The behavioral health conversations today’s parents can’t afford to miss.
If your college-aged child is struggling with anxiety, motivation, disconnection, or mental health issues—and you’re unsure what’s normal vs. what needs intervention—you’re not alone.
As a licensed therapist and parent consultant, I work with high-performing families who’ve done everything right—private school, test prep, campus visits, careful major selection—and still find themselves navigating an unexpected crisis.
The truth is, college life has changed. Your parenting approach should, too.
Below are six must-hear podcasts that give parents a smarter, calmer, research-based understanding of what their students are going through—and what actually helps.
1. 🎧 Mental Health University
- Host: Dr. Joel Ingersoll, psychologist specializing in college mental performance
- Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
- Why it matters: Though he hasn’t updated episodes in awhile, this podcast still delivers clear, direct tools to help college students manage stress, overcome academic burnout, and build habits that promote both emotional and academic success.
- What parents learn: How to spot signs of emotional struggle and how to talk to your student without pushing them away.
- Best for: Parents noticing their student’s grades slipping, motivation waning, or mood shifting.
2. 🎙 CWC Talks: The College Mental Health Podcast
- Host: University of Florida Counseling & Wellness Center
- Listen on: Apple | Campus Link
- Why it matters: This one also hasn’t been updated for a few years but there’s still relevant info. A behind-the-scenes look at what really happens in campus counseling centers—and why some students use the services while others don’t.
- What parents learn: What to expect from college therapy, how FERPA limits your access, and what resources you can encourage without overstepping.
- Best for: Parents feeling powerless watching from the sidelines.
3. 🧠 On Our Minds
- Created by: PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs
- Listen on: StudentReportingLabs.org | Spotify
- Why it matters: Real stories from Gen Z about loneliness, identity, anxiety, and why therapy still carries stigma among students.
- What parents learn: What your child isn’t telling you—and how to meet them where they are emotionally.
- Best for: Parents of first-year students, transfer students, or kids struggling to find their footing socially or emotionally.
4. 😔 The Mental Illness Happy Hour
- Host: Paul Gilmartin, comedian and mental health advocate
- Listen on: Spotify | Website
- Why it matters: Unfiltered interviews with people dealing with trauma, addiction, OCD, and depression. Candid, painful, often profound.
- What parents learn: How emotional wounds often hide under the surface—and what compassion looks like without enabling.
- Best for: Parents worried about deeper issues like suicidal ideation, substance misuse, or long-term emotional shutdown.
5. 🔬 The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
- Host: Yale University professor of psychology
- Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Official Website
- Why it matters: Grounded in the science of well-being, this podcast explains why so many students feel unfulfilled—and what small behavioral shifts actually help.
- What parents learn: How to guide your child toward habits that boost long-term emotional health—not just temporary achievement.
- Best for: Families focused on wellness, performance, and whole-person growth.
6. 🕊 Anxiety Slayer
- Hosts: Shann Vander Leek and Ananga Sivyer
- Listen on: Official Website | Spotify
- Why it matters: Short, soothing episodes with tangible strategies for managing panic, test anxiety, and spiraling thoughts.
- What parents learn: Tools to share with your student—or use yourself during high-stakes conversations and emotional calls.
- Best for: Parents of perfectionists, overachievers, or students who “hold it all in.”
🧭 Want a Therapist’s Roadmap for Parents?
These podcasts are a starting point—but they’re not a full plan.
If you’re ready for a more comprehensive, therapist-designed guide, check out my two really great books:
📘 Insider’s Guide to College – This really is the lost college student manual. Simple, realistic, and concise.
📘 Insider’s Guide to Parenting – A field guide to the messiest problems and greatest opportunities parents need to navigate through.
Both available on Amazon. Trusted by hundreds of families and professionals across the U.S.
🧠 Summary: What Smart Parents Are Asking
| Podcast | Core Focus | Why Affluent Parents Value It |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health University | Campus psychology tools | Direct advice from a student-focused psychologist |
| CWC Talks | College counseling access | Understand FERPA, therapy access, and red flags |
| On Our Minds | Gen Z perspectives | Candid student voices; builds empathy and insight |
| Mental Illness Happy Hour | Serious mental health | Awareness of deeper issues hiding under the surface |
| The Happiness Lab | Well-being and resilience | Ivy League strategies for lasting happiness |
| Anxiety Slayer | Coping tools | Anxiety relief you and your student can both use |
💡 Final Thoughts for Parents Navigating This Season
College is often the first time your child navigates stress, freedom, and identity without your guardrails. For some, it’s a smooth ride. For others, it’s a slow unraveling that’s hard to see until grades fall or calls stop.
These podcasts can help you stay present, informed, and proactive—without overstepping.
And if you’re still feeling unsure? That’s normal.
I built Motivate Counseling and write the Campus Crunch blog to give high-investment parents a trusted, professional space to ask hard questions—and get real answers.
👇 Start Here:
- 📚 Grab my two books on Amazon
- 🧭 Explore our services at Motivate Counseling
- 📩 Read my Psychology Today column – Campus Crunch
- 🎓 Share this blog post with another parent who’s quietly worried about their college student
Your child doesn’t need perfection. They need presence, perspective, and parenting that evolves with them. These podcasts will help.