Interviews with Flinn Scholars about their careers and lives.
Flinn Talks
Claim This Podcastby Flinn Foundation
5.0(5 reviews)
17 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
35
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality29
Social0
YouTube72
Engagement32
Podcast Overview
Interviews with Flinn Scholars about their careers and lives.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
9/26/2019
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35
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality29
Social0
YouTube72
Engagement32
7
Excellent Areas
2
Good Performance
10
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
53 minutes
Performing excellently!
good
Show Experience
10 episodes over 5.9 years
Recommendations available
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poor
Publishing Consistency
Every 216 days
Recommendations available
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Recent Episodes
May 14, 2026
Sarah Parmar on Shifting from Water Conservation to Community Conversation | Alumni Hour Interview
<p>In this Alumni Hour conversation, Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Sarah Parmar (’02) about her journey from growing up on a ranch in southern Arizona to a career shaping water policy and community engagement.Sarah’s path has been defined by a deep connection to place, culture, and conversation—from early experiences in Douglas, Arizona, to shifting her academic focus at ASU and ultimately building a long career in nonprofit work centered on natural resources. Her perspective bridges the worlds of land management, water conservation, and community dialogue, emphasizing the importance of listening across differences.In this interview, Sarah discusses how community and culture shape policy decisions, what it means to build a long‑term career in nonprofit work, and how inclusive conversation can drive more sustainable approaches to water and land use.Interview Highlights:0:00 — A day in the life of 10‑year‑old Sarah4:49 — Childhood dinner table conversations7:40 — Border culture and growing up in Douglas10:24 — The value of staying in Arizona13:08 — Giving yourself permission to explore15:23 — Why she switched to economics19:22 — Reflecting on the Fulbright decision25:33 — Staying at one organization for 18 years30:23 — Choosing the right nonprofit32:01 — What policymakers get right and wrong about water rights34:59 — Misconceptions between land and water communities38:03 — Returning to the family ranch43:02 — Addressing AI’s resource impact through policy47:58 — Uplifting underheard voices51:36 — The role of private landowners55:09 — Rethinking approaches to water resources</p>
April 25, 2026
Alex Lau on Finding Stability in the Volatility of Film and Storytelling | Alumni Hour Interview
<p>In this Alumni Hour conversation, Flinn Scholars alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Alex Lau (’03) about his winding path through filmmaking, storytelling, and creative leadership.Alex’s career spans documentary filmmaking, political campaigns, startups, and large‑scale corporate media environments. From landing an early whale shark-filming gig through Craigslist to working on a presidential campaign and ultimately leading creative production at Meta, his journey reflects both the highs and lows of working in a competitive, fast‑changing creative industry.In this interview, Alex discusses how good storytelling transcends industries, what he learned from moments of professional defeat and reinvention, and how creatives can navigate uncertainty while building resilient, values‑driven careers.Interview Highlights:0:00 — Background, upbringing, and family history3:05 — Choosing college over the family business5:18 — Early mindset and academic direction9:03 — Landing the first professional filmmaking job13:22 — What makes storytelling work across clients15:42 — Working on the 2016 Clinton presidential campaign21:18 — Processing the election aftermath23:43 — Lessons from startup challenges28:07 — Executive production and creative work at Meta31:13 — Organizational change and AI in production teams33:04 — Key challenges for corporate media teams today34:07 — Advice for navigating anxiety and career uncertainty</p>
March 26, 2026
Sara Castro on Her Journey Through the International Defense Community | Alumni Hour Interview
<p>In this Alumni Hour conversation, Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Sara Castro, Ph.D. (’95), about her path from Flinn Scholar at Arizona State University to a career at the intersection of intelligence, academia, and national security.Sara began her journey with early ambitions in journalism before a pivotal decision to study Chinese reshaped her career toward international relations and intelligence analysis. She went on to serve as a CIA analyst, supporting policymakers through rigorous evaluation of evidence, before pursuing a PhD to examine deeper questions about Chinese ideology and U.S.–China relations. Today, she teaches military officers, helping future leaders understand China on its own terms within an increasingly interdependent global system.In this interview, Sara discusses how language study shaped her career path, what intelligence analysis actually entails behind the scenes, and why teaching strategic thinking requires resisting assumptions and bias.Interview Highlights:</p><p>0:00 — Early career aspirations and education</p><p>2:37 — Learning Chinese and changing career direction</p><p>5:43 — Experiencing the legacy of early PRC systems in China</p><p>15:06 — Becoming a CIA analyst and dispelling common myths</p><p>25:25 — Evaluation and promotion at the CIA</p><p>27:48 — Analyst briefing and preparation techniques</p><p>31:52 — Leaving the CIA for academic research</p><p>33:57 — Insights from the Dixie Mission and U.S.–China relations</p><p>41:10 — Teaching China to military officers</p><p>44:34 — Xi Jinping, ideology, and grand strategy</p><p>48:00 — Global interdependence and global enemies</p><p>50:52 — Shared human values across cultures</p><p>52:13 — Choosing discomfort as a path to growth</p>
17 total episodes available
Recent guests on Flinn Talks
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Wendy Cassity
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Jay Baer
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Kris Mayes
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Michelle Minitti
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Nathan Johnson
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Jake Batsell
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Matt Rolland
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Shelly Lowe
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Flinn Talks?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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