The Harlan Cohen Podcast

I spent an amazing day walking around Northwestern University. I met students who were so generous and enthusiastic about sharing the ups and downs of their college experiences. From finding roommates, to deciding on a major, finding a significant other, rushing a sorority, and getting through academic struggles, these students covered so many key points of the college transition. It's hard to kno...

I sat down with Lorraine Pennyman, Director of Experiential Learning and Engagement at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business, and this conversation was one of my favorites. Lorraine has spent more than 20 years mentoring students, and what stands out about her is she's not just doing a job, she is genuinely in students' corners every single day. We talked about why building real r...

I got to sit down with two of my favorite people, Mike and Kass, entrepreneurs, investors, and authors of the book Shoveling Shit: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur's Messy Path to Success, right in their home (which is basically a full-on operation center). These two have meant so much to my career. Mike and Kass actually introduced me to Peterson's, which led to my very first book deal. We got...

In this episode, I sit down with Pascale Charlot, senior fellow at the Aspen Institute and former president of Miami Dade College's largest campus. We talk about finding your purpose, connecting to your highest self, and why so many students miss the mark by only listing accomplishments instead of revealing who they truly are. Pascale shares her powerful insights on building meaningful relationshi...

I'm so excited to share this conversation with Jeremy Caplan, Director of Teaching and Learning at CUNY's Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and creator of the Wonder Tools newsletter (80,000+ subscribers). If you're struggling with the job search and getting nowhere, this is for you. Jeremy breaks down what makes someone "un-ignorable" in today's market, the three traits that lead to success (...

I sat down with sleep expert Dr. Shelby Harris to break down why sleep is a powerful driver of mental health, performance, and overall well being, especially for college students. We talked about common barriers like late nights, phones, and packed schedules, and why change starts with actually wanting it. Instead of perfection, we focused on small, practical experiments to improve sleep habits. T...

Watch the full video version of the podcast here: https://youtu.be/U_Swp7u_N-I?si=Rr3LVK8jWo8PSgv-   I had the chance to attend the Drum Corps International World Championships. Student musicians from all over the country performed at Lucas Oil Stadium, and it was an incredible experience. While I was there, I walked around and spoke to students about their memorable experiences as part of DCI and...

I had an incredible conversation with Keith Jones, a Penn State career counselor, to talk what all college students should know about transitioning to a career after school. Keith breaks down LinkedIn strategy, interviews, and why 95% of companies now use Application Tracking Systems to screen resumes. He talks about the importance of relationships built freshman year (not senior year when it's to...

Harlan Cohen breaks down the fundamental problem with college: schools prepare students academically but leave them completely unprepided for the emotional, social, financial, and professional transitions that make or break the college experience. Drawing from his own painful story of struggling, feeling lonely, and eventually transferring, Harlan reveals why so many high-achieving students arrive...

In this conversation with Brandon Busteed, founder of Edconic and former head of education research at Gallup, we explored what really matters when it comes to career success after college. Brandon shared groundbreaking findings from the Gallup-Purdue Index, revealing that only 22% of college graduates had a mentor who encouraged their goals and dreams. We discussed his own non-linear journey from...

Months ago, I posted a reel encouraging students to try and ask their teachers to round up their grades if they were close to the next letter grade. High school teacher David Loudermilk saw an opportunity to use this idea to teach self-advocacy. In this conversation, Mr. Loudermilk and I discuss how he turned my controversial concept into a reality, requiring students to use argumentative writing...

I sat down with Michael Itzkowitz, director behind the College Scorecard. Michael shares his incredible journey from PhD student to working in the Obama administration, and now leading HEA where he's revolutionizing how we think about college value and ROI. We dive deep into the questions every family needs to ask: Is college still worth it? How do you evaluate schools beyond just "getting in"? An...

In this episode, I had a great walk around Evanston, Illinois, with New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo to discuss his latest book, Dream School. We talked about why getting into a highly selective college isn't necessarily the key to long-term success and what the data actually shows about how students from less selective, smaller schools go on to build equally fulfilling careers. Jeff...

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Patrick Hickey about his deep devotion to the nursing profession. From climbing the highest peak on every continent to earning an impressive list of credentials (RN, BSN, MS, MSN, DrPH, CNOR(E)), he shares experiences that have given him valuable insight and wisdom. As both an educator and philanthropist, he continues to serve as a light for others. We also discuss...

In this episode of The Harlan Cohen podcast, authors Ned Laff and Scott Carlson share a fresh approach to navigating college that helps students learn life skills that will help them graduate, build a network of mentors, get a job, and succeed at life. During my conversation with Ned and Scott, we talk about how college isn't a linear path to a career—it's an opportunity to figure out who you are,...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...

Are you a parent of current or soon-to-be college student? Are you a student? Join BEST FIRST YEAR, Harlan's College Success Coaching Community for Parents & Students Use code Pod25 at checkout and get $25 off your membership Tap here: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com/courses/your-first-course   The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you...