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:

December 21, 2021Ep14: Student Athlete Mental Health - Derek Schaedig
Ilona and Joy talk with Derek Schaedig, a senior psychology major and men’s hockey player for Harvard University. Derek discusses his own mental health struggles, and the perseverance it takes to reframe failures and build resilience to hardships.

Key Takeaways:
How Derek challenged the stigma associated with mental health
The importance of athletes and peers sharing mental health stories and struggles
Being a leader and good teammate can also mean showing that you’re struggling
Who reached out first to encourage Derek to ask for help, and why that mattered
Shifting perspectives on failure and redefining success
The three words on Derek’s wall that he looks at every day
You can always handle more than you think you can
Down but Not Out by Derek Schaedig
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22min
December 14, 2021Ep13: Finding Belonging And Purpose In College - Dolores Perales
Ilona and Joy talk with Dolores Perales, who is a recipient of the Young Climate Leader Award through the Michigan Climate Action Network. Her journey through college was not easy, and is also full of inspiration and impact.

Key Takeaways:
How to follow your own path?
Dolores’ passion about the intersectionality between environmental justice and health
Building off past meaningful experiences to help determine one’s major
Navigating the barriers of being a first-generation college student
The tension between wanting to be a role-model for others and feeling like an imposter
The game changers for Dolores - what helped her decide not to drop out
The power of mentoring and being mentored
Advice for taking care of your mental health as a college student

The Michigan Climate Action Network is comprised of more than 70 organizations and 30,000 individuals and partners with many coalitions and campaigns working for climate solutions and justice. The organization’s mission is to connect and amplify individuals, communities, and organizations confronting the climate crisis in Michigan and support them in advancing equitable climate solutions with the urgency science demands for the environment and all that live in it.

The inaugural Michigan Climate Awards recognize Michiganders doing exceptional work in these areas. The Young Climate Leader Award goes to a student or other young person going above and beyond as a volunteer or individual.

One of the many people who nominated Perales wrote, “As a classmate of Dolores', I've learned so much from her, and watch her work tirelessly to fundraise and promote events that educate our community. She is an inspiration and deserves the Young Climate Leader award.”

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33min
December 07, 2021Ep12: Is My Phone Controlling Me?
Joy and Ilona discuss the different layers of social media and phone use, it’s benefits, drawbacks and potential for compulsive use. *How does this play out for you? Where do these enhance your life and where do they do the opposite? Any changes you want to make?

Key Takeaways:
What are signs that your phone is negatively impacting your well-being?
Catching yourself in the moment - as you reach for your phone - as progress in itself.
What is one good question to ask yourself when you go to check your phone?
The connection between your values and intentional phone usage.

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18min
November 30, 2021Ep11: Basking In Imperfection - Sarah Renberg
Joy and Ilona are joined by Sarah Renberg, an honor student with a unique backstory, who has spent her college career reframing her own definitions of success and failure.

Key Takeaways:
How failures become an asset and a measure for growth
Aligning everyday small habits with personal values
Understanding mindfulness as doing your own detective work
Why Sarah faked her college stories for a while
The best thing Sarah ever did in college

About Sarah Renberg
Sarah is undergraduate student at the University of Michigan studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. She tries to bring humor, basic understanding of neuroscience and her own experience living with a brain injury since 2014 to working with Love Your Brain.

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32min
November 23, 2021Ep10: Boundaries And School Breaks
Joy and Ilona offer encouragement around setting boundaries with family and friends around the holidays. Where might you hope to assert a boundary, and where might you consider letting down your guard?

Key Takeaways:
Noticing what triggers come up for you around the holidays
How to respond to unsolicited comments or tensions
Examining the different types of boundaries
How people-pleasing can get in the way
Mindfully noticing why home feels different now

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19min
November 16, 2021Ep09: Connection and Student Leadership - Thomas Vance
Joy and Ilona are joined by Thomas Vance, a first-year law student at Columbia Law School. Thomas reflects on his experiences as both an undergraduate and a graduate student, student leadership, and his focus on maintaining connections and relationships amidst hardship.

Key Takeaways:
Who to lean on when unexpected life events happen in college
Exploring alternative forms of help-seeking
Community building as a reciprocal form of support
Questioning aspects of the resilience narrative
What Thomas wishes he had figured out a lot sooner
What to do if you feel like you’re in too deep as a student leader

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32min
November 09, 2021Ep08: Connecting Or Avoiding
Ilona and Joy discuss the hesitations college students face when wanting to reach out to new people. What can you do to boost your confidence in making friends, and finding the people with whom you truly connect.

Key takeaways
Taking small vulnerable risks in connecting with others
How to be truly present with others instead of in our own heads
Reframing rejection
How to figure out who you click with
What role does alcohol sometimes play?

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22min
November 02, 2021Ep07: Opening Doors: Connecting On College Campuses - Naomi Alvarado And Sanil Mittal
Joy and Ilona are joined by two students, Naomi and Sanil, who share their inside perspectives on navigating college life, making friends, and loneliness.

Key Takeaways
How to navigate campus mental health resources
Advice for first-year students who might be feeling disconnected
How to find your community
How your own openness allows others to feel less alone

About Naomi Alvarado and Sanil Mittal
Naomi Alvarado is going to be a Sophomore this fall. She is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Applied Statistics at University of Michigan Dearborn Campus. She loves to read, paint, play the saxophone, and work with children. She is also the founder of The Unseen United Project and she’s also a child research assistant.
Sanil Mittal is currently a Freshman and an Astronomy and Astrophysics Major. He is also one of the LSA Honor students.

Connect with Naomi and Sanil
Naomi’s Instagram: @naomi.alv_
Sanil’s Book: Ask Me Anything: 17 Answers To Your Questions About US College Applications

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24min
October 26, 2021Ep06: Imposter Syndrome
Joy and Ilona discuss the topic of imposter syndrome. They explore ways students can reframe comparisons with others, and challenge negative self-talk.

Key Takeaways
The difference between perfectionism and high standards
How tracking the facts can help with self-doubt
The bi-directional impact of naming our struggles and failures
What cognitive defusion has to do with it

Resource/Link mentioned
Cognitive Defusion
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19min
October 19, 2021Ep05: Connection and Relationships
In today's episode, Joy and Ilona ask you to consider what kinds of connections and relationships you truly want in college. How do you learn to create boundaries with some people, and take small risks to build deeper connections with others?

Key Takeaways
Knowing yourself: Do you prefer a small number of close relationships, or a bigger group of friends?
The different types of loneliness
How to set small goals, and take small risks when reaching out to others
The value of reciprocity in close relationships

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17min

FAQs about Unlocking College Life:

How many episodes does Unlocking College Life have?

The podcast currently has 35 episodes available.