The Office star (and Newton, Mass., native) John Krasinski has become a YouTube star of late with his new show Some Good News, where he shares uplifting and funny stories that offer a much-needed break from the daily coronavirus dolor.

Two of the guests on his latest episode, which focuses on this year’s graduation season, are BU seniors Michelle Goltsman and Matt Poulsen, who each got a chance to chat with Krasinski directly. Both Goltsman (COM’20) and Poulsen (ENG’20) appear for a few seconds on the finished episode, which premiered May 3 and is now available to view for free on YouTube. 

Krasinski tweeted this question April 28 for the graduation-themed episode: “What is that big question you would love to ask your commencement speaker?” In addition to the Class of 2020, Krasinski extended invites to surprise guests such as actor-producer Oprah Winfrey, Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg (Hon.’09), and Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who each answered one of the questions submitted and delivered their advice directly to the 2020 grad who asked it. The episode currently has had close to two million views on YouTube.

Goltsman, who lives in Livingston, N.J., is graduating with a bachelor’s in mass communication, with a focus in advertising, and Poulsen, from Wayland, Mass., with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. They found their way on the show after responding to Krasinski’s tweet. 

Goltsman question: “Can you tell us about a failure you’re proud of?” while Poulsen’s pitch was: “How do we take the first step after school? There’s a blank canvas in front of us.” Show producers followed up with both Terriers, directly messaging them asking for more information about their backgrounds, and ultimately extending an invitation to appear on the show.

When the day arrived, Krasinski spoke first with students in groups of five, spending about 10 minutes congratulating them individually (“We bonded over our love of Boston,” Goltsman says) and then holding larger group chats, speaking more generally to the graduates. 

For the celebrity cameos, the Some Good News team handpicked students who asked especially compelling questions, graduating from schools like Harvard and the University of Texas, and arranged private chats between them and Krasinski. During their conversations, he surprised them with the Zoom-bombing celebrity guests, who answered their questions and delivered their own advice.

“You’re about to enter into a world where you know no one’s grading you. Stop completing things and start living. Let no opportunity be too small for your time, and no opportunity be too big for your possibilities,” former Daily Show host Jon Stewart told University of Denver grad Jon Knitter. 

“Regarding what I would say to my younger self, I would just tell myself to believe in your voice, continue speaking, and don’t give up,” Yousafzai said to Maryland high school senior Meklit Teclehaimanot. “Society tries to define us and tries to limit us, so I would say, just do not listen to that, ignore all of that, and believe in yourself and continue to do what you strongly believe in and what you want to do.”

“Class of 2020, by the power vested in me by no one, congratulations, you have officially graduated,” Krasinski said at the close of the 24-minute episode. “I’m reminding you that no matter how hard things get, there is always good in the world. And how do I know that? Because Class of 2020, today you are the good in the world.”

Goltsman says she is a huge fan of Krasinski’s and that she could never have imagined celebrating her graduation with him. “I know our class is getting a lot of attention from social media and celebrities,” she says. “But this specific acknowledgement made graduation come alive for me, because I love his show—it’s great he’s using his power to interact with people, distract them in a good way, and spread positivity every week. At a time where everyone is separated and stressed, he was still able to make us come together and celebrate.”