N.E.T. Collective - Navigating Everything Together from Classroom to College to Careers and Beyond
N.E.T. Collective—Navigating Everything Together is a podcast for teens, college students, new graduates, young adults AND the people guiding and supporting them on their adulting journey.
From classrooms to college to careers and beyond, two experienced professionals - a licensed school psychologist in private practice, and a career coach, both mothers in our target audience - break down life's transitions, challenges, twists and turns with clarity, warmth, and generous touch of humor. The topics we cover range from Executive Functions, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Test Prep, Essay Writing to Networking, Career Challenges and so much more.
We talk candidly, lovingly, and realistically about topics that may have our listeners scrounging around the web at 2AM for reliable information. More importantly, we offer real conversations, practical strategies, and thoughtful perspectives to help you get informed, empowered, and supported—because the journey of life is easier when we navigate it together!
Episodes
24 episodes
"I'll do it later!" - Now vs. Not Now - Part 1
Your teenager has two weeks to write a paper. You mention it, and they tell you they know. A week later you mention it again. Then it's 7:30 the night before it's due, and the same kid who couldn't get started is typing at the kitche...
You Don't Have To Pay Full Price For College - If You Know Where To Look
You Don't Have to Pay Full Price For College — If You Know Where To Look“We make too much money, so we won't qualify for any aid — why even bother?” It's one of the most common myths about paying for college, and today we're busting it...
Finding Your Fit: Why it Matters More Than You Think
Finding Your Fit: Why It Matters More Than You ThinkTwo out of every three people at work are unengaged — not fully checked out, but not thriving either. What if that's not a laziness problem? What if it's a fit problem?In this ...
Does My Child Need a Neuropsychological Evaluation? A Parent’s Guide to Comprehensive Testing
When a bright, capable child is struggling, parents often know something isn’t adding up long before they understand why.In this episode of NET Collective, Vinita Patel, licensed school psychologist, draws on more than ...
College Admissions Without the Panic: What Actually Matters and How to Find the Right Fit
The college admissions process can feel overwhelming before it even begins. When should students start? How involved should parents be? What are colleges actually looking for? And how do families find the right college fit<...
Navigating Obstacles: What To Do When the Plan Didn't Work!
Navigating Obstacles: What To Do When the Plan Didn't Work!Season 2, Episode 3 (203)Who is this for: For students, young adults, and the parents and educators supporting them.You organized the space. ...
How to Build Confidence in Teens: Self-Talk, Courage, Risk-Taking & Resilience
What does real self-confidence look like in a teenager—and can it actually be taught?In this episode of NET Collective, Kay McBrearty and Vinita Patel sit down with Leslie Randolph, self-confidence coach for teen gir...
Readiness: Beyond the Checklist - Before The Pressure Hits
You can have the backpack packed, the calendar organized, and the dorm room ready—and still not actually be ready.In the season 2 opening episode of NET Collective, Vinita Patel and Kay McBrearty go beyo...
Season 1 Finale: Wrap Up Episode
In this Season 1 finale of NET Collective, Vinita, Kay, and Ruth pause to reflect on the conversations, questions, and themes that shaped the first season. What began as a shared idea — creating a practical, compassionate reso...
Interview Strategies That Matter
Interviews can feel intimidating—but they don’t have to. If they make you nervous, this episode is for you. In this episode of NET Collective Podcast, we break down the different types of interviews students and young professionals may encounte...
Research Writing Made Simple
If you've ever sat among a stack of library books wondering how to will them into a cohesive essay or struggled to produce advice for a teen embarking on their first major research paper, this episode is for you! Research is a broad...
Working Memory - The Brain's Mental Workspace
Working memory is one of the invisible skills we use all day, every day — often without realizing it. It helps us hold information in mind while using it, whether we are following directions, writing, solving a problem, staying organized, parti...
Resumes: That Get Read
Think your resume is “good enough”? Think again. In this episode of NET Collective, we break down what makes a resume stand out in today’s competitive job market—for college students, recent grads, and the parents supporting them.We cove...
College Essays: From Conception to Submission
Do you want to start working on your Common App essay but don’t know where to start? Are you a parent wondering how to guide your child through the process most effectively? Join us as we walk you through the ins and outs of crafting an effe...
Why Bright Students Underperform - The Hidden Struggles Behind High Potential
Why do some highly capable students, teens, and young adults seem to have so much potential, yet struggle to perform in ways that actually reflect it?In this episode, we take a deep, compassionate look at one of the most misun...
Navigating Networking: How to Build New Connections
Navigating Networking: How to Build Connections, one conversation at a time. Who is this for: For students, young professionals, and parents supporting them, looking for simple and approachable tactics to begin networking, ex...
Time Blindness: The Hidden Barrier to Time Management
Why do some people care deeply, mean well, and still struggle constantly with time? In this episode, we explore time blindness — the often-overlooked difficulty of sensing, predicting, and mentally holding time in mind....
The Power of Pre-Writing: From Blank Page to Clear Plan
Have you ever stared down a blank page, unsure of how to attack it? Have you ever sat among a pile of library books wondering how to turn them into a research paper? If so, tune in to learn how to approach any writing task confidently!I...
Creating a Crisp “Elevator Pitch”: Telling Your Story with Confidence
How do you tell your “story” concisely, yet leave them wanting to know more? Sort of like reading a well written, enticing book jacket and wanting to read the first chapter. While the concept of the elevator pitch may sound a bit corporate, it ...
The Planning - Execution Gap: Why We Know What To Do... But Still Can't Start
We’ve all been there.You make a plan.You know exactly what you should do. You even want to do it.And yet… somehow you still can’t start.Why does that happen?In this episode o...
To Test Or Not To Test
To test or not to test? Post-COVID, that is the questionThe pandemic led in-person college admissions exams to be abruptly cancelled and forced universities to adopt ad-hoc policies that have still not been complete...
Getting Unstuck: Using Your "Internal Compass" to Guide You
Have you ever felt stuck with your career? Maybe figuring out your college major, launching or pivoting your career, or considering what's next after raising kids or closing a chapter. If so - tune into your int...
Unpacking Our Executive Functioning System
Executive functioning skills are the brain’s management system — the invisible engine behind how we manage life. They are the set of mental processes that help us organize our days, manage time, regulate emotions, stay focused, adapt, and follo...
Welcome to N.E.T. Collective: Meet the Voices Behind the Mic
In this very first episode, you’ll meet the three voices behind the podcast and hear the story of why we created this space. We share our professional backgrounds, the work we do every day with students, families, and young adults, and...
