Sorority Chat

Liz Alexander

A podcast about all things Greek housing, decorating, and beyond. Host Liz Alexander is an alumnae of Alpha Gamma Delta and owner of PDR Interiors, an interior decorating firm that focuses on enhancing the sorority housing experience. Having worked on over 80 college campuses across 25 states, Toombs is well-versed in the world of chapter facilities. She hosts many knowledgeable guests who provide valuable insight for the sorority housing industry. Connect with Liz:  🔗 ⁠⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠  📷 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

  1. 3d ago

    Alumna Initiation, Mentorship, and Supporting First-Gen Students in Greek Life

    In today's episode of Sorority Chat, Liz Alexander hosts Pam Gibson, an alumna initiate of Delta Gamma, to discuss how there is no single path to sorority membership and how alumna initiation helped Pam join later in life after a nursing and nursing education career. Pam shares how a student introduced her to Delta Gamma’s Service for Sight philanthropy, how COVID delayed her 15-month new member period, and how she now advises multiple chapters. They explore mentoring first-generation minority students in Greek life through proactive new member support, study halls, academic coaching, and teaching college “life skills” like using campus resources and communicating with professors. Pam connects this work to her dissertation research on academic and leadership success for first-generation minority upperclassmen in Greek life, highlights the need for stronger alumnae involvement and updated contact information, and invites eligible participants to email her.📌 Connect with Pam: ✉️ pamli1968@gmail.com 📌 Connect with Liz:  📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠ 🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠  Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle! Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories. Episode Highlights:00:00 Episode Teaser00:31 Welcome to Sorority Chat00:58 Meet Pam Gibson02:31 Finding Delta Gamma Later05:13 Why Sorority Matters07:17 Dissertation and Mentorship09:06 Helping New Members Thrive12:49 Teaching College Skills16:53 Why Alumni Stay Involved23:22 How to Become an Advisor25:53 Alumna Initiation Advice30:29 Dissertation Participants Needed31:45 Contact and Wrap Up33:18 House Hot Take Design Tip34:23 Final Thanks and Outro

  2. Sep 23

    Early Warning Signs of Hazing: Chapter Culture, Bystander Intervention, and Accountability (with Dr. Mike Ayalon)

    On today's episode of Sorority Chat, host Liz Alexander welcomes Dr. Mike Ayalon of Greek University back to discuss how chapter culture and “early warning signs” can precede major incidents, referencing allegations in the Penn State hazing case and his ABC News interview. Ayalon, whose dissertation on hazing warning signs earned the 2025 Hank Nuwer Award, explains that hazing can include pressuring new members into dangerous, degrading, or illegal behavior, and argues that silence, normalization, and diffusion of responsibility allow problems to escalate. He outlines the role of houses, advisors, house directors, alumni, headquarters, and campus reporting systems in spotting patterns and intervening early, emphasizes accountability over shielding students from consequences, and recommends proactive membership reviews and functioning standards boards. Liz closes with a design “House Hot Take” on using durable performance fabrics for white furniture. 📌 Connect with  📸  @greekuniversity 🌐 https://greekuniversity.substack.com 📌 Connect with Liz:  📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠ 🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠  Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle! Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Episode Teaser00:56 Meet Dr. Mike Ayalon02:59 Penn State Case Context04:49 How Houses Reveal Culture05:27 Early Hazing Warning Signs06:46 Ecosystem And Bystanders12:13 Reporting And House Director Role14:51 Parents: Consequences And Accountability17:19 Three Questions To Take Back20:26 Membership Reviews And Self-Governance26:01 Learning Versus Shutdowns30:07 Why Alumni Advisors Matter34:06 Where To Find Mike Online36:16 House Hot Take: White Furniture37:38 Wrap Up And Credits

  3. Sep 16

    Leading a Sorority House Refresh: Alumnae Board Lessons from Gamma Phi Beta at Oklahoma State

    In today's episode, Liz Alexander hosts a Sorority Chat Podcast episode on what it takes to lead major sorority house projects from the perspective of alumna volunteers, featuring Sallie Hill and Monica Wittrock of the Gamma Phi Beta House Corporation board at Oklahoma State University. Sallie reflects on the multi-year planning behind the 2020 addition and renovation driven by growing pledge classes, the need for larger dining and chapter spaces, and the decision to preserve the home’s original feel while increasing capacity from 63 to 87 beds. Monica discusses inheriting that successful renovation and leading a later “refresh” focused on recruitment-facing spaces, functionality, and updated furnishings as campus housing expectations evolved. They cover volunteer workload and leadership, working with professionals, budgeting and saving for future updates, balancing tradition with modern design, and Liz’s “House Hot Take” on rethinking underused spaces to match how members actually live. 📌 Connect with Monica and Sallie 📸  instagram.com/okstategphi 🌐 gammaphibeta.org 📌 Connect with Liz:  📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠ 🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠  Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle! Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories. Episode Highlights:00:00 Welcome to Sorority Chat00:55 Meet Sallie and Monica02:55 Why Renovate in 202005:06 Leading Without a Roadmap07:55 Monica Inherits the House10:05 Time for a Refresh13:27 Designing for Use and Meaning21:03 Volunteer Reality Check27:52 Managing Pros and Partners29:34 Budgeting and Staying Agile36:10 What Success Starts With38:29 House Hot Take: Dead Spaces39:34 Wrap Up and Credits

  4. Sep 9

    Homesickness, Anxiety & Recruitment Rejection

    Homesickness, Anxiety & Recruitment Rejection: Life Coach Suzanne Hanna on Supporting College WomenIn today's episode, host Liz Alexander welcomes life coach and Alpha Chi alum Suzanne Hanna, who supports college and teen girls after 25+ years in education, to discuss what college women are struggling with as they arrive on campus: feeling like they don’t belong yet, overwhelming anxiety from unfamiliar surroundings, and unexpected boredom after leaving highly structured high school schedules. Suzanne shares mindset tools such as training the brain to seek belonging, reframing perfectionism as personal excellence, and viewing homesickness as love—along with practical coping strategies like allowing yourself to cry. They also talk about sorority recruitment as a public form of rejection driven by “rush math,” why it can feel like an identity threat, and how parents and trusted adults can best help by listening without trying to fix it. 📌 Connect with Suzanne: 📸  @suzannehannacoaching 🌐  ⁠suzannehannacoaching.com⁠ 📌 Connect with Liz:  📸 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠⁠ 🌐  ⁠⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠⁠  Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle! Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories. Episode Highlights:00:00 Homesickness Is Love00:45 Meet Suzanne Hanna02:11 Freshman Transition Shock06:52 The Mentorship Gap11:33 Crying Through Homesickness14:32 Recruitment Rejection Reality16:56 How Adults Should Respond19:07 Supporting Actives and New Members22:20 Perfectionism and Excellence26:39 Coaching Updates and Where to Follow28:31 House Hot Take Design Tip29:37 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

  5. Sep 2

    Beyond the Balloons: Tri Delta CEO on the Real Leadership Skills Behind Bid Day

    Beyond the Balloons: Tri Delta CEO Mindy Tucker on the Real Leadership Skills Behind Bid DayIn this episode of Sorority Chat, host Liz Alexander welcomes Mindy Tucker, CEO of Tri Delta, about Tucker’s op-ed “Beyond the Balloons” and what recruitment-season spectacle misses about sorority life. Tucker recounts visiting the University of Arkansas and learning how a Bid Day chair manages a six- to nine-month process involving theme approval, project planning, budgeting, vendor coordination, team management, PR, and rapid execution—skills she believes are undervalued and not well understood by employers. They discuss misconceptions about Greek life, the scale and professionalism of Tri Delta, ways to better communicate leadership development to potential members and parents, and new initiatives like an emerging leaders summit and advocacy “Hill visits.” Tucker reflects on how sorority membership builds influence, teamwork across differences, and lifelong encouragement. The episode ends with Liz’s design “House Hot Take” on reducing visual clutter. 📌 Connect with  Mindy 📸  @ MindyTF 🌐   tridelta.org 📌 Connect with Liz:  📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠ 🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠  Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle! Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Podcast Cold Open00:26 Welcome and Episode Setup01:53 Beyond the Balloons Origin04:15 Turning Sorority Roles Into Skills07:28 Changing the Recruitment Narrative10:31 Leadership Programs and Hill Visits13:08 Rushtok and Social Media Reality15:37 What Sorority Taught Mindy17:51 Sisters Who Made You Bigger19:16 From Politics to Tri Delta CEO20:51 What Parents Should Know23:20 Tradition vs Change in Tri Delta26:38 Why Women’s Orgs Still Matter27:48 Advice for Employers29:37 Final Question and Where to Connect30:38 Liz’s House Hot Take32:05 Outro and Credits

  6. Aug 26

    How to Get Publicity for Your Sorority Chapter!

    On today's episode of Sorority Chat, host Liz Alexander welcomes back public relations expert Michelle Rupp to explain why sorority and fraternity chapters should proactively pursue positive publicity to improve branding and reputation, especially when Greek life is often covered negatively. Michelle shares practical guidance on earning coverage through traditional and campus media, including how to identify newsworthy stories, target audiences like parents, alumni, and PNMs, and use well-written, non-AI press releases that clearly answer who/what/when/where/why (and how). She discusses timing outreach, following up after events with photos and quotes, avoiding common mistakes such as spelling errors and slang, and making it easy for the media to attend by providing addresses and a contact number. Liz also offers a “House Hot Take” on maintaining chapter houses for members year-round—not just during recruitment. 📌 Connect with Michelle: 📸  ⁠@memorableresultsmedia⁠ 🌐  ⁠www.memorableresultsmedia.com⁠ 📌 Connect with Liz:  📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠ 🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠  Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle! Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Podcast Cold Open00:24 Welcome and Guest Intro01:47 Why Publicity Matters04:22 Press Releases and Social09:24 Newsworthy Story Ideas15:27 PR Chair Starter Guide17:43 Timing Photos and Follow Up19:37 Common PR Mistakes21:25 Beyond Social Media24:56 Small Chapter Strategies29:02 Key Takeaway and Connect29:57 House Hot Take Segment31:16 Wrap Up and Credits

  7. Aug 19

    How AI Can Support Ethical Recruitment, Chapter Leadership & Career Prep in Greek Life

    In today's episode, host Liz Alexander interviews AI strategist, consultant, and speaker Ben Gold about how sorority members, chapter leaders, and alumnae can use AI ethically and practically. Gold explains the “ChatGPT moment” (Nov. 30, 2022) and argues AI should be taught as a tool that supplements critical thinking, not replaces it, with clear policies and transparency about usage. They discuss AI for communication and social media, and for recruitment as a way to move beyond superficial judgments by clarifying chapter needs and using data to identify leadership potential while keeping humans responsible for final decisions. Gold also shares career applications such as resume support, career exploration, and building LinkedIn networks, and highlights ethics concerns including bias, privacy/security, misuse, and AI companion risks. The episode ends with Liz’s “House Hot Take” on designing multipurpose, welcoming sorority spaces that foster connection and honor chapter history. 📌 Connect with  Ben 📸  linkedin.com/in/bengoldsales/ 🌐 aiacademy4all.org 📌 Connect with Liz:  📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠ 🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠  Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle! Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Cold Open Teaser 00:32 Welcome to Sorority Chat 00:59 Meet Ben Gold 02:07 Ben’s AI Origin Story 06:49 AI in Schoolwork 10:27 Recruitment and Messaging 17:19 AI for Careers 20:15 Policies and Professors 25:49 Ethics and Safety 31:38 AI in Daily Life 33:58 Final Takeaways 34:58 Where to Find Ben 36:21 Liz’s House Hot Takes 37:39 Outro and Credits

  8. Aug 12

    Authentic Greek Life Storytelling on Social Media (Less Flyers, More Reels)

    On today's episode, host Liz Alexander welcomes Guillermo Flores, founder of Fraternity Social Media and digital media director for Sigma Phi Epsilon, to discuss how fraternities and sororities can tell more authentic stories online. Guillermo shares how his background in campus-based fraternity/sorority work and his Phi Kappa Tau experience led him to launch Fraternity Social Media during the 2020 shutdowns, and why Greek accounts often struggle due to comparison, over-curation, and clickbait. He recommends posting fewer text-heavy graphics and more people-centered short-form video, staying consistent with national brand guidelines while making them chapter-specific, and involving more members in content creation by reframing “creativity.” They also address responsible AI use, trend timing, rebuilding reputation after a difficult semester (including when to stay quiet and how to hand off accounts), and Liz closes with a design “House Hot Take” on spaces that support study, sleep, and self-care. 📌 Connect with Guillermo: 📸   🌐  📌 Connect with Liz:  📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠ 🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠  Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform!If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle! Sorority Chat is your go-to podcast for all things Greek life! Liz Alexander hosts this show for sorority leaders, house directors, alumni, and anyone who loves sisterhood and the traditions that make Greek life unique. From leadership insights to house renovations and recruitment tips, Sorority Chat brings you real conversations, thoughtful insights, and fun stories. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Cold Open on Authenticity 00:29 Welcome to Sorority Chat 00:58 Meet Guillermo Flores 02:38 Social Media Origin Story 04:51 College Major and Path 06:53 Greek Roots and Grit 09:00 Mentorship Matters 09:58 Greek Life Online Struggles 12:13 Stop Flyers Start Reels 14:11 Branding Without Losing You 16:54 Everyone Can Create 19:08 AI in Chapter Content 23:48 Rebuilding After a Bad Semester 26:48 Rapid Fire Favorites 31:24 What's Next and Connect 33:38 House Hot Takes Design 34:28 Wrap Up and Subscribe

4.7
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

A podcast about all things Greek housing, decorating, and beyond. Host Liz Alexander is an alumnae of Alpha Gamma Delta and owner of PDR Interiors, an interior decorating firm that focuses on enhancing the sorority housing experience. Having worked on over 80 college campuses across 25 states, Toombs is well-versed in the world of chapter facilities. She hosts many knowledgeable guests who provide valuable insight for the sorority housing industry. Connect with Liz:  🔗 ⁠⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠  📷 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠

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