Our podcast episodes will give you inspirational stories from ATO alumni, interviews with experts, and real stories from undergraduates.
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26 recent
April 13, 202644 min
Polling, Politics, and the Power of Fraternity with Brad Todd
CNN political commentator and Washington D.C. polling firm founder Brad Todd joins host Wynn Smiley for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, politics, and the lasting value of fraternity membership.Todd shares how his time as ATO chapter president at Rhodes College unknowingly prepared him to run political campaigns and build a successful small business — from managing tight budgets and motivating people toward a common goal.Drawing on his firm On Message's multi-year polling of college students, Todd breaks down surprising findings: why fraternity men skew more conservative than their peers, how freshmen start out trusting campus administrators only to grow disillusioned by senior year, and why Greek-affiliated students vote at significantly higher rates than unaffiliated peers.The conversation also tackles the growing political gender gap on college campuses, the anti-establishment wave reshaping both political parties, and what Todd's experience as a CNN commentator has taught him about media, algorithms, and a nation that may be less divided than social media suggests.Todd closes with a passionate case for why joining a fraternity remains one of the most important decisions a young man can make.
January 5, 202632 min
How Loss Inspired Life-Changing Support for NICU Families with Thomas Reives
Thomas Reives (Rose-Hulman ’05) and his wife, Shecara, turned their loss and family tragedy into support for others. In 2017, Thomas and Shecara lost their son Rook after a premature birth and NICU stay. Their surviving twin, Carmine, spent 165 days in the NICU and continues to thrive with ongoing therapies. Because of this difficult experience, the Reives family created Rook’s Books, a collection of children’s books and family resources designed to support families navigating NICU life, tracheostomy decisions, and diagnoses such as Down syndrome. Many of the books are donated to hospitals, including Riley, Eskenazi, and St. Vincent. Their nonprofit, Rook’s Resources, serves families through meals, support, and community outreach.Thomas also shares the story of Carmine’s Convoy, a multi-day walk organized by his ATO chapter at Rose-Hulman that raised $42,000 to support families in need.Visit https://www.rooksbooks.org/ to find out more about or to support Rook's Books and Rook's resources.
November 24, 202529 min
Shaping Leaders: How Men of Destiny Transforms ATO Members
Host Wynn Smiley welcomes Dave Rodriguez, longtime pastor, leadership coach, and architect of Alpha Tau Omega’s Men of Destiny program. Recognizing the challenges facing boys and young men, they explore how ATO’s heritage and its “eternal and immutable principles” uniquely position the fraternity to foster identity, purpose, and growth.Rodriguez explains how Men of Destiny began, created to help undergraduate men wrestle with core questions such as why they are here and what their purpose is. Through workshops and conferences, he has guided thousands of ATO members in discovering their personal calling. Many have experienced gratitude, deep reflection, and even transformative emotion. He shares stories of students whose sense of purpose shifted from material success to legacy-driven motivations, including one inspired by his grandmother’s sacrifice and another who wanted his work as an architect to help create loving homes like the one he grew up in.Smiley and Rodriguez highlight what makes Men of Destiny different from other development programs, noting its rare impact on men of every age. Rodriguez says that even corporate leaders, athletes, and retirees respond with the same appreciation and introspection when they discover their calling, which he describes as the oldest and most essential part of themselves.They also discuss ATO’s Encounter program, designed for members who want to explore faith regardless of background. Rodriguez affirms the value of addressing spirituality as part of whole-person development, noting that Encounter focuses on identity and relationship with God in a welcoming, experiential setting. Smiley observes that even those with little church experience find Encounter authentic and free of pressure.Rodriguez describes the power of reframing biblical themes, such as the prodigal son, in ways that emphasize acceptance rather than shame. Many attendees find this deeply relieving and hopeful. He notes that fraternity life plays a significant role in shaping identity, especially at a time when questions about masculinity and self-worth feel more urgent than ever.Looking ahead, Rodriguez hopes ATO will continue guiding young men beyond college, helping them build purpose, leadership, and transformation. Smiley agrees, noting that ATO’s creed and ritual are more relevant than ever for young men seeking meaning. The episode closes with Rodriguez’s gratitude for being welcomed into the ATO brotherhood and his continued commitment to helping members grow in understanding, love, and respect.
September 30, 2025Episode 414 min
Brotherhood and Leadership: Kevin Petschow and Cadis Ammons Honored
Host Wynn Smiley opens the episode from Orlando, summarizing Alpha Tau Omega’s 2025 National Awards Celebration. Along with ATO National President Jeff Miles, Smiley introduces the speeches from two honorees: National President’s Award recipient Kevin Petschow and Thomas Arkle Clark Award winner Cadis Ammons.Miles details Petschow’s long involvement with ATO, beginning as an undergraduate at Culver Stockton and Illinois State, and continuing through decades of volunteer service, advising multiple chapters, and supporting the foundation. In his speech, Petchow shares how being an only child led him to look for brotherhood, which he found in ATO. He expresses gratitude for those he has worked with and pledges to continue supporting the chapters he advises.Miles then introduces Ammons, who recently graduated at the top of his class in mechanical engineering, led recruitment for his chapter, and contributed to raising significant funds for charity. In his remarks, Ammons talks about his initial skepticism toward fraternities and how ATO changed his perspective, offering genuine friendships and opportunities for service. He describes how volunteering and faith-based activities were critical to his growth, and thanks mentors, family, and fraternity brothers for their support.Throughout the episode, both Petschow and Ammons emphasize how ATO gave them community, leadership experience, and meaningful ways to give back. Their stories highlight the fraternity’s commitment to service, leadership, and personal development.
August 20, 2025Episode 339 min
Beating the Odds: Nick Ackerman’s Wild Ride to a National Title and Beyond
Host Wynn Smiley welcomes Nick Ackerman, a Simpson College alum, national wrestling champion, and the only Division III athlete to ever receive the Hodge Trophy, wrestling’s equivalent to the Heisman. At 18 months old, Nick lost both legs to meningitis, but rather than letting that define him, he was raised by “unsympathetic” parents who set high expectations and helped him develop a resilient spirit.Nick and Wynn discuss how his family’s competitive nature and his small-town upbringing shaped his drive and openness to challenges. Nick credits his parents with treating him just like any other kid, pushing him to excel, and his community for their support and inclusion.Despite struggling early in wrestling, Nick found his stride in high school and went on to achieve national success in college, thanks to relentless hard work and the support of close mentors and teammates. He shares insights into how he overcame setbacks and built self-belief, famously motivating himself to become a national champion.After winning the national championship, Nick’s story gained national attention, leading him to connect with others who faced limb loss. This inspired his career in prosthetics, where he now helps others adapt both physically and mentally. He reflects on the similarities and differences in the rehab journeys of his patients and the importance of offering authentic, sometimes tough, support over empty pity.Nick also touches on the transformative impact of diverse backgrounds in group settings, including his fraternity experience with ATO, and the importance of working hard, believing in yourself, and surrounding yourself with good people.The episode closes with a heartfelt tribute to fellow ATO brother Jay Byers and a reminder of the lasting bonds and support found in the fraternity community.This conversation is a powerful blend of resilience, humility, and insight—all rooted in Nick’s lived experience and lifelong commitment to helping others.
June 26, 2025Episode 235 min
Dusty Harrison's Journey to Faith in Fraternity
Dusty Harrison joined Alpha Tau Omega at the University of North Carolina, where his fraternity experience became a turning point in his life. Dusty spent his first years in college partying until he hit rock bottom and instead focused his energy on his faith. That journey led him not only to lead a Bible study within his chapter but ultimately into full-time ministry through Greek InterVarsity, where he has spent nearly 20 years mentoring fraternity and sorority members.Dusty has also spent 20 years as the Clemson chapter advisor.
May 19, 2025Episode 123 min
From Entrepreneur to Member of Singapore National Hockey Team - Kodi Kodrowski's Story
James “Kodi” Kodrowski (Alabama-Huntsville ’01) is an entrepreneur, and at 45, plays professional hockey for the Singapore National Team. After starting in the oil and gas industry, Kodi built a life in Singapore, where he now runs a financial services firm. He was vital in the formation of the team in Singapore and is the current president of the Singapore Ice Hockey Association (SIHA). Kodi is also representing Singapore in the 2025 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship happening in Querétaro, Mexico, from April 27 – May 3, 2025. He joined The ATO Show from the ice rink for his interview. Kodi grew up in New Jersey and started playing hockey on a frozen pond behind his house with cousins and friends. He played junior A hockey in Montana before walking on to the Division I team at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, where he studied engineering. Though Kodi didn’t arrive at college with any knowledge of fraternities, he found himself drawn to the people in ATO. They were academically serious, involved in community outreach, and committed to athletics—qualities that aligned with Kodi’s values. He attended leadership conferences and met fellow members. After graduation, Kodi accepted a role with an international oil company because of one pitch: “We’ll pay to fly you around the world.” Eventually, he settled in Singapore after meeting his now-wife. There, he transitioned out of the oil industry and into entrepreneurship, starting in restaurants (a nod to his mother’s dream of owning one), and later building a financial services company, Right Choice Capital Group.Today, Right Choice operates in Singapore and the Philippines, providing business loans to small and mid-sized enterprises. The company has grown into a group with a technology arm and a stake in a small bank. Kodi is also deeply engaged in advocacy work through his businesses, promoting financial literacy, healthy lifestyles, and support for underprivileged families.Kodi was instrumental in forming the Singapore National Hockey team. He began by playing casually in Singapore and volunteering to help run the local hockey association. Eventually, he took an active role in helping the association gain local recognition from Singapore’s sports authority. After local recognition, Kodi led the process of applying for and securing membership with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). This membership was necessary for Singapore to compete in international tournaments and officially field national teams. Once recognition was in place, Kodi helped create the men’s national team. He coached the team for the first few years, and in 2016, when he was granted citizenship in Singapore, he was invited to return to the team as a player. He had to lose 20 pounds to keep up with his teammates who are half his age.
November 6, 2024Episode 1823 min
From the Archives: ATO Astronauts, Adventurers, and More
In this episode of The ATO Show we explore the fascinating history of ATO brothers who have made significant contributions as explorers. We hear stories from the archives about alumni who have achieved greatness on land, in the air, and in space.
The episode highlights Dr. Lewis Sims Jr., who flew an ATO flag over Antarctica during a 1940 expedition, inspired by early aviation pioneer and fellow ATO member Ben Eielson. Eielson's achievements in polar aviation are discussed, including his record-setting transpolar flights.
The conversation then turns to five ATO brothers who became NASA astronauts. Notable figures like Charles Duke, the 10th man to walk on the moon, and David Wolf, who spent significant time on the International Space Station, are celebrated for their contributions to space exploration.
October 23, 2024Episode 1731 min
Geocities Founder David Bohnett Shares His ATO Story
Hear from tech pioneer and philanthropist David Bohnett discuss the transformative impact of technology on organizations and society. David, co-founder of the groundbreaking early web platform Geocities, shares his journey from a Business and Computer Science major at USC to selling Geocities to Yahoo for a staggering $3.5 billion in 1999.
Plus we tackle the role of social media in voter education and registration and where AI fits in to the current technology landscape and the broader impact it can have on ATOs.
October 2, 2024Episode 1642 min
How A Purpose Driven Business Generates $25 Million Annually
Wynn Smiley sits down with the trailblazing social entrepreneur, Sean Seipler in this episode of The ATO Show.
As the founder of Clean the World, Sean shares his incredible journey from noticing wasted soap in hotels to spearheading a global movement that recycles soap and distributes hygiene products to those in need. Discover how a simple idea evolved into a hybrid organization, generating $25 million annually and collaborating with 9,000 hotels worldwide.
Sean unveils the trials and triumphs of starting Clean the World amid the 2009 economic downturn, including personal sacrifices and early financial challenges. He recounts a pivotal trip to Haiti and the profound impact it had on his commitment to combating hygiene-related child mortality. From media breakthroughs to strategic partnerships, Sean explains how Clean the World expanded its reach and scaled operations.
Listeners will learn about innovative programs that empower local economies, refugee assistance initiatives, and cutting-edge plastic recycling efforts. Sean also touches on the psychological benefits of service and the growing significance of social entrepreneurship in today’s world. Tune in to explore how purpose-driven business models can effectuate lasting change and the vital role of supportive networks in achieving social impact.
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