Gap Year Radio
Gap Year Radio is a podcast about planning and taking a life-changing gap year. It features interviews with people who run or lead gap year programs, gap year alumni sharing their adventures, and travel experts offering practical advice. Listeners hear inspiration and guidance for turning the dream of a year out into a reality. The show is aimed at anyone considering a break for travel, service, or personal growth.
Episodes
The Scenic Route: Jackson’s Growth Year Through Work, Reflection and Adventure
Jackson Balin joins me from Queenstown, New Zealand to reflect on what he calls his “growth year." After realizing during his first year of university that he wanted more time for exploration, challenge, and perspective, Jackson stepped away from the conventional timeline and spent the year working in Tennessee and New Zealand through destination work experiences through Adventure EXP.
We talk a
Workaway 'Round the World: Ellie on How to Travel Through Work Exchanges
Ellie Larkins joins the show to break down how work exchanges can become a powerful gateway into long-term travel, meaningful cultural immersion, and real-world skill building. What began as a short trip after university quickly evolved into years of global travel fueled by Workaway experiences across Europe and Australia. In this conversation, Ellie shares practical strategies for finding great h
Full Throttle Gap Year: Eduardo on Balancing Focus and Exploration While Racing Cars, Flying Drones & Saving Sea Turtles
Eduardo Glenn shares how he used his gap year as a focused and intentional bridge between high school in Costa Rica and college in the United States. Centered around a deep commitment to competitive racing, his gap year became an opportunity to pursue a long-standing goal of winning a national championship, while also exploring professional interests through a VaCorps internship in South Africa an
How to Take an Adult Gap Year: Suzanne's Life-Redefining Move to Oaxaca with Her Family
Suzanne Roske, founder of Vamos Coaching and Gap Year Association Board member, shares her journey from a 25-year corporate career to moving her family to Oaxaca, Mexico for a life-changing sabbatical. What began as burnout and a quiet inner voice turned into a bold experiment in slowing down, redefining success, and building a more intentional life. This conversation explores what an “adult gap y
A Journey to Self-Mastery: Luke's Gap Year in South Africa with Warriors Academy
Luke Morton shares how a planned nine-week gap experience with Warriors Academy in South Africa turned into a two-year journey of personal growth, global connection, and skill-building. From an early experience in self-mastery that reshaped his mindset, to a second year earning 19 certifications as a multi-activity instructor, Luke walks us through how stepping away from the traditional path helpe
From the Rockies to the Himalaya: Sammie’s Wilderness Medicine Semester with Aerie
In this episode of Gap Year Radio, I speak with Sammie Westfahl about her experience in Aerie Backcountry Medicine’s Fall Semester in Wilderness Medicine, an immersive program that blends emergency medicine training, rescue skills, wildland fire operations, and international expedition travel.
Sammie shares how this sequence of certifications, field training, and international immersion challenge
Rich in Experience: Adam Salzman on How to Build Your Gap Year Budgeting Skills
In Episode 2 of Season 10, I sit down with Adam Salzman, founder of AdventureEXP and author of The Suitcase of Life, for a practical conversation about personal finance on a gap year. We unpack why budgeting is really a “priorities list,” how students can build financial confidence through real-world decisions, and how destination work experiences can help young adults earn money while they travel
Around the World at 18: Arjun's Self-Funded, Solo Gap Year to 100 Countries
In this Season 10 opener, I sit down with Arjun Malaviya, who began solo traveling on his 17th birthday and visited 100 countries in 13 months. We dig into how his parents’ “experiences over stuff” mindset shaped his love of travel, and how he built a rhythm for constant movement with flexible planning and a strong bias toward local connection.
Arjun shares practical tools (Rome2Rio, Google Tran
Aupair Life in Italy: Nancy's Gap Year as a Nanny in Palermo
Nancy hit pause on her engineering degree and found herself living solo in Palermo, Italy, caring for two kids and soaking in the rich, sensory experience of Sicilian life. In this episode, she shares what it’s really like to be an au pair abroad - from daily routines and bonding with her host family to solo adventures and personal reflection. She also discusses the process of finding a placement
Cultivating Creativity – Dillon's Gap Year Exploring Art, Place and Presence
In this episode of Gap Year Radio, Julia talks with Dillon Sheekey, an alum who used his gap year to reconnect with his creativity and develop a deeper sense of presence and purpose. Through three distinct experiences: a semester in the Southwest with ARCC Programs, an immersive art residency at Cow House Studios in Ireland, and a summer job on Nantucket. Dillon explored what it means to live inte
Frequently Wondered Questions FWQ – Why Should I Take a Gap Year?
Welcome back to another installment of our Frequently Wondered Questions series, where we answer some of the most common questions about gap years.
Today, we're tackling one of the biggest ones: “Why should I take a gap year?”
But instead of hearing the answer from me, we’re handing the mic to the people who know best: gap year alumni. In this episode, you’ll hear from Aliza, Marco, Journey, Katar
A Purposeful Pause: Connor’s Internship Experience in Boston
Not every gap year takes place before college - and not every gap experience involves travel. In this episode of Gap Year Radio, we explore what it looks like to bring intentionality into a mid-college gap year, through the lens of Connor’s experience with the College for Social Innovation’s Gap Semester in the City.
Like many students, Connor’s college journey hasn’t been a straight line. After
Frequently Wondered Questions FWQ: How Do I Budget for My Gap Year?
In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers dives into the essential topic of budgeting for your gap year. From understanding what your gap year expenses might look like to exploring creative ways to fund your adventure, Julia provides actionable advice for planning a gap year on a budget. Whether you're looking to save, earn, or find funding options like scholarships and grants, this epi
Duke’s Gap Year Program in Action: Katarina’s Adventures from Moldova to Mount Kilimanjaro
It’s college decision season! If you’re considering a gap year but wondering how to fund it—or if colleges even support it—this episode is for you. Duke University is one of the few schools in the U.S. that doesn’t just allow students to take a gap year—it actually funds them.
Today, we’re diving into a firsthand account of what it’s like to participate in the Duke Gap Year Program, one of the mos
Frequently Wondered Questions FWQ: Making the Most of Unstructured Time on Your Gap Year
In this installment of Frequently Wondered Questions on Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers discusses how to effectively utilize unstructured time during a gap year.
From short periods of downtime to longer stretches at your disposal, Julia offers practical advice on using this time to develop new skills, rest, and even earn money. She emphasizes the importance of reflection, setting goals, and st
Mindfulness, Music & Monasteries: Getting Zen with Ben
In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers speaks with Ben, a gap year alum who integrated mindfulness practices into his varied experiences. Ben recounts his journey, highlighting his residency at Zen monasteries in the US and Japan, a farm stay in Costa Rica, and learning audio engineering. He shares insights into how these experiences enhanced his personal growth, creativity, and appr
Frequently Wondered Questions: FWQ: Who Takes a Gap Year?
One of the biggest myths about gap years? That they’re only for certain types of students. In this episode, host Julia Rogers breaks down this misconception and explores how gap time can benefit students from all backgrounds and academic paths.
From high achievers on the brink of burnout to hands-on learners seeking real-world experience, Julia shares key student profiles that thrive on a gap yea
Abby & Elena: Student and Parent Perspectives on Gapping
In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers chats with Abby, a gap year alum and current aerospace engineering student, and her mom, Elena, about Abby’s incredible year of exploration and growth. From volunteering at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand to road-tripping through 10 National Parks, Abby’s experiences shaped her confidence, independence, and readiness for college and beyond.
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Welcome to Season 9: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Welcome back to Gap Year Radio! After a 2024 hiatus, we’re thrilled to kick off Season 9 with a very special episode. Big changes are in the air, and we’re sharing all the updates, memories, and excitement for what’s ahead!
✨ Life Updates
Margo tied the knot!
Julia welcomed a golden retriever puppy to her family!
✨ Reliving Podcast Memories
This episode is bittersweet as we celebrate Margo’s i
Ep. 809 Mindful Volunteering Part II: Student Voices
This episode we are super excited to welcome two more guests for our Mindful Volunteering Part 2 episode, Emily and Andrei. These two are former students of Claire Bennet from our Mindful Volunteering Part 1 episode and are currently in the midst of their gap year through the Princeton Novogratz Bridge Year Program in Udaipur, India. They spend some time telling us about the Novogratz Program and
Ep. 808 Mindful Volunteering: All About "Learning Service" with Claire Bennett
On this episode of Gap Year Radio we are so excited to welcome Claire Bennet, co-author of the book Learning Service: The Essential Guide to Volunteering Abroad. On this episode, she discusses with us the many nuances of international service, aid and development, voluntourism, and other topics related to volunteering abroad. She reframes for us what is often referred to as "Service Learning", to
Ep. 807 Ethical Animal Volunteering with Nora Livingstone of Animal Experience International
On today's pod we are excited to welcome Nora Livingstone, the cofounder and volunteer coordinator of Animal Experience International, which is an organization that offers ethical and life-changing trips for students, professionals, and animal lovers to volunteer around the world with organizations that are working ethically and sustainability for animal conservation. Nora is a Nature Canada Woman
Ep. 806 Trailblazer Journey Fleishman Tackles the PCT on Her Gap Year
Happy Gap Year Exploration Month! In this special before-and-after episode of Gap Year Radio, we embark on an awe-inspiring conversation with Journey Fleishman, a remarkable gap year student who undertook the incredible feat of hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the Western US.
Julia and Journey take a deep dive into the challenges, triumphs, and transformative experiences that Journ
Ep. 805 Talking Gap Year Exploration Month & Where to Travel in 2024 with Julia & Margo
Happy October, and welcome to Gap Year Exploration Month! Julia and Margo are excited to chat with the listeners this episode about the many opportunities coming up this month to #explorethegapyear, as well as trending gap year destinations for 2024, helpful apps and hot travel tips, working holiday visas, sustainability, slow travel, and much more. Visit www.gapyearradiopodcast.com for more info
Ep. 804 Gap Year Accessibility with Johileny Meran: Empowering Students with Disabilities to Travel the World
Join us as traveler and disability advocate Johileny Meran shares invaluable insights on how to empower students with disabilities to explore the world. We discuss her study abroad experience in London, receive tips for creating more inclusive gap year experiences and feel reaffirmed in the transformative impact of international experiences for all. Johileny is a graduate of NYU's College of Arts
Ep. 803 The Gap Year Sex Talk with Sarah Byrden of The Elemental Self
We are thrilled to have Sarah Bryden of the Elemental Self on this episode to discuss sexual education, emerging sexuality and healthy relationships to self and others with emerging adults and gap year students in mind.
For gap year students themselves, we will discuss how to frame your sexual health in the context of you gap year experience; Sarah will share some wisdom about how to frame sexua
Ep. 802 Managing Personal Safety on Your Gap Year with Dave Dennis of Cornerstone Safety Group
Today on the pod we have Dave Dennis joining us from Cornerstone Safety Group. Dave is co-founder and Executive Director of Cornerstone Safety Group, a risk management services company supporting travel and experiential education organizations. With a master’s degree in risk management and 27 years of experience in domestic and international operations, Dave has been the Vice President of Risk Man
Ep. 802 Managing Personal Safety on Your Gap Year with Dave Dennis of Cornerstone Safety Group
Today on the pod we have Dave Dennis joining us from Cornerstone Safety Group. Dave is co-founder and Executive Director of Cornerstone Safety Group, a risk management services company supporting travel and experiential education organizations. With a master’s degree in risk management and 27 years of experience in domestic and international operations, Dave has been the Vice President of Risk Man
Ep. 801 Sustainability on Your Gap Year with Arantxa López Martínez and Daniel Ponce Taylor
Happy Earth Month and Welcome to Season Eight of Gap Year Radio!
As we navigate the era of climate change, it's become increasingly crucial for us to consider the impact of our travel on the environment. With this in mind, let's delve into the world of sustainable travel and explore why it matters now more than ever before. Our guests Daniel Ponce-Taylor and Arantxa López Martínez are both world
Season Eight Preview with Margo and Julia
We're back! Julia and Margo are feeling rejuvenated after their gap year from the pod and are excited to bring you new and exciting content this upcoming season. Tune in here for a preview of all the guests, themes, and ideas that you can look forward to this season, as well as a recap of all that your cohosts have been up to for the last year!
Intro/Outro Music: Quasi Motion by Kevin MacLeod; l
GYEM and Funding Your Gap Year 101
Today on the pod, your co-hosts Julia and Margo come together to get excited for Gap Year Exploration Month (which begins today)! We discuss the various opportunities this month to #explorethegapyear, and how you can remain engaged through this exciting month of opportunities. Additionally we delve into the somewhat daunting task of funding your gap year. We provide you with various ideas and tool
Ep. 706 Sam Ballard on Dynamy Internship Year
This episode features Sam Ballard, an alum of Dynamy Internship Year's class of 2021. Sam spent both his fall and spring semesters of his gap year with Dynamy, a domestic gap year program based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Sam was able to participate in two very different internship opportunities in Worcester during his year, with his fall semester being at an automotive shop and his spring semest
Ep. 705 Kevin Fagan on Where There Be Dragons
Today on the pod we have Kevin Fagan joining us, a gap year alum who participated in Where There Be Dragons' Andes and Amazon semester for his fall term, and then spent the second half of his gap year solo backpacking through Europe. Kevin shares with us some highlights from his semester in South America with Dragons and some of his biggest takeaways from this experience, as well as how that semes
Ep. 704 Tufts 1+4 and Amigos Alum Luke Pangan Petrosky
In 2019, Luke participated in the Tufts 1+4 Bridge Year program with Amigos de las Américas in Cuenca, Ecuador. He lived with a host family and worked at Fundación Crea tu Espacio, a non-profit that aids migrants during their transitory periods. Some of his responsibilities included working at daycare centers for toddlers, organizing fundraisers, facilitating workshops, and assisting with a commun
Ep. 703 Jenae Edwards on Art, Skateboarding and Exploring the Bahamas
Listen to our conversation with Jenae Edwards, who tells us all about how she filled an unexpected covid gap year with meaning.
Jenae used her gap time to create art and delve deeper into my love of art, while picking up a new skill of skateboarding and learning a lot from the community on her island. She says her perspective of home has completely changed as a result of spending her gap time
Ep. 702 Aliza Saunders on Her Social Justice Gap Year with Tivnu
Episode 702 brings you our conversation with Aliza Saunders, a 18/19 alum of Tinvu: Building Justice. Tivnu is a nine-month gap year program focused on social justice engagement. Participants create a community living together, discovering the Pacific Northwest, and exploring the bond between Jewish life and social justice while working with Portland’s cutting-edge grassroots organizations.
Ep. 701 Dan Schmidt on Creative Covid Gapping and Solving Cold Cases
We open our newest season with covid gapper Dan Schmidt who has a super interesting gap year story. As a creative, Dan expanded his professional skill set by spending a large chunk of his year as a videographer for the Adventures with Purpose YouTube channel. He helped bring the channel from 250,000 subscribers to over 1 million, all while traveling the country, learning to pilot drones and solvin
Ep. 607 Ethan Knight of the Gap Year Assocation
Today on the pod we are excited to have Ethan Knight, founding director of the Gap Year Association. Julia and Margo take some time to talk to Ethan about the history of the Gap Year Association (GYA), his personal path that brought him here, the meaning of life, climate based gap years, and the current state of the field after a challenging pandemic year.
You can find Ethan and his colleagues a
Ep. 606 Vanesia Dedmon on Carpe Mundi, Morocco and Spain
Today on the pod we have Vanesia Dedmon joining us to share about her semester with Carpe Mundi in Spring of 2019 in Spain and Morocco. She shares with us some of her biggest takeaways from her time abroad, as well as a few highlight memories from homestays and trekking in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, to a week on foot on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, to name a few.
Ep. 605 Gap Year Alum Maytal Agasi on Israel, East Africa and Having a Life of Adventure
Maytal Agasi took a gap year because she wanted to break out of the classroom and have an adventure in the real world. And boy, did she! Maytal spent her gap year working on a sustainable farm in Israel with Eco-Israel, traveling and participating in service-learning projects in East Africa with Carpe Diem Education and working closer to home as well.
Maytal tells us that her gap time away from
Ep. 604 Rising Earth Immersion with Alison Sever and Kaylah Brathwaite
Today on the pod we have Alison Sever, Program Director of Rising Earth Immersion at the Eco-Institute at Pickards Mountain, as well as Kaylah Brathwaite, Fall 2020 alum of the Rising Earth Immersion Program. This program is a holistic environmental leadership program that focuses on social justice, spirituality, and mindfulness. Alison and Kaylah tell us more about the philosophy and curriculum b
Ep. 603 Americorps NCCC with current Corps members Emma McSalis and Amelie Cook
In this episode, you are going to hear from two exceptional Americorps NCCC members, Emma and Amelie.
Emma and Amelie are currently in the middle of their service year and tell us all about the projects they have completed and a few that are still in front of them. Something similar across all NCCC experiences is the diversity of projects Corps members participate in - from disaster relief to tr
Ep. 602 Gapping in Israel with Author and Israel Gap Year Expert Phyllis Folb and Young Judea Alum Ayden Novick
In this episode, we continue to #explorethegapyear this Gap Year Exploration Month by learning about the diversity of gap year opportunities in Israel.
Beyond the religious and cultural significance of the country, travel to Israel offers the opportunity to delve into its natural beauty, foodie culture, tech-startup excitement, archeological landmarks, and plenty of adventure. First we speak wit
Ep. 601 Gap Year Exploration Month with the Bliss Bean's Beatrice Naujalyte
We kick off Season Six (when did that happen?!) with an overview of Gap Year Exploration Month with youtuber Beatrice Naujalyte of the Bliss Bean. Beatrice will walk us through all the exciting ways to #explorethegapyear in February!
Gap Year Exploration Month, or GYEM (pronounced “gem”), is a time to share information, recognize, support, and celebrate those who are considering or have taken a
Ep. 507 Gap Year Alumni Survey Results with Researcher Kempie Blythe and 2021 Program Preview
Margo and Julia close out Season Five of Gap Year Radio by looking behind and looking ahead.
We talk to international educational consultant Kempie Blythe about the results of the 2020 Gap Year Alumni Survey, a massive nation-wide survey conducted by the Gap Year Association. Kempie gives us a highlight reel of survey results that showcase the benefits and outcomes of the gap year option.
Afte
Ep. 506 Tyler Newman on Year of Mastery
Joining us on the pod today is Tyler Newman, a current gapper and founder of a gap year program called Year of Mastery, which is an opportunity for students to unlock their fullest potential through 12 months of passion exploration. She tells us more about her accessible, student led peer support model that gives students the platform they need to succeed in their gap year. She also discusses her
Ep. 505 Life on the Road with Jane and Jason of J2Guides
Today on the pod we are excited to host Jane and Jason Sarouhan, long time gap year counselors and co-founders of J2Guides. Many students this year have opted for the cross country road trip as a part of their gap year, and Jane and Jason have begun their own van life adventure this year with their daughter. They share with the listeners the fun adventures of life on the road, as well as what stud
Ep. 504 Staying Active Post-Election with Justice in June's Bryanna Wallace and Autumn Gupta
"It all started with a conversation." That's how Justice in June co-founder Bryanna Wallace describes the genesis of the massively successful Justice in June resource. The conversation was a heart-to-heart with her best friend from college Autumn Gupta after the murder of George Floyd earlier this year. After this conversation, Autumn leapt into action to create a resource to help people become be
Ep. 503 Anusha Goel on Virtual Gapping with Global Citizen Academy
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a covid gap year student? Are you curious what you'd do on a virtual gap year program? Today we hear from current gap year student Anushka Goel, who is participating in Global Citizen Academy.
Global Citizen Academy is the virtual offering from Global Citizen Year, an organization that aims to build the next generation of global leaders. Anushka tells
Ep. 502 Caleb Kyle of Outward Bound Costa Rica
Joining us today on the pod is Caleb Kyle, who spent last year on a gap year adventuring in the outdoors through New Zealand and Costa Rica. He discusses with us the two programs he participated in, and explains the experience one can have with Outward Bound in Costa Rica. He received numerous useful certifications during the program, and also shares with us the struggles they faced when the pande
Ep. 501 Katy Oliveira of Collegehood Advice
Ok, so here's what we know in September of 2020: There are a TON of students taking a gap year this year! And they are finding creative and meaningful ways to spend their year.
We want to help students make the most of their gap year this year- especially if was unexpected. With that in mind, we invited College Success Expert Katy Oliveira to tell us about skill-building.
Katy walks us through
Ep. 407 Julia & Margo on Gap Years vs. Coronavirus feat. Drew Beasley
Today on the pod we are rounding out Season Four of Gap Year Radio with a feature from your cohosts, Margo and Julia. We discuss gap year and college planning in the time of COVID, something we know so many high school seniors are grappling with this year. For the second half of the show you will hear from Drew Beasley, a gap year alumni who started college both with and without gap time, and spea
Ep. 406 Gary Robinson on Wellness While Planning for Gap Year or College
Joining us on the podcast is Gary Robinson of P3 Mental Health. For the last twenty years Gary has been the Director of Counseling at Hartwick College, and has dedicated himself for over 30 years to helping high school and college-aged students to maximize their potential and overcome barriers to learning. He has also spent a number of years working with various gap year and summer programs for f
Ep. 405 Francesca Eremeeva on Taking a Political Gap Year
Franny Eremeeva's political journey started when she received an email from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign asking "Do you want to be a fellow?"
She volunteered and interned on Clinton's presidential campaign during her gap year in addition to traveling to East Africa and Italy. She went on to intern at the Council on Foreign Relations and for Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (hear
Ep. 404 Focusing on Environmental Sustainability with Gap Year Alum Ivy Jones
Gap year alum Ivy Jones spent her gap year expanding her knowledge and experience in environmental sustainability.
She began her year with a Thinking Beyond Borders semester spent in Guatemala and Costa Rica where she learned about education systems, sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism. Inspired by her experience with TBB, she dove deeper into environmental issues with Ecoswell, a grassroots
Ep. 403 Disaster Relief Volunteering with Riley and Josiah, All Hands and Hearts Alums
When disaster strikes, we are all asked to give money to help in the immediate aftermath. But once a disaster zone shifts to a recovery zone, you are also able to donate time and your own sweat. In this episode, we speak with Josiah Johnson and Riley Piva, two incredible gap year alums who dedicated time to disaster recovery with the international relief organization All Hands and Hearts. They ope
Ep. 402 Andrew Buchanan on the Morehead Cain Scholarship and his Self-Designed Gap Year
Andrew Buchanan joins us on the pod to discuss the Morehead Cain Scholarship, a program that provides a fully funded four year undergraduate degree at UNC Chapel Hill, as well as offers funding for a gap year. As the first gap year recipient of the scholarship, Andrew discusses with us his travels with his dad and brother, his NOLS course in Patagonia, and then his solo travels throughout Asia.
Ep. 401 #ExploretheGapYear During Gap Year Exploration Month!
February is Gap Year Exploration Month! There are so many fun ways to explore the opportunities of the gap year option this month. This episode, we open Season Four by chatting all about Gap Year Exploration Month events happening every day this month!
For more info and events schedule, go to www.gapyearexplorationmonth.com and follow the hashtag #explorethegapyear
Gap Year Radio is running a co
Ep. 307 Charlie Taibi of Year On
Joining us on the pod is Charlie Taibi, CEO of the gap year program Year On, a three part program that helps students gain the confidence, clarity, and direction they need to succeed in college and beyond. Charlie discusses with us the core principles of the Year On program, how he got to where he is today, and inspires us with his recent working sabbatical. Charlie has big ideas for the future of
Ep. 306 Rough Magic Author Lara Prior Palmer on Horse Racing in Mongolia, Writing a Memoir and Being Brave
Today we welcome bestselling author Lara Prior Palmer to talk about the gap year that inspired her book, Rough Magic. At the age of nineteen, Lara Prior-Palmer discovered a website devoted to “the world’s longest, toughest horse race”―an annual competition of endurance and skill that involves dozens of riders racing a series of twenty-five wild ponies across 1,000 kilometers of Mongolian grasslan
Ep. 305 Learning How to Leverage Money for Good with Marco Marsans
Marco Marsans spent his gap year on four continents, expanding his understanding of himself as well as the mechanisms that make the global economy run. Marco learned that by understanding the functions of micro and macro economies, he can affect positive change in the world. In his captivating interview, Marco details how traveling in Asia, working with refugees in Costa Rica and interning at a pr
Ep. 304 Emma Hulme on Conserving the American West with American Conservation Experience
Joining us on the pod is Emma Hulme, who spent her post-college gap time with the American Conservation Experience (or ACE), a branch of Americorps that coordinates and trains volunteers to undertake practical environmental restoration projects in America’s national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands.
Emma tells us about how her three month stint with ACE turned into nearly
Ep. 303 Gap Years x College Admissions with Skyler Adams of Northwestern University
Ever wonder what colleges think about the gap year option? This episode we are joined by Skyler Adams, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Northwestern University.
Skyler tells about the gap year from the admissions perspective and how to think about a gap year as it relates to applying for college. We also discuss the ideal deferral plan, how deferring can impact financial aid and
Ep. 302 Dividing Up Your Gap Year with Mackenzie Burke
This episode you are going to hear from Mackenzie Burke, a gap year alumni who participated in three distinct program during her gap time. She chats about the various passions and interests these three segments served for her, from the plains of East Africa, to researching life under the sea in Timor-Leste, to living on her own in Cusco Peru. Additionally she shares with us a bit more about the in
Ep. 301 Gap Year Entrepreneurs Kris, Anika And Cecilia
Welcome to Season Three of Gap Year Radio! We are excited to bring you a brand new season of exciting interviews. Our premiere episode features three entrepreneurs who launched successful social ventures as a result of their gap year experiences.
You’ll hear from Kris Cody of PAKA Apparel, Anika Funk of Banana Backpacks and Cecilia Polanco of So Good Pupusas. Although these three stories are uni
Ep. 208 Gap Year Preparation with Professional Gap Year Counselors
How does one prepare for a transformative experience like a gap year? For our Season Two finale, we invited three professional gap year counselors; Jason Sarouhan of the Center for Interim Programs, Marion Taylor of Taylor the Gap and Susan Staley of Free to Roam Adventures, to discuss what they think are the most important ways to prepare for a gap year. We'll cover mental and physical preparatio
Ep. 207 Jacqueline Contino on A Wildlife Focused Gap Year in South Africa
Joining Margo on the pod is Jacqueline Contino, who spent a life-changing post-undergraduate gap year in South Africa through the program Oyster Worldwide. After studying a pre-veterinary track in college, she ended up participating in two separate programs in South Africa during her gap time, first studying wildlife veterinary medicine. It was during this first stint in the country where she disc
Ep. 206 Planning Your Independent Gap Year
Joining us in this episode is Sasha Landauer and Jiyoung Jeong and of Gapyearly, who start us off by telling us a bit more about their own independent gap years post high school before beginning their undergraduate education at Stanford University. They now c0-direct the online gap year platform Gapyearly, which offers firsthand feedback of gap year experiences and free support for prospective gap
Ep. 205 Elisabeth Mulder on Gap at Glen Brook
Elisabeth Mulder joins Margo on the pod to discuss her gap semester spent in New Hampshire with Gap at Glen Brook. From spending two days solo in the woods, to returning as a summer camp counselor at Glen Brook and now heading back this summer for her third stint of time, Elisabeth's passion for her experience with Gap at Glen Brook is inspiring.
Ep. 204 Andre and Tiger on the City Year Experience
As an American, there are so many ways to give back right here in the US on a gap year. One of them is City Year, an 11 month long service program that some people call "the domestic Peace Corps." Volunteers spend their year mentoring students in a high-need school in one of twenty-nine CY cities across the country. Andre Morgan and Tiger Mar share their experiences as City Year volunteers in New
Ep. 203 Holly Morrison of Art History Abroad
Julia and Margo take a break while on the road for the USA Gap Year Fairs to talk all things art history with Holly Morrison, a former Art History Abroad alumni who has now turned her passions in the field into her adult career. With a fascinating take on the "heart, mind, and soul" of a gap year through her own personal gap year journey post-high school, Holly shares her deep passion for travel a
Ep. 202 Kelly Daniels of Seamester on Spending a Gap Year Sailing
Ever think about spending your gap year on the ocean? Kelly Daniels spends at least 3 months of the year on a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands. That's because she caught the sailing bug in college and has spent her career since helping young people develop skills around water sports, including sailing and SCUBA diving. In our interview, Kelly will tell us about her personal journey, the stud
Ep. 201 Gap Year Exploration Month with USA Gap Year Fairs and Travel Access Project
February is Gap Year Exploration Month and we are inviting you to #explorethegapyear with us!
First we speak with Alia Pialtos of USA Gap Year Fairs. USA Gap Year Fairs organizes events across the US for students to discover gap year programs. Every winter, USA GYF travels to 41 locations from sea to shining sea. There are 20 fairs in February, so check usagapyearfairs.org to find one near you!
Happy New Year from Margo and Julia
Margo and Julia recap their favorite travels of 2018, discuss the upcoming USA Gap Year Fairs and wrap up Season 1 of Gap Year Radio.
Make sure to check out an upcoming USA Gap Year Fair in your area this winter (they start in Philly on Jan 5 and end in Denver March 2) See the schedule at usagapyearfairs.org
Stay tuned for Season 2 of Gap Year Radio coming February 4, 2019. Happy New Year!
Ep. 106 John and Eamonn's Gap Year on the Appalachian Trail
John O'Connor and Eamonn Mazur were friends throughout their high school days in Massachusetts, and were able to turn a small seedling of an idea to hike the Appalachian Trail start to finish on their gap year into a reality. After many months of preparation, and differing pursuits in the fall of their gap year, they embarked on the adventure of a lifetime in March of this year. In this episode, t
Ep. 105 Father Son Gap Year Memories with Michael and Ron Shaich
It's Thanksgiving week, so we wanted to bring you an episode that celebrates family. Michael's gap year story is as much about family as some of the amazing adventures he did independently. Michael joined structured programs in Asia and Africa, but also interned and traveled with friends and family. In this episode Michael and his dad Ron join us to talk about their gap year experiences (Ron took
Ep. 104 Brad Gillings of Youth International
Brad Gillings is the founder of Youth International, an experiential learning program that combines authentic international travel, cultural exchange, home stays with local families, volunteer community service work, and outdoor expeditions. Brad spent much of his early twenties traveling - first for 9 months with Up with People, then on his own in teaching in Japan and backpacking through much o
Ep. 103 Michelle's Gap Year in Latin America
Gap year student and Travel Access Project grant recipient Michelle Zhang used her year to become fluent in Spanish while spending time in Guatemala, Mexico, Columbia and Peru. She began by studying at a language school on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and bonding with her host family. She then went on to intern in Oaxaca Mexico with the EnVia Foundation, an organization that empowers wo
Ep. 102 Ryan Allen of Irish Gap Year
Ryan Allen spent most of his twenties studying, teaching and traveling abroad (a self-described "gap decade"). A passionate surfer, Ryan chased waves in New Zealand, Norway and elsewhere. He eventually made his way to the famous waves of northwest Ireland, where he went on to found Irish Gap year with his business partner, Killian O'Kelly.
In our interview Ryan shares how he came to become an ex
Ep. 101 Lily's Gap Year in Bali
Lily Slaughter graduated from high school in the picturesque town of Stowe, Vermont. She knew for a while that she wanted to take a gap year. Her wanderlust and desire to do good led her to Bali, where a plan to teach English for a couple months ballooned into a eight-month-long stay with the community. In this episode, she talks to Julia about her experience and how it has changed her world forev
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