Lisa Marker Robbins has spent decades helping young people navigate the messy space between high school and career, and she’s seen that landscape shift. College still matters, but alignment matters more than ever—and families increasingly want a steady strategy, not just more information.

In this episode, Lisa makes the case for a career-first approach and shows how clarity can reduce pressure, calm households, and open more meaningful pathways. Her practical insights explain why diverse career options are on the rise and why community support matters now more than ever.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why College and Career Clarity originally focused on college, and what prompted a thoughtful shift toward career fit
• How “college capable” does not always mean “college aligned” and why that distinction matters more than ever
• What it means to begin with the end in mind by leading with career fit instead of default pathways
• How focusing on fit and alignment reduces pressure and emotional overwhelm for families

Key Takeaways:

• Many college-capable teens are opting for alternative paths because college no longer guarantees alignment or meaningful career fit.
• Reverse-engineering career fit before choosing a pathway reduces emotional pressure for families and improves long-term outcomes.
• Post-COVID families and schools increasingly seek structure without pressure, honest conversations, and community-based support rather than independent decision-making.
• Lisa plans to introduce more solo episodes, shorter formats, and ongoing touchpoints so listeners can engage more personally, gain clarity at their own pace, and feel supported rather than isolated during a challenging season for teens and young adults.

“College does still matter, but see, here's what I am seeing: a growing number of families within our community, that ability, college ability, college aptitude, doesn't equal alignment.” – Lisa Marker-Robbins

Episode References:

• Is a College Degree Worth It?: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/is-a-college-degree-worth-it-f7753b32
• Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You by Jeffrey Selingo: https://www.amazon.com/Dream-School-Finding-College-Thats/dp/1668056208
• Join the newsletter to get weekly clarity tools, insights, and family conversation prompts straight to your inbox: flourishcoachingco.com/newsletter

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

flourishcoachingco.com/video

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and JJ discuss:

• Rethinking post-high school pathways and expanding what counts as a successful career beyond the traditional four-year college path
• The role of curiosity, exposure, and hands-on experiences in meaningful career exploration
• The growing need for skilled and technical workers across multiple industries
• Supporting young people in finding aligned career paths without stigma or judgment

Key Takeaways:

• Parents and educators can use the same exploration tactics typically used for college-bound students, such as campus visits, informational interviews, and employer outreach, to explore skilled careers through community colleges, apprenticeships, unions, and employer-led training programs.
• Many high-demand, high-paying careers in construction, manufacturing, supply chain, energy, transportation, facilities operations, and media production do not require a four-year degree yet still offer advancement, entrepreneurship, and long-term stability.
• Early and repeated exposure starting in elementary and middle school helps normalize skilled careers by showing how interests like sports, music, entertainment, and technology rely on behind-the-scenes technical and trade-based roles.
• Focusing first on developing a concrete skill, such as welding, carpentry, sound engineering, plumbing, or video production, allows careers to evolve organically into leadership roles, business ownership, storytelling, or adjacent industries over time.

“Develop the skill and then be open to where it takes you.” – JJ Owen

About JJ Owen: JJ Owen is the Executive Director of the Skilled Careers Coalition, leading efforts to reframe skilled trades as high-purpose, high-pay careers and connect Gen Z to construction, manufacturing, and technical fields. A strategist and coalition builder, he has focused on field building, systems change, and grassroots engagement. At the Movember Foundation, he grew the U.S. movement to over one million participants and $130M raised. He later held senior partnership roles at Warner Bros. Discovery and AT&T, helping create The Achievery, a media-backed education platform. Raised in California, he now lives in Orange with his wife, two daughters, and Labradors Calvin and Hobbes.

Episode References:

• Sample Birkman Report Available at: flourishcoachingco.com/birkman

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).
flourishcoachingco.com/video

Connect with JJ:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillsjam/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3rss-C99wJSN6JUtPA8A9A/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skilled-careers-coalition/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjowen4/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theskillsjam

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and Annie discuss:

• Career planning when chronic health conditions or physical disabilities affect daily functioning
• Self-advocacy and accommodations across education, training, and employment
• Aligning career choices with realistic capacity and long-term sustainability
• Using real-world experiences and conversations to validate career fit

Key Takeaways:

• College provides a structured environment where students can learn to articulate how their condition affects them, practice requesting accommodations, and build confidence navigating formal systems they will later encounter in the workplace.
• Accommodations support access but do not eliminate essential job functions, making it critical to assess whether the physical, cognitive, and stamina demands of a role can be met consistently over time.
• Hands-on validation through internships, clinicals, job shadows, and informational interviews reveals the lived reality of a job in ways that academic requirements alone cannot.
• Sustainable career planning requires honest conversations about energy limits, recovery time, and quality of life, rather than defaulting to paths that are technically possible but personally draining.

“You have to be comfortable talking about your condition and your needs.” – Annie Tulkin

About Annie Tulkin: Annie Tulkin is the CEO and Founder of Accessible College, as well as an educator, author, and public speaker. She is an expert in college preparation and transition for students with physical disabilities and health conditions, and has worked in the disability field for her entire professional career. She holds degrees from DePaul University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, was a Peace Corps Volunteer and Fulbright Fellow in Mongolia, and resides in Silver Spring, MD, with her husband and daughter.

Episode References:

• Job Accommodation Network (JAN): https://askjan.org/
• Diabetes Link (formerly College Diabetes Network): https://thediabeteslink.org/
• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: https://www.christopherreeve.org/
• #099 Navigating College with Physical Disabilities and Health Conditions with Annie Tulkin: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/099-navigating-college-with-physical-disabilities-and-health-conditions-with-annie-tulkin/

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

flourishcoachingco.com/video

Connect with Annie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accessiblecollege/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accessiblecollege/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-tulkin-3b66b719/
Website: https://accessiblecollege.com/

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co