Roadtrip Nation

In Massachusetts, futurist Juan Enriquez posits that stagnancy is the enemy of growth, urging the team to ‘scare the hell out of themselves’ occasionally. Molecular biologist Lydia Villa-Komaroff closes out the trip, sharing the challenges of working in a male-dominated field and crediting passion as the ultimate impetus. The team reflects on all the wisdom they’ve received before parting ways.

In a talk with Scientific American’s Editor-in-Chief Mariette DiChristina, the team is advised to integrate their passions into their work, even if they face criticism from others. Later, they meet Vicki Smith, a game designer at Vicarious Visions. A former engineer, Vicki applies the know-how from her previous her career to her current work and advocates cultivating multi-disciplinary skills.

In New York, the team learns the importance of keeping a flexible mindset when they meet Radiolab radio host Jad Abumrad. Recounting his failed attempts at other careers, Jad notes that he never entertained radio as a career, but has found it to be a surprisingly satisfying assimilation of his interests. He emphasizes that things don’t always turn out as planned, but might end up even better.

In Chicago, the team speaks with Zach Kaplan, CEO and Co-founder of Inventables, a company that connects small developers with novel materials like 3D printers. Zach recalls the many rejections he’s been dealt over the years, and urges the road-trippers to have grit in their endeavors. Next, the team learns to face fear and embrace reward as they embark on a skydive with instructor Ward Hessig.

At Texas Instruments, the team meets Process Integration Engineer Byron Williams who shares his struggle with self-doubt. Later at the ATT Foundry, Senior Marketing Manager Tracey Parrish describes her career switch from engineering. The team finishes up at the National Space Biomedical Research Facility where Deputy Chief Scientist Dorit Donoviel relays the courage it took to change fields.

At the Jelly Belly factory, the team meets Elise Benstein, a food scientist who develops flavors. Having never imagined she’d be making vomit-flavored candy, she encourages the team to embrace the unplanned. Later, nuclear engineer Deon Clark discusses his escape from childhood poverty and violence. Finally, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Salopek stresses the importance of serendipity.

In LA, the team meets Valerie Weiss, a film director who got a PhD in biophysics so she could confirm whether she really wanted to pursue science or film. Next, Delfina Eberly, Facebook’s Director of Data Center Operations, describes how she’s managed to defy tech stereotypes. Later, a zip-line tour at the Mount Hermon Outdoor Science School led by Suzy Clark teaches the team it’s OK to be lost.

United by a mission to figure out their paths, a team of 20-somethings embarks on a cross-country journey to interview professionals in innovative fields who can provide insight on finding a fulfilling career. Climbing aboard their home-on-wheels, the crew heads to interview Dr. Graeme Rae, Chief Scientist for Surfline.com, who discusses leaving the world of academia to help surfers score waves.