Don't Tell Me Your Major

About Don't Tell Me Your Major

This is Don’t Tell Me Your Major, an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level, with questions like what their major is, where they’re from, and how old they are, but try to get to know them on a more profound level.

Publisher

North by Northwestern

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

7 May 2018

Latest episode

7 Mar 2022

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Mar 2022

   DTMYM10: Valentine’s Day Revisited

   Episode Notes [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] Malena: Hey guys, my name is Malena Ramnath. Allison: I'm Allison Rhee. Malena: And we are your hosts and juniors here at Northwestern. This is Don't Tell Me Your Major, an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level with questions like what their major is, where they're from, and how old they are, but try to get to know them on a more profound level. That's how you really know the kind of person someone is rather than judging them based on pre-established stereotypes. So, last time listeners, two years ago, – if you can believe it – we had our last podcast about Valentine's Day. We asked “What did you do for Valentine's Day?,” “Do you believe in soulmates?,” “What's your favorite romantic movie, love song, and flower?,” and “Is love at first sight real?” But now Allison and I are in very different places in our lives, cuffed now to two different men than we were with two years ago, in long term relationships, and I’d just say things have changed. And so I really wanted to revisit Valentine's Day, and kind of how our perspectives on it have changed and kind of how our view of love has changed based on our new experiences now. So to start off, how did you spend your Valentine's Day this year? Allison: Um, well, Valentine's Day is only like a week or so after my one year anniversary. So we went out for that. And then Valentine's Day was on a Monday this year. And the Superbowl was on Sunday, so we decided to just go a little more low-key. So we just ordered a party platter of sushi and then we had chocolate covered strawberries and watched The Haunting of Hill House. So it was… it was really casual. Malena: I can't stand horror movies, so I don't know why that's cute. But no, I get it. It's like “Oh, I'm scared” and then you get cuddles. I hate horror movies. They give me horrible nightmares. But I do appreciate a casual Valentine's Day because I will say once you've been with someone for a while, like you just start to appreciate that stuff more, I think. Allison: Yeah. Malena: Yeah, Valentine's Day for me, I am posh and I'll take any occasion to have him spend money on me. And so we decided to go to Etta which is a restaurant in River North I've been dying to go to. However, on Valentine's Day I get a call saying that my boyfriend tested positive for COVID. I tested positive two days afterwards. So we've been in quarantine for two whole weeks. Just got out, recording this podcast and we're going to the dinner tomorrow. Allison: Oh, that’s nice. Malena: Yeah. Instead, he sent me, to the hotel room I was quarantining in, he had sparkling juice and chocolate covered strawberries and like my favorite ice cream delivered to me and some roses, which I thought was really cute. Allison: Sparkling juice? Malena: Yeah, sparkling. Yeah. I mean, I'm under 21. He's not but he had that delivered to me. And so what, you know, based on – I had chocolate, we both had chocolate covered strawberries –but what do you think is the best Valentine's Day food to get or receive? Like edible arrangements, chocolates? Chicken wings? Allison: Chicken wings? I would – probably not. I mean, I like chicken wings. I just I don't know if I would want them for Valentine's Day. I'm not a big like, pure chocolate person. Like I don't eat like chocolate bars. I think chocolate covered strawberries are always the best bet, but when you buy them they're so expensive for no reason. Some rustic homemade chocolate covered strawberries, I think that’d be, that’s the perfect gift. Malena: I did appreciate my favorite ice cream. It's Cherry Garcia, Ben and Jerry's, listeners  – in case you ever want to hit me up with some gifts for your loyal host. But I also like edible arrangements. Because it's like you get the vibes of like having a nice set of flowers, but it's edible. So it's like practical, they don't just like sit on your shelf and die like flowers, you know? And they do come with chocolate covered strawberries and like pineapples and things like that. So… Allison: I can make you that for like probably half the price. Malena: If you wanted to. It's the price of your time, Allison. Allison: That's true. Malena: That’s what the issue is. Okay, on a more serious note, though. How do you think love - so you've been in a relationship with Noah. Hi, Noah! Sorry, I'm trying to be best friends with him. But you've been in a relationship for a little over a year now. I have my two year mark on Friday. How do you think love changes over the course of a one or two year relationship? Allison: I definitely think in the beginning of a relationship, it's more like butterflies and I'm so shy. I'm so nervous around you and like trying to always look your best or like, act your best. But I think that that might be sustainable in like shorter relationships. Once you reach like a point where you've been together for over a year or two years, you can't hide those things about yourself. You know, like they have to see you as you are. That's why I feel like – I've read this like, I listen to this podcast or some Tiktok about how around this six month mark or one year mark that's when a lot of couples break up because like you can't avoid who you are at that point. So if you're like, if you don't like the person that your partner is, you know, you'll realize that around then. So I think love changes, and you become a lot more comfortable and like real with the other person the longer that you're in a relationship. Malena: Yeah, I'm kind of hitting that point, too. This is my first like, really, really long relationship. And the first time I've got to a point where it's like, it's just your best friend at a certain point. It's like, I mean, obviously, there still is like, some romantic, I'm attracted to you element there. But really, it's just like your best friend. Like, I just want to come home and gossip in bed next to you. I don't want to do anything else after. So that's definitely an element. But then I think it's also like, it's interesting how you can almost get too comfortable. Like, sometimes you gotta, you gotta remember to mix it up a little bit. And stuff like that, which is weird. Like, I'm 20. I didn't think I would need to, like, add spice to anything. But it is funny how you get into your routines and stuff. Even at such a young age. But then the follow up to that is, do you think it's the same with a friendship? Like, because when you’re first – I felt like when I was first thinking about this – when you're first friends with someone, you're like, worried about hurting their feelings, like tiptoeing around them, but then you get so comfortable, you can kind of just say and do whatever. Allison: Yeah, like kind of, I guess. I think relationships in general, just like friendships and romantic relationships mirror each other a lot. I think one thing is like, you have a lot more like – how do I say this – you're probably aren't as invested in the little small things about your friendship as you are in a relationship. You know what I mean, so like, if I had a friend and we were friends for a really long time, and like, at a certain point, I realized like, “Oh, we're not that compatible,” it's not like the end of the world. You know, you can still be friends with someone like that and still probably maintain a close enough friendship. But with a romantic relationship, once you reach a point where you're like, “Oh, I don't think we're that compatible.” It's like, you kind of have to end it. Or it's not as casual. Malena: Yeah, you can't like grow out of it. It's kind of like it has to be a sudden rupture. Yeah,  I can see how that's different. Um, okay. I'm definitely thinking about this more and more as I get to be with people for longer in college. Because I feel like… some of my guy friends, I spend a lot of time with them, too, and like, they have their quirks and I'm like, “Okay, I can forgive this now. But if I just met you, and you were doing this, I don't know.” You know what I mean? Allison: Oh, yeah, it's true. It's like, you're okay with it because you know them. Malena: Yeah. Allison: Yeah. Malena: Okay, but on a lighter note. On a lighter note to wrap it up. And so that the listeners out there, if you want to take your girls on a date, we would really appreciate it. Because, you know, a free evening on the town. Always, always appreciated. Allison: You can take Malena out. Malena: I mean… Allison! Okay, but anyway, so this is my last question. What would be your favorite date that you haven't been on yet? Allison: Um, I think I’d really like to travel somewhere. I guess it’s more of a trip than a singular date. But I think traveling somewhere new would be nice, because I'd really love to go places. A little more low-key, a cooking class. Malena: Oh, a cooking class would be kind of cool. I feel like it would be… Allison: I do love cooking. Malena: It might be kind of cringy, though. Like, if there's like a weird crowd. You know? Allison: Oh what, like, old people? Malena: I don't know, you can't discriminate against old people. Maybe like, you know, for lack of a better word, like a Karen. You know, who’s like, “How do I do this? How do I do this?” Allison: Oh, that’s true. Malena: You know, over and over? Allison: Maybe an advanced cooking class. Malena: I mean, Allison is probably going to culinary school later. So… Allison: We'll see. Malena: Well, that's what she's been talking about for a while. So, you know, maybe it'll end up happening so she can take the advanced one. I’ll be in beginners trying to make an omelet. I think my ideal date…Oh, I always really wanted to go to a Michelin star restaurant. If any of my listeners really loves my podcast and wants to donate to the Malena really wants to go to Alinea fund, please feel free to do that. I know. But anyways, thank you, Allison. Allison: Thank you. Malena: We're so glad to have you back. She's been abroad, so we finally have her back as our third host. Hopefully, you'll be hearing from Hannah soon and once again, this has been a North by Northwestern podcast. Happy Valentine's Day everybody! Allison: Happy Valentine's Day! [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath]

2. 

   21 Nov 2021

   DTMYM Ep 9: My Life Is A Movie

   Episode Notes [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] Malena: Hey guys! My name is Malena Ramnath. Hannah: I'm Hannah Fredly. Malena: And we are your hosts and juniors here at Northwestern. This is Don't Tell Me Your Major, an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level with questions like what their major is, where they're from, and how old they are, but try to get to know them on a more profound level. That's how you really know the kind of person someone is rather than judging them based on pre-established stereotypes. Today we would like to welcome our guest Nate Sowder, who is a student here at Northwestern. Say hi Nate! Nate: Hello. Malena: Thank you so much for coming onto our podcast, and today we will be discussing movies seeing as now as the the pandemic is ending, we can all start going to movie theaters again and so many good movies are coming out right now – such as Dune and The French Dispatch, and pretty much anything with Timothée Chalamet in it. So, I guess we'll just get started with the questions. Since we're diving in kind of profound, I'm gonna answer the first question first. The first question is what movie has changed your perspective on things the most? For me, personally, that movie was Ladybird.” It talks a lot about a girl's relationship with her mom and her father growing up in a family that's like really close together, but she's trying to become more independent. And for me, that reflected a lot of my life, I'm very close with my parents. And so it was difficult to become more independent and to leave for college, and kind of the nuances that came along with that. And it kind of just represented how your parents ultimately just love you so much. And that leads to a lot of conflict and a lot of happiness in family life. And that really resonated with me at the time. I watched it with my mom – we just both ended up in tears. So yeah, that was the movie that changed my perspective on things the most. And Hannah, what was the movie that changed your perspective on things the most? Hannah: I think I would say Beautiful Boy, which Timothée Chalamet also happens to be in. Malena: Yeah, classic. Hannah: But he’s a good actor and, and I think  Beautiful Boy was really, really cool because it looks at you know, drug use and stuff like that. And it sort of just gives you like a glimpse into a life of what it's like. And it really puts you in his shoes. And it's a really cool thing to sort of experience what it would be like to have a life like that. And also it looks at parental love. And you know, if you want to help someone, all that stuff, so it's really cool. Malena: Yeah. What about you Nate? Nate: I'm gonna have to go with a classic with It's A Wonderful Life – the old Christmas movie. And I don't know  if I would call this one life changing as much as life defining in the fact that it's a tradition in our family to watch that movie every Christmas holiday.  As I'm sure it is a tradition in a lot of families because it's like, public domain or whatever. But it's a really fantastic movie. That one, speaks to me a lot about the value of family, both, you know, from the movie standpoint as a movie, like emphasizing the importance of family, and also the fact that it was a familial experience every time I would watch it with my family. So both of those things really spoke to me. And obviously, also the fact that the movie, it just speaks a lot that there's always something we're like, you know, there's always something worth living for. Another thing I really like about the movie is that it really shows that life is worth living. And that's something I think that's sacred and valuable. And it's sometimes easy to forget in the business of life, but I think this movie speaks to it in a very simple and pure way. Hannah: Yeah, it makes you like appreciate life. Malena: Yeah, yeah. And I mean, that's kind of the same thing with Beautiful Boy, like, personally, like, I don't have a past with drugs. But there's plenty of people around us who do and it really like, allows us to put ourselves in their shoes, you know. And in Beautiful Boy, he kind of realizes that there's more to life than drug use, like no matter – kind of – how deep of a hole he's in. Hannah: Yeah, and you realize how fragile life is. Malena: Yeah, so a lot of commentary on that. And those movies are really good. I've seen both of them. And they're pretty good. So my next question for you guys is what moment in your life – so there's this kind of classic line that everyone jokes about, it's kind of cliche, it’s like, oh, my life is such a movie, you know? Because you just kind of imagine yourself in a movie or music video when things are going well in your life or something like that. So my question for you guys is what moment in your life has felt most like a movie scene? Hannah: You should go first. Malena: Of course, I should go first. Of course, I should go first. Um, I've been having a lot of moments like that recently. I think college is very, like kind of a culminatory experience where you're kind of just living with your friends. You're independent. You're getting to study what you want to study. You're kind of... it's a very like coming of age moment. And I watch a lot of coming of age movies. They're probably my favorite movie. So I've been feeling like I've had a lot of moments like this recently. I remember one moment in particular was I was just walking down the street the other day, and all the fall leaves are turning like kind of their orange and yellow colors. And it's snowing. And I was listening to classical music in my headphones. And just walking down the street, kind of like to this soundtrack that I felt was like very movie-esque. I don't know, it was just very picturesque, like with the fall leaves in the snow. It felt also very, like fleeting, you know, just because the snow and the leaves – that all felt like very temporary, and it was a really cool moment. Hannah: Yeah, a lot of the movies I watch are like Interstellar or like Tenet - also same director. None of my life resembles that. Yeah, anyway, those are also like very sci fi-esque movies. But if I had to choose a moment, I feel like anytime I'm in a car, I just feel like I’m in a movie. It's raining outside. You're in the car, sort of like looking out the window. That's when I feel like I’m in a movie. Nate: I'm gonna take something from both of yours, both the car part and the music part, and relate it back to one of my first memories at Northwestern, one of my oldest friends at the school. We had met during this excursion to Chicago, and we were taking the bus back up to campus. And we were listening to J. Cole. We both like J. Cole. And we were just sitting in the back of the bus, listening to J. Cole and just like talking about what we liked about the song and it was just in retrospect, it was a very, like, movie-esque moment. And it was a cool moment. Malena: For what it's worth that person was me. And yes, we did miss our bus stop listening to J. Cole. We ended up like a half a mile into this random part of Evanston. It was very strange. But we had a good time. It was a good moment. Okay, and kind of for our last question for today. My question for you guys is if someone could play you in a movie of your life, who would you choose? Hannah: Oh, I have no idea. Let me think about this. Malena: Okay. I mean, I've always said– Hannah: Can we choose a boy? Malena: Yeah, of course! Of course. Nate: Danny Devito. Malena: Danny Devito! Nate: Enough said. Malena: No, I mean– Hannah: Oh I know! What's her name? The one that's like older and plays in every single movie. Malena: That’s kind of everyone! Hannah: It’s a woman. Malena: Keira Knightley? Hannah: No, no, no, she's older than that. Malena: Maggie Smith? Hannah: I'll figure it out. Say yours. Malena: Okay, Hannah's gonna quick look hers up. I've always said Hannah looks a lot like Keira Knightley. For what it's worth, even though you guys can't picture her beautiful face through the podcast. Hannah: Oh, thank you! I’m blushing. Malena: I know. I would have in the movie of my life, Tina Fey. I think she is exactly like me. She is, you know, a nerdy, really cool woman with dark features. Like, she grew up in Evanston, too. She worked at the YMCA here. She’s just got a fantastic sense of humor, kind of clumsy and all over the place, but at the same time, very professional, and ultimately put together when it counts. So Tina Fey – my main woman. Hannah: I found the person I was thinking of. It was Meryl Streep. Nate: I was going to say that! I was like there’s no way she actually means Meryl Streep. Malena: She actually means Meryl Streep! Hannah: No, but she would definitely play me when I was like, old or something. But like Meryl Streep. Malena: Like the Mamma Mia woman, you know. Hannah: Yeah, yeah. Malena: People living on a Greek island. Because that's where you hope to be is the Mamma Mia lifestyle? I respect that. I respect that. Nate, what about you? He whips out Ryan Gosling. Nate: Hey, you know, such as, such as the way when you know, when you have someone with such a – you need someone that can really fill your role. No, I was actually honestly I was just looking up Michael Cera in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. I feel like he has a very cool energy. And I don't know if I seem like him in that movie, but I feel like him a lot. Like I relate so heavily to his character in that movie. So it would be an honor to let him play me. Malena: Yeah, he's kind of like nerdy and charming at the same time, I think. Nate: Bingo. Malena: I think that fits you quite well actually. And Meryl Streep is very – she has like an elegance about her that – I've always said Hannah is the most elegant person I know. So I also understand why... Hannah: Getting so many compliments! Malena: No, but I've always I've always said that about Hannah so I could see why that Meryl Streep character kind of fits around your personality. Anyways, that was all the questions I have for you guys today. Thank you so much to Nate for joining us. Thank you to Hannah for being my wonderful amazing through the podcast co-host. Hannah: Thank you Malena for hosting! Malena: And this has been Don't Tell Me Your Major brought to you by North by Northwestern Audio. Have a good one guys. Bye! [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” by Malena Ramnath]

3. 

   13 May 2021

   DTMYM8: Definitions

   Episode Notes Form: https://forms.gle/XY41oQSrGpBBxEXD8 (https://forms.gle/XY41oQSrGpBBxEXD8) [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] Malena: Hey guys! My name is Malena Ramnath. Hannah: My name is Hannah Fredly. Malena: And we're your hosts and sophomores here at Northwestern. This is Don't Tell Me Your Your Major, an interview style podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level with questions like what their major is, where they're from, and how old they are, but try to get to know them on a more profound level. That's how you really know the kind of person someone is rather than judging them based on pre-established stereotypes. We're also joined today by Asteris Dougalis, who is currently a sophomore here at Northwestern, although we won't tell you what his major is. Say hi, Asteris. Asteris: Hey everybody. I'm glad to be here. Malena: So today Asteris, I thought we'd have a little themed discussion as usual, as per the norm of this podcast. And I thought we'd play around with the idea of definitions, because for me, I feel like there's a lot of different ways you can use the root of the word definition – like definition, definite, definitively, define, you know, and you can use those in all kinds of different contexts. So, I thought that that would be like a cool way to base our questions off of. So we'll start off easy with a chill question. And it's: What is your favorite word? And what is its definition? And I’ll go first to give you guys like, a little time to think, you know, but so my word is going to be a little pretentious. And it's okay if your guys’ is too, but my word is halcyon. I think it's from Greek mythology – I don't know why I think that – but um, it's the idea of like, the good old days in the past that are like shiny and golden in your mind. And, for me, I'm a very nostalgic person. So that's why that's my favorite word. It just reminds me of the good old days. So I thought that that was cute. Asteris: What are the good old days for you? What do you think when you think about this? Malena: Freshman year? I don't know, I just, I felt like – not to say that I peaked. I think I feel like we are in the middle of the good old days, which is kind of a really great thing to recognize while you're in them because a lot of times you don't. But there was like a carefreeness to freshman year where, like, it's before I'm recruiting for jobs, you know. Before I, like, really start caring about my GPA – when you're just meeting people and, like, everything's an exciting, independent, like blur. And also, you're getting all your meals cooked for you in the dorm. So I think that's what it would be. But okay, Hannah, what is your favorite word? Hannah: So I think my favorite word is hygge. And it's a Norwegian word. Originally Danish, though. And so I'm Norwegian. And it just like it technically, if you've seen these posts before that are words you can’t translate from other languages. It's this word, and it means cozy, warm — “Enjoying yourself” is the closest I can get to it. Malena: Dude, that sounds cozy. Not to sound just repeating what you're saying. But, you know, being like, bundled in blankets and stuff. That's the vibe. Right? Hannah: Exactly. Malena: I feel like that's something that IKEA markets about. Not to, you know. I feel like I've seen the name as like a blanket in IKEA. Asteris: That’s true. IKEA is a place where everyone has positive memories in, you know, because it's always starting something new. All that. I think my word is a little less, maybe, profound than yours. I say aforementioned because in every single essay I always use “aforementioned this”, “aforementioned that”... So I think you know, they talk about forensic linguistics and all those things where they can see like the tracking of how you write on those things. Definitely “aforementioned” for me is a telltale sign of my writing. So I guess that's my favorite word. Malena: Yeah. So they always know if you're doing, like, academic dishonesty or you're writing someone else's essays, because like you've written aforementioned. Asteris: Shhh, don’t tell anybody. Malena: Okay, okay, so like moving on, we're gonna get progressively deeper with these questions. Hopefully, we're gonna like probe into your souls a little. Okay, that sounds not great. Anyways, moving on. I think the next question that I have for you guys is like, what is the important, the most important thing that you know definitively? Like that, you know, that you know it is definitely true that this is the case. And it can be a random fact that gets you through daily life. Or it could be words of wisdom that you just know, in your heart. Do any of you guys want to go first? Do you need more time to think about it? Asteris: I think I have one. I'd say one thing that I definitely know, and I'm glad I have this as a  constant, is the fact that you know, my parents love me, like, family love, I guess. Because I know that no matter what happens at any point, I’ll always have that condition. That my parents and my brother are gonna love me. And I think that's important to have. And I recognize it's not something every family has, but I'm so glad that it is that I feel that way in my family. And I think I want to try and continue that in my future when I'm building a family. You know, make sure that my kids know, that's how it's going to be that no matter what they do, I'm always going to be there to support them and love them. Hannah: Yeah, that's super important. I agree. Although– Malena: I think there's some little stuff I might do that my mom might hate me forever for. She’ll love me, but she'll just hate me just like a little bit. Just a lil bit. No, but not to ruin that. That's actually something really profound. I think that's important. Something I definitely want my kids to know. Like, just to even that like even that way you can have like you can get upset at them. You can put them in their place, but they're never going to be completely lost from you. Asteris: It's so unconditional. It's a primal in a sense. You know, it's like that, like, all animals have the same sort of, you know, connection to their family members in some degree. Maybe not cats. I guess. The dad’s kill the… Let’s not talk about that. Malena: What happens with cats?! Asteris: You don’t know that?? Hannah: I don’t know about this, but I know that in other species, there's species where the male will kill the children. Asteris: Yeah, that's how it works with cats. I think, I'm pretty sure. Hannah: I know some of the bigger cats – big cats. Like, I've wondered if tigers, maybe? Malena: Yeah, okay, let's move on. I like cats, we're moving on. Hnannah: Okay, so the only one I can think of is, as long as the Earth rotates around the sun, the sun's gonna rise every morning. I mean, that sounds kind of stupid. But it's true, for a fact. And also, like, if you want to see it on a more like, profound level is that every day is a new day. And it's like, there's always something to do, you know? Malena: Yeah, no, that's really true. I think this is something that's kind of related to that. It's like very scientific, but you know, when you're in middle school, having your emo goth phase as I did, and having your, you know, existential crises about everything. Asteris: We’ll act like, yeah, yeah I’ve been there. Malena: For me, for me, it's kind of not a phase. It's like a lifestyle. I don't know why I called it a phase. But I think that like something that I realized, like, very clearly is like – this is really stupid. But I feel like when I was like, when you're sitting there, like you're sitting here, you know, that, like, the molecules of the air are parting around your body to make space for you. And so it's like, in a way, you know, you're shoving molecules out of the way when you do anything – just like make space for yourself in the world. And that means that there's always a place being made for you, you know, and everything. Like the universe is like, bending around you, no matter how small you are. And I think that that's something that's like important to remember when you're having existential crises and stuff and being like, “I'm so small.” But like, the molecules are still bending around you like, you have matter... you matter. Hannah: I’ve never thought about it that way, it's super cool. Malena: No, I...like it also zens me out to think like, you know. I've tried meditating. And I'm honestly really bad at it. Like, I can't go 30 seconds without thinking about, like, my midterm. But the fact that I can, like, just feel like the kind of air pressing back on me and everything. It's kind of like a good way to center yourself when you're meditating and stuff like that. Asteris: Do you think, like, Butterfly Effect, and that kind of stuff. So if you move your particles to move, will that affect me? Like, are they coming to me and push me backwards or something like that? What about that? Malena: I mean, I don't, I don't know. I think Butterfly Effect is like something that's like a really scary thought. Like, if I do something differently then like, everything will be different, you know? But I just think it's also important not to be paralyzed by that kind of thing. Like you, we could sit in paralysis being like, “I can't do anything, because then it’ll affect something.” But like, what are you gonna do? Sit in bed for the rest of your life? Like, I mean, you can, if that's what you want to do. I mean, you do you, sister. But like, I can't, I can't do that. So... Hannah: Yeah, something I also think about sometimes is that nowadays, most people at least, yeah, the ones that are like, lucky enough, they have a lot of options on what they can like do in life. Like usually back in the days, if your father was like a welder, you'd become a welder. And that was like your path. Now, for some people, we have so many options that we get choice paralysis. And there was actually this study that came out that showed us, like, if you have less choices, you actually end up happier, because you look less at the opportunity cost. There's less of like, what if? And so it's totally a thing where it's like, “What am I going to do? I have so many options.” And then you end up being like, maybe more unhappy? Because you can always go back and think, oh, what if I did this? What if I did this? Asteris: Yeah. Also the fact that maybe if there's so many options, they're all so attractive too, you try them too much. And that gets overwhelming, too. Malena: Yeah. I hate to cut this discussion short, but I want to get to like the last question before our podcast ends, And just kind of just building on what we were talking about, like, what do you think is the thing about your personality or your life experience that defines you as a person the most? I’ll go first on this one, because it is tougher, but it's something that I think about a lot. Hence, I'm the question asker. But for me, it's definitely that I'm a diplomat’s daughter. Like I was raised as a daughter of a US diplomat. So I grew up in, like, a different country every three years. And like, it's exposed me to a lot of different cultures like Global Citizen stereotype, third culture kid...Sorry, I hear a lot of it in the international community. But I think like, what it made me was flexible. To a certain degree. Everyone knows I like to plan everything, but like, it made me flexible to the whims of other people, I think, and it made me more resilient in the face of like failing than I think a lot of other people might have. So I feel like that's what defines me, but what do you think would define you guys more? Asteris: First, I'm wondering, I want to ask you a question about what you said. Do – would you want that lifestyle for your kids in the future? Would you want the same lifestyle as you had? Because when I was moving around, I always thought, you know – I still don't know what’s the answer for me – you know if that's the sort of lifestyle I want for my kids. But what do you think? Malena: I would say, I want a mini version of it. I think I moved too many times. I think I got really lucky that I moved to countries where I could easily develop a social life. I know in other countries the situations that I would have been in would just, that would not have been the case because like the expat community I would have been in would have been really small and isolated. So I got lucky that the expat community blended in with like, the local communities, and I had a very vibrant childhood. But I'd want my kids to not live in a bubble where they didn't move their whole life, they didn't see the outside world, they didn't interact with other cultures... like I want to throw them into living somewhere else. But I say like moving twice might be an acceptable amount rather than nine times, which is how many times I've moved between places. I think that's too much. I wouldn't want my kids to go through the same sadnesses I had, I think. Not to make myself sound like, you know, the most sad person ever. But you know what I mean? So yeah, but okay, what defines you? Asteris: I would say that, I only thought about this, and it's being reinforced now that I moved to the U.S. Only when I first moved to another country, I kind of figured this out. But you know, for me, being Greek and all that, I think definitely defines me. Like my parents – and I guess the whole Greek education system – does a good job of, you know, driving... Malena: And so, for our listeners, Asteris is Greek. Asteris: Yeah. Malena: I mean, Hannah and I, we're aware of this, but not everyone else. So yeah– Asteris: Yeah, I bring it up a lot. More than I should at least. They do a good job of drilling in the point of, you know, like, all the greatness of you know, culture and history and all those things and that really matters to becoming who you are. Being proud of who you are. And I think that's something that I'd say a lot of Americans can’t really relate to as much, for one reason or another. But it's, it means a lot to you know, protect your identity and your culture. And also, you know, make sure that your kids have a similar upbringing. Like, I want to make sure that my kids speak Greek. And that's why I'm so excited that I see so many of our friends, you know, that are Greek American – they also speak Greek. And, you know, that gives me hope for my kids, because I couldn't, you know, I couldn't not pass that on, you know, because I'm so proud of it. And it's part of who I am. So it has to be part of who my kids are. So I think that, like my ethnic identity, or my country, I think is definitely what defines me to a large extent, especially now that I'm moving around. And I'm out of that element, you know? Hannah: I have a question. When you're with Greek people, or you feel like you're connecting with like, Greek heritage, do you feel like you have a different personality? When you speak Greek when you're with Greek people versus other people? Asteris: I don't really know because it has to be an unconscious thing. You know, you have to be someone watching me from the outside to figure it out, kind of thing. But I think I do for sure – I definitely act differently. I think it's also like, you know, like language and culture and all those things, you know...maybe... Like Greeks are more open maybe? And that may not be seen in what we talk about. Maybe body language, that sort of thing, you know, all those things change. So, maybe...my body language is definitely different. When I'm, I use a lot of hand gestures, for example, you know, like when other people are doing and maybe it is. I don't know. I'm moving my hands right now. Malena: Yeah. No, I think, every person...I want to preface this. Every person's an individual. So like, you know, we all have our own personalities, but I definitely see what you're saying about like, some cultures are just more like, in your face, like hospitality, open, inviting, exciting, compared to others that are more inherently reserved. Asteris: And I wouldn't say it's overbearing in the sense that you can't grow as a person into it, you know? It's more so just something that you take along as, like, an extra thing to just carry around. You become who you are, but you have that also to fall back on. Malena: Okay, Hannah, you’re last. To round out our podcast, what defines you? Hannah: So I've been thinking about it. And I have a bit of an anti-answer, which is, I don't think anything really defines me. Like, if I look back at myself, one year ago, I don't see much similarity at all. I feel like I'm constantly changing. And I'm very aware of the fact that I'm changing. And like...so I feel like there's nothing permanent about me, my personality, the way I act, the way I speak, you know, it's very much changing. Malena: Malleable. Hannah: Exactly. Malena: I think, that's I think that's actually the most exciting answer to just be like, “I'm young, I'm not defined yet.” Like, young, wild and free vibes in, like, the best, least cheesy way possible. And like, I'm not gonna let anything that's happened to me so far define me and I'm still like, on my way to figuring out who I am and I think that's exciting. I think that's also not to, you know, end this in a faux cheesy way, but I think that's like a good note to leave with our listeners. Like you got this, you don't have to know who you are yet. That's me yelling into the listener, Spotify, Apple Music abyss to whoever's on the other side there. But yeah, thank you guys for being here. Asteris, thank you for the insightful thoughts. Asteris: Thank you for having me. Malena: I've appreciated it. It was very good, you know, question asking in response. And thanks, of course, Hannah for co-hosting with me. My girl. Hannah: No problem! Malena: All right! Good night fellow listeners. Another great podcast. Thanks so much this has been Don't Tell Me Your Major, sponsored by NBN audio. Thanks so much. Have a good one. Bye, guys! [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath]

4. 

   9 Mar 2021

   DTMYM7: In A World of Your Imagination

   Episode Notes Form: https://forms.gle/XY41oQSrGpBBxEXD8 (https://forms.gle/XY41oQSrGpBBxEXD8) [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] Malena: Hey guys! My name is Malena Ramnath. Hannah: I'm Hannah Fredly. M: And we are your hosts and sophomores here at Northwestern. This is Don't Tell Me Your Major, an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level with questions like what their major is, where they're from, and how old they are, but try to get to know them on a more profound level. That's how you really get to know the kind of person someone is rather than judging them based on pre-established stereotypes. So today, it's just the two of us because last episode, we had a guest. So today, it's just us, the hosts, me and Hannah. And today, we really wanted to talk about the idea of imagination, because it's COVID still. We're still stuck inside. It's a panda-nemic. And I think our imagination can oftentimes be our only escape from this kind of stuff. Right? So, my first question for us to answer here on our podcast today is did you ever have any imaginary friends when you were little Hannah? H: So this is gonna be a really boring answer, but I did not actually. I knew a lot of people who did and I have some funny stories, but I myself never had one. M: Okay, at least give me a funny story about it. H: So I had a friend back home, who used to have an imaginary friend. And so when she was little, she was walking down the street and she used to talk to her imaginary friend. And so she would tell me that people low key thought she was crazy sometimes because she would like, talk into thin air. M: Oh my gosh, like I couldn't do that. I couldn't just talk into thin air. That being said, though, I definitely imagine that my  stuffed animals and teddy bears have personalities. I still kind of do. I think it's a remnant from Toy Story being a thing. I  definitely, you know, had my teddy bears and they have personalities. You know, my boyfriend isn't necessarily so happy about the fact that I'm still a five-year-old inside, but that was – they were like my imaginary friends. You know? Also because my parents never really bought me – maybe it's like a gender stereotype thing, but also, I didn't mind it – they just never, I never even really had  Barbies, or like, Legos or anything. I just had a million teddy bears. So yeah, I guess it was safer, child-safety-wise, to just surround me with soft, plush things. H: Yeah, actually, you want to know something funny? So back home, in Norway, I used to have like a, like a fat big drawer only full of teddy bears. And there were some teddy bears that was like, they were too big to fit in the drawer and be like huge giraffes, like the size of my body, my little child body, like big bears, like the size. And if I put them all on my bed, I wouldn’t have space for myself in the bed. M: Yeah, I know exactly. We would my sister and I would like, oh my gosh, this is so silly. She's gonna hate me for saying this on the podcast. But we would do this thing called a dolly hash, where we would take all of our stuffed animals combined - easily at one point, like 100 of them - we would (consumerism at its finest), we would cover our living room in them. And there's photos of me and my sister just passed out and you can't see the carpet. It’s the two of us, like asleep on our teddy bears and our parents like “What have we created?” H: I'm not gonna lie. If I were a parent and I came home to that I'd be thoroughly terrified. M: But imagination comes in a lot of different ways. I think we all have like daydreams about, you know, from our imaginary friends to like our dream jobs and things like that. And I think that plays into this question that I've had for a long time of like, idealism versus realism, because I feel like, you know, for me, I'm more of a cynic. I would say I'm more of a realist, I've always seen idealists as kind of living in their imagination, like, “Oh, you know, I'm gonna be like, some big, you know, music artist or something.” You know? And that's often sometimes like really hard to achieve fame in. And for me, that's part of living in their daydreams – living in their imagination. There's not something as real about it as like, having a structured salary, like the classic, you know, go to college, earn, like, six figures, you know, just go on to whatever you need to do next. So like, do you think that there's, like, idealism isn't what people should look for in life, especially in this day and age? Or do you think it's more, it's better to be an idealist than a realist? H: Okay, so I think there's value in ideal - I think, first of all balance of two. But I think there's value in idealism in the sense that you're much more likely to achieve something if you believe yourself that you will achieve it. So I sort of believe in the law of attraction and of how, if you really believe that you're going to do well on this test, then odds are you're going to do well. If you go out with the mindset of like, “Oh, I'm never going to achieve this anyways”, then the odds that you ever achieve it are so much lower. So idealism has value in the sense that like, if you're shooting so far, so high, and you're like, “I know for sure that later in life, I will achieve this, I will get this job, I will, like, be able to work with this and this and this”, then, even though it might not be fully accomplished, it still makes it more likely that it will happen just by you believing it. M: No, and I think there's definitely something to be said for that. And I think that there should never...it should never really be because I had to kind of check myself. I have friends who were real idealists. I'm such a cynic, such a realist. I–I'm very much of the mind that you have to make money and then follow your passions. You know, like make money, build yourself that nest egg, build your family that nest egg, and then go...paint. That's what, that's what I kind of grew up learning as well. And some people definitely have that mindset. But I think there's something that's braver about going to follow your passion so that you're not going into work every day doing something you hate, doing something that's not making a change in the world. I think like you said, it's everything in moderation. It's about finding that balance between what you're passionate about, and like, what's gonna make you money because, like, I read this statistic the other day that said - it was on UberFacts. So you know, obviously take this as what you will. But if you – happiness, sorry, money can buy happiness, if it's up to $70,000. Right? Yeah, once you hit that $70,000 a year mark, you're going to be – pretty much plateau of happiness, thanks to your money. And it's – your happiness is going to come through other things like love and family and when you're not thinking about your survival anymore. H: Yeah cause this is what, like Maslow's Pyramid of Needs. M: Yeah. H: It's like, if you can get a nice shelter, enough to buy you the food you want to buy, and everything like that, then that's covered by money. Self actualization, like your social life, that can't be bought by money. M: No, yeah, exactly. And so I think in that way, your imagination, like thinking about, “Oh, what can my passion be?”, like having – I think when you're little, having the freedom to explore that is also really interesting. Rather than just like, since you're five, being told you're going to be a doctor, when you grow up, you know? H: You know what else I think is really important that our generation kind of loses sight of sometimes, is that there's such a big dialogue about nowadays, “Oh, you should be doing your passion, you should be doing, like, living your fullest self at every moment.” And like, for a lot of people, they don't know what their passion is. I think too many people worry about if they're doing the right thing. Worry less about if you're doing the right thing, because at a certain point you stop – you stop living. If there's, you're like, “Oh, am I doing the right thing by doing a math major? Like maybe I'd be happier in statistics? Maybe…” You start asking yourself too many questions, then you get paralyzed by the choice. It's like, stop worrying all the time, if you're doing exactly the right thing, because things will turn out fine. M: Yeah, I really like that mentality. I think it is really applicable to the college student mindset, you know, in just that, like, it's so many kids are just like, “Oh, I'll figure it out eventually,” because they're like, paralyzed exactly by like, the amount of options that are open to them. Um, but okay, we've had, the deep conversation about, you know, what we kind of want to be when we grow up in terms of mindset, right? When you were a kid, what was your favorite imagination game. Because I also talked about, you know, games that build creativity in kids because I think that's something that is education is becoming going to focus more on -  what was your like, when you were little like, what was your favorite imagination game? Like, did you play house? Did you play dress up? Like, what would you do that was an imagination game? H: Oh, so me, my sister or me and my cousin's. It's always with the cousins, by the way, for some reason. We would like create these like fake little shops on our roofs, we'd make like stands. And then we invite our whole family to like, come by our stands and pretend they were buying like stuff from us. So we'd like pretend we were a bakery. Pretend we were like a jewelry store, stuff like that. M: Oh my gosh, we literally – Okay, so I was I would do this daycare program after I finished elementary school because we'd finished the day of like, fifth grade, but my parents couldn't pick me up till 5pm when they got off work. So, I'd stay after school and we’d play like games. And there's like 20 other of my best friends who were like also doing it. Not that I had 20 best friends but you know, Miss Popular in fifth grade. But regardless, we literally did this, it was called Mini City. And like all the other kids were like actually doing things with their imagination. They were like drawing, they're like making necklaces. They were like, you know, giving out fake whatever. Because it was just like, they gave you fake money and you had to go to the different stands. But like, with people's businesses were all imagination based, like there are no real products. And I was like, I found a niche in the market. And I got all my friends together and we made a giant stand that looked like a cupcake out of like the reusable cardboard in the dumpster. Why we were - I literally so much is wrong with this. But then, my, we – I got like all the parents to like bake stuff for their kids to bring in and we were the only people selling like genuine products that anybody wanted to the point where we had so much money that our like toy cash register was overflowing and this is all fake money provided by the daycare people. But then, at the end, this is a distinct memory and maybe why I'm an econ major today is we laid the money. We're so much money, we laid it all over the floor, threw it up in the air and then rolled around in it. The big money. And I think that’s why I’m an econ major. H: Business mindset, you were a hardo from day one. M: Oh, no, dude, I feel so exposed right now. But okay, okay, last question. I think that it comes off of that really well is so when you're kid you kind of have like the stars in your eyes and maybe it does relate a little to the idealism realism thing, but do you feel like, I feel like so many things nowadays, they're like, “Oh, we want creativity in the workplace. We want imagination in the workplace to come up with innovative solutions.” But do you think like, you know, when you're in a job in the future, you're really going to be using your imagination? H: You know, it's an interesting question, I think it's kind of linked to AI in a certain way, or like, automization. So, computers are really good at brute forcing stuff, like going through stuff in a systematic method. And humans are very good at being creative. So they complement each other very well. So all the jobs that are non-creative can be taken over more or less, and humans are creative. And so that's how we compliment it. So I think more and more we’ll be creative in the workplace in the future. M: I think so, too. And I think like, you know, I go to whatever, I'm in a peer tutoring program. And so I go to a lot of these professional development, education seminars and stuff. And the more I read about the education process, the more I realized that kids are falling short because they're not taught to be creative. They're just taught to get the best GPA. Coming out of, I graduated from high school in Singapore. And so when I was growing up in my education system, it was all about memorization, memorization, memorization, and now I come to Northwestern. And it's a struggle for me, because so much of like, the education here is about problem solving, and like creativity, and like coming up with your own themes in ambiguous situations. And so you're right, I think that it's something that's like really very much the future of who's going to excel and who's not going to, you know. H: Yeah, I fully agree. I think it's more important to teach kids problem solving rather than memorization. M: Yeah, exactly. Well, unfortunately, that was a bit abrupt of an ending, but that is all the time we have left for today. Hannah, thank you for being here. And you know, we are hosts telling you guys a little bit more about what we think of imagination in our daily lives. And I hope that, you know, you guys had some time to think about it, and feel free to drop your thoughts about it into the Google form at the top of our Spotify description, because we'd love to hear from our listeners. And hope that you have a spectacular week. This has been Don't Tell Me Your Major, an NBN audio podcast. Have a good one. [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath]

5. 

   1 Dec 2020

   DTMYM6: Homesick or Sick of Home?

   Episode Notes Form: https://forms.gle/XY41oQSrGpBBxEXD8 (https://forms.gle/XY41oQSrGpBBxEXD8) [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] Malena: Hey, guys, my name is Malena Ramnath. Hannah: I'm Hannah Fredly. Malena: And we're your hosts and fresh and fresh - sorry, no longer freshmen - but sophomore here at Northwestern. This is Don't Tell Me Your Major, an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level with questions like what their major is, where they're from, and how old they are. But try to get to know them on a more profound level. That's how you really know the kind of person someone is rather than judging them based on pre-established stereotypes. We're also joined today by our lovely guest Aida Baimenova - tell me if I got your name wrong - who is currently a junior here at Northwestern. Although we won't tell you what her major is. Say Hi. Aida: Hi, guys, I’m Aida, it's a pleasure to be on your podcast. Thank you so much for hosting me today Malena and Hannah. Malena: No, of course. But today, we just wanted to have a little themed discussion. And I want to have a little fun with the word play of being homesick versus sick of home, especially as quarantine drags on, and people are either too stuck at home or stuck far away from it because they can't get back. So I figured we'd chat about that. Also, please forgive any audio weirdness because we all are on zoom calling each other despite being in Evanston, which is kind of random, because we're being the big safe from Corona at this moment in time. But hopefully we’ll see each other soon. So my first question for you Aida. And then, you know, Hannah, and I can answer afterwards would be, um, where do you consider home and right now are you home sick or sick of home. Aida: Um, so I'm, I was born and raised in Kazakhstan. And although I went to high school in Singapore, I very much considered Kazakhstan home. I did spend quite a bit of time in Kazakhstan due to COVID. I spent a lot of time in summer in Kazakhstan, which normally doesn't happen, which, I guess it was a bittersweet situation, it kind of sucked to be stuck in Kazakhstan, but at the same time, I got to spend a lot of quality time with my family, and especially my friends from home who all of us went to international schools growing up outside of Kazakhstan. And so it was really, really nice to reconnect with them, and I guess be stuck together although it did result in us all getting COVID. But I currently am healthy. I am in Evanston. And I'm not feeling too homesick because I'm very much in the mindset of, I need to grind. This is the environment where I'm going to be the most productive and I'm just happy to be safe and doing things that I enjoy, which right now are my classes and hanging out with some of my friends from university. Malena: Okay, Hannah, tell us about home. Do you miss it? What's going on there? Hannah: So home for me is France. I spent a lot of time this summer with my parents and my sister. I really, really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun. But you know, there comes a point after like, you know, two, three, four, five months, where you're like, well, OK, I might need my own space right now. But you have your parents on you 24/7, you're like, oh, okay, I need out. So I was really happy to come to Evanston and get some sort of social interaction outside of my family. Malena: No, I, okay. So I'm exactly the same way where it's like, I had such a good time being home this summer. But I think it was tough because like Aida, I also graduated from Singapore. Wow. So similar. I graduated from Singapore, and then my parents moved to D.C. So I was home all summer with no friends, and they could kind of tell that I was losing it as much as I enjoyed spending time with them. So I think it's kind of a balance, but now that I'm back, I literally call my parents every day, I think I developed an attachment to them again over the summer. Literally, my mom was like, “Malena, you don't have to call us every day if you're working.” I was like, “I'm gonna call you every day. OK.” So that was cute. But yeah, okay. My next question is, let me look at my list.  Who in your life - OK, this kind of sappy but, who in your life feels most like home? And I mean, you can't say your parents because, obviously, you know, it's probably going to be your parents. Because those they’re you know, who you grew up with, but um, who do you feel feels most like home and not your, you know, your family or whatever. Aida, I'll let you go first. Aida: So I can't say my twin because I actually have a twin sister. And she's the definition of home to me. Can I, can I not? Malena: I guess you can, I guess you can. Yeah. Dude, I didn't know you had a twin. What is this? Aida: No. I know, I'm a twin. And you know, it's actually kind of crazy. Whenever someone is a twin, I can kind of sense that. Like, you might know Blake. The other day I found out he was a twin. And I was like that makes so much sense. Twins just have such a twin energy to them. But no yeah, being a twingrowing up, the longest I've been separated from my twin for was probably like a week. Even when we were in Singapore. You know, I still remember. Oh my god, that was such a random thing. I think we went to Greece and then my twin had meningitis so she couldn't come to Greece with us. So we were separated for a week. And she's been forever salty about that. But coming, coming to college, I guess. And not being able to be with her, I had major withdrawals. And it wasn't even homesickness. It was just like, part of me was missing, literally, a whole half of me was missing. And she's coming to visit very soon, which I'm really excited about. But something you don't realize when you spend your whole life 24/7 with another person is that you're having no idea how to call them. It feels so incredibly awkward and unnatural to dial them up on FaceTime or even just text them. So we could go like, I probably talked to all my friends from home and from Singapore more than her just because we just don't know how to call each other. So she would be my home for sure. And I know that I kind of cheated the question but I kind of had to go with her for this one. Malena: No, that makes a lot of sense. Like I hear all these crazy things about you know, how twins can really feel each other in a different way. Some of it, I'm sure it's superstition, but, I think that's so cool. But Hannah. Aida: If you punch her I’ll feel it. Malena: Then I’m definitely going to punch her. No, I’m just kidding. Aida: No, it was a fun thing to do middle school people would be like, oh you guys really feel each other? I'd be like, well, you can punch her and we can find out and she wouldn't be too happy about it. But that was a thing. Malena: Okay, Hannah, obviously, your sister but who else feels like home? Hannah: I think I'm gonna go with, the obvious choice is obviously my closest friends from home. So I have three girlfriends, specifically, girls, I also have a lot of good, guy friends. But I want to mention the girlfriends specifically. Because it's, you know, who you share your secrets with and who you chat with at night. And if you have problems or anything, those are the people you call up, you FaceTime and everything.  I also wanted to mention something funny, that Aida mentioned is that when you have a sister, and you're just used to being in the same household and sort of seeing each other every day, you're not used to calling them. And so it's, it really is, so weird to call someone and force out a conversation. Because usually you just like hanging out around each other, you know, that's day to day life. Malena: No, I totally. So, yes, I have a sister too. And it's also funny, because, I know, Hannah, your sister and my sister, like the same age and have weirdly similar personalities. And, when I'm home with my sister, I'll just go into her room and annoy her, you know, but, I'll never actually have a conversation. You know, we started having more conversations now that I've been gone for college, but before, that was mostly just go into a room and punch her and then leave kind of thing you know, but that kind of thing. Hannah: Same for me. Malena: Yeah, so I definitely miss her a lot. And she feels like home. But also I moved a lot when I was younger. And I had this one friend from Mexico City named Nando. And he, I would never have expected us to stay friends this long. But he came and visited me in Singapore, and to this day, I still call him you know, all the time and we're taking a class, an online class together and everything. And so it's good to have those people you go back to you from I think, when you were little like when I was in seventh grade. But okay, we're hitting time. So I'll say the last question kind of rapid fire, but also kind of light before we wrap up, and I just say thank you. Um, what, so everybody's always like, oh, what's your comfort food? You know, but we've asked that on this podcast before. So my question is, which is what I've been thinking of kind of recently is, what's your comfort drink and it doesn't have to be alcoholic, you know, we're pure beans, but, um, my roommate will just come and sit down with a giant ass glass of milk. And I'm just like, are you five years old? Like, what is this dude, I love him. But it's like, what are you doing? That's a liter of milk you're drinking right now. That's not good for your intestines. And so for me, I think the drink that reminds me most of home is probably, Ribena. I don't know if anybody's had that. But it's blackcurrant juice. And I had that I used to drink that all the time when I was little. Um, so yeah, Ribena for me is the drink that tastes most like home. But yeah, okay. Aida: I expected you to say Milo to be completely honest. Malena: Yeah. Milo is, for our listeners, Milo is this chocolate powder. That's mostly in Singapore. It's kind of Nesquik so yeah. Aida: Yeah, I think it comes from Australia. So it's really big in Australia as well. But Singaporeans are so obsessed with it that every high school fair we had, our school used to hire a Milo truck. And they would, they would just pour Milo left and right and that was the best thing ever. Malena: Oh my gosh. Yeah. Aida: But no, yeah, I guess quickly. If I were to go with my comfort drink, it's not something I go for often because I kind of realized that lactose was really bad for you and I shouldn't really be having too much milk. But growing up whenever I was sick or whenever I don't know something was wrong. My mom would always make me hot milk with honey. Um, and actually yesterday I don't know yesterday I was feeling a little down and I also made myself some hot milk with honey and I mixed up a bunch of tumeric in it because that's what mom would do if I was proper sick so just honey, turmeric, maybe some pepper in there and yeah, I'm right back home. Malena: That's so cute. That's what my dad does too. He's Indian. So he would, I remember him bringing that up occasionally. But okay Hannah really quick. What's your what's your home drink? Hannah: Capri Sun or Capri Sun. Or however you pronounce it. Malena: Dude! That’s so facts. Although I have no idea how to pronounce it, it's a constant debate in my household. Aida: Capri Sun, I think we say Capri Sun. Malena: I don't know. Malena: But okay, that being said, we're hitting our limit. But thank you so much guys for coming on. And Hannah for hosting with me. This has been another great podcast of Don't Tell Me Your Major brought to you by NBN Audio. See you guys in a couple of weeks. Hannah: Bye: Aida: Thank you Malena, see you, bye! Malena: Bye. [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath]

6. 

   23 Sept 2020

   Don’t Tell Me Your Major #5: Dreams

   Episode Notes Google Form: https://forms.gle/gBFPtB2x8TbDUXPQ7 [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] Malena: Hey guys, my name is Malena Ramnath. Allison: This is Allison. Malena: And we are your hosts and freshmen* here at Northwestern. This is Don't Tell Me Your Major, an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level with questions like what their major is, where they're from, and how old they are. But try to get to know them on a more profound level. That's how you really know the kind of person someone is rather than judging them based on pre-established stereotypes. So today, Allison and I wanted to have a little theme discussion. And recently we've all been talking a bit about dreams through our quarantine boredom, from daydreams to night dreams to actual future dreams that we have. So I figured we'd chat about that. Also, please forgive any audio weirdness that you're hearing because we're all zoom calling from DC to Korea, we’re massive global citizens, so yeah. So the first question that I have written down is, do you have any recurring dreams or nightmares? And do you believe that dreams have meaning? Kind of in conjunction, do you think those recurring dreams mean something? Allison: Mmm, I don't think I have any recurring dreams these days. But one dream that I remember having like super vividly when I was really little. I don't remember if I was living in Korea, Hong Kong at the time, but I was probably young, in elementary school. And it was, strangely, really traumatic. I don't know why, but it was like, over the course of one night, Allison: Or one or two nights maybe, but like the first night, I went to bed and I had this dream. Malena: Mm-hmm. Allison: Or maybe this was in Korea. Okay. My friend lived in this apartment complex and they had this playground, but the playground had like this little addendum where it kind of looked like, like the front window of a shop, you know, like kind of where the person would stand behind and then. Allison: you would have customers lining up and then there's a little countertop. And so we would kind of play shop. You know what I mean? Like little kids, they use toys and fake money. Allison: And the dream took place on that playground. And there was a strange man behind that counter. And I was paying the customer in the shop game. Allison: And then I went to the counter to do something, you know, play shop, whatever, have fun. And then the man just starts to tickle me. And I could feel it physically. It didn't feel like a dream, I felt like I was physically being tickled in real life and I woke up and I woke up, kind of traumatized, like a little bit anxious, like crying. And I went to my parents' room, and I snuggled right in between my mom and my dad. And I fell back asleep. And I had the exact same dream, nothing changed. I woke up crying again. I was so scared. I kept being tickled. And, you know, tickling doesn't seem serious, but when you don't want to be tickled- Malena: It’s the worst! Allison: Yeah, it's horrible. Like, I just feel super out of control. Malena: Violated! Allison: And I was like, six or seven years old when this happened. Malena: Yeah. Allison: And I just remember waking up like three times in the night because I'm afraid to sleep because the minute I closed my eyes, I keep having the same dream. It was terrifying. I don't know if it means anything. I can see where in my subconscious that setting came from. I don't know where the man and the tickling came from. I don't think I've incurred any childhood trauma to that extent. So I don't know if it necessarily means anything. Maybe I watched something scary. It was too far ago, but yeah, that was a recurring traumatic dream that I had when I was younger. I'll never forget it, it's so fresh in my mind. It feels like it happened like yesterday. Oh god. Malena: That's so creepy. I hate that. I hate that so much. Allison: I know isn't that creepy. Malena: I know, I have pretty bad nightmares but the only one that's really recurring is I have this dream, okay, this is gonna sound really weird but my eyes sometimes they don't fully close when I'm asleep. Allison: Ohhh yeah. Malena: I don’t know if you’ve seen me do this when you're napping around me, but my eyes don't fully close a lot of the times and so my brain a lot of times doesn't know if what I'm seeing is a dream or if it's real or if I'm awake or not because my eyes are slightly open. So I'll have this dream where I don't have my glasses on and I can't move, I'm running, I need to get somewhere I need to get something done but I keep spinning in place. It's like I'm stuck in like this weird jello and I can't move but I also can't see like it's this weird blur between knowing I have to move and knowing I have to go somewhere and being able to see it, but not being able to do anything about it and everything is just slightly blurry. I need to find my glasses and put them on. So slowly I've realized that this is like cause I'm seeing my bedroom around me but I can't move cause my body is asleep, but my eyes are open. And so I've been forcing myself to wake up recently. That's as close to lucid dreaming as I've gotten. But in terms of meaning, I don't think it means anything more just like my body doesn't know what's going on. I don't know, that's my recurring dream. I guess like nightmares tend to be more recurring, I guess- Allison: Yeah. Malena: So they’re like what we remember more. Allison: You don’t have recurring good dreams. Malena: Yeah. But okay, on the other hand, l so that's like, obviously like night dreams, right? But then to, you know, change the subject a little bit. Dreams can also be like, oh, my dream job, my dream house things like that. Right? So my question is for you, if you never had to think about money for the rest of your life, say you were well off, like trust fund baby or something, you know, and you could have whatever dream job you wanted, not thinking about money, not thinking about parental expectations, anything like that. What would your job be? Allison: Purely a dream? Honestly, I have wanted this since I was really little. Malena: Mm hmm. Allison: I don’t know what I would choose. But let's say I had the facilities and the talent. Malena: Yeah. Allison: I think I would want to be like a musician. I would want to be a singer, singer/songwriter. Obviously, there's the matter of like, talent. Malena: You have the talent! This woman is talented, just FYI. Allison: No no, there's like a question of parental expectations and, you know, reality. But there's also I'm just not good at it enough to make a career out of it, you know? And so I would say if I had the talent and the resources and the connections and all that stuff, then I would say, I would really want to be a musician or a chef. I want to work in a patisserie, like a pastry chef, you know, like French pastry. But that also requires a lot of skill. And it's also I feel a little too late now, you know., I should have started getting more serious about music or cooking a long time ago if I wanted to make a career out of it. But it was always just, you know, hobbies, but honestly I think I'm genuinely the happiest if I'm cooking or baking. Singing and guitar and whatever it gets tiring, you know, I get sick of it, but - Malena: Yeah. Allison: Yeah, being a chef or a musician. I think that would be pretty cool. Malena: Yeah, I totally get that, like playing the piano. I used to play the piano and it's like super rewarding when you get it right, but it can get frustrating really, really easily. Allison: Yeah. Music is so difficult. Malena: Yeah, but you also know that I'm tone deaf, so I just have mad respect for that. What else was I gonna say? For me, exposing us, not really. But you and I are both Asian and so we kind of have those Asian parents that are kind of like … My parents have always said to me, they're super chill about everything. But my mom has always said to me, you know, be a doctor who paints on the side, you know that kind of thing. And so when I think about my dream job, okay, it would probably be one of two things. I spent a lot of time thinking about what I would be doing other than economics or something like that, you know, but I want to be at a place in my life where I can just move to Europe and flip houses. You know, restore old farms and like, you know, classic, you know, maybe fall in love with my contractor. But like- Allison: Did you watch Falling Inn Love? Malena: Yeah, dude, I watched Falling Inn Love. Allison: Yeah, when you said flip houses. I was like, ah, shit. Malena: No but just to flip houses and not New Zealand though, you know. Go to Tuscany or something and just eat a ton of pasta and flip houses. Allison: Honestly that would be the dream, like just a little villa in the rolling green hills of Florence. Malena: Dude, gorgeous. Or you know if I could just–ok this is hella nerdy. This is my nerd leaking. But if I could just be a reader — like a book editor reader Allison: Oh shut up. Just did you watch that other movie, wait, did you watch– Malena: About Time? Yeah, yeah. Okay, I’m sorry, I’m sorry my career choices are based on rom coms, okay. I just wanna read. Allison: Wouldn’t you get sick of reading, you know, cause it's your job. When you look at a menu, do you ever go, “oh no, I'm not reading that unless you give me cold hard cash.” Malena: Allison really be quoting About Time line for line. I have mad respect for that. I've watched that movie way too many times. Allison: Yeah it’s such a good movie Malena: But yeah, those are my dreams. But kind of branching off from that, do you think it's a good idea? Because I watched so many movies nowadays and they're like, you know, follow your dreams. I just watched Mamma Mia 2, and they're like, “do what makes your soul shine”. and I'm like, do you think that that's a really a realistic goal that people can set for themselves, following their dreams without really considering like the money behind it? Because I definitely know people that are like, “Oh, if you follow your passion, you'll eventually get money for it.” You know, as long as you're working hard at what you love, it'll pan out for you, but do you believe in that, or do you think that’s idealistic? Allison: Honestly, no. Okay, here's the thing, when I was like a sophomore, my AP bio teacher showed us a video that said don't follow your dreams. Because a lot of the time,dreams are based off of like a warped... I mean, obviously, the word "dreams" imply that it's not reality, you know? And so, you know, I could pursue music or culinary arts or whatever, but the reality is that I don't have the talent or the facilities to be doing that. And if someone told me, you know what, follow your dreams, drop out of school, like, go be a musician or chef, like I would eventually grow to resent that profession because I gave up everything to be in it and it's not working out for me, but also it's no one's fault but my own, you know. I should have known better. I honestly think it's such a cynical thing to say. But there's a difference between what you dream of being and what you're good at. And I just think, if you like, dream about doing something, then do it on the side, you know, let it be for you. And I know people say, do what you love and like, I'm sure you can find something that you are good at and that you also don't Malena: hate, yeah. Allison: hate to do. You know, I think it's really difficult to set the standard and say "if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life" because in reality, no. Not everyone is interested in money-making things you know, if you really love economics and investment banking, if that's what like gets you going, then you know you're going to be very lucky in life, but most people, l their passions lie elsewhere and in careers that aren't as lucrative, and I think if you tell people to follow their passions, you're kind of setting them up for failure. So, do what you– I would say like for jobs, I would want to do something Malena: Do what interests you. Allison: that is going to help me enable me to follow those dreams on my own time, you know? Malena: No, I totally agree. Allison: Okay, let's use cooking or baking. If I wanted to cook or bake I need ingredients, you know, I need a good kitchen, you know, I need some sort of money. And if I were to, follow my dream of being a musician or whatever, how could I ever. I'll be paying my bills and doing something I love. But obviously this is going to cause stress and stuff like that. But let's say I did something that I'm good at, you know, I go into some field that I'm good at and it makes me a pretty decent amount of money and then I can do what I love on the side. Malena: Yeah. Allison: So it doesn't interfere with, like, my way of life, you know? Malena: No, I totally agree. And I think that you eventually end up always, if you do something over and over again, you're gonna grow to dislike it in some measure at least. So keep your hobbies for yourself. I totally agree. And I mean, on that note, we are just at time, but I feel like this is an interesting little convo. Good catch up between us, between guests. And we want to hear what you have to think as well, so answer the Google Form at the top of our description here and let us know what you think about these questions. We're very curious as to what our listeners' opinions are. Anyways, that's all from Don't tell Me Your Major, a podcast by NBN Audio and we're signing off. Bye. Allison: Bye. [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] *We’re actually sophomores now! This was recorded right before summer :)

7. 

   28 May 2020

   Don’t Tell Me Your Major #4: Feeling Stuck

   Episode Notes [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] Malena: Hey, guys, my name is Malena Ramnath. Hannah: And I'm Hannah Fredly. Malena: And we are your hosts and freshmen here at Northwestern. This is Don't Tell Me Your Major an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level with questions like what their major is, where they're from, and how old they are, but try to get to know them on a more profound level. That's how you really know the kind of person someone is rather than judging them based on pre–established stereotypes. So we're here today in the thick of the Coronavirus quarantine, currently hosting this podcast over zoom, which is definitely weird but we're all very excited to be able to continue this despite the distance. And unfortunately, Alison couldn't join us today because she's in Seoul, Korea, and those time zones are insane. So today we're here with Hannah. Also on today's podcast is the one and only Nick, please say your last name for me, Nick. Nick: Schoenbrodt. Malena: Okay. And he is another Northwestern student with an impossible last name. And he just said hi. So we're super– Nick: Yeah, you're doing great. Malena: We're super excited to have you as today's guest. So where is everyone currently? I'm in DC. Hannah, where are you? Hannah: I'm currently in France. Nick: Oh, I am in New Jersey, the opposite of France. Malena: Um great. And so I figured since we're all stuck inside our questions today will be themed around being stuck. So without further ado, I figured we’d get started. Um, so Nick, what is your favorite stuck inside hobby now that we're in quarantine? Nick: Um, God, that's a good question. I have been doing almost nothing. But I got a new laptop. So I'm trying to get into music production a little bit which is fun, but also difficult when it's like the only thing there is to do and I don't have anything to like take a break from it with I guess, but that's what I've been doing. Mostly it's happening slowly. Malena: Damn, music production. Hannah, what are you doing now that you're stuck in bed? What are your hobbies that you've picked up to stay productive? Hannah: Um, well technically we're out of quarantine. So, ha. Malena: I hate you. Hannah: But, um, otherwise, something really fun to do is those like, workout videos that are like dance and workout at the same time. That's really fun. Nick: And that's on jazzercise. Malena: Well yeah, I mean, those two are like, generally more productive than me. I mean, I've been, I guess one of my hobbies– Oh, I'm learning Italian on Duolingo! You guys ready? Io no sono un ragazzo. Which means “I'm not a boy”. You know, and that's pretty much all I know how to say. Nick: That’s good. That’s gonna really come in handy I feel like. Malena: You know if anyone mistakes, you know, me for a little boy. You never know. Italians these days. Nick: That’s true. Hannah: Have you been keeping up with Duolingo? Malena: Yeah, the owl is really aggressive dude. It's always like: “You have one hour to save your streak! You're so lazy, it takes five minutes!” Nick: He, he yelled at me for not knowing my Greek alphabet and I think I, all I had done is like put Greek in a language I was like kind of interested in, in the app and he was like, like learn your alphabet, learn your alphabet! Hannah: He, as in the owl. Nick: Yeah, yes, he as in the owl, my, my good friend, the Duolingo owl. Malena: Evil demon that haunts my dreams, alright. Um, but okay, so moving on to our next question. What is the one movie you would watch if you were stuck with one for the rest of your life? Nick, your thoughts? Nick: Oh, no. These, I can't answer these questions without pulling up my like, letterbox like and looking at the movies I've seen. The Princess Bride is great. Just because it's fun, but like, I don't know, maybe like Whiplash if I want to like be stressed for the rest of my life. I don’t know. Malena: I mean, that would also push you to be ridiculously productive. Just like watching Whiplash and like, you know, striving– Nick: Cause watching, cause watching a two hour movie is the most productive thing you can do. Malena: This is, this is fact. Hannah, what about you? What are you thinking for your stuck-on-an-island with the rest of your like that for the rest of your life movie? Hannah: Um, how about Shutter Island? On the island? Nick: That's not good. That's not gonna stress you out. Malena: Shutter Island– brooooo. I watched that, we watched that on a really big like movie screen that we found and that it really freaked me out just like on the big screen. Leo DiCaprio killing you know, oh, spoilers. Sorry. You know, terrifying. Nick: Bleep it out in post you know. Malena: Yeah. For me, I think my desert island– I mean Princess Bride is a big classic. I love Call Me By Your Name. It's so calming. Just watching like handsome people run around northern Italy. We love to see it. We love to see it. Um, okay. And then my third question is, if you could be stuck anywhere in the world for quarantine, where would it be, like besides where you are right now? I'm sure you're very happy in New Jersey, Nick. So not to hate on New Jersey. Nick: Yeah, of course – it's it's great here. Malena: If you could be stuck anywhere else for quarantine where would you be stuck? Nick: So I am if my if we are remote fall quarter which, don’t talk to me about it cause it's not gonna happen and I won't let it happen. I think I'm planning to go – which is where I would go – to my cousin's beach house in California. And just like, it's like on a mountainside overlooking the ocean and just like sit in the backyard and take zoom classes outside for the entire quarter. That's the plan. Malena: That sounds like heaven. I'm jealous. Do you go there often? Nick: No, like, once every two years – Malena: And how old is your cousin that he has his own beach house? Nick: It's like my family like my, I guess it's my aunt’s and uncle’s. But I mean, he's like 22, 21, I don’t know. He's graduating this year, which is awful. But yeah. Malena: Hannah, what about you? I mean, France is a pretty great place to be stuck. So if you could be stuck elsewhere… Hannah: I'd be in Asia, dude in Asia. They are out of quarantine, people are just out, out and about. They’re partying, they've confined it more or less pretty well. They're just having the time of their lives. Anywhere in Asia. Malena: That's fair. That's fair. I do miss Singapore. Is still under circuit breaker. But our friends definitely out in Korea – shout out to Allison – are having the time of their lives as compared to the good old US of A. I'm quite jealous. Hannah: Florida’s having a good time. They don't give a fuck! Malena: No, it's okay. Hannah: You’re gonna have to bleep that. You’re gonna have to bleep it. Malena: No, you can swear– Hannah: I’m sorry, I'm giving you much more work than it had to be. Woops Malena: No, we can swear on this podcast– Nick: Malena is a dutiful editor. Malena: All right, and then I think that for me, I don't know, I'm definitely going through a very Greek phase. I'm reading Zorba the Greek, I was making Greek food, I have way too many Greek friends. And they're all sending me like videos from Athens of like the sunsets around their house. And I'm very jealous. So I think, probably Greece– just literally anywhere in Europe – because I feel like it's just stunning views. You know, like for me, I mean, I do get to see the Washington Monument from my apartment, but otherwise, Nick: Okay, flex. Malena: Not many, like you know, seaside views, in comparison, so I think anywhere in Europe with a seaside view would be my answer. All right, guys. And so for our final question for the day, this is you know, a little bit more personal, a little bit more difficult to answer. But if you could be stuck with anyone who you are not currently with right now in quarantine, who would you be stuck with and why? Nick: Like a someone that that listens to the podcast would not know who they are? Malena: I mean, it doesn't matter, you could give a shoutout to anyone. Nick: I mean, I mean, this is, you guys know who this is but other people wouldn't. It would be probably be Asteris or Artie. Malena: And for what reason would these two mystery men, who our listeners have no idea who they are? Nick: Well, because they they brighten up my day with their with their beautiful faces but also because, I don’t know, it'll just be fun to chill with them. I guess. Like it's a boring answer, but it's true. Like they're, they're people I just hang out with and I'm not getting that right now, not getting my fix right now. So, you know, getting, getting that fix. Malena: Yeah, I think the two of them have a very good sarcastic sense of humor that I think is generally lacking in most other people. Nick: Yeah. Malena: So. Nick: Yeah, and especially lacking in no social interaction at all, so. Hannah: Very true. Malena: Hannah, what about you? Hannah: I'd be stuck with you. Malena. I just blew you a kiss. I love you. Nick: That's a mistake. Malena: I know you miss me. Hannah: That was my declaration of love. Malena: I know you, Nick, we could be reading together. Fun fact. Nick is a major book nerd. Nick: Yeah but I haven’t read all quarantine. I’m – it’s a shame. Malena: I know. But– Nick: I have some things in the mail. It's coming. I'm going to force you to read it. Malena: I like that's, I mean, I'm always down to read more. That's definitely one hobby that I've picked up more is I've been reading a lot since I've been back. But, um, for me, who would I be stuck with? I mean, besides you, Hannah. Obviously, love of my whole life. Um, my heart is warmed by that answer. I don’t know, that's a tough one. I think– Hannah: It's fine. Go ahead, choose someone else but me. That's fine. Malena: No no it’s because I'm trying to think– Hannah: It’s fine. Malena: –of someone else but Hannah: I see how it is. Malena: –you but unfortunately, you're the only person I spend my time with. Nick: Ah, thanks, thanks, Malena I thought we were friends. I thought we were friends. Hannah: You’re digging yourself a hole right now. Malena: Oh, you know what, I really can't think of anyone else cuz then I would say like Asteris, but Nick already said it. Nick: We could all spend our time with Asteris. Malena: I know, but we're like just trying to – fun fact: Asteris lives in Athens, not to expose him, but you know, if I could be stuck with him right now – big life goals. Nick: Also I think he's still in quarantine though. Malena: Soon, soon they'll be out though. Europe's on its way as Hannah mentioned. You know if I could go out on a limb here, I’d probably say Timothee Chalamet. I've been having a major– Hannah: Okay here's another thing, I feel like Timothee Chalamet became so much more famous over quarantine. Malena: Yeah, it’s because everybody’s stuck inside and they have nothing to do but stare at celebrities. So yeah. Well, alright guys, thank you so much. Actually, that's perfect. We've just hit 13 minutes. And so we're going to end our podcast here. Thank you so much, Nick for being our guest, keeping us entertained during quarantine. Nick: Yeah, of course. Malena: Giving your opinions on things. It was so nice to get to know you. And this has been another successful podcast from NBN audio. Hannah say bye! Hannah: Bye-bye! Malena: Bye, gang. Nick: Peace. Malena: See you later, on our next podcast, which will hopefully be out soon. Bye! [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath]

8. 

   9 Mar 2020

   Don't Tell Me Your Major #3 : Post-Valentine’s Day Thoughts

   Episode Notes Form: https://forms.gle/XY41oQSrGpBBxEXD8 (https://forms.gle/XY41oQSrGpBBxEXD8) [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] Malena Ramnath: Hey guys! My name is Malena Ramnath. Allison Rhee: I’m Allison. Malena: And we are your hosts and freshmen here at Northwestern. This is Don’t Tell Me Your major, an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level, with questions like what their major is, where they’re from and stuff like that and just instead try to get to know them on a more profound level. That’s how you really know the kind of person someone is rather than judging them based on pre-established stereotypes. And so today’s podcast is being recorded on February 27th - hopefully released soon thereafter - and that means Valentine’s Day was a couple of weeks ago. Allison, did you have a date on Valentine’s Day? Allison: Yes, I did actually. Malena: Oooh. I, personally, did not, so that’s just kind of like, where we’re at, kinda two ends of the spectrum, right? And so, we’re just going to talk a little about love, and that’s the topic of our podcast today! instead of having a guest, we’re just going to kind of bounce around ideas about that. So Allison, do you believe in soulmates? Allison: I don’t think that there’s just one soulmate out there for you. I think you can have multiple, just cause like, I feel yeah, I feel like relationships take work and just because someone’s your soulmate doesn't mean … you know what I mean? I feel like a soulmate is a cop out for like not wanting to put any effort into something. I just think, yeah, I think you can have multiple soulmates that fit you in different ways. Malena: Yeah, my mom does say though - shoutout to my mom real quick - she always that I should marry my best friend, y'know? Allison: Oh yeah, my mom says that too. Malena: And I think that what you’re kind of saying applies to that because to have a best friend - you can have best friends for different things. I definitely have- Allison: Yeah Malena: -- like my guy best friend, I have my best friends from college, my best friends from high school, that kind of thing. Allison: Yeah Malena: And so you can have different people for different ways. But isn’t it crazy that like - how - are your parents still married? Allison: Yeah Malena: How long have they been together for? Allison: Since, 1998 so - what is that? Like 22 years? Malena: Like 22 years or something? Allison: 21 and a half cause their anniversary is in June. Malena: Yeah. My parents are going on 20 years. That’s crazy. Can you imagine spending that much time with someone? Allison: No, that’s why I always say I don’t get it. Malena: Yeah. Allison: Like my cousin married her first boyfriend like a few months ago in August or something. Malena: Did they break up in between? Was it like a oh! Allison: No, no. They’ve been together for 10years. Malena: Oh my gosh. Allison: They met their sophomore year of college. They were like a campus couple. She went to school somewhere near here I forget where, bu yeah, they’ve been together for like 10 years. First boyfriend. Malena: Mhmm. Allison: And, the thing is I asked her about it when I met him, I asked her about it. I was like how can you stand someone for - y'know I was like 15 no, no, I was like 17 years old, but I was like how can you stand being with someone for so fucking long? And she was like in the end the butterflies and all that stuff like sort of fade a little bit, but what you’re left with is like a stable relationship and trust or whatever and I was like, oh. Couldn’t be me. Sounds fun. Malena: Couldn’t be me. what’s your favorite -- OK so in between all these like profound things I’m asking, what do you think your favorite rom com is? Or just romantic movies in general. Allison: Oh! Before Sunrise. Malena: What is that about, for those who don’t know. Allison: It’s like - I forget, I think it’s in Vienna. So this American guy gets he’s on a train. Malena: It’s Ethan Hawke right? Allison: Yes! Malena: Ugh, love that guy. Allison: Yes, so you know the movie? Malena: Yes, I do, but for those who don’t. Allison: Yeah, OK. So this American guy is on a train, and he’s on his way to Vienna, I believe, to catch a flight. And there’s this French girl on the train on her way to Paris. And she’s a student, she’s going back. And he’s coming back from I believe l a bender after his girlfriend broke up with him. He went to Spain to see her, and she broke up with him. But then, she ends up sitting next to him on the train, u and they end up talking and he’s like, would it be crazy if I asked you to get off at Vienna with me? And she was like, would it be crazy if I actually did? So they get off together and, it’s basically they have one night, she gets on the next train back home, and he has to catch his flight, but they basically just spend the entire night roaming the streets of Vienna. They go to a bar, he gets his e palm read and stuff like that and it’s just very - it’s like not dramatic y'know? There’s no climax, it’s just two hours of just very sweet conversation between the two of them. They don’t even like kiss until the middle of the movie, and then when they do it’s cute, you know it’s like - I think it’s in a ferris wheel or some kind of gondola or something like that. I don’t know it’s just cute, it’s like a lazy movie, yeah. Malena: It’s wholesome, yeah. I mean it’s like a feel good thing, like you’re never really stressed about it y’know? Allison: Yeah Malena: I think my favorite romantic movie. Oh, that’s a tough one. I really loved Crazy, Stupid Love. Like- Allison: Oh! That is such a good movie! Malena: Oh, sorry I take it back though. Allison: What? Malena: So, Allison hasn’t - have you seen this movie? I recommended it to you it was one of the first- Allison: The, the S-- Malena: Serendipity. Allison: No, I have not watched it. Malena: So, Serendipity is this really cute movie. Um, I’m a sucker for John Cusack movies, which are really old. You know the thing of for those young’uns out there of the guy holding the boombox over his head? Allison: Say Anything? Malena: Yeah, that’s John Cusack. So I’m a sucker for like any rom com with him in it. Allison: Oh, so Serendipity is old? Malena: Yeah, it’s 2001 and then so-- Allison: Oh Malena: It’s John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, the woman who dated Pete Davidson. Allison: Oh, oh my God. Malena: And it’s the two of them, and it’s basically like she’s in New York, and she meets this guy kind of like randomly too, like the Before- Allison: Serendipitous. Malena: Serendipitously, as it were. And she believes in fate, so she writes her name and number on, in the inside of a book Allison: Oh! I heard this, and it’s like if you can find the book, then it’s meant to be. Malena: Yeah, yeah. And he writes his name and number on a dollar and then they sell the book and they give the dollar to like a random person, and so then it’s whether they find their way back to each other or not. Allison: Do they? Malena: I don’t know, you’ll have to watch the movie and see! So yeah. Allison: They probably do. Malena: That’s my favorite romantic movie. Allison: Oh, I like that. Malena: OK, so kept it light. Now, a little bit of a deeper one. Y’know? Allison: Yeah. Malena: Do you think that love at first sight is real? Allison: I think I read this statistic once that said you can tell if you like someone within 4minutes, seconds of meeting them or something like that. Four minutes maybe? I think, I think love at first sight - I would say it’s more like infatuation at first sight. But, I think it’s real, but it definitely is not the most stable grounds for a relationship. Like you know what I - y’know? Like cause I feel like if it’s love at first sight it’s very much driven by physical attraction, and I feel like while it’s a good opener, it’s not a good basis. I mean, I definitely feel like I’ve fallen in love at first sight. Yeah, but it’s not like love it’s like-- Malena: Yeah, it’s like. Allison: Fuck you’re really hot, and then like nevermind. Malena: Yeah like, oh my gosh, so hot mister mans. Please, I cannot think. but no I think yeah I don’t think I believe in love at first sight cause there’s no way you can truly know someone’s personality, y'know at first sight, and that’s honestly in my opinion what makes you really fall for them. But, this is something that slowly I think I’m like realizing more and more, is that if you’re ambiguous about someone. I mean obviously if you don’t like someone or you don’t gel with them you, you never will, y’know? But, if you’re ambiguous about someone, the more time you spend with them, you will fall in love with them. I think. I agree with that. Allison: But I have many people that I am - like I don’t particularly have strong opinions on them but I like, I’m kind of like oh, it would never really happen. Malena: Yeah, OK. But so, what do you think of Valentine’s Day as a whole institution? Do you think it’s cheesy, do you think it’s cheesy, what would you want to get on Valentine’s Day? What are your views on it? Allison: I… can you go first so I can think? Malena: I always think it’s cheesy when I’m single on Valentine’s Day. No I think that y’know, it shouldn’t be like, the only day that you show love to someone a year for sure y'know? Allison: Yeah, yeah yeah. Malena: Like, it shouldn’t be like, oh it’s Valentine’s Day, time for me to pretend I love someone y'know? Allison: Yeah. Malena: But I definitely think that, yeah, you know what? It’s cute that humans as a collective have a day of love. Allison: I mean I think that Valentine’s Day … I don’t really think about Valentine’s Day actually like, unless I like someone at the time. It’s just a day, it comes and it goes., If I do like someone then I’ll be thinking. No, I’ll wake up and be like, oh, it’s Valentine’s Day. And then I’ll be like eh, y'know. I guess this year was a little bit different, but I mean, I think it’s cute. Malena: Would you want to get flowers and chocolates on Valentine’s Day? Allison: Yeah, I really would. I really like flowers. I like getting flowers. Malena: Yeah? What’s your favorite kind of flower? Allison: I like roses, I’m a basic bitch. OK, I like red roses, but I also really like white roses. And I like, hmmm. Malena: I’m here for daisies, guys. Allison: Oh, yeah. Malena: Got to be hipster. Can’t be with these mainstream roses. Allison: Yeah, I like red and white roses. Malena: Yeah, and OK, our last question for the evening, got to end it on a positive note. What’s your favorite love song? Just a classic, guys. Allison: Oh wait. Malena: Do you need to think about this for a second? Allison: I do. Malena: Mmm, I think my favorite love song is “Daydreamer,” by Adele. Which is like, oh, you guys, I’m sorry I’m being so sappy today, but it’s like, it’s just a song about- Allison: Wait, are we going sad love songs, or happy love songs? Malena: Any love songs! Allison: Can, can I give a recommendation in each category? Malena: OK, yeah. Allison: Ok, I would say .. .sad love song, “Peer Pressure” by James Bay and and fuck what is it called again, “The First Defeat” by Noah Gunderson. And then for upbeat love song, “I Love You So Bad” by LANY- Malena: Oh, I love that song. I love that song. Allison: Yeah. “I.F.L.Y” by Bazzi, and that song from To All the Boys 2 about love the - I don’t really know a lot about love, a lot about love… Malena: We don’t know what that song is called but if you guys want- Allison: Oh nevermind. And “Lover” by Taylor Swift. Malena: Yeah, I love the, I love the LANY song guys, you should definitely listen to it. Allison: Yeah, “I Love You So Bad”. It’s such -- everybody should go listen to it. Malena: It’s just a cute song about loving someone. Allison: Go sing it to your boyfriends/girlfriends right now. Malena: Yes, and “Daydreamer” is just a song about this boy who’s just there for you ,and I really appreciate that, y'know? Allison: “Daydreamer”, I’m gonna listen to that. Malena: Definitely worth it. And ok guys so, this, today’s podcast was a little more low-key. Our last podcast was definitely full of energy, a lot of talking over each other and y'know big vibes, shoutout to Karthik’s presence on that one. But we just wanted to do a quiet, Valentine’s Day, it’s just post midterm season, if you guys wanted to hear a little bit about- Allison: I still have a midterm. Malena: Oh, gosh. So if you guys wanted to hear a little bit about love, y'know. Allison: Our sad love lives. Malena: Any of you guys out there, yeah I mean, not that we’re popping off but- Allison: But, y'know we have opinions. Malena: But, for everybody out there. We have opinions, if anybody cares to hear them. So, your local love gurus, signing off. Um, oh! Also, before we go-- Allison: XOXO Malena: Before we go, in the description for this podcast, there should be a Google Form. We want to hear from you guys! So we want to hear if you have any questions you want to hear, any guests you want to hear from. And, if you have, we just want to hear the answers to the questions-- your answers to the questions we’re asking y'know? Allison: If you want to be featured-- Malena: Yeah! Allison: Leave your name. Malena: Leave your name, see if you want to be a guest, but also if you kinda want to just let us know what your favorite love song is. We’re always looking for recommendations. Allison: Oui. Malena: And on that note, this Malena and Allison: Allison! Malena: And it’s been another great Don’t Tell Me Your Major episode from North By Northwestern Audio. Bye, guys! [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath]

9. 

   29 Jan 2020

   Don't Tell Me Your Major Episode 2: Raindrops and Roses – Our Favorite Things

   Episode Notes [“Don’t Tell Me Your Major Theme” By Malena Ramnath] Malena: Hey guys, I’m Malena Ramnath. Allison: Oh, I’m Allison. Malena: And we are your hosts, and freshman here at Northwestern. Once again, this is Don’t Tell Me Your Major, an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level, with questions like what their major is, where they’re from, and how old they are but try to get to know them on a more profound level. So, you guys probably know we have a third co–host, Hannah, who we’re missing today thanks to midterm season, but we have our very first guest with us instead. And although we don’t know his major, this is Karthik Vempati, and we are very excited to have you on our podcast today. Karthik say hi! Karthik: Hello, I’m excited to be here too. Malena: Hello! Allison: Sounds so unenthusiastic. Malena: Ok, I forced him to be here; we’re not going to talk about that. Karthik: You know what, I asked to be here, I’m not gonna lie. Malena: Okay, so, as our first order of business, we’re going to start this podcast off with saying what is your favorite song right now? Allison: Ok, I will go first. So, Hannah introduced me to this song called Amber Rose by a group called – is it BAFFHAUS? Malena: BAFFHAUS. Allison: BAFFHAUS. Apparently, they’re a group of Northwestern freshman. Malena: Yeah… Allison: I don’t know any of them personally, but, if you’re listening, I’m a big fucking fan. So like, I listen to it every morning when I get ready I swear to God. Malena: Damn sister. You know they have a– Allison: Yeah, yeah Nina Nina Nina Nina. Malena: I don’t know how much they want me to plug them. They have a new song, they have a new song. I hang out with– They live in Lincoln. Allison: Oh shit really? Karthik: Yeah, they’re lake facing. Malena: We are exposing them WAY too hard right now. Allison: No, I just talked to Ray, downstairs, like in the first floor lounge, and Ray was like, I told Ray, cause I saw him on their Instagram page– Malena: Yeah, yeah. Allison: Yeah, so I was like oh my god– Malena: We’re hardcore stalking them. Allison: Yeah, so I was like I love their song and he was like aww I’ll let them know. I was like oh, cool, cool, thanks. But yeah so Sammie and I blast that in the morning. Ok technically, we wake up in the afternoon, so like at 1 pm, we blast it. Malena: Ahaha yeah. Allison: So I get back from the shower and we blast Amber Rose, like on repeat while we do our makeup. So if you’re out there, haha, I–I love you. Malena: Please, Alex, Gabe, all the BAFFHAUS boys please listen to this– Karthik: You can’t leave out Arman. Malena: Arman, I mean yeah. But uh– Allison: Sponsor me. Malena: Big shoutout to BAFFHAUS for being another Northwestern start up on Spotify, just like us. Allison: Cool, cool, cool. Malena: They’re definitely cooler, but it’s fine. So my favorite song right now is this song called Our Time by Russ. It’s not really– Allison: Ohhh. Malena: It’s just good vibes because I realize I listen to a lot of– Allison: Isn’t that what you say– Malena: Huh? Allison: What you feel about– Malena: HowI feel about college boys? Ok, give it a listen, then maybe you’ll know how I feel about college boys. But at the same time, at the same time, it’s a happy, upbeat song even though it’s about like a sad topic. It’s just a happy song because I realized I was listening to a lot of depresso emo indie folk music, and it was just bringing me down as a whole, so I started to listen to happy music, and that’s why it’s my favorite song right now so...Karthik, what’s your favorite song? Karthik: Honestly, for me right now I’m going through a phase where I have lots of favorite songs, but probably the one that I can both fall asleep to and get hyped to which is really weird is the Good Grief remix by Don Diablo. I don’t know why, ‘cause it reminds me of like– Allison: I have no idea what that is. Karthik: So Malena and I went to high school together right? Allison: Oh yeah. Karthik: And that was kind of like one of our class’ songs. Malena: Yeah. Allison: Mine was Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon. That was our 8th grade gala song. Malena: Wow. Allison: Still get hyped to it. Karthik: Honestly that song, it slaps. It’s so good. And, my roommate also kinda gets pissed about this but for some reason now I’ve kinda trained myself to fall asleep to music. So it’s hard for me to fall asleep in silence than it is even with banging like Martin Garrix. Allison: Shouldn’t you train yourself to sleep in silence considering your room– Karthik: I know, I know but what happened is that I put the music and I take naps during the day. I sleep like four hours a night, four hours during the day. Malena: Ok can we just take a moment to talk about Karthik’s insane sleep schedule. Karthik: No, no, no. Malena: When do you go to bed, Karthik, in the morning? Karthik: Yesterday– Allison: When do you do work? That’s my question Malena: When do you normally– Karthik: I slept at 6:30 today, and I woke up at 4. So I slept through like four classes. Malena: You’re a human bat, dude. He’s Batman, in short. Allison: I slept at 4:30 and then I woke up at 11, not 6:30. Karthik: Yeah I woke up at 4. Malena: I had to wake up to go to church, y’all. So… Allison: Yeah, I know Karthik: Honestly some days– oh, really? Allison: Hallelujah. Malena: I mean, I decided to be productive today, and then took a nap from 8:30 to 9:30. Yeah, and now we’re filming the podcast. Woke up for this boys! Anyways, alright, so that was our favorite songs. So our next favorite thing, we’re kind of theming these podcast questions about what your favorite things are, so what is your favorite personality trait in someone else? Allison: Someone else go first. Karthik: Oh, I like that. Malena: Ok, I can go first. I think my favorite personality trait in someone else is when they can have a conversation for hours. Like for me, I hate when there's awkward silence. Allison: What if they’re just a bit awkward, and you have to bring them out of their shell? Malena: No it’s fine, like I’m fine with that. But I love finding that unique person that can make a conversation out of nowhere, because I, if you guys couldn’t tell by this podcast, I talk all the freaking time. And so it’s nice to have– Allison: I mean who doesn’t like that, yknow? Malena: Yeah. Allison: Like everyone likes that. Karthik: Some people just like silence, y’know? Malena: Yeah, some people are introverts, it’s kind of overwhelming, but – Karthik: I mean I like someone I can have like a five hour conversation with every single day– Allison: And also have silent periods with. Karthik: I don’t really care that much about that. Allison: Oh ok, nevermind. Karthik: Just someone I can chill with, some people they maybe like it occasionally, right, but not that much. Malena: Yeah. Karthik: Like once a week max. Yeah, that’s a really cool answer. Malena: Fair. Alright Karthik, you’re up, You’re up. Karthik: Ok. I like when someone is just very, very I guess like humble. Allison: Like Karthik’s Balenciaga shoes. Karthik: Oh, they’re fake. Malena: Ohh, ok. Karthik’s got some fake Balenciaga’s. Allison: I was like, damn. Malena: They’re just like Valenciaga’s. They have like a V scratched into them. No. Karthik: They’re so comfortable. Malena: They’re legit just socks with rubber soles. Aliison: No, I thought– Karthik: But they’re squishy soles too. Like, on the plane, I kid you not – vacation for my feet. Allison: We go off on so many tangents. Malena: Ok, sorry what was your personality trait? Karthik: When someone’s very very humble, right? So they have not exactly a lot to be proud of but like they’re for example let’s say someone is very rich; they don’t show it off, they don’t flex it, they don’t...they keep it to themselves. Someone you wouldn’t know is rich, but they’re absolutely lovely, right? Like that kind of stuff. Or someone who’s really smart, but they’ll help everyone out, and they’re not someone who bases their identity around, I guess– Malena: Their intellect. Karthik: Yeah, their intellect, their wealth, anything like that. They just, they want to be themselves. Allison: Wow that’s deep. I don’t know if I can– Malena: What’s your answer? I like pretty eyes. Allison: Aahahah, mine was actually going to be humor. Malena: Ooooo, I like that, no that’s good. Karthik: That’s so important! Malena: How did we not answer that?? Oh my gosh. Karthik: I mean– Allison: Um, I would say, I don’t know humor, as in I want to laugh. I want someone who can make me laugh but also I feel like I have a very biting sense of humor, like a very sarcastic– Malena: You bite people a lot? Allison: Why are you–why are you nodding? Karthik: No, I agree, I agree. Malena: Karthik actually bites people. Karthik: Oh, wait no! Malena: Sorry, did I expose you for a second? Karthik: No, no, no, it’s good. It’s good. Malena: Is that public information? Karthik: I really don’t care. Allison: I’m not fucking– Malena: Karthik’s a bat and a vampire. Karthik: I’m that one person that everyone tags in like tag that one friend who bites you. I get like 6 comments on that every single time. Malena: That’s a Facebook post? Karthik: Yeah! Allison: Yeah I’m not fucking weird like Karthik, I don’t actually bite people, but I feel like I have a very deadpan sense of humor. I don’t know, I’m very sarcastic I think. In a bit of a loving, lovingly mean way. Sometimes– Karthik: Just mean. Allison: It’s not! Karthik: It’s just mean. Malena: I bully people, but like it’s cool, I’m nice. Allison: Shut up! No, no no, like– Karthik: I make them feel terrible about themselves, but it’s okay. Malena: I feel like they’re cool deep down. Allison: Shut up! No, I’m only sarcastic mean to people I actually feel close to, y’know, I’m very, you know like a biting sense of humor and it’s just people who don’t get that, I feel it’s very hard for me to get along– Malena: Be around them? Allison: Not necessarily be around them. It’s just like, I’m always fake laughing all the time, I don’t like that. So yeah, I like to laugh and yeah so I guess humor. And I like everything that you mentioned too, but for me, yeah humor. Karthik: I mean I feel like if you don’t really vibe with someone’s sense of humor, or just– Allison: Yeah it’s hard to get along. Karthik: Yeah, you’re never going to be too close, and you’re just not going to spend as much time with them just naturally, I don’t know if there’s lots of social situations you would, but other than that– Allison: Yeah, humor’s important, especially if you’re a funny person. Karthik: Exactly. Malena: Alright, alright, those are some pretty good answers. Up next, what is your favorite season? Allison: Fall. Karthik: Ohhh, fall yeah. Malena: Fall. Malena: Dude, yeah. Fall. Karthik: No, no doubt. Malena: And it’s sad because Chicago just skipped fall this year. Karthik: No, it was so pretty for that like one week. Malena: For that one week, all the leaves were red, and everybody was like outside with their phones– Karthik: And yellow...oh yeah. But then, but then, when that first snow fall came– Allison: That was pretty. Karthik: Yeah because it was white, like pristine but also fall. That was the nicest thing. Allison: Yeah. No, one of my friends uploaded on Instagram, and her caption was if you can’t – what was it – “If you can’t convince them, confuse them.” And it was just pictures of snow fall with like leaves on top of them. It was kind of funny. No but, it’s getting– Karthik: Wait what? Malena: What’s convince them? It’s winter? Allison: No it was like– If you can’t convince them, confuse them, like confuse them because it’s snowing but there’s also leaves, it’s like fall. Do you get it? Karthik: But what’s convince them? What? Allison: God damn Karthik, shut the fuck up. Karthik: Jesus Christ. Malena: Oh my gosh Allison, my parents – sorry mom and dad. Allison: BEEEEEEP. Malena: Um, ok ok moving on because we’re all in agreement– Karthik: Wait, do you censor swear words? Allison: No. Malena: No, shoutout to North By Northwestern– Karthik: Ohhhh got you. Malena: for letting us be free. So, my last and final question is, for tonight. What is your comfort food? Just remind us of home before Thanksgiving. Allison: Tteokbokki. Malena: What is that Allison, please explain yourself cultured person. Allison: It sounds gross if I explain it in English. It’s like rice cakes but not like the puffy kind. Like, it’s kind of like mochi, but it’s savory and it’s– Karthik: Oh, I know. Allison: Not as like stretchy. It’s a bit firmer, but it’s still chewy. And they’re in like cylinders. Malena: Oh, I’ve had those before! They’re good, they’re not bad! Karthik: They’re so good. Allison: And I cut them up into small pieces and it’s in like in gochujang. Gochujang is like red pepper paste sauce with, I like it with garlic. Most places don’t, but my mom makes it with garlic. Garlic, soy sauce, anchovy broth. And you make the sauce, and then you dunk it in there and you add fish cakes, which sounds gross, but it’s like really good. And then, some places will add Vienna sausages in them and cabbage and stuff like that and then for like a side dish you have it with rice balls. So rice rolled in seaweed. You know the thing that, have I ever given you, or have you had it before? Malena: I’ve probably had it before. Allison: Like the dried and salted seaweed. Malena: Yeah. Allison: That stuff? That stuff like crumbled into, not a powder but like little– Malena: Damn guys, I ate Cup of Noodles for dinner so like at 4 pm so like– Allison: Again?? Karthik: I had them one time in second grade. I’ve been trying to find out that name for 11 years now. Allison: Yeah, I have some in my room. Malena: We’re really uniting cultures right now. Allison: I have it in my room, but Sammie and I are saving it for reading week when we have to study. Karthik: I’ll pay you. Allison: I will bring–I know how to make it from scratch. Karthik: I have Mac and Cheese Allison: I hate Mac and Cheese. Malena: Is that your comfort food, Karthik? Karthik: No that’s the one that Max always steals. Allison: I like Mac and Cheese, but I hate instant Mac and Cheese. Karthik: Oh, but that’s so good. Malena: Ok but what’s your comfort food? Allison: Kraft Mac and Cheese is (gagging noise). Karthik: That’s interesting. Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ll tell you why. Because recently… so one day I was just walking to the Bobb lounge, the McCulloch lounge, and I smelled oatmeal. Like apple cinnamon oatmeal. Allison: I hate oatmeal. Karthik: Oh my god it smelled amazing. I ordered it– I ordered a box of 40 immediately. Allison: It smells good but it tastes– Karthik: Oh, it tasted amazing. Malena: This man did like 17 Instagram polls about whether he should eat maple sugar oatmeal or Malena and Allison: apple cinnamon oatmeal. Karthik: No, I had both. Allison: There’s more! Karthik: I had cinnamon spice, peaches and cream. I had apple cinnamon, two of them. Allison: That sounds– Karthik: And then one maple brown sugar. I kid you not that night was one of my most – I hadn’t had oatmeal in ten years before that, like instant oatmeal. So that was like ooooo. Allison: Wait, I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion or a popular opinion, but oatmeal always smells way better than it tastes. Karthik: Oh, but it tastes so good. Allison: I’ve had apple cinnamon oatmeal before and like it smelled so good, and I had a bite, and I was like this tastes like water. Karthik: Yeah, you probably made it wrong. Allison: Um, I don’t think so. I followed the instructions. Karthik: You don’t follow the instructions. You have to add a chef’s touch to it. Allison: Oh, ok, ok. Mr. Gordon Ramsey. Karthik: Alright, one night for dinner I was vibing this. I had basically this the other night: Cup Noodles, then mac and cheese– Allison: Okay, wait like American Cup Noodles? Karthik: Then like 20 minutes – No, no like Shin– Allison: Oh yeah! That’s Korean. Karthik: No, not like Shin Ramyun but like– Allison: Jin? Karthik: Kimchi, it was kimchi. Allison: Oh my god! Look at this cultured man eating real Korean ramen. Karthik: It was good, it was good. But then, I also have Jin Ramyun, just for later this week, but– Allison: Malena is panicking because we’re running out of time, so hurry up. Malena: Sorry, the look of panic on my face! Karthik: Oh, got you got you. Malena: Sorry. Karthik: Go ahead, just, foods. Go. Allison: What’s yours? Malena: Um no, butter chicken and saag paneer. Sorry, my dad makes really good Indian food. Allison: Look at us, cultured. Malena: I know, I really miss it. Because we don’t get a lot of it here. Oh, Channa. Channa Battura. Karthik: Oh, that’s solid. Malena: It’s SO good. Karthik: See, do you know what that is? Allison: No. Malena: It’s like chickpea curry. Allison: I like butter chicken. Malena: Yeah! Ok, ok we’ll have to have Indian night and samosas. Allison: I want samosas. Karthik: Dude, you said you had food in your fridge for me, and I really wanted it. Allison: Oh, that’s right, that’s right! Malena: It got confiscated, it got confiscated. Karthik: By who?? Allison: Did you eat it?? Malena: We have pad thai leftovers in my dorm right now actually. But on that note, I’m so sorry we’re running out of time. Karthik it was so nice having you on our podcast. Allison, lovely as always. And this is the Don’t Tell Me Your Major team, signing off, and it’s been another great podcast from North By Northwestern Audio. Thanks so much!

10. 

    5 Nov 2019

    Don't Tell Me Your Major #1

    Episode Notes DTMYM Ep. 1 Transcript Malena: Hey guys, my name is Malena. Allison: I’m Allison. Hannah: My name’s Hannah. M: And we are your hosts and freshmen here at Northwestern. This is Don’t Tell Me Your Major, an interview podcast where we avoid getting to know people on the surface level, with questions like what their major is, where they’re from, and how old they are, but try to get to know them on a more profound level. That’s how you really know the kind of person someone is rather than judging them on pre-established stereotypes. Today it’s just us, the co-hosts, so you guys can get to know us a little more before we start talking to others! And, um, just an update, all of us have the freshman plague. A: Sorry, I’m hacking my lungs out. M: Yeah, so if you hear us coughing, that’s why. But the first order of business – the first question I’m going to ask is: If you had to get a tattoo right now, what would it be? Allison, you’re up first. A: Okay, I’ve actually planned this for a really long time. My 18th birthday is coming up, and I’m going to get a little music note, like an eighth note, tattooed on the inside of my middle finger in white ink so that my parents don’t see it. So don’t tell my mom, ‘cause I’m not allowed to have a tattoo, because I’m going to get disowned. But, yeah I’ve been planning on getting that for a long time. H: The ones on the inside of your fingers – A: They’re so pretty. H: They rub off though. A: I know, that’s the point, like – H: Oh! You’re not going to show it to anyone. A: Yeah, yeah, yeah, just in case my mom ever catches me, like, in a couple years it’ll be faded so it won’t be a big deal. H: So I wanted to get a matching tattoo with my sister, but I’m scared, because whenever we fight, I’d be like “f**k you!” but then you have them tattooed on your body. M: I love that, I love that. Ok, so mine is like, I wanted to get this tattoo that’s like a circle but like it isn’t closed. So it’s a circle that almost closes but doesn’t – A: That’s so unsatisfactory. M: No, I know, but the whole point is– A: I wouldn’t want that! M: The whole point is that like, there’s this quote I like that says, “some things don’t come full circle.” And it’s just getting used to things not going your way. H: That’s much deeper than ours. A: I was about to say that! I was like, “I want a music note.” And she was like, “some things, they just don’t come full circle.” M: Ok, ok. A: We’re the bad co-hosts right here. M: Oh my gosh. No, ok so, my next question is, what is your favorite thing about yourself? Do you guys know, off the top of your head? A: Nose goes! M: Nose goes? A: Alright Hannah you’re up. H: Ummm, hair, it’s flowy and long. M: Is it like, annoying to blow out though? H: Yeah, yeah, so annoying. A: You know she never blow dries her hair? M: Really? Oh, we have an audience member, just so you guys know. A: Yeah, my roommate. She just lives with wet hair. I don’t know how she does it. M: I never blow dry my hair either. But it’s because mine is like, shoulder length, so it’s not a big deal. A: Oh it is? M: Yeah. A: I thought it was long. M: No it’s not that long. But anyways I think my favorite thing about myself is... I like my eyebrows. A: You do have nice eyebrows. M: They’re a lot of work, but I never have to fill them in. Like I feel so bad for people who have to fill in their eyebrows. H: Okay, okay! Fine. A: Your eyebrows are fine too, what do you mean? M: Okay, what about you Allison? A: My favorite thing...I guess is that I’m not an awkward person, so like it has saved me from many a potentially awkward situation. Y’know? So yeah, I feel like I’m pretty chill. M: Yeah, that’s fair. I love that I said my eyebrows. Like my personality sucks, like it just sucks. A: Jesussss. M: No. Ok. What can you not live without? Like what is the one thing you can’t live without? And it can be basic. A: Does it have to be a material object? M: Do maybe one material object and one non-material object. A: (under breath) Are my boobs showing? H: Nobody can see them! M: This is a podcast, Allison. A: I meant to you! But ok. Material – WAIT why am I always going first, you go! M: Ok, ok. H: I don’t know. I wanted to say something funny, but I don’t want to say something stupid like oxygen, water. Censor Beep M: Hannah! You can’t say that word! Oh my gosh. A: Beep. M: We’re gonna have to censor that. A: Sorry guys, we’re not American. M: Yeah so, some context is, the reason why we all know each other is we’re all international kids. A: Ok shut up Malena, you’re American. Hannah and I are not. Please forgive us if we say something un-PC. M: Okay so one thing I couldn’t live without is kind of like, my international friends. That’s one of my deeper answers – A: (sarcastically) I don’t feel the same way. M: (sarcastically) She could just get rid of us. (continued from before) ...Because I like having a wide worldview. Like a worldview where I could know people from all around the world and get their perspectives. And they all have such different lifestyles that it’s so much fun to hang out with them because there’s always something new to do and always good new food to eat. What about you guys? A: What’s your material thing? M: Uh, probably my phone. A: Yeah. M: I’m pretty addicted to Snapchat. H: Yeah, it’s true, phone. A: Ok, I’m going to think of something less shallow than that. So what’s your other thing? H: Yeah, I couldn’t live without friends. That would just suck. A: Oh really, would it now? M: Nah, I always wanted to become a hermit. That was my thing. Just be a hermit. A: Um, I would say I can’t live without music. I’m constantly listening to music, my airpods always run out of battery. Umm... I’m trying to think of a material thing. Like, I don’t know. M: Well, can I just say... Can we have a quick tangent? Airpods are like the biggest scam. Like the fact that the headphone jack is the same as your charging jack on your Apple phone, and then you can’t plug them into your laptop. And then you have to charge your airpods, and they’re like 100 dollars… A: Well that’s not – H: Yeah, no I agree. A: You don’t have to connect your Airpods to your computer. It’s bluetooth. M: Yeah I know but they’re always running out of battery and they cost like 200 dollars. A: The battery lasts like five hours how long are you listening to music?? H: When you’re on the plane, if you’re like a long long plane ride… A: Oh! When I’m on the plane I use like the ones with the wires, but Airpods for the casual walking around the streets. H: I dislike them. So this is a funny story, but I had Airpods for a while, and I didn’t actually buy them. I FOUND them. A: YOU FOUND THEM? H: I found them. M: Oh no, you’re THAT person. H: So my mom found them, on the beach. Somewhere… A: Ok well you know what, they probably weren’t going to come back for them anyways. You might as well have kept them. H: And we were trying to ask around people, if they were theirs, because we had some friends there. Couldn’t find them. So we just kept them, disinfected them, and my mom was like – A: Disinfected them??? M: Just have random people’s – H: I’m not going to have their ears in my ears! A: Your ears in their ears? H: And, long story short, I realized I don’t like airpods. Prefer the headphones. M: The Ancients. A: I like to put my phone in my back pocket when I’m walking, and to have that cord – it like rips out of my ears if I move the wrong direction and I get so f**cking frustrated, so [Airpods] are nice to have. H: I also heard this thing about airpods giving you cancer or whatever. A: Yeah dude, everything gives you cancer. M: Dude, just live in a bubble. A: Yeah, like bacon, everything gives you cancer. M: Ok. Speaking of, we’ve been eating cheerios in the background if you guys are hearing chewing noises. I don’t know how great this mic is but maybe you’re hearing chewing noises right now – A: Hannah just dropped a hairball on my lap. M: OH MY GOSH YOU GUYS. A: Guys this is her most treasured possession, so like – H: Long hair, you just leave a trail of hair everywhere you go. M: Yeah that’s her favorite trait guys: her hairballs. A: Yeah, Sammie and I always have to vacuum our room, because like my hair is everywhere. M: Oh my gosh. Yeah are you guys really excited to listen to other episodes of this podcast now? We’re really great people. But so basically we were eating cheerios on the side and that led me to my next question: what is your favorite snack? A: Myself. H: Cinnamon Toast Crunch. M: Oh my gosh guys. Allison you are hereby banned from this podcast. Her favorite snack is herself. Oh my gosh. H: Actually something weird though, peanut butter and fruit. So, I never liked peanut butter because I wasn’t from the U.S. M: So only Americans can like peanut butter? H: No but it’s a very American thing to like peanut butter. A: Yeah, yeah. Yeah it is. H: So I came to the U.S. and I hated it. Two weeks into being in America, I love it. Love peanut butter. A: Have you ever had like, the Rx bars? H: No. A: Um, ok. M: It’s like a kind of granola bar they call Rx bars. A: But then they make peanut butter and it’s like honey cinnamon flavor and it’s so – you should try it. But my favorite snack is... myself. Well actually, no. I would say, ramen. M: OOOOO. Ramen’s a good snack. A: Yeah, but not like the shy kind that Malena eats, like the fking cup noodle top ramen s*t. M: HEY! That’s good s**t. A: No no no no no. You have to have like shin ramyun. M: That’s good Korean ramen, for those uncultured people out there. Just kidding, I had no idea what it was until like two months ago. H: I had no idea what it was. A: Uncultured. M: I think mine is... I like a solid pretzel crisp and hummus. Um, I mess with that. I also mess with dry Cinnamon Toast Crunch. A: You mess with it? M: You know what. A: You mess with it? M: Ok. It slaps. A: You haven’t had it in a hot minute? M: Um, and then so I like some Cinnamon Toast Crunch. A: Can. M: Some dry Cinnamon Toast Crunch is really good. Oh my gosh they’re making – you guys will get used to my catchphrases eventually. So my last question for this podcast, we’re going to wrap things up, is what makes you feel most empowered? We’re going to wrap it up on a positive note, get everyone empowered on this podcast, our listeners. A: What does empowered mean? Like I know what it means but in what context? M: Mine is my bad b*h playlist. A: In what capacity – oh. M: Definitely. If I’m walking and am having a trash day, and I put on some J Cole, I can walk anywhere, I can do anything. A: J Cole qualifies as bad b*h? M: Like the song that’s like “count it up, count it up, count it up, count it.” A: His songs are so mellow! M: No, some of his songs are mellow, but some of his songs are hype, so his hype songs. Some cupcakKe, I don’t know, Lizzo, anyways. Lizzo’s kinda mainstream. A: cupcakKe, like Deep Throat? M: Yeah. Like there’s a song called Deep Throat by cupcakKe. A: Hannah was supposed to make me a bad b*h playlist but she never did because she was preoccupied. H: So I make bad b*h playlists for all my friends who are sad about boys. A: And you didn’t make me one! I didn’t get one! M: She owes a bunch of people bad b*h playlists. A: I’m sad. M: Update: We all have broken hearts. A: I was sad, where is my playlist? H: I’m gonna make you one. A: Oh but I’m over it now, so there’s no use. H: F**k. M: So what made you feel empowered when you were sad about that? What made you feel empowered afterwards? A: Sammie feeding me bagel bites when I was crying, like on my bed, she brought me my towel. She wiped my tears but I got eyeliner on the towel and then she like fed me bagel bites. She was like “ahhhh.” M: Awww. A: No, I would say singing, for me. Yeah. M: Cause Allison’s a really good singer, hopefully she sings on our podcast one day. Alright, you’re up. Last one. What makes you feel most empowered Hannah? H: Music. But like playing music. So I play the piano. M: You do?! How did I not know this?? A: You do?? H: Yeah! A: Why don’t you play for me? M: See guys? This is getting to know people! H: That’s pretty nice. A: Hey Hannah, what’s your major? M: And on that note, let’s end this before we find out each others’ majors. Thank you guys so much for listening. Tune in in a couple weeks and we’ll have someone else to talk to. This has been Don’t Tell Me Your Major on NBN Audio. Thanks so much. This podcast is powered by Pinecast (https://pinecast.com).

11. 

    7 May 2018

    NBN Sports Presents: the Loop episode #1

    Episode Notes On the first epsidode of the Loop, Charlie Sideles and Rob Konoff talk to freshman football player Ernest Brown. This podcast is powered by Pinecast (https://pinecast.com).

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