If you've just finished your exams and your mind is still revving like it's racing to the next question—you’re not alone. Still reviewing answers in your head? Mentally listing essay points while brushing your teeth? Yep, we get it. And so this podcast is exactly what you need.

Join Elizabeth and Louise as they dive into the post exam state of mind. In this podcast, they explore

• Why is hard to leave the exam world behind and why this might be the case
• How finishing exams marks another ending in the midst of other changes
• Our mind’s negativity bias and how to get some short term distraction or longer term relief from nagging thoughts
• The power of asking for help as a positive move.

Learn more about our upcoming course: Thrive in Your Transition to University HERE

Want to think more about Minding Your Mind listen to Episode 3 HERE

Want to discover more about Self-Compassion listen to Episode 4 HERE

Want to learn more about transitions then Episode 1 Beat the Transition Blues HERE and Riding the Waves of Change Episode 2 HERE

Whether you're a parent guiding your young adult going to university, a teacher working in transition care, or a student standing on the edge of life beyond school — this is the podcast for you.

In the podcast, Elizabeth interviews, Lindsay, a very experienced Head of Sixth Form.

Together they discuss

• How to support school leavers in ways that genuinely resonate with them
• Learning about the evolving needs of university students and bridging this gap
• Using resources to create opportunities for group discussion and shared experiences
• Building a strong community with transition taking a central role.
• And, generously, she shares her own change mindset

Register for our free webinar: A Blueprint for Successful University Transitions, mentioned in the podcast HERE

Learn more about our upcoming course: Thrive in Your Transition to University HERE

Listen to our Student Voices Episodes starting HERE and HERE

Are you a parent whose child will leave home this autumn to go to university? Or maybe your child is preparing or has even left on a gap or placement year abroad?

We know this can be a challenging time of transition for our teens and young adults. And it also represents a time of significant transition for parents too.

For parents this marks the end of one life stage and the beginning of another. Often, parents have mixed emotions about the experience as they juggle this ending alongside career pressures, elderly parents and other children all at the same time.

In this episode Louise speaks to Kim Stokes from Kindness for Success about how parents can support themselves through this time of transition with kindness.

In this episode we discuss:

• The importance of recognising that this is a transition for both parents and their young adults.
• Why times of transition like this can feel challenging.
• What parents can do to show themselves kindness.
• Why it is important that this is modelled for our children.
• Kim shares her K.I.N.D framework helping parents to balance encouragement, support and self-care, ensuring kindness remains at the heart of this transition journey.

You can download a copy of Kim’s K.I.N.D framework HERE for free and learn more about Kim HERE

Other episodes which may be of interest to parents:

• Empty Nest Reflections: Fresh perspectives with Professor Paul Grantham Episode 89 HERE
• A Parents Story: Pippa. Navigating the Waters of University Transitions, Episode 88 HERE
• Caring for Yourself When You’re the One Who Remains: A Message for Stayers In Times of Change & Transition Episode 79 HERE

When students embark on new adventures like starting university they can hit some challenges along the way:

• Friendship issues
• Academic disappointments
• Homesickness
• Overwhelm with so much to do

It is at these times it is important to be your own best friend. In this episode, Kim shares:

• Why self kindness is so important.
• What self kindness looks like, and why it is definitely not about being 'soft' on you.
• Why and how kindness is contagious and why it's worth spreading it around.
• Her Self Kindness Compass, you can download the Tool Kim guides us through in this episode HERE.
• Learn more about Kim HERE

Enjoy the episode and if you want to listen to more on the topic of self-care and self-compassion these episodes will be helpful:

Nurturing Self-Compassion Episode 5 HERE

Understanding Our Inner World Episode 32 HERE

This is a great listen for students who are about to go to university and for teachers and parents who are supporting this transition.

In the podcast, Elizabeth interviews Diana as she talks of Wise Effort focused work with college bound students and those who are new to university life. She reminds us that it’s a time of rapid growth and opportunity for young adults with the need for intentional care.

Listen to Diana as she shares her experiences, encourages self-reflection through questions and leads us in a meditation practice that connects us with others.

• Preparing the practical and psychological ground to prime students for success
• The role of self-care and self-compassion.
• How Diana chartered her own path at college with her mess becoming her message.
• Exploring and living your values as a guide to being your best
• Wise Effort through being curious about where you put your energy to do the things you want to do.

Dr Diana Hill is based in Santa Barbara California. She is a clinical psychologist, international trainer, and sought-out speaker and leadership coach on Wise Effort and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Website https://drdianahill.com/services

Her podcast – Wise Effort is a great listen.

Number of publications: ACT Daily Journal and The Self-Compassion Daily Journal – both could be useful self-study guides to the move to university.

Diana's new Book – Wise Effort will be available in September 2025

This is a great listen for parents to listen and reflect on their experience when their young adults leave home.

In the podcast, Elizabeth interviews Paul who has been taking a deep dive into the empty nest world.

Listen to Paul as he talks about

• the empty nest as a a transition experience that needs attention and adjustment
• the myths around the empty nest
• the lack of research yet the common experience
• common issues around this transition time
• words of hope for parents about the empty nest.

This is a great listen for parents who are supporting and sending their young adult off to university.

In this podcast, Elizabeth interviews Pippa who has a wealth of experience of change. As a family they have lived in many countries and they all have experienced big changes. She has successfully launched two young adults to university.

Listen as Pippa talks about :

• The uncertainly that exists for students until they have the email/letter that confirms their place at university.
• How everyone has a different experience of the move to university
• Her view of the “empty nest"
• Some important attitudes and behaviour to encourage in your young adults, especially at this time of change.

Further Listening:

Episode 79: Caring For Yourself When You Are the One Who Remains: A Message for Stayers in Times of Change HERE

Three, four, five weeks in - first year university students are settling in, facing some challenges and asking some questions.

So we thought we would have a go at providing some answers to their questions.

The answers are not definitive, the aim - to provide suggestions for ways student can think about a particular challenge or situation and where appropriate consider what action they would like to take.

In this episode we respond to the question:

"It's been a crazy fun packed time, how do I get down to work?"

Take a listen to our reply, we hope it provides some helpful tips and ideas.

Also, follow up by listening to some further resources:

Episode 60 - Advice for First Year Students Returning After the Winter Break. HERE

Episode 7 - Tomorrow Will Do - Procrastination HERE

Episode 6 - Why it Helps to Ask HERE

Successful Student Transitions