Monthly Archives: March 2025
Luke Ryan Comforts The Afflicted – And Sometimes Afflicts The Comfortable
Luke Ryan is a fifth-generation Northampton resident and defense attorney. In his line of work, he often finds himself shepherding clients through their lowest moments. But it also has required that he pursue people in positions of authority who have committed wrongs and attempted to cover them up.
Nowhere is this dynamic more apparent than in his work to expose crime lab misconduct in Western Massachusetts in a quest to seek justice for his clients, a quest that Netflix brought to life in the outstanding docuseries, “How To Fix A Drug Scandal.”
In this episode, he discusses his journey from Amherst College to practicing law in his hometown. Along the way, he opens up about his personal struggles, his passion for civil rights and criminal defense law, and takes us deeper into the Massachusetts crime lab malfeasance that resulted in the overturning of about 38,000 drug convictions state-wide.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
The role of personal tragedy and substance misuse in shaping his approach to representing clients in Western Mass.
How Luke went from swearing he’d never be a defense attorney to becoming an awfully good and tenacious one.
The significant role he played in uncovering a major drug lab scandal in Massachusetts, leading to the dismissal of thousands of criminal cases.
His go-to restaurants in Northampton when Antonio’s Pizza in Amherst isn’t an option.
The Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next.
You can email Luke at lryan@strhlaw.com.
Andy Ward Shows How He Edits Some Of The Most Beloved Books Of Our Time
Josh Hamermesh asked, and boy, did Andy Ward deliver. In this episode, Andy, the Executive Vice President and Publisher of Random House, takes us deep into how he edits books written by some of our finest authors.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Andy’s father shaped his writing and editing skills.
His intricate process of editing, emphasizing both detailed line edits and broader feedback. (Plus, the unlikely place where he does some of his best work.)
How he approaches having tough conversations with authors.
The potential impact of AI on the publishing industry, and the advice he’d give parents of young kids about how and how not to weave AI into their studies.
The Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next.
To get in touch with Andy, email him at andyward72@gmail.com.
Update (10/1/25): Andy has appeared on more podcasts, not surprisingly:
Check out his two appearances on the Kelly Corrigan Wonders podcast, entitled “Deep Dive with Andy Ward” and “Thanks For Being Here – Andy Ward”
Ben Batory Gives A Master Class On Building A Winning Culture
Ben Batory, an Amherst College classmate of mine who played professional basketball in Costa Rica, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Malta, Switzerland, and Mauritius, has taken an unconventional path to Wall Street. Today, Ben is SVP and Head of Trading at Franklin Equity Group, but in this conversation, he talks mostly about his role as Boys Basketball Program Director and Varsity Head Coach at Menlo School in Atherton, California. As you’ll hear, Ben has made himself a student and practitioner of what I’ll call the pursuit of the better.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why the world needs more athletes
His approach to building a resilient, healthy, and winning culture in sports and work
How Ben connects with teenage athletes, developing durable character and life skills in the process
The Amherst classmates (and one professor!) he wants me to interview next
Resources Ben mentions:
A manual for life he wrote for his daughters
The creed he wrote that was inspired by the Holstee Manifesto
A presentation he delivered for a master’s program that leans on Chinese art for your evolution to servant leadership
The syllabus he presented to his basketball team and their parents before the start of this season
You can email Ben at benbatory@gmail.com.
Lee Maicon Sees A 1994 Revolution in Advertising
Lee Macon has worked in advertising through arguably its greatest transformations. He began at the dawn of the consumer internet, navigated the shift to social media, and now is helping clients figure out AI. As the Chief Strategy Officer at the Community, a global creative agency, Lee oversees strategic efforts for major clients like Verizon, Netflix, and Porsche. When he’s not helping his clients grow, Lee is a dedicated father, navigating the challenges of parenting across different generations.
In this interview, you’ll learn about:
Why our graduating year of 1994 represents a line of demarcation in the advertising world, separating the world of pre- and post-digital.
The importance of understanding diverse audiences.
The evolution of advertising strategies over the years.
Balancing short-term and long-term marketing goals.
Whom in the Class of 1994 he wants me to interview next.
You can email Lee at lee@leemaicon.com.
Jim Confalone Goes From Art School to Business Cool
Jim Confalone’s journey from fine arts to founding a successful B2B marketing firm is marked by tragedy and a timely eye for opportunity.
Jim, the founder of B2B marketing agency Modicum, shares the evolution of his career, from his initial passion for painting to servicing blue chip clients like Google and Qualcomm. Modicum specializes in creating powerful visual designs that help businesses make distinctive and lasting impressions on their customers, especially at big product launch events. His big breakthrough came when he solved a key problem most business people encounter at some point: Microsoft’s PowerPoint is an awful canvas for visual design.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Jim’s career evolution from a fine arts background to founding a successful B2B marketing firm – and the entrepreneurial qualities both careers require.
His marketing philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of substance and truth in marketing, avoiding unnecessary bells and whistles.
The therapeutic role art has played in his life, through painting and other creative activities that have helped him navigate tragedy.
The Amherst classmate he wants me to interview next
Note: This episode touches on suicide.
To get in touch with Jim, email him at jconfalone@gmail.com, and visit his agency’s website: http://www.modicum.agency.
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