University Overwhelm

In this episode, Alexa and Scott reminisce on the year they spent diving into the topic of student thriving, and share their key takeaways from their many conversations over the course of this season.

In this episode, Alexa and Scott unpack why certainty about your major is another predictor of student thriving and some practical steps you can take to grow in this area. Part two of two.

In this episode, Alexa and Scott unpack why certainty about your major is another predictor of student thriving and how certainty might not mean exactly what you think it means. Part one of two.

April Fools!

In this episode, Alexa and Scott unpack why a strong sense of community is the most direct predictor of student thriving. Exploring what belonging, ownership, relationships, and partnership look like; common barriers to connection, and practical steps students can take to build meaningful community.

In this episode, Scott and Alexa dive into the Thriving element Engaged Learning. What it really means, why so many students find it challenging, and the practical ways they can build this skill. Together, they unpack common obstacles, share real‑life examples, and offer strategies to help students take ownership of their learning and feel more connected both inside and outside the classroom.

In this episode, Alexa and Scott discuss the thriving element Diverse Citizenship, what it is and how you can cultivate it. You can check out Chesed Dent's ( Pastoral Counseling & Care, Liberty University ) podcast, The Rest is Just Geography here .

In this episode, Scott and Alexa discuss the thriving element Academic Determination, what it is, why it matters, and practical skills to cultivate it.

In this episode, Alexa and Scott discuss the thriving element Positive Perspective, what it is and how you can cultivate it.

In this episode Alexa and Scott talk about the thriving element Social Connectedness, what it is and how you can cultivate it.

In this episode, Scott and Alexa dive into barriers to thriving and how to thrive while juggling responsibilities.

In today's episode we dive into what is Thrive Coaching and why you might need it more than you think.

Scott and Alexa welcome you back to the University Overwhelm Podcast!

Scott and Sophia spent a year diving in to the topic of Building Healthy Community. They share their takeaways and what conversations they've had with parents and students thanks to this podcast. Give this episode a listen to hear a bird's eye view of how this season of the podcast was and then go back and listen to the whole thing!

A tough part of building healthy community, is navigating when a friendship needs to end and how to end it. Scott and Sophia talk through the ins and outs of determining an end to a relationship. This is not something to take lightly, and you'll hear that in the hesitation they take to definitively determine what constitutes a needed "break". Give this episode a listen if you struggl...

Often times, when talking about building healthy community, we can look around and "judge" those around us. They're not healthy, they lack integrity, they don't show up for us in ways we'd like, etc. But when it comes to building healthy community, we need to start with looking at ourselves and checking to see if our character is solid. Do we have integrity? Are we striving t...

Often times, when people are suffering, they tend to experience isolation. Those around them are uncomfortable with their hardship or feel unable to help in a meaningful way, and the person is pushed to the side and left to navigate things alone. Romans 12 is where Scott and Sophia start today's episode. It gives context to God's expectation for us Christians in how to handle grief and suf...

Part of what is so hard in making friends and building healthy community, is we often struggle to know who we are. Not knowing where to place our identity can negatively impact the type of friend we are to others, as well as knowing what types of people we need in our lives to help us grow. This episode dives in to a biblical perspective on identity, and applies that to this season's theme of...

In a day and age where "living your truth" and "who am I to judge?" are phrases used to dismiss the importance of holding one another accountable, Scott and Sophia spend time sharing why these mentalities are dangerous. As Christians, building healthy community cannot happen apart from honesty and accountability. What does it look like to hold people in your community accountab...

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens" - J.R.R. Tolkein On this week's episode, Scott and Sophia spend time discussing the concept of what it means to be a faithful and loyal friend. Loyalty and faithfulness tend to be used in contexts where hiding someone's secrets or shying away from honesty to our friends are what's expected. But what if those two trait...

This season, Scott and Sophia are talking about Building Healthy Community. And this week, they dive into the topic of forgiveness. What does forgiveness have to do with community? Well, when (not if) those in your community let you down.....how are you going to handle it? How would you like others to handle it when you let them down? Scott and Sophia dissect forgiveness and how to develop this vi...

Doing an episode on boundaries in the middle of our season on Building Healthy Community may seem odd. However, boundaries are so important if you want your community to truly be "healthy"! Scott and Sophia dive into this topic and discuss how boundaries can be a solid tool for you to use in your journey of building healthy community. Give this episode a listen if you struggle with people crossing...

Making friends can be so tough. Where do you even start? Scott and Sophia take the time this episode to explain how to make friends. They give practical examples and tips/tricks. Give this episode a listen if you would like to grow in the skill of making friends!

Forgiveness is an underrated aspect of building healthy community. Scott and Sophia dive into this trait through the lens of community building and maintaining healthy friendships. Human beings will hurt us, let us down, and disappoint us. How can we handle those moments as Christians and as people that desire to extend what we would like to receive? Give this episode a listen if you struggle with...

Scott and Sophia spend this episode interviewing Liberty University's Dean of Students, Mark Hyde, and his wife, Kathy Hyde. Mark and Kathy have been married for 29 years and have experienced their fair share of hardships and hurdles. Mark and Kathy spent years being foster parents together, as well as adopting kids out of foster care. Mark got Covid in 2021 and was on the brink of death several t...