How can you stay safe in the sun, and why should you start protecting your skin now? In this episode, Leah Koskinen from MakeDermSure shares her powerful journey from surviving melanoma to educating others on sun safety. After being diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma at the age of 25, Leah’s life changed forever. Now, she is dedicated to helping people, especially students, understand the importance of sunscreen and proactive skin care. 

Leah talks about her personal story of dealing with skin cancer, from the initial shock of her diagnosis to the ongoing process of managing her health. She emphasises the crucial need for skin checks, the dangers of overexposure to the sun, and why it’s essential to make sun protection a part of your everyday routine—no matter your age. With simple tips, like adding sunscreen to your daily skincare routine and knowing your body, Leah provides practical advice for students who might be too busy to think about their skin but can’t afford to ignore it. 

She also sheds light on the misconceptions around tanning, the importance of wearing SPF even in winter, and how to make sun safety an easy habit. 

How do you navigate the challenges of your 20s and build confidence in a rapidly changing world? In this episode, Jess Diamond, a career and confidence coach, shares her transformative journey from feeling lost and unfulfilled to helping others find their purpose and build self-confidence.

Jess opens up about how the pandemic led her to re-evaluate her career, embracing a new path in coaching after personal struggles with identity and self-worth. Her story of moving from a job that didn’t align with her passions to becoming a successful coach offers powerful insights into self-discovery and professional growth.

Throughout the conversation, Jess shares the importance of aligning your career choices with your true values, the struggles of navigating your 20s, and how to build lasting self-trust.

How can art and sustainability make a real difference, especially for busy students? In this episode, Caroline West from Carol Louise Arts shares her inspiring journey from burnout to creative freedom, combining her love for art and sustainability into a successful career.

Caroline’s story shows how reconnecting with your passions and aligning them with your values can lead to personal and professional growth. She opens up about the challenges of pursuing art while managing family, work, and well-being, and highlights the importance of prioritising creativity as a form of self-expression.

We also discuss how art can be a powerful tool for self-care, especially during stressful times like university. Caroline explains how art helped her recover from burnout and shares practical advice for students on how to incorporate creative activities into their routines to improve mental health and boost productivity.

How can students embrace sustainability without feeling overwhelmed?

In this episode, I chat with Amy Fagan from the Grounded in Maine podcast about how students can incorporate green practices into their daily lives. We discuss practical tips like mindful purchasing, cooking at home, and supporting local farmers, all without breaking the bank. Amy highlights the importance of small steps, such as worm composting and water conservation, and emphasises that sustainability doesn’t require perfection—just action.

We also explore how sustainable practices can improve mental health and foster community connections, offering students a way to positively impact both their well-being and the planet.

Campus Chronicles is created by Urban Podcasts.

How can art become a powerful tool for mental well-being, especially for students navigating the pressures of academic life? In this episode, I speak with Debbie Crouch from Art for Wellness about the transformative impact of creative expression on mental health. Debbie shares her personal journey of rediscovering art as a means of healing and empowerment, which eventually led her to create a global community using art for wellness.

We explore how art can be a source of stress relief, self-expression, and personal growth, particularly for university students dealing with feelings of anxiety, comparison, and self-doubt. Debbie highlights the process of creating art—not the final product—as the key to its therapeutic benefits, allowing students to reconnect with their emotions and find joy in the act of creation. 

Debbie also offers practical advice on how students can incorporate art into their lives, regardless of skill level or resources, and emphasises the importance of self-care and embracing our unique creative voice.