Liz and Sarah are joined by Dr. Jill Grimes, family physician and author of The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook, to talk about what chronic academic stress actually does to your body — and why so many popular "quick fixes" for focus and sleep are making things worse. If you've ever reached for an energy drink at midnight, borrowed a friend's Adderall, or popped a melatonin gummy hoping to knock out before an exam, this one's for you.

We dive into:

• Why chronic stress affects your brain, body, and immune system
• The real impact of sleep deprivation on focus, memory, and emotions
• Energy drinks, nicotine pouches, ADHD meds, and “study drugs”
• Why THC gummies and sleep aids can backfire long-term
• The anxiety/sleep cycle college students get trapped in
• Practical strategies that can actually help manage anxiety, stress, and sleep difficulties
• Why movement, nutrition, and consistent sleep matter more than students think

We also talk about the dangerous normalization of “everyone’s doing it” on college campuses — and why informed choices matter when it comes to substances, sleep, and mental health.

If you’re a college student, parent, therapist, or anyone who has ever panic-Googled how to fall asleep before an exam, this episode is for you.

• 📖 The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook — Dr. Jill Grimes
• https://jillgrimesmd.com/the-ultimate-college-student-health-handbook/
• 📱 CBT-I Coach app (free, from the VA) — evidence-based insomnia therapy
• 🎧 Sleep stories: Calm, Headspace, YouTube
• 🌐 Dr. Grimes on social media — short videos on common college health topics
• For more information on our REACH Reset Summer offerings contact Dr. Sarah Olivo @ sarah@drsaraholivo.com

If you've ever panicked staring at a blank resume, frozen at the word "networking," or wondered what your boss actually wants from you on day one of an internship — this episode is for you. We sat down with Jennifer Gershberg to get real, practical advice on everything from interview prep to building relationships that actually open doors. No fluff. Just the stuff they should have taught you in class.

In This Episode:

• Why "fake it till you make it" is bad advice — and what to do instead

• The #1 mistake interns make that instantly tanks their reputation
• How to prep for an interview when you've never had one before
• What employers actually want from a college intern (it's not expertise)
• Why networking feels awkward — and how to make it feel natural
• The Gen Z vs. employer perception gap, and how to bridge it
• How to turn any job — even a "boring" one — into resume gold
• The surprising reason building real relationships leads to real confidence

Key Takeaways

• Competence builds confidence. Real confidence doesn't come from faking it — it comes from building real skills and seeing them pay off.
• Over-promising is the fastest way to look unreliable. If you can't meet a deadline, say so early. Communication beats silence every time.
• Your "boring" jobs count. Every job teaches transferable skills — you just have to know how to name and frame them.
• Networking is just relationship-building. Your friends, classmates, and professors are already your network. You're doing it every day.
• Internships are for learning. Employers don't expect you to know everything — they expect curiosity, communication, and positive energy.
• Ask about their challenges. At networking events, asking what problems an employer is facing flips the dynamic in your favor.
• Every generation brings something valuable. Gen Z has a fresh perspective — own it.

About Jennifer Gershberg

Jennifer Gershberg is a campus speaker, parent speaker, and course creator focused on college student success. She spent eight years as a professor at the University of Maryland, where she worked with thousands of students. Today, she helps students navigate the transition to college and build the professional skills they need to succeed in the working world. Her tagline — "nurturing but tough" — was actually coined by a former student. Find her at jgtalks.org and on Instagram @jgtalksorg.

From TikTok videos of organizing and cleaning content to everyday “I’m so OCD” comments, the term gets tossed around a lot, but what does OCD actually mean? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. John Guerry, a licensed clinical psychologist, who helps us break down the difference between personal quirks, perfectionism, and a true Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) diagnosis. He explains how intrusive thoughts and compulsions create distressing cycles, why people with OCD often suffer in silence, and how symptoms can be hidden behind “high-functioning” appearances.

In this episode we explore:

• Why intrusive thoughts are common for everyone—but stick differently for people with OCD
• How compulsions bring short-term relief but reinforce the disorder over time
• The difference between OCD and OCPD (Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder)
• Lesser-known themes beyond contamination, like morality (“scrupulosity”), harm, or “just right” OCD
• Why the college years can trigger worsening symptoms
• The role of family, peers, and environment in either accommodating or unintentionally feeding OCD
• Dr. Guerry also highlights why OCD tends to latch onto the things people value most—family, relationships, morality—and why people with OCD often have such “big hearts.”

Resources Mentioned:

• International OCD Foundation – trusted information, screeners, and a directory for finding evidence-based OCD therapists.

https://iocdf.org

About Our Guest:

Dr. John Guerry is a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and OCD. He practices at Harbor, a group practice in the Philadelphia area, dedicated to treating anxiety disorders, OCD, and related conditions.

https://www.harborpa.com

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
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Email: collegeisfinepodcast@gmail.com

Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner

What if confidence isn’t the key to peak performance?

In this episode of College Is Fine Podcast, Sarah and Liz sit down with sports psychologist Dr. Mitchell A. Greene to unpack one of the biggest myths in athletics: that you need to feel confident to perform well.

From college athletes to Olympians, Dr. Greene shares what’s actually happening inside the minds of high performers—and why the most driven, prepared athletes are often the ones struggling the most.

What We Cover:

Why high performers feel the most pressure
Performance anxiety isn’t a sign of weakness—it often shows up because athletes care deeply and have put in the work.

The truth about “mind chatter”
Dr. Greene introduces his concept of mind chatter—the doubts, second-guessing, and mental noise that show up in high-stakes moments.

Confidence myth
Many athletes are taught they need confidence to succeed—but chasing confidence can actually make things worse.

Outcome goals vs. action goals

• Why shifting your focus from outcome goals to action goals can actually improve your performance

📚 Resources & Links

• Learn more about his work at Greene Psych (sports psychology & performance coaching) https://greenepsych.com/our-team/mitchell-greene-ph-d/
• Dr. Mitchell A. Greene's Book

https://www.amazon.com/Courage-over-Confidence-Managing-Chatter/dp/B0BYC2NQVT/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=185685790705&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SG07gzxNmvxFoo6K9q9gH60Xo1kKs8xcPeNEOMNwJgVmAG4grN97nlAk4Li4gwS5oIArR6q8ma-PlG4kSeOb86vdpMHCMzgyK8MrZkmCn_mFlrxX90XFRoX25t-YtHCrvv0bdebYwWkiLLVKX2OUNTlxUFJsQVcp49BaWnpkS6bpzkMod1rngsLa9llDXJgh8sB3Co2TQyFncbfXxwm2CbuPRquwkvg2eECe-d7T7XE.emcDsyvEh66B6kPsLdFMYtj0URTd68-aX4y6dpTeXbk&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779570049283&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9001853&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=4570656352206099733--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4570656352206099733&hvtargid=kwd-1849565868624&hydadcr=20366_13322219_2282818&keywords=courage+over+confidence&mcid=17ea770aa9053e41bf4d618457019844&qid=1773859643&sr=8-1

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
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Email: collegeisfinepodcast@gmail.com

Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner

Everyone procrastinates—especially in college—but what’s really going on when you keep pushing things off? In this episode, Dr. Shannon Bennett (Weill Cornell Medicine) joins us to unpack why procrastination is so common, how it connects to emotions like anxiety, self-doubt, and perfectionism, and what you can do to get unstuck.

We cover:

• Why procrastination isn’t about laziness
• The emotional roots of putting things off (fear of failure, perfectionism, boredom, self-doubt)
• Why college is a perfect storm for procrastination (so much freedom, so many distractions)
• Simple but powerful strategies to get moving (breaking tasks into small steps, writing messy drafts, starting with “just one mark on the page”)
• How reflecting on your “why” can help you stay motivated when the work feels overwhelming

This conversation is all about normalizing procrastination (you’re not alone!) while also giving you tools to shift your mindset and habits.

Takeaways for Students

• Procrastination is usually about avoiding uncomfortable feelings—not laziness.
• Start small: sometimes just one sentence, one bullet point, or one messy draft is enough to get rolling.
• Connect your tasks to your values—remembering your “why” can turn busywork into meaningful steps toward your bigger goals.
• Pride and relief come after the work—cramming might get the grade, but it won’t give you that same long-term payoff.

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

Conflict on college campuses has changed—and not just because of roommates and group projects.

In this episode of College Is Fine, Everything’s Fine, we’re joined by Bob Bordone, conflict and negotiation expert, former Harvard Law School professor, and author of Conflict Resilience, for a timely conversation about how students can navigate disagreement when the stakes feel personal, political, and deeply tied to identity.

From classroom discussions and group chats to social media posts and friendships strained by global events, Bob helps us understand why conflict feels so overwhelming right now—and why avoidance has become the default coping strategy. He introduces the concept of conflict resilience, a skill that isn’t about “winning,” fixing, or resolving differences, but about staying present, authentic, and connected in the face of discomfort.

Together, we explore:

• Why conflict avoidance feels safer—but costs us more in the long run
• How polarization and social media amplify fear, reactivity, and disconnection
• The difference between aggression, assertion, and avoidance
• What “disagreeing better” actually looks like in dorm rooms, classrooms, and relationships
• How to raise hard topics without betraying your values—or yourself
• Why conflict resilience is a core leadership and life skill, not just a communication tactic

Bob also shares practical ways students can start building conflict resilience right now, including reframing conflict as a normal (and even connective) part of relationships and learning to sit with discomfort instead of immediately fleeing it.

If you’ve ever felt anxious about speaking up, setting boundaries, or engaging with someone who sees the world very differently than you do, this episode offers a grounded, hopeful path forward.

Links to Bob Bordone’s book Conflict Resilience and his work are below:

https://www.bobbordone.com/

https://www.bobbordone.com/books

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
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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
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Email: collegeisfinepodcast@gmail.com

Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner

College makes it very easy to find friends. You’ve got loads of time, your pick of social events, party ready dorm rooms, and hard classes to bond over. But for many students, finding friends isn’t the problem. The challenge is finding quality friendships.

Introducing the “Friendship Matrix,” a lifehack to help you build healthy and fun friendships in a new, fun way.

Make sure to listen to this episode if you want to:

• Find out whether you believe in the friendship myth about what a “good friend” means
• Discover how different friend “vibes” meet different needs, from reliable “anchors” to fun, outgoing “adventurers.”
• Explore the importance of give-and-take in friendships and how to spot imbalances in your social circle.
• Learn why it’s valuable to step outside of your comfort zone and explore friendships with different types of people.
• Reflect on your role in your friendships—are you giving or taking more, and how can you bring more balance?

And ok, should we have created a podcast episode that is very dependent on a visual? Maybe not. Did we figure that out mid-recording? We did! If you want a visual while you watch, we’ve shared it in our socials, and you can go straight to it here: https://tr.ee/kD3Sabhgon

Or let’s be real, just watch our clips on TikTok :) Happy listening!

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