Root to Rising

Starting college can feel exciting, overwhelming, and completely unpredictable—all at once. In this special episode of Root to Rising , Christine sits down with current college student Katherine Chialdikas and recent graduates Elle Thomas and Ellie Ternes for an honest conversation about what freshman year is really like. They share the realities of move-in day, making friends, sorority recruitmen...

What if your purpose isn’t something you find—but someone you become? In this episode, Christine sits down with entrepreneur, author, and humanitarian Heidi Totten to explore her unexpected journey from studying family science to building businesses and creating 100 Humanitarians, an organization serving families in Kenya and beyond. Heidi shares how adaptability, failure, and a willingness to fol...

Senior year brings excitement, uncertainty, and one major question: What comes next? In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine sits down with high school seniors Alina, Shreena, Ella, and Kennedy for an honest conversation about college applications, future careers, leaving home, and navigating the pressure to have everything figured out. The four students share how they’re choosing colleges,...

What does it look like to enter college carrying not only your own dreams, but the sacrifices of the generations before you? In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine Hummel welcomes back Ema Adakauskas , a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin–Madison double majoring in biochemistry and Spanish. Ema shares how growing up in a Lithuanian immigrant family shaped her work ethic, her education...

What If the Life That Looks Good on Paper Doesn’t Feel Good Anymore? What happens when the path you worked so hard to build no longer feels like the path you want? In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine sits down with Michelle Pollack, executive leadership coach , who helps high achievers build lives and careers that feel as good as they look on paper. Michelle shares her unexpected journey...

Episode Description Is rushing a sorority worth it? If you're heading to college this fall—or wondering whether Greek life is right for you—this conversation offers an honest look at the sorority recruitment experience. Christine sits down with four college students from different universities, each with a unique perspective on rush. Some found lifelong friendships, one chose not to join, and all...

Episode Summary What if the biggest obstacle in your life could become the very thing that transforms it? In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine Hummel sits down with author, speaker, and transformation strategist Youness El Fehdi to explore how adversity can become the catalyst for growth. From reversing Type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes to raising a neurodiverse son, immigrating t...

Sometimes the biggest opportunities start with one small decision. For Peyton Plumlee, it was buying a DJ controller with babysitting money. What began as a hobby quickly turned into a career performing across the South, producing original music, and landing festival stages like Breakaway Dallas. But her journey wasn't a straight line. In this episode of Root to Rising , Peyton shares how she walk...

Success isn't built in one defining moment—it's created through thousands of small, intentional decisions. In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine Hummel sits down with Boo , former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot, entrepreneur, CEO of Afterburner, and author of Flawless Leadership . After an autoimmune diagnosis ended his dream career in aviation, Boo rebuilt his life from the grou...

When Your Dream Career Doesn't Go as Planned Most people think successful careers follow a straight line. Michelle Rosar's story proves the opposite. Before leading partnership marketing for the San Francisco 49ers , Michelle thought she'd become a psychologist. A last-minute major change, unpaid internships, mascot jobs, and countless career pivots eventually led her to one of the most respected...

Leaving college is supposed to feel exciting. For many graduates, it feels overwhelming instead. In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine Hummel sits down with recent University of Tennessee graduate Hannah Dettmann for an honest conversation about navigating life after college, overcoming self-doubt, and redefining success on your own terms. Hannah opens up about moving away from home, learn...

Episode Overview In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine Hummel sits down with leadership strategist, coach, author, and podcast host Gia Lacqua to explore what happens when outward success no longer matches internal fulfillment. Gia shares her transition from a Fortune 100 Vice President in ethics and compliance to becoming a coach, speaker, and creator of What the Shift . The conversation...

Finding Your Worthy Career with Melissa Lawrence What if the key to career success isn’t climbing the next rung of the ladder—but finding work that truly aligns with who you are? In this episode of Root to Rising, Christine Hummel sits down with career and leadership coach Melissa Lawrence, founder of Your Worthy Career, to discuss the power of purpose, confidence, and creating a career path that...

Episode Description What does it really feel like to graduate high school and step into the unknown? In this special graduation edition of Root to Rising, Christine Hummel sits down with three recent high school graduates—Kate, Sam, and Megan—to talk about the excitement, stress, uncertainty, and opportunities that come with starting a new chapter. From choosing colleges and majors to navigating t...

What if confidence isn't something you find—but something you build? In this inspiring episode of Root to Rising, Christine Hummel sits down with confidence coach, speaker, and founder of Inspire Her Coaching, Tricia Conyers, for a powerful conversation about self-doubt, personal growth, career transitions, and the courage it takes to create the life you truly want. Drawing from her own journey fr...

SPECIAL GUEST CO-HOST: RORY LATORIA Guest hosting this special Root to Rising episode, continuing the meaningful conversations Christine Hummel built this platform around. How Grief, Reinvention & Self-Belief Can Completely Change Your Life Most people don’t end up where they originally planned. For Jenna Cordaro , that meant navigating childhood loss, identity shifts, career pivots, imposter...

Episode Overview In this episode of Root to Rising , host Christine Hummel sits down with AJ, a corporate controller in the automotive industry, to unpack a powerful story of resilience, identity, and growth. AJ shares her journey of becoming a mother at 15, navigating life without a traditional education path, and rising through a male-dominated industry—all while learning how to balance ambition...

🧠 Episode Summary In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine sits down with national and international correspondent Robert Ray—someone who’s not only covered some of the world’s most intense moments, but also happens to be a father of four daughters. From war zones to natural disasters, Robert shares what it really takes to report under pressure—and how those experiences shape the way he show...

✨ Episode Overview In this episode, Christine sits down with Sandy Loreaux, a seasoned biopharma executive turned executive coach, to explore her journey through high-stakes leadership, personal evolution, and redefining success. From being known as a “crisis manager” in corporate America to stepping away at the peak of her career, Sandy shares powerful insights on confidence, leadership, motherh...

Key Themes 1. Non-Linear Career Paths Are Normal Jen’s journey: math/science → journalism → software → biopharma No “perfect plan”—careers evolve through exploration Important takeaway: Your path doesn’t need to make sense upfront 2. Follow Curiosity, Not Just Credentials Started as a temp answering phones → taught herself coding Took initiative by learning beyond her role Lesson: Growth comes fro...

🔑 Episode Summary In this episode, Christine sits down with former podcast host and tech professional Olivia Wherry to discuss career growth, navigating rejection, breaking into competitive industries, and building confidence as a young professional. Olivia shares how curiosity, persistence, and storytelling helped her land a role in the music tech industry—and why embracing discomfort is key to...

Episode Overview In this special episode of the Root to Rising Podcast , the roles are reversed. After previously appearing as a guest, Rory Latoria returns—but this time as the interviewer—turning the spotlight on host Christine Hummel to explore the experiences, mindset, and philosophies that shaped her leadership journey. From leaving a sorority after realizing it wasn’t aligned with her values...

Episode Summary In this Terrific Topic Tuesday episode of the Root to Rising Podcast, Christine sits down with recent graduates Ellie and Megan from the University of Alabama for a rapid-fire question round about confidence, relationships, success, and navigating life in your early twenties. Through honest and spontaneous answers, the conversation explores Gen Z perspectives on confidence, social...

Episode Overview What really happens after graduation? In this candid follow-up episode, Christine welcomes back her very first guests, Ellie and Megan, one year after their debut. Now officially post-grad, they’re sharing the real, unfiltered truth about job hunting, rejection emails, networking strategy, and building confidence in interviews. If you're navigating the “what now?” phase after coll...

Episode Overview In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine sits down with Kaitlyn Jerard, a recent University of South Florida graduate to talk about navigating post-college uncertainty, studying abroad in Florence, and choosing experiences over pressure. Caitlin shares her journey from Illinois to Florida, her decision to study abroad in Italy, and why she’s prioritizing travel before steppin...