On today's episode of Sorority Chat, host Liz Alexander welcomes Alyssa Huff, an Alpha Xi Delta alumna and scientist, to discuss volunteering as house corporation president during the University of Washington chapter house renovation in Seattle. Elisa explains how commercial-style regulations, city permitting, and the realities of remodeling a nearly 100-year-old historic home—plus asbestos, outdated electrical, and major plumbing needs—made the project far different from HGTV expectations, and how communicating those constraints to alumni was challenging. She shares key lessons, including engaging a local contractor early, coordinating the contractor and architect together, and hiring a third-party owner’s rep to protect the chapter’s interests and manage budget oversight. Elisa also reflects on her AZD journey as a founding member at Western Kentucky, staying connected through scholarships and community, and balancing intense volunteer leadership with her academic career and new faculty role in Washington, DC.

📌 Connect with Alyssa

📸  @alyhuff30

🌐 https://hufflab.smhs.gwu.edu/

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 HGTV vs Reality

00:34 Welcome to Sorority Chat

00:59 Meet Alyssa Huff

02:52 Renovation Reality Check

05:17 Seattle Permitting Roadblocks

06:20 Start With the Contractor

10:25 Budgeting and Student Needs

17:05 Why Hire an Owner's Rep

20:05 Colonizing at WKU

24:46 Staying Connected to AXiD

28:22 Life in DC and What's Next

29:49 Wrap Up and House Hot Take

30:30 Pro Tip: Where Sisters Hang

31:22 Final Thanks and Subscribe

Today on Sorority Chat, host Liz Alexander welcomes Liza Hallsten, Assistant Director of Housing for Pi Beta Phi and a longtime Alpha Chi Omega advisor, to discuss what it really takes to run and renovate sorority chapter homes. Liza shares how her experience as a volunteer, property-management professional, and housing leader informs decisions about safety, budgets, and major repairs in aging, complex facilities, and why housing operations involve far more than décor. She also explains how the wider fraternity/sorority housing community collaborates across organizations, and how shifting labor and material costs affect timelines and quotes. As a military spouse who has moved nine times in 15 years, Liza describes founding the Stars and Stripes alumni chapter to help military-connected sisters build friendships and support, and offers practical advice for finding community after a move.

📌 Connect with Liza

📸  @lizamarie.axo

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Finding Your People00:47 Meet Liza Hallsten02:04 Day in Housing Ops03:49 Why She Keeps Advising06:11 Career Path in Housing09:56 Housing Myths and Costs13:14 Behind the Scenes Work15:46 Rising Costs and Labor18:02 Building Military Community21:42 Advice for New Cities23:49 Haunted House Lore27:12 Wrap Up and Contact28:45 Liz House Hot Takes29:49 Final Thanks and Outro

On today's episode of Sorority Chat, Liz welcomes Anna Carcamo, founder of Stellar Party, a full-service event production company serving clients coast to coast.

Anna shares how she transitioned from eight years as a dental hygienist into event design after planning her son’s first birthday and noticing a local need for backdrop rentals, then taught herself through research and reinvested profits to grow the business. They discuss how her detail-oriented healthcare background influences quality control, what Stellar Party offers as a custom design-and-execute experience with 3D mockups, and where her team finds global inspiration. Anna explains the unique collaboration and logistics of sorority bid day and recruitment installs, including overnight setups, long pickups, and working with large chapter teams, as well as how budgeting conversations work and how their new 9,000-square-foot warehouse centralizes operations.

📌 Connect with  Anna

📸  @stellarparty.co

🌐  stellarparty.co

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

00:00 Go For It Mindset00:24 Welcome To Sorority Chat00:52 Meet Anna Carmo02:06 From Dental To Decor04:21 First Backdrop Breakthrough05:48 Transferable Type A Skills07:40 Early Hustle And Learning09:10 What Stellar Party Does11:58 Global Inspiration And Trends14:10 Bid Day Collaboration Process16:10 When To Book Bid Day17:37 Working With Sorority Spaces18:14 Sister Partnership And Balloons18:49 Partnering for Bid Day19:29 Favorite Theme Builds21:05 All Night Install Grind22:30 Mechanical Bull Chaos23:59 Teardown and Pickup Reality24:45 Not Greek but All In25:14 Starting a Creative Business27:08 Budgeting and Client Calls28:35 Bid Day Travel Limits29:41 Rentals and Reuse System30:45 New Warehouse Expansion32:15 Where to Follow Stellar Party32:55 House Hot Takes Tip33:51 Final Wrap and Credits

Confidence, Interviews & Thank-You Notes.On this episode of the Sorority Chat podcast, Liz interviews Michelle Rupp, an Emmy Award-winning journalist-turned-corporate communications leader and founder of Memorable Results Media, about how clear, confident communication can help college leaders turn Greek life experience into career opportunities. Michelle shares lessons from TV news—being specific, concise, and deadline-driven—and discusses the shift to corporate PR. The conversation focuses on soft skills that students may be missing, including making eye contact, offering firm handshakes, arriving early, and sending thank-you notes or emails after interviews. Michelle explains how to reframe networking through the lens of recruitment, leading with curiosity and value, and emphasizes translating sorority and fraternity roles into concrete resume skills such as brand management, budgeting, and crisis communication. Liz closes with a “House Hot Takes” design tip on durable, attractive performance materials for sorority houses.

📌 Connect with Michelle:

📸  @memorableresultsmedia

🌐  www.memorableresultsmedia.com

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

Episode Highlights:00:00 Thank You Note Edge00:34 Welcome and Guest Intro02:27 Michelle Journalism Origin05:17 Newsroom Communication Skills08:20 Liz TV Segment Lessons09:56 Switching to Corporate PR12:19 Grace After News Pace13:36 Gen Z Soft Skills Gap15:51 Handshake Practice Tips17:20 Confidence Building Next17:36 Reframing Networking Anxiety19:29 Be the Host in the Room20:17 Greek Leadership on Resumes24:29 Highlight Member Experience25:45 Mentorship Program Breakdown28:30 Thank You Notes That Win32:22 Reputation and Burning Bridges33:38 How to Connect with Michelle34:44 House Hot Takes Design Tip35:32 Final Wrap and Subscribe

Liz Alexander welcomes designer and podcast host Renée Biery of DeVignier Design to discuss how women—especially homeowners and sorority housing volunteers—can feel confident, informed, and effective during renovations. Renee shares how her training in drafting and construction language helped her contribute as an equal on job sites, and why job sites feel intimidating when people don’t understand the process or hesitate to ask questions. They emphasize clarifying scope before requesting bids, avoiding assumptions that lead to change orders, and choosing a contractor who feels like a good fit because projects are long and emotional. Renee advises house corporation leaders to define their role early, not pretend to know what they don’t, stay organized, be accessible for time-sensitive decisions, and set structured weekly meetings. Liz closes with a “House Hot Take” on planning storage for sorority houses.

📌 Connect with Renée:

📸 : @devignierdesign

🎙️: devignierdesign.com/podcast/

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

00:00 Podcast cold open00:47 Meet Renée Biery of Devignier Design02:25 Design origin story04:32 Learning renovations06:58 Early jobsite lessons09:48 Why jobsites intimidate11:20 Contractor communication gaps15:31 House board leadership tips18:41 Define Your Scope19:50 Choosing the Right Contractor21:04 HGTV Expectations Check21:51 Timing Your Renovation24:30 Quoting and Client Fit27:06 Deadline Clarity Lessons29:16 Organization and Asking Questions30:53 Accessibility and Decision Systems33:30 Weekly Meetings Workflow35:45 Wrap Up and Hot Takes36:29 Storage Is Insurance37:27 Final Outro and Credits

In this solo Sorority Chat episode, host Liz Alexander (Alpha Gamma Delta alumna and founder of PDR Interiors) unpacks an interview with female founders in Authority Magazine to share her origin story and lessons learned while building a design business through recession, family illness, the pandemic, and divorce. She explains how early experiences shaped her belief that design affects how people feel and why the most meaningful businesses are built around people and connection. Liz reflects on an early mistake that taught her how to respond and recover, then outlines what she wishes she’d known sooner: know your “why,” embrace the business side (finances, systems, strategy, delegation), build with both soul and structure, ask for help through mentors and peers, and rely on resilience. She closes with a “House Hot Take” that recruitment isn’t a decorating competition—authentic, values-aligned spaces recruit better than overdone trends.

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

Episode Highlights:00:00 Why Business Needs Numbers00:56 Solo Episode Setup01:48 Early Design Roots03:24 Starting PDR In Hard Times05:09 Biggest Early Mistake06:25 What Holds Women Back07:40 Five Founder Lessons11:12 Designing For Connection12:45 House Hot Takes Recruitment13:47 Wrap Up And Credits

On today's episode of Sorority Chat, Liz interviews Misty Hall, owner of Loose Ends 38655, a dorm-essentials business that began when she designed her daughter's Ole Miss dorm room.

The business has grown to serve students across more than 30 campuses, offering items such as signature cubbies, desk hutches, shelves, fridge cabinets, and custom textiles hand-built with her husband, Chris. Misty shares how her creativity started with sewing, how word-of-mouth and social media helped the business expand, and why creating a comfortable space helps students feel at home. They discuss roommate dynamics, the importance of setting expectations, and common dorm mistakes, such as bringing too much.

Misty highlights must-haves like linens, headboards, and art, as well as current color trends and her milestone of showcasing designs in the University of Mississippi Housing showrooms. Liz closes with a “House Hot Take": recruitment design should reflect chapter values, not the competition.

📌 Connect with Misty:

📸  @looseends38655

🌐  looseends38655.com

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alums, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

Episode Highlights:00:00 Podcast Cold Open00:38 Welcome and Mission01:02 Meet Misty and Loose Ends02:32 Roots in Sewing and Creativity03:49 From Mom to Dorm Designer04:54 Turning Help Into Business06:58 Scaling to 30 Campuses09:53 How Clients Work With Them11:21 Working With Your Spouse14:12 Design Philosophy and Roommates15:09 Roommate Talk Early15:57 Personality Pairings16:44 Let Them Work It Out18:00 Dorm Design Mistakes18:40 Dorm Must-Haves19:18 Cubby Nightstand Hack20:27 Ole Miss Showrooms21:29 Dorm Color Trends22:27 Creative Business Advice23:17 Most Rewarding Moments24:20 Rapid Fire Round25:10 What's Next Ahead26:06 How To Connect26:47 Recruitment Decor Hot Take27:47 Wrap Up And Credits

Host Liz Alexander welcomes guest Bill Shaub, VP of Sales at The Brill Company, to discuss how chapter house design and furniture choices influence sorority member experience beyond aesthetics, affecting connection, privacy, mental wellness, and daily routines.

They share trends seen across campuses, including more singles and doubles, lighter wood finishes, lofted beds for space and privacy, and a shift toward oversized seating and sectionals balanced with quieter, private corners like wingbacks. The conversation covers branding and heritage displays in chapter houses; post-COVID fabric durability and cleaning; acoustics and softness through textiles; tech-driven changes to desks; and sustainability and “afterlife” options for long-lasting real-wood furniture. Liz closes with budget-friendly quick wins: improve furniture layout, warm up lighting, add lamps, and incorporate soft goods for comfort and sound control.

📌 Connect with Bill: 

iN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-shaub-0a024a16/

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

Episode Highlights:00:00 Cold Open Preview00:42 Welcome to Sorority Chat02:45 Why Design Shapes Experience03:57 Post COVID Room Trends06:30 Privacy vs Community Balance07:59 Seating Choices Students Love11:31 House History and Branding13:01 Lighter Stains and New Finishes16:36 Mental Health Design Moves21:26 Flexible Furniture for Small Rooms24:13 Sectionals Fabrics and Acoustics29:50 Comfort, Durability, and Pride34:00 Furniture Buying Tips and Afterlife37:10 Connect with Brill37:43 House Hot Take Quick Wins39:05 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Liz Alexander welcomes Caroline Zinkle and Erika Ross from PDR Interiors to discuss how confidence and leadership develop over time amid the pressure for college women and sorority chapters to “look” perfect. They share design trends they hope never return (fake ivy strands, boxwood walls, word art, and overused patterns), and how social media drives aesthetic comparison, copycat chapter culture, and shortened attention spans. The conversation explores leadership lessons learned the hard way—especially delegation, asking for help, decisiveness, prompt communication, accountability, and active listening—plus confidence “green flags” like preparedness and eye contact. They reflect on evolving personal style toward comfort and longevity, encourage trusting your gut and chasing what you want, and Liz closes with a “house hot take” on using winter and spring breaks for smaller sorority house updates.

📌 Connect with Caroline and Erika

📸  @erika.ross

📸  @carolinezinkle

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

Episode Highlights:00:00 Trust Your Gut00:47 Welcome To Sorority Chat02:25 Trends To Retire07:48 Social Media Pressure10:00 Dorm Aesthetic Arms Race13:22 Why Recruitment Matters16:19 Leadership Lessons Learned19:26 Traits Of Great Leaders21:22 Owning Mistakes Fast22:07 Leadership Confidence Signals23:50 Active Listening Era24:09 Rebuilding Attention Spans26:42 College Style Throwback30:13 Style Evolution and Confidence32:53 False Confidence Posturing34:47 Advice to College Self36:25 Wrap Up and Connect36:55 House Hot Take Updates38:05 Final Outro and Credits

She graduated from high school at 16, rushed the University of Kentucky, hit rock bottom after college, and built a wedding content business from scratch.
Lauren Caudill shares how discipline, Greek life, and resilience shaped her path from Kappa Delta at UK to launching Lauren Creative.

In this episode of Sorority Chat, host Liz Alexander sits down with University of Kentucky alumna Lauren Caudill to talk about sorority recruitment at 16, college entrepreneurship, post-graduation depression, and building a creative business before feeling “ready.”

Lauren opens up about:

• Becoming a national champion clogger and developing discipline early

• Graduating high school two years early to attend the University of Kentucky

• Navigating sorority recruitment as a teenager

• Building a Plexus business in college and learning sales, consistency, and goal-setting

• Experiencing post-grad depression and identity loss

• Rebuilding confidence through structure and personal development

• Launching Lauren Creative in 2025 as a wedding content creator

• Filming weddings on iPhone with a 24-hour turnaround

• Booking 12 weddings in year one, 16 the next — including a Disney wedding through networking

If you’re navigating life after college, rebuilding after a setback, or thinking about starting a business, this conversation is for you.

📌 Connect with Lauren

📸  https://www.instagram.com/clogger_lauren/

📌 Connect with Liz: 

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ 

• Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle!

Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Big Dreams Mindset
00:43 Meet Lauren Caudill
02:18 Disney Wedding Breakthrough
03:52 Clogging Roots Discipline
07:04 Plexus Hustle in College
11:11 Graduating High School Early
14:53 Rushing at Sixteen
18:22 Greek Life for Life
20:42 Post Grad Peak to Valley
24:02 Hitting Rock Bottom
24:53 Back to In Person Work
26:47 Spark Returns Slowly
28:16 Wedding Content Idea
29:49 Launching Without A Plan
32:56 First Clients And Growth
34:05 Mindset And Money Seasons
36:38 Expanding Beyond Weddings
38:16 Finding Your Spark Again
41:56 Where To Connect
42:46 House Hot Take Trust
43:40 Final Sign Off