Does College Matter? Featured Episodes

Believe it: 10 text over the summer can increase college enrollment by 10%. A joint effort between digital creative agency Huge, non-profit Civic Nation & the White House's Office of Public Engagement, UP NEXT is a texting program designed to provide students with guidance on college. Today, you'll hear from a professor whose research on texting inspired the Up Next program as well as a student who used Up Next during her senior year.

The Reach Higher initiative is the First Lady's effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university. In our conversation with Reach Higher's Exec. Director Eric Waldo & college student Darius Wesley, we talk about the inspiration behind the program, the impact that school counselors and mentors can have, and what advice they would give high school students today. 

In our final episode of Season 2, we talk to Mary Daly, "the people's economist," about what roles economic mobility and economic inequality play in education.

In our interview with Isabel Sawhill and Beth Akers, two Research Fellows from the Brookings Institution, we talk about college affordability, why college debt is usually worth it (though it's not without risks), and what advice they would give to a room full of high school students.

In our interview with Susan Dynarski, a professor at the University of Michigan and writer for the New York Times' Upshot column, she dispels commonly held myths about college debt and explains how she stays innovative with her research.

In our conversation with economist Jaison Abel, he talks about the "well-educated barista" and how new grads fare in the job market.

In our conversation with Maddy Maxey, the Co-Founder and President of The Crated, she talks about how she came up with her company's name, her experience as a Thiel Fellow, and why the ah-ha moment is a myth.

In this interview, guest-host Vanessa Ishii (from Stitcher Radio) and Matt Lieber (co-founder of Gimlet Media) explore the world of storytelling, the power of audio, and what role podcasts will play in the future.

In our conversation with Teuila Hanson, SVP of HR, Diversity and Inclusion at the San Francisco Fed, she talks about what's at stake in conversations about diversity and why we need to be honest about our own biases.

In our conversation with Kathleen Mullaney, Udacity’s VP of Careers, she talks about Udacity’s mission, her mentors, and what advice she would give to career switchers and entrepreneurs alike.

In our interview with Steve Davee, Maker Ed's Chief Maker Educator, we talk about the power of play and how he thinks the modern maker movement can impact college. 

In our interview with Tyler Kingkade, Senior Editor and Reporter at Huffington Post College, we ask him about hot topics on campus and his opinion on whether college still matters. 

Scholar Match is a non-profit designed to guide low-income students through the college application process. In our interview with the staff and students from Scholar Match, we talk about what problems they're trying to solve and what kind of impact Scholar Match has on their students' lives.

In our conversation with the CEO of Immudicon, Riley Ennis, he talks about what life as Thiel Fellow was like and why entrepreneurs should always triangulate.    

In our conversation with the CEO of Six Foods, Rose Wang, she talks about the inspiration behind Six Foods, how she learned to push past barriers, and why eating cricket chips could help improve the environment. 

In our conversation with Adrian Rodriguez, SVP of Communications at the SF Fed, he talks about his experiences growing up in the small barrio town of La Puente and how his parents have inspired him throughout his life.

In our conversation with Sarah Green Carmichael, the host of Harvard Business Review's Ideacast, we talk about why she joined HBR, the topic of overworking, and how she stays innovative.

In our conversation with Khan Academy’s charismatic VP of Learner Strategy & Operations, Elizabeth Slavitt, we ask Elizabeth what inspired her to join the team and how she stays innovative.

University of the People is the world's first tuition-free online university. In our interview with UOP's President, Shai Reshef, we talk whether college still matters for everyone and what kind of advice he has for future entrepreneurs. 

We talk to the Co-Founder of Make School – a college alternative for Computer Science majors – about where the idea of Make School came from, his personal philosophy, and tips for entrepreneurship students.  

The charismatic CEO of Schoology talks about how he stays innovative and what advice he would give to first-time entrepreneurs. 

In our interview with the CEO of Remind, Brett Kopf, we ask him about the inspiration behind Remind, his framework for starting a company from scratch, and the impact that an individual teacher has had on his whole life.

From problem solving to ed-tech: sitting down with Google's Chief Education Evangelist

In our conversation with Fernando Santos, founder of Beast Oakland, he shares his story as a former graffiti artist, explains how his professor inspired him, and how he gets his numbers right. Beast Oakland Beast Oakland on Instagram Fernando Santos’ Bio and Profile with The Pioneer Chabot Community College

In our conversation with Trevor Bostrom, co-founder of Vivid Roots, he shares the story behind his apparel start-up, why it was important for them to have a social mission, and  Vivid Roots Boise State University, Venture College University of Idaho Balancing Passion with Practicality: An essay highlighting the investments being made in training entrepreneurs

In our conversation with Aaron Gagleard and Stephen Walden, the co-founders of Bosse Tools, we discuss where they got their idea, what Arizona State University is doing to support their start-up, and the significant roles mentors have played in their success. Bosse Tools The Ergonomics behind the Bosse Tools Shovel Arizona State University's Entrepreneurship Program Stephen and Aaron's Bios

In our interview with the managing editor of EdSurge, Tony Wan, we talk about the impact of technology in the classroom, his previous start-up Lucky Bird Games, and how his degree in East Asian Studies has shaped the work he does today.         Show Notes:  EdSurge.com Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Profile on Tony Tony’s Articles on Fast Company  Tony on Twitter

In our conversation with Nick Loper, host of the Side Hustle Show podcast, we talk to Nick about his views on the value of college, why it’s essential to keep developing opportunities for yourself, and his hypothesis that the next 100 years will be the age of mass entrepreneurship. Show Notes: Nick’s Bio Nick’s Tedx Talk: “The Entrepreneurial Generation” The Side Hustle Show Podcast

SF Fed President John C. Williams shares his views on the value of college, why education is critical for a healthy economy, the importance of lifelong learning, and what it was like to have Janet Yellen as a mentor. Show Notes: President John Williams’ Bio The Value of Lifelong Learning The View from Here: The Economic Outlook and Its Implications for Monetary Policy

In our conversation with Pat Flynn, host of the massively popular Smart Passive Income podcast, we talk about how he manages to continuously evolve his thinking, how he fared during the economic downturn, and what the most important thing he learned in college was. Show Notes: Pat’s Website Pat’s Blog Pat’s Film Debut

In our conversation with Susan Yamada, Executive Director of The Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship, she shares her thoughts on collaboration, whether entrepreneurs are born or made, and what an entrepreneurship degree offers. Susan Yamada’s Bio The Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship

In our conversation with Divya Nag, voted “30 Under 30 in Science & Healthcare” by Forbes, she explains how she deals with set-backs, what compelled her to start Stem Cell Theranostics and StartX Med, and why mentors are so important.  Show Notes: DivyaNag.com Stem Cell Theranostics StartX Med Stanford University’s Entrepreneurship Program

In our conversation with the hosts of the Being Boss podcast, Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson, we talk creative entrepreneurship, doing work that feeds your soul, and how motherhood fits into it all. Show notes:  The Being Boss Podcast Indie Shopography Braid Creative

In our conversation with Mignon Fogarty, Grammar Girl and Head of Media Entrepreneurship at the University of Nevada, Reno, we talk Silicon Valley, how to live (and learn) entrepreneurship, and the future of journalism. Mignon Fogarty’s Bio The Grammar Girl Podcast The Reynolds School, University of Nevada, Reno Other Resources Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers List of Colleges with Majors in Entrepreneurship or Small Business (Saint Louis University) National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship

In our conversation with Mary Daly (an SVP at the SF Fed, who has been described as “The People’s Economist”), Mary shares her thoughts on why a four year degree is still a great investment, how to use a new online tool to calculate your return on college, and just how important mentors are to success.

In our conversation with College Info Geek’s Thomas Frank, he shares his learning journey, the secret to how he paid off his student loans before he graduated, and insights from his book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades.  

In our conversation with the Art of Charm’s Jordan Harbinger, he shares tips on the power of networking, why bringing passion with you is a great career strategy, and when choosing a work experience over a college experience just might be the best route to follow.