The Harlan Cohen Podcast

Latest Episodes:

College Health Handbook: Sleep, Stress, Substances & Self-Care with Dr. Jill Grimes Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

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 listen to your podcasts.

Subscribe and listen to Harlan’s podcast here:
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About Dr. Jill Grimes:

Jill Grimes, MD, FAAFP, is a nationally recognized family physician and award-winning author of The ULTIMATE College Student Health Handbook. Known as The College Doc, she’s a go-to health expert for students and parents navigating real-world medical issues—from hangovers, illnesses, and injuries, to sex, substances, and stress. With 20+ years in private practice, university health, and academic medicine, Dr. Grimes delivers practical, judgment-free advice that pairs perfectly with The Naked Roommate to help students thrive.

Jill's Instagram: JillGrimesMD https://www.instagram.com/jillgrimesmd/
TikTok: @tiktok.collegedoc

3rd edition of Dr. Jill's book: https://shorturl.at/Ufdrw

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
10:20 Self care
14:40 Importance of sleep
35:50 Breathing exercises for anxiety
44:21 Organization that works for you
49:46 Don’t wait to get help
57:21 Fentanyl
1:08:00 Peer pressure, drugs, anxiety
1:11:20 Social media censorship
1:13:02 Narcan
1:18:27 Alcohol safety
1:29:59 Hangovers
1:33:27 What to do after SA
1:43:32 Sexual health
1:59:18 Outro

THE HARLAN COHEN PODCAST New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen has candid conversations with top experts, and leading influencers. Guests share their greatest victories, devastating setbacks, and most valuable advice to help listeners dream big and take action. Hosted by Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author, and speaker. Harlan is the founder of Best First Year, and has over 1 million books in print. His live events, books, programs, and workshops have reached millions of people and changed countless lives.

Unpaid Internships Are Wrong - Jeffrey Moss Founder & CEO of Parker Dewey Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

ABOUT JEFFREY:
Jeffrey Moss is the Founder and CEO of Parker Dewey LLC, a company focused on addressing the challenges associated with college-to-career transitions through Micro-Internships. Prior to founding Parker Dewey, Jeffrey spent most of his career as a venture capital investor focusing on the education and technology sectors. In addition, Jeffrey was Chief of Enterprise Growth at Educational Testing Service (ETS) where his efforts focused on the use of assessment to drive equity in education and employment. Jeffrey currently serves on the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Alumni Board, the Purdue University College of Liberal Arts Dean's Advisory Council, and the President’s Advisory Council of Governors State University. Jeffrey's other relevant Board responsibilities have included: Chairman of the Board of Workstream (Nasdaq: WSTM), a software provider for human resources departments; OneGoal, a non-profit focused on college accessibility and persistence; the Chicago American Marketing Association; and the Illinois Venture Capital Association.

Links:
https://www.parkerdewey.com/
https://www.parkerdewey.com/career-launchers
https://www.parkerdewey.com/about

Read more about the news and talk about unpaid internships:
https://www.naceweb.org/unpaid
https://www.naceweb.org/public-policy-and-legal/legal-issues/legal-issues-internships/

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
02:14 Micro internships solve a problem
08:05 Unpaid Internships are wrong
15:19 Hacking College
21:15 Setting yourself up for success
29:03 Expand your search
35:15 Harlan’s Instagram comments on unpaid internships
48:47 Outro

Is Your Kid Actually College Ready? - with Kelley Challen Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

About Kelley Challen:
Kelley Challen, Ed.M., CAS, is an expert transition specialist and national speaker who has supported teens and young adults with a wide array of developmental and learning needs since 2004. Since 2013, Kelley has served as Director of Transition Services at NESCA, where she provides individualized transition assessment, planning, consultation, and coaching. She is passionate about helping students build the skills and self-determination needed to navigate postsecondary education, employment, independent living, and community life, and she regularly contributes to public conversations about best practices in transition planning and disability services.

Read Kelley’s 31 Must-Have College Readiness Skills here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/31-must-have-college-readiness-skills-kelley-challen-c5h4e/
A Guide to College Readiness by Landmark College: https://nextsteps-nh.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/college-readiness_assessment-Landmark-Guide.pdf
The College Readiness Checklist by Southern Utah University : https://www.suu.edu/trioets/documents/1617collegereadinessassessment.pdf

Learn more about Kelley’s work and NESCA’s services:
Instagram - @KelleyChallenTransitions
Facebook - Kelley Challen, Transition Specialist ( /KelleyChallenTransitions )
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/kelleychallentransitions/
Substack - substack.com/@kelleychallentransitions
YouTube - youtube.com/@KelleyChallenTransitions
Website - www.nesca-newton.com/challen
NESCA Blog - https://nesca-newton.com/nesca-notes/

Chapters

00:00 Intro
03:52 Kelley’s specialty
08:42 What is college readiness?
17:20 Setting limits
21:37 Imposter syndrome and learning differences
29:33 How many students with needs are missed?
36:58 The importance of using the right language
42:08 Understanding the college ready checklist
49:23 Being proactive
58:39 Taking small steps
1:01:21 Preparing for college
1:07:22 The reality of how many students struggle
1:10:02 What drives success in college?
1:19:17 Executive functioning checklist
1:26:04 Self awareness and self advocacy
1:33:00 Do you want to go?
1:35:11 Social readiness
1:41:19 Essential life skills
1:47:41 Outro

Walk & Talk with Harlan - Maema Njongmeta (Cincinnati Bengals Linebacker) May 08, 2025

Show notes

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

About Maema:

Maema Njongmeta is a professional NFL linebacker known not only for his athletic talent but also for his academic drive and resilience. A standout student and athlete from his high school days, Maema earned top ACT scores and was recruited to play football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he balanced the demands of Division I athletics with a deep commitment to his education. His college career was marked by both impressive on-field performances and challenging injuries, which only strengthened his resolve. Now in the NFL, Maema brings the same intensity, discipline, and thoughtfulness to his professional journey. He’s a powerful example of what it means to stay focused, overcome setbacks, and chase excellence both on and off the field.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
06:20 How we met
10:20 Maema’s friendship with Jordan
15:40 From high school to college football
32:43 Grit and resilience
39:35 Overcoming injuries and hard times
59:08 Going to the combine
1:04:57 Visualizing your goals
1:11:07 Getting to the NFL
1:16:40 Being benched in college
1:21:30 Maema’s pre-game ritual
1:27:09 Maema’s future
1:31:20 The mentor that was in Maema’s corner
1:35:00 Money
1:38:00 Being curious and taking risks
1:50:50 Maema's intense study regimen
2:01:57 Draft day headspace

Follow Maema:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.maema/?hl=en

Follow Jordan: https://www.instagram.com/jvincent.1k/?hl=en

Dr. Lisa Damour: Steady Parenting, College Anxiety, and Encouraging Independence Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

About Lisa:

Dr. Lisa Damour is the author of three New York Times best sellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Damour is also a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News.

Dr. Damour serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University and has written numerous academic papers, chapters, and books related to education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and also speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being.

Dr. Damour graduated with honors from Yale University and worked for the Yale Child Study Center before earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan. She has been a fellow at Yale’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy and the University of Michigan’s Power Foundation. She and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.

Lisa's Website: drlisadamour.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa.damour/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LDamour

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisadamourphd

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting Podcast
Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan offer practical, seasoned guidance on raising tweens and teens. Each episode answers a question from a listener about common parenting challenges—from managing school stress to navigating tough conversations—providing expert advice in a warm, relatable style.

Available on YouTube, Apple, and everywhere podcasts are found.
And check out our topic-specific playlists on YouTube and Spotify!
https://www.youtube.com/@asklisapodcast

Untangling Family Life Newsletter
Dr. Damour’s weekly newsletter brings research-based insights and practical strategies for raising tweens and teens directly to your inbox. Read past issues here: https://us7.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=62f7533dea3fce862bfee91cc&id=a4852c3333
and subscribe here: https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/

Rosalie: Dr. Damour's AI-powered Librarian
Rosalie, an AI-powered chatbot, searches Dr. Damour’s work to provide answers to your questions about raising tweens and teens. Ask her your questions here: https://drlisadamour.com/ask-rosalie/

Walk & Talk with Harlan: Talking to Students at The University of Virginia Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Harlan takes you to The University of Virginia as he talks with random students during an unplanned visit to campus. From seniors to freshmen, Harlan met amazing students who opened up and shared deeply personal stories about their life in college. Topic include: making friends, finding roommates, loneliness, homesickness, managing grades, joining a sorority, graduating, going after your dreams, finding the best bagels on campus and so many other topics that naturally unfolded during Harlan's unplanned time on campus.

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Sign up for the Harlan's Best First Year College Success and Coaching Program for Students, Parents, and Supporters: https://courses.bestfirstyear.com

Chapters

00:00 Intro
01:33 Meeting Maha and Talia
06:44 Finding your places on campus
11:43 How they became roommates
20:36 UVA sorority members talk about rush and adjusting to campus life
37:24 Meeting Emma and her friends
43:60 Finding friends through spirituality
47:10 Getting through loneliness at college
50:36 Failing grades
55:05 4th year student Jade talks about following her passion
1:39:02 Meeting Guy - ultimate frisbee
1:47:15 Meeting Brenna and Samantha
1:50:57 First year struggles

THE HARLAN COHEN PODCAST
New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen has candid conversations with top experts, and leading influencers. Guests share their greatest victories, devastating setbacks, and most valuable advice to help listeners dream big and take action. Hosted by Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author, and speaker. Harlan is the founder of Best First Year, and has over 1 million books in print. His live events, books, programs, and workshops have reached millions of people and changed countless lives.

Financial Aid Tips with Jeff Levy Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

About Jeff:
Jeff Levy has been an independent educational consultant since 2007, based in Santa Monica, California. While his students come from all backgrounds and have a broad array of interests, his three decades as a professional in the film and television industry have made him a natural resource for those interested in the visual and performing arts and other creative fields. Jeff has become a recognized advocate for college affordability and financial aid. Each year, he and his partner Jennie Kent publish several easy-to-use charts that help families understand which colleges will be the most affordable for them. While academic and social fit are two important components matching students with colleges, he believes that financial fit is too often overlooked by counselors and parents in guiding students towards colleges that make sense. Jeff has been quoted in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, has been interviewed on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” and is a regular blogger for Grown & Flown. He is a member of several professional organizations, co-wrote the syllabus for UC San Diego Extension’s course on college affordability and financial aid, and is on the faculty of IECA’s Summer Training Institute. He is passionate about being a voice for equity and affordability in higher education.

Click here to use the merit aid comparison tool:
https://lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/0db1fc2e-a739-4596-b425-419c2cfac963/page/dFARD?s=mOFFrRi-cYg

Check out Jeff's website here: https://www.bigjeducationalconsulting.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
04:00 The rising cost of college
12:17 Strategize paying for college
19:14 What is merit aid?
23:14 It’s not where you go, but what you do
27:11 How do you qualify for merit aid?
32:33 Which schools give out the most money?
43:53 When do you know if you qualify?
48:45 How to ask for more money
53:38 Is FAFSA required for merit aid?
1:04:46 What if you’re waitlisted?
1:09:00 Can you get out of early decision?

THE HARLAN COHEN PODCAST
New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen has candid conversations with top experts, and leading influencers. Guests share their greatest victories, devastating setbacks, and most valuable advice to help listeners dream big and take action. Hosted by Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author, and speaker. Harlan is the founder of Best First Year, and has over 1 million books in print. His live events, books, programs, and workshops have reached millions of people and changed countless lives.

Elizabeth Hamblet Returns: Demystifying Student Disability Services in College Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Harlan's MUST READ Book List

Purchase Elizabeth's book 7 Steps to College Success

About Elizabeth:
Elizabeth C. Hamblet has worked as a learning disabilities specialist in college disability services offices for two decades. In addition to working at a university, she is a nationally-requested speaker on preparing students with disabilities for successful college transition. Hamblet is the author of Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities and a concise guide on transition, and her work has appeared in numerous journals and online platforms. She offers advice and information on her website at www.LDadvisory.com and shares resources on numerous social media platforms.

Follow Elizabeth:
Threads – ld_advisory
Twitter - @echamblet
Facebook - Elizabeth C. Hamblet, LD Advisory ( / ldadvisory )
LinkedIn - Elizabeth C Hamblet / elizabeth-c-hamblet
Bluesky - @echamblet.bsky.social
Instagram - ld_advisory ( / ld_advisory )
Youtube - https://bit.ly/LDadvisoryCTPlaylist

THE HARLAN COHEN PODCAST
New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen has candid conversations with top experts, and leading influencers. Guests share their greatest victories, devastating setbacks, and most valuable advice to help listeners dream big and take action. Hosted by Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author, and speaker. Harlan is the founder of Best First Year, and has over 1 million books in print. His live events, books, programs, and workshops have reached millions of people and changed countless lives.

AI Used in College Admissions Review Process at UNC - with UNC student reporter Alice Scott Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

About the episode:
On this special episode, Harlan sits down with student reporter of the Daily Tarheel, Alice Scott. Alice shares more information about her experience following the story of UNC's confirmed use of AI technology in the admissions process. This story opens up discussion for a lot of interesting questions as similar systems are implemented at other schools. How are applications assessed by this technology? How was this model trained? Is there a double standard here when it comes to students using AI for classes? As AI becomes more and more integrated into our lives in meaningful ways, it will continue to raise important questions for discussion.

Alice's First Story:
UNC uses AI in admissions review process, documents show how
https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2025/01/university-admissions-essays
Alice's Second Story:
UNC confirms admissions essays are reviewed by Durham-based company's technology
https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2025/01/university-ai-followup
THE HARLAN COHEN PODCAST New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen has candid conversations with top experts, and leading influencers. Guests share their greatest victories, devastating setbacks, and most valuable advice to help listeners dream big and take action. Hosted by Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author, and speaker. Harlan is the founder of Best First Year, and has over 1 million books in print. His live events, books, programs, and workshops have reached millions of people and changed countless lives.

Harlan's First College Roommate Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

The Harlan Cohen Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

About the episode:
On this week's episode, Harlan talks about his first college roommate and shares some surprises that cleared up a lot of the confusion.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Unexpected Email
05:08 Reflecting on College Experiences
08:12 Scott's Perspective and Realization
30:46 Impact of Mental Illness and Marijuana
34:33 Coping with a Sibling's Illness
39:08 Personal Growth and Professional Journey
51:01 The Importance of Therapy and Self-Discovery
53:38 Overcoming Fear of Rejection
01:03:04 The Power of Resilience and Service
01:06:49 A Meaningful Reunion and Final Thoughts

THE HARLAN COHEN PODCAST

New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen has candid conversations with experts and influencers. Guests share their greatest victories, devastating setbacks, and most valuable advice to help listeners dream big and take action.

Hosted by Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and syndicated advice columnist. Harlan is the founder of Best First Year, and has over 1 million books in print. His live events, books, programs, and workshops have reached millions of people and changed countless lives.

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