In this week’s episode of The Way to College Podcast, Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with motivational speaker and author Jonathan Medina — America’s #1 School Motivator.
From a shy middle schooler in the Rio Grande Valley to a Georgetown University graduate and national speaker, Jonathan shares how a single college visit through GEAR UP sparked his dream, how one counselor’s doubt nearly stopped him, and how another educator’s belief changed everything.
Listen as Jonathan reflects on his journey, his advice for students starting college, and his message to all educators: “Dream big, and help others do the same.”
🎙️ Tune in and get inspired. Don't forget to share the episode and inspire others.
#podcast #latino #dreambig #jonathanmedina #georgetown #gearupworks
In Part II of my conversation with Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez, Associate Vice Provost for Equity-Centered Initiatives at Arizona State University, we explore the politics shaping education today—and the urgent need to build coalitions across communities.
Dr. Rodríguez discusses the threats facing public education, the role of systemic inequality, and how division undermines opportunity for all students. But amid the challenges, he reminds us that hope endures—in the stories of students, families, and educators who continue to plant seeds for a better future.
Join us as we reflect on what it means to educate, to lead, and to believe in the collective power of communities working together for change.
🎙️ Listen now and share this episode with someone who believes education should remain a public good for all.
In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez, a leading voice in education policy and equity. From growing up in El Paso to earning a congressional scholarship that took him to Germany at age 16, Dr. Rodríguez shares the pivotal moments that shaped his journey. He reflects on working with migrant and tribal communities, serving on the White House Commission on Educational Excellence, and why affirming students’ cultural and familial assets is critical to building opportunity.
This is a conversation about purpose, resilience, and the ongoing fight for educational access.
🎙 Listen now and be inspired by Dr. Rodríguez’s story of service, community, and leadership.
This week on The Way to College Podcast, Dr. Jose Saldivar speaks with brothers Jack and Evan Goldstein about their unique journeys and their mission to transform the college search experience for students.
Jack Goldstein is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, studying political science and exploring opportunities in law and politics.
Evan Goldstein is a high school sophomore at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon, navigating extracurriculars, mock trial, and his first steps toward college.
Together, they co-founded Quadzio, a platform that connects high school students directly with college ambassadors across more than 110 campuses. Their goal? To give students an authentic look into campus life—beyond brochures and scripted tours.
🎓 In this episode:
How mock trial and internships shaped Jack’s academic path
Evan’s perspective on preparing for the college journey
Why traditional college tours often fall short
The story behind Quadzio and its fast-growing network of ambassadors
Whether you’re a student, parent, or educator, this conversation underscores the importance of authentic voices in helping students make one of life’s most significant decisions.
What does it mean to follow curiosity through every stage of life?
This week, Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Ben Yzaguirre, Vice President of Education & Conferences at the School Nutrition Association. From a childhood spent exploring his home in rural Maryland to teaching high school history, to designing curriculum, and ultimately finding his place in the world of associations, Ben’s story highlights the importance of staying true to yourself while embracing change.
In this episode, Ben shares:
How boredom sparked a lifelong curiosity
Why small colleges can be the right fit for introverts
Lessons learned from leaving the classroom
Overcoming imposter syndrome when working with world-class experts
The role of associations in professional and personal growth
✨ Quote to remember: “Be bored, and then be curious.”
Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on education, career pivots, and building a fulfilling professional journey.
This week, Dr. Jose Saldivar sits down with Iuri Melo, licensed clinical social worker, author, and co-founder of SchoolPulse. From his journey growing up in Portugal to building a proactive student mental health platform, Iuri shares how adaptability, curiosity, and a commitment to growth shaped his path.
In this episode:
The twists and turns of Iuri’s educational journey
Why it’s okay to not have “just one” purpose or career path
How SchoolPulse is redefining student mental fitness
Practical advice for students: go into the world with confidence
🎧 Tune in for a powerful conversation on resilience, reinvention, and the importance of proactive mental health support for young people.
This week on The Way to College Podcast, I welcome Daniel Santos, founder and CEO of Prepory. They have guided over 14,000 students worldwide through the college admissions process.
Daniel opens up about his educational journey, the lessons he learned along the way, and how those experiences inspired him to help students and families navigate the complex college admissions process.
www.prepory.com
Listen in as we discuss:
✔️ Why starting early in high school is critical
✔️ How authenticity beats any “secret formula”
✔️ The importance of reflection and challenging the stories we tell ourselves
✔️ Why the how of college matters more than the where
Whether you’re a student preparing for applications or a parent supporting your child, this episode offers valuable strategies and perspective.
#CollegeJourney #AdmissionsProcess #Prepory #CollegeReadiness #EducationPodcast #StudentSuccess #TheWayToCollege
Trailblazer La Tonya “LT” Rease Miles returns to share the story behind her memoir Smart Girl and new Smart Girl podcast. We talk first-gen identity, breaking the “one path” myth, and why telling your story matters now more than ever. Check it out, now! #firstgen #smartgirl #podcast #journey #paths #story
Smart Girl Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2459505/episodes/17411979
In this episode, I sit down with Justin Reyes—South Texas native, Texas A&M alum, and mission-driven professional—who shares his powerful journey from a small ranching town to leadership roles in national associations and professional networks.
Justin opens up about:
The influence of his hardworking mother
Navigating imposter syndrome and academic probation in college
How getting involved transformed his college experience
The unexpected career path that led him to Washington, D.C.
His advice for first-year students and those applying to college now
Whether you’re a student, educator, or professional, this episode is a reminder that your path may not be linear—but it’s always yours to shape.
🎧 Tune in and get inspired by Justin’s story of resilience, growth, and service.
#TheWayToCollegePodcast #FirstGenVoices #CollegeSuccess #LatinoLeadership
Pamela Maldonado—sports betting analyst for ESPN and the Tennis Channel—joins The Way to College Podcast to share how she transformed curiosity, hustle, and self-taught skills into a national media career.
We explore:
Her bold move from Texas to Las Vegas with no plan
Breaking into media without a journalism degree
Lessons from poker that apply to life and work
How she built a brand around analysis and storytelling
The power of leaning into what brings you joy
Pamela’s story is a reminder that success isn’t always planned—and that sometimes, taking a chance on yourself is the best bet you can make.
In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, I sit down with Sam Bernstein, co-founder of Loper, a free mobile app designed to guide high school students through their college and career exploration journey.
Sam shares how his professional journey started at a prestigious hedge fund in New York City. Feeling unfulfilled, Sam began creating a student-centered tech platform to address educational inequality. We dive into his personal journey, the pivotal moments that reshaped his purpose, and how Loper is helping students discover the right post-high school path—whether it’s a four-year university, trade school, or something else entirely.
💡 Highlights:
Why Sam walked away from Wall Street
The role of privilege and perspective in college access
How Loper personalizes the college discovery process
Advice for students feeling overwhelmed by decisions
“Time is long,” Sam reminds us, encouraging young people to be patient with the process and open to growth along the way.
🎙️ Tune in to hear how one app is helping students reimagine what comes next.
In this episode, attorney Ezra Brown joins me to share his powerful journey—from growing up in a working-class Jewish household to practicing law and leading pro bono efforts at the border. Ezra opens up about the culture shock of attending UT Law, the hard lessons he learned navigating the LSAT, and the strategies he used to avoid crushing law school debt. He also offers actionable advice for aspiring law students, especially those from first-gen backgrounds.
🎧 Whether you're thinking about law school or passionate about educational equity, Ezra’s story is packed with insight, honesty, and hard-won wisdom. #lawschooljourney #firstgenlawyer #attorney #biglaw #lawschooltips #educationalequity #accesstoeducation #higheredmatters #firstgensuccess #careertalk #inspirationdaily #storytelling
Maria Jose Cook moved to the U.S. at 14, undocumented and uncertain about her future. Today, Maria is the Associate Director at ISPOR and travels the world connecting leaders in healthcare. In this episode, Maria shares how self-advocacy, grit, and staying true to her values helped her build a fulfilling life and career. A must-listen for anyone navigating uncertainty or carving out their unique path. Let's jump in.
#podcast #healthcare #journey #nonprofit #latina #latinaleadership #story
This week on The Way to College Podcast, I’m joined by Sam Garcia—a Mission, Texas native who went from taking dual credit courses at South Texas College to earning a degree from Harvard Law and becoming a partner at the venture capital firm Amplo.
In this episode, Sam shares:
How early planning (and a few strategic A’s) helped him get into Harvard Law
Why dual credit courses in high school can shape your future more than you think
What it means to take smart risks—even when you don’t have it all figured out
His path from law school to teaching at Harvard and leading VC deals
The story behind writing for Forbes and The Guardian while still a student
💡 Whether you're a student, educator, or professional, Sam’s journey is a masterclass in intentionality, hustle, and saying yes to opportunity.
🎧 Listen now and learn how to stack the odds in your favor—starting today.
From immigrant kid in Miami to Executive Director of a national organization, Dr. Celia Chomon Zamora’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-belief. In this episode, we talk about the power of language, walking away from West Point, navigating rejection, and finding your true calling—even when it doesn’t come with a roadmap. Celia opens up about leading with purpose, advocating for heritage speakers, and why failure is often the best teacher.
🎓 Whether you're a student, educator, or mid-career dreamer, this is for you. Let's jump in!
What does it take to leave a stable career, move countries, and start a company from scratch—all in the name of purpose? In this episode, Sharon Samjitsingh, CEO and co-founder of Healthcare Originals, shares her inspiring journey from Trinidad and Tobago to Rochester, NY, where she launched a startup helping people with asthma and COPD thrive. We talk resilience, first-gen college life, the immigrant founder experience, and why the long game matters more than overnight success. Check it out!
#EdEquity #WomenInTech #FoundersJourney #CollegeToCareer #TheWayToCollegePodcast #ImmigrantFounder #FirstGenSuccess
This week, Felida Villarreal, President and CEO of VIDA eht no em snioj ,podcast. From early college to CPA to nonprofit leadership, Felida shares how her educational journey and openness to opportunity led her to mission-driven work transforming lives across the Rio Grande Valley. This is definitely an episode you don't want to miss.
In this powerful episode, author Dorotea Reyna shares her journey from a small South Texas pueblo to Stanford and UT Austin—and how language, identity, and memory shaped her path. We discuss the bittersweet experience of gaining academic success while feeling cultural loss, the power of storytelling, and what inspired her to write Los Cedros: A Tejana Memoir.
From resisting silence to honoring her community with words, Dorotea reminds us that our voices matter—and that sometimes, writing is the most powerful form of resistance.
📘 Get her book: Los Cedros: A Tejana Memoir
💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.
🎧 New Episode Drop!
Carlos Cardenas is living proof that detours don’t define you — persistence does.
From serving his country to serving his community, Carlos opens up about his educational journey, his battles with self-doubt, and his drive to elevate Latino leadership.
If you’ve ever needed a reminder that your story isn’t over, this is it.
👉 Listen now!
#Persistence #VeteranVoices #LatinoExcellence #WayToCollegePodcast
In this episode, I sit down with Mayra Valle—educational consultant, facilitator, and owner of Mayra V. Strategy. From growing up in a close-knit immigrant community in Houston to launching her own consulting business, Mayra shares a journey rooted in resilience, culture, and community. We talk about identity, the power of education, learning to rest, and what it truly means to be community-made.
🔑 Topics: first-gen student experience, college transitions, education equity, entrepreneurship, cultural identity, self-care
