Degree Free

Join us as we discuss the importance of decision-making throughout life.  Reflecting on interviews from 2024, we share key lessons on leveraging skills, the impact of first-career jobs, and the value of experience and mentorship without a traditional college degree. What You’ll Learn: - Leveraging existing skills when transitioning to new industries - The impact of first career job on future succe...

Join us as we challenge the common belief that a college education is the only path to success.  We explore alternative and cost-effective ways to gain valuable skills and knowledge.  We discuss the struggles of a young adult feeling stuck in college and unsure of their career path. What You'll Learn: - The trap of endless college and the importance of learning through failure and taking risks to...

Join us as we tackle the question of whether a college degree is necessary for a career in production.  We discuss the importance of gaining practical experience and building a portfolio in the industry, emphasizing the value of networking and starting in entry-level positions. What You’ll Learn:  - The importance of focusing on practical skills and experience rather than solely relying on a colle...

Join us for this thought-provoking episode, where we challenge the myths surrounding college education and debunk 7 myths about college based on an article from the LA Times.  Explore why traditional learning may not equate to intellectual depth and the limitations of a college degree in today's job market. What You’ll Learn:  - Critique of the value of college in personal growth and career discov...

Join us as we discuss the importance of determining priorities and needs before choosing a career path for Crystal's 17-year-old son in the tech industry.  By identifying the desired work environment, schedule, income, and location, individuals can find a career that aligns with their preferences and goals to thrive without needing a college degree. What You’ll Learn:  - The importance of prioriti...

Join us for an eye-opening episode where we challenge the myth surrounding the necessity of a college degree for certain professions, using personal training as an example. What You’ll Learn: - The importance of Vocational Creativity™ and thinking outside the box when pursuing a career, highlighting how individuals can obtain certifications in a few months without a costly college degree. - Explor...

Join us as we dive into the topic of breaking out of college and navigating conversations with parents.  We explore the idea that education extends beyond college and offer a 7-step plan for young adults considering leaving college. What You’ll Learn:  - The importance of creating a work plan, setting goals, and focusing on mental health while exploring alternative education paths. - Researching j...

Join us as we discuss the signs that a child should consider leaving college and explore alternative education paths.  We delve into the importance of supporting your child's desires and goals over societal pressures to stay in college. What You’ll Learn: - Signs that a young adult should consider leaving college, such as asking for a gap year and not being taught subjects they are interested in -...

Join us as we challenge the traditional views on trade schools and encourage individuals to pursue careers aligned with their skills and interests.  Explore the dangers of societal pressures and the marketing tactics of colleges in this eye-opening discussion. What You’ll Learn:  - The importance of parents listening to young adults and supporting their career decisions based on their desires and...

Join us for an enlightening episode with James Stewart, as he shares his insights on the power of networking in job hunting and career development.  From struggling to find a job to becoming a successful CMO, James sheds light on the importance of building relationships and taking risks in the professional world. What You’ll Learn: - Actionable tips for young adults entering the workforce and the...

Join us as we challenge the traditional narrative that a college degree is the only path to success.  We share valuable insights on choosing a career based on individual needs and offer advice to a concerned parent looking for alternative career options for her son. What You’ll Learn:  - The importance of prioritizing income, location, schedule, and work environment when selecting a job. - Explori...

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Bradley, a TikTok content creator, as he shares his eye-opening experience with student loan debt and the harsh realities of choosing a costly college without understanding the financial implications.  Join us as we delve into the importance of informed consent and radical responsibility in managing personal finances. What You’ll Learn:  - The lack of...

Join us as we hear from Bentley Hensel, a senior data and DevOps engineer, who built a successful career through self-teaching and practical skills.  From working in tech, politics, and the navy to self-teaching and pursuing his passions, Bentley's story is a testament to the importance of practical skills and problem-solving. What You’ll Learn:  - Bentley's journey from data and DevOps engineerin...

Join us for an inspiring episode as Jenn Hoskins shares her unconventional career journey and valuable insights on education, entrepreneurship, and tech sales.  Discover how she embraced failure and success to pave her own path to success. What You’ll Learn:  - Jenn's career evolution from starting her own business to consulting and tech sales, emphasizing the importance of unique skills and netwo...

Join us as we challenge the misconception of choosing careers based on personality traits and emphasize the importance of aligning career choices with personal needs.  We share a story of a student who found fulfillment in a simple 9-5 job rather than pursuing a career as a veterinarian. What You’ll Learn: - Highlighting the importance of identifying income, schedule, location, and work environmen...

Join us as we explore career options and education without the need for a degree.  We discuss how our book, “The Degree Free Way” is tailored to parents of 16-20-year-olds to help them explore job options that align with their young adult’s goals and lifestyle choices. What You’ll Learn:  - Emphasizing the importance of the book's target audience and discouraging individuals outside of this age ra...

Join us as we explore the importance of covering basic needs to pursue passions without financial stress.  Discover unique job limit inventory exercise from our book, “The Degree Free Way”, to help young adults identify various job options. What You’ll Learn:  - Importance of understanding business costs and challenges for entrepreneurs. - Impact of school labeling on boys' performance and self-es...

Join us for an engaging episode where we discuss the challenges of student loan debt, book pre-orders, and the impact of government involvement.  We share our humorous anecdotes about shipping books and the importance of learning from mistakes. What You’ll Learn: - The discussion on the history of student loans, default rates, and the negative consequences of government involvement. - The increase...

Join us for an engaging episode where we discuss the changing landscape of job requirements and the impact of government involvement in student loans.  Explore how companies like AWS, Google, and Tesla are removing degree requirements for job positions.  We also reflect on the evolution of the podcast over the past 3 years. What You’ll Learn:  - Reflecting on the evolving trend of companies droppi...

Join us as we share our journey of self-publishing ‘The Degree Free Way’, highlighting the importance of collaboration and attention to detail. What You’ll Learn: - The challenges and lessons learned from working with a typesetter - Utilizing Google Docs and Canva for content creation and formatting - Testing titles and subtitles, choosing cover designs, and the impact of self-publishing decisions...

Join us for an insightful episode as we share our experience managing the publishing process for our book, 'The Degree Free Way'.  Learn about the challenges we faced and the decisions we made along the way. What You’ll Learn:  - Importance of writing with a clear purpose and making ideas understandable to others - Creating an accessible book for the target audience - Effective tools and time mana...

In this episode, Joe Kowalski shares his inspiring journey of self-teaching organic chemistry to becoming an R and D research scientist and then building a successful software company with an 8-figure exit.  He emphasizes the importance of skills acquisition, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity, challenging the notion that formal education is necessary for success. What You’ll Learn:  -...

Join us in a candid conversation about the importance of aligning decisions with goals.  From Hannah's transition as an interviewer to improving her interviewing skills to the significance of job awareness and vocational creativity, this episode jumps into the challenges of effective interviewing and content creation. What You’ll Learn: - The value of meaningful discussions over scripted Q&A f...

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Allen Helm, who shares his journey of breaking free from college to pursue a successful career in lawn care and eventually becoming the director of account services at BTC Inc. What You’ll Learn:  - How Allen Helm transitioned from breaking free from college to building a successful career in the Bitcoin industry - The importance of taking risks, self-imp...

Join us as Quinn McLaren, a 22-year-old financial analyst at a Fortune 500 company, shares his journey of breaking free from college and finding success through a Degree Free path.  Discover the flaws in the education system and the importance of questioning the traditional path. What You’ll Learn: - Quinn's belief that college is not necessary for success and his own experience of thriving in the...