The Gap Year Podcast

Carol Xu didn’t know if taking a gap year would be the right decision, but she did it anyway and has no regrets looking back. In this episode, Carol shares how and why she decided to take a gap year, what she’s been up to and what she’s learned so far. The Gap Year Game Plan

Telling your parents you want to take a gap year can be the hardest part about your decision and can make for a very difficult conversation. In this episode, Michelle Dittmer, President of the Canadian Gap Year Association takes you through all the steps to ensure you have a successful conversation with your parents, from preparing for it to conducting it. Full Show NotesDownload the free cheat sh...

Doors will blow wide open for you when you take action during your gap year. On this episode, Cory Herc talks about how youth can make an impact on their community during their gap year, how to get the funding to do it, the skills youth learn and the opportunities that follow.  Full Show NotesRisingYouth Direct Contact: funding@takingitglobal.orgGap Year Certificate

Before even considering a gap year, people are held back by this idea that taking a gap year is expensive and out of reach, but in reality the price tag on a gap year can really range and it can be affordable! In this episode, I share steps and tips you can take to make your gap year accessible. Full Show Notes Gap Year ToolKit  

When Nazra Noushad asked herself who she wanted to be in 10 years, she determined a gap year would help her become that person. In this episode, Nazra shares why and how she chose to take a gap year, how she told her mother, the opportunities she had and how her real world experience has set her up to thrive when she goes back to university. Full Show Notes http://www.cangap.ca/callhttp://www.cang...

Every kid is different and so is their journey. Not everyone is meant to pursue post-secondary education right after highschool; a gap year could be the best decision you ever help your kids make. Take Mary Boynton's experience for example, she is the mother of twin boys, who both decided to take a gap year in 2019. In this episode, Mary speaks candidly about their decision to take a gap year and...

A gap year goes beyond the backpackers you see on Instagram travelling the world. It takes guts to step away from a “normal” path, but you will be that much closer to your goals by doing so. In this episode, I define the reality of a gap year vs. the Instagram version and I explain the gap year personas I’ve seen, the benefits of taking a year off, especially during a global pandemic and my top ti...

Kayne Boyall is a Climate Champion, passionate about the environment and speaks to us all about how to take action.  He talks about climate action, sustainability and some ways you can make your gap year more Earth-friendly.  He shares about how he was able to connect with local resources and groups with shared values.  If climate change is important to you or you are looking to connect with other...

Sam Demma is a 20-year-old gap year alum and motivational speaker, podcast host of the High Performing Student and entrepreneur.  Sam will be sharing his full story along with some tips and ticks for making an impact on your very own gap year at Gap Year Frosh Week.  Make sure you don’t miss out! In this episode Sam talks about how a physical injury and mental health downwards spiral pushed him in...

Azmain is taking a gap year starting in September 2020.  He just graduated from high school in Calgary, Alberta and decided that taking a year off was the best decision for him.  He speaks candidly about making the decision, what he plans on doing and how he will use this time to learn, experience and grow a business. The show notes do not do this conversation justice, so listen to Azmain’s wisdom...

Many gappers want to volunteer on their gap year or feel like they should volunteer. Volunteering is a powerful way to use your gifts and talents in new ways, to build your experience and your resume and to find a sense of purpose.  Lily shares how to get a volunteer placement, how to be successful in those placements and how to leverage your experience to connect, grow and become more involved in...

We are in the final countdown before school starts.  In previous years there was excitement and preparation, but many families this year are still in the uncomfortable and unwelcome position of deciding on next year’s plans – to go or not to go back to school.  This episode, I take you inside OUR family’s decision-making process with what we are doing with our kids in September – I provide you wit...

As futurist and host of Tilt the Future Podcast, Karena current observes trends and signs in the world around us in order to see what the possible futures might look like.  She doesn’t predict the future but rather uses current data to imagine what the future could look like – futurecasting.  She is a global citizen having lived on multiple continents and now finds her joy in helping families Tilt...

Deciding to take a gap year or not is no small decision. CanGap has been supporting families all throughout COVID and I wanted to share some of the common things that families should be considering as they make this choice.  We have heard these thigns from hundreds of families over the course of the last 4 months and wanted to share some thoughts with you. Think about:The First Year Experience you...

There is so much going on right now that it can feel overwhelming. The weight of realizing how much help the world needs can feel very heavy. There’s no denying that.  But it’s also inspiring. People across the world are coming together to march. More people are putting on masks when in public. Donations are pouring in from coast to coast for different causes. People are inspired to do better, to...

With the deadline for accepting post-secondary admissions getting closer, families are becoming more stressed about what the right decision is for fall 2020.  In this episode I share the red flags that pop up in conversations with families that show me that a gap year is NOT the right step for them. Take a listen as it might help get some clarity for your family’s decision.

Story Time: Max Brauch started back at Concordia University in the fall of 2020 after his gap year that was built on getting experience, earning money, networking and building relationships and a bit of travel.  He speaks about how he got clarity for his gap year and his future, the people he met along the way and a few tips and tricks on making it a purposeful year. 

Right now families are coming closer to the deadline for making post-secondary decisions but most are lacking critical information as to what the post-secondary experience will actually be. Yes, there will be classes and profs and learning but will it be on campus? On line? Will there be residence? There are many unknown factors that will significantly contribute to your university experience. So...

By now, we are all tired of hearing about COVID-19. We’re all wishing we could go back to normal, forget this ever happened and get on with our lives. While this is true for everybody, wishing to get past this, the feelings of wanting to just forget about it can feel different for those who have lost out on major life milestones because of the pandemic. My heart goes out to all of the 2020 graduat...

Because of COVID-19, everybody is experiencing some level of trauma. It might sound scary – trauma is a big word, and something we don’t often talk about. But with everything that’s happening right now, it’s important to discuss it and how it may impact our loved ones.  Today we chatted with Zipporah “Zippy” Doiron, a counselor, who shared tips on feeling creative, capable and connected from a the...

Tim Tamashiro’s Ikigai is “to delight” – it is the reason he gets out of bed every morning and he wants you to live a life knowing your own Ikigai. But what is an Ikigai? Our next podcast guest will tell you all about it! Tim is the author of the Amazon #1 bestselling book, How To Ikigai. He’s a speaker, singer and explorer. And after 10 years as host of Tonic on CBC Radio 2, he left radio at age...

James spent his gap year working in hospitality and retail while taking the time to shift his focus into finding a pathway forward.  He shares how his high school self wasn’t serious about academics and how his gap year helped him to mature, made him more ready for a college education. He doesn’t have everything figured out – his gap year wasn’t a silver bullet. However, he learned how to move him...

Gap Years aren’t all about travel.  Despite what Instagram and media coverage of a-list celebrities and royalty might tell you, most Canadians don’t spend their entire gap year traveling.  They will usually spend between 2 weeks and 3 months traveling. If we use an average of 5 weeks over the course of a 62 week gap year (beginning of July to end of August the following year), that makes up only 8...

COVID19, also known as the coronavirus, took over the world in March 2020, and because of it, many gappers have had to cancel or change their travel plans unexpectedly. While it may be the responsible thing to do for many reasons – for personal safety and global safety to name a few – it doesn't make it any easier to swallow.  Looking forward to an experience for a long time builds up such great e...

After being removed from it for a little bit of time, we can forget how many major stressors and transitions happen in the late teenage years.  Beyond just the physical and hormonal growth, there are huge social changes that come with the transition out of childhood then  into adolescence and into early adulthood. They are all tremendous leaps in one’s life! No wonder it can feel like we’re all on...