compassion – Greek University

Steve Kelly: The Power of Kindness in College

By admin on March 10, 2026

Stephen Kelly is a speaker and author. He is a filmmaker and former high school teacher of public speaking, theater arts and religion. He also coached wrestling, basketball and baseball. Steve recently wrote his first children’s book called “Butterflied”.

In episode 650 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what made kindness his message, what patterns he saw in young people when it came to self-esteem and how they treated one another, how kindness is more powerful than a tornado on a college campus, what was the moment in his own life where kindness completely changed his direction, what actually happens in the brain when we perform an act of kindness, what he would say to fraternity men who believe toughness is more important than compassion, can kindness actually improve academic performance and confidence, what is happening psychologically in those moments of hazing or exclusion in college, what are some practical ways fraternity and sorority members can make someone’s day on campus, and what does self-kindness look like for a stressed-out college student. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3rwmZlCPTQ

Fraternity/Sorority

Dr. Dean Rudoy: Give What You Need

By admin on October 29, 2025

Dr. Dean Rudoy is a graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, trained at the New York University-Bellevue Medical Center, and received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Fordham University. He is author of three books, including his latest — EMISSARIES: Stories and Reflections — a collection of 60 stories lived and lessons learned over the past three quarters of a century — which has been described as “a quiet book for chaotic times”. In addition to practicing, teaching, and writing about psychology, he has been devoted to causes — children, peace, social justice, and human rights — serving as consultant to national and international organizations and on various boards, including that of The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, on whose Board of Trustees he currently serves.

In episode 610 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what inspired Dr. Rudoy’s shift from political to psychological healing, how those early experiences in social justice shaped the way he approaches healing and empathy today, what he means by “give what you need”, what it means to have “a quiet book for chaotic times”, how students can do daily acts of service on campus, how students can accept that we are whole as we are, how students can develop inner confidence and compassion for themselves, how they can recognize and trust the emissaries in their lives, and what advice he would give his 21 year-old self about living a meaningful life. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOUGP-UFpiA

Fraternity/Sorority

Erika Sinner: Building an Empathy-Centered Culture

By admin on August 19, 2025

Building an empathy-centered culture in your organization is possible! Erika Sinner is a CEO, an empathy driven culture advocate, and the guiding force behind Directorie®, an Inc5000 company dedicated to propelling life science organizations forward in bringing vital products to market. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Erika’s innovative spirit has fostered successful teams and elevated brands within the pharmaceutical industry. For Erika Sinner, empathy is more than understanding another person’s perspective—it’s about creating environments where people feel seen and valued. Growing up in a household marked by instability, she also learned how important it is to create spaces where people feel safe. Erika is not merely a CEO or an author; she’s a catalyst for healing and transformation.

In episode 597 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out how early life instability shaped her views on leadership and empathy, why she chose Lindenwood University, how she was able to learn to navigate challenges without losing her sense of compassion, her advice for building an inclusive, empathy-centered culture in organizations, learn more about TinySuperheroes® and her mission to bring a “superhero culture” to children’s hospitals, how Greek organizations get involved in bringing hope and empowerment to kids in hospitals, why she decided to write “Pets Are Family” after her dog Kingston passed away, whether pet bereavement leave will be widely adopted, and what drives her to confront societal gaps head-on. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoNDCBA3UHM

Fraternity/Sorority

Jesse Hile: Why is vulnerability such an important part of leadership?

By admin on March 8, 2024

More than just an executive business, life coach, and speaker, Jesse Hile is on a mission to help high performers, leaders, athletes, teams, and organizations to create the most extraordinary version of themselves. By leading with empathy and compassion, Jesse is helping his clients find ways to create the life and business they desire, and the person they want to become. Through his deep 1:1 coaching and team development coaching, individuals and teams see a long lasting transformation personally and professionally. His job is to care about you and the results you want to create for yourself, holding you accountable to keep you responsible for elevating to the life you desire.

In episode 429 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out why Jesse chose Indiana State University for his undergraduate experience, what was special about the men of Phi Kappa Psi that made him want to join, what was the powerful and personal story about his fraternity brothers helping him in a time of crisis, how students can lead with empathy and compassion to create meaningful and powerful relationships in their chapter, how he discovers what is truly holding his clients back from where they want to be, how to fix retention in your organization, how we improve unity on a college campus between fraternity and sorority chapters, why vulnerability is so important in leadership, and how you can be more fully present. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hecZVS5F1Xs

Fraternity/Sorority

Interview with Caren DeCesaris on self-compassion, vulnerability, and connectivity

By admin on March 20, 2019

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/9072512/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/191970/” height=”90″ width=”100%” placement=”top” theme=”custom”]Check out this interview with Caren DeCesaris, a speaker who focuses on young women ages 15 – 25, as well as the founder of TheSoulSpeakCo where she runs coaching programs and events to create the change we want to see in ourselves and the world around us. We talk about the need for vulnerability in conversations, the relationship between food and your body, learning from mistakes, and releasing our judgement of our brothers/sisters. You don’t want to miss it!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnVTo3zv9GA