The Panic Room with Sophia Yan

Sophia Yan and Shaun Karakkattu co-hosted a special episode as a part of the Vanderbilt Buchanan Fellowship on the phenomenon of widespread misinformation among the immigrant communities on social media platforms and ways to combat non-English misinformation.

In this episode, I chatted with Kayla Vine, who forgone the traditional path of being a physician, instead, she poured her passion for health and wellness into her own instant smoothie brand Might Blendz. Kayla shares with us her journey of navigating entrepreneurship as a young female. Get ready for some tips on how to maximize your health and how to turn your problem into the next innovative idea!

No cause is too small to be advocated and no organization is too daunting to be changed.

Sophia: "What was your earliest memory of growing up in Iraq?" Abdallah: "Well, it is not your typical childhood story." Buckle in for Abdallah's journey as a refugee child searching for meaning, belonging, joy (and Hannah Montana).

Don't be afraid of change. The only constant in your career should be the commitment to your passion.

In this episode, I speak with Barton Christmas, a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University. While many people may know Barton for his impeccable humor and personality, few people know that he struggled with the decision of whether to stay in college or dropping out to pursue a full-time career in stand-up comedy during his sophomore year. Spoiler alert: he stayed :) Today Barton is here to share the role of creative expressions and how YOU can use art to lead a fulfilling life.

A gender non-binary teen under the pseudonym “Alex” share their experiences growing up in a strict religious immigrant family and how the pandemic has given them time to reconcile with different aspects of their identity and come to peace with the various influences in their life.

Hey, you might want to sit down for this :)