CMC Conversations

CMC Conversations brings Claremont McKenna College students, faculty, alumni, and staff together to share the unique stories of our amazing community.

CMC Conversations is a education podcast hosted by Claremont McKenna College, with 24 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Claremont McKenna College hosts CMC Conversations, a education show with 24 episodes published.

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  Episode #15

  Leading with Vulnerability & Purpose – Tom Linebarger '86

  Aug 12, 202641 minS2

  What does it mean to be a responsible leader in the modern business world? In this special episode of CMC Conversations, recorded live at the CMC Leads Summit, host Parishi Kanuga '26 sits down with distinguished alumnus Tom Linebarger '86, former Chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc. Tom shares his unique journey from a 3-2 economics and engineering student and Head RA to leading a global power giant for nearly 30 years. With profound honesty, he opens up about the pivotal career moment that forced him to confront his blind spots, embrace executive coaching, and develop the emotional intelligence required for authentic leadership. He also dives deep into the 'Stakeholder Model' of capitalism—explaining why long-term corporate success requires optimizing value for employees, suppliers, and communities alongside shareholders. Tune in to learn why true leadership means leaving a place better than you found it, and why showing your humanity is the ultimate leadership superpower. Read more about Tom: https://www.cmc.edu/news/learning-live-purpose-driven-life

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  CMC Conversations

  32 Years in Congress: Institutional Respect & Bipartisan Action – Hon. David Dreier '75

  Jul 29, 202635 min

  What does it mean to practice responsible leadership in a deeply polarized world? In this special episode of CMC Conversations, recorded live at the CMC Leads Summit, host Parishi Kanuga '26 sits down with Claremont McKenna College Trustee and former Congressman David Dreier '75. Congressman Dreier served 32 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, making history as the first Californian to chair the powerful House Rules Committee. In this expansive dialogue, he shares foundational insights from his time on Capitol Hill—from shaping monumental trade policy like NAFTA/USMCA to defending minority party rights and fostering institutional respect across the political aisle. He also discusses his post-congressional dedication to global trade, press freedom via the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation, and his commitment to nurturing the next generation of collaborative public servants through the Dreier Roundtable at CMC. Tune in to discover why institutional values, civil discourse, and bipartisan collaboration remain the ultimate bedrocks of modern democracy. Learn more about the Dreier Roundtable at CMC: https://www.cmc.edu/drt

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  Episode #12

  Why Deeper Community Matters: From the Abolitionist Movement to Modern Healthcare - Professor Esther Chung-Kim

  Jun 16, 202634 minS2

  In this episode of CMC Conversations, host Parishi Kanuga ’26 sits down with Professor of Religious Studies Esther Chung-Kim to unpack some of today’s most complex societal issues. Moving past "the danger of a single story," Professor Chung-Kim explains how looking at problems through multiple vantage points is essential for tackling contemporary challenges—from inequities in healthcare access to the decline of communal structures. She also shares powerful, personal reflections on her recent work with The Dialogue on Race and Faith Project, illustrating how historical research into the 1830s abolitionist movement and early integrated communities like the Oberlin Institute taught her what it truly means to build trust, lean into discomfort, and practice real empathy. Check out the links below to explore The Dialogue on Race and Faith Project and Professor Chung-Kim’s work: https://www.awakeningtojustice.com/ https://www.cmc.edu/academic/faculty/profile/esther-chung-kim https://sites.google.com/site/profchungkim

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  Episode #11

  Welcome to CMC: Class of ’80 Roundtable

  Jun 9, 202630 minS2

  During CMC’s Alumni Weekend 2025, members of the Class of 1980 gathered for their 45th reunion. As the first four-year graduating class after the College adopted co-education in the fall of 1976, CMC Magazine asked six 1980 classmates—four women and two men—to join us for a campus conversation to reflect on the history of the landmark year, focusing on their arrival to then-Claremont Men’s College and all that followed. With an eye on CMC’s 50 Years of Co-Education Anniversary celebration beginning in the fall of this year, the group shared memories and moments that were special to them individually—and with decades of additional life experiences and introspection, feel even more significant collectively.

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  Episode #10

  Passing the Mic: A Senior Send-off with Parishi Kanuga '26 and Natalie Chen '26

  May 14, 202641 minS2

  <p>Just days before they walk across the Commencement stage, our beloved senior podcast hosts, Parishi Kanuga ’26 and Natalie Chen ’26, settled into our studio —this time as interviewees. A full-circle moment. </p><p>Hosted by Lena Ciganer-Albeniz ’29, this special episode is a heartfelt reflection on the Claremont McKenna Collegeexperience. From the 'summer camp' feeling of freshman year to the intellectual depth of senior theses on love and microfinance, Parishi and Natalie share the CMC stories that shaped them. </p><p>Tune in for a beautiful 'passing of the torch' as we celebrate our graduates and the lifelong community they leave behind a...

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