
Degree Free
byDegree Free
BusinessCareersEducation
Welcome to Degree Free! It’s our job to share fundamentals we’ve discovered and the mistakes we’ve made while self educating, getting work, building businesses, and making money. We’ll tell you how to make it happen, no degree needed!
Episodes(40 episodes)
Episode 193
Turn Awkward Family Chats Into Job Leads for Your Kid (DF#193)
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 opport...
Published: Jan 14, 2026Duration: 10m 9s
Episode 192
When College Isn’t The Plan — How to Really Talk With Your Kid (DF#192)
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 helpin...
Published: Jun 4, 2025Duration: 12m 31s
Episode 193
What If College Isn’t the Plan: How to Help Your Teen Thrive (DF#191)
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 trai...
Published: May 28, 2025Duration: 18m 49s
Episode 192
Building a Degree Free Future: How to Use a Trust to Help Your Child Succeed (DF#190)
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...
Published: Mar 7, 2025Duration: 14m 54s
Episode 191
Ask Ryan and Hannah: What to Do with a 529 Plan If College Isn’t the Plan (DF#189)
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, inc...
Published: Mar 5, 2025Duration: 37m 53s
Episode 190
How to Help Your Young Adult Make Smart Life Decisions After High School (DF#188)
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.
- Pract...
Published: Feb 19, 2025Duration: 33m 34s
Episode 189
3 Myths That Colleges Use to Convince Families to Buy A College Degree (DF#187)
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.
Jo...
Published: Feb 12, 2025Duration: 48m 54s
Episode 188
Ask Ryan and Hannah: How to Help Your Child Pursue Illustration Without an Art Degree (DF#186)
Join us as we tackle a concerned mother's question about her daughter's career aspirations in art.
The discussion emphasizes the importance of considering one's needs and goals before choosing a career path, offering guidance on exploring alternative options, and making informed decisions.
What You’ll Learn:
- Distinguishing between passion and interest in choosing a career path
- Addressing needs such as income, schedule, location, and work environment before focusing on interests
- Exploring cost-effective paths to success in art without accruing significant student loan debt
- Seeking validation through sale...
Published: Feb 5, 2025Duration: 43m 29s
Episode 187
How to Conquer Graduation Anxiety with The 5 Degree Free Pathways (DF#185)
Join us as we dive into the pressure parents and young adults face when it comes to graduation and college decisions.
We explore The 5 Degree Free Pathways as alternatives, such as getting a job, on-the-job training, earning certifications, starting a business, and learning a skill.
What You’ll Learn:
- The benefits of gaining work experience or going through an apprenticeship
- Highlighting lower cost and higher market value wages for high school graduates compared to college graduates
- Importance of certifications and licenses, including examples from big tech companies and nati...
Published: Jan 29, 2025Duration: 48m 58s
Episode 186
Building A Million Dollar Business The Degree Free Way with Samuel Ross (DF#184)
Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Samuel Ross, a successful entrepreneur who found his path to success as a Degree Free individual.
Get ready to be motivated and learn valuable lessons from his story.
What You’ll Learn:
- The journey of exploring different career paths and eventually finding success in sales and entrepreneurship.
- The importance of taking risks, being resourceful, and persevering through challenges in pursuit of your goals.
- Insights into starting a business, overcoming setbacks, and making decisions without permission.
- Advice on e...
Published: Jan 22, 2025Duration: 49m 11s
Episode 185
How To Help Your Child Be Degree Free in 2025 (DF#183)
Join us in this eye-opening episode, where we explore how parents can guide their children towards success The Degree Free Way in 2025.
Explore alternative options such as vocational programs, certifications, and boot camps for various fields.
What You’ll Learn:
- Learn the step-by-step approach outlined in our workbook to help young adults identify career goals, explore job options, and make informed decisions.
- Understand the importance of letting young adults express their thoughts and goals without interruption, and aligning their needs with career aspirations.
- Discover the value of Vocational Crea...
Published: Jan 15, 2025Duration: 22m 29s
Episode 184
The Future of Education & the Workforce: 12 Predictions for 2025 (DF#182)
Join us in this insightful episode as we discuss our predictions for 2025.
From the growth of AI to the mainstream adoption of the Degree Free movement, get ready for an engaging conversation.
What You’ll Learn:
- The continued growth of AI and its benefits for young adults in daily tasks
- Predictions on mainstream adoption of the Degree Free movement
- The shift towards entrepreneurship and workforce readiness among Gen Z and the impact on college education
- The idea of removing degree requirements for certain professions and focusing on li...
Published: Jan 13, 2025Duration: 50m 51s
Episode 183
From AI to Healthcare: Grading Our 6 Predictions for 2024 (DF#181)
Join us as we review our predictions from 2024 in the realm of AI utilization and the shift toward eliminating degree requirements for jobs.
Discover how 16 states have already removed degree prerequisites for state positions.
What You’ll Learn:
- Explore the success stories of companies like Canva, which have witnessed a surge in applicants after ditching degree requirements and adopting a skill-based promotion system.
- Gain insights into the importance of widening the talent pool by removing unnecessary barriers in job application processes.
- Get a glimpse of the changing landscape of s...
Published: Jan 3, 2025Duration: 27m 16s
Episode 182
How to Build Your Career The Degree Free Way and What We Learned in 2024 (DF#180)
Join us as we discuss the importance of decision-making throughout life.
Reflecting on interviews from 2024, we share key lessons on leveraging skills, the impact of first-career jobs, and the value of experience and mentorship without a traditional college degree.
What You’ll Learn:
- Leveraging existing skills when transitioning to new industries
- The impact of first career job on future success
- Value of experience and learning from mentors in the workplace without a college degree
- Importance of persistence and building skills for job security
Explore sto...
Published: Dec 27, 2024Duration: 48m 0s
Episode 181
How to Support Your Young Adult in Breaking Free from the College Grind (DF#179)
Join us as we challenge the common belief that a college education is the only path to success.
We explore alternative and cost-effective ways to gain valuable skills and knowledge.
We discuss the struggles of a young adult feeling stuck in college and unsure of their career path.
What You'll Learn:
- The trap of endless college and the importance of learning through failure and taking risks to develop real skills.
- The issue of accumulating student debt without a clear direction and the need for finding alternative learning paths wi...
Published: Dec 19, 2024Duration: 20m 41s
Episode 180
Ask Ryan and Hannah: Vocational Creativity™ in the Creative Production Field (DF#178)
Join us as we tackle the question of whether a college degree is necessary for a career in production.
We discuss the importance of gaining practical experience and building a portfolio in the industry, emphasizing the value of networking and starting in entry-level positions.
What You’ll Learn:
- The importance of focusing on practical skills and experience rather than solely relying on a college degree
- Using available tools like smartphones and apps to start building a portfolio and gaining experience early on
- Advising against attending art school without a po...
Published: Dec 17, 2024Duration: 26m 17s
Episode 179
Challenging the College Narrative: What Education Should Really Be (DF#177)
Join us for this thought-provoking episode, where we challenge the myths surrounding college education and debunk 7 myths about college based on an article from the LA Times.
Explore why traditional learning may not equate to intellectual depth and the limitations of a college degree in today's job market.
What You’ll Learn:
- Critique of the value of college in personal growth and career discovery.
- Importance of developing practical skills and gaining experience over relying solely on traditional college programs.
- Exploration of high-paying job opportunities without a four-year degree.
...
Published: Dec 13, 2024Duration: 36m 6s
Episode 178
Ask Ryan and Hannah: Vocational Creativity™ for Finding the Perfect Tech Career Path (DF#176)
Join us as we discuss the importance of determining priorities and needs before choosing a career path for Crystal's 17-year-old son in the tech industry.
By identifying the desired work environment, schedule, income, and location, individuals can find a career that aligns with their preferences and goals to thrive without needing a college degree.
What You’ll Learn:
- The importance of prioritizing needs and wants when considering a tech career path, emphasizing the significance of filtering options based on preferences, and not limiting oneself early in the decision-making process.
- The bene...
Published: Dec 11, 2024Duration: 38m 27s
Episode 177
5 Jobs That You Think Require A College Degree But Really Don’t (DF#175)
Join us for an eye-opening episode where we challenge the myth surrounding the necessity of a college degree for certain professions, using personal training as an example.
What You’ll Learn:
- The importance of Vocational Creativity™ and thinking outside the box when pursuing a career, highlighting how individuals can obtain certifications in a few months without a costly college degree.
- Exploring Degree Free pathways to careers like engineering, where passing exams can lead to becoming a licensed professional without a degree.
- The burden of unnecessary requirements for licenses in professions like...
Published: Dec 6, 2024Duration: 37m 49s
Episode 176
How to Tell Your Parents That You’re Breaking Out of College (DF#174)
Join us as we dive into the topic of breaking out of college and navigating conversations with parents.
We explore the idea that education extends beyond college and offer a 7-step plan for young adults considering leaving college.
What You’ll Learn:
- The importance of creating a work plan, setting goals, and focusing on mental health while exploring alternative education paths.
- Researching job listings, acquiring necessary skills, and taking proactive steps toward building a career outside of college.
- Avoiding student loans, finding ways to fund education independently, and gain...
Published: Nov 14, 2024Duration: 24m 6s