ABOUT
The Story Behind the Mic
As a mental health clinician and CEO of a leadership development organization, The Collective Academy, Emily is lucky enough to spend her days getting to know others, and believes we can learn something from everyone. And she gets to meet even more people through this podcast! What a dream!
It's easy to get trapped in the echo chamber of our preferences. Who’s Missing? aims to remind us that a diversity of voices and opinions is key, and that when we lead with curiosity, we can learn from unexpected sources. Join us as we explore a wide variety of topics with people from all walks of life: From National Book Award winners and Emmy-nominated film directors to dairy farmers, fashion designers, and pastry chefs. Tune in every Tuesday!
Meet the Who’s Missing? Team!
Emily Drake
Host
Before you know it, Emily has you feeling like you can do anything. Some say it’s because she’s a licensed mental health counselor, but it’s really just who she is. Her questions lead you to believe in possibilities, including those that lie within yourself and your community. Emily is a daily reader of Block Club Chicago, and follower of experts like Priya Parker, Cal Newport, and Brené Brown. She has a BA from Augustana College and an MA from Northeastern Illinois University.
Katie O’Malley
Co-Host “Ask Us Anything”
Coaching authentic career paths is Katie’s passion. She founded (en)Courage Coaching in 2018 to foster and create courageous workplace cultures. This vision has inspired change for more than 125 clients from coast to coast and in the United Kingdom. Katie joins Emily Drake every month as co-host of our “Ask Us Anything” series. She’s proudly taught leadership to MBA and graduate students at Chicago Booth, The University of Texas at Austin, and DePaul University.
Todd Manley
Producer & Editor
There's pure magic in the sound of the human voice, and that's what drives Todd's work. His sonic adventures include radio dramas, documentaries, innovative news capsules, and the music series Backstage @ Bonnaroo. In 2019, Todd launched EarSight Studios to create unique audio experiences for navigating change. He loves hiking, biking, and caving. Todd's a proud SIU Saluki, with a B.S. in Mass Comm & Media Arts. pacer Text Spacer Text Spacer Text Spacer Text
Lexi Dripps
Social Media Designer
As the Social Media Designer, Lexi loves making beautiful art and design bite sized. She is a lifelong doodler and hasn’t stopped since her first 64 box of crayons. Some of your favorite podcasts might just feature her graphic work. Originally from Pittsburgh, she has a BA in English from Robert Morris University and studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory in NYC.
Christine Vrem-Ydstie
Associate Producer
As Associate Producer, Christine mostly sits back and watches in awe as Emily and Christina do the damn thing. She also consults on rough cuts, design elements, and music. Christine is the Head of Client Services at The Collective Academy, and she’s an actor and filmmaker. She has a BA from Barnard College and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and cute little baby boy.
Juan Pieczanski
Composer
Juan is a lifelong guitarist and bass player, and has been touring and producing music professionally for over 15 years. He recorded many records with his band Small Black, who helped define the diy synthpop sound that emerged in Brooklyn. Throughout the years, Juan has been collecting vintage and modern recording gear and instruments, as well as collaborating with an array of artists on writing, production and mixing. He works mostly out of his project studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn.