Gap Year Radio

Jackson Balin joins me from Queenstown, New Zealand to reflect on what he calls his “growth year." After realizing during his first year of university that he wanted more time for exploration, challenge, and perspective, Jackson stepped away from the conventional timeline and spent the year working in Tennessee and New Zealand through destination work experiences through Adventure EXP. We talk abo...

Ellie Larkins joins the show to break down how work exchanges can become a powerful gateway into long-term travel, meaningful cultural immersion, and real-world skill building. What began as a short trip after university quickly evolved into years of global travel fueled by Workaway experiences across Europe and Australia. In this conversation, Ellie shares practical strategies for finding great h...

Eduardo Glenn shares how he used his gap year as a focused and intentional bridge between high school in Costa Rica and college in the United States. Centered around a deep commitment to competitive racing, his gap year became an opportunity to pursue a long-standing goal of winning a national championship, while also exploring professional interests through a VaCorps internship in South Africa an...

Suzanne Roske, founder of Vamos Coaching and Gap Year Association Board member, shares her journey from a 25-year corporate career to moving her family to Oaxaca, Mexico for a life-changing sabbatical. What began as burnout and a quiet inner voice turned into a bold experiment in slowing down, redefining success, and building a more intentional life. This conversation explores what an “adult gap y...

Luke Morton shares how a planned nine-week gap experience with Warriors Academy in South Africa turned into a two-year journey of personal growth, global connection, and skill-building. From an early experience in self-mastery that reshaped his mindset, to a second year earning 19 certifications as a multi-activity instructor, Luke walks us through how stepping away from the traditional path helpe...

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, I speak with Sammie Westfahl about her experience in Aerie Backcountry Medicine’s Fall Semester in Wilderness Medicine, an immersive program that blends emergency medicine training, rescue skills, wildland fire operations, and international expedition travel. Sammie shares how this sequence of certifications, field training, and international immersion challenged...

In Episode 2 of Season 10, I sit down with Adam Salzman, founder of AdventureEXP and author of The Suitcase of Life, for a practical conversation about personal finance on a gap year. We unpack why budgeting is really a “priorities list,” how students can build financial confidence through real-world decisions, and how destination work experiences can help young adults earn money while they travel...

In this Season 10 opener, I sit down with Arjun Malaviya, who began solo traveling on his 17th birthday and visited 100 countries in 13 months. We dig into how his parents’ “experiences over stuff” mindset shaped his love of travel, and how he built a rhythm for constant movement with flexible planning and a strong bias toward local connection. Arjun shares practical tools (Rome2Rio, Google Transl...

Nancy hit pause on her engineering degree and found herself living solo in Palermo, Italy, caring for two kids and soaking in the rich, sensory experience of Sicilian life. In this episode, she shares what it’s really like to be an au pair abroad - from daily routines and bonding with her host family to solo adventures and personal reflection. She also discusses the process of finding a placement...

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, Julia talks with Dillon Sheekey, an alum who used his gap year to reconnect with his creativity and develop a deeper sense of presence and purpose. Through three distinct experiences: a semester in the Southwest with ARCC Programs, an immersive art residency at Cow House Studios in Ireland, and a summer job on Nantucket. Dillon explored what it means to live inte...

Welcome back to another installment of our Frequently Wondered Questions series, where we answer some of the most common questions about gap years. Today, we're tackling one of the biggest ones: “Why should I take a gap year?” But instead of hearing the answer from me, we’re handing the mic to the people who know best: gap year alumni. In this episode, you’ll hear from Aliza, Marco, Journey, Katar...

Not every gap year takes place before college - and not every gap experience involves travel. In this episode of Gap Year Radio, we explore what it looks like to bring intentionality into a mid-college gap year, through the lens of Connor’s experience with the College for Social Innovation’s Gap Semester in the City. Like many students, Connor’s college journey hasn’t been a straight line. After s...

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers dives into the essential topic of budgeting for your gap year. From understanding what your gap year expenses might look like to exploring creative ways to fund your adventure, Julia provides actionable advice for planning a gap year on a budget. Whether you're looking to save, earn, or find funding options like scholarships and grants, this epi...

It’s college decision season! If you’re considering a gap year but wondering how to fund it—or if colleges even support it—this episode is for you. Duke University is one of the few schools in the U.S. that doesn’t just allow students to take a gap year—it actually funds them. Today, we’re diving into a firsthand account of what it’s like to participate in the Duke Gap Year Program, one of the mos...

In this installment of Frequently Wondered Questions on Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers discusses how to effectively utilize unstructured time during a gap year. From short periods of downtime to longer stretches at your disposal, Julia offers practical advice on using this time to develop new skills, rest, and even earn money. She emphasizes the importance of reflection, setting goals, and stay...

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers speaks with Ben, a gap year alum who integrated mindfulness practices into his varied experiences. Ben recounts his journey, highlighting his residency at Zen monasteries in the US and Japan, a farm stay in Costa Rica, and learning audio engineering. He shares insights into how these experiences enhanced his personal growth, creativity, and appr...

One of the biggest myths about gap years? That they’re only for certain types of students. In this episode, host Julia Rogers breaks down this misconception and explores how gap time can benefit students from all backgrounds and academic paths. From high achievers on the brink of burnout to hands-on learners seeking real-world experience, Julia shares key student profiles that thrive on a gap year...

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers chats with Abby, a gap year alum and current aerospace engineering student, and her mom, Elena, about Abby’s incredible year of exploration and growth. From volunteering at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand to road-tripping through 10 National Parks, Abby’s experiences shaped her confidence, independence, and readiness for college and beyond. El...

Welcome back to Gap Year Radio! After a 2024 hiatus, we’re thrilled to kick off Season 9 with a very special episode. Big changes are in the air, and we’re sharing all the updates, memories, and excitement for what’s ahead! ✨ Life Updates Margo tied the knot! Julia welcomed a golden retriever puppy to her family! ✨ Reliving Podcast Memories This episode is bittersweet as we celebrate Margo’s inc...

This episode we are super excited to welcome two more guests for our Mindful Volunteering Part 2 episode, Emily and Andrei. These two are former students of Claire Bennet from our Mindful Volunteering Part 1 episode and are currently in the midst of their gap year through the Princeton Novogratz Bridge Year Program in Udaipur, India. They spend some time telling us about the Novogratz Program and...

On this episode of Gap Year Radio we are so excited to welcome Claire Bennet, co-author of the book Learning Service: The Essential Guide to Volunteering Abroad. On this episode, she discusses with us the many nuances of international service, aid and development, voluntourism, and other topics related to volunteering abroad. She reframes for us what is often referred to as "Service Learning", to...

On today's pod we are excited to welcome Nora Livingstone, the cofounder and volunteer coordinator of Animal Experience International, which is an organization that offers ethical and life-changing trips for students, professionals, and animal lovers to volunteer around the world with organizations that are working ethically and sustainability for animal conservation. Nora is a Nature Canada Woman...

Happy Gap Year Exploration Month! In this special before-and-after episode of Gap Year Radio, we embark on an awe-inspiring conversation with Journey Fleishman, a remarkable gap year student who undertook the incredible feat of hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the Western US. Julia and Journey take a deep dive into the challenges, triumphs, and transformative experiences that Journey...

Happy October, and welcome to Gap Year Exploration Month! Julia and Margo are excited to chat with the listeners this episode about the many opportunities coming up this month to #explorethegapyear, as well as trending gap year destinations for 2024, helpful apps and hot travel tips, working holiday visas, sustainability, slow travel, and much more. Visit www.gapyearradiopodcast.com for more infor...

Join us as traveler and disability advocate Johileny Meran shares invaluable insights on how to empower students with disabilities to explore the world. We discuss her study abroad experience in London, receive tips for creating more inclusive gap year experiences and feel reaffirmed in the transformative impact of international experiences for all. Johileny is a graduate of NYU's College of Arts...