Da Collegiate Chronicle

Tea Time with Chemya McGhee

In this episode of Da Collegiate Chronicle, I’m joined by Chemya McGhee, a former Disney College Program Participant representing Valdosta State University. We first met while working at Disney’s Water Parks, and since then, Chemya and I have continued our journey at Disney Springs through our program extensions. What started as co-workers turned into a meaningful friendship—and in this conversation, we go deeper. We explore identity, growth, and how being a part of a community has shaped her college and professional experiences. From finding your role and trusting the process, to learning how your sense of self influences the spaces you enter, this episode is about becoming comfortable in who you are—even while you’re still evolving. Because growth isn’t instant. It’s intentional. And it takes time.

The Will to Be with Special Guest Will Kersting

In this episode of Da Collegiate Chronicle, I’m joined by Will Kersting, a transfer student from the University of Kentucky, now studying at the University of Cincinnati. We met in a Kinesiology & Health Promotion class at UK and have stayed close ever since. This conversation explores what it means to grow into your identity, belonging, and the quiet confidence it takes to live authentically. We talk about navigating friendship, masculinity, academics, and the mental weight that can come with self-discovery. Will reflects on transferring schools, stepping away from spaces that no longer felt aligned, and learning to trust his gut. At its core, this episode is about choosing yourself—even when it’s uncomfortable. Because sometimes becoming who you are isn’t loud—it’s intentional. And sometimes the most powerful changes are the ones no one sees but you.

Walker Home with Special Guest Jada Walker

In this episode of Da Collegiate Chronicle, I’m joined by Jada Walker, a former Division I athlete at both the University of Kentucky and Baylor University, now continuing her professional basketball career overseas in Budapest, Hungary with Csata Kosárlabda. We talk about what it means to grow up as an athlete—choosing dedication over fun, moving far from home, and navigating the transfer portal, handling the pressure that comes with competing at the highest collegiate level. From the highs & lows of college basketball to the lessons that take the a lifetime to truly understand, this conversation is about growth, confidence, and trust. Because at the highest level growth isn’t promised—it’s demanded.

Lows & Highs with Special Guest: Justice Lowe

In this episode of Da Collegiate Chronicle, I’m joined by Justice Lowe, an alumnus of Northern Kentucky University and someone I grew up with back in high school. He’s now based in Nashville, Tennessee, living out his creative dreams as a touring content director for rising country artist Gavin Adcock—after recently touring with Dustin Lynch and Blake Shelton. We talk about choosing to persevere through instability over stability, navigating the pressure of changing majors from something “safe” to something that once felt like a fairytale, and learning how to stay grounded through uncertainty. From moments of self-doubt to personal breakthroughs, this conversation explores what it really means to keep going when the path isn’t linear. Because growth lives in the balance—somewhere between the lows that test you and the highs that remind you why you started.

All for One with Special Guest Allison Vaughn

In this episode of Da Collegiate Chronicle, I’m joined by Allison Vaughn, a former Division I athlete at Eastern Kentucky University and someone I grew up competing alongside. This conversation goes beyond the game—diving into what it means to find your identity outside of performance and redefine your self-worth beyond wins and losses. We talk about navigating pressure, comparison, and the challenges of being a student-athlete, while exploring faith, mental resilience, and what it looks like to stay grounded when everything seems uncertain. Allison shares her journey of learning to trust herself, embrace her individuality, and let go of the need to prove her worth through achievement. At its core, this episode is about choosing purpose over pressure and learning that who you are matters more than what you do. Because sometimes the biggest win isn’t on the field—it’s within yourself.