Georgia Tech Arts and WABE celebrated Tech’s 140th anniversary with comedy, storytelling and music at the Ferst Center.

As part of Georgia Tech’s 140th anniversary and Homecoming celebrations, Georgia Tech Arts and WABE joined forces to present What’s Good GT?, a special live edition of the hit podcast What’s Good Atlanta. The event highlighted the creative side of Georgia Tech through an evening of comedy, storytelling and live music that brought together students, alumni and Atlanta’s arts community in one shared space. 

Audience members gathered at the Ferst Center for the Arts on Thursday, Oct. 23, to experience the live taping. Georgia Tech’s beloved mascot, Buzz, joined the show for his first-ever podcast interview, adding campus spirit to the lineup of performers and guests. 

Hosted by comedians Mark Kendall and David Perdue, the show blended humor, conversation and music to celebrate Tech’s legacy of innovation and creativity. Pianist Joe Alterman and the Joe Alterman Jazz Trio brought warmth and spontaneity to the stage, performing original pieces and classic jazz tunes between segments. Their improvisation gave the night an easy flow and helped bridge moments of reflection and laughter. Alterman, a celebrated Atlanta musician known for his soulful touch and storytelling through music, has performed at venues including the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. His trio’s presence at What’s Good GT? gave the event a uniquely intimate energy, reminding audiences how live music can transform a gathering into an experience of connection and joy. 

Featured guests included Georgia Tech alumni Osahon Tongo (MGT ’09) and Jessica Luza (STAC ’07), who shared stories about their journeys from campus to the entertainment industry. 

Tongo, a former member of Tech’s ACC Championship football team, reflected on his early passion for directing through fraternity skits. His first student film helped earn him admission to the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he received his MFA. “Georgia Tech builds tenacity,” Tongo said. “It’s hard, but that’s what Tech is good at. It makes you do hard things.” He hinted at new film projects on the horizon and upcoming work with the NFL Network. 

Luza has appeared in House M.D., The Game, Johnson (Bounce TV) and Peacock’s Hysteria!. She recalled the challenges of starting out in Atlanta before the city’s film industry had developed its now thriving infrastructure. “Atlanta didn’t have this creative ecosystem back then,” she said. “Now it’s full of opportunity, and Tech helped me build the foundation to keep going.” 

Comedian Lace Larrabee brought humor and heart to the stage, sharing stories about her upbringing in small-town Georgia and her path to becoming a nationally recognized performer. Known for appearances on America’s Got Talent and Last Comic Standing, she also founded Laugh Lab, a comedy class for women featured in The New York Times and Vanity Fair. Her performance captured both resilience and relatability, underscoring her role as a leading voice in Atlanta’s comedy community and a champion for women in the arts. 

Poet and storyteller Adán Bean followed with a moving performance of his original poem “The South Got Something to Say,” inspired by André 3000 of Outkast. Bean uses hip-hop and spoken word to explore themes of identity, faith and social change. 

Throughout the night, alumni and guests shared memories of campus life, from football games and early Facebook logins to dorm-room creativity and student performances, reflecting the blend of innovation and community that defines the Georgia Tech experience. 

For Georgia Tech Arts, What’s Good GT? was more than a show. It embodied the Institute’s ongoing commitment to building community through collaboration. By connecting comedy, music and storytelling, the event offered a creative celebration of what it means to be part of the Georgia Tech community: innovative, engaged and proud. 

Listen to the full podcast episode 
 Hear the complete What’s Good GT? conversation on Apple, Spotify, NPR, or in your web browser