The LowDown Podcast

In this episode, Alex and Sara are getting the life lowdown of three guests! Three past leadership consultants talk about how the LC program has changed throughout the years--from calling cards to cell phones, a lot has changed! Kat Held, Sara Elgart and Kira Rysiewicz talk about the highs and lows of LC life and how it changed their lives and the skills they were able to take away from their time...

In this episode, Alex and Sara are getting the lowdown on relational agility from talent and leadership development consultant Erin Correa. What is relational agility? As Erin describes it, it is being able to quickly know the stories you’re telling yourself in a particular moment and being able to adapt as needed effectively; it is the relationship you have with the beliefs you have about yoursel...

Today, Sara and Alex are getting the lowdown on compassionate courage from Talkspace therapist Dr. Karmen Smith. Karmen talks about her own experiences with being seen as a sexual object by men and how she has learned to be loving and protective of herself and her body and how she developed the courage to advocate for herself and others. Karmen also discusses how the #MeToo movement has been signi...

Today, Alex and Sara talk to Deseri Garcia who is a coaching, team-building and leadership development expert. She talks about the difference between your role vs. your identity and why it is important to know both. We also talk about mindfulness and what that means, whether it’s being fully present in a situation or including others in a conversation that may be more hesitant to speak. Sara and A...

In this Life LowDown, Alex and Sara get the lowdown on the life of inaugural 35 Under 35 honoree Christina Parle. Christina talks about life being a first-generation college student and being the only person in her family to have a masters degree. Additionally, they talk about Christina’s journey into the higher education field--from working in student conduct at a university to working in conduct...

In this episode Alex and Sara (both millennials) bring back Lindsay Boccardo (also a millennial) to talk about one of her favorite topics, millennials. It's no secret that millennials have gotten a bad wrap over the years and Lindsay helps us uncover where that comes from. There is no greatest generation and no generation is better than the other, so why do we put labels on each generation? Listen...

Today, Sara and Alex are getting the lowdown about being a pro troublemaker from the original pro troublemaker herself, Stefanie Krievins. Stefanie is passionate about allowing her clients to realize their awesome-ness and coaches individuals and organizations on how they can get out of their own “stuck and stalled” places so they can start innovating and growing again. Being a troublemaker often...

In this Life LowDown, Alex and, guest co-host, Sarah Eller get the lowdown on the life of a Sigma Kappa who grew up on a farm, has been active in FFA since high school and currently works in the agriculture industry. Kellie Bray talks about growing up on her family’s farm, nerding out about parliamentary procedure and why she is so passionate about agriculture. Addtionally, they talk about growing...

In this episode, Alex and Sara get the lowdown on all things graduate school--from simply deciding to apply, to taking the GRE or GMAT, to the differences between undergraduate and graduate school. Maggie is currently pursuing her PUT DEGREE HERE at East Tennessee State University, and has been attending a higher education institution for nine years. She and Sara, who was recently admitted into a...

In today’s episode, Alex and Sara talk to Nicole Stephenson about the importance of women knowing how to self-promote in the workplace. There is a double standard when it comes to strong women in the workplace and Nicole gives tangible tips to help them authentically-self promote themselves. Nicole talks about her passion to expand influence of women leaders and what she does at her job to make th...

In this Life LowDown, Alex and Sara are getting the lowdown on what it’s like to be an agent with Homeland Security Investigations from Colby Award winner Kelly Harrison. Kelly talks about what it’s like investigating trasnational child exploitation and human trafficking--from the highs to the lows. She discusses what she does to unwind and why her work-life balance is something she’s rather proud...

Most of us hate public speaking, right? Even if we’re extroverted, speaking in front of large crowds can be a bit nerve wracking. In this episode, Alex and Sara get the lowdown from Alex Ruffato-Perry about how to feel more confident when you have to give a speech or presentation. It’s more than just being prepared, it’s about owning your presence--executive presence as Alex calls it.

Today, Alex and Sara are getting the lowdown on the challenges that Fraternity and Sorority life still face today and how leaders can better articulate their experience on their resumes and cover letters. Leaders come in all shapes and sizes and you don’t have to be chapter president in order to be a leader. Wendi has worked her way up from a Panhellenic president to the president for the Associat...

Today, Sara and Alex are getting the lowdown about how to be less awkward in interviews from body language expert Lisa Mitchell. Most everyone is at least a little bit nervous in interviews, but that doesn’t mean you need to be awkward. Lisa has studied body language for years and provides tips that you can put into practice to show you are confident and poised and make the best first impression p...

We’ve heard it all before—Millennials are the worst! Well with two podcast co-hosts who fall into the Millennial generation, they can’t say they agree. Today, Alex and Sara are getting the lowdown from generational expert Kim Lear on what makes each generation unique and how Millennials, Gen Z, Baby Boomers, and Gen X can work best together in the workplace. Kim also debunks the idea that many peo...

In this bonus episode, Sara and Alex talk with Julia Broglie, founder of the Broglie Box, a quarterly subscription box for mental health and stress relief, that was named in honor of her brother who died by suicide in 2014. We get the lowdown about Julia’s life, including her own mental health journey, and how she has coped with her brother’s death, and what it’s like to have founded her own compa...

Today, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month, Sara and Alex are getting the lowdown about anxiety. Dr. Amy Cirbus discusses several different things that occur in most every woman’s life and how these can cause or trigger anxiety. She provides practical tips and ways for you to change your mindset on these events that may be part of the reason behind anxiety you are feeling or struggling with.

This week, Sara and Alex are getting the lowdown on all things feedback—why it’s important, how to do it, and how to do it well. Based on the research, virtually every employee in an organization wants feedback, or wants more of it, but isn’t receiving it—but we’re either not giving it enough or we’re doing it very well. Erin gives advice for how to begin giving feedback today and how to also be a...

In this bonus episode, Sara and Alex talk with Susan Willis, Sigma Kappa National Housing Corporation’s president. They get the lowdown on what it’s like being a manager in the restaurant industry having never been a server or bartender! And because many celebrities call Atlanta home, she’s met quite a few in her time. Additionally, they learn about life as an only child and how Sigma Kappa gave h...

This week, Sara and Alex are getting the lowdown of preparing for a job interview from career coach Jessica Smith. They learn about how to prepare for the who, the what, and the why, and also learn how to prepare physically and mentally. Jessica gives actionable tips that you can do today to help with any interview you have coming up. As a tech recruiter, she not only shares stories of interviews...

We also talk about… Coaching school Real drama triangles Lauren, Alex and Sara have all dealt with How to know if your well-intentioned actions to assist a coworker in dealing with a tough situation with another coworker is actually helping or hurting How we deal with conflict differently depending on our generation Relational wealth a.k.a. the importance of networking (Seriously! It’s important!...