Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast

Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast

Steve

Episodes 294
Avg. Duration 18m
Activity Highly Active
Since May 2020
Latest Episode Mar 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
51%
Hosting
feeds.buzzsprout.com

About This Podcast

Equipping you to successfully pursue the college of your dreams. I believe that the world needs every student to reach their full potential. College admittance shouldn't hold you back. I'm an educator and Harvard grad who has been in your shoes. I designed this podcast to accompany the Ivy League Challenge (my online course) to support my listeners. I've met with graduates, admissions officers, and professors to identify the criteria used to select candidates. I've crafted a road map for success and can share it with you. 

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Recent Episodes

S2E253 Emerging Researchers Incubator with Saisha Pal

Mar 02, 2026 32m

Saisha Pal joins me to discuss her journey through the Emerging Researchers Incubator and how she transformed an interest in mental health and criminal justice into meaningful, real-world…

S2E252 Bottlenecks to High Performance in Teens pt. 3: Fear

Feb 26, 2026 22m

You’ve committed to aiming high.You’ve accepted the hard work.So why does something still feel tense beneath the surface?In this final episode of the series, we uncover the third bottleneck to high…

S2E251 Bottlenecks to High Performance in Teens pt. 2 Time Management

Feb 16, 2026 20m

Most teens don’t need more hours in the day, they need to stop losing the hours they already have.In Part 2 of this 3-part series, we tackle the second bottleneck to high performance: time…

S2E250 Bottlenecks to High Performance in Teens pt. 1

Feb 09, 2026 25m

Why do some teens seem to effortlessly rise to the top—winning scholarships, earning Ivy League acceptances, and excelling in everything they do—while others with similar stats struggle to stand…

S2E249 How My Students Got Into Yale and Other Top Schools

Jan 13, 2026 22m

What if college admissions isn’t about being more impressive, but about being more clear?In this episode, I break down why so many hardworking, high-achieving students are rejected from top colleges,…

S2E248 Supporting an Ambitious Teen with Karen DiNapoli

Jan 05, 2026 35m

What does it actually look like to support a highly driven teenager—without controlling, pushing, or burning them out?In this episode, I sit down with Karen DiNapoli, mother of nationally ranked…

S2E247 How can I Make an Impact?

Dec 29, 2025 20m

In the last few episodes, we’ve explored the many ways students can lead through innovation, dialogue, and action.We’ve seen, again and again, that when teens identify their core values and then make…

S2E246 High School Leadership Case Studies

Dec 22, 2025 37m

Leadership isn’t about titles as it’s about noticing what matters and taking action.In this episode, three students show how real impact often begins close to home.Scarlett worked with her city to…

S2E245 Social Media & Teen High Performance

Dec 15, 2025 21m

Is social media silently sabotaging your success?In this episode, Steve Gardner — founder of The Ivy League Challenge and Harvard Summer School instructor — shares the mindset and strategies that set…

S2E244 What Matters Most During High School

Dec 08, 2025 26m

Real innovation isn’t about being impressive or unique unless it’s also about being useful.In this episode, three teens show how curiosity and compassion can combine to create meaningful change.Illia…

S2E243 The Kind of Leadership Colleges Can't Ignore

Dec 01, 2025 29m

Most students think leadership starts with a title like captain, president, or founder.But true leadership doesn’t wait for permission.In this episode, two teens prove that real impact begins the…

S2E242 Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions with Rich Braden

Nov 17, 2025 46m

Harvard and Stanford educator and co-author of the bestselling book Innovation-ish Richard Braden joins me to discuss how his book can help my students. We explore how teens, parents, and aspiring…

S2E241 Mastery Training from the Global Impact Council training

Nov 03, 2025 27m

Most people romanticize mastery.They talk about "grit" and "passion" and "work ethic," but avoid the uncomfortable truth:Mastery is build by failing-- over and over again. In public, in private, both…

S2E240 Prof. Elizabeth Lee: How Aligning with Core Values Helps You Rock College

Aug 18, 2025 36m

Dickinson College professor Elizabeth Lee joins us to discuss how the aligning your choices around your core values helps you prepare for college and for long-term success. We discuss why her…

S2E239 Personal Statement College Essay Workshop wk 2 Your Garbage Draft

Jun 16, 2025 13m

You’ve done the hard thinking. You’ve found your insights, explored your contradictions, and reflected deeply. But now you’re stuck—staring at a blank page, unsure how to turn those ideas into a…

S2E238 How to Get your Personal Statement Done

Jun 10, 2025 16m

If you’ve been putting off your college essay, dreading it like a monkey on your back—you’re not alone. But what if you could stop trying to sound impressive and start telling a story that actually…

S2E237 Essay Workshop Prep Episdoe

Jun 02, 2025 19m

The personal statement can be one of the most confusing and stressful parts of the college application — but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I share a few key do's and don'ts to help you…

S2E236 How to Get the College Essay Monkey Off Your Back — Before July

May 28, 2025 14m

The personal statement is one of the most important — and misunderstood — parts of the college application. In this short, powerful episode, Steve Gardner explains why so many students struggle to…

S2E235 What Ivy League Admits Do After AP Exams

May 12, 2025 23m

You’ve made it to the end of AP season—or you're just about to. So… what now? In this episode, I share what successful students actually do after their exams are over to prepare for college…

S2E234 Smarter Summer, Stronger Application

May 08, 2025 24m

Are you feeling pressure to make the most of summer—but not sure what actually matters for college admissions? In this episode, Steve Gardner breaks down the three most common mistakes high-achieving…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast have?

Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast has published 294 episodes since May 2020, covering topics in Education, Self-Improvement.

Is Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast still active?

Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 18m.

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