Best MIT Student Life Podcasts (2024)

1
College Experience | Keep Your Doors OPEN - Jon Bessette, MIT PhD Student 47:44

3h ago47:44

47:44

Takeaways College planning requires a strategic approach. Engagement in the planning process is crucial. Students should take an active role in their education. Understanding college requirements can ease the application process. Networking with college advisors can provide valuable insights. Time management is key in balancing college prep and aca…

1
Black Quarterbacks and the Meritocracy with Louis Moore 1:00:01

11m ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Hello! Today’s episode is about THE GREAT BLACK HOPE, a new book by the historian Louis Moore. We talk about the history of Black quarterbacks, both in college and the NFL, the financial and societal pressures that have both led to change and kept some things the same. On a larger scale, we talk about how sports serves both as a testing ground for …

1
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates and What Writing is For with Jazmine Hughes 1:10:27

7d ago1:10:27

1:10:27

Hello! Apologies for the slight delay in getting this episode out but we have a great show today with the writer Jazmine Hughes. We talk about Ta-Nehisi Coates’s new book about writing, the West Bank and his travels, the writer-as-activist-celebrity, and the strange and tangled relationship that we, as minority writers, have with prestige media out…

1
College Experience | Small Fish to a Big Pond - A Penn State Experience 49:55

14d ago49:55

49:55

Takeaways College planning starts early and requires foresight. Financial aid processes can be cumbersome and overwhelming. Choosing the right college can significantly impact your experience. Changing majors is a common experience among students. Reading and engagement are crucial for academic success. Adjusting to a larger college environment can…

1
RIP Fredric Jameson and some takes on the whole RFK - Nuzzi thing 1:01:37

14d ago1:01:37

1:01:37

Hello! This week Tyler pays tribute to the great literary critic Fredric Jameson who tragically passed away recently. We talk about the importance of his work and why it will be hard to find someone like him given the state of the academy and literary culture. And then we dive into what happened between RFK and Olivia Nuzzi and how journalism ethic…

1
Trump's Horrible Lies about Haitian Residents in Springfield, Ohio and More Assassination Talk 1:03:41

21d ago1:03:41

1:03:41

Hello! A quick note before we start: We recorded this as we always do on Tuesday for an early Wednesday release. The last part of the show focuses on what at the time was a wishy-washy and evasive response from Kamala Harris when asked about what Trump and Vance were doing to Haitian residents in Springfield, Ohio. Since then, Harris has come out a…

1
College Experience | Learning The Art Of Making Connections 29:15

30d ago29:15

29:15

The conversation with Steve Campbell, Chief Brand Officer at S.E.E.D Planning Group and host of the One Big Thing Podcast focused on the importance of connections and transferable skills in college and career planning. Steve shared his experience of how the level of narcissism among college students has increased over the years, leading to entitlem…

1
Do We Like Living in DataWorld and iPhones and the End of History with Ben Recht and Leif Weatherby 1:22:54

28d ago1:22:54

1:22:54

Hello! Today we have a fun conversation with recurring guest Ben Recht, a professor of computer science and machine learning at UC Berkeley and Leif Weatherby, an associate professor of German at NYU. We talk about the article they wrote about Nate Silver’s latest book, the world of Big Data, and then we start talking about how maybe the inability …

1
BACK TO SCHOOL: MIT's disappearing Black student population, Affirmative Action, and sea changes in higher ed 1:11:28

1M ago1:11:28

1:11:28

Hello! Welcome back to school everyone. This week, we talk about an article in the New York Times that asks whether we infantilize students and whether we should start treating 18 year old college kids like adults. We also get into the admissions numbers out of MIT after the Affirmative Action Supreme Court and whether we might be seeing a sea chan…

1
College Experience | "That injury is probably what saved my life" 33:16

2M ago33:16

33:16

In this episode of Cut Throat College Planning, Hector Lopez and Kayla Record interview Steve Campbell from Seed Planning Group. Steve shares his college journey as a three-sport athlete and his experience playing lacrosse at Rutgers University. He discusses the challenges of being injured and the importance of having a backup plan. Steve also emph…

1
Kamala's Big Speech, RFK as Shadow Veep, and Panic at Pomona 1:21:25

1M ago1:21:25

1:21:25

Hello! Today, we talk about Kamala’s big speech at the DNC, the cat-and-mouse game her campaign is playing with the media, why we’re probably fine with it in the end, and RFK’s 45 minute speech that outlined his new role as Trump’s new attack dog. (Mostly because JD Vance is not doing so well.) We also talked about scandal in the English Department…

1
AOC, Convention Night 1, and the Future of the Left with Matt Karp 1:27:35

2M ago1:27:35

1:27:35

Hello! We’re joined today by Matt Karp, a columnist for Harper’s, a professor of History at Princeton and one of the most intelligent and incisive writers on the left. We talk about AOC’s big night at the DNC, the somewhat moribund state of the left after Bernie’s big win in the 2020 Nevada primary, and whether the future for the left is bright or …

1
College Experience | Earning a Bachelors in 3 Years 37:20

2M ago37:20

37:20

In this episode of Cut Throat College Planning, Kayla and Hector continue their College Experience Series, and this time, it's Hector's turn to share his story. Takeaways: Start entertaining the thought of what could be your career as young as possible Community college could be the stepping stone you need Sometimes longer college stints aren't for…

1
Can Harris and Walz Capture the Rural Vote? A conversation with Paolo Cremidis. 1:00:43

2M ago1:00:43

1:00:43

Hello! Today, we talk about the rural vote and the positioning of Tim Walz as the rural whisperer. Will it work? Is there such a thing as a “rural identity” that might look at Walz and gravitate towards him? What’s the thinking behind all that? To help us through it, we talked to Paolo Cremidis, the organizer of the recent Rural Americans for Harri…

1
Walz Time, RFK's Bear Episode, and what Solidarity Means with Astra Taylor 1:21:12

2M ago1:21:12

1:21:12

Hello! This week we’re extremely excited to have on Astra Taylor, a filmmaker, author, and organizer with the Debt Collective. We talk about Walz, whether VP picks matter, good vibes and joy for once, and also what the hell was RFK Jr. thinking when he dumped that dead bear cub in Central Park. Astra also talks to us about the book she co-authored …

1
College Experience | Working Full-Time & Earning A Degree 39:19

2M ago39:19

39:19

Takeaways - The College Experience series aims to provide real-life examples of college journeys to help students understand the challenges and opportunities of college. - Choosing the right learning environment is crucial for success in college. - Kayla's experience highlights the importance of understanding how you learn best and finding a colleg…

1
#910 Michael Alcee PhD on The Upside of OCD

2M ago

—

Michael Alcee, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in Tarrytown, NY, and is a Mental Health Educator at the Manhattan School of Music. In his first book,Therapeutic Improvisation: How to Stop Winging It and Own It as a Therapist, Michael demonstrated how all clinicians are artists, reading the changes like well-versed jazz musicians, finding the poetic…

1
Two Black Dudes and a Korean Dude on White Dudes for Harris 1:12:17

2M ago1:12:17

1:12:17

Hello! We brought back repeat guest and esteemed journalist Bradford William Davis to talk about White Dudes for Harris, “weird,” and Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference this week in Chicago. Also discussed: good cringe, Cocomentum, and whether the left should just kinda let the liberals and the identity politic…

1
Chapter 3: EP 6 Rejection leads to redirections 8:44

3M ago8:44

8:44

Rejection led to redirection

1
Joe Rogan for Veep and What's Going on with JD Vance 1:03:19

3M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

HELLO! Today we talk about the Kamala campaign, who she should pick as VP, speculate on where Joe Biden might be, and offer a spirited defense of AOC doing politics. Gets a bit unhinged in the middle tbh but we at least had a good time with this one. If you’d like to see Trump play the theme song, click here (Substack won’t let us embed tweets bc E…

1
College Finances | Exposing All The HIDDEN FEES In College 30:50

3M ago30:50

30:50

Takeaways: - Parents should help their children develop a budget and create an emergency savings fund for - unexpected expenses in college. - Open conversations about emergencies and when to use the emergency fund are important. - Having a good relationship with academic advisors can help students navigate course requirements and avoid unnecessary …

1
The Trump Assassination Attempt: Five scenarios for what might happen now 55:24

3M ago55:24

55:24

Hello! Today, we talk about what exactly is going to happen to the country just a few days after the assassination attempt of Donald Trump and whether this will go down as a turning point in the country’s history or if it might just be quickly forgotten as everyone goes deep into RNC and JD Vance talk. Jay shares his very stupid thoughts on whether…

1
Should Biden stay or should he go? Jay and Tyler DEBATE 1:26:28

3M ago1:26:28

1:26:28

Hello! This week, we are back from vacation and catching up on the only story in America, which is the mental fitness of the President. Jay is on Team “The Democrats are probably too incompetent and divided to actually run a difference candidate in time and so it might actually make sense for them to just get behind Biden and hope everything breaks…

1
#906 Want to Be a Better Psychiatrist? Enter a Beauty Pageant!

3M ago

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Canadian (Nova Scotia) Psychiatrist Dr. Patricia Celan’s personality type is INFJ-T (Advocate). When she's not working on improving the mental health of her patients or advocating for human and non-human victims of abuse, Patricia enjoys creative writing, photography, film, travel, music, singing, dancing, yoga, and spending time with her cats, fri…

1
College Finances | This Is EXACTLY How To Budget In College 33:42

3M ago33:42

33:42

Takeaways Know your values and understand your needs versus wants when it comes to spending money. Use resources like the Bean Game and a budgeting template to track your expenses. Consider taking CLEP exams to earn college credits and save time and money. Take advantage of campus transportation, discounts, and free events. Shop where you can earn …

1
The Fictional World of Campus Tours & "The Cookie Monster" 10:47

4M ago10:47

10:47

Takeaways Parents should ask their children questions about their college tours to understand what they are really looking for in a school. Students often focus on superficial aspects like cookies or the appearance of other students, rather than the academic programs or majors offered. It is important for parents to guide their children in making i…

1
The misunderstood 1990s, LA Riots, and the triumph of the Paleoconservatives with John Ganz 1:50:50

4M ago1:50:50

1:50:50

Hello! Today, we are extremely excited to have on John Ganz, author of the new book When the Clock Broke, a retelling of the 1990s that touches on politics, music, television, and the history of right wing cranks who ultimately would become a prelude for Trumpism. There’s a ton that we discuss: The LA riots, Pat Buchanan, Murray Rothbard, Sister So…

1
College Finances | How The Government Can Help Pay For College 26:25

4M ago26:25

26:25

Takeaways The government offers various programs and aid to help students pay for college, including grants, loans, military programs, and AmeriCorps. It is important to understand the financial implications of taking out loans and consider alternative options before resorting to loans. Participating in AmeriCorps and other service programs can pro…

1
Dimension Apple, Biden's Age, and Modern Tiger Parenting 1:03:36

4M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

Hello! Today we’re doing a Pardon The Interruption-styled show in which we go down a list of topics. We’re experimenting a bit with format these days and so please let us know if this more rapid fire version works for you! Today’s topics: Hobby Horsing as a sport? Dimension Apple from a great post from the Read Max Substack. Tiger parenting in 2024…

1
VICTIM, a hilarious new novel by Andrew Boryga. Plus Caitlin Clark takes and James by Percival Everett 1:23:27

4M ago1:23:27

1:23:27

Hello! Today, we have a great conversation with Andrew Boryga, the author of VICTIM, a truly subversive and funny novel about a young writer who hustles his way through the media world by just giving it what it wants from him: oppression stories, identity trauma tales, and a lot of embellishment. We also talk about Caitlin Clark (Jay tries to do a …

1
#905 Jungian Lisa Marchiano on Reclaiming Your Outlaw Energies

4M ago

—

Lisa Marchiano, LCSW, is a Jungian analyst, author, and podcaster. She is the cohost of the popular depth psychology podcast This Jungian Life. She is on the faculty of the C. G. Jung Institute of Philadelphia, and she lectures and teaches widely. Lisa is the author of Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself published by Sounds True in 2021. She li…

1
College Finances | FASFA EXPLAINED, Everything You Need to Know For Your Future 34:56

4M ago34:56

34:56

Takeaways: The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a crucial application for receiving financial aid for college. Parental involvement is essential in the FAFSA process, and special circumstances can impact the aid received. The financial aid department at colleges can provide valuable assistance in navigating the FAFSA and special …

1
What are Children For? A talk with Anastasia Berg and Rachel Wiseman about their new book 1:23:22

4M ago1:23:22

1:23:22

Hello! Today’s show is a talk about an exciting new book by Anastasia Berg and Rachel Wiseman titled “What are Children For?” (Release date: June 11) We talked about “slow love,” the common complaint from millennials that they do not have enough financial stability to start families, the ambivalent mother narrative, and something right in Tyler’s w…

1
#904 Dr. Alexey Tolchinsky on Narrative Fallacy in Clinical Diagnosis

4M ago

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Alexey Tolchinsky, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Maryland. He specializes in trauma work and anxiety disorders. He works in psychotherapy with neurodiverse patients, including individuals with Asperger’s disorder, dyslexia, and other conditions. A part of his practice includes working with immigrants struggling with adapt…

1
Biden's Disappointing Black Voter Agenda and RIP Bill Walton 1:05:45

4M ago1:05:45

1:05:45

Hello! Today, we talk about Biden’s speech at Morehouse College which should be seen as a preview for his message to Black voters amidst polling results that show he has lost a significant percentage of both the Black and Latino vote. We also talk about the passing of Bill Walton, activism in the NBA and sports, in general, and what we should think…

1
College Finances | SCHOLARSHIPS, How To Win The Most Money 35:13

5M ago35:13

35:13

In this episode, Hector and Kayla discuss scholarships and how they work. They explain that scholarships are money that you apply for and don't have to pay back. They clarify that scholarships are not handed out as physical checks, but are directly sent to the school to cover tuition and other expenses. They also discuss the wide range of scholarsh…

1
The Coddling of the Far Right. A Conversation with David Austin Walsh 1:03:21

5M ago1:03:21

1:03:21

Hello! This week, we have on David Austin Walsh, author of “Taking America Back: The Conservative Movement and the Far Right,” a new book that tracks the development and coddling of far right political figures and their co-dependent relationship with mainstream Republicans. Lotta good history here and David asks Kang whether he thinks “Rich Men Nor…

1
#903 UK Prof Brett Kahr Celebrated Psychoanalysis Historian Returns

5M ago

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Professor Brett Kahr has worked in the mental health profession for well over forty years.He is Senior Fellow at the Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology in London and, also, Visiting Professor of Psychoanalysis and Mental Health at Regent’s University London.Kahr is the Chair of the Scholars Committee of the British Psychoanalytic Council, an…

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