This Is Purdue

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Haley Larsen (PhD English ’21), story lead of marketing and measurement at Pinterest.

As a storytelling expert and creative strategist for a global visual engine and social media platform, Haley’s helping us dive into the fun, trending world of tactile hobbies — from knitting and pottery to mahjong and so much more!

Haley is also a proud Purdue alumna with a background in English literature and culture. She’ll unpack the factors behind the recent hobby revival — fueled by Gen Z — and how Pinterest is meeting this moment.

In this episode, you will:

Learn more about how a pushback against hustle culture, a desire for connection and joy, and nostalgia for a prephone world are driving Gen Z’s interest in grandma-and-grandpa-core hobbies like crochet, scrapbooking and bird-watching.

Hear more about Pinterest’s unique position as a major social platform that not only offers its users the ability to collect and curate visual inspiration but also encourages them to get offline to pursue their hobbies.

Discover more about Haley’s favorite offline hobbies, including pottery, and how they’re pushing her outside of her creativity comfort zone and helping her find community.

Get insights into the paradox of online hobby trends, including how this points to a broader human pattern and why engaging with online communities can help you develop your offline hobbies.

Find out more about how slow, manual hobbies can improve your well-being and why the “friction” that comes with process-based activities is vital for self-reflection and self-development.

Tune in for key takeaways from Pinterest’s Hobbies Trend Report, and how the platform’s rich search data predicts top hobby trends for the year, including “Kitchen Witch,” “Home Cafe Engineering” and “Handmade Hacker.”

Learn more about Haley’s role and day to day as a story lead at Pinterest and how her Purdue liberal arts training set her up for career success with meaningful and measurable skills.

You don’t want to miss this episode with a Boilermaker and creative who’s helping to inspire hobby enthusiasts across the world!
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In the final episode of “Finding Amelia,” we’re talking to Steve Schultz, Purdue University’s senior vice president and general counsel. As a field assistant on the search expedition to identify Amelia Earhart’s missing plane, Steve might play a role in solving one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century.

He dives into the new evidence that sparked the Purdue Research Foundation and Archaeological Legacy Institute’s joint effort to search for Amelia’s plane and exclusive details about the upcoming journey to Nikumaroro, an island in the western Pacific Ocean. From encountering coconut crabs to using machetes to cut through the jungle, the team will have to brave rough terrain on this expedition.

You don’t want to miss the fourth and final episode of the miniseries “Finding Amelia,” where we discuss Purdue’s persistent pursuit of answers to one of the world’s greatest mysteries.
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In the third episode of “Finding Amelia,” we’re talking to Katey Watson, the France A. Córdova Archivist of Purdue Archives and Special Collections.

Katey manages Purdue Libraries’ Amelia Earhart Collection and is sharing the personal items Amelia left behind – including her iconic aviator goggles, leather flight helmet and brown suede jacket.

Katey also tells the story of why Amelia’s husband, George Palmer Putnam, along with his granddaughter Sally Putnam Chapman, chose to donate these significant historical items to Purdue University after the legendary Boilermaker’s disappearance.
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In the second episode of “Finding Amelia,” we’re talking to Chad Pittman, president and CEO of the Purdue Research Foundation. He shares the story behind Amelia Earhart’s famed Purdue-funded Lockheed Electra 10-E airplane and how she planned to return it to West Lafayette once her around-the-world flight was complete.

Don’t miss the second episode of this first-of-its-kind “This Is Purdue” series about this world-famous Boilermaker and legendary aviator.
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On what would’ve been Amelia Earhart’s 129th birthday — July 24, 2026 — the Purdue Research Foundation and the Archaeological Legacy Institute announced a renewed joint effort to identify Amelia Earhart’s missing university-sponsored plane. Ahead of this search expedition, “This Is Purdue” is taking you inside one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century with our special miniseries “Finding Amelia.”

In the first episode of “Finding Amelia,” we’re talking to Kelly Hiller, Purdue’s chief marketing officer. During her 20 years at Purdue, Kelly has led several marketing campaigns inspired by Amelia’s persistence, expanding her commitment to celebrate female trailblazers.

She discusses the famous aviator’s journey to Purdue as an advisor within the Department of Aeronautics and her life before becoming a household name. Plus, we dive into the parts of her life and career that make Amelia one of the most iconic figures in history.
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