BREAK AWAY
The Break Away podcast offers a fresh way to engage and connect with the greater Michigan leadership community—a chance to “break away” from the new norms of our daily routines.
Presented by the Michigan Leadership Collaborative, our podcast offers an anthology that magnifies and reinforces the challenges that leaders face today in developing healthy habits that fuel the mind and body. Each of the episodes will focus on various aspects of leadership from a diverse set of voices and perspectives while fostering both a sound mind and body.
We encourage you to use the time to run, walk, roll, or get active while you listen.
Be sure to check out the episode resources for processing questions and more information.
Special thanks to: All of our guests, sponsoring units and listeners.
Narration and Editing: James McRae, Senior Associate Director, Student Engagement Alumni Association
Have an idea for an episode? Want to talk with us? Email us at breakaway@umich.edu
Season 5:
How can storytelling humanize and personalize workplace cultures?
Storytelling can connect, inform and inspire. Storytelling can increase confidence in recruiting, presenting, and motivating teams and organizations. Storytelling can humanize and personalize workplace cultures. At Story Lab, students develop executive-level presence and communication skills through storytelling workshops and events.…... Listen Now
DPE 50th: What is the legacy of leadership?
What is the legacy of leadership? How do leaders come consider their legacy? This episode celebrates the Diversity Peer Educator program’s 50th anniversary and legacy of social justice, student empowerment, and campus leadership with two former student leaders, Robert Wilson and Simon Rivers..…... Listen Now
What’s the difference between Feminine and Feminist leadership?
In this episode, two University of Michigan leadership educators, Fatema Haque and Danyelle Reynolds, talk about the differences between feminine and feminist leadership. While feminine leadership calls for inclusion but relies on traditional feminine traits and behaviors, feminist leadership that works to create equitable environments.…... Listen Now
What is the impact and importance of reframing relationships?
Powered by the Sanger Leadership Center, Story Lab focuses on teaching participants the art and architecture of story development and delivery as a means toward positive influence and impact. In this episode, Sanger Program specialist Nick Viviano speaks with Story Lab participants John Regan and Josh T. Ferguson..…... Listen Now
How can we build uplifting and lasting relationships?
Justin Stoddard, the CEO and Founder of “Climbing the Mountain”, discusses how we can build resiliency and how to overcome adversity. Stoddard, a veteran and now a professor at the United States Air Force Academy, discusses with three students Eyda Gu, Ananya Mangla, and Saniya Shahid how to lead through example..…...Listen Now
Season 4:
Inclusive Leadership - How do you become the inclusive leader you want to be?
Steve Bodei hosts a conversation with Askari Rushing, Karishma Collette, Krishna Han, Neeraja Aravamudan about how to be an inclusive leader. During this leadership series discussion, they explore what inclusive leadership looks like in practice, the qualities that define inclusive leadership, and how to cultivate this type of leadership. This episode was recorded as part of the Inclusive Leadership Workshop Series for Graduate Students…... Listen Now
What can Scholarship Applications Teach Us About Leadership?
Learn about the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships at U-M. We work with candidates for some of the world’s most famous and prestigious awards. Leadership is one of the most common criteria for these awards. Learn about how applying for one of these awards helps candidates articulate their leadership stories….... Listen Now
How does the LeaderShape program set you up to contribute to a more just, caring, and thriving world?
How can the Leadership Connection program help you collaborate to further your student organization goals?
Join Izzy Beshouri and Cheyenne Chapman as they discuss “Leadership Connection”, a leadership program where participants get together with student leaders from different student organizations across the Michigan community. The two take us through the nuts and bolts of this unique opportunity. …... Listen Now
How do athletes incorporate service leadership into their everyday lives?
In this episode, hear from our podcast host, and current UMICH student-athlete, Gabby Wilson, and guests Coach Mike Hart, and former student-athlete, Danielle Rauch, for a conversation on servant leadership — What is it? Why is it important in teams? And, How can we lead through service? … Listen Now
Season 3:
How do you balance well being, the national climate, and DEI as a student leader?
Brooke Tayler, Solomon Lucy, and Alexxus Lige take us through a journey of the ins and outs of student leadership at the University of Michigan. The panelists explore how to become a leader on campus and everything that goes with that new responsibility. Under a lens of DEI, the three show exactly how to navigate student life, personal well being, and the national climate... Listen Now
How do you have productive and compassionate conversations as a student leader?
Based on a counseling tool called “motivational interviewing”, Emily Giovanelli, Marsha Benz, and Christina Gerazounis discuss how to have productive and compassionate conversations. They share skills and techniques that you can use individually or with your team. “If you’ve been interested in building dynamic and thoughtful conversations within the organizations you join, with your friends, other team members, then this might be for you!” Listen Now
Heart-Centered Leadership - How will you find your life's passion and purpose
Ram Mahalingam talks with Rebecca Irby who shares her background on how she discovered her life’s passion and purpose and then used her North Star to found and lead an international NGO that received Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. She offers guidance on how to help you find your North Star and learn how to use that as your guide throughout the rest of your time in school and, most importantly, moving forward in an integrated, fulfilled way... Listen Now
Heart-Centered Leadership - How will you find your life's passion and purpose
Ram Mahalingam talks with Rebecca Irby who shares her background on how she discovered her life’s passion and purpose and then used her North Star to found and lead an international NGO that received Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. She offers guidance on how to help you find your North Star and learn how to use that as your guide throughout the rest of your time in school and, most importantly, moving forward in an integrated, fulfilled way... Listen Now
How can students grow the skill of influential storytelling?
To be an effective leader — at work, in the community, or in your personal life — you must be able to communicate with impact. Often this means telling stories that are meaningful to you and others, and doing so in the rich language and expressive style of a seasoned storyteller. In this episode, Sanger Program Coordinator Ben Applebaum-Bauch speaks with MBA student Jessica Liang about her story of advocacy in the face of adversity and the ways her leadership skills have developed since participating in Story Lab... Listen Now
How do these Michigan Alumna inspire and uplift students with their stories?
In this episode, 3 Michigan alumna share their stories of success and how they have navigated Michigan and beyond as women in high ranking positions... Listen Now
Season 2:
How do you find meaning in life through the guidance of purpose?
On this episode of “Break Away”, Jacque Young, a senior on the University of Michigan’s women’s golf team, interviews Vic Strecher, a visionary leader and expert in the fields of behavior change, digital communication, and wellbeing. The two explore how to find one’s own purpose and how to find meaning in life through the guidance of purpose… Listen Now
How do you become a more understanding, effective, and meaningful leader?
In this episode of Break Away, students Emily Welch, Tejal Patel, and Soumya Kulkarni explore the importance of service leadership in the wider context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each plays a vital role in their respective service organizations. They share lessons, stories, and techniques on how to build a better team and to be a more understanding and effective leader… Listen Now
What does it mean to include DEI in your leadership?
Former Rackham Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion participants Dr. Kristal McGreggor, Dr. Steven Karamihas, and Charlie Groen join Academic Program Specialist Askari Rushing in a conversation around DEI and leadership. Join us in a conversation about the challenges and wins of participating in DEI efforts and how to take care of yourself while engaging in emotionally taxing work… Listen Now
How do you incorporate mindfulness and cultivate interconnectedness in your everyday life?
Doreen and Ram talk about the core principles of mindfulness and how these can be incorporated into your everyday life, work, and relationships to cultivate interconnectedness. Make sure to listen to the end to hear them talk about the importance of being kind to yourself and your imperfections and how that will lead to greater compassion towards others and begin to cultivate a dignity culture around us… Listen Now
How do we overcome stigmas and focus on self-care as leaders?
During this virtual event, we heard from alumni panelists Paul Viera, ’81 and Ryan Mundy, ‘07, as well as Vice President of Student Life at U-M, Dr. Martino Harmon as they talk about overcoming stigmas of mental health for men of color and how to prioritize your own self care and create balance during a difficult time… Listen Now
How can you enrich your undergrad experience by building community and leading mindfully?
In this collaboration episode, our host RC communications and outreach specialist Robby Griswold talks with alum Mya Harris and fourth-year student Kaitlyn Colyer about their experiences as students in both the Residential College and the Barger Leadership Institute... Listen Now
Season 1:
Why should you Break Away? (Trailer)
We hope that you turn that question into one for yourself. Why should I break away. Perhaps its to learn something new, hear a different perspective, be outside, take a break from the screen… Listen Now
Where does your leadership journey begin?
The Sanger Leadership Center will introduce a 5-step framework to achieve your goals that will lead you to further growth and development as a leader. Leadership is a skill anyone can learn and every single day, … Listen Now
How can you become a more inclusive leader?
Dr. Robin Brewer, Assistant Professor of Information joins Devon Keen, Director of Inclusion, Equity and Outreach at the School of Information for a conversation around leadership and accessibility… Listen Now
What is inspiration?
What is inspiration? How does it help us act with courage and compassion in the face of great obstacles? Barger Leadership Institute Director and Professor of Psychology Dr. Ram Mahalingam speaks on inspiration and its relevance for mindful leadership… Listen Now
How do your prioritize your own mental health as a leader?
How do you create a championship culture through leading yourself?
How do you create a championship culture through leading yourself?
In part two of this two-part episode from the Athletics Leadership Development Team, hear from Head Women’s Soccer Coach Jennifer Klein and two student-athletes Jacque Young of the Women’s Golf team and Adam Wooten of the Men’s Gymnastics team… Listen Now
