Unlocking College Life

By Ilona Phillips and Joy Pehlke

Welcome to Unlocking College Life!

Real talk about all things college -- the good, the bad, the messy, the complicated, all of it. And you get to participate! Our show incorporates what you have to s... more

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FAQs about Unlocking College Life:

How many episodes does Unlocking College Life have?

The podcast currently has 35 episodes available.

Unlocking College Life episodes:

May 23, 2022 Ep34: Brief Episode: Closing Out This Season
Joy and Ilona wrap-up the season by reflecting on the many students who joined the show to share their college experiences. The hosts are grateful for the bravery and vulnerability of each guest and hope each episode will continue to help listeners feel less alone in their struggles and paths throughout college.
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7min
May 03, 2022Ep33: Navigating Multiple Identities & Safe Risk-Taking In College - Mel Selber
Joy and Ilona welcome guest Mel Selber, who is a graduating senior at the University of Michigan. Mel talks about how she redefined who she is over the course of her college experience, and how continuing to take small risks played a role.

Key Takeaways:
Internalized beliefs about who we are
Imposter syndrome
Straddling two identities, while not belonging to either one
The experience of being othered
Discomfort leading to clarity
Mel’s secret for making new things less nerve-wracking
Challenging preconceived notions
Finding new ways to fail safely
Distinguishing between helpful vs unhelpful anxiety

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29min
April 26, 2022Ep32: Medical School & Disability Advocacy In Health Care - Kate Panzer
Ilona and Joy welcome guest Kate Panzer, who is a 2nd-year medical student at the University of Michigan. Kate followed the pre-med track at the University of Pennsylvania as an undergrad where she developed an interest in disability health through learning American Sign Language (ASL). She is now integrating her interest in disability health into her experience in medical school.

Key Takeaways:
The pre-med track in undergrad
The decision to take two gap years before med school
Why Kate ended up taking 4 semesters of ASL
From theory to hands-on learning with physicians
Getting to see medicine in different environments
How Kate balances the rigor of medical school with social life
Exploring disability advocacy in health care
The importance of keeping an open mind throughout college

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25min
April 19, 2022Ep31: The Power Of Student Government - Merry Gebretsadik
Joy and Ilona are joined by Merry Gebretsadik, a first-generation student studying political science and ethnic studies at Colorado State University. Merry outlines her path at CSU from a disconnected first-year student to ultimately being elected as the Vice President of Student Government (ASCSU).

Key Takeaways:
Navigating a PWI as a black female student
Leaning on mentors and advisors
Importance of putting yourself out there
Challenging non-inclusive student spaces
From student senator to Vice President
Merry’s “first” in ASCSU history
The power of the student's voice
The concept of reverse time management
Radical inclusion & continuous outreach as a leader

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30min
April 12, 2022Ep30: The Music School Experience - Senaida
Ilona and Joy are joined by Senaida, a student at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute for Recorded Music. Senaida talks openly about her experiences as a musical artist, and the challenges she went through to find her unique artistry now. She says: “My art is my life, and my life is always a work in progress.”

Key Takeaways:
The high pressure of performing
Why Senaida developed stage fright
Accepting limitations
Finding her creative place in the music industry
How Senaida made her college choice
The pros and cons of competition
Meditation, spirituality, and musical expression
The process of accepting that something is “good enough”
The power of therapy
Remembering to slow down

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25min
April 05, 2022Ep29: A College Student Against All Odds - Todd Perry
Joy and Ilona talk with Todd Perry who never imagined he would be a college student. This episode is especially for those who have struggled with addiction and don’t believe college is a possibility. Todd had behavioral issues as a young person, and a traumatic upbringing. He lived through years as an addict, and eventually broke the cycle of drug and alcohol addiction. With essential help from others, Todd is now a social work student and a peer-support specialist for the Spartan Recovery Program at UNC Greensboro.

Key Takeaways:
Power of shame
The court-appointed attorney who saw something in Todd
What happened when he went to treatment
The recovery community - a different type of love and compassion
Dedication to helping others - being part of something bigger than himself
How to help college students who are struggling with drinking and/or other drugs
The possibility of being on prescription medication while in recovery
If you are wondering about recovery on your campus, Todd shares some advice

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26min
March 29, 2022Ep28: Relationships And Hook-up Culture In College - Emma Abed
Joy talks with Emma Abed, a graduate student at the University of Michigan, about the varied types of relationships in college, and why they can get complicated. Joy and Emma also explore the pros and cons of hookup culture in the college environment.

Key Takeaways:
Relationships, gender, and sexuality in college
Exploring one’s own sexuality
Why shame can shut down conversations about sex
Clarifying boundaries in intimate relationships and friendships
Tools to set boundaries with others
Expectations of hook-up culture
Pros and cons of putting a label on a relationship
Ghosting and why it backfires
Considering the four quadrants of relationships

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26min
March 22, 2022Ep27: Finding Purpose In An Unexpected Place - Piers Donald
Joy and Ilona are joined by Piers Donald, a senior at the University of Redlands in California. They follow Piers’ story of determination to play basketball in college, being cut from the team and having to build his identity back up through sobriety and a student job opportunity.

Key Takeaways:
The trials and errors in college to find one’s purpose and passion
Internal reckoning of getting cut from the basketball team
Dealing with failure associated with an identity crisis
The deeper reasons for drinking - red flags to look out for
Why therapy helped through his recovery
The dangers of chasing external sources of happiness
Finding his passion for event planning through a student job opportunity
Advice for connection: ask people what they’re passionate about

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27min
March 15, 2022Ep26: Finding Their Way as a First Generation, Low-Income Student - Mase Peterson
From the promise of a no-tuition college in Kentucky to a community college in Maine to Amherst College. Mase Peterson talks with Ilona and Joy about the double-edged sword of striving for an elite college education as a first-generation, low-income student.

Key Takeaways:
Reaching for your ambitions at a variety of schools
The “first-generation, low-income student complex” - internalized messaging about success
No-Tuition colleges
The concept of a chosen family
College mentors who believe in you
The pros and cons of an elite education
Importance of gender and sexuality conversations in college
Finding belonging with identity-based student groups

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28min
March 08, 2022Ep25: Unpacking FOMO And Trusting Your Gut - Jonah Jacobs
Ilona and Joy talk with Jonah Jacobs, a fellow podcaster and recent graduate of the University of Michigan. Jonah is passionate about normalizing the mental health struggles of men and describes how he worked through the ongoing tensions between his insecure self and his authentic self in college.

Key Takeaways:
Noticing insecurity in oneself
People-pleasing – caring way too much about what other people think
Drinking behaviors that don’t align with one’s values
The pressure to keep up the party-guy facade
What to do about the Sunday scaries
Jonah’s challenge to you about FOMO
The importance of taking a mental health inventory
How to identify values to live your life by
Find more from Jonah on the Take It On Podcast

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33min

FAQs about Unlocking College Life:

How many episodes does Unlocking College Life have?

The podcast currently has 35 episodes available.