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Episodes from The Way to College Podcast
Climbing Your Way Through the Trees, Literally, with Climbing Arborist, Kayla Mendez
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, entrepreneurship, comparison, persistence, and the pressure young people feel to have everything figured out early. Kayla speaks honestly about choosing an unconventional path, building a business through setbacks, and learning to follow curiosity rather than...
Pivoting with Funeral Director, Arielle Caraveo
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 courage, faith, and perseverance. Throughout the conversation, Arielle reflects on entrepreneurship, work-life balance, grief, motherhood, and the power of pivoting without losing sight of your purpose. This episode is for anyone navigating...
The Power of Mentorship with Speaker and Author, Ken Miller
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-reflectionLearning how to ask for help and opportunitiesPublic speaking and confidenceLearning how to say no (boundaries = leadership)How overload and overcommitting can quietly derail your purposeKen’s guiding principle: “Seek truth… then do the ne...
Ken Miller Owns His Story on The Way to College Podcast
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, incarceration, suicide attempts. (U.S. support: 988)
Dr. Hortencia Jimenez on Family, Healing, and Taking Up Space on The Way to College Podcast
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 classroomshow sociology gave her language for understanding systems, power, and belongingnavigating academia as a parentchoosing family and community over prestige and having zero regretswhy prot...
Learning the Unwritten Rules About College with Academic Life Coach Mya Andersen
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 passive, and schools intervene only when there’s a crisis. But when the conversation starts at crisis-level, the focus becomes the problem, not the student.What you’ll learn...
Pivoting with Purpose: Getting on the BookERGV Book Bus with Jeannie Salinas on The Way to College Podcast
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 full-on community experience on wheels.In this episode, we talk about:How she turned a side hustle into a real businessThe mind...
You Can Be Brilliant and Still Get Passed Over: A conversation with Behdad Jamshidi on The Way to College Podcast
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 relationships.If you’re a student, early-career professional, or someone trying to pivot… this one’s for you.✅ In this episode, we talk about:Why the people skills you ignore b...
Talking Education with Texas State Board of Education Candidate, Thomas Ray Garcia
Who shapes what Texas students learn? Dr. Jose Saldivar talks with Thomas Ray Garcia, an educator and candidate for the Texas 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.
Giving Yourself Permission with Jillian Reilly on The Way to College Podcast
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 approval from othersThe difference between support, resources… and permissionA practical way to take your next step even when you’re unsur...
Season Premiere | How to Pay for College with Jocelyn Pearson creator of The Scholarship System
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 stuck in the “income gap” (not enough aid, not enough cash).You’ll hear:How to “follow the money” when choosing schools (and why affordability starts before scholarships...
Say Hello to Hello College Founder, Kevin Krebs on The Way to College Podcast
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 practical advice for students and families navigating the admissions process — including his SAFE framework (Social, Academic, Financial, and Employment fit) — and insights on staying resilient, proactive, and prepared.🔗 Learn more at sayhellocollege.com