My Top Three Favorite Podcasts to Listen to When I Need a Pick Me Up

By: Riley Bailey

At this point in the semester, I’m sure many of us are feeling overwhelmed by work and anxious for a break from the fast pace of college life. Over quarantine, I found that whenever I needed a break from reality, podcasts were, and still are, my go-to. That’s why I decided to share a list of my favorite three podcasts to listen to when I need a “pick me up.” Hopefully, you all will find some comfort in them too!

Podcast #1:

What We Said  - By Chelsey Jade Curtis and Jaci Marie Smith

The “What We Said” podcast is a feel-good podcast that posts episodes discussing anything from advice columns, to the hosts Chelsey and Jaci sharing their current Fall Obsessions, and Q & A’s. My favorite episodes to listen to when it comes to their podcast is their storytime ones! They ask people like you and me to send in stories relating to that week's topic. This week they posted scary stories that listeners had sent in considering Halloween was this past weekend (10/10 recommend if you’re up for a good scare). I totally recommend this podcast to anyone looking for a good laugh. 

Podcast #2: 

Minutes of Positivity - By Alexa Nejaime

This podcast, “Minutes of Positivity,” is exactly how it sounds. The host, Alexa Nejaime, shares episodes featuring guests every Sunday. This podcast is a place you can turn to and hear stories that can oftentimes be relatable and likely inspire you. This podcast also talks a lot about mental and physical health along with navigating relationships. This podcast is extremely real and always adds a positive message to each episode. When you need some inspiration and positivity in your life, give this podcast a try.

Podcast #3:

Directionally Challenged - By Candice King and Kayla Ewell

The “Directionally Challenged” podcast is a podcast hosted by two of my favorite people to follow on social media. Both of these women are extremely influential and were actually both characters on the show, “The Vampire Diaries.” Their podcast is based on “realigning your internal compass.” Their episodes consist of many life advice columns and navigating through their 30’s. You can always expect some humor in each episode but there will also always be a lesson to be learned. 

October: National Woman's Small Business Month

In case you didn’t know, October was National Woman’s Small Business Month. To wrap up the month, I wanted to share with you several female-owned and operated small businesses recommended by the Women in Business Executive Board!

Local Businesses in the Amherst Area:

Dobra Tea: This partially woman owned tearoom in Northampton is run by a fascinating couple, Alli and Joel. After traveling around China’s tea lands for a few months, they realized that their future would entail a lot of tea making. That’s when they opened Dobra Tea in Northampton. 

Clothing and Accessories

Bold Body: If you attended our WiB meeting a couple of Mondays back, Becky the founder of Bold Body told us about her business. Bold Body sells high-quality workout sets, that also function as everyday attire. Becky’s business has an emphasis on standing out and making yourself seen, this mission is obvious through her personally designed sets.

Flowers By Franny: flower and nature-inspired handmade jewelry. Check out their Instagram here.

Fabled By Riley: If you want high-quality, classy gold jewelry this small business is for you. Find them on IG here.

Greene Is Gold: This small business sells beautiful jewelry made with elements of nature. You can find adorable lockets with little flowers and ferns inside of them. Here’s their Instagram.

Kaya Creations Co on Etsy: customizable resin pieces including hair clips, keychains, and more. Find them on Instagram here.

Moon Bloomer: Homemade dainty, mystical, edgy, sometimes astrology-inspired jewelry. Here’s their IG.

Health and Wellness

Rev’d Indoor Cycling: A woman and black-owned business cycling gym. They have locations in Burlington, Boston, Dedham, Foxboro, Hingham, MA, and Providence, RI. 

Jaded CBD: This business is striving to break down the negative stigma surrounding CBD products through focusing on how CBD can play a positive role in helping anxiety and mental health. Learn more about their business.

Peace Power Soul: Owner Paula Harvey leads online workout classes. You can find her class listings here.

Birchstone Apothecary: This south shore Massachusetts women-owned small business makes clean beauty products that are all made with local ingredients. You can find them on Instagram here.

Home

Moonbloom Loom: Homemade wall hangings. Here is their IG.

Isenberg Hacks Tomorrow!

Happy Halloween!

We hope everyone is having a great weekend and enjoying their Halloween! Make sure to stay safe and take some time to relax!

Our next meeting is tomorrow, Monday, November 1st, at 7pm in Isenberg 137 (Flavin Auditorium), with E-Board members Julia Gleim and Jenna Midura who will be presenting “Isenberg Hacks”, a meeting on tips and tricks to navigate Isenberg! Join us to learn how to get the most out of your experience here at UMass!

We will be live streaming on Zoom for our virtual members to attend:

Zoom Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/92299580036
Meeting ID: 922 9958 0036

Reminders:

• Community Service Committee - Our next meeting is this Wednesday, November 3rd, at 7pm! Be on the lookout for an email!

• Fundraising Committee - Join us this Thursday, November 4th, for our next meeting! Stay tuned for an email with more information.

Be sure to follow our social media accounts for more frequent updates, Instagram specifically (@IsenbergWiB), and check out our website here!

Additional Opportunities

Career Hub
The Career Hub will be hosting a diversity networking event with employers seeking to diversify their workplaces (Virtual) on Tuesday, November 9th from 5:30-7:00pm. Register here!

Inclusive Leadership Summit
ILS is running November 1st - November 4th virtually. Students will attend panels and a keynote speaker presentation by professional thought leaders on inclusion and diversity. There is also an opportunity for all students to participate in a case competition and earn a certificate of completion. Learn more and register here. Please email here for any questions or clarifications.

Women Entrepreneurship
WE is hosting an entrepreneurship program consisting of weekly meetings with key industry experts who have been greatly influential entrepreneurs. The program will take place from November 2nd - December 7th. Sign up here.

C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S is actively recruiting for their Associate Accounting Analyst positions (anticipated May 2022 grads) and will be holding a virtual information session with Isenberg students on Thursday, November 4th from 6 – 7 pm for Finance/Accounting majors. You can register on Handshake! The link for the information session can be found here.

How to Wind Down After Halloweekend

By: Sophia DiFonzo

This upcoming Sunday is Halloween and so many people are excited, myself included. This weekend is best known as ‘Halloweekend’; it is a weekend that for most college students is super busy. After ‘Halloweekend’ is a good time to wind down and relax, seeing as most of us are exhausted. Here are some ways that you can relax after this weekend!

1. Take a nap

After a long weekend, sometimes the best way to relax is to take a good nap. And with most of us not getting a lot of sleep, your body will thank you for it. Close those curtains, get under the covers, and rest up. Playing music in the background can help, but, honestly, sometimes a completely quiet space is the best.

2. Watch a movie or tv show

For those who have trouble taking a nap, or maybe aren’t even all that tired, watching a good movie or a tv show is a great way to wind down. I love relaxing in my bed with some snacks and watching my newest interest, which right now is Shameless, Season 11. If you are still in the Halloween spirit and like scary movies, I definitely recommend any of the Conjuring movies! And if you’re completely done with Halloween and want something new to watch, I recommend You (Netflix), Shameless (Netflix), Dynasty (Netflix), and of course the newest season of Grey’s Anatomy (Hulu)!

3. Listen to music or a podcast

If there are some things that you have to do such as coursework, laundry, or tidying up your room, and you do not want to do it in silence, I highly recommend listening to music or a podcast. Or even if you’re just trying to relax and want to take your mind off of things, listening to something can be really helpful. If you have Apple Music or Spotify, you can search for playlists that fit your current mood, or you can create your own! There are also lots of cool podcasts to choose from on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other media outlets. 

4. Read a good book

If none of the above ways for relaxation work for you, reading a good book might be a good way to chill out. There are lots of good bookstores nearby to look at and find books, and the library on campus also has a lot of options. And if you have a kindle paperwhite, that is another option in which you can buy and read books. If you like a good thriller, or something scary, I recommend Steven King novels. 

5. Get some good food  

And after this long weekend, get some good food (or eat some yummy snacks). You can go somewhere on campus like one of the dining halls, Blue Wall, or Roots Cafe. Or you can get food delivered here from a restaurant nearby and chill in your room with some friends. Maybe even get some Insomnia Cookies.

Isenberg Hacks Next Meeting!

Happy Wednesday!

We hope you all enjoyed listening to our past WiB members talk about their journeys as undergraduates and transitioning into a full-time job after graduation. Please reach out to any of them if you have further questions or just want to chat!

Carly Griffin - carlyjeangriffin@gmail.com
Tyler Spellman - tcspellman@umass.edu
Alyssa Biscotti - abiscotti@umass.edu
Alyssa Towle - ajtowle@umass.edu
Tori Soucy - victoriaesoucy@gmail.com
Ashley Robinson - ashleyrobinsonp@gmail.com
Haley Chupka - hchupka@gmail.com

Join us next Monday, November 1st, at 7pm in Isenberg 137 (Flavin Auditorium), where our E-Board members, Julia Gleim and Jenna Midura will be presenting “Isenberg Hacks”, a meeting on tips and tricks to navigate Isenberg and get the most out of your experience here at UMass!

We will be live streaming on Zoom for our virtual members to attend:

Zoom Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/92299580036
Meeting ID: 922 9958 0036

Reminders:

• Peer Mentorship - Our first event is TONIGHT, Wednesday, October 27th, at 7pm! Come to the Isenberg Hub for an exciting welcome event filled with fun things to get to know eachother!

• Marketing Committee - Our next meeting is Thursday, October 28th, at 7:15pm in Isenberg 108! We will be having a Halloween meeting with lots of spooky games! Come for a relaxing mid-week meeting and lots of fun!

Be sure to follow our social media accounts for more frequent updates, Instagram specifically (@IsenbergWiB), and check our our website here!

Watch Last Week's Meeting by Clicking Here

Additional Opportunities
U.S. General Services Administration
GSA is hiring for positions across the country. They will be hosting virtual information sessions this month for candidates to learn more about the various job opportunities. All interested students should send a copy of their resume to christine.dua@gsa.gov by October 27th.

Isenberg Real Estate Advisors
IREA will be hosting a Women's Development Program this Fall for freshmen and sophomores, where participants will be provided with the opportunity to join meetings and learn more about the real estate industry to help determine if a career in real estate is right for them. Learn more and apply here!

Inclusive Leadership Summit
ILS is running November 1st - November 4th virtually. Students will attend panels and a keynote speaker presentation by professional thought leaders on inclusion and diversity. There is also an opportunity for all students to participate in a case competition and earn a certificate of completion. Learn more and register here. Please email here for any questions or clarifications.

Women Entrepreneurship
WE is hosting an entrepreneurship program consisting of weekly meetings with key industry experts who have been greatly influential entrepreneurs. The program will take place from November 2nd - December 7th. Sign up here.

C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S is actively recruiting for their Associate Accounting Analyst positions (anticipated May 2022 grads) and will be holding a virtual information session with Isenberg students on Thursday, November 4th from 6 – 7 pm for Finance/Accounting majors. You can register on Handshake! The link for the information session can be found here.