Life After Caltech Podcast By Orchid Initiative cover art

Life After Caltech

Life After Caltech

By: Orchid Initiative
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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
  • "Caltech was definitely more difficult than law school"

    "Caltech was definitely more difficult than law school"
    Mar 4 2026

    Christine Woodin (Page House ’10, Applied and Computational Math) discovered her path to law late in her time at Caltech. Claire and Mason talk with her about how the problem-solving skills she developed there translate to patent and commercial litigation, and why she says Caltech was definitely more difficult than law school. Along the way, Christine shares what patent lawyers actually do, what surprised her about law school, and her advice for students curious about legal careers.
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    46 mins
  • "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
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