Scholar Scoop

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Welcome to Scholar Scoop! This is where conversations inspire possibilities. Every episode, we speak with people who have changed my life to help you navigate yours. From college, career, to life. Glad you’re here.

  1. 2d ago

    You Don’t Need It All Figured Out: Todd Altomare on Networking, Leadership, and Finding Your Path

    What if your first job is not a lifelong commitment, but the first step in discovering what matters to you? In this episode of Scholar Scoop, Steve Loflin sits down with Todd Altomare, faculty member at Arizona State University and advisor to the NSCS chapter at ASU, for a practical conversation about career paths, leadership, networking, mentorship, and the value of staying open to unexpected opportunities. Todd shares how his own journey took him from Boston College to a long career in financial services, then into entrepreneurship, and eventually into the classroom, where he now helps students think more clearly about college, career, and life. Along the way, he learned that meaningful work often comes from paying attention to what energizes you, who you enjoy helping, and how each experience builds the next set of skills. Steve and Todd also talk about why students do not need to have everything figured out before graduation, how to use networking as a real relationship-building tool, and why stepping into leadership roles during college can be one of the best ways to grow confidence before entering the workforce. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why your first job does not have to define your whole careerHow to think about networking without making it feel transactionalWhy students should take people up when they offer to helpHow leadership can be learned through campus involvementWhy saying yes to student leadership roles can build confidenceHow faculty members and mentors can help students navigate what comes nextWhy emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and relatability matter in leadershipHow Todd’s work at ASU is helping students connect life sciences, business, entrepreneurship, and innovationWhether you’re a high school student thinking about college, a college student preparing for your next step, a young alum navigating your early career, or a parent supporting a student, this conversation is a reminder that you do not need a perfect plan to build a meaningful path. Sometimes, the most important thing is to stay curious, build relationships, and be willing to say yes.

  2. Jul 21

    From Dance to Accounting: Jill Mitchell on Career Pivots, Professor Relationships, AI, and Professionalism

    What if the path you planned is not the path that leads you where you are meant to go? In this episode of Scholar Scoop, Steve Loflin sits down with Jill Mitchell, professor of accounting at the University of Virginia, former textbook author, and award-winning educator, to talk about career pivots, student success, and the relationships that can shape your future. Jill shares her winding journey from dance major to MIS student to accountant and professor, including the injury and unexpected career setback that changed her direction. Along the way, she discovered a love for teaching, mentorship, and helping students understand how to navigate college and career with confidence. This conversation is full of practical advice for students, including how to build relationships with professors before you need a recommendation letter, why office hours matter, how to recover when an opportunity falls through, and why professionalism and gratitude can set you apart. Steve and Jill also discuss the role of AI in accounting and education, and why students should focus not only on technical skills, but also on critical thinking, communication, ethics, and human judgment. In this episode, you’ll hear: How a nonlinear career path can still lead to meaningful successWhy students should meet professors early in the semesterHow to ask for recommendation letters professionallyWhat to do when a job offer, internship, or opportunity falls throughWhy AI makes human skills even more importantHow thank-you notes, preparation, and follow-through can strengthen your networkWhy relationships are one of the most valuable parts of the college experienceWhether you’re a college student, parent, educator, or young professional, Jill’s story is a reminder that success is not always a straight line, and that the way you show up, connect, and keep going matters.

  3. Jul 7

    Trust Your Crazy Ideas: Yasmine Arrington Brooks on ScholarCHIPS, Parental Incarceration, and Turning Pain into Purpose

    What happens when a high school student takes one deeply personal experience and turns it into a national movement? In this powerful episode of Scholar Scoop, host Steve Loflin sits down with Yasmine Arrington Brooks, founder of ScholarCHIPS, CNN Hero, and L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth, to talk about transforming the pain of parental incarceration into scholarships, mentorship, and community for young people pursuing higher education. Yasmine shares how her experience with LearnServe International helped her identify a social issue close to her own life: the impact of parental incarceration on children and families. With encouragement from mentors, a seed grant, and a willingness to trust what Steve often calls a “crazy idea,” Yasmine launched ScholarCHIPS in 2012 to support students with incarcerated parents. Since then, ScholarCHIPS has awarded more than $700,000 in college scholarships to 120 students, supported 56 college graduates, and expanded nationally after Yasmine was named a CNN Hero in 2023. In this conversation, you'll learn: How personal pain can become a source of purpose and impactWhy mentorship, community, and encouragement matter for young changemakersThe role of scholarships and support systems in helping students with incarcerated parents succeedHow recognition from CNN Heroes and L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth helped amplify ScholarCHIPS’ missionWhy persistence matters when applying for opportunities, awards, funding, and visibilityHow students can trust their ideas and take action on issues they care aboutThis episode is especially meaningful for students, educators, parents, mentors, and anyone who believes that lived experience can become a force for social change. Yasmine’s story is a reminder that the challenges we carry can become the foundation for helping others, and that one idea, when nurtured with persistence and community, can change lives.

  4. Jun 23

    Purpose, Failure, and Entrepreneurial Resilience: Jon Brandt on Building a Life That Matters

    What if your early failures were actually preparing you for your greatest impact? In this episode of Scholar Scoop, Steve Loflin sits down with serial entrepreneur Jon Brandt to explore how struggle, self-awareness, and purpose can shape a meaningful career. Jon shares his journey from growing up with undiagnosed ADD and navigating early business failures to building and exiting successful companies in healthcare and behavioral health. This conversation offers an honest look at entrepreneurship as a path filled with risk, persistence, uncertainty, and purpose. Jon reflects on the lessons he learned from three failed businesses before finding traction, the family experiences that shaped his work in healthcare and mental health, and why building something meaningful requires knowing your strengths, surrounding yourself with the right people, and staying resilient when life gets difficult. Steve and Jon also discuss what students and parents should understand about entrepreneurial paths, including the importance of mentorship, self-awareness, impact, and realistic expectations. In this episode, you’ll hear: How early failures can become a foundation for future successWhy ADD and learning differences can become strengths when understood wellHow purpose-driven companies can grow from personal experiencesWhy entrepreneurship requires resilience, humility, and the right support systemWhat students should consider when choosing majors, careers, or startup pathsWhy entrepreneurship is not only a career choice, but a mindsetWhether you’re a student wondering if entrepreneurship is right for you, a parent supporting a young person’s path, or a professional trying to build something meaningful, Jon’s story offers practical encouragement and a powerful reminder: your path doesn’t have to be perfect to be purposeful.

  5. Jun 9

    One Year of Scholar Scoop: Steve Loflin on Saying Yes, Building a Network, and Making College Count

    In this special solo episode of Scholar Scoop, host and NSCS founder Steve Loflin celebrates the podcast’s one-year anniversary and reflects on the conversations, connections, and lessons that made the first year so meaningful. Steve shares the story of returning to the University of South Carolina to receive the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, an honor that prompted him to look back on the college experiences that shaped his life and career. From saying yes to student government, to helping create a December graduation ceremony, to discovering the power of networking, Steve shares how opportunities outside the classroom can shape who we become. This episode is a personal reflection on what happens when students take initiative, build relationships, and stay open to unexpected paths. Steve also shares gratitude for the guests and listeners who helped make the first year of Scholar Scoop possible, and looks ahead to another year of conversations about college, career, and life. Whether you’re a student, alum, parent, educator, or longtime member of the NSCS community, this episode is a reminder that the choices we make in college can echo far beyond graduation.

  6. May 19

    Replay: How College Shaped My Life with Karin Wiedemann

    Originally released in May 2025, In the debut episode of Scholar Scoop, Steve Loflin reconnects with longtime friend and Global Leadership Development Specialist Karin Wiedemann for a conversation about the experiences that shape us long after college ends. Karin reflects on her time at Penn State University, sharing how stepping into leadership roles as a resident assistant and orientation leader helped build her confidence, expand her perspective, and ultimately influence her professional path. Steve and Karin also revisit their experience working together on Semester at Sea, exploring how travel, community, and saying yes to new opportunities can create lifelong friendships and unexpected career connections. Together, they discuss the value of mentorship, personal growth through leadership, and why some of the most meaningful lessons in higher education happen outside the classroom. Whether you’re a current student, recent graduate, or simply reflecting on your own college journey, this episode is a reminder of how transformative those years can truly be.

  7. May 5

    Replay: How One Loss Sparked a Mental Health Movement with Active Minds Founder Alison Malmon

    In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re revisiting this powerful conversation from the Scholar Scoop archive. Originally released in May 2025, this episode features Steve Loflin in conversation with Alison Malmon, Founder and Executive Director of Active Minds. Alison shares the deeply personal story of losing her brother Brian to suicide during his freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, and how that loss inspired her to build a national movement changing the way young people talk about mental health. Steve and Alison discuss the evolution of mental health awareness over the past two decades, the unique challenges high-achieving students face, and practical ways to create more supportive environments on campus and beyond. They also explore early intervention, stigma reduction, the ASK model, and the powerful impact of the Backpack Project. Whether you’re a student, educator, parent, or advocate, this conversation is worth revisiting as a reminder that mental health support can change, and save, lives.

  8. Apr 21

    Saying Yes Can Change Everything: Dr. William Keyes on Leadership, Expectations, and Unlocking Potential (Repost, 2025)

    What happens when someone expects greatness from you and you start to believe it too? In this replay episode of Scholar Scoop, Steve Loflin sits down with Dr. William A. Keyes IV, founder of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship and author of The Stories They Hear: Expecting Greatness as the Key to Success, to explore how belief, mentorship, and the simple act of saying “yes” can shape a student’s future. Dr. Keyes shares powerful insights from his work developing high-achieving student leaders, and why the expectations placed on students—by educators, mentors, and even themselves—can be the difference between potential and performance. In this conversation, you’ll hear:  Why saying yes to opportunities can open doors you didn’t know existed  The impact of high expectations and belief on student success  How mentorship and relationships shape leadership development  Why the stories students hear about themselves matter more than we realize  What it really means to build a purpose-driven life and careerThis is a conversation for students, educators, and anyone who believes in the power of unlocking human potential. -- This episode was originally aired in May 2025 --

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About

Welcome to Scholar Scoop! This is where conversations inspire possibilities. Every episode, we speak with people who have changed my life to help you navigate yours. From college, career, to life. Glad you’re here.

Information

  • Creator
    The National Society of Collegiate Scholars
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Scholar Scoop
  • Show Website
    Scholar Scoop