College Is Fine, Everything's Fine

Liz and Sarah are joined by Dr. Jill Grimes, family physician and author of  The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook, to talk about what chronic academic stress actually does to your body — and why so many popular "quick fixes" for focus and sleep are making things worse. If you've ever reached for an energy drink at midnight, borrowed a friend's Adderall, or popped a melatonin gummy hoping t...

If you've ever panicked staring at a blank resume, frozen at the word "networking," or wondered what your boss actually wants from you on day one of an internship — this episode is for you. We sat down with Jennifer Gershberg to get real, practical advice on everything from interview prep to building relationships that actually open doors. No fluff. Just the stuff they should have taught you in cl...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Shreya Hessler, a psychologist and professor who created a college course called Digital Detox: Doing Nothing and Doing Well . Together, we explore how constant phone and social media use impacts attention, relationships, and self-worth—especially for Gen Z. Dr. Hessler shares what happens when students unplug completely during class, and how learning to tolera...

What does it really feel like to be a queer athlete — to show up every day in a sport you love while wondering if your teammates truly have your back? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tess Kilwein, a clinical sports psychologist based in Nashville, to dig into a side of athlete mental health we don't talk about nearly enough. Dr. Kilwein works with elite athletes across the country, specializ...

What if confidence isn’t the key to peak performance? In this episode of College Is Fine Podcast , Sarah and Liz sit down with sports psychologist Dr. Mitchell A. Greene to unpack one of the biggest myths in athletics: that you need to feel confident to perform well. From college athletes to Olympians, Dr. Greene shares what’s actually happening inside the minds of high performers—and why the most...

Every athlete plays two games — the sport on the field, and the mental game happening in their head. In this episode, we sit down with two experts who work with college athletes every day: Carrie Potoff , a licensed clinical social worker at Sasko River Center in Darien, and Rhodie Lorenz , a mental performance coach who works with college and high school athletes. Together, they break down what i...

Meditation is supposed to calm you down… right? In this episode, Sarah and Liz talk with journalist Ginger Koehler about what happened when she tried meditating every morning for a week for an article for Her Campus—and instead of feeling peaceful, she ended up having a full-on emotional crash out. Ginger shares how sitting alone with her thoughts during a major post-grad life transition brought u...

We feel so lucky to have a guest two-fer! On the last episode, you heard Ali and her daughter Emme bravely share their takes on the college application process. Lucky for us, Ali stuck around for more tips on managing the college transition. Whether it’s gearing up for application season, or starting to prep for freshman year, college planning can feel scattered: tutors here, advice there, dorm st...

Junior year of high school is here — and the college process is officially real. In this special episode, we try something new: a “Newlywed Game”-style conversation between a mom and her daughter about their different takes on independence, stress, communication, and what the college process actually feels like inside one household. Ali Dorfman, former TV producer and founder of The College &...

Conflict on college campuses has changed—and not just because of roommates and group projects. In this episode of College Is Fine, Everything’s Fine , we’re joined by Bob Bordone, conflict and negotiation expert, former Harvard Law School professor, and author of Conflict Resilience , for a timely conversation about how students can navigate disagreement when the stakes feel personal, political, a...

Did last semester not go the way you hoped? You’re not broken—and you’re definitely not alone. In this episode of College Is Fine, Everything’s Fine , we’re joined by college professor and executive-functioning expert Krisler Bailey to talk about how to actually bounce back after a tough semester. We cover why motivation fades (and what works instead), how unstructured time quietly wrecks your sch...

What were therapists really like in college? In this candid episode of College Is Fine, Everything’s Fine , we sit down with therapists for an unfiltered conversation about their actual college experiences—no polished bios, no clinical jargon, and absolutely no acronyms. From awkward roommate situations to academic struggles, bad decisions, and lessons learned the hard way, our guests share the tr...

In this episode, Rae Jacobson, an expert on ADHD, shares her personal journey with ADHD and learning disabilities. She discusses the challenges she faced in college, the importance of finding the right educational environment, and the value of self-awareness and support systems for students with learning differences. Keywords: ADHD, learning disabilities, college, self-awareness, support systems T...

College can feel overwhelming. Going to office hours is one of the simplest ways to feel connected, supported, and confident—academically and emotionally. After hearing from high school seniors and college students who regret never building relationships with professors, we brought in someone who truly understands the other side of the desk: Dr. Danielle DeNigris , Associate Professor of Psycholog...

Sleep: it’s the ultimate college luxury, the missing ingredient in most all-nighters, and—according to our guest—one of the biggest players in your mental health. In this episode, we catch some wisdom (and maybe a few zzz’s) with clinical psychologist  Dr. Colleen Ehrnstrom , who unpacks why college students are chronically tired, what circadian rhythms actually do, and how to tell the difference...

In this episode, we chat with debut author Heather Coley about her darkly captivating campus novel The Gilded Butterfly Effect . We unpack the toxic dynamics of Greek life, the uphill battle for mental health resources in college, and how fiction can often hit closer to home than nonfiction. Heather also gets real about the writing process, social media pressures, and navigating rejection in the c...

From TikTok videos of organizing and cleaning content to everyday “I’m so OCD” comments, the term gets tossed around a lot, but what does OCD actually mean? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. John Guerry , a licensed clinical psychologist, who helps us break down the difference between personal quirks, perfectionism, and a true Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) diagnosis. He explains how intr...

In this episode we explore the therapeutic power of humor with comedian Amber Autry and therapist Melanie Reese. From using laughter to cope with stress and grief, to understanding how comedy can complement traditional therapy, this conversation highlights how joy and mental health intersect in unexpected ways. Amber and Melanie share the origin of their podcast I’m Fine, It's Fine and how comedia...

Everyone procrastinates—especially in college—but what’s really going on when you keep pushing things off? In this episode, Dr. Shannon Bennett (Weill Cornell Medicine) joins us to unpack why procrastination is so common, how it connects to emotions like anxiety, self-doubt, and perfectionism, and what you can do to get unstuck. We cover: Why procrastination isn’t about laziness The emotional root...

College isn’t all highlight reels and coffee-fueled study sessions—it’s also about handling the hard stuff . From failing a test to making a social misstep, these moments can trigger strong emotional reactions and leave students feeling overwhelmed. In this episode, we break down how stress shows up in the body and mind, and how students can respond wisely instead of getting stuck. We review pract...

The people you build connections with in college can be the difference between just surviving college and truly thriving. The episode delves into the importance of having a balanced friendship matrix, recognizing different roles friends can play, and the necessity of seeking out both emotional and practical support. Additionally, we discuss the often-overlooked value of building relationships with...

College life often feels like a tug-of-war between what we want to do and what we actually do.  In this episode, we learn about the “Act with Purpose” skill. We discuss how to identify your internal GPS, navigating where your values and goals intersect, and learning how to tell if you are on-track or veering off-ramp. Real-life student examples bring procrastination struggles into focus, while Sar...

In this episode of the R.E.A.C.H. Toolkit series, we dive into the tricky triangle of college life—sleep, study, and socialize. Can you really balance all three? (Spoiler: yes, but it takes strategy!) We talk about building emotional resilience, setting healthy habits, and learning how to be flexible with your thoughts. From late-night study sessions to the pull of TikTok, we explore what it takes...

In this rebooted episode, we sit down with college students Patrick (Villanova), Ali (University of Richmond), and Paul (Providence College) to talk about the reality of transitioning into college life. Together, we unpack the gap between expectations and reality—covering everything from forming friendships to handling loneliness, navigating independence, and balancing academic and personal pressu...

In high school, college can feel like an exciting highlight reel—but what’s behind the Instagram posts and game-day photos? In this live episode, we sit down with three college students who get real about the highs, lows, and learning curves of transitioning from high school to campus life. We talk about what really helps during those ramen-fueled days and socially-overwhelming moments. From battl...