The Tuck Shop Podcast

Episode 99: Finals Week 2026

It's finals week here at the best campus in the universe!  That means David and Matt have their traditional end of term chat.  We discover a class David may have to repeat and we learn that Matt can't remember many stories from his finals weeks.  We also talk about the Hall of Fame event from last weekend, preview the upcoming event in Pittsburgh, and get ready for graduation.  
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.edu
Vote in the Alumni Elections (lots of Tuck Shop guests on the list!) by Friday: https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8GSbZnTrYGZCZbo?fbclid=IwY2xjawRdkRxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExSTNvRjlQRWZ1M296Wk45c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHv8bo2Azv8vq_SLw14N7dufuHOKsySaFczn5vhTEGuBpfL6Kh0fBgno31Eds_aem_vBDYrK7wDXBM7Y1C-FHWPQ
Alumni Golf Registration:  www.upj.pitt.edu/alumnigolf 

Episode 98: The 2026 Spring Student Teacher Showcase!

The show travels across the Krebs parking lot to the Murtha Center and the 2026 UPJ Education Division Spring Student Teacher Showcase.  We talk to the student teachers who are just days away from graduation and talk about everything from math to AI in the classroom and everything in between.
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.edu
Register for Pub Night in Pittsburgh by Friday the 24th at: https://tinyurl.com/27d2ez6y
 

Episode 97: The Password is Password - Featuring Don Freeburn

The guys are all over the place in this one.  Can David's Ford SUV set a record at the racetrack?  Will he ever find out what his password is?  Will Matt survive back to back conferences?  The Titanic sank?  And we revisit, with all the news about Artemis, our interview with Don Freeburn who worked on the original Apollo Program! 
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.ed
Register for the Hall of Fame: https://www4.upj.pitt.edu/pub/HallOfFameBanquet
 
24 credits at UPJ? Vote in the Alumni Election here: https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8GSbZnTrYGZCZbo?fbclid=IwY2xjawRLLQZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFtZUdTWXF0b0tRcGJJTkVSc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHoKZscxljIVO_Z_SJL-zRNQhoml-4vplhoQCEQEJ0wd5l1vAPbaU3t_aJjfv_aem_rgOz90xhnD2JMVHqAT4J0g
 
 

Episode 96: Jellybeans featuring Alissa Mincek

Matt and David, as usual, run through the calendar of events, discuss why Matt clearly has the superior taste in Jelly Beans, and then welcome Alissa Mincek to discuss her time here at UPJ and her experiences as a nationally recognized volleyball player.
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.ed
Learn more about the Path Forward Anti-Human Trafficking Conference at: www.pathforwardconference.com
 
Register for the Hall of Fame: https://www4.upj.pitt.edu/pub/HallOfFameBanquet
 
Save your spot for the ASCE Mid Atlantic Student Symposium alumni mixer:
https://forms.gle/Dca9q2ti2shotDC49
for the full symposium schedule:
https://www.asce.org/.../events/meetings/student-symposium
 

Episode 95: We're a Penn State Podcast Now...

Matt and David are back on April's Fool's Day.  Hear Matt's disappointment in realtime as he figured out a great April Fool's Day episode idea that has been missed.  Then the guys talk about all the upcoming events in April.  Finally, they welcome Wendy Smith who is both an alumni of UPJ's Respiratory Care Program and now teaches in the department!
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.edu
Learn more about the Path Forward Anti-Human Trafficking Conference at: www.pathforwardconference.com
For information on the Engineering, Pittsburgh, and Marketing events, check out the Alumni Social Media on Facebook and LinkedIn.  

Episode 94: Have you seen this lobster? Featuring Mark Bursic

Buckle up for this week everyone, because we have a great one for you.  Matt and David go over the calendar of events as usual then we get into our interview with Mark Bursic.  We talk about his hunt for a potential historical effort from his time with the Advocate, we discuss some interesting information about Artificial Intelligence, and we learn why Mark needed to punch David in the 1980's!  
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.edu
Register for the Natural Science Event: https://www4.upj.pitt.edu/alumni/naturalsciencesreunion2026
Register for the Hall of Fame: https://www4.upj.pitt.edu/pub/HallOfFameBanquet
 

Episode 93: The UPJ Army Navy Baseball Game - Featuring Dr. Ed Hartle

Matt and David welcome Dr. Ed Hartle to the show.  After discussing upcoming events, they chat with Ed about his time here at UPJ, his time in the Army, his time back at UPJ, and a bunch of other things.  The guys also provide a medical consult.
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.edu
 

Episode 92: May the Quartz be with you! - Featuring Dr. Ryan Kerrigan

Matt and David dive right into a weather based conspiracy David has plus a boat load of events for the next month or two!  Then Matt is joined by Dr. Ryan Kerrigan who talks about the educational trip the Geology Club takes over spring break!
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.edu
 

Episode 91: This guy's a shooter - Featuring Rich Ragan

Matt and David are back for another week.  Matt's a Doctor now, so David gives him a hard time about that before discussing some upcoming events.  Then the guys welcome UPJ Basketball legend Rich Ragan to the show.  They discuss basketball, UPJ, business and life all at the same time!  
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.edu 

Episode 90 - Privately laughing to himself...

Matt and David recover from Pitt Day of Giving by listing all the awesome upcoming events for this spring!  Make sure you have your calendars ready!  Then we revisit Professor's Skip Glenn's class working on an amazing project at the Johnstown Galleria Mall as more progress is reached on that project.  
Contact Matt at: msernell@pitt.edu
Contact David at: dgj7@pitt.edu