Best Jeff Selingo Podcasts (2025)

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This Dad Makes Moms Cry (In a Good Way) | Chet Kittleson (Dad of 3, TinCan) 59:13

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1d ago59:13

59:13

In this episode of Startup Dad, Adam Fishman sits down with Chet Kittleson, serial founder and co-founder of Tin Can, an analog phone for kids that helps families stay connected without screens. He’s also a dad of three, building a hardware company from his kitchen table while raising a young family in Seattle. Chet opens up about the inspiration b…

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Should You Work with an IEC (Independent Educational Consultant)? With Kristina Dooley 46:52

14h ago46:52

46:52

An IEC (Independent Educational Consultant) can be a huge help on your student's high school & college journey. How do you know whether an IEC is right for you - and what should you look for in an IEC? In this episode, we welcome on Kristina Dooley, a Certified Educational Planner and Founder of Estrela Consulting - a multi-consultant educational c…

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How States Can Meet the Moment In Higher Ed 54:53

3d ago54:53

54:53

In this time of uncertainty and pullback of federal support for higher education, is it time for states to step up and play a greater leadership role in helping colleges better serve students? And if so, how? Jeff and Michael debate those questions on this episode. To set the stage, they talk with Ruth Watkins, president of postsecondary education …

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Visiting Butler: Sparking a Culture of Innovation 55:53

8d ago55:53

55:53

On the latest stop of Future U.'s campus tour, Michael and Jeff visit Butler University to talk with Butler president Jim Danko and other campus leaders. They explore how, out of a mix of excitement about serving students and fear of potential competitive threats on the horizon, the university built a culture and infrastructure to encourage innovat…

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Why No Dad Has It All Figured Out | Colin Anawaty (Dad of 2, Flying A Capital) 59:11

8d ago59:11

59:11

In this episode of Startup Dad, Adam Fishman sits down with Colin Anawaty, technologist and founder of Flying A Capital. He’s also a single dad of two boys, navigating the challenges of fatherhood and entrepreneurship after divorce. Colin opens up about how his kids have become his greatest teachers, why he believes accountability and independence …

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Why Screen Time Limits Are Bullshit | Chad Pytel (Dad of 2, thoughtbot) 46:04

15d ago46:04

46:04

Chad Pytel is the founder and CEO of thoughtbot, a product development consultancy, and co-founder of 12 Sided Studios, a gaming and production company. He’s also the longtime host of the Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots podcast, a husband, and the father of two teenagers. In this episode, Chad and I talk about raising kids while runni…

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A Conversation with Parents: College Admissions Trends 2025 34:02

15d ago34:02

34:02

Want to know the key trends & takeaways in college admissions for 2025? We've got you covered. In this webinar, hear why the demographic cliff is real, how schools are using AI in admissions, how to show you're a great fit for your major, why standardized testing is making a comeback, and what's happening with supplemental essays. Watch the webinar…

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The Impact of AI on Student Motivation 57:59

17d ago57:59

57:59

How can AI be adopted in a way that turns more students into “explorers” rather than “passengers” in their learning? This week we bring you a conversation with the co-author of a book on student disengagement in school, Rebecca Winthrop, who is also researching the impact of AI on education. The episode is by one of Future U’s producers, Jeff Young…

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Work-Life Balance is a Myth | Jonathan Jamil (Dad of 2, Springboard) 44:44

22d ago44:44

44:44

Jonathan Jamil, founder and CEO of Springboard, shares his story of growing up in a two-bedroom apartment with six family members, building a business powered by stay-at-home moms, and raising two daughters while redefining what success means. In this episode, Jonathan opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, the lessons he has carried from his …

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From First-Gen Student to Enrollment Leader: Shawana Singletary’s Playbook 46:48

23d ago46:48

46:48

What happens when a first-generation college student grows up to lead enrollment at a major university? In this episode of The VineDown, Emily Smith sits down with Shawana Singletary, Assistant Vice President and Chief Enrollment Officer at Adelphi University. Drawing from her own journey (from working double shifts to pay tuition, to leading admis…

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How AI Could Reshape Higher Ed 39:43

24d ago39:43

39:43

Parents and prospective students want to know how colleges are responding to the rise of generative AI — and to other recent developments like federal budget cuts to research. On this episode, Jeff and Michael share what they’re both hearing as they visit campuses around the country this fall. And they offer their analysis of what AI could mean for…

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Raising Twins on Hard Mode | Adam Lieb (Dad of 2, Gamesight) 58:54

29d ago58:54

58:54

In this episode of Startup Dad, I sit down with Adam Lieb, the founder and CEO of Gamesight, a marketing technology company that helps video game studios connect with players and launch their biggest titles. Adam started his first gaming business at just 11 years old and has spent his entire career building in the industry ever since. As a dad of 1…

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Extra Credit: How to Handle the Why College/Why Academic Interest Essay with Lisa Marker-Robbins 30:18

29d ago30:18

30:18

Some of the trickiest essays to pin down on college applications are the Why College/Why Academic Interest essays. This has never been more true than today, so we wanted to bring back our interview with special guest Lisa Marker-Robbins, Founder of Flourish Coaching, who's helped over 4,000 high school students and young adults gain the insight, ex…

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Why a University Proactively Sought a Merger 44:20

1M ago44:20

44:20

By Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn

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Why I Tell Colleagues to Have Kids | Rishabh Jain (Dad of 2, Fermàt Commerce) 50:44

1M ago50:44

50:44

In this episode of Startup Dad, Adam Fishman sits down with Rishabh Jain, the CEO of FERMÀT Commerce, a company he launched when his oldest daughter was just a few weeks old. He’s also a husband and father of two kids under the age of four. In this conversation, Rishabh shares why he believes parenthood actually makes entrepreneurship easier, how h…

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The Truth About Independent Counselors: Yvonne Espinoza on Ethics, Access, and Student Success 45:46

1M ago45:46

45:46

What does it really mean to put students first in the college admissions process? In this episode of The VineDown, Emily Smith sits down with Yvonne Espinoza, CEP, nationally recognized counselor, City of Austin Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, and founder of YESpi College Counseling. After 19 years serving Title I and alternative schools in Austin, …

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You Can't Tell Kids How to Feel | Zach Teutsch (Dad of 2, Values Added Financial) 59:45

1M ago59:45

59:45

Zach Teutsch is the founder of Values Added Financial, and a former leader at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He’s also a husband, father of two, and a master of weaving big-picture life principles into day-to-day parenting. In this episode, Zach and I talk about building independence in kids, creating household shortcuts to reduce decisi…

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Applying to College without Going Broke with Jeff Levy 53:02

1M ago53:02

53:02

What's new with financial aid? A lot. In this episode, we welcome back returning guest Jeff Levy, Co-Founder of Big J Educational Consulting, who's been an educational consultant since 2007. Hear the latest changes impacting financial aid, the key deadlines for the FAFSA application and CSS Profile, how common full ride scholarships actually are, t…

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Reporters Roundtable: How Trump Is Shaking Up Higher Ed 40:28

2M ago40:28

40:28

We’re bringing back a favorite format to go behind the headlines with top beat reporters covering colleges. Our latest roundtable focuses on how the Trump administration’s many executive orders, research grant cancellations, and crackdowns on international students are changing the higher ed landscape in the U.S. and globally. Jeff and Michael are …

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Why Standing Up For Your Kids Is Massively Important | Jeremy King (Dad of 2, Ocean Orchestra) 46:54

2M ago46:54

46:54

Jeremy King, co-founder and CEO of Ocean Orchestra and former CEO of Attest, shares his journey as a founder, ocean advocate, and father of two daughters. In this episode, Jeremy opens up about building systems for both his family and his startups, why ocean conservation is personal to him, and how parenting has informed his leadership style. We di…

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What Families Get Wrong About College Admissions with Jeff Selingo 33:49

2M ago33:49

33:49

Families obsess over “dream schools.” Colleges obsess over rankings and yield. Somewhere in between, the real truth about admissions gets lost. In this episode of The VineDown, I sit down (again!) with bestselling author and higher ed strategist Jeff Selingo to cut through the myths and talk candidly about what really drives admissions decisions to…

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Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right For You | Jeff Selingo (Dad of 2, Author) 55:06

2M ago55:06

55:06

In this episode of Startup Dad, Adam Fishman sits down with Jeff Selingo, a bestselling author, journalist and education expert, to discuss the complexities of college admissions and how parents can help their kids find their "Dream School." Jeff has spent over two decades researching higher education and is the author of Dream School: Finding the …

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Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You with Jeff Selingo 42:27

2M ago42:27

42:27

What's more important: where you go to college, or what you do in college? Jeff Selingo has written about colleges and universities for more than 25 years and is a New York Times bestselling author of four books. His latest, Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You, draws on more than two years of research and a survey of some 3,000 p…

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Redefining the ‘Dream School’ 32:14

2M ago32:14

32:14

In this era of uncertainty, many parents view highly-selective colleges as the best bet for their student’s futures. In his new book just out this month, Future U co-host Jeff Selingo challenges that assumption. For this episode, Jeff moves from the host chair to being a guest to share highlights from the book, ‘Dream School.’ He talks about going …

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Going Full Startup CEO in the Delivery Room | Peter Kazanjy (Dad of 1, Founding Sales, Atrium) 1:04:03

2M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

Peter Kazanjy is the best-selling author of Founding Sales and co-founder of Atrium. He’s also a dad to a seven-year-old son, Michael, and husband to Tracy, a designer and entrepreneur. In this episode, Pete reflects on building companies, building capabilities, and building a family. He talks about the grit and perseverance behind their seven-roun…

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No Relaxing Summer for Higher Ed 46:56

2M ago46:56

46:56

This summer brought no rest for college leaders. With the Trump Administration’s continuing push to reshape the college world, plus lots of announcements in Artificial Intelligence, there are many higher ed headlines to recap. So Jeff and Michael kick off season 9 with their take on the most important developments of the past couple of months. That…

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Why Having Children Inevitably Ends in Heartache | James Currier (Dad of 4, NFX) 51:54

2M ago51:54

51:54

James Currier is a serial entrepreneur, founding partner at NFX, and a father of 4 boys. Known for his sharp insights into human behavior and startup dynamics, James brings that same clarity and intention to his parenting. He’s not just raising kids, he’s cultivating creators, adventurers, and independent thinkers. In this episode, James shares how…

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Peeling Back the Curtain on Highly-Selective College Admissions with Dr. Andrew Hoffman 1:05:32

2M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

There are some tough, tough colleges to get into these days. Why is that the case? And how can your student crack the code? Dr. Andrew Hoffman is a College Admissions Strategist who's worked in college admissions since college, including being the Director of Admissions for Swarthmore College and the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions a…

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Rerun: Reclassifying Higher Ed: Will the New Carnegie Groupings Change the Race for Prestige? 51:30

2M ago51:30

51:30

Jeff and Michael are joined by Mushtaq Gunja, Executive Director of the Carnegie Classification Systems and Senior Vice President at ACE, to unpack the sweeping changes to the Carnegie Classifications. They explore how the new system aims to better group institutions, highlight student access and earnings, and shift incentives across funding, accou…

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He Brought His Potty to My Client Meeting | Mike Malloy (Dad of 1, Malloy Industries) 54:41

3M ago54:41

54:41

Mike Malloy is the founder of Malloy Industries, a firm that connects scaling entrepreneurs with vetted fractional executives. He's also a Georgetown professor, a husband, and the father of Max, the company's self-declared Chief Cuteness Officer. Mike’s life is an intersection of serious business systems and silly dad jokes, all woven together by a…

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Rerun: Learning from the Swiss Apprenticeship Model 48:04

3M ago48:04

48:04

The U.S. has a lot to learn when it comes to systematizing apprenticeship. Thankfully, there are successful international models, like Switzerland’s, that we can study. Katie Caves, the Director at Switzerland’s Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems, joins the podcast to discuss the Swiss model and what can be gle…

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Create Your Parent Advisory Board | Mike Leibovich (Dad of 1, Adobe) 1:01:29

3M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

Michael Leibovich is the Head of Growth at Adobe, but at home, he’s dad to a curious two-and-a-half-year-old and husband to a full-time working partner. With a previous career as a touring musician and a current career in creative tech leadership at companies like Vimeo and Abstract, Michael brings an emotionally grounded, inventive lens to fatherh…

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Putting the Wow in Your College Essays with Susan Knoppow 49:35

3M ago49:35

49:35

Writing college essays is one of the most challenging aspects of the college application process. Where do students even get started? Susan Knoppow is Co-Founder & CEO of Wow Writing Workshop, where she created the Wow Method - a simple, 10-step process for writing college essays. A former executive speechwriter and copywriter, Susan is also a publ…

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Rerun: Chips and Higher Ed: What the Federal Investment Means for Colleges 21:14

3M ago21:14

21:14

What does a community college in Idaho have to do with mounting economic tensions between the U.S. and China? A lot, actually. On this episode of Future U., Michael and Jeff dive into what the CHIPS and Science Act—the federal spending package designed to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign manufacturers for microchips and other advanced …

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Parenting is our Founder Superpower | Neil Vidyarthi & Lauren Dugan (Parents of 2, Feel Good Games) 59:17

3M ago59:17

59:17

Lauren Dugan and Neil Vidyarthi are the husband-and-wife co-founders of Feel Good Games, creators of Little Magic Stories, an AI storytelling platform designed to spark creativity and independence in kids. They’re also parents of two boys (ages 3 and 8), longtime partners in both life and work, and startup veterans bringing a playful, grounded pers…

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Paid Internships for All: Provost Joe Hartman on How UMass Lowell Redefined Student Success 38:37

3M ago38:37

38:37

What happens when universities stop thinking of “student experience” as a buzzword and start treating it like an outcome-driven mission? In this episode of The Vinedown, host Emily Smith sits down with Joe Hartman, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at UMass Lowell, to explore how his university reimagined student success …