Fraternity Foodie

Check out our latest podcast interviews (and food suggestions) from all over North America!

Dennis Gillan: What are the warning signs of mental distress? Featured

Welcome to episode # 101 of Fraternity Foodie! My guest today is Dennis Gillan, an ordinary guy with an extraordinary story of perseverance. As a professional mental health speaker, Dennis brings his inspirational story to audiences and venues anywhere and everywhere. Though he is not a licensed counselor, he is able to communicate his message and story to an audience who needs healing. We find out what it was like for Dennis to grow up in Rockland County, New York (same hometown as me), why Dennis chose West Virginia University for his undergraduate experience, what was special about Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, how he handled the phone call as a Junior in college that his older brother Mark died by suicide, what it was like 11 years later to get another phone call that his younger brother Matthew also died by suicide, how Dennis’ first presentation on mental health went, the warning signs of mental distress, what is QPR, and how Dennis is training his brain to lean towards Posttraumatic Growth. You’re going to love this interview! Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fow8wU1jS20

Will Foran: What makes the NIC educational programs so successful? Featured

Welcome to episode # 100 of Fraternity Foodie! We are celebrating this milestone of our 100th episode with a long time friend and a leader in the Fraternal world, Will Foran, Senior Vice President of Campus Operations for the North American Interfraternity Conference. Will leads NIC Campus operations and education initiatives, designed to increase alumni, undergraduate, and IFC effectiveness. He establishes relationships with campus professionals, as well as NIC stakeholders to coordinate a national education and advocacy strategy. We find out why Will chose IUP for his undergraduate and Masters Degree, what makes Phi Mu Delta at IUP special, some of the differences between the campuses that he’s worked on (Carnegie Mellon, Mount Union, Western Illinois), what makes NIC educational programming so successful, the challenges of advocacy with so many different organizations in the NIC, the progress that has been made on the 3 Presidential Commissions (alcohol/hazing/sexual assault), recent research showing that fraternity and sorority members benefit from significantly more engagement, steps the NIC taken to address racism/intolerance/hate, what Will wants to accomplish as National President for Phi Mu Delta, and moments that stand out when Will was really proud of his students. Enjoy! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BDaAuyaQhg

Tracy Nadzieja: What can you tell us about being transgender in the fraternal world? Featured

Welcome to episode # 99 of Fraternity Foodie! On October 12, 2018, Tracy Nadzieja was sworn in as a commissioner of the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona. At that moment, she became the first known transgender judge in the state of Arizona, and just the third transgender judge in the entire country. We ask all the questions. We find out why she chose Arizona State for her undergraduate experience, why she chose Sigma Pi Fraternity at ASU, what it was like to come out after 15 years of marriage, how her law partners reacted to the transition, why it was important to be commissioner because of her qualifications as a civil litigation attorney, what it was like to be initiated into Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, why Tracy is an involved volunteer, and Tracy’s favorite spots to eat in Phoenix. You don’t want to miss this episode! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRKDYj8sOxs

Erol Atac: What are some smart financial planning ideas for college students and recent grads? Featured

Welcome to episode # 95 of Fraternity Foodie (slightly out of order, but that’s OK)! Today we’re going to be talking about budgeting, reaching your financial goals, credit scores, and student loans with Erol Atac, an alumnus of Sigma Pi Fraternity from Loyola University Chicago, and the founder of Armstrong & Atac Financial Group. We find out about Erol’s experience at Loyola Chicago, what led him to Greek Life, what he likes to do in his spare time, what he does for work, how he helps clients plan their financial future, smart things students and recent grads can do right now, and the types of clients he works with. Enjoy! Material discussed is meant for general informational purposes only and is not to be construed as tax, legal, or investment advice. Although the information has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, the information should be relied upon only when coordinated with individual professional advice. Guardian and its subsidiaries do not issue or advise with regard to student loans. Fraternity Foodie is not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or Armstrong & Atac and opinions stated are their own. Erol....