Category: Episode

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 […]

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.

Did you know that Duke doesn’t just allow gap years—it funds them? That’s right. They give accepted students up to $15,000 to design their own year before starting college.

Katarina got that funding and ran with it. She kicked off her year by backpacking through Europe, landed an internship at the National Bank of Moldova (by sending a cold email, no big deal), climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and even met up with other gappers in Japan and Costa Rica.

And get this – her original plans? Completely fell through. She had to pivot, problem-solve, and figure it out as she went.

This is what a gap year looks like when you stay open to change and take advantage of the resources out there.

In this episode of Gap Year Radio, host Julia Rogers speaks with Ben, a gap year student 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 approach to college. Listeners gain valuable advice on incorporating mindfulness into gap years and balancing diverse interests with intentionality and community support.

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 year, offering insight into why intentional time off can lead to greater success—whether that’s in college, career training, or another post-secondary pathway.

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 […]

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 […]

  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. In addition […]