High School Hamster Wheel

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Dr. Michele Borba to the podcast. Dr. Borba is an internationally recognized educator who has spoken to over one million parents and educators. She is recognized for her solution-based strategies on raising resilient kids, and has appeared over 150 times on the TODAY show, and has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Time, and Dateline. I am a firm believer that her most recent book, “Thrivers, The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine” should be on the bookshelf in every parent’s home. When I am asked what I hope for my boys as they grow up and go out into the world, I often say I want them to be happy and I want them to thrive. But what does it really mean to thrive? Dr. Borba provides that answer along with the 7 teachable skills that set happy, healthy, high-performing kids apart.

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In this episode, I am joined by Dale Troy founder and owner of Crush College Stress, and mom to three young women. Dale’s mission is to help students gain confidence in their ability to handle college by teaching them strategies to reduce their daily stress and enable them to thrive. During our conversation, we talk about how to help teens transition to adulthood successfully and why it’s important for parents to identify potential challenges before their kids leave for college. Dale shares the #1 issue that college students face and how parents can help them get back on track. 

One quick note about the audio quality of this episode… unfortunately, I had an unexpected technical issue with my microphone. So, basically, I sound like I’m speaking inside a tunnel. I’m sorry about that, but don't let that deter you, this episode is packed full of value for parents of teens and young adults.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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Today’s guest is becoming a regular around here and I’m grateful for that! You might remember Jay DuSold from previous episodes of the podcast. From the time that we crossed paths, Jay and I knew that we were on the same page when it came to helping teens and young adults find their way to careers that they will love and stick with. In this episode, we talk about the importance of having our teens do career research BEFORE choosing a path after high school. I’m witnessing so many young people feeling overwhelmed and anxious because they have started on a path after high school but they have no idea where they are headed. That is causing stress and anxiety and they are losing their motivation to continue. During our conversation, Jay shares the six basic elements of a career position and why they are important. Parents, you are going to hear this message loud and clear... we need to learn about and get on board with the changing world of work. We can’t possibly help guide our teens on their journey if we don’t have the most current and relevant information. There’s a lot to unpack in this episode and Jay, as always, provides helpful, actionable advice.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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If you are a loyal listener, you probably know that most of my guests here on the High School Hamster Wheel podcast are grown-ups. But everyone once in a while, if I’m lucky enough, I get to interview a teen or young adult who is doing amazing things. Today’s guest is just that. In this episode, I welcome Luke Harris to the show. At the young age of just 15 years old, as a sophomore in high school, Luke discovered a gap in the way his high school was teaching engineering. So rather than complain about it, he decided to develop his own curriculum for teaching middle school and high school students how to research and prototype solutions. During our conversation, Luke shares how he became interested in engineering and why he thinks problem-solving is like a tree. Stick around till the end when Luke offers valuable advice for young people who want to learn more about engineering. Luke is an inspiration to people of all ages so be sure to invite your kids to listen with you!

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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This episode is a fun one! I’m delighted to welcome Stephanie Silverman to the podcast. Stephanie is the co-founder of Your Teen Media, along with Susan Borison who I interviewed in episode 77. Stephanie brings multiple perspectives to our conversation. Through her role at Your Teen, she is immersed in all things raising teens, and bonus, she also happens to be a mom to three young adults. So she has a lot of experience and insight, both personal and professional, to share. During our conversation, Stephanie gives a great analogy about why parenting is like running your own little business. She also shares what she calls her most defining parenting moment. Be sure to listen all the way through when Stephanie offers the advice she gives her kids when they feel butterflies in their stomachs. There’s lots of great info and quite a few laughs in this episode, so I hope you enjoy it!

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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You may have noticed that I’ve published several episodes lately having to do with college admissions. That's not the norm for me but I thought this one was definitely worth sharing. If you are a loyal listener, I hope you know by now that I have nothing against college but my primary goal with this podcast is to help parents guide their teens as they explore all paths through and beyond high school, whether that includes college or not. My guest today is Kristina Dooley. Kristina is a Certified Educational Planner (CEP) and founder of Estrela Consulting, an Ohio-based independent educational consulting firm. She has more than 20 years of experience working with students from around the world navigating the complex college and school search processes. In this episode, we’re talking about Colleges That Change Lives. You may already be familiar with the book and/or the website with the same title . It’s a pretty cool group of colleges that are definitely worth investigating. Most of them are smaller, private liberal arts colleges, but please don’t let that deter you from at least taking a look. These schools made the list for a reason and you just never know which college may turn out to be the best fit for your teen. During our conversation, Kristina shares valuable advice for parents about the right time to have the financial discussion with your college-bound kids, why you should view colleges like you would a hospital and two very important questions you should be asking those colleges that your teen is considering before they make a decision. I’m a huge fan of the Colleges That Change Lives book and website and this conversation with Kristina really inspired me to encourage my kids to take a closer look at these schools.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge to the show. Dr. Roseann is a mental health trailblazer, founder of The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health and Dr. Roseann & Associates. Her mission is to "change the way we view and treat children’s mental health”. FORBES magazine called her, “A thought leader in children’s mental health”. Her work has helped thousands reverse the most challenging conditions, such as ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, autism, learning disabilities, Lyme disease, and PANS/PANDAS, using proven holistic therapies such as neurofeedback, biofeedback, and psychotherapy. Dr. Rosanne has been featured on dozens of media outlets including Fox, CBS, NBC, FORBES, PARENTS, and the New York Times.

Today we are focusing on something called “failure to launch”. You may have heard me mention that term in previous episodes, but if you aren’t familiar with it, in short it applies to those in their teenage years all the way through their early thirties who for different reasons, typically mental health and medical, don’t launch into the world of adulthood. During our conversation, Dr. Roseann shares some of the primary drivers for failure to launch, how to recognize signs of failure to launch in your teens and young adults before it becomes an issue, and the most important things you can do as a parent to help get your child back on track. Dr. Roseann has decades of experience and wisdom on this topic and it’s a must listen for parents of teens and young adults.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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My guest today is Dr. Samantha Haviland, Executive Director of Career Development and Student Success for Denver Public Schools. Sam and I were introduced by our mutual friend, Joanna Lilley, who’s been a guest on this podcast multiple times. I am SO grateful that Joanna connected us. You’ll hear me say this during our conversation, and I’m only half joking, if I could convince my family to go with me, I’d sell my house and move to Denver so my boys could attend Denver Public Schools. Don’t get me wrong, I love where we live, love our neighbors and love the winters here in Florida, and our public schools here are doing a pretty good job. It’s just that Denver Public Schools, otherwise known as DPS, is doing an amazing job in setting their students up for success after high school. From elementary school all the way through high school, DPS facilitates and encourages students to explore careers and start planning for their future. Their high school students have to complete their “check out” list before they can participate in graduation activities. DPS demonstrates a “we’re all in this together” mentality through their strong relationships with local businesses, colleges and legislators. And they make social emotional learning a priority for every single student in their district. There’s a ton of value in this conversation for parents, educators and anyone who cares about setting kids up for success.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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I’m really hopeful that today’s conversation will bring hope and direction to parents who may be feeling confused, scared or concerned about their teen’s future. Transitioning to life after high school, whether you are headed to college or someplace else, is difficult for most, and for some, it’s just plain overwhelming. Even for those students who seem to have what it takes to succeed academically, they may still need improvement in social skills and executive functioning skills like time management, organization and follow-through. Today’s guest, Lauren Merritt, is an expert in this field and has excellent advice and insight for parents of teens. Lauren is the Chief Operating Officer of College Steps, a non-profit organization that was founded by a clinical psychologist and a special educator with a simple mission: To empower students living with learning and social challenges through structured post-secondary support. Working closely with high schools, colleges and families, they emphasize peer-to-peer services that build confidence and success.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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This week's episode is probably one of the most fun interviews I've done to date. Full disclosure, I have admired my guest and "fan-girled" over her from afar for a while now. I'm beyond thrilled today to be interviewing Susan Borison. For those who may not be familiar with Susan, trust me when I say that after this interview you will want to get to know her. Susan is the parent of five grown children and has decades of parenting experience and wisdom to share. And as if that isn't a huge accomplishment already, Susan is also the founder and editor of Your Teen Magazine. For fourteen years, Your Teen has provided support and encouragement for parents of teens, including me. In addition to the magazine, Susan has launched a website, YouTube channel, multiple courses for parents, and co-hosts a fantastic podcast for parents of teens that she hosts with her friend Stephanie Silverman. (Subscribe today. You're welcome.) And on top of all that, her Working Hard to Raise Teens Facebook group has a highly engaged audience of parents who are actually nice to each other. Imagine that! Seriously though, I've said this before and I'll say it again, some of the best parenting advice I've received has come from parents who have "been there, done that". So, grab your favorite beverage, sit back and enjoy this conversation with my new friend, Susan Borison.

Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode.

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