New series kicks off with bold conversations, a special Star Wars Day premiere, and a mission to inspire impact.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NRJ Media Group, a storytelling-driven media company rooted in purpose and innovation, will debut the “Energis Podcast” on May 4th with a two-part interview featuring Pablo Hidalgo, creative executive at Lucasfilm and one of the leading voices behind the “Star Wars” galaxy.

Hosted by award-winning entertainment executive Norma Garcia and tech entrepreneur and nonprofit advocate Rich J. Reid, Energis Podcast is a platform for bold, values-driven conversations with changemakers from across industries.

“Energis Podcast is a space where real stories meet real purpose,” said co-host Norma Garcia, CEO and Co-Founder of NRJ Media Group. “We sit down with pioneers—entrepreneurs, athletes, creatives—to uncover not just how they made it, but the deeper mindset shifts and values that fuel their journey. Launching with Pablo Hidalgo is especially meaningful for me, given my ‘Star Wars’ roots. This series is about legacy, resilience, and impact.”

Rich J. Reid, COO and Co-Founder of NRJ Media Group, added, “Energis Podcast is more than just a show—it’s a platform for transformation. Our guests challenge the status quo and model what it means to lead with purpose in today’s world. We highlight the ways they’re sparking change—whether through innovation, mentorship, or social impact—and invite listeners to take action. Every episode is a call to rethink what success looks like and how we each contribute to something bigger.”

The premiere coincides with “Star Wars” Day and celebrates a new initiative between NRJ Media Group and Lucasfilm to help promote a series of historical documentaries originally produced by the latter company in 2007. The half-hour films covering a wide variety of topics have been re-released on Lucasfilm’s YouTube channel, with direct links now available on the NRJ Media Group website. Series producer and veteran television journalist David Schneider will appear in an upcoming Energis Podcast episode.

Following Hidalgo’s episode, upcoming guests include:

Ricky Blair – Entrepreneur and mentor known for empowering the next generation of founders and business leadersShelton Benjamin – Former WWE Superstar and elite athlete with a story of discipline, longevity, and reinventionKwame Patterson – Acclaimed actor (“The Wire”, “Snowfall”) sharing his journey through transformation and perseveranceDavid Schneider – Series producer of Lucasfilm’s historical documentaries, shining a light on a lesser-known George Lucas project and a lifetime of storytelling.
…and more.

New episodes launch every Tuesday and run approximately one hour. Energis Podcast will be available on major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Future guests include Paul Farberman, a renowned voice in entertainment law and deal-making, and JB Kaufman, Didier Ghez, and Ted Thomas, celebrated historians and authors of “Walt Disney & El Grupo in Latin America” — with additional surprise guests to be announced.

From legacy-building to bold reinvention, Energis Podcast invites listeners to engage with stories that move, challenge, and activate.

Please follow us on: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn. 

About NRJ Media Group (www.nrjmediagroup.com)
NRJ Media Group is a multimedia entertainment company rooted in storytelling, purpose, and innovation. As a bridge between entertainment and technology, NRJ develops and produces films, television, and podcasts that elevate voices and amplify impact. With a deep commitment to community and collaboration, NRJ Media Group brings together bold ideas, emerging technologies, and diverse talent to create meaningful content that inspires and empowers audiences worldwide.

Media Contact: press@nrjmediagroup.com

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SOURCE NRJ Media Group

Up to 12 three-year fellowships will be awarded to support early-career scientists working on projects with high potential for real-world impact

SEATTLE, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Washington Research Foundation (WRF) is currently accepting applications for up to 12 three-year WRF Postdoctoral Fellowships at nonprofit research institutions in Washington state. Fellowships will begin in 2026 and support early-career scientists in carrying out projects with high potential for real-world impact in natural sciences and related engineering fields.

WRF has awarded 90 fellowships since starting the program in 2018, with Fellows receiving salary, benefits and expenses support while conducting research projects of their own design. Fellows participate in networking and professional development events, along with an annual symposium at which they present their work and learn from their WRF-funded peers.

The Foundation’s ultimate goal for the program is for the Fellows’ research to benefit the public through enabling innovative discoveries that eventually lead to the creation of new products, services or practices.

Clarisse Benson, WRF’s manager of student and postdoctoral programs, said, “As funding for early-career scientists becomes increasingly difficult to secure, the WRF Postdoctoral Fellowships play a crucial role in supporting bold, independent research here in Washington state. We’re proud to invest in emerging scientists whose ideas have the potential to create real, lasting impact.”

Melanie Anderson began her WRF Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Washington in 2023. In Professor Jeff Riffell’s lab in the Department of Biology, Anderson is developing biological sensors from Manduca sexta hawkmoth antennae that integrate with robotic platforms such as drones. The technology has enormous potential for situations that are inaccessible or hazardous to humans, including search and rescue missions and detection of toxic chemicals.

“The WRF Postdoctoral Fellowship has been instrumental in advancing my translational research, helping bring innovative biohybrid technologies from the lab closer to real-world application. I’m deeply grateful to the WRF staff and community for their unwavering support throughout my research journey,” Anderson said.

Holders of a doctorate in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field are eligible to apply, as are Ph.D. candidates who will complete their program in time to begin the fellowship on January, April, July or October 1, 2026.

Applications and letters of recommendation are due by June 26, 2025. Fellows will be chosen by a national selection committee from academia and industry with diverse backgrounds and expertise across multiple scientific fields.

Further details on eligibility and the application process are available at https://www.wrfseattle.org/grants/wrf-postdoctoral-fellowships/.

About Washington Research Foundation:

Washington Research Foundation (WRF) supports research and scholarship in Washington state, with a focus on life sciences and enabling technologies.

WRF was founded in 1981 to assist universities and other nonprofit research institutions in Washington with the commercialization and licensing of their technologies. WRF became one of the foremost technology transfer organizations in the nation, earning more than $445 million in licensing revenue for the University of Washington. To date, WRF has provided over $170 million in grants to the state’s research institutions.

WRF Capital, the investment vehicle for Washington Research Foundation, has backed 132 local startups since 1996. Returns support the Foundation’s grantmaking and investment programs.

For additional information, please visit wrfseattle.org.

Media contact:

Dale Wadman
Email: dale@wrfseattle.org
Phone: (206) 336-5600

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SOURCE WASHINGTON RESEARCH FOUNDATION

The addition of Tom Pelegrin to Pager Health’s executive leadership team helps propel the company’s revenue expansion, growth and development.

NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pager Health SM, a connected health platform company serving more than 26 million members, today announced that Tom Pelegrin, a seasoned healthcare executive with a proven track record of delivering multimillion-dollar revenue increases, has joined Pager Health as Chief Growth Officer. Pelegrin is charged with leading the company’s revenue expansion, growth strategies, business development and commercialization activities.

Pelegrin brings deep expertise in scaling healthcare technology solutions across the payer market and developing highly effective growth strategies that achieve market penetration. Before joining Pager Health, Pelegrin served as Chief Revenue Officer at Convey Health Solutions, where he built and led the company’s sales and marketing organization, driving significant top-line growth that resulted in Convey becoming a market leader in Medicare Advantage tech-enabled services. Pelegrin also served as head of payer sales at BenefitFocus, which he helped build into a market leader in software solutions for healthcare and benefits administration, contributing to the company’s successful IPO. 

“This position is critical as we move into our next phase of expansion, and Tom’s remarkable achievements as an agent of accelerated revenue growth make him the ideal leader for the role,” said Walter Jin, Chairman and CEO of Pager Health. “The addition of a Chief Growth Officer completes an extensive multi-year recruitment project in which we considered hundreds of qualified executives in product development, technology, operations, marketing, and revenue growth to form our executive senior leadership team. We’re confident that Tom’s competitive drive to win, hands-on ownership approach, and critical strategic thinking will be a valuable asset to our team.”

“This is a defining moment for healthcare, particularly for health insurers looking to transform how they engage with and deliver value to their members,” said Pelegrin. “The rapid innovation in digital technology, including AI, is revolutionizing member engagement, turning the health plan experience into a dynamic, data-driven ongoing relationship that anticipates needs, personalizes care and fosters wellbeing. In a sea of solutions, Pager Health’s next-generation connected health and wellbeing platform is enabling payers the opportunity to leapfrog the fragmented manual legacy tools in place today and deliver high-engagement, intelligent health experiences to members.”

For more information about Pager Health, please visit pager.com.

About Pager Health
Pager Health is a connected health platform company that enables healthcare enterprises to deliver high-engagement, intelligent health experiences for their patients, members and teams through integrated technology, AI and concierge services. Our solutions help people get the right care at the right time in the right place and stay healthy, while simultaneously reducing system friction and fragmentation, powering engagement, and orchestrating the enterprise. Pager Health partners with leading payers, providers and employers representing more than 26 million individuals across the United States and Latin America.

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SOURCE Pager Health