h.e.r.LIFE Blogcast

Rachel begins this episode with a brief statement on the #BlackLivesMatter movement; we all need to take on this mission wholeheartedly.  Donate!

After what can only be considered a jarring shift in tone, Rachel and Kevin kick off previously-recorded Episode 18 of the blogcast.  After a brief intro to his new podcast in production "Devin and Kevin Stop Making Sense" (08:23), Kevin transitions into his h.e.r. reflections of the week (10:50).  Kev and Rach touch on everything from perspective in times of hardshipw &  Clinton Hall reminiscing, to quarantine hairstyles & Instagram bio politics. 

Next, Kevin requests his very own Swoon of the Week segment!  At (24:52), Kev gushes about Camp Cope and the female Australian rocker of his dreams.  Then, Rachel gives a rundown on the newest Bravoleb hottie on the block: Gavin Stewart of Camp Getaway.  

Next up: this week's Content Catchup (37:12) - Harry Potter, Avatar: The Last Airbender ("greatest story ever told"), Portlandia, Community, hyper-specific Spotify playlists, & coming-of-age NYC-set novels. 

Rachel and Kevin start to wrap up Part 1 at (44:27) with a discussion of Millennial vs. Gen Z.  Are we all just terrified of repeating past generations' mistakes? 

Then, at (50:19), Rachel gives a brief Love Update: is the pandemic turning us all into f***boys? 

As always, thank you for listening!  And be sure to tune in next week, when Kevin Verga is back to discuss all things PASSION! 

Second time's the charm! 

The ladies begin (03:08) comparing college graduation to high school graduation: were you feeling the same emotions? different emotions? 

Next (05:38), how Hannah, Emma, & Rachel respectively celebrated their unconventional commencements. 

Then (10:18), the girls take a look at Fordham in the rear view: what will be missed, and what ... won't be.  Hear all about the crush-worthy hunks that inspire Rachel with their "delusional confidence," public safety officers who just won't give Emma a break, and Han offers a moment of silence for WAC Bingo. 

At (20:03), the girls get into post-grad resolutions: what promises they're making themselves in order to continue being the best versions of themselves. 

Next (25:56), h.e.r. talks visions of post-grad life.  What is your symbolic "blue room"?

Finally, at (33:25) Rachel transitions into her review of #ENTRYLEVELBOSS: How to Get Any Job You Want, which leads us to our (drumroll please!) B.A.B. of the week: Alexa Shoen.  This episode wraps up with a fabulous interview with Alexa herself!  Get career advice AND feel inspired to act on it (trust us!). 

As always, thanks for listening! xoxo

This week, we're celebrating May as Mental Health Awareness Month! 

The ladies kick off the episode with a quick game of Xs & Ox: grocery story edition; hear the love saga of Rachel & Customer Service Chris. 

Next, h.e.r. reflections lead to discussions of Taye Diggs, technology, and reopening America. 

Then, this week's Content Catch Up culminates with a fantastic exercise courtesy of Elaine Welteroth's More Than Enough.

This leads the girls into some Instagram (@her.blog.life) submissions from you guys!  We dive into mental health stressors that can affect us all. 

Next, Emma & Rachel share their results from the Mental Health America Screening test before detailing what quarantine struggles have been most apparent thus far. 

The girls also discuss their go-to destressors: what has helped them maintain wellness?  

Finally, Han, Em, & Rach wrap up with mental health truisms that have stuck with them over the years. 

This was such a wonderful episode to produce.  We hope it's as helpful for you as it was for us.  xoxo h.e.r 

Congratulations to all the Classes of 2020! 

This week's episode is all about celebrating this milestone in unconventional ways and reflecting on the personal growth that's happened over the course of the last 4 years.  

After our weekly h.e.r. reflections, we return to Swoon of the Week at (12:52) - listen in as the girls giggle through their current crushes.  They debate Hemsworths; they praise insurance agents, and they even nod to some hard-working gigolos.  

Next up (12:42), Rachel kicks off this week's Content Catch-Up.  She gives us the rundown on all the grad-related content that's been occupying her time lately -- and stirring up some strange emotions.  This leads into a recent Girls Gotta Eat episode that was very well done and that relates to recent Title IX regulations/updates.  Shout out to Emma Budd, who provided some great resources here! 

Finally (36:13), inspired by Michelle Obama's Becoming Documentary (now available on Netflix!), the girls reveal what they are "becoming..." 

Thank you for listening, and again, congrats to all graduates!  Be SURE to tune in next week, when Alexa Shoen joins us to talk all about her brand-new book, #ENTRYLEVELBOSS. 

Welcome to a very special episode of the h.e.r.LIFE blogcast: our first ever Mother’s Day special!

Rachel kicks off the episode with her mom, Missy Malak.  After a quick round of h.e.r. reflections, Missy discusses the best advice she’s gotten from her mom and how her concept of womanhood has changed since she was Rachel's age. 

At (19:11), Rachel transitions into listener submissions: what’s the best advice your mom ever gave you? Listen in as friends – Emma Spoldi, Laurel Dillon, Debra Chieco, Kylie Elwood, Danie Moynihan, Brennan Sisco, Kay Kurkierewicz, Hannah Logerfo, Karlie & Sharon Lobitz, and Sydney Kroll – talk about their mom’s best advice.

Wishing all the Mamas listening a very happy quarantined Mother’s Day! xoxo

This week, h.e.r.LIFE gets a little academic, and we’re not mad about it! Inspired by one of Rachel’s favorite senior year classes (Communication & The Food System, Prof. Garrett Broad), she and Emma tackle the social media habit and otherwise millennial phenomenon, “Phone Eats First.”

Rachel kicks it off with some trusty Urban Dictionary entries. What exactly does “phone eats first” mean and how is it used as present-day colloquialism? (01:20)

Next up, what does it mean to be a “foodie”? (03:19) The girls run through their respective cooking backgrounds, then Rachel transitions into social media in quarantine times: how are Insta stories and TikToks feature food in new and unique ways (05:43).

Next, did “Phone Eats First” start with editorial “food porn” in cookbooks and food magazines? (11:08) Thank you to Baumann & Johnston for this piece on “How to be a foodie.” And shoutout to Kristen Tomlan and her absolutely stunning cookie dough cookbook! Which brings Rachel to her next point: what do your cookbooks say about you? And is it that narrative the same as the one told by your Instagram feed?

At (15:32), the girls reminisce about a time before Coronavirus, when they were free to brunch and Snap to their hearts’ content. Carroll Place has never been so sorely missed. Emma narrates the excited/embarrassed moment when the food arrives, and everyone instinctively reaches for their phones (especially when you order based solely on aesthetics). But, does context matter for this social media habit? And how much is based on Insta-gratification?

This leads Rachel to Madeline Basirico’s study on the Phone Eats First phenomenon (18:36). Food, she says, is an easy way to form connections and interact socially. Rachel’s question for listeners: would you phone-eats-first on a first date?

Now, the ladies transition into what truly is the heart of the episode: are we just bragging? (20:31) Are food pics the ultimate conspicuous consumption? How wild that Veblen’s 1899 work aligns so perfectly with our digital age?!

At (24:26), Rachel leads a historical tracing of food as a status symbol. From the first sedentary lifestyles, to the 1950s housewife, not much has changed when it comes to food culture and performativity.

Then, Food As Fuel: does social media help us or hurt us in terms of how we think about nutrition? (30:58) Are there new Instagram trends developing through modern food accounts?  Thank you, Amanda Mull for your source on this, and quick shoutout to Cat's Clean Kitchen page! 

By (39:50), Rachel circles back to Basirico and asks, do we really think food photos on Insta paint an accurate picture? Rachel reveals an embarrassing (and deeply troubling) anecdote about her summer in the city. What does a $19 glass of wine on the Empire Hotel rooftop say about you??

Rach & Em leave you with this: by all means, let your phone eat first if that’s what brings you joy! Don’t let anybody shame your social media habits. That said, it never hurts to reflect on why we do the things we do.

As always, thank you so much for listening! xoxo

(see our full bibliography on our Instagram page: @her.blog.life) 

Welcome to part 2 of our DTZ (down to Zoom) episode with Sara Brown. The ladies dive right into their topic of group Hinge dating via Zoom.

First (02:16), Sara gives us a rundown (pun very much intended) of her neighborhood hottie.

Then (06:40), Emma kicks off a discussion about the best ways to maintain Hinge conversations after that initial match.

At (08:43), the ladies discuss Hinge’s brilliant “Date from Home” selection feature. Hear as Sara makes her first home match LIVE on air!

Sara gives us a tour of her Hinge profile at (12:04), running through her photos and prompts, and telling the others what gets the most traffic from Hinge guys.

Finally, at (15:05), the h.e.r. team gets into it: Group dates on Zoom! The girls discuss how the idea came about, then (16:39) they give the play-by-plays of a few standout dates thus far. At (18:06), guys from those dates weigh in with their rankings of the experience. You don’t want to miss what they have to say!

At (24:52), it’s time for … wait for it … the Long Island Boys. Describing this dynamic was one of the hardest things tackled on the blogcast thus far. As Rachel put it, “the fever dream continues!”

Before they wrap up, the ladies play a round of Xs & Os: Snapchat Boy Edition. Listen in as they discuss dealbreakers and dealmakers on everyone’s favorite app.

To end it all, Sara Brown pitches her idea for what’s sure to be an instant success:  The Zoom Crush Party. Who would you invite??

This week, Sara Brown joins h.e.r. for a two-part episode to talk all about the group Hinge dates that are becoming all the rage! 

To start, Rachel kicks of h.e.r. reflections with the story of how Kelly Ripa got a hold of her final paper (03:36).  Then, Emma will walk us through the Too(t)sie Slide (08:44). 

At (16:11), Rachel responds to a blogcast critique she received via Hinge.  Glad to know we're getting constructive criticism! 

Next, the ladies dive into this week's Content Catch Up (16:11), hitting everything from Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project, to RHOBH, to Girls Gotta Eat. 

A brand new segment pops up at (33:55): Swoon of the Week! Who will they pick?? 

Be sure to tune in next week, when the girls really get into the group Hinge profile and weekly Zoom group dates.  It's sure to be a wild discussion! 

As always, thank you for listening! 

Welcome back to the second installment of "Things We Come Back To" featuring h.e.r.LIFE favorites, Kevin Verga & Devin D'Agostino. 

This episode really does feel like a conversation these three would have over cookies & coffee in the good old Fordham cafeteria.  We hope you enjoy - but most importantly, we hope you have friends like these with whom you can have wild conversations like these. 

***

The trio kicks of the episode (oddly enough) with an improv experiment that's just so weird it's (kind of) funny. 

At (04:29) Rachel dives in with an introduction to the "Things We Come Back To" concept.  With Dev & Kev, she discusses Derek Thompson's Piece in The Atlantic and the reasons for reconsumption: habits, addictions, rituals, and status quo biases (06:06).   Before long, Dev & Kev are back to Stop Making Sense: their go-to rewatch example.  Other references here include J.D. Salinger novels, Taylor Swift reputation Stadium Tour Concert, etc. 

At (11:57), Rachel transitions to movies -- what films can you just not get enough of?  Devin seamlessly transitions to a (good?) Reese Witherspoon joke that ultimately leads to the story of the Pug Mask.  

At (16:23), Devin discusses his evolved reactions to Colin Farrell classic, In Bruges, comparing that kind of rewatch to his feelings about One Hundred Years of Solitude and magical realism.  

By (20:23), Rachel (finally!) dives in to her obsession with The People v. O.J. Simpson.  What does it mean when we don't even know why we reconsume something? 

This leads to Devin's discussion of association at (23:06), how certain pieces of content (Nick Cave's Jubilee, for example) constantly evolve with us AND to us.  Kevin offers a generational approach to the same topic.  Ah, music!  What a powerful thing. 

A super interesting conversation for this episode pops up at (25:04): sharing your rewatch-content with loved ones.  What happens if/when they don't feel the same way?  There's so much vulnerability wrapped up in the things we come back to - but that's the beauty of it, people! 

At (28:00), what content is forever linked to a specific moment, like senior year of college, for example? 

The trio circles back to Thompson's article at (32:38) to talk about a study by Russell and Levy, who researched the meaning of reconsumption: The Simple Reason, The Nostalgic Reason, The Therapeutic Reason, and The Existential Reason. 

Kevin takes us home at (38:36) with an interesting discussion about reconsuming old content that no longer aligns with our cultural standards.  What do we do with some of these '60s songs, for example, in a post-#MeToo era?  

As always, thank you for listening!  All the best to you & Happy Easter! 

This episode is perfect for quarantining! Great friends Devin D’Agostino and Kevin Verga join Rachel (remotely, but enthusiastically) to discuss content in the age of corona.

Next week, we’ll dive into rewatching habits – why we revisit content we know and love.

Shoutouts of this episode include (but are not limited to)…

(00:48) Raj (and his h.e.r.LIFE Blog blog)

(01:24) Kurt Russel and the D’Agostino bunker

(02:34) Henry Zink, bedazzled pepper spray, and freshman year introductions

(04:05) Mr. Dag & Teach for America

(07:02) Julie Hutsko and epic Zoom game nights

(10:37) Kevin’s friends’ Call of Duty giggles

(13:17) Rachel’s LinkedIn - rewarding myself with WILDFOX (thanks, Miranda Priestly and the Fordham English Department)

(17:32) Green Day: the voice of a generation (are we all American Idiots?)

(19:22) Conor O’Brien’s Virtual 10K Fundraiser (https://www.gofundme.com/f/quarantine-10k-run?pc=fb_co_campmgmt_w&rcid=r01-158553077638-3103cfc0e25a41c5&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_lico%2Bshare-sheet&fbclid=IwAR2XkfHxRZ9Rp4Eyem8z-X9AuOj4z0vZFF7H2o-oa4vUZHcgXfIF0auL2a0)

(22:49) Rachel, Dev, & Kev do their weekly Content Catch Up, talking about which shows, movies, and books are keeping them entertained amid social distancing. Highlights include Tinsley Mortimer’s mug shot coaster, Devin’s bartending efforts, The Kite Runner vs. Maze Runner vs. Blade Runner.

(31:40) Here’s where Rach and the gang get into Stop Making Sense, the preview piece of content that will drive their discussion about our tendencies to rewatch.

As always, we love you for listening! Follow us! Like & Share! xoxo