Welcome to Postgrads — In each episode, we sit down with Columbia Journalism School graduates to explore what comes after the degree — the jobs, the pivots, the dreams, and the unexpected turns.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Hope King, a former business and economy journalist as well as the creator and the host of her podcast Macro Talk. King will share with us her story growing up as an immigrant and her advice to the young generation about their career choices, also, a story about interviewing the Chinese businessman Jack Ma.

Interviewer: Zhuoya Ma
Guest: Hope King
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Carmen Cusido, a Communication Professional Freelance writer based in New Jersey, as well as a mental health advocate. Cusido will share with us her path through different careers, as well as her long time battles with eating disorders.

Trigger warning:
from 12:43: discussions of severe depression, loss of loved ones, anorexia and other eating disorders

Interviewer: Zhuoya Ma
Guest: Carmen Cusido
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma

Referenced work：
Egg freezing: https://wearemitu.com/wearemitu/culture/opinion-egg-freezing-fertility-post-roe-america/
Severe depression: https://www.newsweek.com/i-tried-take-own-life-when-mom-died-1677628
Eating disorder and Latino culture: https://remezcla.com/features/culture/the-weight-we-carry-unpacking-eating-disorder-sin-verguenza/

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS
00:00 start
00:13 beginning
00:48 upbringing
01:58 different journalism school experience
03:25 Columbia J school - foreign reporting
04:16 preferred beat
05:27 speech writer
06:17 influence of education
09:06 educating the others
10:10 bilingual translating accuracy
11:08 rapid fire question
12:36 eating disorder+depression
21:25 the biggest misconception about mental health
24:33 book writing
26:03 monologue - leave a message to past and future self
26:56 ending

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

#postgrads #columbiajournalismschool #freelancer #mentalhealth

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Marisa Marcellino, a Columbia Journalism School adjunct professor, and a long-time sports reporter who just finished her work at the Winter Olympics. Marcellino will tell us her growth as a reporter, as well as her experience reporting the winter Olympics.

referenced work：
Team USA’s women’s hockey team: https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/running-gelato-and-gold-medals-qa-four-golden-ladies-team-usa-womens-hockey
With Jessie Diggins: https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/olympian-jessie-diggins-using-her-voice-climate-advocacy-who-am-i-not-care
With Gus Schumacher: https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/growing-up-with-glaciers-cross-country-skier-gus-schumacher-finds-solace-in-climate-advocacy

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS:
00:00 start
00:12 beginning
00:45 Columbia learning experience
01:49 comparison between studying and teaching at Columbia University
02:21 work experience - day reporter at News12
04:45 thoughts on distances travelled
07:46 sports reporting
10:01 how to prepare interviews
12:24 adjunct professor at Columbia Journalism School
14:52 rapid fire questions
17:20 2026 Winter Olympics
20:31 sports and politics
21:55 female strengths in sports and sports news
23:46 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
25:14 monologue
26:21 ending

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com
#postgrads #columbiajournalismschool #adjunctprofessor #winterolympics #sportsreporter

Welcome to Postgrads — In each episode, we sit down with Columbia Journalism School graduates to explore what comes after the degree — the jobs, the pivots, the dreams, and the unexpected turns.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Alison Sun, a full time social creative producer at Microsoft and a former independent creative consultant. Sun will tell us her experience within the creative sphere, as well as the philosophy behind her documentary project.

Interviewer: Zhuoya Ma
Guest: Alison Sun
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma

referenced work：
Dumbfoundead video: https://www.easternstandardtimes.com/episode/docs-dumbfoundead
A Good Death: https://www.docnyc.net/film/shorts-doc-nyc-u-rebirth/a-good-death/

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS:
00:00 start
00:10 beginning
00:42 bachelor- University of Cincinnati
02:30 transfer from Chinese University
04:07 reason for dislike of the first job
06:52 postgrads experience
10:00 music artists wish to collaborate at the beginning
11:06 wants to see more Asian culture
12:47 rapid fire questions
14:04 short documentary - the good death
22:17 experience at Microsoft
24:23 monologue - what does creativity mean at AI era

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com
#postgrads #columbiajournalismschool #microsoft #socialcreativeproducer

In today’s episode, we talked with Tazbia Fatima, a full-time newsroom AI and automation engineer at Hearst Newspapers. Fatima will share with us her journey and the challenges of becoming a computational journalist in the United States, as well as the various journalistic projects that she has worked on.

Interviewer: Zhuoya Ma
Guest: Tazbia Fatima
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: Zhuoya Ma

Reference work:
"Donkey Route":https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/modi-is-placating-trump-on-illegal-migration-despite-opposition-at-home/
Reporting Map: https://projects.thecity.nyc/thecity-coverage-map/

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS:
00:00 start
00:08 beginning
00:49 childhood - passionate about reading
02:33 choosing a career path
05:28 the difference between traditional and computational journalism
07:28 current job contents
07:58 projects
09:24 challenges at CJS
12:28 rapid fire questions
15:35 the city
19:57 the process of reporting undocumented immigrants
24:14 monologue - advice for newcomers
26:36 ending

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com
#postgrads #columbiajournalismschool #hearstnewspaper #aiandautomationengineer

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Tiffany Le, a visual verification news gathering producer at Reuters in Beijing and cofounder of the Poorlizter Show. Le will tell us her experience studying in the United States as an international student, and what she learned while reporting on the Poorlizter Show.

Referenced work：
The Poorlizter Show: https://b23.tv/YUZqDQ9

Interviewer: Danny Liu
Guest: Tiffany Le
Camera: Zhuoya Ma
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: Zhuoya Ma

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS:
00:00 start
00:12 beginning
00:43 learning journalism
02:15 reading list
04:30 reporting experience in the United States
07:30 Reuters work experience
09:10 rapid fire questions
11:25 poorlizer show
13:49 the duty of the newsroom
16:21 reporting on school protest - safety concerns
22:09 monologue - message for future self
23:26 ending

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Sushmita Pathak, a multimedia editor from Scientific American. Pathak will discuss her experiences reporting on scientific beats, as well as how AI should be utilized and represented in journalism.

Referenced work：
Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/daily-misery-why-some-people-cant-burp-and-how-botox-comes-to-the-rescue/
Child Marriage in India: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/11/05/931274119/child-marriages-are-up-in-the-pandemic-heres-how-india-tries-to-stop-them
Vaccines in India: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/17/1038395212/indias-vaccination-drive-has-gathered-speed-but-theres-still-a-ways-to-go
AI researches DNA’s dark matter: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/decoding-dnas-dark-matter-with-ai-keeping-a-man-alive-without-lungs-and/

Interviewer: ZJ Yang
Guest: Sushmita Pathak
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: Zhuoya Ma

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Tavleen Tarrant, a newsgathering reporter from NBC news. Tarrant will discuss her role as a newsgathering journalist, and her experiences working on various recent breaking news.

Referenced work：
Allies Welcome: https://www.docnyc.net/film/shorts-doc-nyc-u-portraits/allies-welcome/
ICE agents blocked from Ecuadorian consulate: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/ice-agent-blocked-ecuador-consulate-minneapolis-trump-immigration-rcna256284
Grandma’s refugee journey: https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2021/2/14/from-pakistan-to-india-tracing-my-grandmothers-refugee-journey

‼️New segment alert - Rapid Fire Questions starts now 19:15

Interviewer: Zhuoya Ma
Guest: Tavleen Tarrant
Camera:Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: ZJ Yang

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS:
00:00 start
00:15 beginning
00:59 influence of living in different countries
02:14 the inspiration of being a journalist
04:24 documentary - Allies Welcome
06:35 the difficulties of making a documentary
08:27 freelancing vs full-time employed
10:12 the duty as a newsgathering reporter at NBC News
12:39 breaking news
14:00 accuracy in the newsroom
14:42 latest article - ICE in Minneapolis
17:58 journalist's duty and external pressure
19:15 rapid fire questions
23:38 monologue
26:32 ending

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Arshi Qureshi, a freelance journalist based in New York City who reports on politics, online extremism, crime and justice, and various other topics. Qureshi will discuss the process of fact checking, the difficulties she ran into while working in India, and abuses in jail system, H-1B policies, and other issues.

referenced work：
401(k) funding ICE detention center: https://breakthroughnews.org/your-retirement-account-could-be-contributing-to-over-1-billion-invested-in-ice-detention/
Abuse in Allegheny County Jail: https://www.publicsource.org/allegheny-county-jail-sergeant-lawsuits-allege-abuse/
New H-1B policy: https://breakthroughnews.org/billionaires-funding-h-1b-backlash-anti-south-asian-racism-immigration/

Interviewer: Danny Liu
Guest: Arshi Qureshi
Camera: Zhuoya Ma
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: ZJ Yang

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS:
00:00 start
00:23 intro
01:00 necessary technique for investigative journalist
05:35 daily schedule
07:02 the difficulties of an Indian muslim female journalist
10:57 master's project - the abuse of a U.S. jail sergeant
15:40 workpiece - H1B work visa
18:25 the prejudice of U.S. pop culture towards Southasian
20:37 monologue
21:23 ending

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

In today's episode, we're joined by Tandy Lau, a public safety reporter for New York City Amsterdam News. Lau will discuss recent public safety stories in New York City, as well as how journalists can effectively address systemic racism in their stories.

Referenced works:

Oversentencing: https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2025/12/11/judge-decides-on-resentencing-for-bronx-father-andre-brown/
Chinatown jail: https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2024/08/15/will-chinatowns-borough-based-jail-save-lives-or-destroy-them/
Black and Asian relationships: https://wordinblack.com/2023/05/false-narratives-how-social-media-divides-asian-and-black-communities/

Interviewer: Danny Liu
Guest: Tandy Lau
Camera: Zhuoya Ma
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: ZJ Yang

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

In today's episode, we're joined by Anna Oakes, a multimedia freelance journalist focusing on immigration. Oakes will share with us her experience reporting on the student protest in Columbia University and immigrant issues, as well as the ethics and nuances of romantic chatbots.

Interviewer: Zijie Yang
Guest: Anna Oakes
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: Zhuoya Ma

Referenced works:
Bot Love - https://radiotopiapresents.fm/bot-love
Feels Like Home - https://www.feelslikehomefilm.org/
Undue Process - https://theintercept.com/2025/05/10/columbia-library-gaza-protests-students-suspended/

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

#postgrads #columbiajournalismschool #multimedia #podcast #aichatbot

In today's episode, we're joined by Vidhi Choudhary, a full-time business reporter at Morning Brew and Modern Retail. Choudhary will share with us her experiences working in both India and the United States, as well as her opinions on topics such as e-commerce and AI.

Interviewer: Zijie Yang
Guest: Vidhi Choudhary
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: Zhuoya Ma

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

#postgrads #ai #businessreport #morningbrew #retail

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Claudia Gohn, co-founder of Grassroots magazine NYC and an adjunct assistant professor of Columbia Journalism School. Gohn will share with us her responsibility as a student journalist during the Columbia University encampments as well as her experience reporting on social movements and activism.

Interviewer: Danny Liu
Guest: Claudia Gohn
Camera: Zhuoya Ma
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: ZJ Yang

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

#Postgrads #ColumbiaJournalismSchool #CareerAfterCollege #Journalism #MediaCareers #PostgradsLife

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Flora Warshaw, an audio producer for SpyCast in Washington, D.C., and formerly an audio producer at Marketplace by APM. Flora will share how she discovered her true passion for audio production, her job-hunting strategies, and what it’s really like working in the audio industry after graduation.

Interviewer: Zhuoya Ma
Guest: Flora Warshaw
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu/Zhuoya Ma
Producer: ZJ Yang

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

#Postgrads #ColumbiaJournalismSchool #CareerAfterCollege #Journalism #MediaCareers #PostgradsLife

In today’s episode, we invited Alex Fang, who transformed from an economic reporter to a taxation lawyer. She will bring us through her academic journey — from her undergrad at Fudan, to her Master’s at Columbia Journalism School, to her Juris Doctor at Harvard Law School. Now, as a lawyer, as well as a translator and a poet, Alex will also share with us her contemplation of the present and the future.

Interviewer: Zhuoya Ma
Guest: Alex Fang
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu
Producer: ZJ Yang

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

#Postgrads #ColumbiaJournalismSchool #CareerAfterCollege #Journalism #MediaCareers #PostgradsLife

Content Warning: Rape, Sexual Assault 9:51-11:50

In this episode, we invited the editor of New Lines Magazine, Surbhi Gupta. Surbhi's articles focus on South Asian arts & cultures. In this episode, Surbhi will share with us her experiences working both in India and the United States, as well as the stories behind some of the articles she has written in the past.

Interviewer:Danny Liu
Guest: Surbhi Gupta
Camera: Zhuoya Ma
Edit: Danny Liu
Producer: ZJ Yang

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

#Postgrads #ColumbiaJournalismSchool #CareerAfterCollege #Journalism #MediaCareers #PostgradsLife

In this episode, we invited freelance writer Madeline Reilly, whose articles focus on the competitive job market within the context of Generation Z. Madeline will share her experiences studying at Columbia University, how she discovered her niche within the industry, and her unique perspective on the journalism field.

Interviewer:Danny Liu
Guest: Madeline Reilly
Camera: Zhuoya Ma
Edit: Danny Liu
Producer: ZJ Yang

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

#Postgrads #ColumbiaJournalismSchool #CareerAfterCollege #Journalism #MediaCareers #PostgradsLife

In this episode, we talked with Olivia Empson, a freelance journalist whose works have been featured in The Guardians, Vanity Fair, Reuters, and many more. Olivia shared her journey from Columbia Journalism School to full-time freelance journalist, from how she’s built her career, to what she learned about finding her voice after graduation.

Interviewer: Zhuoya Ma
Guest: Olivia Empson
Camera: Danny Liu
Edit: Danny Liu
Producer: ZJ Yang

💡 About Postgrads:
Postgrads is a video podcast founded by Zhuoya Ma and Danny Liu, spotlighting Columbia Journalism School graduates carving their path after graduation. Each conversation dives deep into career choices, creative pivots, and the reality of building a meaningful life in media.

📬 Want to be featured or collaborate? Email us at zhuoyama79@gmail.com

#Postgrads #ColumbiaJournalismSchool #CareerAfterCollege #Journalism #MediaCareers #PostgradsLife