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Episodes from The Way to College Podcast
Building Skills and Building Dreams with Galveston College's, James Love
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 instead of letting that moment define him, he found another lane.That lane was welding.And it changed everything.Ja...
The Career Jungle Gym with Kate Crane
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 shares her journey from studying art history and business at UT Austin to working in the New York art world, navigating a layoff during the 2008...
Supporting Neurodivergent Learners
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 shares how one geometry lesson helped her understand the power of visual learning, why self-advocacy matters in college, and how students can use support services, accommodations, tutoring, and communication with professors to succ...
From Pre-Med to Corporate Strategist to Entrepreneur with Andrea Sotomayor
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.
What Students Need with Dr. Fred Fuentes
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 health, mentorship, legacy, and the importance of believing in yourself even when the path is unclear.Tune in for an honest and inspiring conversation that will resonate with students, educators, counselors, and...
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...