Starting college can feel exciting, overwhelming, and completely unpredictable—all at once. In this special episode of Root to Rising, Christine sits down with current college student Katherine Chialdikas and recent graduates Elle Thomas and Ellie Ternes for an honest conversation about what freshman year is really like.

They share the realities of move-in day, making friends, sorority recruitment, homesickness, difficult classes, choosing a major, staying safe, and learning how to balance school with actually enjoying college. Whether you are preparing to leave home or already struggling through your first semester, this episode will remind you that you are not alone—and you do not need to have everything figured out.

• What move-in day is actually like
• Why friendships do not always happen immediately
• How to meet people when you are naturally introverted
• The truth about sorority recruitment
• How to survive your first week of classes
• Why college tests require a different approach
• Simple ways to stay organized and avoid procrastinating
• What to do when you feel homesick or lonely
• Advice for choosing or changing your major
• Important tips for staying healthy and safe
• How to balance studying, friendships, and college experiences
• What each guest wishes she had done differently

00:35 – Meet Katherine, Elle, and Ellie
01:10 – The excitement and chaos of move-in day
05:02 – Making friends during the first few weeks
07:09 – When college does not immediately meet your expectations
08:12 – Honest advice about sorority recruitment
10:26 – Making connections as an introvert
13:12 – Finding your classes and surviving the first day
18:22 – How college homework and exams differ from high school
22:16 – Katherine’s strategy for staying ahead
25:35 – How to stop checking your phone while studying
26:13 – Choosing a major and knowing when to switch
30:46 – The reality of homesickness
35:17 – Staying healthy and safe during freshman year

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What if your purpose isn’t something you find—but someone you become?

In this episode, Christine sits down with entrepreneur, author, and humanitarian Heidi Totten to explore her unexpected journey from studying family science to building businesses and creating 100 Humanitarians, an organization serving families in Kenya and beyond.

Heidi shares how adaptability, failure, and a willingness to follow unexpected opportunities helped her create meaningful change. She also explains why confidence comes from proving to yourself that you can do hard things—and why helping just one person can create an impact that reaches thousands.

In this episode:

• Why your career doesn’t need to follow a linear path
• How doing difficult things builds genuine confidence
• The failure that pushed Heidi toward entrepreneurship
• How one trip to Kenya completely changed her life
• The story behind 100 Humanitarians
• Why meaningful change often begins with one person
• How to discover work that genuinely lights you up
• Why Heidi believes, “You are your purpose”

Whether you’re beginning your career, entering a new season, or questioning what comes next, this conversation is a reminder to trust yourself, remain open to change, and run toward the opportunities that scare you.

Learn more about Heidi’s work at 100Humanitarians.org.

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Senior year brings excitement, uncertainty, and one major question: What comes next?

In this episode of Root to Rising, Christine sits down with high school seniors Alina, Shreena, Ella, and Kennedy for an honest conversation about college applications, future careers, leaving home, and navigating the pressure to have everything figured out.

The four students share how they’re choosing colleges, balancing education with financial realities, and using social media as inspiration without falling into comparison. They also reflect on the lessons they’ve learned throughout high school—from taking challenging classes to staying true to themselves despite outside opinions.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that confidence is not something you simply have—it grows every time you step outside your comfort zone.

In this episode:

• Managing the stress of college applications
• Choosing a college based on career goals and finances
• Preparing for life away from family
• Using social media as a guide instead of a comparison
• Defining success beyond money and career
• Building confidence through uncomfortable experiences
• Advice for younger students entering high school
• Staying true to your values while embracing change

Whether you’re preparing for college, supporting a student through senior year, or navigating a new chapter of your own, this episode reminds us that our paths do not have to be perfectly planned—or completely linear—to lead somewhere meaningful.

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What does it look like to enter college carrying not only your own dreams, but the sacrifices of the generations before you?

In this episode of Root to Rising, Christine Hummel welcomes back Ema Adakauskas, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin–Madison double majoring in biochemistry and Spanish. Ema shares how growing up in a Lithuanian immigrant family shaped her work ethic, her education, and her desire to build a career in healthcare centered around human connection.

Ema opens up about watching her parents build a life in America from the ground up and how their sacrifices became one of her greatest sources of motivation. She also shares why she shifted her dream from medical school to becoming a physician assistant—and why choosing a career that leaves room for family and a fulfilling life matters to her.

As she prepares for sophomore year, Ema gets candid about the pressure to succeed, fear of failure, managing college stress, finding your people, and learning to use the resources around you.

• Growing up as the daughter of Lithuanian immigrants
• Why Ema chose biochemistry and Spanish
• Turning her parents' sacrifices into motivation
• Choosing purpose over a predetermined career path
• Why work-life balance changed her vision for her future
• Navigating the pressure and stress of college
• What she wishes more freshmen knew
• Making friends when you don't know anyone
• Using college as an opportunity to reinvent yourself
• Why social media doesn't tell you who someone really is
• Staying open-minded when things don't go as planned

Whether you're heading to college, navigating a new season, or simply figuring out what comes next, this conversation is a reminder that you don't need to have everything figured out—you just need to stay open to where the journey takes you.

🎧 Listen now to Root to Rising and share this episode with someone stepping into a new chapter.

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What happens when the path you worked so hard to build no longer feels like the path you want?

In this episode of Root to Rising, Christine sits down with Michelle Pollack, executive leadership coach, who helps high achievers build lives and careers that feel as good as they look on paper.

Michelle shares her unexpected journey from studying theater at Northwestern and working in New York’s entertainment industry to Hollywood—and eventually discovering executive coaching. Along the way, she found herself asking a question many high-achieving women eventually face: Is this really what I want?

Christine and Michelle unpack why women can feel trapped by the careers, expectations, and identities they once chose—and why changing direction doesn’t mean you failed. They explore the pressure to prove yourself, perfectionism, people-pleasing, leadership, delegation, and the inner critic that can convince us to stay where we are instead of exploring what could be next.

Michelle also shares a powerful reminder: confidence doesn’t have to come before the leap. Sometimes courage comes first, and confidence is built by taking the risk, learning, adjusting, and realizing that even if things don’t go perfectly—you’ll be okay.

• Why success can look right but feel wrong
• Giving yourself permission to change your mind
• The pressure high-achieving women put on themselves
• How perfectionism and people-pleasing show up in leadership
• Why great leaders don’t need to have all the answers
• Learning to delegate, trust, and grow your team
• How to recognize your inner critic
• Asking yourself what you actually want
• Why courage comes before confidence
• Becoming comfortable with being a beginner again

This conversation is a reminder that you’re allowed to evolve. The person you wanted to become at 20 doesn’t have to define who you become at 30, 40, 50, or beyond.

Root to Rising — where women share their stories and experiences so others can listen, learn, and grow.

Continue the conversation and learn more about Michelle’s work in executive leadership coaching.

Connect with Michelle:
website: www.michellepollack.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-pollack/ 

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Is rushing a sorority worth it?

If you're heading to college this fall—or wondering whether Greek life is right for you—this conversation offers an honest look at the sorority recruitment experience.

Christine sits down with four college students from different universities, each with a unique perspective on rush. Some found lifelong friendships, one chose not to join, and all of them share the highs, lows, and lessons they wish they knew beforehand.

From navigating rejection and overcoming stereotypes to finding confidence and staying true to yourself, this episode is packed with advice that extends far beyond college.

Whether you're planning to rush, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about what the process is really like, this conversation provides a refreshing and authentic perspective.

• Why each student decided to rush (or almost didn't)
• The biggest misconceptions about sorority life
• The emotional side of recruitment no one prepares you for
• What rejection during rush really feels like
• Why comparing your journey to others can hurt your experience
• How to know when you've found the right chapter—or when walking away is the right decision
• The confidence lessons that last long after college

✨ Be yourself—the right people will appreciate the real you.

✨ Rejection doesn't define your worth.

✨ Comparison steals the joy from your own journey.

✨ Rush is about finding where you belong, not fitting into someone else's expectations.

✨ The confidence you build through uncomfortable experiences will serve you for years to come.

00:00 Welcome & why this conversation matters

1:15 Why each guest decided to rush

7:30 Breaking the stereotypes around sorority life

15:45 The stress and emotions of recruitment week

24:30 Dealing with rejection and uncertainty

34:20 The biggest surprises about rush

41:10 What everyone wishes they knew beforehand

48:00 Advice for anyone preparing to rush

• Khrestyna Fidziak – Marquette University
• Emma Adakauskas – University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Julia Maliszewski – Loyola University Chicago
• Ella Sands – University of Kansas

Follow Root to Rising for more conversations that inspire confidence, growth, and purpose through authentic stories.

⭐ Follow the podcast

⭐ Leave a rating and review

⭐ Share this episode with a student preparing for college or sorority recruitment

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What if the biggest obstacle in your life could become the very thing that transforms it?

In this episode of Root to Rising, Christine Hummel sits down with author, speaker, and transformation strategist Youness El Fehdi to explore how adversity can become the catalyst for growth. From reversing Type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes to raising a neurodiverse son, immigrating to the United States, mastering five languages, and building a career centered on communication, Youness shares the lessons that shaped his life.

Together, they discuss why emotional intelligence, resilience, and authentic human connection are becoming the most valuable skills in an AI-driven world. If you're navigating change, searching for confidence, or looking to grow through life's challenges, this conversation offers practical wisdom and an inspiring perspective on transformation.

• How Youness reversed Type 2 diabetes through consistency—not perfection
• Why raising a neurodiverse son changed his definition of empathy
• The surprising lessons learned working in federal corrections
• How learning five languages shaped his worldview
• Why human connection will always matter in an AI-first world
• The truth about confidence—and how it's actually built
• Why embracing discomfort leads to personal growth
• How to turn adversity into your greatest advantage
• Practical advice for young professionals entering today's workforce
• The power of communication, emotional intelligence, and resilience

"Confidence isn't something you're given—it's something you build by keeping promises to yourself."

"Comfort is the biggest enemy of confidence."

"Everything is impossible until somebody does it."

"The future belongs to people who master human connection."

Youness El Fehdi is an author, motivational speaker, and transformation strategist dedicated to helping people turn adversity into opportunity. His work focuses on resilience, communication, emotional intelligence, language learning, and personal growth. Drawing from his own experiences—including reversing Type 2 diabetes, raising a son with autism, immigrating to the United States, and working in federal corrections—Youness empowers others to embrace change and create meaningful transformation.

Website: https://elfehdiauthor.com/
Books: Dominate the World of Languages, Dominate the Weight Loss Game & Diabetes, Content That Captivates, and his book supporting parents of children with autism.

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Sometimes the biggest opportunities start with one small decision.

For Peyton Plumlee, it was buying a DJ controller with babysitting money.

What began as a hobby quickly turned into a career performing across the South, producing original music, and landing festival stages like Breakaway Dallas. But her journey wasn't a straight line.

In this episode of Root to Rising, Peyton shares how she walked away from the career path she originally envisioned, switched majors in college, embraced uncertainty, and learned to trust herself—even in a male-dominated industry.

This conversation isn't just about music. It's about having the courage to pivot, blocking out outside expectations, building confidence, and realizing that your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

If you've ever wondered whether you're on the "right" path, this episode is for you.

• Why Peyton switched from psychology to marketing
• How a hobby became a full-time career
• Building confidence in a male-dominated industry
• The reality of balancing college and chasing a dream
• How to handle criticism on social media
• The importance of networking and relationships
• Why your twenties are meant for figuring things out
• Journaling, goal setting, and staying motivated
• Learning to trust your gut instead of outside expectations
• Why "YOLO" became Peyton's philosophy for taking risks

"If you've always wanted to try something, just go for it. If you don't, you'll always wonder what could have happened."

Peyton Plumlee (DJ P Plum) is a Dallas-based DJ, music producer, and University of Mississippi graduate. After discovering her passion for DJing in college, she transitioned from psychology to integrated marketing and communications and has since performed throughout the South, including Breakaway Dallas, while continuing to create original music.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peyton_plumlee/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@peyton_plumlee

SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/v4TsNK0dZAoD8e6l9v 

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Success isn't built in one defining moment—it's created through thousands of small, intentional decisions.

In this episode of Root to Rising, Christine Hummel sits down with Boo, former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot, entrepreneur, CEO of Afterburner, and author of Flawless Leadership. After an autoimmune diagnosis ended his dream career in aviation, Boo rebuilt his life from the ground up—launching businesses, leading organizations across the globe, and ultimately helping leaders perform under pressure using the mindset of elite fighter pilots.

Together, they explore why excellence isn't about perfection, how small daily improvements outperform chasing overnight success, and what today's leaders—and the next generation—need to thrive in a world full of distractions.

• Why life should be viewed as an adventure—not a straight line
• The mindset that helped Boo overcome losing his dream career
• What fighter pilots can teach us about leadership and resilience
• Why perfectionism keeps people stuck
• The difference between working hard and working with intention
• How to stay focused in a world built for distraction
• The simple framework that transforms goals into daily progress
• Why reflection is one of the most powerful leadership habits
• Building confidence through consistency instead of perfection
• How leaders can create high-performing teams without burnout

"It's simple—but it's hard."

"Master yourself before trying to master the world."

"The universe rewards effort—but it rewards focused effort."

"Perfection isn't the goal. Progress is."

Boo is the CEO of Afterburner, a leadership development company built on the proven mindset and execution strategies of elite fighter pilots. A former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot, entrepreneur, and author of Flawless Leadership, he helps organizations develop leaders who can thrive under pressure, embrace uncertainty, and execute with confidence.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis
Website: https://callmeboo.com/

Afterburner:https://www.afterburner.com/speakers/christian-boucousis/
Book: Flawless Leadership

If this conversation challenged the way you think about leadership, success, or personal growth, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could benefit from it.

Follow Root to Rising for more conversations that inspire purpose, resilience, and authentic leadership.

Most people think successful careers follow a straight line.

Michelle Rosar's story proves the opposite.

Before leading partnership marketing for the San Francisco 49ers, Michelle thought she'd become a psychologist. A last-minute major change, unpaid internships, mascot jobs, and countless career pivots eventually led her to one of the most respected roles in professional sports.

But her journey wasn't built on luck.

It was built on showing up before she felt ready, saying yes to opportunities that didn't look glamorous, and building relationships long before she needed them.

In this episode of Root to Rising, Michelle shares what it really takes to build a meaningful career—and why your first job doesn't have to be your forever job.

✨ Why your dream job rarely happens overnight
✨ How unpaid internships opened unexpected doors
✨ The networking mistake most young professionals make
✨ Building confidence before you actually feel confident
✨ Navigating leadership in a male-dominated industry
✨ Why every job—even the small ones—matters

Your career isn't defined by where you start. It's defined by how you show up.

If you're feeling behind, questioning your path, or wondering if you're in the right place, Michelle's story is a reminder that every step can prepare you for the next one.

🎙️ Listen now and discover why purpose is often found through the pivots—not despite them.

Enjoyed this conversation? Connect with Michelle and follow her journey in sports business.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rosar
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michmarie11/