Real College Talk

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. We’re dedicating this episode to the victims and affected communities of the El Paso and Dayton shootings. When tragedies like these occur, it’s no time to simply move on - it’s time to lean in and take what action we feel most called toward. So in efforts to #KeepItReal, Real College Talk will be matching any donations that our listeners make to the Dayton or El Paso foundations (or any related funds). To be a part of this movement,  share your support of these communities on your Instagram story with a personal message or screenshot of your donation. Be sure to tag @realcollegetalk and use the hashtag #KeepItReal. Together, let’s do just that. Keep it real. 

In this episode, Morgan brings on a guest who knows a thing or two about leading himself and leading others toward success in college and beyond. Meet Curtis Haley. As President of the DECA Inc. Board of Directors and Director of Youth Development with TeamTRI Leadership Services, Curtis coaches, trains, and mentors the best and brightest emerging leaders in high schools and colleges across the country (2:52). Among the many things that make him unique, Curtis put himself through school at the University of Oregon with $0 in student loan debt and never completed a job application (3:00)! Like many of us, Curtis had no idea what his passions or future career might look like when he was in high school (4:00), but he learned some game-changing life lessons about independence and success early on. From his storytelling of first joining DECA, working on a golf course, running the Obama presidential campaign in three Oregon counties (as a 20 year-old!), and founding his own 501(c)(4) non-profit (www.makepoliticspositive.com) Curtis emphasizes the importance of seeking independence as a young adult (20:18). He reminds listeners that “comparison is the thief of joy” and that the key is to follow A path not THE path (21:10). Curtis closes by sharing what he calls the “Curse of Being Woke” (30:20) - that despite the overwhelming volume of information we have access to and seeming endless life decisions we are faced with, it's never one person's job to save the world (31:45). Instead, what makes a difference is many people staying dedicated to being their best selves and making a positive difference in whatever small or large way they can.   

Real College Talk is a podcast that you won't want to miss! To catch every episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. Be sure to connect with Curtis through Instagram  too (@curtishaley)! We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. For the tenth episode, Nikhil brings in some special guests from his hometown of Salem and RCT’s first twin guests.

Kundai and Kudzai Kapurura are no strangers to success, but it’s even more impressive how close they stayed through all their accomplishments. So it may come as a surprise that they are going in completely different directions for college, but their achievement has stayed constant (0:30). Going through high school as twins was a unique experience (0:53), so they share how that ultimately impacted each of their college and career choices (2:00), including Kudzai’s special early start at Boston College (7:45). The crew takes a break from the important college stuff to introduce a quick (and controversial) speed round on our shared passion of music (13:13). The twins tackle the issue of race in college admissions and society as a whole (17:48) then impart some parting wisdom to high school students (21:11). Stick around to find out how to connect with the podcast’s favorite twins and your favorite co-hosts (22:47).

Real College Talk is a podcast that you won't want to miss! To catch every episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. Tapping into her network from the prestigious United States Senate Youth Program, Morgan introduces Nikhil and the audience to incoming Centre College freshman, Luke Webster. Kentucky's finest recounts his discovery of his passion for swimming (1:49) and politics (4:30). After delving into scheduling (7:00), Luke drops some major news about his brand-new podcast: The Bi-Partisan Podcast (10:22). The conversation gets roped back into exploring Luke's college activities (14:10) and the factors that got him to Centre in the first place (17:52). Luke concludes by reflecting on what he wants out of colleges and drops some knowledge for current high schoolers (24:05). Most importantly, find out how to connect with the Bi-Partisan Podcast (26:50)! Real College Talk is a podcast that you won't want to miss! To catch every episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. For the first time since the second episode, Morgan and Nikhil join forces to interview their good friend, Kenzie Hanson.

Hailing from Minnesota by way of Chandler, Arizona, Kenzie recently graduated from Arizona College Prep and chose Northern Arizona University as her new home (1:03). Everyone knows moving can be tough, and having made that transition just before her junior year, Kenzie recalls how difficult those adjustments were (3:20). She speaks on powering through and making the most of her high school experience despite the major stressors along the way (5:13). Kenzie walks through her deliberations in applying to college (8:45) and how that ultimately affected her current educational trajectory (11:40), potential international employment and study abroad pursuits (12:58), and some activities of interest during college (16:49). She dishes some advice for her 9th Grade self (17:54) and some final words of wisdom for our wonderful audience (22:00)! Find out how to reach Kenzie on all of her social media platforms and follow her promising journey over the coming years (23:43).

Real College Talk is a podcast that you won't want to miss! To catch every episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. In this episode, we talk to Princeton graduate and financial expert, Karin Burkhardt, to ask questions like “Is college for everyone?” “Does it matter where you go to school?” “Is college worth the student loan debt?” and “How can we make the most of our college education?”    With perfect timing, Karin just returned from a trip to the east coast where she toured 11 top universities within 6 days alongside her family (including a rising high school senior!). Karin starts off by sharing some of the biggest takeaways she gathered from the trip and emphasizes the importance of looking beyond a school’s website and brochure to understand it’s in-person environment and personality (1:42). She shares her own approach to the college process (4:05), as well as some tips on what kinds of things are important to consider in yours (4:55). However, Karin also holds the unconventional belief that college is not for everyone (7:00). She encourages listeners to consider the “why” behind their choice to go to school in the first place (6:52). Karin discusses the growing issue of student loan debt (8:55), actionable steps you can take today to consider what schools might justify the cost (9:00), and also offers insight on the importance of looking beyond college stats (10:50) to understand what you’re really getting from a university before submitting your deposit. We discuss the importance of balancing practicality with doing what you love when it comes to work (16:20, 22:20). Finally, Karin closes by reminding us that there is no ONE place that will make you happy and successful. Instead, it’s up to us to make the most of whatever school, job, program, or path we choose (24:50). For more advice that will make you feel both prepared and reassured (model budgets and personalized spreadsheets anyone???), reach out to Morgan via Instagram and ask her to put you in contact with Karin!    Real College Talk is a podcast that you won't want to miss! To catch every episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. This week, Morgan gets together with her longtime friend, Trevor Pearl, to dig into some of the biggest lessons he learned through his own college application experience and first year at Vanderbilt University!    Trevor starts by sharing that while he always knew he’d go to college, it wasn’t until he toured Vanderbilt (2:25) that he started getting real about what he’d want in a university. Trevor acknowledges that while he did wait quite a while to start his college applications, the schools he did apply to were places that he “really really wanted to go to on a fundamental level”. Amidst rising levels of pressure and comparison surrounding the college acceptance process, Trevor offers useful insights and actionable tools to help you rise above the opinions of others and stay true to who you are throughout the journey (6:33).   As Trevor looks back on his freshman year at Vanderbilt, he now sees college not only as a clean slate and fresh start, but also as a “golden opportunity to do something new” (15:00). Trevor urges listeners to be open for growth and new opportunity in college by not clinging so tightly to the interests, habits, and goals that were familiar and comfortable in high school (16:45). Trevor describes what he means by being a “people person” (24:04) in college and how you can be intentional about making the most of your school network. Trevor shares with us some of the habits he’s working to build over the summer in preparation for next school year (30:57) and closes out with some rapid-fire words of wisdom (35:43) that are sure to leave you feeling more equipped that ever for a post-graduation experience that’s truly your own.    To connect with Trevor and follow along with his continued journey at Vandy, follow him on Instagram at @trevpearl. While you’re at it, be sure to connect with the clothing brand @588clothing that he’s founded alongside his brother – website launching soon!   Real College Talk is a podcast that you won't want to miss! To catch every episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. Nikhil takes it back to the long-gone high school days by introducing his classmates and friends Bailey Hittner and Ana Coronado, who share what led them to branch out with their life after high school (0:30). Ana and Bailey tackle the issue of establishing individuality in high school, especially when there’s pressure to follow the mainstream (7:53), and how that ultimately impacted each of their career choices (9:58). They discuss the balancing act of academic and social life, particularly among students who are highly-driven and academically successful (13:05). Finally, they brought to light the negative perceptions that many successful athletes face in the classroom (19:10) and their parting words of wisdom for current high school students (22:57). Bailey would’ve never forgiven Nikhil if he forgot about social media shoutouts so jump to the end to find out how to get connected with @baelizzle (25:30). Real College Talk is a podcast that you won't want to miss! To catch every episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. While Morgan is busy going everywhere we would rather be, Nikhil connects with fellow podcaster and personal development professional Scott Mathie (0:30). Because we talk a lot about college here at RCT, it only felt right to look back at Scott’s college experience (3:25), how it led him to found the “Nix Your Limits” platform, how he broke through barriers in his own life (10:30), and how students can nix their limits (15:35). Scott and Nikhil then shift to a more psychological discussion, where they dive into the prevalence of mental health challenges that high schoolers and college students face surrounding academics and college applications (18:06) before closing with opportunities to connect with Scott’s platforms and their amazing missions (25:00). Real College Talk is a podcast that you won't want to miss! To catch every episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. In this episode/coffee convo, Morgan Heath-Powers connects with recent college grad, Shelby Glaister, on what college is REALLY like.    Meet Shelby - recent graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno and coffee enthusiast. Shelby has her sights set on one day owning her own specialty coffee shop (cool, right??? 3:58), but the road that led her to find that passion was a combination of big lessons learned, both in and outside of the classroom (2:44). Shelby reflects on her own experience applying to schools and what she wishes she would have known before having to give up her dream university for the local state college (10:56). After encouraging current college applicants to consider ALL factors of a school before getting their hopes up, Shelby tells of the big leap she made in transferring to UNR (15:03). There, she found herself in a city and community that supported her personal growth and big dreams. Shelby encourages college students to get a head start on life by pursuing work experience alongside their schooling (8:50); an experience that taught her just as much, if not more, than her classes (6:55). Finally, Shelby discusses the importance of having high hopes and an open mind going into college (26:03), but never at the expense of your personal values (22:01) and aspirations. Her encouragement to stay focused on your studies (26:03) in college assures us all that the social life, fun activities, and inspired career path will fall into place.    Whether you’re gearing up for the college app process, living the college life right now, or already graduated, we’d love you to join us in continuing the conversation. To catch every Real College Talk episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. Give @shelbyglaister a follow while you’re at it and follow her lead by sharing your story on the podcast as well! We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!

Welcome to Real College Talk! RCT is your destination for honest and relevant college and postsecondary conversation. In this episode/coffee convo, Morgan Heath-Powers connects with recent college grad, Shelby Glaister, on what college is REALLY like.    Meet Shelby - recent graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno and coffee enthusiast. Shelby has her sights set on one day owning her own specialty coffee shop (cool, right??? 3:58), but the road that led her to find that passion was a combination of big lessons learned, both in and outside of the classroom (2:44). Shelby reflects on her own experience applying to schools and what she wishes she would have known before having to give up her dream university for the local state college (10:56). After encouraging current college applicants to consider ALL factors of a school before getting their hopes up, Shelby tells of the big leap she made in transferring to UNR (15:03). There, she found herself in a city and community that supported her personal growth and big dreams. Shelby encourages college students to get a head start on life by pursuing work experience alongside their schooling (8:50); an experience that taught her just as much, if not more, than her classes (6:55). Finally, Shelby discusses the importance of having high hopes and an open mind going into college (26:03), but never at the expense of your personal values (22:01) and aspirations. Her encouragement to stay focused on your studies (26:03) in college assures us all that the social life, fun activities, and inspired career path will fall into place.    Whether you’re gearing up for the college app process, living the college life right now, or already graduated, we’d love you to join us in continuing the conversation. To catch every Real College Talk episode, make sure to hit the subscribe button and turn on our notifications. You can follow us on Instagram @realcollegetalk and follow our co-hosts @morgs__anne and @nikhil.vn. Give @shelbyglaister a follow while you’re at it and follow her lead by sharing your story on the podcast as well! We are always working on new content, so be on the lookout for our latest episodes. In the meantime, Keep It Real!