Healthy Teen Life

If you're a teen seeking more independence and you want to start handling things on your own, or if you're planning on moving into your own place and feeling a little unsure of how to prepare, this episode is for you. Katie Kimball, founder of Raising Healthy Families, breaks down the three life skills that will change everything about how you show up in the world once you leave home, and how to start proving to yourself (and your parents) that you're ready.
Today's guest is Katie Kimball, a former teacher, two time TEDx speaker, mom of four, and the creator of the Teens Cook Real Food course and the Life Skills Now virtual summer camp. She also blogs at Kitchen Stewardship. Her mission is to connect families around healthy food, teach every kid to cook, and instill the life skills that make young adults actually thrive when they leave home.
In this episode you'll hear the three core life skills every teen needs before leaving home -- which skill unlocks the others, why one third of teens are struggling with anxiety right now and how life skills work as an anti-anxiety tool.
You'll also get the exact script to use with your parents when you want more independence.
Plus, Katie's simple formula for making killer introductions so you're the favorite person in any room.
Here's what you'll discover:
Why communication (without your thumbs) is the number one skill most teens are missing
The simple question-asking habit that makes you great at conversation instantly
The "art of awesome introductions" formula that makes you the person everyone wants to be around
Why cooking is the gateway life skill and what "cooking" actually means (hint: not the microwave)
The bucket of proof concept and how it builds real confidence you can actually feel
Why failure in the kitchen is one of the best gifts your brain will ever get
The UCLA research on teens with a sense of purpose (and how cooking gives you one on demand)
Why "bank account balance budgeting" is destroying your money and what to do instead
How compound interest works and why understanding it as a teen changes everything
The Venn diagram approach to earning independence with your parents
The exact line to use when you and your parents are not on the same page about how much freedom you should have
Why the friends you keep matter (make friends with people who care about their lives)
Parents: This is a really useful episode to listen to alongside your teen. Katie unpacks why the "failure to launch" pattern is so common right now, what actually builds resilience and confidence in a teen (spoiler: not being told they're strong, but proving it to themselves through real skills), and how to think about the gradual separation of the teen years as a healthy process instead of a stressful one. Her three-part framework (communication, cooking, finances) gives you and your teen something concrete to work on together this summer or this school year.
 
Connect with Katie here:
Teens Cook Real Food eCourse
Kitchen Stewardship eBooks
Website: https://raisinghealthyfamilies.com/HealthyTeenLife
 
Connect with Leslie:
Parents:
Ready to talk through what your teen is navigating and what kind of support would actually help? 
Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen or college build healthier habits, while improving confidence and self-esteem.
 
Headed to College? Grab Leslie's Ultimate College Move-In Checklist
 
Website: https://leslierosecoaching.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/leslierosecoaching
Facebook: https://facebook.com/leslierosecoaching
Disclaimer
 
 

If you've ever lost weight, gained it back, and convinced yourself it must be a willpower problem, this episode is for you. Kamy's whole message is the opposite. Excess weight in a teen is almost never about willpower, the food itself, or how much you move. It's a symptom of something deeper that nobody has helped you name yet.
Today's guest is Kamy Moussavi, founder of Step Together, an organization that helps families address the true roots of children's excess weight (which Kamy sees as emotional stress, undiagnosed ADHD patterns, family dynamics, and life overwhelm, not just food). Kami grew up overweight and spent more than two decades cycling through Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, restrictive diets, fasting, binge eating, and bulimia before he finally realized none of it was working because none of it was addressing what was actually happening underneath.
 
In this episode you'll hear why weight is a symptom and not the root problem, why diet and exercise alone don't break the cycle, the simple pattern recognition tool you can start using tonight, why your developing brain literally cannot do this work on its own (and what to do about that), how to have the kind of conversation with your parents that actually helps, the dopamine rerouting tools that can stand in for food when emotions hit, and why parents have to lead with role modeling instead of lecturing if anything is going to change.
 
Why excess weight in teens is almost never about willpower or food itself
The yo yo cycle and what actually drives it underneath
Why parents focusing on the food alone keeps the loop going
The pattern recognition tool (catalog what happened before the ice cream, not just the ice cream)
Why your frontal lobe is still developing into your mid 20s and what that means for impulse control
How to ask a parent for support without making it worse
Why "hold the space, don't jump to solutions" is the most powerful thing a parent or friend can do
The dopamine rerouting list (touch, play, creativity, movement, social connection)
Why connecting how food makes you FEEL is more powerful than counting calories
Why a strong "why" matters more than any meal plan
How a parent role modeling new habits rewires what their teen absorbs at home
 
Parents: This is one of the most important episodes for any parent of a teen who is struggling with their weight, with restrictive eating, with binge eating, or with the sense that food has quietly become bigger than it should be. Kamy's central message is one that almost every weight focused program misses: the focus should not be on your child at all, it should be on what the home environment and the emotional ecosystem are teaching them. He shares specific ways to role model the behavior you want to see, hold space when your teen is struggling, and become the parent your teen comes to instead of the parent your teen hides from. Listen with your teen if you can.
 
Heads up before you dive in: This episode talks openly about excess weight, binge eating, bulimia, restrictive dieting, weight shame, and the emotional roots underneath all of it. If any of this feels heavy for you right now, please take care of yourself and come back when you're ready, or listen with a parent or trusted adult nearby. If you've been struggling with these patterns for months or longer, please reach out to a professional for support.
 
Step Together website: 
steptogether.com
 
Connect with Leslie:
Ready to talk through what your teen is navigating and what kind of support would actually help? Book a free clarity call with Leslie at leslierosecoaching.com/chat/
 
Grab Leslie's free guide: 5 Ways to Help Your Teen Eat Better Without Making Things Worse
Website: leslierosecoaching.com
Instagram: instagram.com/leslierosecoaching
Facebook: facebook.com/leslierosecoaching
Disclaimer
 
 

If you've been hard on yourself, beating yourself up to push yourself to perform, holding impossible standards, and still ending up disappointed, anxious, lonely, or not enough, this episode is for you. Most teens are running this same loop and most don't have the language for why it isn't working anymore.
Today's guest is Dr. Jerry Weichman, a clinical psychologist and the founder of The Weichman Clinic. Dr. Jerry has worked with more than 6,500 families in 27 years of practice and uses a solutions focused approach that works with the whole family and the whole teen. He recently launched Raising Families with Dr. Jerry, a free podcast, YouTube channel, and community platform designed to put real mental health tools in front of parents and teens at no cost.
In this episode you'll hear why chasing perfection is the fastest way to crash both your performance and your mental health, the simple shift from outcome to effort that changes everything, the five senses grounding tool that pulls you back into the present when your brain is spiraling into the past or the future, the mental check engine light most teens don't know to watch for, why electronic addiction is hitting teen mental health harder than people realize, and the one thing Dr. Jerry says fights depression better than almost any pill.
Why perfectionism stopped working in high school even when it worked in middle school
The shift from chasing outcomes to investing in effort and why it lowers stress and raises performance
How thoughts create feelings (and what to do about the negative interpretation loops)
The five senses tool that brings you back into the present and out of past anger or future anxiety
Why your stress and anxiety are your mental check engine light and what to do when they light up
How to take back control by asking "what can I control" in any tough moment
Why comparing yourself to others on social media is like trying to race NASCAR while watching every other car
The Weichman Pyramid of Mental Health and why putting energy into other people sits at the top
Why your phone was designed to be addictive and how short form content is more addictive than alcohol
The grayscale phone trick that resets your brain
Why daily exercise is a frontline treatment for depression
How to use anger (not sadness) as a vehicle to start pushing back against depression
Parents: This is one of the most useful episodes for any parent of a teen who is struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, mood, motivation, or the pull of their phone. Dr. Jerry breaks down why this generation's mental health challenges look different even when the underlying conditions are the same, and the tools he gives are concrete enough to start practicing tonight. Listen with your teen if you can, or play a short clip from this episode the next time you want to open a conversation without making it a sit down talk.
Ready to talk through what your teen is navigating right now and what kind of support would actually help? Book a free clarity call with Leslie at leslierosecoaching.com/chat.
 
Connect with Dr. Jerry:
https://www.raisingfamiliespodcast.com/
https://theweichmanclinic.com/
 
Connect with Leslie:
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen or young adult resolve weight and unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
 
Grab Leslie's free guide: 5 Ways to Help Your Teen Eat Better Without Making Things Worse
Website: leslierosecoaching.com
Instagram: instagram.com/leslierosecoaching
Facebook: facebook.com/leslierosecoaching
Disclaimer
 
 

If you've been told that getting healthier starts with a diet and an exercise plan, this episode is going to flip that on its head. Real, lasting change starts in your mind, not on the scale, and the work of building the right foundation comes before anything you eat or any workout you do.
Today's guest is Jonathan Boulware, a lifestyle behavior change specialist and the founder of You Can Beat Obesity. Jonathan spent years carrying close to 300 pounds and walked through the exact battle he now coaches other people through. After his mother's passing, he made it his mission to understand why people can't change their lifestyle even when they know it would save their life. He's spent the years since becoming a certified personal trainer, health coach, master coach, and behavior change specialist to find the answer.
In this episode you'll hear the five foundation steps every teen needs before starting any health change, the difference between a goal and a real why (and why the why is what carries you through when adversity hits), what emotional pounds are and how they quietly run your behavior, the brain rewiring practice Jonathan used to fight the mirror talk, why your environment matters more than your motivation, and why small wins and small celebrations are how your brain actually builds new habits. You’ll learn:
The five steps every teen needs before starting any health change (problem, acknowledge, understand it deeply, know your why, want to change, believe you can)
The difference between a goal and a real why (and why your why is your most powerful weapon)
Why self forgiveness has to come before any other behavior change work
What emotional pounds are and how they quietly run your eating, your mood, and your daily choices
The Post it note brain rewiring practice Jonathan used to fight the negative self talk in the mirror
Why your environment matters more than your motivation (and how to find the parts of your environment you do control)
Why your young brain can rewire faster than an adult brain and how to use that to your advantage
The countermeasure approach (predefined responses for when adversity rises up)
Why your health journey does not actually start with diet or exercise
How to start moving your body if you've been avoiding the gym out of self consciousness
Why the scale is the wrong way to measure progress and what to track instead
How small celebrations train your brain to look for more wins
Parents: This is a meaningful episode for any parent of a teen who is struggling with their weight, their body image, or the self talk around either one. Jonathan's story alone is worth the listen, and the framework he gives is something you and your teen can talk through and apply together. He makes a clear case for why the standard "just stop, just have more willpower" approach does not work, why self compassion has to come first, and why the real goal is health and confidence, not appearance. Listen with your teen if you can, and think about how you can help shape the environment and the support he describes.
Ready to talk through what your teen is navigating right now and what kind of support would actually help? Book a free clarity call with Leslie at leslierosecoaching.com/chat/
 
Connect with Jonathan:
Website: You Can Beat Obesity - https://www.youcanbeatobesity.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-boulware-b29b54bb/
 
Connect with Leslie:
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen or young adult resolve weight and unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
 
Grab Leslie's free guide: 5 Ways to Help Your Teen Eat Better Without Making Things Worse
Website: leslierosecoaching.com
Instagram: instagram.com/leslierosecoaching
Facebook: facebook.com/leslierosecoaching
Disclaimer

If you've ever finished a snack, a meal, or a whole container of food and then sat in the aftermath wondering how you got there and why you did it, this episode is for you. Binge eating and overeating don't usually start with the food. They start with something underneath that nobody has helped you name yet.
Today's episode is a solo with Leslie, sharing the story of a friend who recovered from binge eating disorder and what her story can teach you about why the diet rules and the willpower and the food restriction aren't the solution most people think they are. You'll hear what's actually happening when binge eating or overeating takes over, why society keeps blaming the food instead of looking at what's underneath, and the first real shift that can start to change everything.
In this episode you'll hear what autopilot eating looks like and why it leaves you confused and ashamed afterward, the reason adding more rules and tightening control usually makes things worse, what your eating has been trying to tell you that nobody has named for you yet, why your adolescent or young adult brain is actually a built in advantage for unwinding these patterns, the mindfulness practice that helps you uncover the real need underneath the behavior, and what it feels like to start building real trust with your body and your food.
Why you might suddenly find yourself in the aftermath of a binge with no real understanding of how you got there
The reframe that changes everything (it's not the food, it's the unmet need)
Why diet rules, control, and willpower keep failing you instead of fixing the problem
How food can quietly become a temporary soother the same way other coping behaviors do
What unmet emotional needs can actually look like in your real day to day life (stress, loneliness, bullying, body shame, past experiences)
Why your adolescent and young adult brain is in the perfect window to rewire your relationship with food
How mindfulness practice can help you uncover the need underneath the behavior, gently and without judgment
What it actually feels like to trust yourself and your body around food
Heads up before you dive in. This episode talks openly about binge eating, overeating, body image, and the emotions underneath them. If any of this feels heavy for you right now, please take care of yourself and come back when you're ready, or listen with a parent or trusted adult nearby. And if you've been binging multiple times a week or daily for months, please reach out to a professional for support. This episode is meant to start a conversation, not replace clinical care.
 
Parents: This is an important episode for any parent who is worried about a teen or college aged child who is struggling with their eating, restricting, binging, or quietly carrying shame around food. Leslie unpacks why the standard "just stop, have more willpower" approach does not work and what's actually happening underneath the behavior. She also makes the case for why adolescence is a unique window to start unwinding these patterns, not the worst time to address them. Listen with your teen if you can, or send it to them with a short note that lets them know you would love to talk about it with them.
If this episode sparked something in you and you're ready to start understanding what's really going on, book a free clarity call with Leslie at leslierosecoaching.com/chat. It's a relaxed, no pressure conversation about where you are and how you can start moving toward the life you deserve.
 
Connect with Leslie:
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen or young adult resolve weight and unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
 
Grab Leslie's free guide: 5 Ways to Help Your Teen Eat Better Without Making Things Worse
Website: leslierosecoaching.com
Instagram: instagram.com/leslierosecoaching
Facebook: facebook.com/leslierosecoaching
Disclaimer

Depression doesn't always look the way you've been told it looks. Sometimes it shows up as a slow heaviness. Sometimes it shows up as a loop in your head you can't seem to climb out of. Sometimes it shows up as isolation, exhaustion, or the feeling that nothing you do is going to matter. Wherever it shows up for you, this episode is for you.
Today's guest is Brian Sachetta, an author, blogger, and mental health advocate behind Get Out of Your Head, a brand and book series that helps people work through anxiety and depression with practical, everyday tools. Brian spent years navigating his own anxiety and depression, and now uses what he learned to help others build a toolkit that actually fits their life.
In this episode you'll hear why resisting your own anxiety or depression often makes it louder, the biopsychosocial model and how depression can come from biological, psychological, and social factors all at the same time, why depression works as a positive feedback loop (the kind that builds on itself, not the kind that lifts you up), and the simple lifestyle tools Brian leans on the most. Plus the single most important first step when you feel like you can't tell anyone what's going on.
Why depression often shows up alongside anxiety and what it actually feels like from the inside
Why trying to banish your anxiety or depression altogether usually backfires
The biopsychosocial model and how to use it to look at your own life
Why depression is a positive feedback loop and what it takes to start reversing it
How alignment with what you actually want protects your mental health (not what your schedule or other people say you should want)
Why exercise can be as effective as medication for many people according to research
The Albert Einstein quote that explains why overthinking your way out of a spiral doesn't work
How the amygdala and prefrontal cortex get hijacked during a depressive or anxious moment
Why omega 3 fatty acids matter for mood and how to bring more of them into your day
The one most important first step when you feel like you can't talk to anyone
Heads up before you dive in: This episode talks openly about depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. If any of that feels heavy for you right now, it's okay to come back to this when you're ready, or listen with someone you trust nearby.
 
Parents: This episode is a great listen if your teen has been quieter than usual, more withdrawn, struggling with their mood, or showing signs of anxiety or depression. Brian breaks down what depression actually is in plain language, why it builds on itself, and the small daily tools that can start to shift things. He also makes a clear case for why your teen needs at least one trusted adult to start the conversation with, and offers a hopeful frame they can come back to over and over. Listen with your teen if you can, or send it to them with a short note that lets them know you're here for the conversation.
Ready to support your teen through what they're navigating right now? Book a free clarity call with Leslie at leslierosecoaching.com/chat to talk through where they're at and what kind of support would actually help.
 
Connect with Brian:
Website: https://getoutofyourhead.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/getoutofyourhead
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getoutofyourheadbooks
First book (on managing anxiety): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5Z6V75
Second book (on managing depression): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KQ4FLBW
 
Connect with Leslie:
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen or young adult resolve weight and unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
 
Grab Leslie's free guide: 5 Ways to Help Your Teen Eat Better Without Making Things Worse
Website: leslierosecoaching.com
Instagram: instagram.com/leslierosecoaching
Facebook: facebook.com/leslierosecoaching
Disclaimer
 

Your skin is more than what it looks like. It's the largest organ in your body, it's the first responder talking to your nervous system, your immune system, and your endocrine system, and it's covered in a living microbiome that's quietly doing protective work for you all day. Which means the stuff you put on it matters way more than you've been told.
Today's guest is Jodie Scott, cofounder of Green Goo and a master's level expert in health psychology and psychoneuroimmunology, which is the connection between your immune system, nervous system, and psychology. Jodie spent years studying how the body actually works before building plant based alternatives to common first aid and personal care products. She knows what's in the products on most shelves, where those chemicals came from, and how they're affecting your body in ways you can't see.
In this episode you'll hear what your skin microbiome actually is and why it matters, how phthalates, parabens, and petroleum can disrupt your hormones, mood, and sleep, why the "if it stings, it's working" myth is doing real damage to teen skin, and how to read product labels using free apps like Yuka and EWG Skin Deep. Plus the simple skincare ritual Jodie's own daughter uses ("Sanctuary Sunday") that pulls double duty as a stress reset for your nervous system.
What your skin microbiome is and why it matters more than the products on top of it
Why phthalates, parabens, and petroleum are called endocrine disruptors and how they mess with your hormones
How modern skincare chemicals affect cortisol, inflammation, serotonin, and sleep (the negative feedback loop)
Why "if it stings, it's working" is one of the biggest skincare myths and what it's actually doing to your skin
The plant ingredients that calm skin without breaking the skin barrier (lavender, rosemary, calendula, beeswax)
How to read a product label and check it in 10 seconds with the Yuka app or EWG Skin Deep database
Why Korean skincare and other trending products aren't automatically clean
The "Sanctuary Sunday" ritual that supports your skin and resets your nervous system at the same time
How acne, eczema, and skin flare ups are tied to what you're putting on your skin every day
Why your purchases are votes that actually change what brands put on shelves
Parents: This one connects directly to so many of the things your teen is already navigating. Acne flare ups, hormone shifts during puberty, sleep struggles, anxiety, mood swings. Jodie breaks down the connection between everyday skincare ingredients and the systems that are already in flux during the teen years, and she gives you simple free tools (the Yuka app and EWG Skin Deep database) you can use the next time you're shopping together. Listen with your teen and pick one product to swap out this month.
Ready to talk through your teen's overall wellness and what kind of support would actually help? Book a free clarity call with Leslie at https://leslierosecoaching.com/chat/ 
 
Connect with Jodi:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/greengoohelps/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenGooHelps
Collaborate with Jodi
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-scott-7234331b8/
 
Connect with Leslie:
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen or young adult resolve weight and unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
 
Grab Leslie's free guide: 5 Ways to Help Your Teen Eat Better Without Making Things Worse
Website: leslierosecoaching.com
Instagram: instagram.com/leslierosecoaching
Facebook: facebook.com/leslierosecoaching
Disclaimer
 
 

If you're feeling stuck right now, like life just sucks, like nothing is going your way and you can't see how it's going to get better, this one is for you. Hard things happen to every single one of us. The question is never whether they happen. The question is what you do with them when they hit.
Today's guest is Ty Gibson, a speaker and mindset advocate whose entire framework is built around one core principle. There are no options when it comes to doing what it takes. Ty has lived this from the inside out. He grew up with juvenile diabetes, wore one of the first insulin pumps in the seventies (a one pound nine ounce box on his hip), and as an adult faced a 16 hour pancreas and kidney transplant with only a 50 percent success rate when his daughter was six years old. He came out the other side and now teaches the exact mindset that got him through.
In this episode you'll hear the three principles of his no options mindset (grow or die, hope or despair, humor or drama), why adversity is actually the tool that builds you instead of breaking you, and the small daily goals approach that creates real change without the overwhelm of trying to fix everything at once. You'll also hear why visualization works the same way for an exam as it does for an athlete preparing for a game, and why celebrating your wins is the thing that actually wires the new habit into your brain.
Why feeling stuck or like life isn't fair is exactly when this mindset matters most
The "no options" approach Ty's dad taught him as a kid and how it carried him through everything later
Grow or die, the question to ask yourself when you're facing a hard thing
Hope or despair, how to flip the script from "why me" to "what now"
Humor or drama, why the way you talk to yourself matters more than you think
Why adversity is a tool that builds you, not a punishment to survive
How to set small daily goals that actually stick, instead of giant ones that crush you
Why visualization isn't just for athletes and how to use it for anything in your life
How celebrating your wins, even small ones, wires the habit into your brain
Why the chores, discipline, and "tough" things your parents make you do are actually building the version of you who can handle anything
Parents: This is a great listen for any teen who's struggling with confidence, feeling stuck, or going through something hard. Ty's story alone is worth the time, but the framework he gives is something you can talk through with your teen and apply to whatever they're navigating right now. He also speaks directly to why the chores, discipline, and tough parenting moments matter way more than your teen realizes (and probably more than you realize too). Listen together if you can.
Ready to support your teen's mindset, confidence, and the hard things they're working through right now? Book a free clarity call with Leslie at leslierosecoaching.com/chat to talk through where they're at and what kind of support would actually help.
 
Connect with Ty:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0QaxAU6ug2Yn13tHOr4V1GYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TyGipsonFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585869545884Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tygipson1/LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ty-gipson-336b84b
 
Connect with Leslie:
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen or young adult resolve weight and unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
 
Grab Leslie's free guide: 5 Ways to Help Your Teen Eat Better Without Making Things Worse
Website: leslierosecoaching.com
Instagram: instagram.com/leslierosecoaching
Facebook: facebook.com/leslierosecoaching
Disclaimer

If you're a high school senior heading to college, or already a freshman who's hitting some academic walls, this one is for you. There's a stretch of skills your teachers probably aren't teaching, your parents may not have had to learn the same way, and that nobody is sitting you down to walk you through. They're the skills that decide whether your first year of college feels manageable or completely impossible.
Today's guest is Dr. Tara Williams, owner and founder of Innovative Collegiate Consultants, an organization that helps neurodivergent students with IEPs transition from high school to college and thrive in a neurotypical environment. Dr. Tara has been teaching for over 20 years and is currently a chemistry professor at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. She works with students every single day on the exact skills you're about to hear about.
In this episode you'll hear what self advocacy actually looks like and why it's the single most important skill to start practicing now, why time blocking in 60 to 90 minute chunks works better than trying to white knuckle a four hour study session, the chunking method for breaking down a paper or huge assignment, why writing your own notes by hand makes the information stick, and the real reason office hours are your best friend in college (even if walking in feels intimidating). Plus the email habits that quietly separate students who thrive from the ones who fall behind in their first month.
What self advocacy really means and why it's the single most important skill to practice in high school
Why time blocking in 60 to 90 minute chunks works better than trying to study for four hours
How body doubling and study groups help your brain focus even when nobody is forcing you to
The chunking method for breaking down papers, essay questions, and huge assignments
Why writing your own notes by hand makes information stick (and why highlighting everything doesn't)
How to read before class so you actually understand what's happening when the professor lectures
Why office hours are your best friend in college and what to walk in and say
The professor relationships that turn into job and internship recommendations later
How to manage email so you do not miss critical college transition information
The calendar, planner, post it, or color coding system that actually works (the one you'll actually look at)
Parents: This is one of the most actionable episodes for any parent of a high school student, especially if your teen has an IEP, has ADHD, or struggles with executive function. Dr. Tara breaks down exactly which habits are worth practicing before college, how to scaffold them in a way that builds independence (not dependence on you), and why the email and self advocacy gap is the single biggest blind spot most families don't see coming. Listen with your teen if you can. Then pick one habit you'll start practicing together this month.
Ready to support your teen's transition to college, both academically and emotionally? Book a free clarity call with Leslie at leslierosecoaching.com/chat to talk through where they're at and what would actually help.
 
Connect with Dr. Tara Williams:
Website: https://innovativecollegiateconsultants.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-williams-phd/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iccedservices#Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_innovative_consultants
 
Connect with Leslie:
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen or young adult resolve weight and unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
Grab Leslie's free guide: The Ultimate College Move-In Checklist 
Sign up for the Freshman Formula 
 
Website: leslierosecoaching.com
Instagram: instagram.com/leslierosecoaching
Facebook: facebook.com/leslierosecoaching
 
Disclaimer

If you're a high school senior who just committed to a college, or you've already graduated and you're heading to your freshman year, this one is for you. You did it. You got in. You made the call. And the next chapter is genuinely one of the wildest, most growth filled seasons of your entire life. New city, new people, new freedom, new version of you. It's exciting.
Here's what almost nobody is telling you. The academic prep, the dorm shopping, the roommate matching, all of that gets covered constantly. The part that actually trips most freshmen up has nothing to do with classes or grades. Nearly 30% of college freshmen do not return for their sophomore year. The reasons usually aren't grades. They aren't money. It's mental health. It's loneliness. It's feeling like they don't belong on that campus. And almost none of those students were less capable than anyone else. They were just unprepared for the LIFE part of college.
This episode is about the five pillars that change everything. The exact things that separate the freshmen who thrive from the ones who quietly struggle. You'll hear why those first six weeks set the entire tone, why the habits that worked in high school are about to stop working, and what you can actually build right now before you ever step on campus. If you're somewhere between "I cannot wait" and "I'm low key terrified," that's exactly where you're supposed to be. The goal is not to feel less of either of those. The goal is to walk in with the tools to handle both.
Why being both excited and nervous about college is exactly where you should be
What changes overnight the day your parents drive away from your dorm
The real reason nearly 30% of freshmen don't return for sophomore year and how to not be one of them
How to actually make real friends in college, because the lasting ones don't just happen
Why sleep, active rest, and movement are the foundation that everything else gets built on
How to fuel your brain in a dining hall full of midnight waffles and 2 PM pizza
What to do at 2 AM when everything feels like too much and a deadline is looming
The campus support and resources nobody is going to tell you about and why to use them early
What life looks like in October when you've actually been preparing
How to walk into your freshman year with clarity, confidence, and a real plan
Parents: This one is for you too. If you have a high school senior or recent grad heading to college, the gap between "academically ready" and "life ready" is the one most families don't see coming. You'll hear the patterns that lead nearly 30% of freshmen home before sophomore year, and what actually protects your student in their first six weeks on campus. Listen with them if you can. Then talk through which of the five pillars they feel most ready for and where they want more support before move in day.
Ready to give yourself or your student a real foundation for freshman year? The Freshman Formula is a five day video mini series built specifically for incoming college freshmen. Each day covers one of the five pillars with worksheets, checklists, and habit building tools you can start using before you ever set foot on campus. Plus a one on one coaching session built around your specific goals, your specific campus, and your specific stressors. Once you finish the five days, all the content stays accessible so you can come back to it during that first month when you'll need it most. Grab it at the introductory price below before it goes up.
 
Sign up for the Freshman Formula 
 
Connect with Leslie:
Parents: Schedule a free Clarity Call with Leslie here to help your teen or young adult resolve weight and unhealthy eating habits, while improving body image and self-esteem.
 
Grab Leslie's free guide: The Ultimate College Move-In Checklist 
Website: leslierosecoaching.com
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