authenticity – Greek University

Nathan Cook: Why Poetry Can Be More Effective

By admin on March 20, 2026

Nathan Cook is a captivating speaker, poet, and mental health advocate who transforms audiences with his powerful storytelling and spoken word. Drawing from his journey of overcoming adversity, Nathan inspires individuals to embrace self-leadership, make intentional choices, and take ownership of their narratives. Known for his unique combination of poetic expression and practical strategies, Nathan empowers professionals to thrive in their personal and professional lives while fostering emotional resilience and authenticity.

In episode 659 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out when Nathan realized he needed to change, how his experience in the US Navy shaped his view of leadership, pressure, and emotional control, what are college men telling themselves that might be holding them back, how students can create their legacy now, what is the danger of suppressing emotion in college, why anger is a destination that gives away your power, what self-leadership looks like for a college student, why poetry can be more effective than a lecture, and how students can reframe failure. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjo8wp1e95o

Fraternity/Sorority

Tonya Comer: Surviving to Thriving in College

By admin on November 25, 2025

Surviving to thriving in college? Today we speak to Tonya Comer, winner of the 2024 Nautilus Gold Book Award for Business & Leadership for the book: “In High Heels on a Ladder: The 7 Power Tools for Designing Your Life”. She has also been named one of the Top 20 African American Interior Designers in the United States. As a visionary who is bringing design to life, Tonya writes, speaks, coaches, leads, designs, and loves. And when she isn’t doing all of that, she lives life out loud as an adventure-seeking, rollercoaster-loving, jump-out-of-a-plane-first spirit.

In episode 623 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out about early defining moments that shaped Tonya’s ambition and resilience, what helped her move from “surviving” to truly “thriving”, what she would say to students wearing a mask of perfection, what are some practical strategies students can use today to overcome self-doubt and claim their confidence, what authenticity looks like for young adults navigating campus leadership roles, what is the biggest myth college students believe about “working hard” and success, what inspired her to write “In High Heels on a Ladder: The 7 Power Tools for Designing Your Life”, what is The RISE Method, what blind spots college students may have in friendships or romantic relationships, and advice for those trying to design a life. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU8Ttx9IIXU

Fraternity/Sorority

Colleen Gigante: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help in College

By admin on November 7, 2025

Don’t be afraid to ask for help in college. With over 7 years of experience as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Colleen Gigante has developed a passion for helping children and families overcome mental health challenges and achieve their full potential. She has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology which equip her with the knowledge and skills to provide effective and evidence-based interventions for various psychological issues. Colleen has contributed to the development and implementation of programs and initiatives that promoted mental health awareness and education in the community.

In episode 617 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out how Colleen was able to transform that pain into empowerment in her life, how college students can reconnect with their authentic selves, what mental health challenges she sees most frequently among college students, how she helps clients move from surviving to truly thriving, what colleges and fraternity/sorority leaders can do to make seeking therapy or counseling feel more normal and supported, how to use adversity as fuel for growth, and her advice for college students trying to balance authenticity with acceptance. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyRiyzok9a0

Fraternity/Sorority

Norma Hollis: How can students improve communication in their student organization?

By admin on December 20, 2023

Having spent over 25 years in business, Dr. Norma Hollis intimately understands the struggles and challenges that entrepreneurs face. She has weathered the storm and emerged stronger, armed with a wealth of wisdom and experience to share. Norma is a beacon of guidance, teaching leaders and others how to navigate stress, overcome obstacles, prepare for growth, and savor the fruits of their labor. Her insights and practical advice are invaluable resources for those on the entrepreneurial path, as she encourages them to stay focused, persevere, and bring their dreams to fruition. With her relatable storytelling and down-to-earth demeanor, Norma captivates as she imparts invaluable knowledge, helping leaders find the resilience and determination needed to succeed.

In episode 414 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Norma decided on Michigan State for her undergraduate experience, how she was able to impact the professional speaking industry for Black speakers, how students can embrace their authenticity and live with purpose, how students can discover team strengths and gaps in order to align their team, how students can navigate all the stress in their lives, how students can overcome obstacles in their life, Norma’s advice for people who want to develop their public speaking skills, how students can improve communication in their student organization, and how students can attract more diverse members.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn-FGkLrSDs

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Fatima Bustos-Choy: What should students do if they are confused about their career?

By admin on October 17, 2022

Dr. Fatima Bustos-Choy is on the show today! Dr. Fatima is a seasoned holistic life coach, author, and leadership development consultant with over 30 years of professional, corporate, and business experience. She has worked with thousands of people in helping them to overcome obstacles and to grow and become their best and truest selves. She believes that doing inner work first is the foundation for achieving outer work. This involves integrating your mind, heart, body, and spirit into all facets of your life and work and creating harmony between personal and professional goals.

In episode 309 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out about Dr. Fatima’s adjustment as young immigrant from the Philippines in search of the American dream, how her mother helps her as an inner voice, why we get butterflies in our stomach before a big event in our lives, how students can find their way if they are confused about their career, what students should do if their student organization needs a turnaround, what are the five paths to abundance and success, how chronic diseases are preventable in a natural way by making healthier choices, what are the relationships keys to better communication and authenticity, and what are some secret powers that we may not be using. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDnGP-Fubs

Fraternity/Sorority

Gavin Frye: How do we keep family relationships intact with disagreements on religion or politics?

By admin on October 6, 2022

Our next guest is Gavin Frye. Gavin is a licensed marriage and family psychotherapist since 1983 with a wealth of experience facilitating transformational work with individuals, couples and entrepreneurial leaders. His specialty is supporting people in the midst of fertile life transition. He served on faculty for 16 years at the University of Santa Monica in California from 1987-2002, co-facilitating the pioneering Masters Degree program in Spiritual Psychology. Gavin has experience designing and facilitating a wide range of transformational workshops.

In episode 304, we find out how Gavin was able to get through all the trauma he experienced as a child, why the University of Santa Monica is such a special place, why authenticity is actually our greatest and most untapped resource, how men can embrace vulnerability and courage in relationships, an example of authentic leadership in an organization and the benefits, how we can keep our family relationships intact when we have disagreements on religion or politics, how we can be uplifted by the news currently, what is the secret to a vibrant relationship, and how we successfully return back to in-person teaching, relationships, and real-world interactions after so much time away during the pandemic. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxKCqYgX6Is

Fraternity/Sorority

Anna Rodin: What should college students do if they feel lost & overwhelmed navigating adulthood?

By admin on August 19, 2022

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/24111750/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/191970/” height=”90″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”custom”]Our next guest is Anna Rodin. Anna’s mission is to share experiences from her own life and research, as well as advice from experts for people in their twenties. Anna is an author being published in January 2023 and she is working with New Degree Press and the Creator Institute to make this happen! She was brought to this book writing community after making some unexpected but extremely valuable detours, like studying abroad her first semester of school, getting her yoga teacher certification, and eventually transferring schools. Anna is very excited to share what she learned and the others that she was able to include in the book.

In episode 290 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Anna chose UConn for her undergraduate experience, what it was like to study abroad in Italy at 18 years old, what are the benefits of yoga for college students, what is driving her to publish her book called “For Your Twenties”, which thought leaders really resonated with her, why it’s important to uncover old wounds and face old trauma, what our college students should do if they feel a bit lost and overwhelmed navigating adulthood and choosing a career, and why authenticity/vulnerability is so important in building relationships. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he6KMVtsA7A