Humbitious: The Many Lives of Willie Thompson

In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) interviews Willie Thompson ('22 cohort), one of the original creators of Imagine a World, and a person whose presence will be deeply missed within the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community. Throughout the episode, he reflects on what it means to be in community with others and how that has looked for him from where he grew up to his time as a husband and father at Stanford as part of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars community.

Don't miss: A surprise visit by another person who played a pivotal role in the creation of the Imagine a World podcast: Taylor Goss ('21 cohort).

Highlights from the episode:

(02:46) Imagine a World/Denning House-style guessing game

(05:54) Surprise visit from Taylor Goss

(07:18) Growing up in the Deep South, going to Morehouse College, spending a year in Taiwan as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, spending a year in Beijing as a Schwarzman Scholar, and working at The Bridgespan Group

(11:29) Things Willie liked to do in his communities growing up and the inspiration behind his interest in education

(15:51) Wanting to start a school

(19:49) His experiences in high school leading up to Morehouse and how he was able to form a tight-knit community with his peers at Morehouse

(29:25) Deciding to apply to Fulbright and Schwarzman

(33:55) Elaborating on his Imagine a World statement

(41:48) Being in the Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars community and being in community as a father, husband, and a Knight-Hennessy Scholar

(47:19) Value of mixing fields and programs while at Stanford

(54:44) Improbable facts, five favorite albums of all time, and Willie's walk-on song