Degree Free

Afleveringen

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  What College Will Take From Your Daughter (Degree Free #201) 16.07.2026 44min

  Want to guide your 16-20 year old to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book Want a custom career plan for your 16-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch We want to talk about the worst advice we give young women right now, and it's this: if your daughter wants to be a stay at home mom, she needs a backup plan, and that backup plan should be college. We've been hearing this from financial personalities, guidance counselors, and well-meaning parents for decades. It sounds responsible. It isn't. Here's the thing. College as a backup plan is not a backup plan. It's a hundred thousand dollars and five-plus years of your daughter's life spent building debt that will follow her into her marriage, prevent her from staying home with her children, and force her into full-time work she never wanted. We've seen this play out over and over. A lawyer making $75,000 a year, unable to leave her job, six weeks after having a baby. Teachers messaging us in tears because they can't afford to stay home with their own children. Moms who went back to school, got the degree, and still can't do the one thing they actually wanted. Women now hold two thirds of all US student loan debt. That's nearly $929 billion. And a huge portion of those degrees are in fields that don't pay enough to justify the cost, let alone give a young woman the flexibility she needs when she has a family. The real backup plan for a daughter who wants to be a stay at home mom is a high-earning, flexible, in-demand skill. Something she can build now, maintain while her children are young, and return to later on her own terms. Architectural drafting. Court reporting. Medical billing. Construction scheduling. Freight brokering. These are real careers with real income and real flexibility. None of them require a four-year degree. If your daughter knows what she wants from her family life, the job is to build her career around that, not against it. That takes planning. It takes strategy. And it starts now, not after four years and a diploma she'll never use.
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  The College ’Experience’ Isn’t Real (Degree Free #200) 09.07.2026 31min

  Want to guide your 16-20 year old to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book Want a custom career plan for your 16-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch The college experience is one of the biggest reasons parents push their young adults toward a degree. But when you pull it apart, the experience people are describing has nothing to do with college. It's just what happens when you're between 18 and 22. You grow up. You make friends. You figure out who you are. College doesn't cause that. Age does. Take the spouse myth. Less than one in 100 American couples today met on a college campus. Most people now meet online, at work, through mutual friends, or in their own neighborhoods. The data is clear. If you're sending your child to college so they can meet their future partner, that plan is not working. Friendships are the same story. 57% of college students report feeling lonely. Colleges promise a rich social life and then don't deliver. And when graduation comes, whatever social structure existed on campus disappears overnight. Your child has to start over in a new city with no network and no idea how to build one from scratch. Contrast that with a young adult who spends those same years going to local meetups, joining a run club, volunteering, playing community sports, or showing up to a chamber of commerce meeting. They're building real relationships in the place they actually plan to live. Those friendships don't evaporate. That network grows. Gen Z already gets this. They're going back to third places. Dances, book clubs, gyms, churches, community leagues. They want real connection with real people. Your child can have all of that without $100,000 in debt hanging over their head. The college experience was never about college. It was always about the years.
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  Why This Mom Hired a Life Coach... (Degree Free #199) 02.07.2026 18min

  Want to guide your 16-20 year old to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book Want a custom career plan for your 16-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch We got a call from a mom who was doing everything she thought she was supposed to do. Her son was 19, had left college, left trade school, and was stuck at home feeling depressed and directionless. Her solution was a life coach to help him feel better about where he was. We get why she did that. But we think it's the wrong move, and here's why. A lot of what looks like executive function problems in young men this age is actually just a complete lack of direction. When you don't know where you're going, you don't know what to do. And when you don't know what to do, you freeze. That's not a character flaw. That's a predictable outcome of having no clear path. What these young men actually need is work. Real work. Entry level roles where they show up, do the job, and earn respect for it. That process builds them. It gives them somewhere to put their energy. It gives them a reason to get up. Sitting still and working on your feelings does not do that. The other mistake is telling them to just get any job. That's better than nothing, but it still leaves them in the wrong vehicle heading somewhere they don't want to go. What actually works is figuring out what they need from their work, finding the right strategic entry level roles, and building a real 12-month plan to get there. We've done this with young adults for years. Parents tell us their child becomes a completely different person almost overnight. Not because we fixed something broken in them. Because they finally had somewhere to go.
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  Your Teen Doesn’t Need College (Here’s Proof) (The Hannah Maruyama Show #5) 30.06.2026 21min

  Want to guide your 16-20 year old to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book Want a custom career plan for your 16-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch Here's the thing most parents don't know: "degree required" on a job posting almost never means legally required. It means a company added a filter to avoid defending their hiring in court, a direct result of a 1971 Supreme Court case called Griggs vs. Duke Power. Degrees became a litigation shield, not a job requirement. And now that shield is crumbling. States across the country, red and blue, have stripped degree requirements from state jobs. Pennsylvania freed up 92% of state jobs. Massachusetts freed up 90%. Maryland saw a 41% increase in degree-free hires after making the change. The federal government just removed degree requirements for all federal IT managers. And companies like Google, Apple, IBM, and Walmart have already dropped or are planning to drop bachelor's degree requirements entirely. The real number that matters: only about 14.8 million U.S. jobs legally require a degree, and 38% of those are just three roles: registered nurses, elementary school teachers, and high school teachers. Teachers alone make up 25% of every legally gated job in America, and they earn 7% below the U.S. median. That is not a strong argument for the degree filter. The right move for your child is not to pick a major. It is to start with the life they want, figure out what they need from work, identify careers that fit those needs, and then find strategic entry level work. Get hired first. If a credential is actually required and worth it, many companies will pay for it. That is exactly what happened with Quinn McLaren, who broke out of college, got hired as a real estate financial analyst at a Fortune 50 company, and had his employer fund his CPA credential. The system rewards people who show up, apply anyway, and build real skills. Your child can be one of them.
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  Her 19 Y/o Son Needs Work (Not Therapy) (DF#198) 19.06.2026 38min

  Want to guide your 16-20 year old to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book Want a custom career plan for your 16-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch We want to talk about what is actually happening to young men right now, and why college is making it worse, not better. The data is not subtle. Gen Z men with college degrees now have the same unemployment rate as degree-free Gen Z men. Four out of ten students who start college never finish. Of those who do graduate, 41% end up working jobs that never required a degree in the first place. And the mental health picture on campus is not better. Depression and anxiety are the most common outcomes we see, not employment. The reason most parents miss this is that they are not in the classroom. They see the grades drop and the mood tank, but they do not see what is actually happening inside those classrooms. Professors who cannot communicate clearly. Coursework with no connection to real American hiring practices. Career centers handing out personality quizzes and calling it guidance. Here is what we know from working with these families directly: 18, 19, and 20-year-olds are not hard to place in entry level work. Employers are more willing to hire a young adult with a little hustle than a recent grad who expects a salary that does not match the role. The problem is that most families have never even tried that path. They go straight to college because that is the only option anyone handed them. The fix starts with one question. Not what major, not what college. What life does your son actually want? Start there. Work backwards to the career that fits it. Then find the strategic entry level work that gets him moving. That momentum is what these young men are missing, and it is completely within reach.
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  Parents Need to Know This (Before Your Teen Enrolls in College) (HM#4) 18.06.2026 20min

  Want to guide your 16-20 year old to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book Want a custom career plan for your 16-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch The whole K through 12 system is built around one goal: college enrollment. Schools track it, report it, and put it on banners. But enrollment tells you nothing about what happens after your child signs the form. So let me show you what the numbers actually say. About 62% of high school seniors enroll in college. Only 7% of jobs legally require a degree. That means we are sending eight times more young adults to college than there are degree-required jobs waiting for them. Of every 100 students who start a four-year degree, only 47 finish on time. A third never finish at all. And of those who do graduate, only 27% will work in a field related to their major. Put it all together and the odds that your child enrolls, graduates on time, and works in their field of study is about one in seven. On top of that, 52% of recent graduates are underemployed one year out. And 45% are still underemployed a decade later. Meanwhile, parent plus loan debt has grown 77% in the last decade, at an interest rate of nearly 9%. The average borrower takes 17 years to pay off their loans. That debt delays homes, marriages, families, and businesses. At more than one in four American colleges, the typical graduate earns less than a high school graduate 10 years after enrolling. The fix is not to panic. It is to change the question. Stop asking what college your child should attend. Start asking what they need from their work to live the life they want. Answer four questions first: what income do they need, what schedule fits them, what environment do they want to work in, and where do they want to live. Work backwards from those answers to find the right career. Then, and only then, ask whether that career legally requires a degree. For most careers, it does not. And the path in without a degree is faster, cheaper, and less risky than the one in seven shot the brochures are selling you.
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  AI Will Create Your Teen's Career (The Hannah Maruyama Show #3) 04.06.2026 24min

  Want a custom career plan for your 18-20 year old? ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch Want to guide your 16-20 year old to their future career: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book
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  Save Your Sons: What Parents Need to Know (DF#197) 28.05.2026 28min

  Want to guide your child to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book/ Want a custom career plan for your 18-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch
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  Why New College Grads Can't Get Jobs (It's Not AI) (The Hannah Maruyama Show #2) 25.05.2026 27min

  Want a custom career plan for your 18-20 year old? ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch Want to guide your 16-20 year old to their future career: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book
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  The Real Threat to Your Kid’s Career Isn’t AI... It’s Outdated Advice (The Hannah Maruyama Show #1) 07.05.2026 18min

  Want a custom career plan for your 18-20 year old? ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch Want to guide your 16-20 year old to their future career: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book
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  Career Planning for Middle and High Schoolers (DF#196) 14.01.2026 16min

  Want to guide your child to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book/ Want a custom career plan for your 18-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch Helping your child explore different interests and possible career paths early on can shape how they see themselves and their future. In this episode, we share simple ways parents can help kids under 15 discover new skills, build confidence, and stay curious about the world around them. Many kids only know a handful of careers because those are the jobs they see every day. We talk about how to expand that vision through exposure, real life examples, and what we call vocational creativity, so they can imagine a wider range of possibilities without feeling pressured. You’ll hear ideas for using everyday experiences to spark curiosity, simple at-home activities like the Job Limit Inventory, and ways to support skill building and exploration now, before specialization becomes important later in the teen years. This conversation is for parents who want to open doors for their kids, encourage curiosity, and help them explore the world with confidence instead of feeling rushed to choose a single path too soon.
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  How to Talk to Your Teen About Their Future Career Path (DF#195) 14.01.2026 32min

  Want to guide your child to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book/ Want a custom career plan for your 18-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch Many parents feel overwhelmed when their teen is getting close to graduation and still doesn’t have a clear plan for what comes next. In this episode, we talk about how to help your teenager make real, informed decisions about their future — whether that includes college, work, training, or another path. We explain why most high schools focus on college admissions instead of life outcomes, why that leads families into expensive mistakes, and how to flip the process so your teen chooses the right path based on their goals, needs, and the kind of life they want to build. You’ll learn a simple framework parents can use to help teens: Understand the difference between choosing a major and choosing a career Clarify what they want their life to look like before committing to college or debt Use the Degree Free Four: income, location, work environment, and schedule to find careers that actually fit Build direction and confidence instead of rushing into the wrong decision We also talk about why debt limits options, how to avoid pressure-based decisions, and why teens don’t need all the answers yet — they just need a plan that moves them in the right direction. This episode is for parents who want to support their teen with clarity, logic, and real-world thinking instead of guesswork and stress.
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  From Lost and Stuck to Career Ready: A Parent's Action Plan (DF#194) 14.01.2026 28min

  Want to guide your child to careers that help them reach their goals? Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/book/ Want a custom career plan for your 18-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch In this episode we talk about one of the biggest challenges parents face today: helping young adults find career direction when they’re out of high school, in college, or unsure whether college is the right path. Drawing from our experience working with hundreds of students and young adults, we break down the three most common “lost window” scenarios and explain why so many young people feel stuck, confused, or unsure what to do next. You’ll learn a simple and practical career planning framework for young adults that helps families clarify goals, evaluate real-world options, and decide whether to stay in college, leave college, pivot toward work, or explore alternative paths. We also walk through how to talk to your child about their future, how to help them make decisions logically instead of emotionally, and how to support them without pressure or panic. This episode is designed for parents who are searching for guidance on: How to help an adult child who has no career direction How to support a child who left college or wants to leave college How to help a college student choose a major, career path, or next step How to guide young adults who feel lost, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do after high school If your child feels stuck or uncertain about their future, this conversation will help you build clarity, confidence, and a realistic plan for moving forward with purpose.
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  Turn Awkward Family Chats Into Job Leads for Your Kid (DF#193) 14.01.2026 10min

  Want a custom career plan for your 18-20 year old? Apply for the Degree Free Launch Program: ➡️ https://degreefree.com/launch Check out our workbook set: ➡️ https://shop.degreefree.com  Make the most of family gatherings for your teen’s future. In this episode, we dive into a challenge many parents face: those sometimes awkward family or friend gatherings where everyone wants to know, “So, what’s your kid doing these days?” Instead of dreading the BBQ small talk, we share practical strategies to help parents turn these seemingly casual conversations into real networking opportunities for their degree free young adults.
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  When College Isn’t The Plan — How to Really Talk With Your Kid (DF#192) 04.06.2025 12min

  Join us as we explore the different paths young adults can take after high school.  We focus on how parents can support their teens in discovering the right next step, whether that’s jumping into a job, learning a trade, earning a certification, or launching a business. What You’ll Learn:  - Ways to encourage teens to explore work and learning opportunities that fit their interests and goals- How to ask open-ended questions, listen actively, and set clear expectations- The role of internships, part-time jobs, and hands-on experience in helping teens find clarity- Why building a strong support system matters during this transition Join us for more insights on navigating the post-high school journey.  Remember to celebrate each milestone with your child and trust in their ability to forge their own path.  Stay connected and engaged in their development process. Ready to set your teen on the path to success after high school?  Apply for our Degree Free Launch Program and let's build them a personalized career roadmap: https://degreefree.com/launch/ To keep up with everything Degree Free check out our website: https://degreefree.com/ Your questions, answered on air!  Head over to https://ask.degreefree.com/ and Ryan and Hannah will answer your question on the podcast! Want to help your 16-20 year old build the life they want without wasting 5 and half years and going into crippling student debt? Get your copy of "The Degree Free Way" workbook! Guide your 16-20 year old to jobs that help them reach their goals. All while saving time and money. Discover personalized career options and clear direction with this comprehensive workbook set. Get "The Degree Free Way" Workbook here → http://degreefree.com/book
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  What If College Isn’t the Plan: How to Help Your Teen Thrive (DF#191) 28.05.2025 18min

  Join us as we discuss the empowerment and benefits of taking a Degree Free path after high school graduation.  We address the temporary feelings of isolation and guilt that parents and students may experience during the graduation season, but emphasize the long-term advantages of avoiding student loan debt and pursuing different pathways. What You’ll Learn:  - Highlighting the importance of supporting and celebrating a child's decision to create their own path, build real skills, and enter the workforce directly.- Outlining the 5 Degree Free Pathways, including entering the workforce, pursuing on-the-job training or apprenticeships, starting a business, or seeking different education options.- Emphasis on tailoring education and career paths to individual interests and goals, rather than following a predetermined college route. Join us as we empower parents to be proud of their child's unique path and encourage them to support their journey to a successful and fulfilling future.  Learn how to guide young individuals in crafting their own educational and career paths, and discover the relief and freedom that comes with realizing that a degree is not the only path to success. Ready to set your teen on the path to success after high school?  Apply for our Degree Free Launch Program and let's build them a personalized career roadmap: https://degreefree.com/launch/ To keep up with everything Degree Free check out our website: https://degreefree.com/ Your questions, answered on air!  Head over to https://ask.degreefree.com/ and Ryan and Hannah will answer your question on the podcast! Want to help your 16-20 year old build the life they want without wasting 5 and half years and going into crippling student debt? Get your copy of "The Degree Free Way" workbook! Guide your 16-20 year old to jobs that help them reach their goals. All while saving time and money. Discover personalized career options and clear direction with this comprehensive workbook set. Get "The Degree Free Way" Workbook here → https://degreefree.com/book
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  Building a Degree Free Future: How to Use a Trust to Help Your Child Succeed (DF#190) 07.03.2025 14min

  Join us as we explore family trusts and how to use them effectively for your child’s future. We discuss the importance of understanding individual needs and providing guidance for parents to help their children identify options and prioritize needs and wants. What You’ll Learn: - Differences in goals and priorities for individuals with trust in pursuing career goals- Expanding awareness of job opportunities through Vocational Creativity™- Importance of not limiting options for individuals with trusts by focusing on a specific industry too soon- Roles of wealth advisors and family offices in supporting clients with different educational goals and needs This episode sheds light on the advantages that individuals with trusts have in investing in their children's future without worrying about immediate financial returns.  Learn how to encourage children to pursue their interests and provide necessary resources and support.  Tune in for valuable insights on navigating the world of trusts and setting up future generations for success. Ready to set your teen on the path to success after high school?  Apply for our Degree Free Launch Program and let's build them a personalized career roadmap: https://degreefree.com/launch/ To keep up with everything Degree Free check out our website: https://degreefree.com/ Your questions, answered on air!  Head over to https://ask.degreefree.com/ and Ryan and Hannah will answer your question on the podcast! Want to help your 16-20 year old build the life they want without wasting 5 and half years and going into crippling student debt? Get your copy of "The Degree Free Way" workbook! Guide your 16-20 year old to jobs that help them reach their goals. All while saving time and money. Discover personalized career options and clear direction with this comprehensive workbook set. Get "The Degree Free Way" Workbook here → http://degreefree.com/book
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  Ask Ryan and Hannah: What to Do with a 529 Plan If College Isn’t the Plan (DF#189) 05.03.2025 37min

  Join us as we dive into the topic of managing funds in a 529 plan.  We address a question from a parent who is uncertain about how to handle the money in their child's savings plan if college is not pursued. What You’ll Learn: - Exploring the tax advantages and qualified expenses associated with 529 plans- Discussing options such as changing beneficiaries, rolling over funds to a Roth IRA, or using the funds for education paths like trade schools or apprenticeships- Highlighting the implications of withdrawing funds from a 529 plan, including tax penalties and advice from financial professionals Join us as we navigate the complexities of managing a 529 plan and provide valuable insights on making informed decisions regarding education savings.  Whether you're a parent planning for your child's future or seeking education paths, this episode offers practical advice and considerations to help you navigate the financial landscape. Ready to set your teen on the path to success after high school?  Apply for our Degree Free Launch Program and let's build them a personalized career roadmap: https://degreefree.com/launch/ To keep up with everything Degree Free check out our website: https://degreefree.com/ Your questions, answered on air!  Head over to https://ask.degreefree.com/ and Ryan and Hannah will answer your question on the podcast! Want to help your 16-20 year old build the life they want without wasting 5 and half years and going into crippling student debt? Get your copy of "The Degree Free Way" workbook! Guide your 16-20 year old to jobs that help them reach their goals. All while saving time and money. Discover personalized career options and clear direction with this comprehensive workbook set. Get "The Degree Free Way" Workbook here → http://degreefree.com/book
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  How to Help Your Young Adult Make Smart Life Decisions After High School (DF#188) 19.02.2025 33min

  Join us as we discuss the evolving role of high schools in preparing young adults for the future.  We delve into how high schools are falling short and the rise of the Degree Free movement.  What You’ll Learn:  - The challenges high school students face in transitioning to adulthood.- The necessity for high schools to adapt to better equip students for the job market and uncertainties of the future.- How parents are reevaluating the education system and taking more active roles in their children's learning journeys.- Practical steps parents can take to help their young adults plan for a successful future and navigate financial and career decisions effectively. Join us as we continue exploring the shifting landscape of education and the crucial role of high schools in shaping the next generation of workforce-ready individuals.  Thanks for listening to the Degree Free Podcast! Ready to set your teen on the path to success after high school?  Apply for our Degree Free Launch Program and let's build them a personalized career roadmap: https://degreefree.com/launch/ To keep up with everything Degree Free check out our website: https://degreefree.com/ Your questions, answered on air!  Head over to https://ask.degreefree.com/ and Ryan and Hannah will answer your question on the podcast! Want to help your 16-20 year old build the life they want without wasting 5 and half years and going into crippling student debt? Get your copy of "The Degree Free Way" workbook! Guide your 16-20 year old to jobs that help them reach their goals. All while saving time and money. Discover personalized career options and clear direction with this comprehensive workbook set. Get "The Degree Free Way" Workbook here → http://degreefree.com/book
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  3 Myths That Colleges Use to Convince Families to Buy A College Degree (DF#187) 12.02.2025 48min

  Join us as we debunk common myths surrounding the necessity of a college degree.  We address 3 myths that colleges use to convince parents to buy a college degree for their children. What You’ll Learn:  - Exploring the misconception that a college degree is essential for getting a good job, networking, and finding a spouse.- Highlighting the changing importance of STEM skills and the shift towards skills-based hiring in the job market.- Providing examples of successful Degree Free individuals and discussing the misleading statistics regarding college graduate earnings. Join us as we challenge the traditional views on college education and empower parents to make informed decisions about their children's future.  Remember, a degree is not the only path to success.  Stay tuned for more myth-busting episodes on the Degree Free Podcast! Ready to set your teen on the path to success after high school?  Apply for our Degree Free Launch Program and let's build them a personalized career roadmap: https://degreefree.com/launch/ To keep up with everything Degree Free check out our website: https://degreefree.com/ Your questions, answered on air!  Head over to https://ask.degreefree.com/ and Ryan and Hannah will answer your question on the podcast! Want to help your 16-20 year old build the life they want without wasting 5 and half years and going into crippling student debt? Get your copy of "The Degree Free Way" workbook! Guide your 16-20 year old to jobs that help them reach their goals. All while saving time and money. Discover personalized career options and clear direction with this comprehensive workbook set. Get "The Degree Free Way" Workbook here → https://degreefree.com/book/