{"686041":{"#nid":"686041","#data":{"type":"news","title":"What\u2019s Good GT? Brings Laughter, Creativity and Community to the Ferst Center ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Arts and WABE celebrated Tech\u2019s 140th anniversary with comedy, storytelling and music at the Ferst Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of Georgia Tech\u2019s 140th anniversary and Homecoming celebrations, Georgia Tech Arts and WABE joined forces to present \u003Cem\u003EWhat\u2019s Good GT?\u003C\/em\u003E, a special live edition of the hit podcast \u003Cem\u003EWhat\u2019s Good Atlanta\u003C\/em\u003E. 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\u2019s arts community in one shared space.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAudience members gathered at the Ferst Center for the Arts on Thursday, Oct. 23, to experience the live taping. Georgia Tech\u2019s beloved mascot, Buzz, joined the show for his first-ever podcast interview, adding campus spirit to the lineup of performers and guests.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHosted by comedians Mark Kendall and David Perdue, the show blended humor, conversation and music to celebrate Tech\u2019s 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\u2019s presence at \u003Cem\u003EWhat\u2019s Good GT?\u003C\/em\u003E gave the event a uniquely intimate energy, reminding audiences how live music can transform a gathering into an experience of connection and joy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeatured guests included Georgia Tech alumni Osahon Tongo (MGT \u201909) and Jessica Luza (STAC \u201907), who shared stories about their journeys from campus to the entertainment industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETongo, a former member of Tech\u2019s 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. \u201cGeorgia Tech builds tenacity,\u201d Tongo said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard, but that\u2019s what Tech is good at. It makes you do hard things.\u201d He hinted at new film projects on the horizon and upcoming work with the NFL Network.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuza has appeared in \u003Cem\u003EHouse M.D.\u003C\/em\u003E, \u003Cem\u003EThe Game\u003C\/em\u003E, \u003Cem\u003EJohnson\u003C\/em\u003E (Bounce TV) and Peacock\u2019s \u003Cem\u003EHysteria!\u003C\/em\u003E. She recalled the challenges of starting out in Atlanta before the city\u2019s film industry had developed its now thriving infrastructure. \u201cAtlanta didn\u2019t have this creative ecosystem back then,\u201d she said. \u201cNow it\u2019s full of opportunity, and Tech helped me build the foundation to keep going.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EComedian 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 \u003Cem\u003EAmerica\u2019s Got Talent\u003C\/em\u003E and \u003Cem\u003ELast Comic Standing\u003C\/em\u003E, she also founded \u003Cem\u003ELaugh Lab\u003C\/em\u003E, a comedy class for women featured in \u003Cem\u003EThe New York Times\u003C\/em\u003E and \u003Cem\u003EVanity Fair\u003C\/em\u003E. Her performance captured both resilience and relatability, underscoring her role as a leading voice in Atlanta\u2019s comedy community and a champion for women in the arts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPoet and storyteller Ad\u00e1n Bean followed with a moving performance of his original poem \u003Cem\u003E\u201cThe South Got Something to Say,\u201d\u003C\/em\u003E inspired by Andr\u00e9 3000 of Outkast. Bean uses hip-hop and spoken word to explore themes of identity, faith and social change.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThroughout 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.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Georgia Tech Arts, \u003Cem\u003EWhat\u2019s Good GT?\u003C\/em\u003E was more than a show. It embodied the Institute\u2019s 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.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EListen to the full podcast episode\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;Hear the complete \u003Cem\u003EWhat\u2019s Good GT?\u003C\/em\u003E conversation on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/whats-good-is-georgia-tech-feat-joe-alterman-jessica\/id1730119122?i=1000733706427\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EApple,\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/0Tt61YxE3BkvYpFRumPDyu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESpotify,\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.npr.org\/podcasts\/1230538139\/what-s-good-atlanta\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENPR,\u003C\/a\u003E or in your \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/whats-good-atlanta\/whats-good-is-georgia-tech-feat-joe-alterman-jessica-luza-osahon-tongo-and-buzz\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eweb browser\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Arts and WABE teamed up for \u003Cem\u003EWhat\u2019s Good GT?\u003C\/em\u003E, a special live edition of \u003Cem\u003EWhat\u2019s Good Atlanta\u003C\/em\u003E celebrating Tech\u2019s 140th anniversary. The event brought together alumni, students and members of the Atlanta community for a night of comedy, storytelling and live jazz at the Ferst Center.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech Arts and WABE celebrated Tech\u2019s 140th anniversary with comedy, storytelling and music at the Ferst Center."}],"uid":"36758","created_gmt":"2025-10-28 13:38:54","changed_gmt":"2025-10-28 15:37:21","author":"LaKenya Norris","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678465":{"id":"678465","type":"image","title":"IMG_8132-2.JPG","body":null,"created":"1761658927","gmt_created":"2025-10-28 13:42:07","changed":"1761658927","gmt_changed":"2025-10-28 13:42:07","alt":"What\u0027s Good GT 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