Episode Details

Episode Topic: Fr. Ted Said: Cultivating Hope

In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit to blossom. Come hear this calling echo in powerful, personal stories from Notre Dame alumni and faculty who are living examples of what it means to cultivate hope—just like Fr. Ted.

Featured Speakers:

• Dolly Duffy '84, Executive Director, Notre Dame Alumni Association, University of Notre Dame
• Michael Schreffler, Art History Professor, Director of the Notre Dame Arts Initiative, Associate Dean for the Arts, College of Arts and Letters, University of Notre Dame
• Mike Brown '01, Former Notre Dame Leprechaun, Speaker, Author, Founder of Soulstir
• Glynnis Garry Bann, M.D. '11, Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator, Departments of Internal Medicine and Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Jennifer Burke Lefever '98 M.A., '00 Ph.D., Managing Director, Wilma and Peter Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, University of Notre Dame
• Rev. Pete McCormick, C.S.C., '06 M.Div., '15 MBA, Assistant Vice President of Campus Ministry, University of Notre Dame
• J. Martin (Marty) Regan, Jr. '76, Senior Staff Attorney, City of Memphis, Lewis Thomason

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled Reunion 2026.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

• Learn more about ThinkND and register for upcoming live events at think.nd.edu.
• Join our LinkedIn community for updates, episode clips, and more.