No Empty Seats

Talking about my experiences last Saturday during the Brown University shooting. Where I was, what it felt like, and the aftermath.  Tragically, I have experienced a really terrible situation in 2022. And if there is any takeaway from this episode that I’ve learned from either of these, it is that grief and the times that follow tragedy are incredibly messy — but what is most important is that we...

Hey guys! On this episode, I talk about the importance of remembering that not every feeling is final. Your current state, no matter how overwhelming, ISNT your entire life, and you need to remind yourself that this too shall pass in the future. However you are feeling in the past couple hours or days IS NOT how you’ve been feeling in the past months, years. It is such an important skill to be abl...

Hi, as a freshman in college, I thought I’d reflect on my adjustment to college and how I’ve been focusing on me. I wanted to share that: It’s easy to feel lonely or like you’re falling behind in college, but with the right people you can focus on your growth.

Hey guys! In this episode, I talk about my recent struggles with re-implementing exercise into my life. Since coming to college, I have never found a good structure to prioritize my physical health, and honestly, I have forgotten how much better it can make you feel and change your life. Luckily, I have been running again in response to stress and also to clear my mind for these weekly podcasts! ...

In this episode, we talk about the importance of sitting with your thoughts. It isn’t something that necessarily comes naturally, and often proves challenging when put in the context of our extremely busy and stressful lives. For us, being able to sit alone with your thoughts—whether it be journaling or going for walks—is something essential that should be practiced. The only way to make something...

In this episode, I talk about the harmful effects of being in your own thoughts without any outside perspective for an extended period of time. When you spiral into these moods for long enough, these negative thoughts can start to feel like a reality and it can be really scary. You NEED to do everything in your power to go outside and get out of your head. Sometimes you don’t even need to talk or...

Hello everyone, my name is Samuel Andrade and I am a first-year here at Brown. In this episode, I reflect on my experiences so far in my first few months in college, mainly focusing on how the transition has affected aspects of myself, such as my identity. The transition to college is difficult for everyone, and has often had me wondering if I am doing something wrong. However, I believe it is tru...

Hey guys! Late and quick episode, but here is something I have been talking about ever since the start of No Empty Seats. In this episode, I discuss my experiences with therapy and the type of connection I strive for in sessions. I seek therapists who always know how to give advice, support, or accountability, depending on the type of mental state I am in. Personally, therapy should never feel lik...

In this episode, I talk about my experiences with administrative burnout during NES’s growth. I share the little joys I seek inside and outside of the nonprofit, and how that can drastically change your mood. Find ANYTHING that keeps you going and gets you out of bed — Concerts, food, exercise, treats, hobbies, or any sense of belonging that helps you forget about any of the daily stressors in you...

😳🫢 This is mainly clickbait, I’m just messing with you. I would not want to be anywhere else and I do NOT take Brown for granted! With that being said, there is a very valuable lesson that I wish I had learned at an earlier age. I put so much pressure on this immature and vain dream at 16 years old, where getting into college was my entire life. And interestingly enough, getting everything I tho...

Less stress and obligations weighing over your head = Having the energy to be social and check in on the people you love. Stop regimenting everything in your schedule and start carving out time to do nothing -- and don't feel bad about it. If you can't do it for yourself, at least do it for the people you love.

A mental health conversation about the absurd things men do to avoid talking about their feelings. Filmed in April 2025

Hey guys, it’s been a while! As some of you may know, No Empty Seats started back in 2021 off the basis of sharing stories and lessons learned on mental health. Every week, I used to post graphics and anecdotes of my own experiences and conversations I’ve shared in the mental health work. And unfortunately through tons of different life stressors, I haven’t been able to regularly talk about mental...

Boys Episode!!!

Super honored to have some of my closest friends, Mac and Daniel on the podcast for a zoom interview about “Having the Hard Conversations Behind Mental Health”. Whether it be speaking up and asking for help, asking a friend if they’re struggling, or just simply bringing up a difficult conversation you need to have with a friend, mentor, or family member, hard conversations are hard. And we hope yo...

Podcast 6 is out on all platforms, check it out! We talk about all the negative side effects of social media and phone usage, such as overstimulation, instant gratification, early exposure to trauma and maturity(knowing too much), and brain rot. 
I also discuss other updates to the NES team such as our latest pitches and college ambassdaors! Check out the 30 minutes of me shooting the shit while y...

In this week’s episode, I give live no edits a try. It was hard but I think it’ll force me to be more authentic and speak from the heart more. I talked about growing up, the angst behind it, and Lowkey how crazy it is for us to think so ahead! Overthinking is a killer and I was proposing how we shouldn’t be romanticizing this grindset so much. 

This was filmed a couple of months ago, don't worry about the Walk but it went great! We raised $4,000 as the first ever AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk at Brown University!

How did our experiences freshman year shape how we approach college now? What challenges from freshman year persist? What has changed? How did we experience and internalize college rejections when we were in high school? On our debut episode of the No Empty Seats podcast tune in as we talk about the heart of NES's mission, navigating the transition to college, and sharing our personal journeys...