In high school, college can feel like an exciting highlight reel—but what’s behind the Instagram posts and game-day photos? In this live episode, we sit down with three college students who get real about the highs, lows, and learning curves of transitioning from high school to campus life.

We talk about what really helps during those ramen-fueled days and socially-overwhelming moments. From battling procrastination and navigating friend groups, to figuring out who you are and how to take care of your mental health, we cover it all with the help of our 5-point R.E.A.C.H. framework.

• Realize Your Values
• Elevate Your Emotional Fitness
• Act with Purpose
• Create Healthy Relationships
• Handle a Crisis Wisely

Whether you’re a rising freshman, a concerned parent, or someone currently in the college trenches, this episode is packed with relatable stories, actionable tips, and a reminder that it’s okay to not have it all figured out on day one.

This episode is a special collaboration with Wave Strong, a foundation with a mission to improve mental health awareness and resources within their community of Darien, CT. We are so lucky they hosted us for this live event, and we are incredibly grateful to the recent graduates of Darien High School for sharing stories about their transition to college, the challenges they faced, and how they navigated them.

Wave Strong Foundation: https://wavestrong.org/

If you prefer video (hint: easier to see the slides that way!): https://youtu.be/H8Xze_27-7E

And last but not least, here's a link to the tip sheets we shared: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGpfz8GYYY/ibIWbRNjS9k8cyFlqmkIrQ/edit?utm_content=DAGpfz8GYYY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Want to share your story, give us feedback or offer up an episode idea? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you.

Insta: @collegeisfinepodcast
Tik Tok: @collegeisfinepodcast
Email: collegeisfinepodcast@gmail.com

Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner

College is a critical period where students are exploring and solidifying their values and their identities. Polarizing social topics, like religion, politics, social justice, are often at the core of these developing identities. Now more than ever, polarization on these issues is worsening, and deeply impacts the lives of college students. Exploring these tensions on and off campus can feel daunting, and often leads students chronically swinging from avoidance to activism. We get it. There are so many tough conversations to be had with people we care about. In this week’s episode we avoid avoiding, and discuss how you can develop a framework to find a balance between keeping relationships that are important to you, while also continuing to live in accordance to your values.

What we will discuss in this episode:

• The importance of dialectics
• Why you should always assume you are assuming
• How to draw relationship boundaries
• Redefining goals within relationships
• How to use the DBT FAST and GIVE skills to handle value differences
• How to gently pushback in conversations in a non-confrontational way

Want to share your story, give us feedback or offer up an episode idea? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you.

Insta: @collegeisfinepodcast
Tik Tok: @collegeisfinepodcast
Email: collegeisfinepodcast@gmail.com

Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner

Put down that red Solo cup and listen in as we talk with Dr. James McOwen, clinical director of the Addiction Recovery Management Service at Massachusetts General Hospital. In this eye-opening chat, we dive into the real deal about college drinking and drug culture.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• What percentage of college students drink, and when does it slip into a problem drinking
• Tips for partying smart if you do choose to drink
• Why pizza is your drinking ally
• Is drinking the same for men and women?
• Is drinking too much the only sign of a drinking problem?
• What do to if you’d like to cut back or take less risk when you’re drinking
• Is switching to weed the better solution?
• Specific red flags that your drinking might be a problem

Perfect for college students trying to navigate the drinking scene, parents worried about their kids, or anyone interested in the fascinating connection between mental health and substance use in young adults. This episode keeps it real while giving you practical advice you can actually use!

RESOURCES:

Thank you to Dr. McKowen for sharing these resources with us!

https://www.campusdrugprevention.gov/resources/federal-national

https://www.acha.org/college-health-topics/substance-use/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20365113

Questionnaires:

https://nida.nih.gov/taps2/ (click “I’m a patient” at the bottom)

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/checkyourdrinking/index.html

https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10526/drug-abuse-screening-test-10-dast-10

MORE ABOUT DR. McKOWEN:

Dr. James McKowen is a licensed clinical child psychologist and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed his post-doctoral training at MGH in addiction medicine and pediatric neuropsychology. He is currently the clinical director of the Addiction Recovery Management Service, an outpatient clinic specializing in the treatment of adolescents and young adults with substance use and comorbid mental health issues. He conducts research in youth addiction including neuropsychological predictors engagement, marijuana smoking and aggression in youth, and he developed a protocol for treating substance use in youth with autism. In addition, for the past several years, Dr. McKowen has been expanding his clinical and research interests in the impacts of climate change on youth mental health. He is co-chair of the MGH Climate and Mental Health Initiative, Associate at the MGH Center for Environmental and Health, Affiliate Faculty, Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and member of the Climate Psychology Alliance – Youth Subcommittee. He is trained in climate-aware therapy and conducts research on climate change related emotions and coping in youth.

Want to share your story, give us feedback or offer up an episode idea? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you.

Insta: @collegeisfinepodcast
Tik Tok: @collegeisfinepodcast
Email: collegeisfinepodcast@gmail.com

Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner