Dr. Jaz Gray, Professor of Communication Studies, joins RISE Program Specialist Emily Shaw at the RISE Roundtable. The two discuss the power of narrative storytelling in strengthening one’s resilience.

We also hear from three Pepperdine community members, who each share a story that has impacted their perspective on resilience: Hope Dease, Assistant Director of Connection; Young Yang, Seaver student; and Tehillah Mwenya, Seaver student.

Connect with us:

• Email: Resilience@pepperdine.edu
• Instagram: @pepperdinerise
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@PepperdineRISE-fb2vz?si=qtjB7yWoqwsJhte9
• Website: www.pepperdine.edu/rise/
• Recommend a guest!: https://forms.gle/HztkVNgrW85bvvd1A

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• 0:00 Pepperdine community members share a story that has impacted their perspective on resilience
• 4:23 What a narrative researcher investigates
• 6:09 The various mediums of narrative that supported the different seasons of Dr. Gray’s life
• 10:38 The ways in which films can be a place of escape but also a place of empowerment
• 15:35 What happens when there’s no “fairytale ending” or no “ending” at all
• 19:56 Re-negotiating the “ending” and what the “problem” is to begin with
• 24:18 The power of radical honesty in the journey to self-acceptance
• 26:41 Stories you can only experience and not tell; honoring the chaos of a story
• 30:10 Building empathy when storytelling and listening to stories
• 32:35 How marginalized communities and identities can utilize narrative storytelling to build resilience, find community, and challenge systems
• 43:14 The connections between the dimensions of resilience and narrative storytelling
• 52:55 Life plotting as a tool for resilience building and humanizing oneself
• 59:28 When to share and when to not force yourself to share your story
• 1:04:48 Bouncing back and pushing forward

In this episode, Isaac Bonilla, a rising senior, joins RISE Student Lead Ethan Barragán at the RISE Roundtable, sharing his resilience journey to Pepperdine and how he practices resilience skills to support all of his various academic and co-curricular commitments.

We also hear from three Pepperdine undergraduate students, who each share risks they’ve taken and the outcome of those decisions: Julie Joy Oliveira, Andrew O’Brien, and Adrielle Lanae Zindler.

Connect with us:

• Email: Resilience@pepperdine.edu
• Instagram: @pepperdinerise
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@PepperdineRISE-fb2vz?si=qtjB7yWoqwsJhte9
• Website: www.pepperdine.edu/rise/
• Recommend a guest!: https://forms.gle/HztkVNgrW85bvvd1A

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• 0:00 Undergraduate students share what risks they’ve taken and the outcome of those decisions
• 5:08 Isaac takes a risk while applying Pepperdine
• 9:52 Isaac’s Pepperdine Posse strengthens his social resilience
• 11:00 How Isaac manages the many hats he wears at Pepperdine
• 12:10 The power of journaling, “gyming” and leaning on your social support during tough times
• 13:45 Isaac’s one word to describe his journey at Pepperdine: Patience
• 19:00 The toll of imposter syndrome and how Isaac works through it
• 20:50 “Anything is truly possible if you put your mind to it,” AND “Sometimes a door that closes is another door that opens”
• 22:30 How to have a full rest day
• 24:10 Finding rest in community
• 26:00 Isaac de Jesus Bonilla finding his faith journey
• 29:05 A tour guide’s words of wisdom to prospective students

In this episode, Paul Kim, Professor of Screen Arts, joins RISE Podcast Producer Kenneth Vargas at the RISE Roundtable. Paul shares his resilience journey as a member of his family, professor, and filmmaker.

We also hear from three Pepperdine faculty, who each share how they find a sense of deep enjoyment in life: Martin Premoli, Assistant Professor English; Dr. Karie Riddle, Assistant Professor of Political Science; and Kelsey Brereton, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry.

Connect with us:

• Email: Resilience@pepperdine.edu
• Instagram: @pepperdinerise
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@PepperdineRISE-fb2vz?si=qtjB7yWoqwsJhte9
• Website: www.pepperdine.edu/rise/
• Recommend a guest!: https://forms.gle/HztkVNgrW85bvvd1A

In this episode:

0:00 Pepperdine faculty members share what allows them to find a sense of deep enjoyment in life

5:00 Paul shares his background and his journey to discovering his passion for the arts

11:30 How to find a sense of fulfillment from enjoying the process and the experience of making work

17:11 Paul describes his resilience journey as “trial and error”

19:10 Paul shares a recent difficult challenge he’s encountered within his family

22:45 Paul discusses how a difficult experience led to the development of a new perspective on his family and his heritage

29:56 How exercise and cycling has supported Paul in his capacity to be “better prepared” in moving through challenges and in practicing mindfulness

35:20 How Paul support students in honing their craft by creating an environment for them to enter a mind state of “flow” or “optimal experience” and mindfulness

44:49 How to take in feedback and criticism from others on our work or art

47:05 How to combat irrational thoughts such as filtering, perfectionism, catastrophizing, and equating our value with our work performance

56:25 “The other side” of irrational thinking — how we can transform our “weaknesses” into “strengths”

58:44 Remembering to lean on and reach out to your community, the people you trust and who love and care for you

1:06:30 How to stay connected with RISE