Cut Pathways, a podcast developed by the Oral History Program at Carnegie Mellon University, showcases different pathways students and faculty take to navigate their experiences in higher education. This podcast draws on the Oral History Program’s growing archive of oral histories to take an honest look at higher education, exploring themes of culture, equality, and access to education, as well as catalytic points of personal growth, technological innovation, and creative development.
Introductions presents recollections of Pittsburgh in the 20th century and two stories–Julia Parsons’ experiences as a code-breaker during WWII and Dan Meloro’s path to founding the CMU Activities Board.
S1E1: First Impressions of Pittsburgh
In our first episode, interviewees discuss their first impressions of Pittsburgh, beginning with Anita Newell in the 1940s and ending with Joe Trotter in the 1980s. Sherri Nichols remembers the zig zag nature of the city layout, and many interviewees remember the pollution in vivid detail.
S1E2: Origin Story: The Activities Board
A fun story of how Dan Meloro found direction in his undergrad years by founding Carnegie Mellon University's Activities Board.
S1E3: Julia Parsons, the Codebreaker
In the closing episode of our first season, Julia Parsons discusses how after graduating from Carnegie Institute of Technology, she went on to break secret German submarine codes during World War II.