Interesting people, places, and ideas that are shaping our future
Uncommon Stories


All flourishing is mutual
My first swim of the season, reflections on the gift economy and how to build a world with more reciprocity, a beautiful excerpt from one of our student’s college essays and why it’s impactful, and two bald eagles.

Why college still matters
My recent trip to Arizona, how I designed my own major in college, a brief encounter with Jon Krakauer, a few wolves, wisdom from a professor at the #1 liberal arts school in the U.S., and what the desert can teach us about resiliency and the importance of learning.
An uncommon gap year path
How a yard sale led me to buy a one way ticket to Nepal when I was 18, where I wrote a speech for the Vice President, painted a mural, and volunteered for CNN Hero of the Year, Maggie Doyne.

Finding a reason to wake up each morning
My grandfather’s legacy behind the Peace Corps, a young Bernie Sanders, and a few sheep.