The Way to College Podcast

Sometimes the most important lessons we learn don't happen in a classroom. On this week's episode of The Way to College Podcast, my guest is Sean Phelps. Sean is the President of College Works Painting, and he offers some valuable advice for current college students. Sean shares how growing up with hardworking parents, taking on jobs at a young age, and seeking out opportunities early helped shape...

Everybody talks about college. Not enough people talk about skills . In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , I sit down with Mr. James Love , welding program director at Galveston College, and his story is exactly what students need to hear right now. James didn’t follow a perfect path. He made mistakes. He hit a roadblock. His original dream of working in pharmacy got shut down. But inste...

What if your career is not supposed to be a straight line? If you're a regular listener of The Way to College Podcast , then you know that one's career is rarely a straight line. This is never more true than on the latest episode. In this episode, Dr. Jose Saldivar talks with Kate Crane , founder of Direction Over Perfection , about why careers are more like jungle gyms than ladders . Kate...

What happens when a student realizes they are not “bad” at a subject, they just learn differently? In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose L. Saldivar speaks with Dr. Tara Williams , chemistry professor and founder of Innovative Collegiate Consultants , about her journey from struggling with math to earning a Ph. D. in chemistry and supporting neurodivergent students. Dr. Williams...

What happens when the path you chose no longer fits? Andrea Sotomayor shares her journey from pre-med student to entrepreneur, strategist, and founder, with honest lessons on failure, resilience, and self-awareness. This episode is for students and professionals learning that success is rarely a straight line.

Dr. Fred Fuentes joins The Way to College Podcast to share a powerful story of growth, resilience, and purpose. From being told he was not “college material” to serving in the military, earning multiple degrees, and dedicating his life to mentoring others, Dr. Fuentes reflects on what it means to take ownership of your journey. In this episode, we talk about first-generation experiences, mental he...

In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Kayla Mendez , a climbing arborist and business owner based in San Antonio, Texas. Kayla shares how an unexpected entrepreneurship class during her final semester of college helped shift how she saw her future and opened her mind to building something of her own. Their conversation explores uncertainty, entrepreneursh...

In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with licensed funeral director and embalmer Arielle Caraveo. We talk resilience, reinvention, and pivoting when life does not go according to plan. From academic probation at UT Austin to launching her own funeral home and founding a nonprofit inspired by her own traumatic birth experience, Arielle shares a story marked by...

In the second part of my conversation with @ KenMillerSpeaks is a practical masterclass on mentorship, boundaries, and life skills . In this episode, we talk about: Why mentorship matters (and what a real mentor actually does) The 4 life skills Ken believes college students should build: Self-audit/self-reflection Learning how to ask for help and opportunities Public speaking and confidence Learni...

From foster care to the Ivy League to rebuilding after addiction and rock bottom. Ken Miller’s story is proof that your next chapter can be your best one. Ken and Dr. Jose Saldivar talk self-esteem, counseling, guilt vs. shame, Ken’s “4 buckets” growth framework, and why you should “not play in the gray.” 🎧 Follow, listen, and share with someone who needs hope today. Content note: addiction, inca...

In this week’s episode of The Way to College Podcast , I’m joined by Dr. Hortencia Jimenez, a sociologist and tenured community college professor at Hartnell College . Dr. Jimenez is also a certified health coach + fitness instructor, and a creator who’s building a powerful platform around identity, healing, mental health, and body liberation. We talk about: redefining “education” beyond classroom...

In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Mya Andersen, independent academic life coach and founder of The Student Empowered , to break down the hidden curriculum of college, or the stuff students aren’t explicitly taught, but are still expected to master. Mya has spent 20+ years working on campuses and saw the same pattern again and again: support is often p...

This week on The Way to College Podcast , I’m joined by Jeannie Salinas , founder of Book-E Bus, the Rio Grande Valley’s first mobile bookstore . Jeannie’s story is a masterclass in pivoting with purpose : from earning her business degree at The University of Texas-Pan American, working in retail, helping run her family’s insurance business, and eventually turning a lifelong love of books into a f...

This episode is the reminder you didn’t know you needed. Dr. Jose L. Saldivar sits down with Behdad Jamshidi , a former engineer who became a marketing connector , helping businesses avoid costly mistakes by pairing them with the right marketing partners. He’s spoken with 1,100+ agencies/experts , and what he learned applies way beyond marketing: your career grows at the speed of your relationship...

Who shapes what Texas students learn? Dr. Jose Saldivar talks with Thomas Ray Garcia , an educator and candidate for the  T exas State Board of Education (District 2), about curriculum, textbooks, graduation requirements, charter approvals, and what families are  truly  concerned about right now: literacy, safety, and the attention economy.

In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Jillian Reilly (joining us from Cape Town, South Africa ) to talk about the invisible “success script” so many students feel pressured to follow — and how to rewrite it with courage, clarity, and action. We unpack: Why the “linear life” is a myth (and what to do instead) How to stop outsourcing your choices to approva...

Too many families are told, “Just apply for scholarships,” and then left to figure it out alone—while tuition climbs and student debt keeps stacking. To kick off a new season of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Jocelyn Pearson , founder of The Scholarship System , to break down what actually works when you’re trying to make college affordable—especially for families st...

In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose Saldivar talks with Kevin Krebs , a first-generation college graduate and founder of Hello College . Kevin shares how his parents’ belief that education is the great equalizer shaped his journey from immigrant roots to Northwestern University and ultimately to building one of the world’s leading college planning companies. He offers practica...

In this week’s episode of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with motivational speaker and author Jonathan Medina — America’s #1 School Motivator . From a shy middle schooler in the Rio Grande Valley to a Georgetown University graduate and national speaker , Jonathan shares how a single college visit through GEAR UP sparked his dream, how one counselor’s doubt nearly stopped...

In Part II of my conversation with Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez , Associate Vice Provost for Equity-Centered Initiatives at Arizona State University, we explore the politics shaping education today—and the urgent need to build coalitions across communities. Dr. Rodríguez discusses the threats facing public education, the role of systemic inequality, and how division undermines opportunity for all stude...

In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez , a leading voice in education policy and equity. From growing up in El Paso to earning a congressional scholarship that took him to Germany at age 16, Dr. Rodríguez shares the pivotal moments that shaped his journey. He reflects on working with migrant and tribal communities, serving on the Wh...

This week on The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Jose Saldivar speaks with brothers Jack and Evan Goldstein about their unique journeys and their mission to transform the college search experience for students. Jack Goldstein is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, studying political science and exploring opportunities in law and politics. Evan Goldstein is a high school sophomore at Jesuit...

What does it mean to follow curiosity through every stage of life? This week, Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Ben Yzaguirre , Vice President of Education & Conferences at the School Nutrition Association. From a childhood spent exploring his home in rural Maryland to teaching high school history, to designing curriculum, and ultimately finding his place in the world of associations, Ben’s sto...

This week, Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Iuri Melo , licensed clinical social worker, author, and co-founder of SchoolPulse . From his journey growing up in Portugal to building a proactive student mental health platform, Iuri shares how adaptability, curiosity, and a commitment to growth shaped his path. In this episode: The twists and turns of Iuri’s educational journey Why it’s okay to not h...

This week on The Way to College Podcast , I welcome Daniel Santos , founder and CEO of Prepory. They have guided over 14,000 students worldwide through the college admissions process. Daniel opens up about his educational journey, the lessons he learned along the way, and how those experiences inspired him to help students and families navigate the complex college admissions process. www.prepory.c...