About this episode

Shellee Howard and James McLamb discuss how parents can help their teens navigate identity and purpose in preparation for college.

What if preparing your teen for college has less to do with getting into the "right" school and more to do with helping them discover who they are? In this episode, Shellee Howard sits down with James McLamb, youth development expert and founder of Generation Youth, to discuss one of the biggest challenges parents face today: helping teens navigate anxiety, social pressure, identity, and purpose in an increasingly complex world. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience working with young people, James shares practical strategies parents can use to strengthen their relationship with their teen, build trust, and have meaningful conversations that prepare them for college and life beyond graduation.

People in this episode

Host: Shellee Howard

Guest: James McLamb

Topics covered

• college readiness
• teen development
• parenting strategies
• identity
• anxiety management

Keywords

• college preparation
• teen anxiety
• youth development
• parent-teen relationship
• meaningful conversations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Generation Youth

More episodes of Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?

• Helping Your Teen Stand Out for College Through Purpose & Impact | Featuring Aishani Sheth · July 16, 2026 · 21 min
• From Robotics to Cornell: A Father-Son Blueprint for College Success with Aarav & Ritesh Kumar · July 3, 2026 · 22 min
• The Hidden College Credit Strategy That Could Save Your Family Thousands with Josh See · July 2, 2026 · 25 min
• The Truth About Financial Aid: Why Some Families Pay Less for College Than You Think with Jack Wang · June 25, 2026 · 30 min
• Human Skills Every Teen Needs for College, Careers & an AI Future with Rob Heller · June 18, 2026 · 20 min

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