Mindy Tucker: Building Sorority Rush Into Resume Power

Every August, “RushTok” floods social feeds with clips of cheer routines, designer outfits, and viral Bid Day reveals. But behind the social media spectacle, modern sorority recruitment at major universities has quietly transformed into a multimonth, six-figure corporate operation run entirely by college women. Mindy Tucker, CEO of Tri Delta, is shifting that conversation in her new op-ed, “Beyond the Balloons.” Drawing from her firsthand look at recruitment operations at the University of Arkansas, Mindy breaks down how college women manage massive budgets, negotiate commercial vendor contracts, and lead teams of 600+ peers—developing elite project management and leadership skills that help their resume building and careers.

In episode 700 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out how her career eventually led her to become the CEO of Tri Delta, what her work experience taught her about leadership in the Fraternity and Sorority world, what people misunderstand about leading an organization like Tri Delta, what made her write the op-ed called “Beyond The Balloons”, why students sometimes struggle to explain their value to employers, whether running a sorority chapter is harder than managing employees, how we can make sure the members are delivering on their promises, and one leadership lesson she wish she knew at age 21. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYBW4gpYBPU

Fraternity/Sorority

Nicolena Nino-Rosato & Timothy Rosato: Building Consent Cultures in College

Attorney Nicolena Nino-Rosato has a unique and diverse background. Having started her career in the District Attorney’s office while completing her master’s degree In Healthcare Ethics and Bioethics, she understands all sides of a criminal case. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Washington and Jefferson University in 2005. She then earned her joint JD/MA at Duquesne University and in 2008 Nicole went on to complete her residency program for her PhD at Duquesne University at Mercy Hospital. After working for a large firm in downtown Pittsburgh, Attorney Nino furthered her education by attending Saint James School of Medicine, to which she attributes her ability to grasp difficult medical concepts that come up in her cases. We also have with us co-Founder Timothy Rosato of an app called The NotME App.

In episode 682 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out common legal situations that college students find themselves in unintentionally, why communication is so complicated today, what was the inspiration behind The NotME App, healthy ways that college students can communicate their boundaries, how technology has changed the way college students communicate, what role alcohol plays in clouding communication, what is Title IX, how fraternities and sororities can create consent cultures in college, and how being a parent changes the way you think about student safety. Learn more about the app at: https://www.thenotmeapp.com

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Allen Lycka: Get Out of Survival Mode and Start Living

Dr. Allen Lycka is acknowledged as one of the leading cosmetic dermatologists globally for three decades. In 2003, Dr. Lycka was misdiagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and, after additional research, discovered he had Chronic Lyme Disease. He was treated and practiced for another 16 years as a cosmetic dermatologist. He retired in 2019 to help others overcome adversity as he did. Because of what he learned, he co-authored the bestselling book “The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life.” He co-authored two more bestsellers in 2020, “bLU Talks Presents: Business, Life and the Universe,” with Corey Poirier and “Pillars of Success” with Jack Canfield. The second edition of “The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life” launched in 2023.

In episode 681 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why many leaders feel like they are in survival mode instead of influence mode, what is the Leadership Alignment Model, why student leaders assume that feeling exhausted and overwhelmed is just “part of leadership”, what is the misalignment between energy and load, what influences a leader’s energy, how to reduce unnecessary leadership load, what does leading from the summit look like, how to create a culture where leadership responsibilities are shared instead of centralized in one exhausted person, what is the FAST Leadership Energy Index, and how students can check themselves on the index. You can book a meeting with Dr. Allen Lycka (up to 3 students per week) by emailing him at: baslcjsm@gmail.com

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg5wqbxaBto

 

Fraternity/Sorority

Christianne Meneses Jacobs: Finding Your Dream Job After College

For Christianne Meneses Jacobs, the roles of author and educator go hand-in-hand. A veteran educator and career readiness expert with over 25 years of experience, a Master’s degree in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) and certifications as a Reading Specialist, she has dedicated her career to shaping the lives of children and adolescents. Her work is rooted in the belief that literacy and professional skills are the primary tools for lifelong success. Christianne has witnessed first-hand the widening “skills gap” facing young adults today. This book is the result of her classroom experiences and is designed to give the next generation the professional tools they are not learning in standard academic settings.

In episode 679 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out how Kappa Alpha Theta shaped her career, when she realized there was a major gap in career readiness, how to grow your skills gap in your first job, what are the 7 key areas for career readiness, what advice she would give students who are struggling to find a job, how to get past the applicant tracking system, and what a great LinkedIn profile looks like. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMmw1EgFX9A

Fraternity/Sorority

Tammie Osborne: What You Didn’t Know About Starting a Business

Before COVID-19 hit the US in 2020, Tammie Osborne spent over a dozen years as an in-demand nationwide healthcare technology executive and consultant, on the road nearly every week. Tammie knew she needed to uncover a new ‘normal’, one she hoped to find in a coworking space. She soon learned, however, that her corner of Middle Tennessee didn’t offer what she envisioned. So, in true entrepreneur fashion, she discovered a new passion: to create that which she was seeking and build a place where busy women could be productive without distraction, continue to grow professionally, socialize, and even exhale. The Sapphire Suite in Franklin, TN is fashioned as a destination—a thoughtful, welcoming place where women can crush their task lists and conquer new frontiers in a dynamic, nurturing environment of like-minded women. In this place, female strengths, intuition, and potential are organically recognized and nurtured; and women will always be made to feel both supported and inspired.

In episode 655 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what drew Tammie into healthcare, what was the moment she know that she needed to build something new, how you know when it’s time to pivot, why designing a co-working space was so important in Middle Tennessee, how we can design spaces where people feel safe, supported, and inspired, how organizations can balance productivity and social culture, how college students can seek out mentors without feeling intimidated, what nobody told her about starting a business, and why you shouldn’t feel pressure to have your whole career mapped out. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf4CBW7XS6Q

Fraternity/Sorority

Lindsay Barnett: The Impact of Kindness in the Body

On top of Lindsay Barnett’s extensive training as a certified Integral Coach, she has spent more than two decades leading and transforming organizations at every stage of growth—from startups to global enterprises like Mattel. She has worked through hypergrowth, integrations, and organizational redesigns, always drawn to the moments when people and systems are in motion and transformation is possible. Lindsay’s own career has been a story of reinvention. She has pivoted across roles, industries, and continents — pursuing flexibility and purpose as her life and values evolved. Lindsay has lived and worked abroad, immersed in different cultures, and learned firsthand how perspective expands when you step outside what’s familiar. Those experiences taught her that transformation isn’t just organizational — it’s deeply personal.

In episode 654 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what Lindsay is seeing right now in terms of stress, isolation, and division, what happens in the body when we show kindness or even see kindness, why college students underestimate kindness as a stress-reduction strategy, how chronic stress change how we treat each other, what is the connection between burnout and unkindness, how does everyday kindness reduce the likelihood of harmful behaviors, what does “self-kindness” look like for high-achieving students, how we can reframe students from being afraid that kindness equals weakness, how kindness habits formed in college can impact someone’s career long term, and how kindness — toward yourself or others — play a role in your recovery. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC9BlPov_KU

Fraternity/Sorority

Jonathan Salmen: Accountability in Student Organizations

Our next guest is Jonathan Salmen, a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon from the University of Louisville who also served as Regional Director for his National Fraternity where he oversaw chapter operations for 17 chapters. He’s worked for Dell Technologies and is now at Northwestern Mutual, but he also does coaching to improve life and career outcomes for young men.

On episode 646 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why he chose the University of Louisville, why he decided to join Sigma Phi Epsilon, how his personal experiences shaped a mission of more health, wealth, and happiness, what are the leadership lessons he learned as Regional Director for Sigma Phi Epsilon, how college students can balance academics, leadership, and social life, how to reduce stress for busy chapter leaders, how negative thought patterns limit student success, what conversations about money should students be having before graduation, why community service so important for personal growth, and how to get accountability in student organizations. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDowfhTX8Eg

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Kasi Lacey: Increasing Psychological Safety in Fraternity and Sorority Life

As a former C-suite executive, Dr. Kasi Lacey know what it’s like to be the only woman at the table. She has built departments, led strategic plans, secured millions in grants, and managed crisis after crisis—all while battling imposter syndrome behind closed doors. She felt the pressure to prove herself. To be polished. To not take up too much space. Today, she speaks and coaches so that other women don’t have to carry that same pressure alone. Her keynote talks, workshops, and coaching programs are designed to help high-achieving students lead with clarity, confidence, and courage. She combines the science of psychology with real-world leadership experience to spark meaningful change—whether in a conference ballroom, a corporate boardroom, or a Zoom call with students who are ready for more. She has spoken to executives, educators, healthcare leaders, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, HR teams, students, and women in male-dominated fields—sharing tools to overcome burnout, build emotional intelligence, quiet the inner critic, and rise into roles they deserve.

In episode 641 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Dr. Lacey chose Austin College for her undergraduate experience, how starting off life in survival mode helped to shape her view of confidence, what her experiences in higher education leadership taught her about confidence, power, and silence that psychology alone couldn’t, what is the biggest misconception leaders have about confidence, what are some signs advisors or chapter leaders should watch for that signal confidence issues, how can Fraternity or Sorority leaders increase psychological safety in their organization, how student leaders can set boundaries without feeling like they’re letting their chapter down, why leaders tend to isolate themselves as responsibility increases, what role fraternities and sororities play in either reinforcing—or closing—the confidence gap for students, and what mindset shift has to happen first for real culture change to stick. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHtQ-hSfPg4

Fraternity/Sorority

Eddie Francis: Leadership Requires Intentional Development

Leadership requires intentional development! A passionate NPHC speaker, Eddie began his leadership journey as president of his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity chapter at Loyola University New Orleans, where he was also vice president of the Interfraternity Council. Because of his leadership, Eddie earned the Spirit of Loyola Award for Racial Understanding. He even choreographed a step routine that won second place at the ever-popular Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands and Greek Show! Eddie later served as an alumni chapter president and campus chapter advisor. Professionally, Eddie is a consultant who led marketing and communications at Southern University at New Orleans, Paul Quinn College, Dillard University, and Talladega College. He is an adjunct instructor for Southern New Hampshire University who has also taught at Tulane University and Dallas College. Additionally, Eddie’s diverse professional background includes mass media and talent acquisition.

In episode 638 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out the biggest mistakes or struggles for Eddie that eventually shaped the D9 Leadership Blueprint, when he realized that leadership requires intentional development, why he chose to blend research, real-world leadership, and “D9 Old Head Wisdom”, how leaders move from survival mode to intentional leadership, what is a self-awareness exercise or mindset shift he would recommend, how Ubuntu show up practically in fraternity and sorority leadership, how understanding followership actually make someone a more effective leader, what is one concept from the D9 Leadership Blueprint that would create the biggest ripple effect, what role do alumni play in reinforcing intentional leadership instead of just critiquing from the sidelines, and how he helps young leaders understand legacy without overwhelming them. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWoGJdrLK9E

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Victoria Vaughn: Communication Skills for Dating

Communication skills for dating in college are essential! Dr. Victoria Vaughn, a retired educator and lifelong learner, found herself newly single at fifty-five after a thirty-year marriage. Entering the senior dating pool, she discovered not just frogs but full-suitcases of “baggage”—from the talker and the narcissist to the bully, the cheater, and more. Her memoir, “Oh the Frogs I Kissed Before I Finally Found My Prince”, blends humor, honesty, and hard-won wisdom. With stories that are both entertaining and eye-opening, she invites readers to laugh, nod in recognition, and take away insights for their own dating journeys. 10% of all profits from the book will go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.

In episode 628 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what was the biggest shock jumping back into the dating world after 30 years of marriage, when she realized these stories could help younger adults who are also trying to navigate modern dating, what early dating behaviors signal “Frog Alert”, advice for students to spot “dating profile embellishment” before it becomes a disaster, how can someone tell when substance use crosses the line into a red flag, what were the earliest signs she missed that today’s students should pay attention to, why do people override their gut instinct in early dates, what role did self-respect and self-knowledge play in her eventual decision to walk away from men who were clearly wrong, what communication habits should students look for in a healthy partner, and why is it OK to go slowly. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCTsv4Y6-OY

Fraternity/Sorority