In today's episode, host Donna Truong answers "What Even is Hanukkah?" with What Even Is...?'s first returning guest - Rabbi Greg Hersh of Temple Emmanuel of Wakefield, MA!They speak about:the Hanukkah menorahthe Hanukkah story that started it allHanukkah meaning in HebrewHow long does Hanukkah lastand more!Prior to graduating from Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Rabbi Greg Hersh earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religion at George Washington University. After college, Rabbi Hersh lived in a Buddhist monastery in Southeast Asia and explored the Buddhist and eastern philosophies. After, Rabbi Hersh found Reconstructionist Judaism and decided to become a rabbi.He now is the rabbi of Temple Emmanuel of Wakefield and works part-time at the Burning Bush Adventures, where he takes Jewish people out in the wilderness.Check out the Temple Emmanuel of Wakefield website (https://www.wakefieldtemple.org/) and the Burning Bush Adventures website (https://burningbushadventures.com/).Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?" Thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as our theme song!

On this episode of "What Even Is...?", host Donna Truong speaks with Cultural Collections and Exhibits Manager of the Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism of Cherokee Nation Businesses Krystan Moser to answer "What Even was the Trail of Tears?"They speak about different Trail of Tears facts, such as:The Trail of Tears timelineThe Trail of Tears storyWhat started the removal of CherokeesThe shady president who started it all - Andrew JacksonHow the Cherokees traveled on the Trail of Tears routeand moreDon't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, DM us on Instagram or email us at thewhatevenispodcast@gmail.com so you can let us know a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"Thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as our theme song!

On this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with Ohio State University professor Dr. John Low to answer "What even are Native American Reservations?". In this episode, they discuss:what Native American/Indian reservations arepoverty on Native American reservationswhere are some Native American reservations todaydifferent issues that Native Americans face todayand more!Dr. John Low earned his Ph.D. In American culture at the University of Michigan, is the director of the OSU Newark Earthworks Center, is an enrolled citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, and serves as a member of his tribe’s Traditions and Repatriation Committee.Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, DM us on Instagram or email us at thewhatevenispodcast@gmail.com so you can let us know a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"Thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as our theme song!

In this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with crystal expert and entrepreneur Chioma Gathoga-Ogbuike to answer "What Even are Crystals?" They speak about different things like:what are crystalshow do you cleanse or charge a crystaldifferent types of crystals and their properties and meaningscrystals for beginners informationand more!Find Chioma on:Instagram @therealfinessegoddessEmbody Divinity Shop https://www.finessagalleria.com/shopHer website https://www.finessagalleria.com/Twitter @etherealchiomaGet 10% off at Chioma’s online store with code WHATEVENIS-CRYSTALS until November 17, 2021. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, DM us on Instagram or email us at thewhatevenispodcast@gmail.com so you can let us know a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In this bonus episode, listeners and I tell our paranormal experiences to celebrate this Halloween season! Hope you guys enjoy!

In this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with the investigators of the paranormal investigation group Paranormal New England - Julie Finn, Scott Hebert, and Monique Geyser.This episode goes over:their scariest encounter with ghostswhat people are susceptible to hauntingsparanormal investigation equipmentParanormal New England's most convincing evidencewhy they got into paranormal investigationpsychic mediumship and empathsand more!Julie Finn has been investigating the paranormal throughout U.S. and international locations for over 10 years.  She is now an investigator with Paranormal New England and also the YouTube channel Paranormal  Roadtrip.Massachusetts native Scott Hebert is an investigator with Paranormal New England and is the creator of the YouTube channel Paranormal  Roadtrip, which documents his investigations of some of America’s most haunted locations.Learn more about Paranormal New England on their:Website  https://paranormalnewengland.com/Instagram @paranormal_NEYoutube Paranormal NewEnglandFacebook Paranormal New EnglandDon't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, DM us on Instagram or email us at thewhatevenispodcast@gmail.com so you can let us know a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with the paranormal investigation group Supernatural, Paranormal, Investigations, Research, Intuitive, Truth Society (SPIRITS) of New England investigators Ellen MacNeil and Jack Kenna. This episode goes over:their scariest encounter with ghostswhat people are susceptible to hauntingsparanormal investigation equipmentSPIRITS of New England's most convincing evidencewhy they got into paranormal investigationand more!SPIRITS of New England aims to help those who are affected by potential paranormal forces. To see their services and learn more about the team, visit their website http://www.spiritsofnewengland.org and/or visit their Facebook page.Ellen MacNeil is a co-founder, lead investigator, and case manager of SPIRITS of New England and has appeared on Haunted Case Files and A Haunting.Jack Kenna is an investigator and tech specialist of SPIRITS of New England and has written SPIRITS of New England: Hauntings, Ghosts, and Demons, Paranormal Research: Building a Strong Team, and comic book series S.P.I.R.I.T.S. - The Forgotten Souls of Bay Path. He also appeared in Paranormal Survivor, Haunted Case Files, Haunted Hospitals, and A Haunting.Take a look at Jack's books:SPIRITS of New England: Hauntings, Ghosts, and Demons on AmazonParanormal Research: Building a Strong Team on Amazon or Barnes and NobleS.P.I.R.I.T.S. - The Forgotten Souls of Bay Path on Amazon or Barnes and NobleDon't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, DM us on Instagram or email us at thewhatevenispodcast@gmail.com so you can let us know a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In this truly spooktacular episode, host Donna Truong speaks with psychic medium Jessenia Nozzolillo. They discuss:What are psychic mediumsDifferent types of gifts that souls haveReincarnationHer experiences as a psychic mediumWhat happens after we dieHow she had to deal with demonsAnd more!Jessenia Nozzolillo is a 5th generation psychic medium. She also has many other gifts such as telepathy, animal communicator, empath, akashic records reader, and more! She also has courses that help spiritual development. She is also the author of the books Spiritual Development with the New England Psychic Medium and Creation. Find her on:Her website: https://www.jessenianozzolillo.com/Instagram: Soul_Architect_JesseniaTikTok: Soul_Architect_JesseniaYouTube: Soul Architect JesseniaFacebook: Soul Architect JesseniaDon't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, DM us on Instagram or email us at thewhatevenispodcast@gmail.com so you can let us know a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

Welcome to the What Even Is...? October Spooktacular where we talk about all things mystical, magical, and/or just plain misunderstood. In this episode, host Donna Truong talks with Salem Witch Museum Director of Education Rachel Christ about the Salem Witch Trials. They touch upon the following topics and more:Why did the Salem Witch Trials happenHow did the Salem Witch Trials beginSalem Witch Trial victimsWitch history in the United States and EuropeWhy did the Salem Witch Trials endRachel Christ has received her Bachelor of Arts in History at Clarks University and her Masters of Arts in History and Museum Studies at Tufts University. She currently works as the Director of Education at the Salem Witch Museum.Thank you to Jennifer Nakhai and Kimphuong Nguyen for suggesting this episode!Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, DM us on Instagram or email us at thewhatevenispodcast@gmail.com so you can let us know a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK) Clinical Manager Joyce Kao. In the discussion, they talk about:How is domestic violence definedRed flags in partners to avoidWhy is it hard for some domestic violence survivors to leaveHow to help someone who you think may be experiencing domestic violenceHow does a survivor get helpAnd more.Joyce Kao earned her Master's degree in Social Work at Springfield College. She worked as a social worker at the Garden of Hope in Taiwan with domestic violence survivors. When she moved to the United States, she started working at ATASK as a Chinese Advocate/Case Manager and was promoted to her current position as Clinical Manager of the Asian Shelter and Advocacy Programs at ATASK.ATASK is a nonprofit organization that serves pan-Asian domestic violence survivors and provides services in Greater Boston and the Greater Lowell communities and limited services to other towns and cities in Massachusetts and New England.To check out their services, visit their website www.atask.org.To help out the ATASK organization, gift them something from their Amazon wishlist, which you can find here.If you're experiencing domestic violence and ATASK does not suit your needs, you can also contact the National Domestic Violence hotline:1-800-799-SAFE (7233)TTY 1-800-787-3224 If you cannot speak safely, you can online chat at www.thehotline.org.A huge thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as his theme song!Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, DM us on Instagram or email us at thewhatevenispodcast@gmail.com so you can let us know a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with Dr. Avinash Singh about "What even is the Caste System in India?" Dr. Singh explains:How did the caste system beginThe different castes - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Dalits (Untouchables)How are people categorized into these castesEffects of caste system in contemporary India And more!Dr. Avinash Singh grew up in India and has experienced the caste system firsthand. He went to Panjab University and earned his Ph.D. in English Literature and later went to  Brandeis University and earned his Ph.D. in History with a specialty in Modern South Asia. He currently works as a history, South Asian studies, and  International and Global Studies Program professor at his alma mater Brandeis University.A huge thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as his theme song!Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with wedding planner Alexis Eliopoulos O'Mara on "What even is it like to plan a wedding?"In this episode, some of the topics they go over are:tips on how to plan a wedding on a small budgetwedding ceremony costhow to plan a destination weddingbriefly go over a wedding planning checklistwedding planner responsibilitieswedding planner costand more!Alexis Eliopoulos has been wedding planning for 18+ years and is a Master Wedding Consultant, which has been earned by only about 100 wedding planners worldwide.  She also was a former president of the Boston Wedding Group and is a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants, the National Association of Catering and Events, and the Better Business Bureau.Note from host: "Alexis clearly knows what she's talking about and I only interviewed her for this episode but based on this conversation, I would trust her with my wedding."Learn more about her services, visit her wedding weddingsbyalexis.com.And, check out her social media:Instagram @weddingsbyalexisTwitter: @nostressweddingPinterest Unique Weddings by AlexisFacebook Unique Weddings by AlexisA huge thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as his theme song!Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

On this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with Jennifer Nakhai LICSW of Aeon Counseling to discuss "What Even is a Healthy Relationship?" where they go over:Healthy relationship characteristicsHealthy vs unhealthy relationshipsWhat is needed to build a healthy relationshipRebuilding trust in a relationshipAnd more!Jennifer Nakhai has earned her Masters in Social Work from Simmons College and has furthered her education in social work in multiple programs in establishments like Harvard Medical School, Wheelock College, and University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has been in the social work and counseling realm for more than 10 years and has nurtured her practice with Spanish-speaking populations. She is also the Founding Owner and Executive Director of Aeon Counseling.To learn more about her private practice, visit https://getaeonhelp.com/.Find her on:Instagram @aeoncounselingFacebook Aeon Counseling & ConsultingYouTube Aeon Counseling & ConsultingA huge thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as his theme song!Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In this episode of "What Even Is...?", host Donna Truong speaks with an organ transplant recipient Megan Cairns about "What even is it like to be an organ donation recipient?" Please be aware that there are many different types of organ donation. Megan is only speaking about her experience with her kidney transplant.Check out Megan's Instagram @megancairns and her blog: https://mcairnsfundraising.wixsite.com/cairnsandherkidney.A huge thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as his theme song!Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In this episode, host Donna Truong asks Your Money BFF Money Coach Lindsey Cassell "What Even is Stock Investing 101?" Basically, an episode about investing in stocks for beginners.They discuss a multitude of topics like:What is a stock market?How does the stock market even work?What is an index fund?What is a mutual fund?How to start investing?Investing for beginners booksLindsey Cassell is a money coach that helps 20-30 somethings become financially secure through investing.Check out her free workshop "How to Grow Your Money Through Investing WITHOUT Spending Years Figuring Out Where to Start": https://your-money-bff.mykajabi.com/invest Find her on:Instagram @your_money_bffTik Tok @your_money_bffA huge thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as his theme song and Amanda Pech and Veronica Uk for this topic podcast and for their input to this episode!Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

Confused about what a music producer does? Have no fear, music producer Bryan Hinkley speaks with host Donna Truong to answer: "What even is a music producer? What do music producers do?" In this episode, some topics that they go over are:the responsibilities of music producerswhat music producing software and tools are used by music producershow music affects the mood, memory, and bodyBryan Hinkley is a Boston-based music producer who has been in the music industry for decades. He started his music career in the 7th grade when he joined a band with his friend and their teacher. In high school, he joined the punk rock band Tree. Since then, he has recorded multiple albums, worked with bands Clutch and Gang Green, has toured internationally, and worked as a stage manager, tour manager, and guitar tech. Not only that, he has also written and produced his own songs in EP "We Live Through It." In addition, Bryan founded the music production house Gratitude Sound, where the main focus is advertising music. He even won a Clio Award for best original music in a Cheerios commercial. And, that's not even half of this man's credentials!Interested in working Bryan's music production house Gratitude Sound? Check out their website:  https://www.gratitudesound.com/Wanna learn more about Bryan's personal music? Take a look at his website: https://www.bryanporterhinkley.com/And of course, find him on his social media on:Spotify Bryan Porter HinkleyInstagram @bryanporterhinkleyTwitter @bryan_hinkleyFacebook Page Bryan Porter Hinkley MusicYouTube Bryan Porter HinkleyDon't forget to rate, review, and follow the podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?" Thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as our theme song!

In this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with Oak Tree Learning Center's Executive Director and host of Mrs. C's Podcast for Parents, Teachers, and Administrators Jennifer Carter. In this insightful conversation, we learn about the differences between daycares and preschool, preschool education including what activities are done in her preschool, and touch on what her preschool curriculum is, preschool age, and what is universal preschool. We even get some parenting gems from Jennifer!Jennifer Carter is a former teacher who has a background in educational research and curriculum development for early childhood to adult education. She is currently the Executive Director of Oak Tree Learning Center located at San Bernardino, CA and Los Angeles, CA. She also hosts the podcast: Mrs. C's Podcast for Parents, Teachers, and Administrators.Visit Jennifer's preschool website: https://www.oaktreelearningcenter.com/And/Or follow the preschool's social media:Instagram @oaktreelearningcenterFacebook Oak Tree Learning Center in San Bernardino, CAYouTube Oak Tree at HomeYelp Oak Tree Learning CenterPinterest OakTreeLearningDon't forget to rate, review, and follow the podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"A huge thank you to Amalie Ducasse for inspiring me to do this episode!Thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as our theme song!

First-time home buyer and don't know where to start? No worries because this is the episode for you! In this episode, we speak with Realtor & Real Estate Investor John Bernabel to answer the question "What even is it like to buy a house?"Some of the things we go over are:the requirements to buying a house in Americathe steps of buying a housethe difference between a realtor and a real estate agentwhat should you look for in a realtor and real estate agentFind John Bernabel on his Instagram @ohjohny for some real estate tips and content.A huge thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as his theme song and Amanda Pech and Veronica Uk for giving us this topic idea for this episode.Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In this episode, host Donna Truong speaks with Cambodian Culture Expert Dr. George Chigas to answer the question "What even is the Khmer Rouge?" where they speak about the Cambodian Genocide, the Khmer Rouge history, the Khmer Rouge meaning, how the Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot came into power, why did the Khmer Rouge kill intellectuals and more.Dr. George Chigas grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, which currently holds the second-largest Cambodian population in the United States, during a time many Southeast Asians - particularly Cambodians - were seeking refuge from the war and turmoil that was occurring in their countries. It was then his interest in Cambodian culture was sparked.After receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Classical Studies at Tufts University, Dr. Chigas spent some time in refugee camps along the Thai/Cambodian border, received his Master's degree in Asian Studies at Cornell University, and his Ph.D. in Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.  In addition, Dr. Chigas was a former Associate Director of the Cambodian Genocide Program at Yale University and is currently an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Clearly, this man is a big deal. He even has his own Wikipedia page!A huge thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as his theme song and Amanda Pech and Veronica Uk for giving us this topic idea for this episode.Don't forget to rate, review, and follow this podcast! And, follow us on Instagram to get updated on our latest episodes and have easy access to DM us about a topic that makes you wonder "What even is that?"

In the last episode of this season, Malden Islamic Center Mosque Youth Leader Mohamed Chouiki discusses the Islamic religion with host Donna Truong. They discuss the Islam religion history, Islam beliefs and practices, the 5 Pillars of Islam, Ramadan, and more!Learn more about Mohamed's mosque Malden Islamic Center on visiting their website: http://www.maldenislamiccenter.org/To learn more about the Islamic religion, email the mosque at info@maldenislamiccenter.org.And, check out Mohamed's YouTube Channel If Oceans Were Ink by clicking here.Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @thewhatevenispodcast and subscribe to the podcast to get a heads up when season 2 is released. Oh, and please rate and review the podcast! It will be much appreciated!Thank you to Joseph McDade for letting us use his song Elevation as our theme song!