On PrepTalks, Ned Johnson chats with Paul Tough, author of The Years That Matter Most: How Colleges Makes or Breaks Us. In their conversation, Ned and Paul dig into how while higher education is a public good, the system (especially of selective colleges) is designed to help the most privileged members of society get even further ahead.

Follow Ned on Twitter at @nedjohnson and Paul at @paultough.

On PrepTalks, Ned chats with parenting expert Jessica Lahey, author of The Gift of Failure: How The Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed) and Tim Lahey, infectious disease physician and Director of Clinical Ethics at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Ned, Jess, and Tim discuss how parents can balance empathy, resilience, risk management, and maintaining a sense of control while our kids go back to school during COVID-19.

Follow Ned on Twitter at @nedjohnson, Jessica at @jesslahey, and Tim at @TimLaheyMD.

Read Jessica and Tim’s article in The Washington Post, “Back to School in a Pandemic: A Guide to All the Factors Keeping Parents and Educators Up at Night.”

Ned Johnson chats with Meghan Leahy, author of Parenting Outside the Lines. In her new book, the Washington Post columnist offers many concrete (and hilarious!) tips for throwing away the rule book & building genuine connection with your kids instead. 

Follow Ned on Twitter at @nedjohnson and Meghan at @mlparentcoach.

On this debut episode of PrepTalks, Ned Johnson chats with Jeff Selingo, author of the just-published Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions. The New York Times best-selling author spent a year embedded in admissions offices, and through the stories of college staff, students, counselors, & marketers, opens an unprecedented window on the whole admissions ecosystem. A must-listen for anyone with kids applying to college or in US higher education!

Follow Ned on Twitter at @nedjohnson and Jeff at @jselingo.