Real World Recess Realworld

This week's guest is known for having "the best renters insurance story ever," and she doesn't disappoint!  From her first move to NYC, to getting laid off at an early-career job, to dealing with filing TWO renters insurance claims in one year, Juliette Dallas-Feeney has learned to find the silver lining in whatever the real world throws her way. And if we've learned one thing (besides that renters insurance is a must-get), it's that your career may not seem linear, but it can always come full-circle! 

With a claim to fame like DJing for Lil Wayne, Mike Summers could have coasted through college on his six-figure music earnings, living life in the fast lane. Instead, he put his DJ career on pause and focused on a career in entertainment business, earning an MBA and a role in corporate America. Now a prime example of balancing passions, side-hustles, and a 9-5 job, Mike shares his perspective on personal pivots and learning how to market your own strengths. 

Emily O'Gorman had three months to find a job and fulfill her dream of moving to NYC, a dream she's proud to say she's living. From staying on friend's couches, commuting two hours each way to interviews, to getting that first gig, she knows just how hard those early career years can be. Having now successfully moved up the ranks at The Muse, a startup focused on helping people find more fulfilling careers by providing expert advice and showcasing what it’s like to work at different companies across the world, Emily has lots of insight into the job market and shares her advice for growing in your career with us on Recess! 

Some say "showing up is half the battle," but to John Balkam, showing up is just the starting line. From pursuing his passion for sports, to starting a company, to publishing his first book,"3-Win Sponsorship: The Next Generation of Sports and Entertainment Marketing," John has pivoted and persevered by putting himself in the room and in the way of opportunity, and following up with the people he meets along the way. He opens up about his struggle with mental health and shares advice for taking life in stride and betting on yourself. 

Whether he's hosting a college radio show at University of Georgia, curating a class of tech startups for an accelerator program, or organizing an annual reunion weekend for his close college friends, Austin Crouse has had his hand in building communities of all kinds. The recipient of great advice from his own mentors, Austin is the first to pay forward his experience, share advice, or simply listen thoughtfully - and with Drake as his "Artist of The Decade" we're all ears!

Sidney Hulburd knows what she wants and goes for it - from getting her dream internship at Jimmy Fallon, to taking a semester off of college to intern at Saturday Night Live, to getting her dog, Truman. Though Blink-182 has us believing "nobody likes you when you're 23," we're with Sidney, "bye bye 22, I don't care much for you."