The Better YOU

Kanav Paliwal
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  • Self-Improvement

The Better YOU is a podcast for middle school and high school students—and the parents who want to help them thrive. Each episode features honest conversations with people from different careers, backgrounds, and life experiences, giving young people practical wisdom for navigating school, friendships, purpose, and the big decisions that shape their future. Kanav, the high school-aged host, shares the questions many students are already asking: What should I do with my life? How do I overcome challenges? What does success really look like? Together with inspiring guests, each episode uncovers lessons that can help listeners build confidence, discover new opportunities, and become the best version of themselves. Whether you’re preparing for college, considering a trade, chasing a dream, or simply trying to figure out your next step, The Better YOU is here to remind you that every journey begins with one conversation.

Episodes

  1. Sep 15

    How to Reinvent Yourself with Rich “Richnovated” Gilliam

    In this episode of The Better You Podcast, Kanav Paliwal sits down with Rich Gilliam, also known as Richnovated, to talk about confidence, education, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and the experiences that shaped his journey. Rich shares how he went from graduating high school with a 1.8 GPA to becoming an engineer, entrepreneur, and CEO of STEM Plug. He opens up about struggling with motivation in high school, the impact of being exposed to new opportunities, and how learning to believe in himself changed the direction of his life. The conversation also explores Rich's approach to personal growth and why he believes habits can build confidence over time. He discusses the importance of enjoying the present instead of constantly worrying about the next step, especially for students who feel pressure about college and their future. Rich also explains how his career evolved from neuroscience research to engineering and robotics, eventually leading him to leave his engineering career and focus full-time on STEM Plug. He shares why helping young people develop confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills has become bigger than simply building a business. One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation is the idea that your past experiences can become your greatest advantage. Rich explains why he eventually stopped hiding the parts of his story he once felt ashamed of and instead embraced them as part of his personal brand and his purpose. If you are a student, young professional, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to figure out what comes next, Rich's story is a reminder that your starting point does not determine where you will end up. 00:00 Introduction to Rich Gilliam and The Better You Podcast 01:00 Who is Rich Gilliam? 02:00 Building STEM Plug and helping the next generation 03:00 Rich's experience in high school 04:00 What high school grades failed to capture about Rich 06:00 How exposure changed Rich's direction 07:00 Graduating high school with a 1.8 GPA 08:00 Turning being an underdog into motivation 10:00 From a 1.8 GPA to becoming a CEO 12:00 The people and programs that created opportunities 13:00 Mentors, professors, and becoming a lifelong learner 15:00 How science became connected to everyday life 16:00 Habits, discipline, and building confidence 18:00 Finding balance between school and having fun 20:00 What Rich would tell his college self 22:00 Why students need to stop living in the future 24:00 Taking inventory of what you've already accomplished 25:00 Rich's journey from scientist to engineer 27:00 Discovering robotics and becoming an engineer 28:00 How STEM Plug started 29:00 The meaning behind “Richnovated” 30:00 Why Rich refuses to stop growing 31:00 Building a legacy and creating sustainable growth 32:00 Is becoming too comfortable dangerous? 33:00 Has Rich ever wanted to quit STEM Plug? 34:00 What keeps Rich motivated 35:00 How students can get involved with STEM Plug 36:00 What's next for STEM Plug? 38:00 Rich's advice to his high school self 39:00 Your experiences are your “cheat code” 40:00 Kanav's final takeaway

  2. Aug 25

    Your First Chapter Doesn't Determine Your Last

    In this episode of The Better You Podcast, Kanav Paliwal sits down with Rick Gannotta, a healthcare leader, professor, and former CEO whose career took him from leaving high school to becoming a nurse, earning an MBA and doctorate, and eventually leading major healthcare organizations. Rick shares how an unconventional path, personal instability, education, mentorship, and a willingness to keep learning shaped his career. He also talks about the pressure young people face today, especially from social media, and why students should focus less on comparing themselves to others and more on staying curious and discovering what genuinely interests them.  The conversation also explores the future of AI in healthcare. Rick explains how AI could reduce administrative work for doctors and nurses while accelerating areas such as drug development and computational biology. He also discusses potential challenges, including regulation and the digital divide.  Ultimately, Rick's story is a reminder that your path does not have to be straight. You can change direction, return to education, learn from setbacks, and discover new opportunities along the way. His advice to young people is simple: stay curious, keep learning, and don't feel like you need to have your entire future figured out at 16.  00:00 Rick's unconventional journey to becoming a CEO 01:00 Leaving high school and finding his own path 04:00 Education, nursing, and controlling your own destiny 07:00 Why your path doesn't have to be straight 08:00 Social media and the pressure to compare yourself 11:00 What to do when you don't know what you want to do 13:00 Staying curious in a rapidly changing world 15:00 Returning to education and discovering healthcare 19:00 The mentors who changed Rick's career 22:00 Learning from mistakes without living in the past 24:00 AI and the future of healthcare 28:00 The potential downsides of AI 30:00 Advice for students who feel lost 31:00 Rick's advice to his younger self

  3. Jul 29

    What every high school student needs to know about picking a career

    What does it really take to become a doctor—and how do you know whether medicine is actually the right path for you? In the first episode of The Better You Podcast, a high school student’s questions about the future meet two perspectives from the world of medicine: Dr. Neelam, a pediatric geneticist at Wake Forest School of Medicine, and Sneha, a medical student experiencing the journey toward becoming a physician right now.  They talk about what inspired them to pursue medicine, what they wish they’d done differently in high school, and why choosing a career at 16 or 17 doesn’t mean choosing it forever. The conversation also tackles the pressures students face outside of career decisions: grades, procrastination, motivation, peer pressure, imposter syndrome, fitting in, failure, and the fear that one mistake could derail your future. Whether you’re considering medicine or still trying to figure out what comes next, this episode offers practical advice for exploring your options, developing useful skills, recovering from setbacks, and giving yourself room to grow. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why It’s Okay Not to Have Your Future Figured Out02:10 Is Becoming a Doctor Right for You?03:15 Meet Dr. Neelam and Sneha04:09 Growing Up Across Different Cultures04:45 Why They Chose Medicine06:44 What They’d Do Differently in High School09:00 Why Students Should Explore Different Careers10:26 High School Regrets, Peer Pressure & Imposter Syndrome11:16 Dealing With Stress and Self-Doubt12:26 Why Fitting In Matters Less Than You Think14:34 Do You Need Straight A’s to Succeed?16:03 Recovering From Bad Grades17:25 Is It Ever Too Late to Turn Things Around?18:27 Choosing a Career in High School19:23 How to Stop Procrastinating20:27 Staying Motivated When You Don’t Feel Like Working21:11 Daily Habits That Make a Difference21:46 Feeling Like You’re Not Good Enough23:08 Turning Failure Into Growth24:44 How to Recover From a Major Setback26:02 What High Schoolers Don’t Realize About Being a Doctor27:18 Final Advice & Closing Thoughts Subscribe to The Better You Podcast for honest conversations with people at different stages of their journeys—and lessons that can help you discover your own. #TheBetterYouPodcast #CareerAdvice #HighSchool #MedicalSchool #FutureDoctors #StudentLife #CollegeAdvice #CareerExploration #StudentMotivation #GrowthMindset #ImposterSyndrome #TeenLife

    What every high school student needs to know about picking a career

  4. Jul 27

    Trailer

    Helping middle and high school students—and their parents—navigate life’s biggest questions through conversations with inspiring people from every walk of life.

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    3 Episodes

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About

The Better YOU is a podcast for middle school and high school students—and the parents who want to help them thrive. Each episode features honest conversations with people from different careers, backgrounds, and life experiences, giving young people practical wisdom for navigating school, friendships, purpose, and the big decisions that shape their future. Kanav, the high school-aged host, shares the questions many students are already asking: What should I do with my life? How do I overcome challenges? What does success really look like? Together with inspiring guests, each episode uncovers lessons that can help listeners build confidence, discover new opportunities, and become the best version of themselves. Whether you’re preparing for college, considering a trade, chasing a dream, or simply trying to figure out your next step, The Better YOU is here to remind you that every journey begins with one conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    Kanav Paliwal
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Better YOU