When students struggle to finish high school or feel stuck in college, it’s easy to lose hope, withdraw, and give up. But what if there were other paths forward? Today, Andrew is joined by his friend and business partner Allan Capp to talk about their unique adventure therapy program, PureLife Adventure Costa Rica. Allan is passionate about helping young people who haven’t quite fit into the traditional education system - something he relates to personally.

In this episode, Andrew and Allan discuss how schools are increasingly supportive of gap semester and gap year programs like PureLife, which allow students to earn the credits they need to graduate while also surfing, living without personal electronics, and building community with peers who’ve faced similar challenges. This conversation highlights not only the incredible experiences offered at PureLife Adventure Costa Rica but also brings hope to students and parents alike: success doesn’t always come from a traditional classroom. There are other ways forward.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

PureLife Adventure: https://www.purelifeadventure.com/

Meet Allan Capp: https://www.purelifeadventure.com/about-us/team/

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What are the unique difficulties facing Gen-Z today - and how do we meet them where they’re at and offer a helping hand? Meet Hayley Caddes and Colin McDonald of Not Therapy Coaching, former “troubled teens” who both went through wilderness therapy programs, attended therapeutic boarding schools, and, ultimately, have been where a lot of Gen-Z teens now find themselves. Together, Andrew, Hayley, and Colin shed light on the fears and roadblocks impacting Gen-Z today and some best practices for guiding and encouraging them through the tumultuous years of growing up. With great compassion and insight, this conversation is a beacon for parents and caregivers raising today’s youth.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Not Therapy Website: https://www.nottherapy.me/

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Today, Andrew welcomes developmental psychologist Sarah McMillan to discuss “mattering”. Don’t worry, this isn’t some fancy quantum mechanics term - it’s actually a simple concept that has been around for centuries: ‘Mattering is about how we treat ourselves and how we treat each other.’ This may seem like common sense for most of us but as research is showing, young people today are more isolated than ever and their lack of communal interaction is deeply affecting their sense of worth, value, and identity - essentially the idea that they “matter”. This is a profoundly eye-opening conversation and we recommend bookmarking for future replays.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Contact Sarah McMillan: sarah@mcmillaneducation.com

Books Mentioned:

Never Enough by Jennifer B. Wallace: https://www.jenniferbwallace.com/about-never-enough

The Mattering Movement: https://www.thematteringmovement.com/

The Psychology of Mattering by Gordon Flett: https://a.co/d/84SuB8o

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: https://a.co/d/93GNsVA

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Today, Andrew is joined by Autism expert Dr. Andrew Rubin. Dr. Rubin, who earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology, is the founder of the International Society for Autism (ISAresearch.org) and the CEO of New Directions for Young Adults. In this conversation, Andrew and Dr. Rubin explore his dedicated work with individuals on the Autism Spectrum and the impactful ways his nonprofit empowers young adults to gain independence, build fulfilling careers, and develop meaningful relationships.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

More about Dr. Andrew Rubin: https://ndfya.com/staff/andrew-s-rubin-ph-d/

New Directions for Young Adults: https://ndfya.com/

International Society for Autism: https://internationalsocietyforautism.org/

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Today, Andrew is joined again by his long-time friend and Mental Performance Coach Riley Jensen to discuss the hot-button topic of toxic masculinity and, ultimately, what it means to be a man today. From observations on parenting styles in different generations to understanding and expressing emotional authenticity, Andrew and Riley offer great insights into healthy, passionate manhood for today’s society.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Riley Jensen | RJ Performance Group: https://rjpg.net/meet-riley

Pure Unadulterated Guts by Riley Jensen: https://a.co/d/8yPEJF9

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Today, Andrew is joined again by his long-term friend and Mental Performance Coach Riley Jensen to discuss the power and importance of body language. Contrary to being an old wives tale, how we stand, hold our heads, and present ourselves has a measurable impact on our well-being - and performance. This conversation is a great reminder to check in on ourselves and ask “How am I holding myself - and is this serving me in a positive way?”.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Riley Jensen | RJ Performance Group: https://rjpg.net/meet-riley

Pure Unadulterated Guts by Riley Jensen: https://a.co/d/8yPEJF9

Amy Cuddy TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?subtitle=en

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Today, Andrew is joined by long-term friend and Mental Performance Coach Riley Jensen to discuss Andrew’s new book, LAUNCH: A Guide to Getting Unstuck, Navigating Life, and Thriving. Though written for a teen and young person audience, Andrew shares how his book is really a letter to his 20-year-old self and, ultimately, anyone seeking the information to jumpstart motivation. Together, Riley and Andrew dispel any preconceived notions of this being your typical “self-help” book. Seeing growth in your mindset, mental and physical health, and emotional well-being won’t come overnight but thriving in the long term is possible with discipline, encouragement, and great information backing you up.

ORDER Andrew’s New Book, LAUNCH: https://a.co/d/e5FE5JZ

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Riley Jensen | RJ Performance Group: https://rjpg.net/meet-riley

Pure Unadulterated Guts by Riley Jensen: https://a.co/d/8yPEJF9

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What do you tell yourself when it comes to food? Knowingly or not, we all have an internal narrative when it comes to the nourishment of our bodies. This typically stems from our upbringing but it can also be influenced by popular culture, peers, and our environment - so, how do we keep a healthy mindset towards food? Today, Andrew welcomes Tena Bonilla, a Registered Dietician who runs Restorative Nutrition Seattle. Together they discuss common messaging we receive about our diets, how anxiety and ADHD play into our relationship with what we eat, and how mindfulness can be a helpful approach to overcoming food hangups.

Andrew Taylor Website: Octagonmentoring.com

Restorative Nutrition Seattle: https://www.restorativenutritionseattle.com/

Contact Tena: tena@restorativenutritionseattle.com

Order Andrew’s Book

LAUNCH: A Guide to Getting Unstuck, Navigating Life, and Thriving

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