Conversations with Seven Sisters
A podcast for the Seven Sisters Alum community to share their stories, experiences, and wisdom. Hosted by Jennifer Pollock McNally, founder of the Seven Sisters Alum Association and a graduate of Smith College, who talks with a different alum each episode covering their careers, lives, and how the Seven Sister experience has impacted them. Stay tuned for fascinating conversations full of stories and advice from the Seven Sisters Alum Association.
Episodes
34 episodes
Unlikely Path From Lawyer to Children's Book Author with Robin Newman
This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen speaks with Robin Newman a children's book author and Bryn Mawr Alum. They discuss her time at Bryn Mawr and her career. Robin shares her experiences studying abroad in France, working as a par...
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52:18
How a Career Break Will Reinvent Your Life, UPDATE With Katrina McGhee
This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen speaks with Katrina McGhee again to update us on her book release and how her online business has been going! Katrina wrote the book Taking a Career Break for Dummies and she now runs a coachin...
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32:15
Full Spectrum Mama with Jennifer Brunton PhD
This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen speaks with Bryn Mawr Alum Jennifer Brunton about her new book "The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Building Independence" (and her previous books too!), her career in community colleges, about bein...
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53:56
Behind the Curtain of College Admissions with College Counselor Brooke Stengel
Do you have a high schooler who is getting ready to apply for college? You won’t want to miss this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters! This week, Jen speaks with Brooke Stengel (Bryn Mawr ℅ ‘91), an Independent College Coun...
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1:07:41
Help Save the Mount Holyoke Tennis Team from Immediate Elimination!
UPDATE BELOW!!!!Link to Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/p/oppose-the-immediate-elimination-of-the-mount-holyoke-tennis-prog...
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26:24
Having Children During a Climate Crisis with Meghan Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli
Does global warming play a role in your decision to have children or not? This episode dives into how the climate crisis impacts family planning. This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with Meghan Kallman and Josep...
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1:01:36
Discovering Your Neurodivergence at 40 with Sadie Dingfelder
Have you heard of being faceblind? Yes, that is a real diagnosis, called prosopagnosia, that means you can’t tell faces apart. This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with Sadie Dingfelder (Smith ℅ 2001) about her c...
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50:38
Making your dreams of moving to Italy a reality with Fosca D'Acierno
Have you ever dreamed about sipping Italian coffee on a terrazza every morning? Why not make that dream a reality! This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with Fosca D'Acierno, a Bryn Mawr Alum and expert on life i...
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1:04:57
Women’s College to the Only Woman on Wall Street with Jamie Fiore Higgins, Author of Bully Market
From the halls of Bryn Mawr College to the offices of Goldman Sachs. You can imagine the culture shock as one has every leadership position filled by women and the other is… lacking female presence. This week on Conversations with S...
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1:14:39
Becoming a Published Novelist at 50 with Author Jeanne Blasberg
Have you ever thought about writing a book? Maybe even getting it published? Well this episode is for you! This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with Jeanne Blasberg (Smith College Alum) all about writing and getting ...
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1:04:09
Why Finances are a Feminist Issue with Money Coach Ariel Nathanson
“Everyone can have financial ease, calm and confidence” - Ariel Nathanson.Don’t believe it’s possible for you after struggling with finances? Or you want to make it even simpler for yourself? Listen to this episode with financial educ...
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44:58
How to deal with the logistics of loss and death with Abby O’Leary of Fare Well Associates
So many people who lose someone close to them are blindsided by the administrative burden that comes and causes so many issues during a time of immense grief. But there are things you can do to prepare and prevent such a burden and we have an e...
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41:04
For women who hate office politics but want to get promoted and paid with Coach Jamie Lee
Have you struggled with your job in facing a toxic workplace or discrimination? If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Jamie Lee who can help you navigate workplace politics. In this episode of Conversations with Seven Si...
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Episode 18
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58:47
Moving to Europe to Jumpstart your Career with Lexi Lobdell
Have you ever wondered what lie outside of the United States would look like? Especially for your career or education? If so, this episode is for you. In this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen speaks with recent Mount ...
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Episode 18
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45:37
How you can help protect our democracy with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
Since the events of 2020 have you been worried about the state of our democracy and want to help protect it? If you are looking for ways to get involved, make sure to listen to this episode. In this episode of Conversations with Sev...
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Episode 17
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30:02
How to Manage Your Finances and Make the Most of Your Money with Karen Van Voorhis
Do you wonder if you are truly ready for the financial responsibilities in your future? Well this week we speak to financial advisor Karen Van Voorhis about all things money and retirement. Karen is a Certified Financial Planner™(CF...
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Episode 16
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40:12
On being in "The Room Where It Happens" with MHC Alum Ann O'Leary
Do you remember where you were that fateful night in November 2016? Well our guest Ann O’Leary most definitely does as she was with Secretary Hillary Clinton in New York. In this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jen is h...
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Episode 15
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42:47
Overcoming emotional eating with self compassion instead of self loathing with therapist Erica Thomas S2E4
This week Jen speaks to Erica Thomas(Smith College ℅ ‘94) about how common emotional eating is and how we can overcome it using self compassion. Erica explains how she got into the field of therapy and has used it to help people who...
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38:48
What is moral injury and how US Healthcare became a profit making industry with Dr. Wendy Dean S2E3
In this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters Jen is chatting with Dr. Wendy Dean (Smith College ℅ ‘87) on the fascinating topics of moral injury, the medical industrial complex, and how you as a patient can address the issue in your acti...
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52:07
On Having Sylvia Plath as her professor and working in the male dominated sports industry with Topsy Siderowf S2E2
This week we are joined by Topsy (Martha) Siderowf (Smith College ‘61) to discuss her experience at Smith College in the 1950-60's and how Smith has impacted her long career. Topsy was also lucky enough to have a personal experience with one of...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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48:19
The power of taking a career break with Katrina McGhee, S2E1
On this episode of Conversations with Seven Sisters we are joined by Katrina McGhee (Smith College ℅ ‘01), a Career Break Coach, to discuss finding the right career for you, her own career break, the challenges of writing a book, and why you sh...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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1:00:56
S1E12 Reshma Saujani, CEO of Moms First, on how you can battle for reproductive rights and paid leave
Join us this week on Conversations with Seven Sisters for a discussion with Reshma Saujani, who you may recognize from her work as the founder of Girls Who Code and currently the CEO of Moms First (formerly Marshall Plan for Moms), to learn mor...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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55:29
S1E11: Jen gets interviewed! Hear Jen get interviewed by fellow Smithie, Montse Coughlin Kim.
This week on Conversations with Seven Sisters, Jennifer Pollock McNally, the Seven Sisters Founder & Smith Class of 94, is interviewed by fellow Smithie, Montserrat Coughlin Kim (Smith College ℅ ‘94). Jen & Montse talk about...
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59:09
Becca Balint, D-VT, first woman & openly LGBTQ+ person to represent VT in Congress
This week on Conversation with Seven Sisters we are honored to celebrate the Fourth of July with Becca Balint, D-VT, the first woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to represent VT in Congress.She received her BA from Smith College, graduating...
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28:05
S1E9 Dorie Clark, on learning the importance of playing the long game in a short term world & of keeping alligators out of your pool
This week on Conversation with Seven Sisters we hear from Dorie Clark (Smith College ℅ ‘97) who you may know as a multifaceted author, marketing expert, coach, and speaker. Dorie’s most recent book,
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1:01:40