.

Learn more about Ryan’s business

Order your copy of Wally Bressler’s new book Tragic Hero

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

As Jessica built a successful career in  biotech, she never imagined her father’s interest in wine would lead her down an entirely new career path. This week she shares the story of how Et Fille came to be, how her early career prepared her for winemaking even if she didn’t know it and she gives Dave a lesson in the business of wine.

Learn more about Et Fille

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

Kamila Shamsie came to Hamilton from Pakistan with a dream of becoming a published author. This week she’s shares how that dream became a reality and how, as she gets ready to publish her eighth novel, her process helps her build on her incredible success.

Preorder Kamila’s forthcoming novel Best of Friends .

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

For many in the Hamilton community this week's guest is known as Justinio on the Radio, the voice of WHCL in the early 2000's. Justin Ginsberg took that voice and used it--along with a lot of guts and hard work--to build a successful business. This week we hear how Justin built OnHold.com into one of the top on hold messaging and music services in the country. He shares how he went from one client in Clinton, NY to well over 10,000 clients across the country and what it took to get there.

Visit OnHold.com to learn more about Justin's business.

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

As the world focuses on Ukraine, we talk to a man who had a front row seat to the country’s history. John Hewko was in the Ukrainian parliament the night they declared independence in 1991 and helped craft the post-Soviet constitution. This week he shares his story, his role in helping shape Ukrainian history and his thoughts on the current war.

Dave also shares an update from former guest Matt Zeller about what’s going on in Afghanistan and the recent on the ground report from the Association of Wartime Allies.

Learn more about John’s organization Rotary International

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods 

Just when Missy Segall thought her hockey career was ending prematurely due to COVID-19, the Buffalo Beauts came calling to fulfill Missy's childhood dream of playing professional hockey. This week Missy talks about making the jump from D3 to the Premier Hockey Federation and how she's also getting hands on business school training working full time for Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream.

Pick up a Missy Segall jersey or t-shirt

Buy Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream - Use the code mail22 for 10% off

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

This week we meet Sammy Johnson and Chad Varney who turned an independent study project into a successful business. Upcurl is a clothing brand making a positive impact on the environment. Learn how to all started and what the future holds for Upcurl.

Learn more about the brand at Upcurl’s website

Check out Upcurl on Instagram - DM them to let them know you heard about them on this show for a special offer.

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

Weather knocked out this week’s guest, so a scramble to put together an episode leads to a painful but possibly entertaining trip down memory lane. In this episode you get to hear Dave like never before...or at least not like you’ve heard in 25 years.

Music by Doctuh Michael Woods

Fred Rogers is a trained historian so it was only natural that he’d dig into the deep history of Hamilton upon his arrival. Through his research he discovered a personal connection to the school and developed a deep appreciation of just how much history is buried in the school’s cemetery. His love of that history led him to giving countless tours of the cemetery and this week he gives a version of the tour he calls “The Last Dormitory.”

Kyandreia Jones dreamed of being a writer as a young child. By twenty she was a published author, This week she talks about the adjustment moving from South Florida to Clinton, NY, what it’s like writing Choose Your Own Adventure books and the importance of joy.

Preorder Kyandreia’s next book The Ghost on the Mountain

Buy Kyandreia’s first two books

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

We kick off 2022 with the Chair of the Board. David Solomon shares how Hamilton made an impact on him, why he remains engaged with the school, and the different types of leadership lessons he learned in school.

Check out Dave Bolger’s appearance on Life on the Hill

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

When you know you want to do something, sometimes you just need to make the decision to go ahead and do it. That’s how Meg Swertlow became a filmmaker. This week’s guest talks about the various times in her life when she made changes to go after what she wants. A fun chat with a woman the International Screenwriters Association calls one of the top screenwriters to watch in 2021. Hear how the former improv comedian is now taking the male-dominated horror genre by storm.

Read more about Meg at her website.

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

Rachel Weinstein went to Hamilton College thinking she’d be a lawyer. While studying theater she set herself on a path to becoming a successful Broadway producer. This week she shares insight into how she got her start, how she built her career, and all that goes in to creating a show.

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods

For nearly 30 years Marge Petteys has served as a surrogate mother to countless students. She’s helped students overcome loneliness, offered advice and given big hugs. While she’s played a role in helping students overcome their insecurities, she shares  how working at Hamilton helped her deal with her own insecurities. She’s truly one of a kind.

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods 

A liberal arts education is said to help develop well rounded individuals. This week’s guest Jeff Cournoyer credits his Hamilton experience for his ability to navigate a career that has spanned roles in government, professional sports and higher education. Despite being close friends, Dave still hears stories he’s never heard and learns some new things.

All music by Doctuh Michael Woods