Root to Rising

Root to Rising isn’t just a podcast—it’s a call to every woman ready to step into her own story. Hosted by Christine Hummel, this unfiltered, soul-stirring series takes you inside the real lives of women who’ve dared to pivot, rebuild, and rise. From classrooms, to boardrooms, to fresh starts, heartbreaks to breakthroughs, these are the raw conversations you didn’t know you needed—about courage, risk, resilience, and finding your true direction. Christine sits down with trailblazers, dream-chasers, and everyday women with extraordinary lessons, giving you the mindset shifts, practical tools, and fierce motivation to grow where you’re planted and reach higher than you thought possible. Whether you’re launching your first career move, rewriting your next chapter, or searching for that spark again—Root to Rising will meet you where you are and inspire you to rise into the woman you’re meant to become.

Root to Rising is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 44 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Root to Rising, a business show with 44 episodes published.

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  Root to Rising

  The Honest Guide To Your First Year Of College

  Sep 23, 202642 min

  Starting college can feel exciting, overwhelming, and completely unpredictable—all at once. In this special episode of Root to Rising , Christine sits down with current college student Katherine Chialdikas and recent graduates Elle Thomas and Ellie Ternes for an honest conversation about what freshman year is really like. They share the realities of move-in day, making friends, sorority recruitment, homesickness, difficult classes, choosing a major, staying safe, and learning how to balance school with actually enjoying college. Whether you are preparing to leave home or already struggling through your first semester, this episode will remind you that you are not alone—and you do not need to have everything figured out. In This Episode What move-in day is actually like Why friendships do not always happen immediately How to meet people when you are naturally introverted The truth about sorority recruitment How to survive your first week of classes Why college tests require a different approach Simple ways to stay organized and avoid procrastinating What to do when you feel homesick or lonely Advice for choosing or changing your major Important tips for staying healthy and safe How to balance studying, friendships, and college experiences What each guest wishes she had done differently Episode Highlights 00:35 – Meet Katherine, Elle, and Ellie 01:10 – The excitement and chaos of move-in day 05:02 – Making friends during the first few weeks 07:09 – When college does not immediately meet your expectations 08:12 – Honest advice about sorority recruitment 10:26 – Making connections as an introvert 13:12 – Finding your classes and surviving the first day 18:22 – How college homework and exams differ from high school 22:16 – Katherine’s strategy for staying ahead 25:35 – How to stop checking your phone while studying 26:13 – Choosing a major and knowing when to switch 30:46 – The reality of homesickness 35:17 – Staying healthy and safe during freshman year Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: T3VERS8FFJMQPA7T

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  Root to Rising

  What if you don't find your purpose, you become it

  Sep 10, 202644 min

  What if your purpose isn’t something you find—but someone you become? In this episode, Christine sits down with entrepreneur, author, and humanitarian Heidi Totten to explore her unexpected journey from studying family science to building businesses and creating 100 Humanitarians, an organization serving families in Kenya and beyond. Heidi shares how adaptability, failure, and a willingness to follow unexpected opportunities helped her create meaningful change. She also explains why confidence comes from proving to yourself that you can do hard things—and why helping just one person can create an impact that reaches thousands. In this episode: Why your career doesn’t need to follow a linear path How doing difficult things builds genuine confidence The failure that pushed Heidi toward entrepreneurship How one trip to Kenya completely changed her life The story behind 100 Humanitarians Why meaningful change often begins with one person How to discover work that genuinely lights you up Why Heidi believes, “You are your purpose” Whether you’re beginning your career, entering a new season, or questioning what comes next, this conversation is a reminder to trust yourself, remain open to change, and run toward the opportunities that scare you. Learn more about Heidi’s work at 100Humanitarians.org . Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: V0IOZK6QJYC24RGI

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  Root to Rising

  Senior Straight Talk: Memorable Advice From Highschoolers

  Sep 2, 202640 min

  Senior year brings excitement, uncertainty, and one major question: What comes next? In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine sits down with high school seniors Alina, Shreena, Ella, and Kennedy for an honest conversation about college applications, future careers, leaving home, and navigating the pressure to have everything figured out. The four students share how they’re choosing colleges, balancing education with financial realities, and using social media as inspiration without falling into comparison. They also reflect on the lessons they’ve learned throughout high school—from taking challenging classes to staying true to themselves despite outside opinions. This conversation is a powerful reminder that confidence is not something you simply have—it grows every time you step outside your comfort zone. In this episode: Managing the stress of college applications Choosing a college based on career goals and finances Preparing for life away from family Using social media as a guide instead of a comparison Defining success beyond money and career Building confidence through uncomfortable experiences Advice for younger students entering high school Staying true to your values while embracing change Whether you’re preparing for college, supporting a student through senior year, or navigating a new chapter of your own, this episode reminds us that our paths do not have to be perfectly planned—or completely linear—to lead somewhere meaningful. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 9ID9ZIMDR0DWL9HX

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  Root to Rising

  College Through a First-Gen Lens

  Aug 19, 202633 min

  What does it look like to enter college carrying not only your own dreams, but the sacrifices of the generations before you? In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine Hummel welcomes back Ema Adakauskas , a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin–Madison double majoring in biochemistry and Spanish. Ema shares how growing up in a Lithuanian immigrant family shaped her work ethic, her education, and her desire to build a career in healthcare centered around human connection. Ema opens up about watching her parents build a life in America from the ground up and how their sacrifices became one of her greatest sources of motivation. She also shares why she shifted her dream from medical school to becoming a physician assistant—and why choosing a career that leaves room for family and a fulfilling life matters to her. As she prepares for sophomore year, Ema gets candid about the pressure to succeed, fear of failure, managing college stress, finding your people, and learning to use the resources around you. In This Episode Growing up as the daughter of Lithuanian immigrants Why Ema chose biochemistry and Spanish Turning her parents' sacrifices into motivation Choosing purpose over a predetermined career path Why work-life balance changed her vision for her future Navigating the pressure and stress of college What she wishes more freshmen knew Making friends when you don't know anyone Using college as an opportunity to reinvent yourself Why social media doesn't tell you who someone really is Staying open-minded when things don't go as planned Whether you're heading to college, navigating a new season, or simply figuring out what comes next, this conversation is a reminder that you don't need to have everything figured out—you just need to stay open to where the journey takes you. Listen now to Root to Rising and share this episode with someone stepping into a new chapter. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: RKVMSNJFRQUWGWPA

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  Root to Rising

  Finding Confidence Through Courage

  Aug 12, 202644 min

  What If the Life That Looks Good on Paper Doesn’t Feel Good Anymore? What happens when the path you worked so hard to build no longer feels like the path you want? In this episode of Root to Rising , Christine sits down with Michelle Pollack, executive leadership coach , who helps high achievers build lives and careers that feel as good as they look on paper. Michelle shares her unexpected journey from studying theater at Northwestern and working in New York’s entertainment industry to Hollywood—and eventually discovering executive coaching. Along the way, she found herself asking a question many high-achieving women eventually face: Is this really what I want? Christine and Michelle unpack why women can feel trapped by the careers, expectations, and identities they once chose—and why changing direction doesn’t mean you failed. They explore the pressure to prove yourself, perfectionism, people-pleasing, leadership, delegation, and the inner critic that can convince us to stay where we are instead of exploring what could be next. Michelle also shares a powerful reminder: confidence doesn’t have to come before the leap. Sometimes courage comes first, and confidence is built by taking the risk, learning, adjusting, and realizing that even if things don’t go perfectly—you’ll be okay. In this episode: Why success can look right but feel wrong Giving yourself permission to change your mind The pressure high-achieving women put on themselves How perfectionism and people-pleasing show up in leadership Why great leaders don’t need to have all the answers Learning to delegate, trust, and grow your team How to recognize your inner critic Asking yourself what you actually want Why courage comes before confidence Becoming comfortable with being a beginner again This conversation is a reminder that you’re allowed to evolve. The person you wanted to become at 20 doesn’t have to define who you become at 30, 40, 50, or beyond. Root to Rising — where women share their stories and experiences so others can listen, learn, and grow. Connect with Michelle Continue the conversation and learn more about Michelle’s work in executive leadership coaching. Connect with Michelle: website: www.michellepollack.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-pollack/ Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: NESVV8DL8HHECNDN

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