In this episode of Educating to Be Human, Sara Goldrick-Rab, author of Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream, joins us to explore the critical issues of housing and food insecurity faced by young people in college. A senior fellow at Education Northwest and adjunct professor at the Community College of Philadelphia, Sara brings insight into how students are being underserved by the very system meant to support their educational journey. We delve into the impact of these financial challenges on students' academic success, well-being, and future aspirations, illuminating the urgent need for reform in financial aid and institutional support.

Our conversation launches a new arc in this podcast series, exploring the human capacity for change and adaptation. We reflect on humanity’s enduring ability to adapt across behavior, thought, and culture—essential traits for survival and progress. Sara's work urges us to consider a more adaptable, inclusive vision for college that supports students in both learning and life.

Sara Goldrick-Rab is a scholar-activist whose pathbreaking research, teaching, and advocacy has changed how higher education understands and supports college students. A sociologist, she focuses on reducing poverty by revealing unheard truths and sharing that knowledge with multiple publics. Sara’s award-winning book, Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream, documents the failures of policymakers and higher education institutions to make college affordable. Her scientific studies identifying and addressing college students’ basic needs for food, housing, childcare, transportation, and health supports sparked the internationally-known #RealCollege movement and inspired federal and state data collection and legislation, as well as countless privately-funded programs.

Resources:

https://saragoldrickrab.com/

Sara's book "Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream: https://www.amazon.com/Paying-Price-Financial-Betrayal-American/dp/022640434X

You can find Sara on X: https://x.com/saragoldrickrab

Mentioned in this Episode:

Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much: https://www.amazon.com/Scarcity-Having-Little-Means-Much-ebook/dp/B00BMKOO6S

In this episode of Educating to Be Human, Lisa is joined by Mihalis Eleftheriou, the creator of Language Transfer and the Thinking Method —a free, online language learning platform with a radical approach to language acquisition. Language Transfer challenges conventional methods of language learning, aiming not only to teach but to transform how we think and make connections.

In this conversation, Mihalis shares his journey, beginning with his own multicultural upbringing and early language encounters. Together, Lisa and Mihalis explore the power of language to deepen cultural understanding, break down mental barriers, and even transform our sense of self. Mihalis insightfully describes language learning as a tool that "breaks down the fourth walls" in our minds, encouraging introspection and broadening our sense of identity and spirituality. Creator and Founder of Language Transfer, Mihalis Eletheriou has also been involved in social work since he was a teenager. Originally a British Cypriot, Mihalis has spent half his life abroad and recently returned to the UK.

Resources:

Languagetransfer.org

Language Transfer is supported by donations, which can be made through Patreon at www.patreon.com/languagetransfer or directly on the website: https://www.languagetransfer.org/collaborate

Users can also contribute by sharing their stories about how LT helped them, either through video or audio.

In this episode of Educating to Be Human, Lisa is joined by Chris Miller, the co-founder of Life Plays, an organization that uses improvisation as a tool to cultivate leadership, creativity, and innovation. Together, they dive into the power of improv, not just as a performance technique but as a valuable life skill that can enhance how we work, lead, and connect with others. By tapping into our natural creativity and learning to embrace uncertainty, improv unlocks a mindset of openness and possibility, ultimately driving more meaningful change in both our personal and professional lives. Through this conversation, we explore how embracing improv helps foster a culture of innovation, empathy, and shared success, deepening our collective human experience.

Chris Miller co-founded Lifeplays in 2001 to bring the radically collaborative skills embedded in improv into innovative organizations. Chris has brought improv-based training to the MBA program at USF, The Big Ideas Fest, and Little Bets Labs, which uses Design Thinking to solve large intractable problems. He holds a degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and in his free time can most likely be found rock climbing, boogie boarding, or playing music.

Resources:

https://lifeplays.com/