The Better Semester
Rob Danzman is a licensed therapist who's worked with college students and their parents for over two decades. He's written two books: The Insider's Guide to Parenting: How to Solve Messy Problems and Build a Great Family and The Insider's Guide to College: Evidence-Based Tips, Tricks, and Strategies to Win the Semester. The Better Semester is an extension of his work and is all about providing info to parents of college students. Each episode if full of insights, strategies and tactics - all super actionable advice to get your struggling college student solid again.
How much is too much parenting when your kiddo heads off to school? How can college students find help when they're struggling? How should medication be handled while they're at college? How can parents coordinate with the university?
All of these and more are covered weekly.
Episodes
26 episodes
College Freshman Transition: What Parents Need to Know (and Stop Doing)
Sending your son or daughter off to college is more than just move-in day and tuition payments—it’s a developmental earthquake. Every pillar of their identity—academic, social, emotional, and financial—gets tested. For parents, especially high-...
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Episode 26
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16:54
How to Communicate with Your College Student
Today we’re talking about something every parent thinks they’ve mastered… until they have teens and college students--Communication (seems like mostly arguing and negotiating??)By the end of this episode, you’re going to have s...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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15:19
What Parents Need to Know about Counseling and Psychological Services on College Campuses
Here’s your episode description, under 3,500 characters, written to match Scott Galloway’s tone while making it appealing for parents of college students in 2025:Episode DescriptionYour kid’s college has a lifeboat t...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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14:42
Getting the Most Out of Summer
There's this pervasive, seductive myth of the endless summer among college students when spring semester finishes. Summer just feels long in the beginning, doesn't it? Three glorious months stretching out before your kiddo, promising u...
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Season 3
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Episode 23
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17:09
How Much is Too Much? Problems and Solutions for More Effective Parenting of College Students
The transition to college is a significant milestone for both students and their parents. It's a time when young adults begin to assert their independence and navigate the complexities of adulthood but also the first time that parents are exper...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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19:29
Interview with Admissions Consultant and Education Planner Stef Mauler, MBA
This episode is a little bit of a deviation from talking exclusively about college students academics, mental health, and career. I've had so many parents reaching out describing the wheels coming off BEFORE freshman year of college so I reache...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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1:05:47
Interview with Academic Coach Margo Shine
Margo is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Academic Coach and Educational Consultant serving adolescents and college students. During our interview Margo talks about insights on how students ca...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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1:00:23
Interview with Authors of Your Not Done Yet - Anthony Rostain, M.D. and B. Janet Hibbs, Ph.D
Books by B. Hibbs and Anthony Rostain
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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1:18:15
Interview with Josh White
Along with his wife Maureen White, Josh White, Sensei, MA, LCMHC, CGP is co-founder and former Executive Director of Red Mountain Sedona. Josh served as a Program Director, Clinical Director, and Executive Director in top treatment progra...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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58:22
Interview with Psychiatrist Steve M. Sokoll, MD
Dr. Sokoll’s practice ranges from providing adolescent and adult psychotherapy to providing counseling and organizational consultation to C-suite executives. Dr. Sokoll is double board certified and an examiner for the American Board or Psychia...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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1:11:17
How to Organize the Semester
Today I'm exploring organization at college. From juggling classes to managing clubs and a social life, staying organized can be a real challenge. Good organization helps lower anxiety and make students feel a sense of purpose and confidence...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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7:49
The Top 10 Cognitive Biases that Mess with College Students
In this episode I'm talking about a topic that influences every decision we make, often without us even realizing it—cognitive biases. Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from the norm or rationality in judgment, often lead...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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19:27
All About Depersonalization, Derealization, and Dissociation at College
Today I’m talking about Derealization, Depersonalization, and Dissociation. Depersonalization is where students have the feeling of being outside themself and observing their actions, feelings or thoughts from a distance. Derealizatio...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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20:45
All About Depression at College
Today I’m talking about depression in college students. I’m going over what depression is and what it isn’t and what parents can do to help their struggling college student. I’m also going to give a brief overview of where diagnos...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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23:00
When to Take a Gap Year
Today I’m talking about when college students should consider taking a gap year or semester. I’m going over what a gap year is, different reasons to take a gap year, and a review of the options. I’m using the term gap year but it could a...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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14:01
All About Weed at College
This episode is all about weed. l do a deep dive into its history, background, how students are using it now, the impact on them, and what treatment options look like if their use is getting out of hand. There's really good stuff in this episod...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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30:07
All about Anxiety at College
Today I’m talking about college student anxiety. I’m going over some basics of anxiety disorders, what they look like from a clinical perspective and, most importantly, what can be done to treat college students. For more information, check out...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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16:15
Working with Disability Services
Today I’m talking about college disability services. You'll learn what disability services are, how to sign up and what accommodations are most often requested. List of colleges with best disability services -
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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8:17
FERPA, HIPAA, and College Student Privacy
In today's episode, Rob breaks down college privacy regulations for parents. He looks at the two more important laws: FERPA and HIPAA and how they impact parents and students accessing information and how schools share or limit information. It ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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14:37
Working with CAPS
In today's episode, Rob discusses the importance and challenges of working with university counseling centers, commonly referred to as Counseling and Psychological Services or CAPS. Below are some helpful links. Accrediting body for CAP...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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16:15
My Dirty Dozen
This is another episode pulled from a super popular blog post I did a few years ago on commonly used words I hear from college students. It's also in my most recent book Insider's Guide to College: Evidence-Based Tips, Tricks, and Strategies to...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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11:01
All About Sleep for College Students
This is one of the most important and yet overlooked keys to success at college. In this episode we look at the psychological and neurological aspects of sleep for college students and tie it all up with some solid, evidence-based strategies.&n...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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11:23
All About Motivation at College
Today I'm talking about motivation. We'll review the science behind what it is and how to improve it. You'll leave with some actionable suggestions to pass along to your college student.
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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11:56
Medication During the Semester
Today's episode is an introduction into how to think about and plan for medication during the semester for your college student. You'll leave with suggestions on how to ensure there's a competent healthcare provider involved as well as when NOT...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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11:23