Elon Beyond the Bricks: A Podcast Hosted by President Connie Book

Join President Connie Book as she speaks with Megan Oglesby ’09, principal investor of Carolina Core FC and senior advisor to the Kathryn and Earl Congdon Family Foundation. From helping bring professional soccer to High Point, North Carolina, to supporting community revitalization through philanthropy and economic development, Megan shares how soccer, service and hometown pride continue to shape her leadership.
 
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Click here for more information about Carolina Core FC.
 
Click here for more information about The Earl & Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation.

In this episode of “Elon Beyond the Bricks,” President Connie Ledoux Book sits down with Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12, founder of Animo Counseling and Coaching, to discuss her path from Elon to mental health care. Martinelli-Taylor reflects on the experiences that led her to trauma counseling, the development of somatic boxing therapy, and the role service, purpose, and her Elon education have played in shaping her work with clients.Learn more about Danielle in Elon University's latest President's Report: www.elon.edu/u/academics/presidents-report-2025/health-challenges/
Note: This episode discusses topics related to mental health and trauma, including references to human trafficking and abuse. Please listen at your own discretion and seek support if needed.
 
 

In this episode of “Elon Beyond the Bricks”, President Connie Ledoux Book sits down with Jana Lynn Patterson, Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Student Health & Well-Being, as she reflects on nearly four decades of leadership at Elon University. Known to generations of students as “Dean P,” Patterson shares insights on mentorship, servant leadership, and the evolution of student life, while discussing the relationships and values that have defined her career as she prepares for retirement.
 
 

In this episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, President Connie Ledoux Book talks with Dr. Corinne Auman ’97 P'29, the founder of Choice Care Navigators and award-winning author of Keenagers. Corinne shares insights on redefining aging, navigating senior care, and inspiring others to see later life as a season of growth, opportunity, and purpose.

In this episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, President Connie Ledoux Book sits down with Mike Mooney ’93, a veteran motorsports executive and leadership consultant, to reflect on the unexpected moments that shaped his career. Mooney discusses how an early injury redirected his path at Elon, the lessons learned from more than two decades working across NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula One, and how those experiences led him to focus on values-based leadership and purposeful reinvention.

In this episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, President Connie Ledoux Book speaks with Stephanie Marken ’08, a senior partner at Gallup, about the evolving landscape of public opinion research and higher education. Marken discusses the discipline and responsibility behind national polling efforts, the insights drawn from long term data, and how her experiences at Elon influenced her path into public opinion research.

In this episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, President Connie Ledoux Book sits down with Sean Mikesh ’25, an ensemble member and understudy in Broadway’s Stranger Things: The First Shadow, to discuss his rapid transition from Elon student to professional actor.
 
Sean shares the unexpected series of events that took him from his senior year to a Broadway rehearsal room, offering insight into the preparation, adaptability, and discipline required to step into a major production so early in his career. He reflects on the training, mentorship, and community at Elon that helped equip him for the opportunity and continue to support him as he builds his life and career in New York City.

In this episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, President Connie Book sits down with Simone Earle, a 2016 alumna and Global Brand Manager at Spotify, to discuss the evolution of Spotify Wrapped, the creative discipline behind the campaign, and the impact of strategic storytelling on global audiences.

In this episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, President Connie Book sits down with Gary Grumbach ’16, Legal Affairs Reporter at NBC News, to talk about his career in journalism, the power of storytelling, and the lessons he learned along the way.Gary shares his path from student reporter to national news correspondent, offering insight into how his time at Elon University’s School of Communications prepared him for the fast-paced world of broadcast journalism.

Join Elon University President Connie Book as she sits down with leadership expert and author Joyel Crawford ’97 for a conversation packed with wisdom, humor and inspiration. From navigating careers with confidence to finding purpose in leadership, this episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks is one you won’t want to miss.