BDE: Big Dorm Energy

This episode is different than any other episode I’ve recorded thus far. I speak with Beth Segaloff who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, EMDR Therapist, Reiki Master, Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200), and Breathwork Facilitator. She has created a program called “Life School 101” where she helps teens and young adults learn how to respond to all of life’s experiences. Beth really believes in a whole health approach that integrates the mind, body, and one’s emotions. This was one of the most eye-opening conversations I have had on my show. It is a reminder that everyone hits speed bumps in their life and that you aren’t alone. I really hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording it. If you would like to sign up for Beth’s program and look into it here is the link! https://www.bethsegaloff.com/life-school-101-for-teens

I speak with Russell Stong who is a point guard for the UCLA Men's Basketball team. He is currently a senior double majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Business and Economics. A very driven and studious individual, Russel came to UCLA for academics. However, a few months into his freshman year of college he got a phone call that would change his life forever. Listen to hear Russel's story about walking onto the renowned UCLA Men's Basketball team, his determination to succeed academically, and his experience at March Madness 2021. Something you can't miss!

Coming in hot to 2022 with one of the most compelling episodes yet. Come be a fly on the wall of the most authentic conversation between four college girls all about BOYS. I sit down with UC Davis juniors Allison Ogulnick, Leah Rossi, and Mary Moyers where we talk about sex, one-night stands, what we are looking for from guys, the infamous term, the "ick," turn-ons and turn-offs, and the list continues. It is what every guy wants to know and what every girl is too afraid to say to their face. Something you CANNOT miss.

I speak with Dr. Karyl Kicenski who is my professor in my Communications and Identity course at UCLA. Kicenski earned her undergraduate and master's degrees at Cal State Northridge and her Ph.D. at George Mason University. Her degrees cover the field of Communication Studies in addition to Cultural Studies. In her research and in the classroom she aims to uncover the links between the expression of ideas and the structures of social power and privilege. Upon taking her class this quarter I have learned about the power of perception and the making of the self. I wanted to have Dr. Kicenski on my podcast to further discuss compelling things we discuss in class as well as learn about her career in teaching. I was surprised to learn about how she barely had a C average in high school and for a long time never had any aspirations to become a professor. The conversations we have are both enriching and enlightening. They highlight that not everybody's path in life is linear, and to truly trust the educational process. Dr. Kicenski gives current college students sound advice from a professor's perspective and shares her knowledge and wisdom.

IT HAS BEEN 5 MONTHS BUT WE ARE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER. I am kicking off this new school year with an episode with Maddie Lorber who is a sophomore at UCLA double majoring in Psychology and Political Science. Maddie was the classic, driven, a bright student in high school who locked herself in her room determined to get into a good school. Now at her dream school, she talks about attending her first party, navigating hookup culture, recalls previous boy experiences, and opens up about the difficulties of being a young adult in college. Maddie leaves EVERYTHING on the table, and I can guarantee that you will learn a lot and be entertained. *** TRIGGER WARNING: We do discuss sexual assault and inappropriate touching in this episode***

Jim Newton is a veteran journalist where he worked as a writer, reporter, editor, bureau chief, and columnist for the LA Times for 25 years. He is a recipient of many national and local awards in journalism and worked on several prominent cases such as OJ Simpson, Rodney King, and Michael Jackson. Now a retired writer, Newton teaches a writing course and a Journalistic Ethics course at UCLA. He also founded Blueprint Magazine in the Luskin School of Public Affairs. He comes on the show today to discuss how his passion for journalism began in high school, how it flourished during his time at Dartmouth College, his career as a journalist, and why wanted to become a professor. Professor Newton and I engage in rich discussion about the evolution of journalism, talk about what it was like to work on such prevalent cases, and he gives advice to college kids about how to make the most of their experience.

I spoke with Devin Mallory who is a senior at UCLA majoring in dance and minoring in Food Studies. In his junior year, Devin broke barriers by being the first male to join UCLA's spirit squad. Devin talks about the stigmas of being a male dancer, his experience as the mascot Joe the Bruin, his desire to join the squad, and the challenges he faced being under the microscope. We also discuss the pervasive role diet culture plays in athlete's lives and the work he aspires to do as a nutritionist to change these norms in society.

Welcome to the mind of a teenage girl. I speak candidly about my own struggles this past quarter and do some self-reflecting. I have not released an episode in a FAT minute. I do not hold back! I talk about toxic friends, boy problems, how school is difficult, and how I have grown as a person. ANYONE can relate to what I say. The episode ends with an update on how I am doing and the positive energy I have for spring quarter! CHECK IT OUT!

I speak with Ryan Armour who is a sophomore studying Retailing and Consumer Behavior at the University of Wisconsin. Over quarantine, Ryan started a clothing company called Hopeless Visionary; his brand emulates California street style as they sell a combination of hoodies, graphic tees, sweat shorts, and sweatpants... however, there is a twist. Upon creating a clothing company Ryan felt it was imperative his brand had an overarching message. Despite how cliche it might sound, Hopeless Visionary's mission is to inspire individuals to follow their vision and pursue their passion. During the time of the pandemic, many were feeling lost and hopeless. As a result, Ryan wanted to create a product that restored people's faith and gave them the fire to believe. Ryan explained how he decided to name his brand, the technicalities that go into creating clothing, how Wisconsin has given him the resources to thrive, and his hopes and dreams for the future. His message is empowering, his clothes r awesome, and this episode is just a reminder to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

Let’s be real. Oftentimes being a teenager you think that you know EVERYTHING, especially when it comes to the Coronavirus. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Felt it was important to talk to an expert in order to better understand the science behind the virus, how it spreads so rapidly, and to learn about the vaccine. I interviewed Kirstin Chickering who is a Public Health worker at UCLA. Kirstin did her undergrad at Duke University studying International Relations and French; after she graduated she got a job working in Public Health that blended her love of traveling with speaking multiple languages. This led to a 30-year career in public health. Kirstin and I engage in an honest and compelling conversation about COVID-19. I learned so much from speaking with her and will guarantee you will too. Also a HUGE thank you to all of the public health workers for your job during this pandemic we really appreciate your work!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I want to start 2021 off on the right foot - starting dialogues about being happy with yourself and being who you want to be. This episode is especially fitting with that theme. I interview Leah Olvera who is a transgender woman. She is a sophomore studying film at the University of California Santa Cruz. She comes on BDE today to share her story about when she decided to transition, coming out to her friends and family, and the struggle of not having a parent accept her new identity. This episode is very enlightening and I was so honored Leah came on to share her story.

I speak with brothers Adam and Josh Buchwald, two survivors of the Parkland shooting back in 2018, who recently founded a global organization called 'Promise To Humanity.' They created a digital pledge for people to sign promising to wear a mask, social distance, and try to stay safe during this global pandemic. Adam is a sophomore at the University of Florida and he and I discussed frequent COVID scares and what it is like to attend college amidst a pandemic. I asked the boys about the shooting back in 2018 and how their lives were affected by it. We spoke about conversations they had with Dr. Fauci, the WHO, Matthew McConaughey about how the growth of their non-partisan organization. Adam and Josh are perfect examples of teenagers taking action and using their voices to fight for changes that they believe in. When speaking to the boys, McConaughey said it best, "I support Josh and Adam Buchwald's Promise to Humanity pledge because the safer we are today, the more we can party tomorrow."

I speak with UCLA alum, Kay Ovcharenko, Izzy Roshko, and Graziella Cannarsa about the tutoring company they started called Ignite. Founded in the summer of 2019, Ignite Tutoring LA was created with the importance of mentorship in mind. The company is unique because it preaches friendship/mentorship coupled with learning. During this pandemic, parents have frantically been searching to get their children tutored out of fear that they will fall behind. As a result, Ignite Tutoring has grown exponentially in recent months reaching new heights. This episode is an inspiring story of how three best friends started a company with the purpose of educating the youth by incorporating friendship into learning. I encourage you to check out their website if you need an amazing tutor, or to learn more about the company! https://www.ignitetutoringla.com/about

I speak with recent UCLA graduate Patrick Wilson. Patrick is from Denver, Colorado and he comes on my show to discuss graduating college during a pandemic. He opens up about feeling lonely and lost after his senior year and how this scary feeling paralleled his freshman year experience. The graduate answers the "what's next" question about his future plans. He and I discuss the potential COVID-19 vaccine, the pivotal role Camp Kesem played in our college experiences, and play a fun game of Two Truths and a Lie. This is a feel-good episode with lots of warm and fuzzies. You get to be the fly on the wall of an honest and raw conversation. ENJOY!

I speak with UCLA juniors, Presley Campbell and Alden Kramer about their eco-friendly clothing line: Campbell and Kramer. The power duo started out as freshman year roommates where they thrifted pieces to make them high-end. Over quarantine, the company blew up and they are most well known for their iconic tie-dye sweat sets. I get a behind the scenes scoop of their motivation to start their company, how they balance school and work, obstacles they have had to overcome, and their hopes and dreams for Campbell and Kramer. Two boss queens who share a passion for sustainable fashion. TUNE IN!

Living in my sorority house I have noticed that body image/ body dysmorphia is an issue that a prominent issue that isn’t widely discussed. I hear daily remarks about people’s weight, finding the “healthier” option, and girls picking apart the way they look. I felt it was important to discuss this head-on with other girls living in the house. On today's episode, I speak with UCLA sophomores Maddy Malin and Ellen Amico about their personal struggles with eating disorders and body image. We discuss trigger warnings for people who struggle with food, diet culture, how social media affects the way we see ourselves, calorie counting, and frustrating conversations that occur in our house surrounding this topic. We need to change this narrative and erase the stigma of body issues from society. The first step to achieving this is talking about it. If you or anybody is struggling with body image, body dysmorphia, an eating disorder, etc. check out @yourbodyyourimage which is a website that educates people about body image and gives people the platform to share their stories. They inspire self-love which is very important especially during this time. Additionally, if you are struggling I encourage you to seek help from a professional because they will know how to help you establish a new relationship with food and your body.

Kristen Schlee is from Stockton, CA, and studied math at UCLA, and got her master's degree from UC Berkeley. Kristen, or as I call her, Ms. Schlee, was my math teacher in both middle school and high school. Not only was she my teacher, but she was my club advisor, my mentor, and now my friend. She comes on BDE to discuss why she decided to become a teacher, meeting her husband at UCLA (and spills the tea about their love story), and about her college experience. We. bond over our love for podcasts and how COVID has deprived us of social interaction. GO LISTEN!

I speak with Gillian Gurney, a senior studying Political Science at Emory. Gillian talks about her experience being a student-athlete at the elite private school Harvard Westlake. Gillian opens up about her miserable freshman year of college at BU and how/why she decided to transfer to Emory. My goal was to shed light on the process of transferring colleges and finding your own niche wherever that may be.

I speak with Ella Ponthier, a UT alum. Ella breaks down recalling her experience being bullied in middle/ high school. She opens up about toxic boys, being lonely in college, and having an eating disorder. She tells me about how she got stuck in Peru during the beginning stages of COVID, and what her life looks like moving forward. Ella is relatable and honest and doesn’t hold back.

With everything going on right now with COVID-19, our future is uncertain. This pandemic has affected college life and has caused many recent high school graduates to take gap years. One of whom is Tess Levy, daughter of famous director Shawn Levy. Tess has been preparing her whole life to attend college, but only recently decided she is going to take a gap year in Israel prior to attending Yale University next fall. Tess comes on BDE and opens up about taking the road less travelled, why Yale was her dream school, and what awaits her in the road ahead.

Today I speak with UCLA junior Addison Wingate about sexual assault. She opens up about her personal experiences with being sexually assaulted and details her process of healing. She opens up about her relationship with her parents, her first love, and how being assaulted affected hookup culture for her in college. This episode highlights the trauma caused by sexual assault, and why it is so necessary to normalize talking about people's experiences. I applaud Addison's strength for coming onto the podcast and being so vulnerable and forthcoming. This is yet another reminder to ALWAYS treat people with respect and kindness.

I sit down and speak with my two freshman roommates from college. We confront each other about previous fights we had, discuss how we all became roommates, "glirting" and play a game of which roommate is most likely to...

Everybody has their questions and hesitations prior to going to college. Well, I (your host, Ashley Lifton) got you COVERED!! I break it all down for you in this episode where I answer people's assumptions about college. Everything is on the table for discussion, sexiling your roommate, how common are STDs, finding your friend group right away, time-management, and more!!

I speak with rising Brown sophomore Elyse Forman and rising Tulane sophomore Kate Stackel about how they are coping with life right now. We break down how our schools are dealing with COVID and what we expect next year to look like. We release all of our negative energy about how COVID has affected our lives, and most specifically our housing situations.

I spoke with college counselor Alexis White about the future of college admissions and college applications for rising seniors. She gives advice about the do's and don'ts for what to write about, and emphasizes the importance of letting your voice shine through on your application. We discuss the future of standardized testing and how to navigate this quarantine.

June is the month for gay pride and serves as a reminder to love all and be accepting of others. Especially with the recent actions taken against the gay and transgender community, I felt it was important to dedicate an episode to the pride movement. I spoke with my good friend, and rising freshman at USC, Max Bross about his internalized homophobia and how he mustered up the courage to come out in the 11th grade. Max and I talk about sex, his body count, dating apps, bearded relationships, and more. It is a good reminder to continuously spread love and kindness.

This is the first episode of a series I am doing dedicated to talking about hookup culture in college. I give listeners the real inside scoop by offering different perspectives and stories about people's experiences with hookups and relationships in college. This episode is broken down into three segments where I speak to three college students about their relationships and hookups freshman year. We cover topics from sex, one night stands, high school sweethearts, and everything in between. We spill lots of tea about what the hookup culture is really like and what you should anticipate. Enjoy :)

Zayan Khanmohammed is a rising sophomore attending UC Berkeley majoring in Molecular/Cellular Biology and Neurobiology. Zayan and I share stories from middle school and high school and recall how we first became friends. Zayan opens about about the difficulty of merging his religious identity with his American identity and how that affected his college experience. Being in a more "cut throat environment" taught him time management skills and forced him to adapt a go-getter attitude. Zayan addresses the fears many high school students feel prior to attending college; a super informative and interesting interview! Enjoy <3

In this weeks episode I speak to several college students about their experience with the Black Lives Matter movement. They share personal stories of the injustice they have experienced living as a person of color in America. They share their thoughts and opinions surrounding the movement, and ways to enact change. It is important to have a conversation recognizing black rights as human rights. Some organizations you can donate to and research: NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU, Reclaim The Block, Campaign Zero, and dozens more. Books and documentaries you should read and watch: 13th, I Am Not Your Negro, Just Mercy, The New Jim Crow, Get Out, BlacKKKlansman.

Luke and Ollie are freshmen attending UCLA. They play D1 soccer for the UCLA Men's Soccer Team. They open up about the demands of being a college athlete, their dreams of becoming pro-soccer players, and balancing their dating life with soccer. There isn't a dull moment in this episode!

Chloe is a freshman attending Washington University double majoring in International Affairs and Chinese and minoring in Organizational Strategic Management. Chloe gets candid about coming into her own in college; she recalls awkward boy encounters, confronting her roommate about an issue they had, and about making lifelong friendships. This episode will definitely make you laugh!

Spencer Netherda is a junior transfer student at UCLA. He opens up about why he chose to attend junior college prior to attending a 4-year university. Spencer opens up about his struggles at community college and how he is coping with being back home during this pandemic. Spencer and I share laughs as we remember the crazy night we met and how we became friends. We discuss the magic of being apart of an organization like Camp Kesem and reminisce on fun experiences we had in college.

I give myself a quick introduction and explain why I wanted to start this podcast in the first place.

Shaya Naimi is a freshman at UCLA majoring in Applied Math and minoring in Iranian Studies. Shaya opens up about the struggle to find your people in college, how she overcame roommate problems, and going to school close to home. Shaya and I bond over the powers of journaling and how it has throughout our college experience.

Marlee Tierney is a freshman in the Theater Film and Television Program at UCLA. Marlee discusses the close-knit theater community, and her struggles to find a balance between the social and school aspects of college.