HeyJaredUnstoppable Stories
Welcome to UMGC’s "Unstoppable Stories," a podcast that showcases extraordinary journeys of individuals who turned their dreams into reality.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 5
- Latest publication
- Sep 9, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 22, 2026
Latest episodes
Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 17: Building Stability Through Education with Giovanna Williams (opens the original)
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Join Lauren Cardillo on Unstoppable Stories as she sits down with Giovanna "Gia" Williams, a two-time UMGC master’s graduate - earning her MBA and MS in Project Management - whose life journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. In this episode, Gia shares her incredible story of growing up in Panama amidst systemic unfairness, moving to Brooklyn at age ten, and navigating an abusive household. She reveals how she broke generational cycles by using education as her ultimate strategy
Unstoppable Stories - Bonus Episode: Reimagining Higher Education and the Learner Experience (opens the original)
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In this bonus episode of Unstoppable Stories, UMGC President Dr. Gregory Fowler sits down with Dr. Angie Besendorfer Martin, UMGC's Chief Learner Experience & Success Officer, to talk about the new role Dr. Fowler created to unite the university's approach to the entire student journey. Angie reflects on what drew her to the position, from Dr. Fowler's explicit vision for change to her own experience leading through crisis as an administrator in Joplin, Missouri, following the historic 2011 torn
Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 16: Failing Forward: How Trial & Error Built an Unstoppable Future (opens the original)
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Host Nathan James sits down with Air Force veteran and UMGC alumnus Matthew Ruchie to trace his remarkable path from academic probation to becoming a logistics supervisor for UMGC in Europe. As a first-generation college student, Matthew initially struggled at a private university, dropping out to enlist in the Air Force where he served as a mental health specialist. He shares how transitioning out of the military triggered a deep depression, leading to a 1.8 GPA and failing a foundational writi
Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 15: A Life Overseas: 40 Years of Teaching the Military with Joe Arden (opens the original)
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Host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Joe Arden, who spent 40 years with UMGC as a professor and director. Joe recounts his incredible journey from serving as an Army intelligence officer in Vietnam to accepting a traveling teaching position in 1967 that changed his life forever. Taking a massive pay cut to leave a think tank, Joe found his true calling teaching American military personnel across Asia and Europe. He shares powerful stories of his time in the classroom, including teaching armed sol
Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 14: Hack the Madness: Building a Worldclass Cyber Team Online (opens the original)
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Host Lauren Cardillo sits down with Jesse Varsalone, a cybersecurity guru, UMGC faculty member, and the coach of UMGC’s award-winning cyber competition team, the Shells. Jesse shares his 32-year teaching journey, explaining how he transitioned from a high school math teacher to the fast-paced world of cybersecurity. He breaks down the biggest misconceptions about the field, emphasizing that it requires curiosity rather than advanced math, and boasts incredibly low barriers to entry. Jesse also d
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