Monthly Archives: June 2025
Ana-Claire Meyer Finds Meaning in Medicine By Going Where The Problems Are
Early on in this project, a close friend told me that he hoped I’d interview Ana-Claire Meyer. Now I know why. Take a listen, and you will, too.
AC’s professional and personal journeys are marked by curiosity, humility, and an eagerness to tackle big problems. After graduating from Amherst College, she held a variety of different jobs, but HIV test counseling piqued her interest enough to propel her to medical school. She studied neuroinfectious diseases, earned a Fulbright scholarship that took her to Kenya, and then joined the U.S. Army as an army civilian, becoming a senior clinical advisor for medical research and material command. It was in that role that she helped shape the Army’s Covid-19 pandemic response. Today, she’s senior medical director for Denali Therapeutics, a company that’s focused on defeating neurodegenerative diseases.
In this episode, we talk about:
How testing patients for HIV in the mid-’90s led AC to pursue medicine
What she learned while helping lead medical preparedness and innovation at the U.S. Army during Covid-19
Why she still hasn’t found her destination professionally, and why that’s not a bad thing
The role Amherst played in shaping her journey—and the faculty members who showed up for her at just the right time
The classmates she hopes I’ll interview next
To get in touch with Ana-Claire, find her on Link
Maki Uchiyama Realized Everything Would Be Okay
Maki Uchiyama grew up as an only child in upstate New York, where her family’s Japanese restaurant functioned as both a business and a fourth member of the household. The experience left her with a certain set of skills—versatility, the ability to multitask, customer diplomacy, and, of course, how to cook. After graduating from Amherst College in 1994 with a degree in political science, Maki joined the Japan Foundation, eventually pivoting to law school and a fulfilling career in real estate law.
Today, she serves as general counsel for Advenir Azora Development, while also navigating the busy, blended rhythms of life as a stepmother to four children, wife, and grandmother.
In this episode Maki reflects on:
Her professional path
The influence of her Amherst education
A family-first mindset she’s cultivated over time
Advice she wishes she could give the younger version of herself: No matter the bumps, pivots, or surprises—it will all work out
The Amherst College Class of ’94 classmates she wants to hear from next
To get in touch with Maki, email at smuchiyama@gmail.com or find her on LinkedIn.
Sean Gibbon Is A Storytelling Talking Ball Machine
Sean Gibbon lives a dual life. He has one foot planted firmly on the squash court, where he teaches the game, and the other in the imaginative realm of fiction writing.
In this episode, we explore Sean’s journey from Amherst to professional squash coach, or what he playfully refers to as a talking ball machine. By that, he means the way he coaches towards experiencing the game fully versus preparing for elite competition. That vocation has given him the freedom and fuel to pursue a deep, deliberate writing practice. Sean reflects on how he integrates personal conflict into the characters he creates, the discipline of writing every day, and why he views both coaching and writing as acts of connection and observation. If you’ve ever considered a creative second act—or simply want to hear how someone balances a creative passion with a profession—Sean’s story will inspire you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How a chance visit to a squash club became a new career
Why Sean fiercely protects at least one hour every day to write
The role that the fiction he creates plays in processing real-life conflict
Sean’s pick for which classmate should appear on the podcast next
To get in touch with Sean, email spgibbon2@gmail.com, or call or text him at 917.684.6840. Check out his book on Phish, too: https://a.co/d/bfJCrKO
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