Best Inspirational Durden Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 49 - Ernest O. Lawrence (Cal's FIRST Nobel Prize Winner) 55:47

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44m ago55:47

55:47

It's our special Cal History episode and this one is particularly good! Leslie and Reza have a great time talking all about Cal's first Nobel Prize winner, Ernest Orlando Lawrence. We learn about the invention of the cyclotron, Lawrence's enormous contribution to scientific collaboration, and uncover the origin of Cal's tremendous academic reputati…

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Ep. 48 - Cal Football Recap - Oregon State 24:37

4d ago24:37

24:37

In this exciting episode, host Reza Sirafinejad and legendary Cal linebacker David Ortega recap the Golden Bears' impressive victory over Oregon State. They discuss standout performances, key players, and the overall team dynamics that contributed to the win. The conversation highlights the importance of the offensive line, the poise of the new qua…

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Ep. 47 - Joe Starkey (Legendary Cal Radio Broadcaster) 51:54

11d ago51:54

51:54

What a bonanza! Legendary Cal radio broadcaster Joe Starkey joins the show to talk about his storied career spanning nearly 50 years as the Voice of the Golden Bears! Joe shares stories about how he came to California, how he landed the job as the Cal radio broadcaster with KGO, his favorite Cal football moments, and talks all about his call of the…

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Ep. 46 - Cal Football Discussion and Outlook 54:16

18d ago54:16

54:16

Thomas Dunn, Cody Henderson, Joaquin Ruiz from the Bearvengers Podcast join the show to share their thoughts on the upcoming Cal Football season. We break down each position group, talk about where the team has improved during the offseason, and share win/loss predictions for the season ahead. Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TellTheWh…

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Ep. 45 - Nick Rolovich (Cal Football Offensive Mastermind) 35:13

25d ago35:13

35:13

The Cal Football program landed a GREAT coach to help with the offense when it hired Nick Rolovich. The Bay Area native joins the Cal Football staff as Senior Offensive Assistant and he comes with a reputation for knowing how to put points on the board. In this interview, Ahmad and Reza spend some time getting to know the former head coach at Hawai…

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Ep. 44 - Nate Longshore (Quarterback of the Epic 2006 Cal Football Team) 59:13

1M ago59:13

59:13

Ahmad and Reza have a BLAST spending time with Nate Longshore, the quarterback of some of the best Cal football teams under legendary coach Jeff Tedford. Nate shares some great stories about his time at Cal and gives his thoughts on the state of college football now that he has become a college coach himself. And trust me when I tell you... You won…

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Ep. 43 - Interview with Amy Trask, Part 2 (former Raiders CEO) 58:54

1M ago58:54

58:54

The "Princess of Darkness" returns! Amy Trask graciously makes the time for part 2 of our conversation -- and in this one, we dig deeper to learn more about how Amy became the remarkable person she is today. What was she like growing up? How much credit does she give Cal for shaping her into the person she's become? Was she scared transitioning int…

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Ep. 42 - Cal History: Garrett Cochran (Cal's First Great Football Coach) 43:47

2M ago43:47

43:47

Have you ever wondered about the significance of that football players statue near the Valley Life Sciences Building? Did you have any idea it had to do with Cal's first two dominant victories in the Big Game? In this special Cal History episode, Leslie and Reza Tell The Whole Damn World about Cal's first great football coach -- a man who transform…

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Ep. 41 - Cal History: Rube Goldberg 44:00

2M ago44:00

44:00

How many of you are familiar with the term “Rube Goldberg machine?” Have you ever wondered who Rube Goldberg was? And did you realize he was a Golden Bear? In this special Cal History episode, Leslie and Reza tell you all about Rube Goldberg, who was best known as being the first famous cartoonist in the world. He drew cartoons depicting complicate…

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Ep. 40 - Steve Kroner (Sportswriter Extraordinaire) 52:48

2M ago52:48

52:48

Ahmad and Reza welcome sportswriter extraordinaire, Steve Kroner, to the show. Working on TV and as a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, Steve has done it all covering the sports scene in the Bay Area – from Super Bowls to the World Series -- but his heart will always be true to Cal. You’ll love to hear about his time covering the sensational …

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Official Trailer for Tell The Whole Damn World! 4:54

2M ago4:54

4:54

Official trailer for Tell The Whole Damn World! The podcast that celebrates all things Cal and the prominent people who are passionate about THE University of California. We are here to help you feel more connected to UC Berkeley. Tell all your Cal friends about us! Fiat Lux and GO BEARS!!! Find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Pandora, and a…

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Ep. 39 - Cal History: Henry Durant and the Founding of the University of California 52:03

2M ago52:03

52:03

It's a special Cal History episode! And it's a GOOD one! Leslie and Reza talk all about the founding father of the University of California, a Yale-educated, congregational minister born in 1802 named Henry Durant -- yes... THAT Durant! You won't believe everything he went through back in the middle of the 19th century to start what eventually woul…

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Ep. 38 - Interview with Amy Trask, Part 1 53:49

2M ago53:49

53:49

We couldn't be more honored to welcome Amy Trask -- the "Princess of Darkness" and first woman to ever be named CEO of an NFL franchise -- to the show. You’re going to love hearing her stories about her time at Cal, what she really feels about the other schools that blew up the Pac-12, Marshawn Lynch, how another famous Cal grad gave her the "Princ…

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Ep. 37 - Interview with Rod Benson, Author of "Different Dude" 52:58

3M ago52:58

52:58

Ahmad and Reza interview former Cal basketball player Rod Benson, who has gained critical acclaim as a columnist, a podcaster, an artist, and is the author of a fantastic book called “Different Dude.” You'll love hearing his stories and his perspective on life that may sometimes get him into trouble. He played basketball at Cal under Ben Braun and …

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Ep. 36 - Cal History: Walter Plunkett 33:41

3M ago33:41

33:41

In this Cal History episode, Leslie and Reza talk all about Walter Plunkett, one of the greatest costume designers to have ever lived. He did costume design for Gone with the Wind, Singin’ in the Rain, and an American in Paris -- and that’s just scratching the surface with all of the work he did on different movies during Hollywood’s Golden Age. An…

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Ep. 35 - Cal Track & Field Program 53:16

3M ago53:16

53:16

We are thrilled to sit down with two outstanding representatives of Cal's Track and Field program, Mohamad "Mo" Saatara, the incredible coach of our world-class throws program, and senior distance runner Garrett MacQuiddy, who cemented his place as one of the best runners of all time in Cal history. Coach Saatara has been at Cal for 12 seasons and …

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Ep. 34 - Cal History: Joe Roth (Legendary Cal Quarterback) 37:12

3M ago37:12

37:12

Leslie and Reza talk all about Joe Roth, a man universally beloved by the entire Cal community whose life was tragically short by malignant melanoma. But he left an enduring legacy as a man who seemingly was the living embodiment of faith, humility, and courage. He played quarterback at Cal at such a high level in the mid-70s, there's no question h…

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Ep. 33 - Geoff McArthur (Hall of Fame Wide Receiver) 58:08

3M ago58:08

58:08

Ahmad and Reza are thrilled to spend time with former Cal All-America wide receiver Geoff McArthur, who shares stories of his playing days and his inspirational journey overcoming cancer. Learn more about the podcast: https://TellTheWholeDamnWorld.com/⁠ We are the podcast for Golden Bear fans who love THE University of California. We celebrate all …

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Ep. 32 - Cal History: Robert Gordon Sproul 34:41

3M ago34:41

34:41

Leslie Mitchell teaches us all about Robert Gordon Sproul, the Cal alum who rose up through the ranks at UC Berkeley to become the first system-wide president of the University of California. And we'll learn about how UC Berkeley dramatically grew as a research institution under his leadership from 1930 through 1958. Learn more about the podcast: h…

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Ep. 31 - Grant Marek (SFGate Editor-in-Chief) 51:42

3M ago51:42

51:42

Top Dog. Bear's Lair. Grant Marek has written some GREAT articles about some beloved Berkeley institutions. Ahmad and Reza have a great time getting to know Grant and learning why Cal means so much to him. And we'll learn how he helped transform SFGate into the largest media outlet on the West Coast. Learn more about the podcast: https://TellTheWho…

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Ep. 30 - Cal History: How we became the "Golden Bears" (1895 Track and Field Team) 33:36

3M ago33:36

33:36

Leslie Mitchell tells us all about how we became the "Golden Bears," and it has everything to do with the sensational 1895 Track and Field team, the banner they took with them on a historic East Coast trip, Cal's first Olympian, and Professor Charles Mills Gayley. You won't want to miss it! Learn more about the podcast: https://TellTheWholeDamnWorl…

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Ep. 29 - Mike Silver, Part 2 (Sports Journalist) 31:38

4M ago31:38

31:38

Part two of our two-part interview with sports journalist Mike Silver, who may be one of the most passionate Cal fans ever born. In this episode, Mike talks about his relationship with former Cal athletes, more Big Game memories, Tiger Woods, and bobbleheads! GO BEARS!!! Learn more about the podcast: https://TellTheWholeDamnWorld.com/⁠…

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Ep. 28 - Mike Silver, Part 1 (Sports Journalist) 51:58

4M ago51:58

51:58

It's part one of our two-part interview with Mike Silver, world-renowned sports journalist and Cal fan extraordinaire. In this episode, Mike talks all about the 1982 Big Game, the fear of potentially being left out of a power conference, and Tosh Lupoi. GO BEARS!!! Learn more about the podcast: https://TellTheWholeDamnWorld.com/⁠…

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Ep. 27 - Cal History: John Galen Howard 37:53

4M ago37:53

37:53

In our weekly Cal History segment, Leslie teaches us all about John Galen Howard – the man who was principally responsible for designing the UC Berkeley campus and several of its most well-known buildings at the turn of the last century. GO BEARS!!! https://TellTheWholeDamnWorld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!

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Ep. 26 - Dr. Marsha Roberts and Kirk Tramble (Cal Alumni Association) 47:45

4M ago47:45

47:45

Ahmad and Reza sit down with the President and the Executive Director of the Cal Alumni Association, Dr. Marsha Roberts and Kirk Tramble -- and learn all about why Cal is such a special place to them both. https://TellTheWholeDamnWorld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!! #GoBears #BearTerritory #TellTheWholeDamnWorld #UCBerkeley…

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Ep. 25 - Jim Knowlton (Cal Athletic Director) 58:49

4M ago58:49

58:49

Cal Athletic Director Jim Knowlton sits down with Ahmad and Reza and talks about the challenges facing the Cal Athletic Department, fundraising success, and his special "Bear Territory" moment. And in our weekly Cal History segment, Leslie Mitchell tells us about Clarence "Nibs" Price -- the head coach who took Cal to the Rose Bowl AND the Final Fo…

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Ep. 24 - Robert Paylor (Inspirational Speaker / Former Cal Rugby Player) 1:05:48

4M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

Former Cal varsity rugby player Robert Paylor joins the show to tell Ahmad and Reza how he developed the mindset to overcome a devastating spinal injury to become a highly sought-after inspirational speaker! And in our weekly Cal History segment, Leslie Mitchell tells us all about Glenn T. Seaborg, a Golden Bear who may very well have been the most…

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Ep. 23 - Ron and Stephanie Rivera 52:13

4M ago52:13

52:13

BOOM! At long last, we're pleased to bring you our interview with Ron and Stephanie Rivera. Ron is the GM of the Cal Football program and Stephanie is on the Board of Trustees for the UC Berkeley Foundation. https://TellTheWholeDamnWorld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!

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Ep. 22 - Transfer Portal Blues and Cal History: The Axe 45:34

5M ago45:34

45:34

Ahmad and Reza discuss the recent losses to the transfer portal and in our weekly Cal History segment, Leslie Mitchell tells us all about the history of the Axe! https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!

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Cal History: First Women Noble Prize Winners at Cal 13:42

5M ago13:42

13:42

Re-posting our Cal History segment from Episode 21. The audio cut out for some reason toward the end. You can fast forward to the 10:56 mark to catch Leslie's final thoughts on Carol Greider and Elizabeth Blackburn -- the first two women associated with Cal to win a Noble Prize.

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Ep. 21 - Chelsea Spencer (Cal Softball Head Coach) 56:43

5M ago56:43

56:43

Head Coach Chelsea Spencer joins the show and talks Cal softball, her love for Cal, and shares stories of her time as a shortstop on FOUR consecutive Women's College World Series teams. And in our weekly Cal History segment, Leslie Mitchell tells us all about the first two women associated with Cal to have won a Nobel Prize! https://tellthewholedam…

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Ep. 20 - Dave Durden (Cal Swimming and Diving Head Coach) 1:17:01

5M ago1:17:01

1:17:01

Fresh off ANOTHER Top 2 finish at the NCAA Championships, Head Coach Dave Durden joins the show and shares all kinds of great stories about Cal's incredible swimming and diving programs. And Leslie Mitchell reminds the whole damn world that Oscar award winning actor Gregory Peck was a Golden Bear in our weekly Cal History segment. https://tellthewh…

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Ep. 19 - World's First Women's College Basketball Team 54:46

5M ago54:46

54:46

Leslie Mitchell highlights this episode where we go in-depth and learn all about the world's very first women's college basketball team -- and of course it was at Cal! Ahmad and Reza also talk about our big, upcoming interview with Ron and Stephanie Rivera. https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!…

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Ep. 18 - Meagan and Ernest Owusu (Cal Beach Volleyball Head Coach and Former Cal Football Player) 1:08:16

6M ago1:08:16

1:08:16

Ahmad and Reza have a GREAT time getting to know Meagan and Ernest Owusu. Meagan is the head coach of Cal's Top 10-ranked beach volleyball team and her husband Ernest played football as a defensive end under legendary coach Jeff Tedford. And in our weekly Cal History segment with Leslie Mitchell, we'll learn about the very first woman to be admitte…

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Ep. 17 - Mike Neu (Cal Baseball Head Coach) 59:27

6M ago59:27

59:27

Play ball! Mike Neu, head coach of the Cal baseball team, joins the show to share some awesome stories. And Reza and Leslie talk about the greatest two-sport athlete in Cal history, Jackie Jensen, in our weekly Cal History segment. https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!

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Ep. 16 - Peter Wright (Legendary Cal Tennis Head Coach) 1:20:49

6M ago1:20:49

1:20:49

Cal Hall of Fame men's tennis coach Peter Wright joins the show and shares his perspectives on coaching, Cal's association with the ACC, and talks about his work toward a regional plan for the Olympic sports. And in our Cal History segment, Leslie Mitchell tells us all about Ann Curtis, Cal's first Olympic swim champion. https://tellthewholedamnwor…

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Ep. 15 - Nick Kranz and Avinash Kunnath (Write For California) 1:10:31

6M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

Ahmad and Reza have a blast getting to know Nick Kranz and Avinash Kunnath from Write For California. And in our Cal History segment, Leslie Mitchell helps shine a light on the husband and wife team of Irving and Gertrude Morrow -- the architects of the Golden Gate Bridge. https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!…

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Ep. 14 - Dr. Ty-Ron Douglas (Cal Associate Athletic Director, DEIBJ) 1:08:17

6M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

Dr. Ty-Ron Douglas joins the show to tell us about the important role he serves in supporting student-athletes as the Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice at Cal. And in our Cal History segment, we learn about Walter Gordon, the first black football player at Cal who went on to accomplish an incredibl…

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Ep. 13 - Devin Cox (Cal Ice Hockey Head Coach) 1:08:44

7M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

Head coach Devin Cox joins the show to talk about the success of the Cal Ice Hockey team this season. And in our Cal History segment, we remember Archie Williams -- Cal's first African-American Olympian who won gold in the 1936 Olympics and later went on to be a flight instructor with the Tuskegee Airmen. https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEAR…

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Ep. 12 - Roxy Bernstein (Sports Broadcaster) 1:06:21

7M ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Roxy Bernstein joins the show to talk about his Cal memories, life as a sports broadcaster, and his special relationship with the late, great Bill Walton. And in our Cal History segment, we learn about Brick Morse -- the man who wrote the Cal songs Sons of California and Hail to California. https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!…

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Ep. 11 - Mya Lauzon and eMjae Frazier (Cal Gymnasts) 1:09:43

7M ago1:09:43

1:09:43

Mya Lauzon and eMjae Frazier from Cal's Top 10-ranked women's gymnastics team join the show to talk about competing as gymnasts at the highest level and their lives as student-athletes. And in our Cal History segment, we learn about Douglas Engelbart -- the man who invented the computer mouse. https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!…

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Ep. 10 - Charmin Smith (Cal Women's Basketball Head Coach) 50:53

7M ago50:53

50:53

Ahmad and Reza spend time getting to know Charmin Smith, the head coach of Cal's nationally-ranked women's basketball team. New episodes every Monday! https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!

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Ep. 9 - Jon Wheeler (Former Cal Basketball Player and Coach) 1:17:31

8M ago1:17:31

1:17:31

Ahmad and Reza sit down with former Cal basketball player - and coach - Jon Wheeler to talk about his memories at Cal and the state of the men's basketball program. New episodes every Monday! https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!

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Ep. 8 - Mike Pawlawski (Cal Hall of Fame Quarterback) 1:18:12

8M ago1:18:12

1:18:12

MIKE PAWLAWSKI! Ahmad and Reza spend time with the legendary Cal quarterback who led the football team to a No. 7 national ranking in 1991 and showed the world that Cal could be a football powerhouse. We hear some great stories from Mike about his time at Cal and learn more about his new book "Every Day Great: The Playbook For Winning At Everything…

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Ep. 7 - Ken Montgomery (Legendary Cal Mic Man) 1:01:39

8M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

Ahmad and Reza spend time with legendary Cal Mic Man, Ken Montgomery, who, in the early 1990s, inspired an entire generation of Cal fans to care more deeply about the University and its sports teams. We learn more about Ken, his non-directed kidney donation, and his generous philanthropy that has made a direct impact on many of the sports programs …

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Ep. 6 – Raymond “Circus” King (Former Cal Basketball Player) 45:18

8M ago45:18

45:18

Ahmad and Reza speak with former Cal men’s basketball player Raymond “Circus” King, a member of Cal’s last Sweet 16 team and NIT Championship team. He shares stories about his time as a student-athlete at Cal and as a professional playing basketball internationally. And we learn about how he became one of the most sought-after health and fitness co…

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Special Episode - Cal Football LA Bowl Recap 28:53

8M ago28:53

28:53

Special LA Bowl recap! Ahmad and Reza sit down with Cal Hall of Fame linebacker David Ortega to share thoughts on the LA Bowl and discuss the transfer portal. New episodes every Monday! ⁠https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/⁠ GO BEARS!!!

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Ep. 5 - Eddy Kleinhans (Cal Mic Man and Public Address Announcer) 51:21

9M ago51:21

51:21

Ahmad and Reza have a spirited discussion with former Cal Mic Man and Public Address Announcer Eddy Kleinhans! He shares some great stories about Cal's epic win over Duke in the NCAA Tournament, the football team's incredible comeback victory over Oregon in 1993, and talks about the impact of the transfer portal on fan attendance. New episodes ever…

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Ep. 4 - Calgorithm! (Admiral Bear and Callie Wake) 1:07:07

9M ago1:07:07

1:07:07

Ahmad and Reza sit down to talk with Admiral Bear and Callie Wake, two of the people at the forefront of Calgorithm! Calgorithm played a big part in bringing College GameDay to Berkeley -- and gave us the "Ott To Go" song! New episodes every Monday! https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/ GO BEARS!!!

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Ep. 3 - Dr. Nadesan Permaul (Cal Professor and Former President of the Cal Alumni Association) 44:09

9M ago44:09

44:09

Second week of December 2024. Ahmad and Reza sit down to speak with beloved Cal icon, Dr. Nadesan Permaul. And a short segment on the 60-year anniversary of the Free Speech Movement. New episodes every Monday! https://tellthewholedamnworld.com/ GO BEARS!!!