Nancy hit pause on her engineering degree and found herself living solo in Palermo, Italy, caring for two kids and soaking in the rich, sensory experience of Sicilian life. In this episode, she shares what it’s really like to be an au pair abroad - from daily routines and bonding with her host family to solo adventures and personal reflection. She also discusses the process of finding a placement through Scotia Personnel, a Canadian agency that helps young people find vetted international opportunities.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How Nancy found her au pair placement through a structured agency

What daily life is like working with a host family in Palermo

The joys of unstructured time, solo exploration, and personal growth

Why a slower pace and cultural immersion can shift your mindset in powerful ways

Honest advice for anyone considering working as an au pair

Resources and Links Mentioned:

Learn more about au pair placements through Scotia Personnel: https://www.scotia-personnel-ltd.com/

Want to plan your own intentional gap year? Visit enroutegapyear.com

Connect with Us:

🎧 Listen to more episodes: gapyearradiopodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

📩 Questions or comments? Email us: [email protected]

💬 Leave us a review to help more gap year curious folks discover the show!

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, Julia talks with Dillon Sheekey, an alum who used his gap year to reconnect with his creativity and develop a deeper sense of presence and purpose. Through three distinct experiences: a semester in the Southwest with ARCC Programs, an immersive art residency at Cow House Studios in Ireland, and a summer job on Nantucket. Dillon explored what it means to live intentionally and grow as both an artist and a human being.

He shares how spending time in nature, disconnecting from technology, and living in a small creative community helped him understand himself in new ways. If you're interested in using a gap year to explore your artistic side, connect with nature, or simply slow down and reflect, this is the episode for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🎨 Why Dillon wanted to prioritize art and creative expression on his gap year

🌵 How his time in the Southwest with ARCC helped him disconnect from tech and reconnect with the natural world

🖼️ What it’s like to live and create at Cow House Studios in rural Ireland

📷 How darkroom photography and stop-motion film became new creative outlets

🧭 What Dillon learned about presence, purpose, and redefining education outside the classroom

🌍 Why the people and places you surround yourself with matter when you’re shaping your path

Resources and Links Mentioned

📌 Cow House Studios

A residential arts program in Wexford, Ireland

cowhousestudios.com | @cowhousestudios on socials

📌 ARCC Gap Year Programs

Outdoor, service-learning, and cultural immersion programs

arccprograms.com | @arcgap on socials

📌 EnRoute Consulting

Gap year counseling and planning support

enroutegapyear.com

Connect with Us

🎧 More episodes at gapyearradiopodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

📩 Email your questions or comments: [email protected]

⭐ Leave a review so others can discover Gap Year Radio

Welcome back to another installment of our Frequently Wondered Questions series, where we answer some of the most common questions about gap years.

Today, we're tackling one of the biggest ones: “Why should I take a gap year?”

But instead of hearing the answer from me, we’re handing the mic to the people who know best: gap year alumni. In this episode, you’ll hear from Aliza, Marco, Journey, Katarina, Andrew, and Luke-all sharing what they would say to someone considering taking a gap year.

These are real students who’ve hit pause, taken the leap, and gained perspective-whether they traveled, worked, volunteered, or just took time to grow. Their voices are a powerful reminder that there’s no one way to take a gap year, but plenty of reasons why you should.

If you’re a graduating senior wondering if now is the right time to do something different, this one’s for you.

Resources and Links Mentioned

📌 EnRoute Consulting:

Need help planning your own gap year? Learn more about working with Julia:

enroutegapyear.com

📌 Featured Guests’ Episodes:

Catch the full stories of this episode’s alumni guests in our past interviews:

Aliza: Season 7, Episode 2

Marco: Season 3, Episode 5

Journey: Season 8, Episode 6

Katarina: Season 9, Episode 7

Andrew: Season 4, Episode 2

Luke: Season 7, Episode 4

Connect with Us

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Gap Year Radio: gapyearradiopodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

📩 Email your gap year questions or comments to: [email protected]

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review—it helps more people discover Gap Year Radio!

Not every gap year takes place before college - and not every gap experience involves travel. In this episode of Gap Year Radio, we explore what it looks like to bring intentionality into a mid-college gap year, through the lens of Connor’s experience with the College for Social Innovation’s Gap Semester in the City.

Like many students, Connor’s college journey hasn’t been a straight line. After stepping away from his four-year degree, his break left him feeling aimless after a while. He knew he needed something different - something more intentional. A friend led him to the College for Social Innovation’s Semester in the City, where he spent a semester living, interning, and learning in Boston.

In this conversation, Connor shares how this experience helped him reconnect with his values, gain confidence, and envision new possibilities for his academic and career journey. From learning how to navigate a new city to developing a deeper understanding of social impact work, Connor’s story is a powerful reminder that growth happens when we step outside of the expected path.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🧭 Why Connor hit pause on college to gain clarity and direction

🏙️ What it’s like to live and work in Boston through the College for Social Innovation

💼 How his internship with Boston Cares helped him build confidence and professional skills

🤝 The importance of community, mentorship, and values-driven learning

🧠 How a gap semester helped Connor reflect, recharge, and reimagine his next steps

Resources and Links Mentioned

📌 College for Social Innovation – Gap Semester in the City

📌 EnRoute Consulting:

Need guidance designing a purposeful gap year or semester? Connect with Julia at enroutegapyear.com

Connect with Us

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Gap Year Radio: gapyearradiopodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

📩 Email your gap year questions or comments to: [email protected]

⭐ If you have a moment, please leave us a review—so more people can discover Gap Year Radio!

🎶Thank you to Kevin Macleod for the use of Quasi Motion in our intro and outro music :Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers dives into the essential topic of budgeting for your gap year. From understanding what your gap year expenses might look like to exploring creative ways to fund your adventure, Julia provides actionable advice for planning a gap year on a budget. Whether you're looking to save, earn, or find funding options like scholarships and grants, this episode covers it all. Tune in for tips on how to manage your finances so you can enjoy a fulfilling gap year without breaking the bank.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

-Understanding your gap year expenses

-Ways to save and earn money for your gap year

-Tips for low-cost and free gap year experiences

-How to approach funding your gap year with a strategic mindset

Resources:

Gap Year Association - Find scholarships, programs, and funding opportunities: gapyearassociation.org

Gap Year Association page on Financial Aid and Scholarships - Check out their list at Gapyearassociation.org

Budgeting Apps: Use tools like Mint, YNAB (You Need a Budget), or PocketGuard to track your spending.

Connect with Us:

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Gap Year Radio: gapyearradiopodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

🌍 Email your gap year questions or comments: [email protected]

✍️ Leave a review so more people can discover Gap Year Radio!

It’s college decision season! If you’re considering a gap year but wondering how to fund it—or if colleges even support it—this episode is for you. Duke University is one of the few schools in the U.S. that doesn’t just allow students to take a gap year—it actually funds them.

Today, we’re diving into a firsthand account of what it’s like to participate in the Duke Gap Year Program, one of the most innovative university-supported gap year initiatives in the country.

My guest, Katarina, was accepted to Duke but decided to take advantage of the school’s gap year funding to design her own unique experience. What followed was a year of pivots, problem-solving, and unforgettable learning.

With Duke’s support, she:

- Backpacked through 15 countries

- Interned at the National Bank of Moldova (yes, she landed that job through a cold email!)

- Summited Mount Kilimanjaro on a last-minute adventure

- Built a global network of friends and mentors—all by staying flexible and open to change

In this episode, we’ll break down how the Duke Gap Year Program gave her the freedom to plan a meaningful year, the challenges she faced along the way, and how she leveraged creativity and adaptability to make it all happen.

If you’re curious about how to balance structure and flexibility in your gap year, or want to hear how Duke is leading the way in making gap years more accessible - this is the episode for you!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🎒 How Duke’s Gap Year Program works & what it provides for students

🌍 How Katarina adapted when her original plans fell through

✈️ The reality of planning a last-minute, multi-country backpacking trip

📩 How she landed an internship at the National Bank of Moldova—by sending a cold email

🏔️ Why she said YES to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro (even though it terrified her)

🤝 How she built a global network of friends & travel buddies along the way

💡 Her advice for anyone considering a gap year but unsure where to start

Resources and Links Mentioned

📌 Duke Gap Year Program – Learn more about how Duke supports and funds gap years: dukegapyear.duke.edu

📌 Eurail Pass – The train pass Katarina used for her 3-month backpacking trip: eurail.com

📌 Hostelworld – The go-to site for booking hostels: hostelworld.com

📌 Gap Year Planning Help – Need guidance in structuring your gap year? Work with Julia at EnRouteGapYear.com

Connect with Us

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Gap Year Radio: gapyearradiopodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

📩 Email your gap year questions or comments at: [email protected]

⭐ If you have a moment, please leave a review—it helps more people discover Gap Year Radio!

In this installment of Frequently Wondered Questions on Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers discusses how to effectively utilize unstructured time during a gap year.

From short periods of downtime to longer stretches at your disposal, Julia offers practical advice on using this time to develop new skills, rest, and even earn money. She emphasizes the importance of reflection, setting goals, and staying organized with time-blocking techniques. Additionally, Julia introduces the 'three P's' – people, place, and purpose – as key factors in creating a meaningful and fulfilling unstructured portion of your gap year experience.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Gap Year Radio

00:15 Understanding Unstructured Time

02:58 Strategies for Short Unstructured Periods

05:50 Managing Longer Unstructured Periods

06:16 The Three P's: People, Place, and Purpose

11:06 Practical Tips for Structuring Your Time

18:58 Concluding Thoughts and Resources

Resources:

Gap Year Webinar March 13: Register at enroutegapyear.com

Gap Year Parent Webinar Series: Register Here: enroutegapyear.com/parents

Bliss bean on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBlissBean

EnRoute Consulting: Julia's gap year counseling service- if you are interested in working together, get in touch at enroutegapyear.com

Connect with Us

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Gap Year Radio: gapyearradiopodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

🌍 Email your gap year questions or comments at [email protected]

✍️If you have a moment, please leave a review so more people can discover Gap Year Radio!

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers speaks with Ben, a gap year alum who integrated mindfulness practices into his varied experiences. Ben recounts his journey, highlighting his residency at Zen monasteries in the US and Japan, a farm stay in Costa Rica, and learning audio engineering. He shares insights into how these experiences enhanced his personal growth, creativity, and approach to college. Listen to Ben's wisdom for advice on incorporating mindfulness into gap years and balancing diverse interests with intentionality and community support.

Resources:

Dharma Gates: Resource for finding meditation retreats: https://www.dharma-gates.org/

The Rec W: Audio Engineering program

Zen Mountain Monastery, New York: https://zmm.org/

EnRoute Consulting: Julia's gap year counseling service- if you are interested in working together, get in touch at enroutegapyear.com

Connect with Us

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Gap Year Radio: gapyearradiopodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

🌍 Email your gap year questions or comments at [email protected]

✍️If you have a moment, please leave a review so more people can discover Gap Year Radio!

One of the biggest myths about gap years? That they’re only for certain types of students. In this episode, host Julia Rogers breaks down this misconception and explores how gap time can benefit students from all backgrounds and academic paths.

From high achievers on the brink of burnout to hands-on learners seeking real-world experience, Julia shares key student profiles that thrive on a gap year, offering insight into why intentional time off can lead to greater success -whether that’s in college, career training, or another post-secondary pathway.

If you’ve ever wondered who actually takes a gap year and why, this episode will challenge conventional wisdom's outdated assumptions about life after high school.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

-Why the traditional “straight to college” model doesn’t work for everyone.

-Six key student profiles that thrive on a gap year.

-How a gap year can make the transition to college easier, not harder.

-Why students who take gap time feel more confident and intentional about their next steps.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

EnRoute Consulting – Learn more about working with Julia as a gap year counselor (enroutegapyear.com).

Connect with Us

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Gap Year Radio wherever you find your favorite pods

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

📩 Email us your gap year questions: [email protected]

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers chats with Abby, a gap year alum and current aerospace engineering student, and her mom, Elena, about Abby’s incredible year of exploration and growth. From volunteering at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand to road-tripping through 10 National Parks, Abby’s experiences shaped her confidence, independence, and readiness for college and beyond.

Elena shares her perspective as a supportive parent, offering tips on researching programs, addressing common concerns, and empowering independence. Together, they discuss scaffolding gap year experiences, overcoming challenges, and why a gap year is valuable for all students, including high-achievers who know what's next.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🌍 How Abby’s gap year journey unfolded across Thailand, East Africa, and the U.S.

🌍 Why structured programs like Pacific Discovery and ARCC helped build her confidence for independent travel.

🌍 Elena’s advice for parents: how to research gap year programs and support independence.

🌍 How Abby’s gap year shaped her mindset for college and prepared her for a career in aerospace engineering.

🌍The value of “being bad” at something—and how it fosters resilience and growth.

Resources and Links Mentioned

Pacific Discovery: Explore immersive adventure and service programs around the world.

ARCC Programs: Offering gap year and teen travel programs focused on global education and service.

Gap Year Association: Resources for planning a gap year, including fairs, program directories, and alumni support.

Connect with Us

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Gap Year Radio: gapyearradiopodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @gapyearradio

🌍 Email your gap year questions or comments at [email protected]

✍️If you have a moment, please leave a review so more people can discover Gap Year Radio!

🎶Intro/Outro Music: Quasi Motion by Kevin MacLeod; licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License More info: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/Global_Sampler/Quasi_Motion/