Nonlinear on Purpose: Mentorship, Internships, and Finding Your Spotlight with Brian Kirn

Dec 10, 2025
45 mins

Episode Description

What do you get when you blend performer, educator, and nonprofit strategist into one career? In this episode of Synching Up, Jake sits down with Brian Kirn, a former teacher, working actor, and nonprofit leader at America On Tech, to explore how internships, access, and identity intersect.



They discuss:

  • Why early access to tech internships matters
  • How being queer and Midwestern shaped Brian’s leadership style
  • And how the performing arts prepare you for corporate life more than you’d expect


From St. Louis to NYC, from Spanish teacher to hand model (yes, really), Brian’s journey reminds us that the nonlinear path is often the most impactful.


Show Notes:

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