Get inspired!

You don't have to be a graduate to enjoy a commencement speech.

Fix some nachos, watch some commencement speeches.

Recently, I saw Melinda French Gates on her book tour, where she was interviewed by Hoda Kotb. Hoda told us her best tip for getting inspired: she listens to recordings of commencement addresses.

I love it! Everyone can enjoy these words of wisdom. I sure have been this week, as I have been listening to speeches to find some to recommend. Like these:

First up: Stephen Colbert at Northwestern in 2011. I graduated with Stephen Colbert, but I didn’t know him. Still, we were at the same graduation ceremony back in the day.

Next, Kermit the Frog at the University of Maryland in 2025. Kermit! These grads were way luckier than Stephen Colbert and I were.

How about Jon Batiste at Loyola University New Orleans, in 2023, talking to and performing for a hometown crowd:

The inspiration for this newsletter issue, Hoda Kotb at Tulane University in 2016:

And finally, not a graduation speech, but a damn fine speech by Professor Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon in 2007:

Do you know of any great commencement addresses? Please share in the comments:

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