Once In College

A funny but true story from 1988 that painfully reminds us that the moment we think we are close to having it all solved, there’s always that one person who can knock it all back down. A hard reality that was learned by an eager student at a tiny college of art and design in Minneapolis, taking a brutal class that was required to graduate, called Typography 101.

Written by Pete Griffith

Pete Griffith is the Founder and President of Mentum. He’s not THE Family Guy but definitely a family guy (three kids, in fact). He does share something in common with that show – they have both won an Emmy for creativity. In fact, this Pete Griffith has also won multiple international advertising, editing and art direction awards. His approach to any project is simple. He believes the final product not only has to make you feel something, it must make you do something.

As a former creative director for over 20 years at the world’s largest ad agencies, his work for numerous Fortune 500 companies not only gained impressive creative recognition but boosted their bottom lines. But when work meant spending more time away from his family than with them, Pete started his own agency and never looked back.

Find out more about Pete here...

In this episode it's 1980. We meet Jay, a leader in college who takes a dangerous venture into the underworld of narcotics. One that many never escape from. Hear this cautionary tale, a lesson in life not found in textbooks or online lectures - We all do some dangerously stupid things, just to be liked.

Jay Kaskel is a recently retired advertising writer who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is married with one grown son, who lives nearby in Minneapolis. Jay has yet to decide exactly what the next chapter of his life looks like. It will likely include spending more time constructing crossword puzzles, playing tennis, and riding his bike. He is seriously contemplating getting into endurance sleeping.

Jay grew up in Morton Grove, a suburb 20 minutes north of downtown Chicago. The middle child of two other brothers, he attended Niles West High School, where his greatest accomplishment was managing to avoid getting stuffed into a locker.

Find out more about Jay here...

Today on campus, it’s somewhere in the 1980’s. It’s the decade of decadence. On the radio, all the girls just want to have fun, and that includes Whitney, Billie Jean and Jessie’s girl. But we can also include one other girl, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin.

Today we hear the true story of a journalism student who gets hustled into joining a sorority. It doesn’t take long for this smart sophomore to learn just what it will take for her to make the cut. Stay tuned for this secret look into a timeless college right of passage, a lesson not found in textbooks or online lectures – If something feels disingenuous, it likely is. But it doesn’t mean it’s not genuine for someone else.

"Barbies Everywhere" was written by Marie Newman, an amazing woman who served as the U.S. representative for Illinois' 3rd Congressional District from 2021-2023. Besides championing equity for all in Washington, this former congresswoman has also blazed her own trails as a noted author, podcaster, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader and marketing executive.

This is her authentic story, narrated by her, of a decision she was forced to make, once, in college.

Marie Newman is a former congresswoman, nonprofit CEO, marketing executive, author of When Your Child Is Being Bullied: Real Solutions, antibullying activist, former Moms Demand Action spokesperson and national LGBTQ+ advocate. In addition to those roles, she is a mom of two adult children, consultant and podcaster. Marie Newman is known for building movements and solving the toughest problems. Marie’s next book, her memoir, will be released April of 2025, A Life Made From Scratch. Her motto has always been, when you do not see the solution you desperately need, make it from scratch!

Marie has been frequently interviewed on MSNBC, CNN, Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS over the last decade for her congressional work and prior to that, her activism. She has also been interviewed by The New York Times, Elle magazine, Teen Vogue, Ms. Magazine, The New Yorker, Washington Post, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times and other publications.

Find out more about Marie here...

Today we meet a college football super fan, a Florida student who desperately wants to leave his mark at a nationally televised game. And as you may guess, it ends up leaving a mark on him. A rather distinctive mark. 

Hear this cautionary tale, a lesson in life not found in textbooks or in any lectures – Your parents may not know everything, but some of it may save your skin someday.

FAIR WARNING: This episode may make you a little squeamish :)

Written by Pete Griffith

Pete Griffith is the Founder and President of Mentum. He’s not THE Family Guy but definitely a family guy (three kids, in fact). He does share something in common with that show – they have both won an Emmy for creativity. In fact, this Pete Griffith has also won multiple international advertising, editing and art direction awards. His approach to any project is simple. He believes the final product not only has to make you feel something, it must make you do something.

As a former creative director for over 20 years at the world’s largest ad agencies, his work for numerous Fortune 500 companies not only gained impressive creative recognition but boosted their bottom lines. But when work meant spending more time away from his family than with them, Pete started his own agency and never looked back.

Find out more about Pete here...

In the heart of the Midwest, at the University of Illinois, a young music major joins a club on campus. The purpose of the club is to bring in world-renown guest speakers for student lectures and debates. And as one of her first assignments, this young coed is to host one of the most intimidatingly famous women of that era. An icon.

Stay tuned for this true story, two lessons in life the author didn’t learn in textbooks or lectures: One, never be afraid to confront a liar with the truth; and two, bleu cheese is really disgusting.

Written by Lynn LaPlante

Writer, concert violinist/violist, DuPage County Board Commissioner, podcaster, public speaker, community activist, IWIL alum, wife & mom of four. Passionate about the arts, economic development, women’s voices, social justice, & sustainability.

Find out more about Lynn here...

At a small Maryland College, a timid loner digs deep to find the courage to stand up for what he believes in. Only, like with many big decisions, he learns it will come with a terrible cost.

Listen to this inspirational true life story, a lesson from college not found in textbooks or online lectures – The bravest person is often the one that stands up first.

Written by an Anonymous Author

Kevin is a perfectly normal freshman at the University of Iowa who discovers an extraordinary workaround, one that will change his life. That same workaround, however, will cause him to disappear from campus altogether. 

Take a listen to this cautionary tale, a lesson in life not found in textbooks or online lectures – cheaters almost never win.

Written by Pete Griffith

Pete Griffith is the Founder and President of Mentum. He’s not THE Family Guy but definitely a family guy (three kids, in fact). He does share something in common with that show – they have both won an Emmy for creativity. In fact, this Pete Griffith has also won multiple international advertising, editing and art direction awards. His approach to any project is simple. He believes the final product not only has to make you feel something, it must make you do something.

As a former creative director for over 20 years at the world’s largest ad agencies, his work for numerous Fortune 500 companies not only gained impressive creative recognition but boosted their bottom lines. But when work meant spending more time away from his family than with them, Pete started his own agency and never looked back.

Find out more about Pete here...

Once In College is a podcast dedicated to sharing the unique and unforgettable experiences during college. From hilarious mishaps to life-changing events, our true-life stories capture the essence of college life. These are the lessons we learned the hard way, or sometimes the fun way. The lessons you couldn’t learn from textbooks or lectures.
 
Produced by a team of Emmy and award-winning editors and storytellers, these 15-minute episodes are experiences you won’t be able to stop thinking about. True stories that could only happen at a time and age when you’re equally as stupid as you are smart.

Join us as we explore the moments that shaped us for the rest of our lives.