Campus Chronicles

University life is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming with endless tasks, competing priorities, and constant pressure to achieve. In this episode of Campus Chronicles, Lisa from Positively Productive shares her refreshing philosophy on how “doing less” can actually help you achieve more — not just academically, but personally too.

Lisa’s advice is especially relevant for students navigating the demands of university life while managing their mental health and well-being. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning plates or drowning in your to-do list, this episode is for you.

• Why decluttering your physical space improves focus and reduces stress
• The importance of self-awareness when setting academic and social goals
• How to set healthy boundaries with friends, work, and social media
• Tips for simplifying your daily routine to create more breathing room
• How “doing less” is about intentional choices, not laziness

Lisa is the founder of Positively Productive Systems, a platform dedicated to helping people overcome overwhelm, reduce stress, and design a life that supports their true priorities. As a coach and speaker, Lisa blends productivity techniques with self-care strategies to help her clients — including busy students — create balance and achieve their goals without burning out.

How can you overcome the challenges of being a disabled content creator and advocate for others? In this episode, Shauna May, a disability advocate, content creator, and podcaster, opens up about her personal journey and how she pushes boundaries in media despite adversity. Shauna shares how she navigates life with multiple disabilities and how her mother’s encouragement shaped her resilient mindset. 

Shauna shares the realities of working in a space where not everyone is supportive or understands the challenges faced by people with disabilities. She provides practical advice on how to advocate for yourself, the importance of self-worth beyond traditional qualifications, and the need for more awareness and compassion in society. 

Through her inspiring story, she urges us to pursue our dreams and never give up—no matter the obstacles in our way.

Campus Chronicles is produced by Urban Podcasts.

How can you stay safe in the sun, and why should you start protecting your skin now? In this episode, Leah Koskinen from MakeDermSure shares her powerful journey from surviving melanoma to educating others on sun safety. After being diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma at the age of 25, Leah’s life changed forever. Now, she is dedicated to helping people, especially students, understand the importance of sunscreen and proactive skin care. 

Leah talks about her personal story of dealing with skin cancer, from the initial shock of her diagnosis to the ongoing process of managing her health. She emphasises the crucial need for skin checks, the dangers of overexposure to the sun, and why it’s essential to make sun protection a part of your everyday routine—no matter your age. With simple tips, like adding sunscreen to your daily skincare routine and knowing your body, Leah provides practical advice for students who might be too busy to think about their skin but can’t afford to ignore it. 

She also sheds light on the misconceptions around tanning, the importance of wearing SPF even in winter, and how to make sun safety an easy habit. 

How do you navigate the challenges of your 20s and build confidence in a rapidly changing world? In this episode, Jess Diamond, a career and confidence coach, shares her transformative journey from feeling lost and unfulfilled to helping others find their purpose and build self-confidence.

Jess opens up about how the pandemic led her to re-evaluate her career, embracing a new path in coaching after personal struggles with identity and self-worth. Her story of moving from a job that didn’t align with her passions to becoming a successful coach offers powerful insights into self-discovery and professional growth.

Throughout the conversation, Jess shares the importance of aligning your career choices with your true values, the struggles of navigating your 20s, and how to build lasting self-trust.

How can art and sustainability make a real difference, especially for busy students? In this episode, Caroline West from Carol Louise Arts shares her inspiring journey from burnout to creative freedom, combining her love for art and sustainability into a successful career.

Caroline’s story shows how reconnecting with your passions and aligning them with your values can lead to personal and professional growth. She opens up about the challenges of pursuing art while managing family, work, and well-being, and highlights the importance of prioritising creativity as a form of self-expression.

We also discuss how art can be a powerful tool for self-care, especially during stressful times like university. Caroline explains how art helped her recover from burnout and shares practical advice for students on how to incorporate creative activities into their routines to improve mental health and boost productivity.

Sustainable Students: Practical Tips for Green Living with Amy Fagan

What does it really mean to live sustainably as a student—and how can you do it without breaking the bank or burning out?

In this episode of Campus Chronicles, I’m joined by Amy Fagan, host of the Grounded in Maine podcast and passionate advocate for practical, accessible sustainability. Together, we explore what it looks like to adopt green habits on a student budget and within the limited space of shared housing or university halls.

Amy breaks down the barriers that often make sustainability feel intimidating or out of reach. From worm composting and reducing food waste to shopping second-hand and choosing local produce, her tips are refreshingly doable. She also shares how cooking at home, being mindful about purchases, and conserving water can become second nature—without requiring drastic lifestyle changes.

But it’s not just about saving the planet. Amy and I also discuss how these habits can improve mental health, reduce stress, and foster a stronger sense of community and personal responsibility. We talk about the emotional toll of climate anxiety and how taking small, positive steps can restore a sense of agency and hope.

Whether you’re a sustainability enthusiast or just starting out, this episode is full of inspiring and empowering ideas to help you live in alignment with your values—one habit, one choice, one day at a time.

How can art become a powerful tool for mental well-being, especially for students navigating the pressures of academic life? In this episode, I speak with Debbie Crouch from Art for Wellness about the transformative impact of creative expression on mental health. Debbie shares her personal journey of rediscovering art as a means of healing and empowerment, which eventually led her to create a global community using art for wellness.

We explore how art can be a source of stress relief, self-expression, and personal growth, particularly for university students dealing with feelings of anxiety, comparison, and self-doubt. Debbie highlights the process of creating art—not the final product—as the key to its therapeutic benefits, allowing students to reconnect with their emotions and find joy in the act of creation. 

Debbie also offers practical advice on how students can incorporate art into their lives, regardless of skill level or resources, and emphasises the importance of self-care and embracing our unique creative voice.

What if your university room could feel more like home? In this episode, I sit down with Liz Toombs, owner of PDR Interiors and a design expert who’s transforming college spaces across the country. Liz’s journey from a college student exploring textiles to a thriving interior designer for sorority houses reveals the power of design to create welcoming, personality-filled spaces.

Liz shares her tips on turning bland dorms into vibrant retreats by layering lighting, textiles, and artwork—while still keeping university rules in mind! With clever hacks like removable hooks and tapestries, she shares how students can add a personal touch to any room.

Mastering Money with Debra Jacobs: Aligning Spending with Your Real Values

Are you spending in ways that truly reflect your values?

In this episode of Campus Chronicles, I sit down with Debra Jacobs, certified financial coach and founder of Money Smart for Life, to unpack the financial habits that really matter—especially for students and early-career professionals.

We dive into everything from budgeting basics and debt management to more nuanced strategies like value-based spending, where your purchases are intentionally aligned with your goals, lifestyle, and priorities.

Debra shares practical tips on how to:

• Build a realistic student budget (and actually stick to it)
• Avoid the trap of “default” spending on things that don’t bring joy
• Identify emotional triggers that lead to impulse purchases
• Set savings goals without cutting out the fun
• Use small behaviour shifts to create long-term financial freedom

We also discuss the psychological side of money—why students often feel ashamed about their finances, how to reframe your relationship with money, and why financial health is just as important as physical and mental well-being.

“Your money habits are telling a story,” Debra says. “The question is: is it the story you want to be telling?”

Whether you’re trying to stretch your student loan, start saving for travel, or just want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, this conversation offers tools and mindset shifts you can implement today.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn Debra’s 3 core questions to ask yourself before every purchase
• Discover how to set up a student-friendly budgeting system in 10 minutes
• Understand the emotional side of money and how to take back control
• Get inspired to rethink what “financial success” really looks like

Want to dive deeper into personal finance? Explore more resources from Debra at moneysmartforlife.com (or wherever you'd like to link).

Dating 101: Love on Campus with Christine Baumgartner

In this episode of Campus Chronicles, we explore the complexities of dating as a student with Christine Baumgartner — dating coach, author, and founder of The Perfect Catch. Christine brings decades of experience helping people navigate love with greater self-awareness, and her story is as real as it is insightful.

From Early Marriage to Conscious Dating

Christine shares her personal journey through love, from marrying young to the valuable lessons learned after divorce. These experiences inspired her to create a coaching approach she calls “conscious dating” — choosing partners and navigating relationships with clear intent, emotional honesty, and personal clarity.

What Conscious Dating Really Means

For students navigating campus life, dating can feel like a blur of new people, social pressure, and emotional ups and downs. Christine breaks down how self-reflection and intentionality can shift the experience entirely. She introduces tools like defining your core values, understanding your non-negotiables, and learning to recognise red flags early.

Navigating Dating in the Age of Apps

Christine also touches on modern dating dynamics — especially the role of dating apps, social media, and the pace of connection today. She encourages students not to rush or settle, and instead focus on the quality of their communication and how they feel in each stage of the process.

The Student Perspective: Dating While Juggling Everything

Campus life is busy. Between exams, housemates, social events, and part-time jobs, dating can often feel like another stressor. Christine offers practical strategies for keeping it fun and grounded — including:

• Having clarity on what you're looking for (and why)
• Being honest about your time and energy
• Viewing rejection as redirection, not failure

Whether you’re new to dating, recently out of a relationship, or just trying to navigate the emotional landscape of university life, this episode is full of wisdom for building relationships that actually work.

Listen to more episodes of Campus Chronicles for honest, practical conversations on student life, self-development, and everything in between.