Podcasts about Lumina Foundation

In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Jamie Merisotis, CEO of the Lumina Foundation, about the evolving landscape of work and education in the age of artificial intelligence. As industries rapidly adopt AI technologies, Jamie shares insights on how human work is transforming and the crucial role of credentialing in ensuring economic prosperity. The conversation highlights the importance of redefining educational goals to include not only degrees but also valuable credentials that align with the demands of the modern workforce. Tune in to explore how AI is reshaping professions, why empathy and human skills remain essential, and how Lumina Foundation's ambitious goal aims to have 75% of the U.S. workforce equipped with meaningful credentials by 2040. This episode is a must-listen for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of work and education. Outline  (00:00) Introduction and Key Questions (02:29) AI's Rapid Adoption and Implications (07:38) Future of Work and Job Displacement (10:58) Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI (13:19) Higher Education's Role in the AI Era (18:22) Redesigning Higher Education (23:14) Lumina Foundation's Future Goals (26:38) Conclusion and Acknowledgements Links: Watch the full video here Read the full blog here Jamie Merisotis LinkedIn Lumina Foundation New Lumina Vision Human Work in the Age of Smart Machines Diverse Teams Smart Tools Blog National Council for Workforce Education

What does it take to transform education and workforce systems in a way that truly reflects local needs? In this episode, we explore the Talent Hub designation—a model-agnostic standard recognizing excellence in cross-sector partnerships at the local, regional, and state levels. Born from Lumina Foundation's work with 75 pioneering partnerships, Talent Hubs represent a new way of thinking about collaboration. National thought leader Dakota Pawlicki joins us to share lessons learned, practical strategies for scaling what works, and bold ideas for the future of talent development partnerships.Voices of Excellence in Episode 58:Dakota Pawlicki, Director of TalentHubs at CivicLab | LinkedInResources for Episode 58:TalentHubs from Civic LabsTranscript and Show Notes (PDF)Work Ready Communities from ACTWorkKeys Workforce SolutionsEpisode 4 on Strategic Doing with Ed MorrisonEpisode 10 overview on Work Ready Communities

Public confidence in colleges and universities has dropped dramatically—only a third of Americans say they trust higher education. In this episode, Dr. Drumm McNaughton talks with Dr. Courtney Brown, Vice President of Strategic Impact and Planning at Lumina Foundation, about Gallup–Lumina's latest findings and what institutional leaders must do to address the affordability and workforce relevance concerns behind this erosion of trust. They also explore Lumina's new 2040 goal: 75% credential attainment—with a focus on value, not just completion. What we cover in this episode: Gallup data on declining public trust in higher education The ROI paradox: affordability vs. long-term economic benefit Why public perception is shifting—even as current students see value What Lumina's 75x2040 goal means for institutional strategy How colleges can realign offerings to workforce expectations Supporting adult learners and restoring trust through transparency Read the full show summary and access the transcript here: https://changinghighered.com/public-trust-in-higher-education-lumina/ #HigherEducation #CollegeAffordability #CollegeROI About Our Guest Dr. Courtney Brown is Vice President of Strategic Impact and Planning at Lumina Foundation. She leads research, learning, and strategic initiatives aimed at increasing access to quality credentials for all Americans. About the Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton is CEO of The Change Leader and host of the Changing Higher Ed podcast. He works with higher education boards and leadership teams to improve governance, lead strategic transformation, and navigate accreditation and institutional effectiveness.

In this episode of Work in Progress, I'm joined by Jamie Merisotis, president & CEO of Lumina Foundation, to discuss the foundation's goal to help more Americans obtain a credential beyond high school, one that leads to lifelong economic stability and prosperity. One of the core principals of Lumina Foundation's mission is the idea that "education should remain accessible, valuable, and align with today's workforce needs." In 2008, Lumina set a goal of 60% of working-age adults with college degrees, certificates, or industry-recognized certifications by 2025. Today, the number of adults with one of those credentials of value has risen from 38% to 55%. "It's one of the greatest social progress examples that we can see in the last 20 years," says Merisotis. "That's led to literally millions of adults being able to get more education training, get new and better jobs in their field, earn more money, and, in general, become better citizens and participants in their community." While Lumina celebrates the progress made over the last two decades, Merisotis says the demand for talent in the American labor force has never been higher, with most jobs soon requiring some form of post-high school credential. He points to several studies, including one from Georgetown University forecasting that 72% of jobs by 2031 will require a post-high school credential of some type. So, Lumina has set a new goal: 75% of adults with a credential of value by 2040. Whether its a college degree or an industry-recognized credential, it needs to ultimately lead to a career with financial stability. Lumina's new goal focuses on increasing access, completion, and ensuring credentials have real value in terms of higher wages, career growth, and adaptability. "The truth is you do earn more and you have more stability and greater long-term security and ultimately prosperity if you get higher credentials. But it doesn't mean that everyone should start aspiring to a bachelor's degree. It could be that they need this industry-recognized credential to get them into the labor force or to get them onto the ladder of opportunity. "What's really important, in our view, is that people are able to earn family-sustaining wages that allow them to have stability in their lives, but that also gives them a chance to continue to grow. "We believe that these shorter term credentials, the quality ones, certainly do provide that. The ones that add the wage benefits, et cetera, do that. And at the same time, they create pathways for further learning, which leads to greater advancement," Merisotis tells me. In the podcast, we discuss some of the challenges that still exist for Americans trying to obtain those credentials that lead to economic prosperity. "Access is a combination of things. It's like a three-legged stool of things that create barriers to access – finance, social, and academic. We tend to focus a lot on the finance side – because costs are high – but we tend not to focus on the real-life circumstances of the students or their shortcomings academically. "For these students who are low-income, or rural, or coming from communities of color, creating more assurance that the process itself is simpler and easier for them to get through, so that admissions isn't difficult, is really important." Merisotis says that for students who feel marginalized, there needs to be more awareness that there is tutoring, mentoring, and other supports that provide "opportunities for them to be successful when they get in, but also to help them get through." Merisotis and I also go deeper into what makes a credential valuable in today's workforce – yes, we do talk about AI – and how Lumina Foundation intends to achieve its goal of 75% of working-age adults having those credentials in our conversation. I encourage you to listen! You can listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts.

The next installment of our segment called The Checkup looks into the future of AI in health care. Students, parents and educators waited hours to tell lawmakers whether they want traditional school districts to share money with charter schools. The Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation is setting a new goal to increase the number of people with education and training beyond high school. The Trump administration proposed a list of federal property to be closed or sold, including three in Indiana. Improvements at multiple Indy Parks are underway. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts. WFYI News Now is produced by Drew Daudelin, Zach Bundy and Abriana Herron, with support from News Director Sarah Neal-Estes.

The Season 3 finale of the All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast features an engaging panel discussion with three inspiring students and graduates enrolled in or having completed high quality credential programs from different community and technical colleges: Lucy Briseno, a current student at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon; Monique Sallis, a current student at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota, and an apprentice with Aon; and Cha Zong Yang, a graduate of Gateway Technical College in Racine, Wisconsin.Throughout the conversation, these students share their experiences participating in innovative, high-quality credential programs at their colleges that have helped shape their career pathways. They highlight the resources, supports, and services from their respective colleges and employers that have made an impact on their progress and success. From knowledgeable, dedicated, and accessible faculty to work-based learning opportunities to available financial assistance and strong career services, the panelists offer a firsthand perspective on what makes a difference for today's learners. The students also provide thoughtful recommendations for college leaders, policymakers, employers and other students based on their own experiences. Their insights offer a compelling call to action for strengthening pathways that connect education, employment, and lifelong success.These three remarkable individuals previously shared their community/technical college stories and insights this past fall at national and Oregon state conferences as part of plenary student panel discussions. Cha Zong spoke at the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers  (NCATC) conference in September about short-term industry recognized, advanced technology programs and unique student supports such as the Metallica Scholars Initiative. Monique joined the student panel at the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE) conference in October in Minneapolis on transformative workforce education programs, including apprenticeships, that offer pathways from college into careers. Lastly, Lucy offered her perspective during the student panel at the Oregon Pathways to Opportunity statewide summit in October on the critical topic of student basic needs insecurity and elaborated on different resources and supports that can help address common student realities. The podcast conversation was an opportunity to explore these topics in more detail and culminate this season featuring students in quality credential programs. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

This episode features interviews with Klamath Community College student Reyna Cunningham, the president of Klamath Community College Dr. Roberto Gutierrez and Dr. Theresa Anderson, a Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute. Reyna, a dedicated student parent pursuing a pathway in Early Childhood Education, describes her experience in a quality non-degree career pathways credential program at the college, and highlights the importance of holistic supports for students on campus and through community resources.President Gutierrez reflects on Reyna's interview and the broader significance of non-degree credential programs at KCC. Dr. Gutierrez discusses how critical community partnerships are, especially in rural areas, in supporting student success and economic development, and sheds light on Klamath Community College's plans for a new childcare facility on campus to address a priority need for student parents at the college and in the overall community.   Theresa provides insights into Urban Institute's national work focused on student parents at higher education institutions sharing more on the Data-to-Action Campaign for Parenting Students and the Student-Parent Action through Research Knowledge (SPARK) Collaborative, both initiatives helping shape more inclusive programs and policies at community colleges across the country.The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

The Declining Trend in Public Confidence Higher Education has a reputation crisis. Public confidence in higher education is declining dramatically. In 2015, a Gallup poll revealed that the vast majority of Americans expressed a great deal of confidence in higher education, with only 10% reporting little to no confidence. By 2024, public confidence shifted significantly: only about a third maintained a great deal of confidence, while a startling 33% now held little to no confidence. This mirrors a broader trend of declining trust in American institutions. Dr. Drumm McNaughton and Dr. Courtney Brown, Vice President of Impact and Planning for the Lumina Foundation, discuss the causes and solutions to declining public confidence in higher education. They also explore the evolving demographics of higher education students, with a significant portion being non-traditional learners balancing work, family, and education. Finally, the conversation proposes solutions, emphasizing the need for increased transparency, improved student support services, and a reevaluation of faculty roles to better meet the needs of today's students. Key Points Covered in This Podcast: Reasons for Declining Confidence in Higher Education The latest Lumina-Gallup study on public confidence in higher education identifies three primary drivers: Political bias: 41% of respondents lacking confidence cited concerns that colleges are too liberal, attempting to indoctrinate students. Lack of relevant skills: Over a third criticized higher education for failing to impart skills directly applicable to the workforce, leaving graduates struggling to find employment. Affordability: Just under 30% expressed concern about rising tuition costs and high debt levels.   Shifting Demographics and Needs Traditional student demographics no longer represent the majority. Over a third of students are over 25. Over half are students of color. 78% work, with a third employed full-time. 20% have dependents. 44% are financially independent. Solving the Higher Ed Confidence Crisis: A Call for Change Higher education institutions need to adapt to the changing demographics and address the concerns driving declining confidence and reputation while discerning temporary spin from the true concerns of students and the underlying issues. The Stop-Out Numbers Over 42 million Americans started college but, for various reasons, did not finish. This suggests systemic issues within higher education that need to be addressed to better serve students. Confidence Gap While 54% of Americans hold post-secondary credentials, 33% have little or no confidence in higher education. This suggests a disconnect between the perceived value of education and the experiences of many degree holders. Value and Transparency Despite the concerns, over 90% of respondents still believe that at least one post-secondary credential has value, but trust in the system's ability to deliver is low. 75% believe a college degree is as important or more important today than it was 20 years ago. Transparency in costs and the career value of degrees is a high priority to restoring trust. There is a need for greater transparency regarding both the true cost of college and the career pathways associated with specific credentials. Workforce Alignment Public concerns about graduates lacking job-ready skills highlight the need for stronger connections between institutions and industries. Partnerships for internships, externships, and mentorships should be prioritized. Partisan Divide Republicans primarily cite political bias as the reason for their declining confidence, while Democrats focus on affordability. The Demographic Cliff The number of high school graduates is projected to decline sharply in 2025-26, forcing institutions to re-evaluate their business models and focus on attracting and serving adult learners. Key Takeaways for Higher Ed Presidents, Boards, and Executive Leaders Listen: Actively engage with current, former, and potential students to understand their needs and experiences. Adapt: Re-evaluate institutional structures, offerings, and support services to better serve today's diverse student population. Increase Transparency: Provide clear and accessible information about costs and career pathways. Rethink Faculty Roles: Value and reward teaching, mentorship, and community engagement alongside research. Embrace Partnerships: Collaborate with employers to offer relevant work-based learning opportunities and build stronger connections to local workforce needs. Final Thoughts The declining confidence in higher education presents a significant challenge, but it also creates an opportunity for transformation. By listening to student needs, adapting to evolving demographics, and prioritizing transparency and relevancy, institutions can rebuild trust and ensure that higher education remains a valuable pathway to opportunity for all. Last week's podcast with Sophie Nguyen and Kevin Carey with New America discussed their research on what Americans really think about higher ed, which looks at the public confidence and perception crisis from a different angle.  #HigherEducation #HigherEdPodcast #ValueOfHigherEd Read the transcript on our website: https://changinghighered.com/the-crisis-of-confidence-in-higher-education/   About Our Guest Dr. Courtney Brown is the Vice President of Strategic Impact and Planning at Lumina Foundation, the nation's largest private foundation focused specifically on increasing Americans' postsecondary success. As the Foundation's chief data and research officer, Brown oversees the Foundation's efforts in the areas of strategic planning, research, evaluation, data, and learning. She also leads Lumina's international engagement efforts. Brown has decades of experience and is a frequent national speaker and writer on postsecondary data, evaluation, performance measurement, and strategic planning. Dr. Brown received her B.A. from James Madison University and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. Courtney Brown on LinkedIn → About the Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton is Principal Consultant and CEO of The Change Leader, Inc.—a highly sought-after higher education consultant with 20+ years of experience. Dr. McNaughton works with leadership, management, and boards of both U.S. and international institutions. His expertise spans key areas, including accreditation, governance, strategic planning, presidential onboarding, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances. Dr. McNaughton's approach combines a holistic methodology with a deep understanding of the contemporary and evolving challenges facing higher education institutions worldwide to ensure his clients succeed in their mission. Connect with Drumm McNaughton on LinkedIn →  

In this episode, we are joined by Suzanne Elise Walsh. With a background in philanthropy, higher education, community development, and law, today, Suzanne is the President of Bennett College, where she has served since August 2019.   Suzanne is also the Founder and Manager of Discerning SEWlutions, an organization that works with foundations, nonprofits, colleges, and universities to uncover, imagine, and plan for future possibilities. Previously, Suzanne also served as Deputy Director at the Gates Foundation, where she developed a portfolio of over $70 million in postsecondary investments. Additionally, she has held roles at Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, the Lumina Foundation for Education, and The Heinz Endowments. She has received national recognition for her portfolio of work with organizations at the intersection of innovation, technology, and learning.   In this episode, we discuss: ·   The concept of VUCA – Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity, and how it informs Suzanne's role as a leader in higher education ·   How nonprofits and funders can build transparent, effective relationships that lead to better results ·   The value of funders working with grantees as partners and making space in portfolios for nonobvious partners

In this episode, host Marc Goldberg interviews Bishop State Community College graduate Ms. Andrea Heningburg McCants, Bishop State Community College President Olivier Charles and Ms. Michelle Burris, Fellow and Cohort Manager for The Industry and Inclusion Team at The Century Foundation.Ms. McCants shares both of her chapters as a student at Bishop State, particularly her most recent when she enrolled in and completed a quality non-degree credential program as a working professional enhancing her skills and credentials that have opened up new business opportunities. President Charles reflects on Ms. McCants interview and describes how the College's non-degree credential programs meet the needs of both students and regional employers and have been designed in a supportive and inclusive way creating accelerated educational pathways for adult education students, working professionals, parenting students, recent high school graduates and other community members to quality jobs and careers in regional high demand industry sectors. Ms. Burris offers more information about the Industry and Inclusion Cohort project that Bishop State Community College is a part of that focuses on creating better access to manufacturing careers for historically underrepresented populations including people of color and women through quality community college manufacturing programs in partnership with regional employers that are committed to broadening their talent pool and workforce. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is supported by the Lumina Foundation and part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

Jenn speaks to current professor of medical anthropology at the University of La Verne and founder of Ehtheon and author of “Book of Queens: The True Story of the Middle Eastern Horsewomen Who Fought the War on Terror”, Pardis Mahdavi. Born in Minnesota to Iranian immigrants, Pardis grew up bridging her Iranian and American immigrant identity in her early diplomacy work at the UN. Her curiosity for cultures, people and being a bridge that connects us together has led her to a career in academics, publishing books and most recently creating a wellness tourism company. Through her own experiences, Pardis shares with us how the courage to cross the bridges we build is essentially the foundation in discovering our inner self and in the process understanding the world we live in! (Recorded on July 16, 2024)About Pardis:Pardis Mahdavi, PhD is a professor of medical anthropology and founder of Entheon Journeys. Prior to this role, she served as President at the University of La Verne, Provost and Executive Vice President at the University of Montana, as well as Dean at Arizona State University and the University of Denver after serving in multiple roles at Pomona College. Her research interests include gendered labor, human trafficking, migration, human rights, and public health in the context of changing global and political structures. She has published seven single authored books and two edited volumes in addition to numerous journal and news articles. She is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Young President's Organization and has been a fellow at the Social Sciences Research Council, the American Council on Learned Societies, Google Ideas, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She serves as a board member for the Lumina Foundation and the Human Trafficking Legal Center.Episode Resources:Website IG Entheon

Episode 81 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe:  Email | RSS | More "A culture of encounter is something we have to be very intent on practicing, and so I'm excited about an economics that creates many of those opportunities for encounter." -Elizabeth Barlow IN THIS EPISODE In the latest episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh FSPA chats with Elizabeth Garlow, economist and cofounder of the Francesco Collaborative, which invites individuals to critique economic structures and invest using their whole spiritual selves. Elizabeth discusses her early Capuchin influences and her interest in Focolare. "I had a sort of hunger to have a different kind of conversation about who we are as human beings," she says, "how we meet our needs, what kind of systems can we create?" Sister Julia and Elizabeth talk about the damage that can be done by our current economic structures. "Our economic structures are intertwined with problems of disconnection and loneliness," Elizabeth says. Elizabeth also discusses the challenging ways we can move forward to help create a more just world. "Money in many ways is energy, " she says. "It's flow. It is not something that we are slaves to as the Gospel...teaches us." Name Drops: Natalie FosterPope FrancisMia BirdsongFr. Richard WardMarjorie KellyFr. LebrayMorgan SimonNich RomeoZacchaeus Topics Discussed: Franciscan spiritualityCapuchin communityFocolare MovementEconomy of CommunionEconomy of Francescohow we spend and investethic of enoughnessfinancial discipleshipINE Institute Books Mentioned: Laudato SiLaudate DeumThe BibleLiving City MagazineHow We Show UpReal ImpactWealth SupremacyThe Alternative Elizabeth Garlow ABOUT THE GUEST Elizabeth Garlow is drawn to the spiritual dimensions of our shared work to build a new economy. She co-founded the Francesco Collaborative, which was in part inspired by the kinds of spaces she longed to be a part of as an investor: one that invites us to show up as our spiritually rooted selves, with deep vulnerability, care for one another and a commitment to critique the structural problems of our economy and dream about our role in its transformation. Through her work, she supports protagonists of transformation drawing on lineages of faith, spirituality, and wisdom to ask questions like: “what is enough?” and “what does a practice of finance and investing fit for the needs of our time look like”? These questions are in part drawn from her formation in the Focolare Movement's Economy of Communion initiative, where enterprises seek to embody a relational economy paradigm. Elizabeth previously co-led impact investing for the Lumina Foundation, served as a policy advisor with the Obama Administration, and co-founded a Detroit- based organization, Michigan Corps, to invest in local entrepreneurs through crowdfunding and innovative forms of patient capital. She studied political economy at Kalamazoo College, completed her graduate work in public policy and economics at Princeton University, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in 2019. Elizabeth lives in Michigan, where she is enjoying getting reacquainted with Michigan's Great Lakes and apprenticing with urban farmers in Detroit. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh.  Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL:https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness

Learn more about Jamie Merisotis by visiting: About LinkedIn Learn more about the UIA by visiting: Website LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Facebook This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

It's arguable that, of all the items in Gallup's annual Confidence in Institutions survey, higher education is the institution on the list that has endured the greatest number of destabilizing shocks in recent years.As a new school year has begun, confidence in higher education is at a low point -- but new data from Gallup and Lumina Foundation paint a more detailed picture of why this is. And what are experts in the field doing to restore confidence?Read Gallup's latest update on confidence in higher education: U.S. Confidence in Higher Education Now Closely DividedLearn more about Gallup's research with Lumina Foundation: ​Gallup-Lumina State of Higher EducationThis week's guests include:Stephanie Marken, senior partner, Education Division at GallupZach Hrynowski, senior research consultant at GallupLee Strang, director of The University of Toledo Institute of Constitutional Thought and Leadership

This episode features interviews with Olive-Harvey College Rivian Technical Trades program graduate Kyle Johnson, Olive-Harvey College president Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth and the Illinois Community College Board Deputy Executive Director Jennifer Foster. Kyle describes how the Rivian Technical Trades program met his needs as a returning student by providing accelerated training that led to an industry recognized credential in the emerging field of electric vehicles and a clear pathway to a job and career with Rivian in an apprenticeship program model that worked well for him.Dr. Hollingsworth offers helpful reflections from Kyle's interview and shares more on the responsive transportation, distribution and logistics programs at Olive- Harvey that include various supports and resources available to students such as Project Evolve, the college's Workforce Equity Initiative program.Deputy Executive Director Foster elaborates further on the Workforce Equity Initiative in its origins, design and goals to close historical opportunity gaps for African American students across the state of Illinois reducing potential barriers to enrollment and completion in community college quality non-degree credential programs.The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

Colleges and universities are facing a demographic shift now dubbed the “enrollment cliff.”  Concerns over a decline in the number of traditional age students has led some institutions to rethink admissions processes. Lumina Foundation's Melanie Heath joins Rathi Sudhakara from the Washington Student Achievement Council and Jonathan Gagliardi from Northern Arizona University to discuss innovative new practices and policies.   Lessons from the Great Admissions Redesign: https://www.luminafoundation.org/news-and-views/the-great-admissions-redesign-three-things-we-learned-when-we-asked-the-nation-to-redo-college-admissions/

Higher education is broken. Can we make it affordable for everyone?, with Courtney Brown Who are today's higher education students? They might not be exactly who you think. About 40% of today's students work full time, while another 40% are at least 25 years old, with many coming from low-income families. Today's complex world of work increasingly calls for advanced skills and education. As a society, we have to help more people obtain quality learning that's available to all. What does that mean, exactly? Lumina Foundation has an idea, embracing a national goal that by 2025, 60% of working-age adults will have a college degree, industry-recognized certification or other credential of value. Right now, we are at just over 50 percent, and we need to better understand who has access to higher education and who is succeeding in this system. As Lumina's Courtney Brown notes, the organization's mission is to help more people get this vital post-high school education, understanding that this learning remains a powerful force in addressing income and racial inequality, keeping America competitive in the fast-changing world economy. This video was created in partnership with the Lumina Foundation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Courtney Brown: Courtney Brown, Ph.D, is vice president of impact and planning for Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. As the chief data and research officer, Brown oversees the foundation's efforts in the areas of strategic planning, learning, impact, and effectiveness. She also leads Lumina's international engagement. Up next ►► College is absurdly expensive. Can a radical new model change that?   • College is absurdly expensive. Can a ...   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Big Think | Smarter Faster™ ► Big Think The leading source of expert-driven, educational content. With thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think helps you get smarter, faster by exploring the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century. Go Deeper with Big Think: ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are robots really taking our jobs?, with Jamie Merisotis Up next ►► What skills will set you apart in the age of automation?   • What skills will set you apart in the...   Are the robots coming for our jobs? Not for those with the training and skills needed in today's economy. And in nearly all cases, that means the people with education beyond high school. We know that artificial intelligence will replace repetitive jobs. But in most cases, new technology will help us create more jobs that only humans can do. And those jobs overwhelmingly go to people with a degree, certificate, industry-recognized certification, or similar credential. Lumina Foundation helps advance policies that make post-high school education more available to all. The foundation has embraced a national goal of ensuring that 60 percent of Americans earn a high quality credential beyond high school by 2025. This video was created in partnership with Lumina Foundation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Jamie Merisotis: Jamie Merisotis, an international leader in higher education, human work, philanthropy, and public policy, has been Lumina's president and CEO since 2008. Before joining Lumina, he was an advisor and consultant in southern Africa, Europe, the former Soviet Union, and other areas of the world. Merisotis is a Council on Foreign Relations member. An innovator committed to increasing educational attainment in the United States, he focuses on realizing racial justice and equity through Lumina's efforts to recast higher learning for today's students. These adults increasingly are Black and brown, from low-income families, or the first in their families to go to college. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Courtney Brown, Vice President of Impact and Planning for Lumina Foundation, discusses key findings from the 2024 State of Higher Education Study conducted in partnership with Gallup. She shares critical insights into evolving student demographics, barriers to enrollment, and strategies for addressing challenges in higher education. Key Discussion Points The Changing Profile of Today's College Students: Shift away from traditional recent high school graduates to more diverse, non-traditional learners. Approximately 35% of students are financially independent from parents. About one-third of students have children of their own. 60% of students work while in school, with 40% holding full-time jobs. Over one-third of current students are over 25 years old. Primary Barriers to Enrollment and Completion: Cost and affordability remain the number one obstacle for potential and current students. Emotional stress and mental health concerns have dramatically increased since 2020. Work and family responsibilities create additional challenges for many students. State policies on divisive issues influence enrollment decisions across demographics. Students Stopping Out: A Growing Crisis: 41.9 million U.S. adults have some college credit but no degree, up 1.5 million from the previous year. 64% of currently enrolled students have considered stopping out in the last six months. Emotional stress is the leading cause of student attrition, with 70% citing it as their primary reason for considering stopping out. The Perceived Value of Higher Education: Nearly all adults without a degree believe at least one type of credential is extremely or very valuable. Almost 60% of adults who have never enrolled have considered doing so in the past two years. 84% of current or prospective students cite employment factors as reasons for enrolling. Strategic Adaptation for Higher Education Institutions: Need for transparent pricing models and innovative financial aid options. Importance of enhancing mental health and support services for students. Adapting programs to accommodate non-traditional students' needs. Strengthening alignment between higher education and workforce demands. Addressing systemic barriers and advocating for supportive policies. Three Key Takeaways for Higher Education Leaders and Boards Actively collect data on student needs and experiences to inform decision-making. Analyze community demographics to identify and serve potential future students. Continuously explore ways to make education more affordable and accessible. Bonus Takeaway: Include a non-traditional student on the board of trustees to provide valuable insights into diverse student needs.   Read the transcript on our website at: https://changinghighered.com/ state-of-higher-education-report-2024-lumina-gallup/   #TheStateOfHigherEducation #HigherEducation #LuminaGallupReport   About Our Podcast Guest Courtney Brown, Ph.D., is vice president of impact and planning for Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. As the chief data and research officer, Brown oversees the foundation's efforts in the areas of strategic planning, learning, impact, and effectiveness. She also leads Lumina's international engagement.   She joined the foundation in 2011 with a strong background in performance measurement, research, and evaluation. Before 2011, Brown was a senior research associate at the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University. There, she led studies and evaluations focused on education and post-high school programs within the United States and across Europe.   Brown is a frequent speaker and panelist in the United States and other countries regarding postsecondary strategy, student success, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based practices. She has developed and shared manuals, working papers, articles, and books related to undergraduate research, performance measurement, randomized-control trials, and other evaluation methods, as well as conducted webinars and workshops on topics such as evaluation, performance measurement, and success in education beyond high school.   About the Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton is a consultant to higher ed institutions in governance, accreditation, strategy, change, and mergers. To learn more about his services and other thought leadership pieces, visit his firm's website, https://changinghighered.com/.   The Change Leader's Social Media Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com  

In this episode in honor of Mother's Day, we revisit some clips from past All In podcast student guests who are moms. The host Marc Goldberg also interviews his own mom, Nancy Yelenik Goldberg, who describes her experience as a returning, parenting student at the local community college in the 1970's taking classes in the emerging field of computer science. She elaborates on the trailblazing career she had as as a programmer and eventual executive leader in the technology field and talks about the civic engagment she is involved in these days.  The first All In clip is from an early season one episode of the podcast during the pandemic with Nellisha Moore, a student from Chemeketa Community College. The next one is from a conversation with Cristina Cruz, an early childhood education career pathways student from Lane Community College. Following that are highlights from an interview with Shalease Williams from Portland Community College in season one. The  next clip is from Emily Geise, a graduate of Klamath Community College and employee of Cascade Comprehensive Care. Lastly, there are highlights from an interview with Lynne Hamblin, a student at Rogue Communtiy College. Each of these All In moms share different thoughts about the intersections between their community college experiences and their own children and families. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

In this episode of Work in Progress, Courtney Brown, VP of strategic impact and planning for Lumina Foundation, and Stephanie Marken, senior partner at Gallup, share details of a new joint study that finds that college affordability is a top concern for Americans, despite seeing a degree as valuable to career success. The Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education 2024 shows that cost remains a major barrier for students seeking a postsecondary education, with 38% of students plunging deep into date to pay for their education beyond high school. "We have seen over the last decade enrollments declining in postsecondary education. At the same time, we need more talented people in our country. This is a problem. We see over and over again that cost is a huge barrier," Courtney Brown of Lumina Foundation tells me. Stephanie Marken of Gallup adds, "We very intentionally interviewed people who don't have a degree or credential because we want to understand their attitudes towards and experiences with postsecondary education pathways, whatever that pathway might be. We found that over half of those who we interviewed who were not currently enrolled reported it was a very or somewhat important reason as to why they were not currently enrolled." The researchers also talked to students who are currently enrolled about the high cost of higher education. "About a third of students who we interviewed reported that cost is a major barrier to continuing enrollment. We asked individuals if they considered stepping out in the past six months. We found about a third said that they had struggled to remain enrolled. Cost was the major reason for that," according to Marken The study also finds that 71% of those who borrowed for postsecondary education struggle for years to repay their loans, says Marken, delaying major life decisions "whether that was buying a car, buying a home, having children, returning to postsecondary education for those who had stepped out temporarily. It's really keeping them from achieving important milestones that we would say is a life well-lived." Despite the high cost, says Brown, the survey found that people do value a degree or a credential beyond high school. "We see over and over again that they say having some credential after high school is extremely or very valuable. That includes a certification, a certificate, or a degree. "And 75% of students who were previously enrolled say that it's extremely valuable, so even the people that have not completed (their degree). I think it's really important that we understand that people value it, they just can't access it." Brown also talks about the impact of not being able to afford college. "It's huge. We're seeing more and more schools having to close because the enrollments are declining. So that becomes a problem. That also becomes a problem for the communities those institutions are in because they're probably one of the number one employers in those communities. "So there's this cascading of effect when enrollments start to decline. And most importantly, we're not going to have thriving communities. We're not going to have a nation that can compete economically, socially with others around the globe. Brown and Marken address some of the other fallout from college being out of range financially for students of all ages. You can listen to the podcast here, or find it wherever you get your podcasts. Read the Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education 2024 report here. Episode 316: Courtney Brown, VP of strategic impact and planning, Lumina Foundation, and Stephanie Marken, senior partner, GallupHost & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNationProducer: Larry BuhlTheme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode hereWork in Progress Podcast: Catch up on previous episodes here

In this episode of Work in Progress, Courtney Brown, VP of strategic impact and planning for Lumina Foundation, and Stephanie Marken, senior partner at Gallup, share details of a new joint study that finds that college affordability is a top concern for Americans, despite seeing a degree as valuable to career success. The Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education 2024 shows that cost remains a major barrier for students seeking a postsecondary education, with 38% of students plunging deep into date to pay for their education beyond high school. "We have seen over the last decade enrollments declining in postsecondary education. At the same time, we need more talented people in our country. This is a problem. We see over and over again that cost is a huge barrier," Courtney Brown of Lumina Foundation tells me. Stephanie Marken of Gallup adds, "We very intentionally interviewed people who don't have a degree or credential because we want to understand their attitudes towards and experiences with postsecondary education pathways, whatever that pathway might be. We found that over half of those who we interviewed who were not currently enrolled reported it was a very or somewhat important reason as to why they were not currently enrolled." The researchers also talked to students who are currently enrolled about the high cost of higher education. "About a third of students who we interviewed reported that cost is a major barrier to continuing enrollment. We asked individuals if they considered stepping out in the past six months. We found about a third said that they had struggled to remain enrolled. Cost was the major reason for that," according to Marken The study also finds that 71% of those who borrowed for postsecondary education struggle for years to repay their loans, says Marken, delaying major life decisions "whether that was buying a car, buying a home, having children, returning to postsecondary education for those who had stepped out temporarily. It's really keeping them from achieving important milestones that we would say is a life well-lived." Despite the high cost, says Brown, the survey found that people do value a degree or a credential beyond high school. "We see over and over again that they say having some credential after high school is extremely or very valuable. That includes a certification, a certificate, or a degree. "And 75% of students who were previously enrolled say that it's extremely valuable, so even the people that have not completed (their degree). I think it's really important that we understand that people value it, they just can't access it." Brown also talks about the impact of not being able to afford college. "It's huge. We're seeing more and more schools having to close because the enrollments are declining. So that becomes a problem. That also becomes a problem for the communities those institutions are in because they're probably one of the number one employers in those communities. "So there's this cascading of effect when enrollments start to decline. And most importantly, we're not going to have thriving communities. We're not going to have a nation that can compete economically, socially with others around the globe. Brown and Marken address some of the other fallout from college being out of range financially for students of all ages. You can listen to the podcast here, or find it wherever you get your podcasts. Read the Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education 2024 report here. Episode 316: Courtney Brown, VP of strategic impact and planning, Lumina Foundation, and Stephanie Marken, senior partner, GallupHost & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNationProducer: Larry BuhlTheme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode hereWork in Progress Podcast: Catch up on previous episodes here

To boost enrollment and meet workforce needs, more states are offering free community college programs. But do these programs effectively help students graduate from college? And by offering college for free, does that diminish its value? We look at the research, as well as a new free college program in Massachusetts and an old one in Tennessee, where community college has been free for years.“College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Lane Community College Culinary Commercial Cooking Certificate program graduate Barbara Graham-Adams, college president Dr. Stephanie Bulger and CEO and President of NACCE, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, Dr. Rebecca Corbin. Barbara talks about her experience as a returning student who enrolled in a culinary career pathways program to enhance her skills for her existing food cart business, Irie Jamaican Kitchen, which has now led to new opportunities through the college. She offers helpful insights to college faculty and staff on additional ways to meet the needs of parenting students and gives great advice to other community college students. Dr. Bulger shares her reflections from Barbara's interview and touches on different programs and supports the College provides for small and emerging businesses through the Small Business Development Center, entrepreneurial academic programs and even through the College's procurement process. Dr. Corbin describes how NACCE supports colleges across the country in developing an entrepreneurial mindset with students and through college programs and touches on the power of this national network to learn together, co-create and take innovative action. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

Recently released data on Lumina's Stronger Nation tool shows that the national education attainment rate has reached 54.3 percent. The country has increased in education attainment by 16 percentage points since 2008.  Dr. Courtney Brown and Dr. Chris Mullin of Lumina Foundation share the stories, insights, and considerations under these banner numbers.

Despite some success in American Higher Ed's efforts to increase accessibility to degrees and credentials, completion rates continue to disappoint. With over 40 million Americans in the "some college no degree” population, it's clear that the focus must now shift to supporting higher ed students  - including adult learners - throughout their journey. Courtney Brown, vice president of Impact and Planning at Lumina Foundation, joins us to explore strategies for addressing this issue and the necessary changes institutions and policymakers need to make to reverse this trend.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, President Series #270 YOUR guest is Dr. Angel Reyna, President, Madera Community College YOUR cohost is Douglas A.J. Carlson, Head of Partnerships - Americas, LeadSquared YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio How has Dr. Reyna's personal journey shaped his commitment to serving students at Madera Community College? What strategies has Madera Community College employed to grow enrollment & support student success? How is Madera Community College leveraging its Million Dollar Challenge grant from the Lumina Foundation to foster a sense of belonging on campus? What does Dr. Reyna see as the biggest opportunities & challenges facing the California Community Colleges system? Listen in to #EdUp! Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp! Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠ ● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠⁠⁠The EdUp Experience⁠⁠⁠! We make education YOUR business! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edup/message

In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Clark State College nursing graduate Lemohang Mokhalinyane and then a follow up conversation with both Clark State College President Dr. Jo Blondin and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) President Dr. Barbara Gellman-Danley.Lemoh describes her experience as a student in the nursing pathway at Clark State - first in the Licensed Practical Nursing program leading to employment and then the Registered Nursing program. She highlights the incredible support and guidance she received from college faculty and staff as a student and the culture of meeting students where they're at. Lemoh also describes  the benefit of enrolling in and completing a non-degree credential of value in her educational journey at Clark State.Dr. Blondin and Dr. Gellman-Danley, both transformative, student-centered leaders with expertise advocating and shifting systems at the local, state and national level, share their reflections from the interview with Lemoh and elaborate on the topic of quality non-degree credentials. Dr. Blondin describes how Clark State has established meaningful on-ramp and off-ramp credential programs to support student goals. Dr. Gellman-Danley offers expertise and insights from the lens of an accrediting board and how HLC has prioritized non-degree credential programs in their work with member institutions. Both Dr. Blondin and Dr. Gellman-Danley emphasize the importance of centering students and student intent when considering policies and practice at the institutional and national level. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

With us today is Courtney Brown, Vice President of Impact and Planning at Lumina Foundation and the person most responsible for making sure the foundation hits its goals and develops new and even more meaningful ones. The conversation covers how Lumina went about its goal setting process, what tactics it's used to build a wide network of alliances across the U.S., how close it's come to succeeding in its goals, and what the organization's next set of goals might be. 

 Applying for college is often a stressful and complicated endeavor. Students must manage various deadlines and portals, submit resumes and essays, coordinate test scores and letters of recommendation, and so much more.   A recent survey of 16- to 22-year-olds found that more than half of them said applying for college is their most stressful academic experience. Should we rethink the college admissions process? What could a new process look like? And could simplifying the process lead to more accessible access to higher education? In this episode, Melanie Heath joins Kevin to discuss if we should rethink the college admissions process.     Meet Melanie Melanie Heath is the strategy director for participation at Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making learning opportunities beyond high school available to all. Melanie leads a portfolio of work designed to increase student enrollment and re-enrollment in bachelor's degree programs.   Lumina Foundation website: https://www.luminafoundation.org/

In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Treasure Valley Community College student Jessica Schooley, Treasure Valley Community College president Dr. Dana Young, and the head of design programs at Education Design Lab, Dr. Leslie Daugherty.Jessica talks about the value  of stackable credentials in her Natural Resources program along with the holistic supports provided by college staff and faculty and partner agencies like Worksource Oregon. She also describes the work-based learning internship that has led to a great employment opportunity in her field. President Young shares her reflections from Jessica's interview and emphasizes the importance of employer partnerships for the college, especially in a rural community to provide upskilling and reskilling training for residents, and how they support overall economic vitality of the region. Leslie describes Education Design Lab's work collaborating with colleges across the country focused on new majority learners, non-degree credentials of value and rural colleges grounded in their human centered design approach that generates new solutions for learners, employers and communities. The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon's participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network and supported by the Lumina Foundation.

Some colleges and universities now spend more on marketing than on financial aid. They're hiring marketing professionals who have worked at Fortune 500 companies and using digital marketing tools to follow you around the internet. They know how much time you spend on a website, when you save something for later, and what other sites you visit.  A growing number also sneakily collect your personal information so they can target you for recruitment by touting their graduates' high paying jobs or connections within competitive industries. Some less scrupulous schools have been warned by the Federal Trade Commission to stop exaggerating their claims about the kinds of jobs their graduates get, and how much they earn. Kirk and Jon reveal the increasingly sophisticated ways that colleges and universities try to get your attention — and offer up tips for consumers trying to navigate a sea of slogans.  They'll tell you what consumer advocates say about how to resist the slickly crafted tugs on your emotions that can get you to open your wallet. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

Colleges are quietly buying – or as they like to spin it, licensing – lists of potential student names and personal information from companies administering tests like the SAT and ACT. The goal? Recruit, but also recruit to reject. The more applicants a college recruits, the more selective and prestigious they seem in the college rankings. In this final episode of Season One, Kirk and Jon explore how both selective and less selective colleges and universities use enrollment and financial aid management strategies to increase their applicant pool, lower admission rates and meet their bottom line. And here's the key: college is the only industry – outside banking – that can legally access all of your income information and make decisions on your ability to pay before charging you a price.  Kirk and Jon trace the origins of these practices back to Boston College in the 1970s and follow the evolution of enrollment management systems into a multi-billion dollar higher ed shadow industry. Colleges now rely on their enrollment management systems to survive and compete for students. And their opaque analysis of a family's budget can determine whether a student receives steep tuition discounts or “merit scholarships” that can dramatically lower the cost of tuition. These backroom practices have some former administrators concerned about the effects on access to and equity in higher education – and they're calling for renewed transparency in college . “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

A bachelor's degree in four years is one of the most basic promises colleges make, and one of the biggest frustrations their customers face. Fewer than half of students will actually graduate in four years. And the numbers are even worse for Black and Hispanic students. Consider this surprising number: at more than 100 US colleges and universities, not a single student graduated within four years. In this episode, Kirk and Jon talk about what colleges don't want you to know around graduation rates, and dig up the behind-the-scenes maneuver by a famous senator that has helped colleges keep the problem hidden. They also look at the ways colleges slow students down, by piling on extra requirements for graduation, failing to offer enough sections of required courses, or offering lackluster student advising. But there is hope for savvy college consumers. A few colleges have created three year bachelors' degree programs to help students save time and money. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

Many students go to a two year or community college thinking it's a bargain: attend for two years, then transfer to a four year school, saving tens of thousands of dollars in tuition. But it doesn't always work out that way. Nearly half of all college credits don't end up transferring when a student changes schools. Kirk Carapezza and Esteban Bustillos talk about why the transfer system short-changes students, and how colleges and universities have wide discretion when it comes to deciding which credits to accept or deny. Many students are left with so-called “stranded credits” in the transfer process, a big problem for many students, but especially low-income and first-generation students whose families might not know the intricacies of the system. How can students avoid falling in the transfer trap? Experts say they should be on the lookout for colleges that guarantee transfer credits, or ask if a college has a transfer agreement with a four-year college or university. A growing number do. Listen and learn more about how to avoid common transfer pitfalls. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

In this bonus episode, Dr. Monica Band joins supervising producer Chrystal Genesis to discuss  anger. Monica and Chrystal unpack where it comes from, how to respond to someone's anger, and what you can do to manage your own relationship with anger. Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort and Rachel Lightner are our producers. Andi Kristindottir is our engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While colleges make it seem like they choose applicants solely on their merit as students, that's not always the case. Former admissions officer Kyra Tyler shares her experience working in an admissions office, where she was asked to prioritize less academically qualified students with family connections and wealth. GBH's Kirk Carapezza and GBH guest host Kana Ruhalter also dive into new research that exposes a shift in how colleges distribute financial aid. Researcher Steven Burd studied admissions packages at hundreds of selective public and private colleges and found that colleges are spending billions on students, spreading it around among students who don't necessarily need the aid. This happens at the expense of needier students. And reporter Fazil Khan from The Hechinger Report discusses new data showing the net price of college is actually rising faster for lower-income students, exacerbating the disparities in higher education. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

Getting turned down by your dream college doesn't always mean you've been categorically rejected. Some applicants who fail to get in as freshmen, for example, are invited back … as sophomores. They don't even need to reapply. It's one of many secrets admissions officers prefer to keep quiet. Colleges don't do this kind of thing out of the goodness of their hearts. They know a shamefully high number of freshmen – about one in four on average, will drop out. That's a lot of seats they need to fill. Colleges also know that the students they accept as sophomores won't count in all-important college ranking calculations, which are based mainly on the characteristics of entering freshmen. This makes it a way to admit the children of alumni and donors who might not have made the first cut. The Hechinger Report's Jon Marcus and GBH's Kirk Carapezza dive into how secret sophomore admissions works — and whether it might work for you. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

In this bonus episode, we meet 17-year-old Caroline. She was hospitalized multiple times for self harm and attempting suicide. Now, she is doing a lot better, in therapy, and taking medication. Caroline wants to ask her mom Kellie: after everything we have been through, has your view of me changed?   Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort and Rachel Lightner are our producers. Andi Kristindottir is our engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alyx and Brandon have been together for five years and are deeply in love - but they've also had to grow a lot. Both have struggled with anxiety and feeling like they're not good enough. This week, Alyx asks Brandon how they can take care of themselves while caring for each other.  Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort and Rachel Lightner are our producers. Andi Kristindottir is our engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2019 Varsity Blues scandal exposed just how far rich, famous and entitled parents would go to get their kids into big name colleges. But the truth is there are many ways colleges already give preferences to wealthy students. And they are completely legal. GBH's Kirk Carapezza and Jon Marcus of the Hechinger Report dig into how college admissions favor students who can pay giant tuition bills out of pocket. And this happens even as the U.S. Supreme Court withdraws affirmative action advantages benefiting low-income students of color. In this episode, we explain how early decision benefits wealthy students who can afford to commit to a college before seeing a financial aid offer. And explore the world of private college advising. You'll hear from elite coaches and experts to find out why college coaching is needed in the first place. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

Colleges are increasingly hard up for students so they make a lot of promises they don't keep. In this episode, GBH's Kirk Carapezza and Jon Marcus of the Hechinger Report talk with students, economists and industry experts about what you need to know before handing over that giant tuition deposit. And it all starts with how much college will cost. Although it's one of the biggest lifetime investments a person can make, most consumers don't know what they'll ultimately spend on a degree. Colleges overwhelmingly do not disclose – or simply understate – how much families will pay. They tie themselves in knots to avoid using the word “loan” even when students need one. Most freshmen think they'll graduate with bachelor's degrees within four years, but that's not usually true. More than half will take more than four years, further increasing the cost. Good luck finding this out, though; thanks to lobbying by colleges, the graduation rate reported by the government represents the proportion of students who finish in six or eight years, not four. Colleges aren't entirely honest about what a diploma gets you either. While they boast that most graduates are gainfully employed, colleges know the whereabouts of less than half of alumni.  Forty-four percent to be precise. Getting a degree still pays off, especially considering that people who have one earn $18,000 a year more by the middle of their careers than someone with a high school diploma. But this misinformation contributes to the fact that many Americans with college educations are underemployed and working in restaurants and as coffee baristas. It's no wonder that only about a third of Americans say they have a lot of confidence in higher education. “College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.

Robert and Kiri are an interracial couple living in Alabama, where some members of their community are openly hostile to people of color. Robert is Black and Kiri is white, and the constant threat of racism and violence has put strain on their relationship and Robert's mental health. Today, Kiri is asking Robert: if we can't find safety here, can we find it somewhere new? Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort is our producer, and Rachel Lightner is our producer and audio engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since kindergarten, Athena and her parents have known about her learning differences, and those were treated early on. But her severe anxiety wasn't. Today, she's asking her mom Cassie: why was it so hard for you to get me the help I needed, and what took you so long? Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort is our producer, and Rachel Lightner is our producer and audio engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19-year-old Chanté has been forced to leave her home twice because of climate disasters: first when her family fled New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina, then again when Hurricane Harvey hit her new home in Texas. This left her processing a lot of trauma and questioning where she really belongs, while her mom, Stasia, struggled to take care of her family and start over. Today, Chanté wants to ask Stasia: what does home mean after being displaced twice by environmental disasters? Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort is our producer, and Rachel Lightner is our producer and audio engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days before her 10th birthday, Temera left her home in Guyana for a brand new start in the United States. Now, she and her best friend Rose are first-generation college students, feeling the pressure to honor their families' sacrifices and excel in everything they do. Today, they're asking: what does it mean to build a life of my own, without feeling like I owe it to my family to succeed?  Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort is our producer and Rachel Lightner is our producer and audio engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16-year-old Alex lost his dad, Ted, to suicide when he was 11. While grieving and dealing with his own mental health struggles, Alex felt like he had to step up and help his mom, Tricia. Today, he's asking her: how am I supposed to be a kid when you put the weight of adult responsibilities on me? Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort and Rachel Lightner are our producers. Andi Kristindottir is our engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greta and Corrine have been best friends for over a decade. They've been through a lot together, from leaving their small town, finding their queer identities, to now healing from their recent painful breakups. Today, they're asking themselves: is it really better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all?   Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort is our producer and Rachel Lightner is our producer and audio engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Harley-Anne was 16, she lost her left leg after being hit by a car while crossing a major highway. In the immediate aftermath, Harley-Anne and her mother disagreed about basically everything, and today they're barely talking. Now, she's asking her mom: how did my accident affect our relationship, and how can we each heal our mental health?      Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort and Rachel Lightner are our producers. Andi Kristindottir is our engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seth didn't get a lot of unconditional love as a child. He spent many difficult years in the foster care system before he was finally adopted by his moms Jeannie and Denise. Now, he sits down with Jeannie to ask: How can you still love me after all the hard times we've gone through?   Looking for resources? Visit ineedtoaskyousomething.org for info on how to strengthen relationships, deal with traumatic events, and get help.  Dr. Monica Band is the host of this show and consultant with the Jed Foundation. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Giulia Hjort is our producer and Rachel Lightner is our producer and audio engineer. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Mixing and original music by Bobby Woody. Additional music by Andi Kristinsdottir. Additional mixing by Ivan Kuraev. Special thanks to Kelsey Henderson. Jackie Danziger is our VP of Narrative Content. Executive producers are Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. This series was created with The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Find ways to manage your emotional health, cope with challenges, and support the people in your life at jedfoundation.org.  This series is presented by Hopelab, a social innovation lab and impact investor supporting the mental health of adolescents, ages 10-25, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more at hopelab.org.  This series is also presented by the Stupski Foundation, returning resources to the communities it calls home in Hawaiʻi and the San Francisco Bay Area by 2029 to support just and resilient food, health, and higher education systems for all. Learn more at stupski.org.  This series is also presented by the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Learn more at luminafoundation.org. This episode was made possible by support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a philanthropy devoted to building brighter futures for all children, youth and young adults, and ensuring they have the family, community and opportunity they need to thrive. Learn more at aecf.org. Views expressed in this episode are solely those of the participants. Follow I Need to Ask You Something wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts.  Follow Dr. Monica Band on Instagram at @the.mindful_healer. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.