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Life After Caltech

Life After Caltech

Written by: Orchid Initiative
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About this listen

 In every episode of Life After Caltech, hosts Claire Ellison (Ricketts House, 2027) and Mason Smith (Page House, 2009) interview alumni who graduated from the California Institute of Technology and took a nontraditional path to achieve their dreams. The podcast is an effort to show current students that no matter the ups and downs of your journey, there is, in fact, a Life After Caltech.Orchid Initiative Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • "Put your oxygen mask on"

    "Put your oxygen mask on"
    Oct 6 2025

    Pallavi Gunalan (Venerable House ’11, Bioengineering and English) left a PhD program to pursue stand-up comedy and writing. In this raw and funny conversation, Claire and Mason talk with her about mental health, leadership during crisis, and what it means to find your voice—on stage and beyond Caltech.
    Content note: some discussion of suicide and mental health.
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    50 mins
  • "Recharging before med school"

    "Recharging before med school"
    Oct 6 2025

    Yang Yang (Ricketts and Page Houses ’09, Biology) took time after graduation to recover from burnout and figure out what came next. Claire and Mason talk with him about choosing medicine, finding his specialty in cardiac electrophysiology, and learning that success doesn’t always mean following the straightest path.
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    38 mins
  • "I HOPE that was rock bottom!"

    "I HOPE that was rock bottom!"
    Aug 10 2025

    At one point, Nick Goeden (Page House ’09, Biology) couldn’t see a positive future after Caltech. Claire and Mason talk with him about how he worked through that low point, built resilience, and eventually co-founded biotherapeutics companies leading cutting-edge research.
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    53 mins
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