Main Character Energy

About Main Character Energy

Welcome to Main Character Energy, the podcast from the Career Center at Mount St. Joseph University, where we talk about careers, confidence, college life, and everything nobody really explains about becoming a professional. Through honest conversations with students, alumni, employers, faculty, and career experts, we explore how classroom experiences, leadership, internships, campus involvement, and everyday challenges all connect to career readiness and personal growth. Whether you’re figuring out your next step, questioning your major, building confidence, or just trying to make sense of adulthood, this podcast is here to help you recognize your strengths, tell your story, and realize that you’re already building skills that matter. Own your story. Build your future.

Publisher

MSJ Career Center

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Aug 2026

Latest episode

27 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Oct 2026

   Episode 8: Plot Twist - They Said NO.

   Episode 8: Plot Twist - They said NO! Guest: Casey Cornelius, Founder of ForCollegeForLife Rejection can sting, especially when it comes to internships, jobs, graduate school, or plans you've been working toward. In our Season One finale, Casey Cornelius joins us to share how rejection, unexpected opportunities, and a few major plot twists shaped his journey. As a first-generation college student who was once told that college wasn't for everyone, Casey shares how he went from being rejected by every college he applied to to earning multiple degrees and building a career helping students reach their potential. We talk about imposter syndrome, changing direction, and learning to move forward when things don't go as planned. This Week's Main Character Challenge: Rewrite the Story Take five minutes to reflect on one setback from the past year. Write down what happened and one thing you gained or learned from the experience. You can't always change the chapter, but you can change how you understand it. Thank you for listening to Season One of Main Character Energy! Have an idea for Season Two? Share your topic suggestions, questions, and guest recommendations through the link in our show notes. Own your story. Build your future. A podcast from the Mount St. Joseph University Career Center. Hosted and produced by Christin Reynolds.

2. 

   21 Oct 2026

   Episode 7: Do The Work. Take The Chance. See What Happens

   Episode 7: Do the work. Take the Chance. See what happens. Guest: Austin Barton, MSJ Senior, Accounting Major What does it actually look like to build your career while you're still in college? In this episode, we're talking with Austin Barton, a senior at Mount St. Joseph University majoring in accounting, playing men's volleyball, serving as VP of Student Experiences in SGA, and working as a peer mentor. Austin recently completed an IT audit internship with Ernst & Young (EY) in Cincinnati and accepted a full-time opportunity with the firm after graduation. But getting there wasn't just about what he learned in the classroom. It was about putting himself out there, building relationships, asking questions, and learning to push through moments when he didn't feel like he knew enough. Austin shares what he learned during his internship, how professors helped him explore career options, and why it's okay to feel like you're behind when you're learning something new. He also offers practical advice for students looking to gain experience, even if they're not sure where to start. Whether you're searching for your first internship or wondering if you're doing enough to prepare for life after college, this conversation is a reminder that you can build confidence and figure things out one step at a time. Key Takeaways You don't have to know your path right away. Exploring different classes, talking with professors, and learning what you don't enjoy can help you narrow down what you do want. Your first internship isn't about knowing everything. Austin learned that much of the day-to-day work wasn't covered in his classes. Being willing to learn and giving himself time to practice helped him grow. Imposter syndrome doesn't mean you don't belong. Feeling behind during a new experience is normal. Give yourself time to learn before deciding you're not good enough. Building relationships matters. Austin's internship experience showed him that connecting with coworkers and managers in both formal and informal settings can make a difference. Start small when looking for experience. Reach out to someone you know, ask to shadow a professional, or explore volunteer opportunities. Sometimes the hardest part is simply asking. You can be new at something and still be capable. Austin reflects on moving from feeling behind in volleyball and other experiences to recognizing how much he had grown—and preparing to start at the bottom of the ladder again after graduation. This Week's Main Character Challenge Take a minute to thank a professor who has made a difference in your journey. Maybe they encouraged you to try something new, helped you build confidence, connected you with an opportunity, or helped you realize that a certain career path wasn't right for you. Send a quick email or stop by to say thank you. You never know how much that encouragement meant to someone until you tell them. Keep the Story Going Next week, we're wrapping up the season with a conversation about something we all experience but don't always talk about: failing. We'll discuss what happens when things don't go as planned and how those moments can help us move forward. We're also planning Season Two of Main Character Energy, and we want your ideas! Have a topic you'd like us to cover, a question you've always wanted answered, or someone you'd love to hear on the show? Use the feedback link HERE. Your ideas can help shape what's coming next. If this episode helped you think differently about your own career journey, share it with a friend who might need the reminder, and follow Main Character Energy so you don't miss next week's episode. Main Character Energy Own your story. Build your future. A podcast from the Career Center at Mount St. Joseph University, hosted and produced by Christin Reynolds.

3. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Episode 6: Stand Out. Be Real. Make it You.

   Episode 8: Stand Out. Be Real. Make it You. Guest: Tre' Pickel, Mount St. Joseph University alumnus and Business Development Manager for the Dayton Dragons What do employers really look for when hiring? And how do you turn your college experiences into a career in a competitive industry like professional sports? In this episode, Tre', a Mount alumnus, joins Christin to talk about his career across NASCAR, the NBA G League, the NFL, and Major League Baseball. Now working with the Dayton Dragons, Tre' shares how his time at the Mount, including playing basketball and working game days with the Cincinnati Bengals, helped shape his professional journey. Whether you're hoping to work in sports or simply trying to figure out your next step, this episode offers practical advice for building relationships, gaining experience, and making the most of the opportunities in front of you. Key Takeaways Experience matters. Employers want to see what you've actually done. Part-time jobs, internships, campus involvement, and leadership roles can help you demonstrate skills that go beyond what's listed on your resume. Get involved before you graduate. Career fairs, networking events, student organizations, and community events can help you explore career options, meet professionals, and discover what you enjoy doing. Build trust through the little things. Showing up on time, following through, asking questions, and offering to help others are simple habits that can make a lasting impression on your coworkers and supervisors. Be professional, even when working in your dream industry. If you want to work in sports, remember that you're there to do a job, not just meet players or coaches. Understanding professional boundaries and focusing on your responsibilities helps you stand out for the right reasons. Work ethic means being proactive. Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do next. Look ahead, anticipate upcoming needs, ask questions, and find ways to contribute when your current tasks are finished. Attitude and adaptability go a long way. Plans change, unexpected tasks come up, and sometimes you need to help outside your usual responsibilities. Being willing to step in and support your team can build relationships across an organization. Networking is about who knows you. Knowing people in your industry is helpful, but building genuine relationships and giving people a reason to remember and trust you can be even more valuable. Start conversations, stay connected, and look for ways to build relationships before you need something. You never know where one opportunity might lead. Christin shares how an internship that began as a college requirement eventually led to another internship, a full-time job, and national volunteer leadership opportunities. You don't have to know where every experience will take you to make it worthwhile. This Week's Main Character Challenge Make one networking connection this week. Think about someone you've met through a class, campus event, part-time job, or professional interest. Reach out through LinkedIn, congratulate them on an accomplishment, ask a question about their work, or follow up on a conversation you've already had. You don't have to ask for a job or deliver a perfect elevator pitch. Just start a conversation and begin building the relationship. Remember Tre' advice: it's not just about who you know, but who knows you. Keep the Story Going Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Main Character Energy so you don't miss the next conversation, and share it with a friend who's exploring career options, interested in sports, or working on building their professional network. Main Character Energy Own your story. Build your future. A podcast from the MSJ Career Center, hosted and produced by Christin Reynolds.

4. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Episode 5: Your Next Chapter: Grad School Words of Wisdom

   Episode 5: Your Next Chapter: Grad School Words of Wisdom Guest: Megan Pater, Academic Director of Physician Assistant Studies, Mount St. Joseph University Thinking about graduate school? Before you start filling out applications, there are a few things worth considering. In this episode, Megan Pater, Academic Director of Mount St. Joseph University's Physician Assistant Studies program, joins Christin to talk about exploring graduate school, finding the right career path, and preparing for what comes next. Megan shares her own career path, from athletic training to becoming a physician assistant and faculty member, and explains how her experiences shaped her decisions along the way. They talk about why it's important to get firsthand experience in a field, ask questions, and understand your reasons for pursuing an advanced degree. Megan also offers advice on managing the financial and lifestyle commitments of graduate school, approaching the application process authentically, and learning to handle mistakes and setbacks. Whether graduate school is already part of your plan or just something you're considering, this episode offers practical advice to help you think through your options. Key Takeaways Get some real-world experience first. Shadowing, informational interviews, and conversations with people in the field can help you understand what a career actually involves, beyond what you learn in a classroom or online. Know your why. Graduate school is a significant commitment. Megan encourages students to think about their own reasons for pursuing a degree rather than doing it to meet someone else's expectations or simply to earn more money. Think about the financial and lifestyle impact. Tuition is only part of the cost. Depending on the program, you may also need to account for travel, housing, transportation, and the reality that working while studying may not be possible. You don't need to be a perfect applicant. Megan reminds students that programs want to understand who they are, not see a flawless checklist. Be genuine about your experiences and what you've learned from them. Mistakes are part of learning. Graduate school can be intense, and students may need to adjust their study habits and learn to make decisions with incomplete information. What matters is how you respond, recover, and use the experience to grow. Picture the life you want. Think beyond getting accepted. Consider where you want to be in ten years, what kind of work you want to do, and what you're willing to invest to get there. You don't have to have your whole future mapped out. Megan encourages students to keep exploring, gain life experience, and ask others what strengths they see in them. Understanding yourself can make the next step feel less overwhelming. This Week's Main Character Challenge Spend 15 minutes exploring a graduate program or career you're curious about. Look into the program's prerequisites, learn more about what the career actually involves, or find someone working in the field. If you're interested, consider reaching out to ask about an informational interview or shadowing opportunity. You don't have to make a decision or start an application right now. Just take a little time to explore what's out there and see what you learn about yourself. Keep the Story Going Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Main Character Energy so you don't miss the next conversation, and share it with a friend who's thinking about graduate school or figuring out what's next. Main Character Energy Own your story. Build your future. A podcast from the MSJ Career Center, hosted and produced by Christin Reynolds.

5. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Episode 4: Your Classes, Your Campus, Your Future: Making It All Connect

   Episode 4: Your Classes, Your Campus, Your Future: Making It All Connect Guest: Swati Chopra: Associate Professor of Creative Arts, Mount St. Joseph University Ever sat in class, worked on a group project, or finished an assignment and thought, “When am I ever going to use this?” You're definitely not alone. In this episode, Swati Chopra, Associate Professor at Mount St. Joseph University, joins Christin to talk about why the things you do in college matter long after the semester ends. They talk about the skills students are building in class without always realizing it, what group projects can actually teach you, and why getting involved on campus can have a bigger impact than you might expect. Swati also talks about the importance of building relationships with faculty and taking a more active role in your education. And if you don't have your entire future figured out yet, that's okay. College isn't necessarily about having every next step planned. It's about becoming someone who knows how to keep learning when the next step isn't so clear. Key Takeaways Your assignments are doing more than filling up your transcript. A deadline might be teaching you how to manage your time. A presentation gives you practice explaining your ideas. Even a paper can help you become a clearer communicator. Group projects actually do have a point. They can be frustrating, but learning how to work with people who don't always approach things the way you do is pretty close to what happens in the workplace. What you do outside of class matters. Getting involved on campus can help you find people you connect with, try things you haven't done before, and discover interests you didn't know you had. Don't just go through the motions. Swati encourages students to take ownership of their learning. Ask questions. Go to office hours. Get help when you need it. Look for opportunities that interest you instead of doing only what's required. Get to know your professors. Faculty can be a resource for more than your next assignment. They can offer advice about careers, internships, graduate school, and what it's actually like to work in your field. You don't have to have it all figured out. Careers change. Technology changes. Sometimes your own plans change, too. Being able to learn something new and ask for help when you need it may be more useful than having a perfect five-year plan. Stay curious. One of the best things you can take with you from college is a better understanding of what interests you and what kind of work feels meaningful to you. This Week's Main Character Challenge Pick one assignment you've completed this semester. Think back to what it actually took to get it done. What were you trying to figure out? What part was difficult? What did you have to learn along the way? And if you had to do it again, what would you change? You might find that the assignment taught you more than the subject matter. Maybe you had to work through a problem, communicate with other people, or figure something out when you didn't have all the answers. That's experience, too. Keep the Story Going Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Main Character Energy so you don't miss the next conversation, and share it with a friend who needs a reminder that college is about more than checking boxes on a transcript. Main Character Energy Own your story. Build your future. Mount St. Joseph University Career Center Connect with Christin

6. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Episode 3: Tell It Like It Is

   Episode 3: Tell Me About Yourself: How to Talk About What You’ve DoneGuest: Katie Lake: Senior Talent Acquisition Recruiter, Premier Health Ever been asked, “Tell me about yourself,” and suddenly forgotten everything you’ve ever done? You’re not alone. In this episode, Katie Lake, Senior Talent Acquisition Recruiter at Premier Health, joins Christin for a conversation about how to talk about your experiences without sounding rehearsed or like you’re bragging. Together, they talk about what recruiters actually want to hear, why the impact of an experience matters more than having the “perfect” experience, and how a little preparation can make those career fair and interview conversations much easier. Key Takeaways You don't need a perfect elevator pitch. A simple introduction and a few details about your experiences can be enough to start a real conversation with an employer. Focus on the facts and the impact. Instead of just saying you're a great communicator, leader, or team player, talk about what you actually did, what happened, and what you learned. Your experience doesn't have to be impressive on paper to be meaningful. A class, volunteer experience, clinical, part-time job, or campus activity can give you something valuable to talk about. Let your passion show. Recruiters want to know what actually interests you and what experiences have made an impact on you—not just what classes you've taken or skills you've listed on your resume. It's okay to bring notes. Having your resume, a notebook, or a few questions with you can help you remember what you want to talk about and show that you've prepared. Practice makes the conversation easier. You don't have to memorize a script. Having a few stories and experiences ready to talk about can give you something to fall back on when you're put on the spot. This Week's Main Character Challenge Take 10 minutes this week and write down three experiences you've had during college. They could be a class project, campus job, leadership role, volunteer experience, athletic experience, clinical, or anything else you've been involved in. For each one, ask yourself: What did I actually do?What skills did I build?Why would an employer care? Then say your answers out loud. Don't worry about sounding perfect. You're not giving a speech—you're practicing how to talk about the story you're already living. Keep the Story Going Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Main Character Energy so you don't miss the next conversation, and share it with a friend who could use a little help figuring out how to talk about what they've done. Main Character EnergyOwn your story. Build your future. Mount St. Joseph University Career Center

7. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Episode 2: Your Story, Your Skills: What You’re Actually Qualified For

   Episode 2: Your Story, Your Skills: What You’re Actually Qualified ForGuest: Wendy Riordan: Talent Acquisition & Development Specialist, Q-Labratories Ever looked at an internship or job posting and immediately thought, “There’s no way I’m qualified for that”? You’re not alone. In this episode, Wendy Riordan, Talent Acquisition and Development Specialist at Q Laboratories, joins Christin for a conversation about what employers actually notice—and why students often overlook the skills they already have. Together, they talk about transferable skills, confidence, the value of part-time jobs and campus involvement, and why being qualified is about more than checking every box. Key Takeaways You don't have to check every box to be worth considering. Employers may be looking for potential, foundational skills, curiosity, and a willingness to learn—not perfection. Your experiences count, even when they don't look “professional.” Athletics, volunteering, campus involvement, part-time work, and classroom experiences can all demonstrate valuable skills. Be specific about what you actually did. Instead of simply saying you planned an event or worked on a team, explain your role, your contribution, and the outcome. Sometimes the biggest barrier is the story you tell yourself. Before deciding you're not qualified, ask what evidence you already have that you can learn, contribute, and grow. This Week's Main Character Challenge Find an internship, co-op, campus job, leadership opportunity, or job posting that interests you. But don't ask yourself, “Am I qualified?” Instead, ask: “What evidence do I already have that I could learn how to do this?” Look at your classes, jobs, teams, organizations, volunteering, and other experiences. You might have more to bring to the table than you realize. Keep the Story Going Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Main Character Energy so you don't miss the next conversation, and share it with a friend who might need the reminder that they have more skills than they think. Main Character EnergyOwn your story. Build your future.

8. 

   25 Aug 2026

   Episode 1 - You're the Main Character: Let's talk about telling your story

   Episode 1: You’re the Main Character; Let’s Talk About Telling Your Story Guest: Jessica Schueller, Associate Director, Mount St. Joseph University Career Center What does it actually mean to own your story when you’re still figuring out what comes next? In our first episode, we talk about why the Career Center created Main Character Energy, what career readiness really looks like beyond a resume or first job, and how students are already building valuable skills through classes, jobs, activities, and everyday experiences. We also unpack the pressure social media can create around career timelines and success—and why your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Key Takeaways • You don’t have to have your future figured out to be moving forward. Uncertainty is a normal part of building a career, and your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. • Career-ready skills are already showing up in your life. Team projects, part-time jobs, campus involvement, athletics, and everyday experiences can build communication, teamwork, critical thinking, professionalism, and other skills employers value. • Social media shows the highlight reel—not the whole story. Someone else’s internship, job title, or graduate school announcement doesn’t tell you how many setbacks, questions, or changes happened behind the scenes. • ”Your story matters, and it’s still going to be a good story.” Your career may have plot twists, unexpected opportunities, and chapters you didn’t plan. That doesn’t mean you’re behind—it means you’re growing. Main Character Challenge: Start Your Story This week’s challenge is simple: take 5–10 minutes and answer three questions: 1. What’s one experience I’m proud of? 2. What’s one skill I’ve developed since coming to college? 3. What’s one thing I want to try next, even if it feels a little scary? The goal isn’t to have the perfect answers. It’s to recognize that you’re already growing, learning, and building the story you’ll eventually tell in an interview, on your resume, or in your career. Resources Mentioned • NACE Career Readiness Competencies — The episode introduces the eight competencies used as a framework throughout the season: career & self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity & inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and technology. • Career Center at Mount St. Joseph University — Students are encouraged to use the Career Center as a resource while exploring their path and building their skills. Your Next Step Don’t just listen—put it into practice. Take the Main Character Challenge, share this episode with a friend who might need to hear it, and follow Main Character Energy so you don’t miss the next episode. Next week: We’re tackling one of the biggest myths college students believe: ”I’m not qualified.” We’ll talk with Wendy Riordan from Q-Labs about what employers are actually looking for and why you may be more qualified than you think.

9. 

   17 Aug 2026

   Teaser - Main Character Energy

   Your story matters—and it’s going to be a good one. Main Character Energy, from the Career Center at Mount St. Joseph University, tackles the real questions, awkward moments, big decisions, and unexpected challenges of college, work, and figuring out what’s next. New episodes every Wednesday. Find us wherever you get your podcasts.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

3.4 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

4.0 / 5

4 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.