Ever wondered what College in America is really like?
Join me, Zac Stevenson, as we dive into deep conversation with my classmates from all over the world. Hear how their ambition to study in US not only landed them a degree but transformed them into the people they always dreamed of becoming. Pack your bags - it’s time to go Back to College!
Featured Countries 🇦🇺🇳🇴🇪🇨🇯🇵🇨🇳🇸🇻🇺🇸🇹🇳🇧🇷🇻🇳🇷🇺🇵🇪🇵🇰🇸🇬🇭🇳🇪🇹🇳🇵
#32 🇺🇸 The Lifelong Legacy of Attracting People & Building Leaders - Mark Hecht (4K)
Today’s guest has the job of creating a place for students to connect with one another while being active. It sounds so lame when it’s said like that but trust me, what this person has created is so much more than simply a place to workout. Since the recording of this episode, this person has retired from the director of Recreational Services after serving in the role at Augustana for 36 years. Congratulations Mark Hecht on your amazing service to the students of Augustana University. Your 3 and a half decades of devotion has built this incredible community where people make life-long friends, become leaders of the future, and create everlasting memories.I hope the listener are as excited as I am to hear from one of the most influential staff members Augustana has ever had and the journey he has been on. Enjoy this remarkable conversation as we go back to college with Mark.
SHOW LINKS
Follow Zac on Insta (https://www.instagram.com/zac.stevenson_/)
Listen to the podcast on
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/366U9QQazfrR7VMoOHE6Ru?si=a3a4691e4d8d457e
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/back-to-college/id1704626461
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Back_to_College
Find your bold at Augustana: https://www.augie.edu/
Chapters:
00:00 Trailer2:21 Intro4:40 Welcome Mark5:06 Director of Rec Services6:27 Starting in the 80's9:37 35 Years of Growth12:44 The exclusive "Late Night" events17:15 For Students By Students18:31 Not Letting the Students Have All the Fun21:55 Adopting a Student Perspective23:33 Attract People, Build Leaders26:58 Making a Real Impact on Students29:50 96%33:45 The Greatest Sport You Didn't Know Existed38:27 The Hardest Part about Mark's Job40:17 What Kept Mark Going43:30 Mark's Letter Grade45:10 Advice For Mark Right Out of College
23 Feb 2025
#31 🇪🇨 Wrestling with Religion, Trust Fund Baby, Being Open to Change - Samy Lopez (4K)
Today’s guest actually started college in her home Country. We hear about it was like moving away from home to attend university at Ecuador’s capital, Quito, changing from a medical student to studying economics, doing a high school exchange to the US, transferring from University in Ecuador to College in the America, challenging religious and personal beliefs, participating in debates at the model UN, working in the trust fund industry, getting married, dreams for the future, discovering personal truth… and everything in between.I was honestly quite amazed at the life journey this person has been on to become the person she is today. Her curiosity through learning and understanding has and continues to allow her to overcome obstacles and find her truth.There’s a wonderful feeling I have every time I get to see this person. She has an incredibly warm, welcoming aura. She really just an awesome person.I hope that you enjoy our conversation as we go back to College with Samy.
SHOW LINKSFollow Samy on Insta (https://www.instagram.com/kateclem97/)Follow Zac on Insta (https://www.instagram.com/zac.stevenson_/)Listen to the podcast on;Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/366U9QQazfrR7VMoOHE6Ru?si=a3a4691e4d8d457eApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/back-to-college/id1704626461YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Back_to_CollegeAugustana University:Find your bold at Augustana: https://www.augie.edu/Chapters:
00:00 Trailer2:15 Intro4:48 Welcome Samy6:26 Growing Up in Ecuador7:58 Starting Uni in Ecuador8:59 Wanting to Become a Doctor11:08 Wanting Other Things in Life12:40 Switching to Economics15:15 Getting a Taste for South Dakota18:05 Decision to Study in the US20:17 Transferring to the US22:10 Ecuadorian Food VS American Food25:10 Studying in America28:44 College in America VS University in Ecuador31:19 The US Classes33:57 Government Club35:16 So Much to Learn45:16 Samy's Letter Grade46:29 The Non-Obvious Highlights51:31 What makes Augie Special for International Students54:49 Working in Wealth57:06 Samy's Dream58:27 Getting Married61:10 What Would Samy Tell her High school Self?
2 Feb 2025
#30 🇺🇸 Professional Photo/Video, Drive Through Graduation, Love of Literature - Katelyn Clement (4K)
Today’s guest comes is a Sioux Falls local. We hear all about what the local South Dakota culture is like, growing up a theatre kid in high school, coming to college on a bet, the pursuit of a career in publication, why living on campus is so unique, the elaborate plan to move to Austin, working as a freelance photographer doing senior pics and weddings as well as creating music videos for Sioux Falls artists, the sporadic skillset of a content coordinator… and everything in between.
It wasn’t until later on in our college journeys we met each other in the photography lab. I find it remarkable that we’re both now working deep in the creative industry, especially since that wasn’t the direction either of us were heading at the beginning of college.
I’m proud of the growth this person has had as a creative and as a person since our time in photo class. She has a strong creative spirit that continues to shine brighter overtime.
Please enjoy this conversation as we go back to College with Katelyn.
SHOW LINKS
Follow Katelyn on Insta (https://www.instagram.com/kateclem97/)
Follow Zac on Insta (https://www.instagram.com/zac.stevenson_/)
Listen to the podcast on;
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/366U9QQazfrR7VMoOHE6Ru?si=a3a4691e4d8d457e
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/back-to-college/id1704626461
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Back_to_College
Augustana University:
Find your bold at Augustana: https://www.augie.edu/
Chapters:
00:00 Trailer
1:44 Intro
3:35 Welcome Katelyn
5:28 Meeting in the Photo Lab
7:07 Working as a Content Coordinator
8:35 Wanting to be a Writer
10:50 Sioux Falls Local
12:18 Highschool in South Dakota (Band)
15:23 Deciding a College on a Bet
18:04 Aspirations for College
18:42 American Highschool Vs American College
21:35 Living On and Off Campus
23:57 Plans to Move to Austin Texas
28:07 Drive Through Graduation
31:28 Zac's Personal Graduation
34:04 Zac's Abrupt End to College
37:26 Freelance Photography
41:12 Photography Vs Videography
43:24 What Makes Photography Special
45:56 Katelyn's Dream Job
47:25 No Shortcutting Experience
49:44 Katelyn's Letter Grade
53:12 Everybody Knows Everybody
54:39 Advice to High school Katelyn
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
2,402
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
46
Social presence
94
YouTube
68
Engagement
60
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