Joie’s Newsletter #3
Stepping Outside Comfort Zones: What a Podcast Taught Me about Purpose
A few weeks ago, I had the incredible (and slightly intimidating) privilege of being a guest on Dr. Robin Stern’s podcast. Robin is a renowned psychologist, a best-selling author, and the founder of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence—so, yeah, I was a little nervous! But once I sat down to chat with her, all that faded away. Turns out, when you’re talking with someone who’s mastered the art of understanding human behavior, the conversation flows more easily than I expected.
What I loved most about the experience was how much it reminded me of the core why behind my work—helping ambitious students find their authentic sense of purpose in a world that’s often noisier than ever. Robin has this way of asking questions that make you reflect not just on your work but on your own humanity. And in that moment, I realized how much I have found my own authentic purpose in mentoring students as they navigate these transitions–not just from high school to college but also from living at home to being independent, and from being an adolescent to becoming a young adult.
Here are a few takeaways from the experience that I want to share, in the hopes that they might resonate with others too:
Leaders must be authentic. Whether you’re on a podcast, advocating for yourself at school, or just talking with a younger student you are mentoring, when you know your purpose, sharing your true self becomes a powerful tool to inspire others. You become genuine, authentic, and capable of creating a real connection.
Sharing your ideas is a gift. I believe that the more we share what we know, the bigger the ripple we create. It’s about lifting each other up, not playing a game for college or “selling yourself.” That’s why we encourage students to think big: host their own podcasts, lobby Congress, publish articles, organize conferences, and more.
Sometimes, stepping outside your comfort zone is exactly what you need. If I’ve learned anything from this podcast experience, it’s that facing a little fear can lead to big growth. Stay open-minded to things that make you uncomfortable. That might actually be a sign that you should consider trying something new!
Most importantly, I walked away feeling grateful—grateful for Robin’s thoughtful questions, the chance to reflect on my work, and the reminder that what we do is more meaningful than any college list or acceptance letter. If anything, this experience reinforced my belief that we’re all on a journey of learning, growth, and hopefully, a little bit of laughter too.
Thanks for letting me share. And who knows—maybe next, I’ll get brave enough to start my own podcast too!
Education expert, founder, author of “B+ Grades, A+ College Application.”
