The Williams Club

Three "Treksperts" on the making of one of entertainment’s greatest franchises. They discuss the show’s portrayal of science and technology, its influence on real-world advancements—from Motorola's flip phones to the concept of warp drive—and its trailblazing shift from episodic to serial storytelling. They also explore the role of science advisories in making the show plausible, and how Star Trek modeled inclusivity and challenged societal stereotypes.

Guests:

Mark A. Altman — showrunner of the TV series “Pandora,” writer/producer of the film “Free Enterprise,” and co-author of the bestselling “The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years.” Mark is also the co-host and producer of the podcast, “Inglorious Treksperts.”

André Bormanis — television producer, screenwriter, and author of “Star Trek: Science Logs.”  André was the science consultant on “Star Trek: The Next Generation”; “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”; “Star Trek: Voyager”; and “Star Trek: Enterprise.” André serves as science consultant and writer-producer on The Orville (Fox). He holds a BS in Physics.

Tom Vitale (moderator, Williams ’86) — Tom headed programming and production at the SciFi Channel for 20 years. He is currently a television and film writer/producer specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror/supernatural. He runs Vital Signs Entertainment and is the co-creator with Mark Altman of “Pandora.”

Recorded over Zoom in March 2021.

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

The final episode in this series features the story of Deo Niyizonkiza, founder and CEO of Village Health Works, an organization that provides healthcare and education services in the small East African country of Burundi. Deo was the the subject of the 2009 book “Strength in What Remains” by Tracy Kidder, which was hailed by the New York Times and many others. He received an honorary doctorate from Williams College in 2013. In 2019, the Williams Club hosted a special evening with Deo, in which he talked about his incredible story from refugee to peacemaker and healthcare leader. Village Health Works continues to thrive today; recently, their new hospital was officially opened by the President of Burundi. Deo was joined in the conversation by Village Health Works clinical program director Dr. Cathryn Christensen (Williams ‘01).

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

An extraordinary conversation about racism with Charles Dew (Williams ’58), Professor of American History, Emeritus, at Williams College and the author of the memoir, “The Making of a Racist: A Southerner Reflects on Family, History, and the Slave Trade.” At this Williams Club event from 2017, he talks about growing up in the Jim Crow South and how a liberal arts education transformed the way he sees the world. He’s joined by Hugh Price, Amherst alumnus and former President of the National Urban League, an historic civil rights organization.

*Apologies for the audio glitches that appear in a few isolated places in the recording.*

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

Behind each political border is a story. Why does this river or that mountain range divide two countries? Why do some borders seem to run willy-nilly through deserts, cutting communities in two? Behind these questions are tales of conquest, migration and ultimately power.

Matt Ellis (Williams '03) has spent years studying these questions in the Middle East. Professor Ellis is Chair of Middle Eastern & International Affairs at Sarah Lawrence College. In his book, "Desert Borderland," Professor Ellis investigates the historical processes that transformed political identity in Egypt and Libya prior to World War I.

In 2018, we welcomed Professor Ellis to the Williams Club to talk about  “Desert Borderland” with Magnus Bernhardsson, Williams College Professor of History and Chair of Global Studies.

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

Over 600 years, golf has grown from a Scottish pastime into one of the world’s most popular sports. Today, it continues to evolve in response to global economic challenges, shifting demographics and societal values, and environmental regulations. In 2019, the Williams Club hosted an expert panel to discuss the past, present, and future of the game.

Guests: 
-Rand Jerris (Williams ’91), Senior Managing Director of Public Services for the U.S Golf Association 
-Dylan Dethier (Williams ’14), Associate Editor of Golf Magazine and a Senior Editor at golf.com 
-Erika DeSanty, Head women’s golf coach at Princeton University

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

Adena Friedman (Williams ’91), Chair and CEO of Nasdaq, talks about her life, career, and the future of Nasdaq. Her conversation with Williams Club President and classmate Tom Morgan was recorded live at the Williams Club in 2018.

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

This is the story of how two Williams College grads, Anouk Dey (‘09) and Katherine Kreig Fischer (‘08), founded Reclaim Childhood, an organization that brings sports to young women in the Middle East through year-round programming and sports leagues. The conversation is introduced by Robert Jackall, Williams College Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Reclaim Childhood board member, and Maddie Ulanow, then US Operations Director. It was recorded live at the Williams Club in 2018.

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

This episode features a team of reporters that challenged the Bush administration’s case for invading Iraq in 2003. They were led by John Walcott (Williams '71), Knight Ridder's Washington Bureau Chief. The story of Walcott and his team was made into the 2017 feature film "Shock and Awe," starring Woody Harrelson, James Marsden, Tommy Lee Jones, Richard Schiff, and Rob Reiner, who also directed. In 2018, the Williams Club hosted the New York premiere of the film, followed by a panel discussion, featuring actor/director/producer Rob Reiner and journalists John Walcott, Jonathan Landay, and Joe Galloway.

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

A lively panel discussion among college sports leaders about the past and future of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) as it celebrates it 50th anniversary. The NESCAC schools: Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan, Williams.

Guests:
-Dr. Daniel Covell, Professor of Sport Management at Western New England University and author of "The New England Small College Athletic Conference: A History"
-John Biddiscombe, longtime former athletic director at Wesleyan
-David Hixon, legendary Amherst College men’s basketball coach
-Dr. Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President of Trinity College, who serves on the NCAA division III President’s Council.

The moderator is award-winning sports journalist Tim Layden (Williams ’78).

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

Hal Steinbrenner (Williams ‘91) talks about the complexities of running perhaps the most storied franchise in all of sports. As managing general partner and co-chairperson of the New York Yankees, Steinbrenner plays a key role in everything from building teams to operating a stadium. He sat down with Williams Club President and classmate Tom Morgan in 2018 for this special conversation.

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)

A 9-part series of conversations with illustrious Williams College alumni and affiliates, recorded live at the Williams Club in New York City between 2017 and 2022. Hosted by Williams Club Director Dale Riehl ('72).

Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.

Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)