The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

It’s time to change the conversation about success for college students and early-career professionals. Life is best when it’s lived on purpose. The Intentional Academy helps you find time for what matters most, launch your dream career, and build a prosperous future. If you’re like us, then you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed with being busy but not productive as you balance the demands of school and/or work… and you’re looking for a liberating solution. You resent the idea that you’re competing for jobs through impersonal online applications without a chance to tell your unique story and find your best fit… and you’re looking for an empowering alternative. You don’t want to spend your life trying to make ends meet as you balance debt, the costs of living, enjoying your life, and saving for the the future… and you’re looking for a different approach. This podcast gives you actionable insights to manage your time, launch your career, and get on top of your money.

en18 Episodes

Episodes (18)

13. Is it smart to pay off student loans early?

What would you do with a bigger income? If you’re like the average college student or recent graduate, then you have a student loan bill hanging over your shoulders. There are plans that minimize your payment and let you take 10, 15, 20, even 25 years to pay them off! What if instead, you paid them off early so that you could regain control of your income?

Here’s what you can expect today:

Reasons why it is better to pay off your student loans early
A preview of the freedom you can experience by taking control of your income instead of promising it to pay for the past
Encouragement to get started, and an invitation to join a community that will support you on your journey

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Intentional Community.

We're inviting you to join the Intentional Academy Online Community. It’s free. We use an online forum called Discord that runs on desktop, web apps, and mobile to connect with each other and take action together on what we’re learning. We discuss the podcast, answer questions, and swap lots of gifs. More than anything else, we take the time to support each other as we try to live our best lives.

If you’d like to turn this podcast into a dialog, and be connected to like-minded learners, then you should visit intentionalacademy.com/13 for instructions on how to join for free. It’s time that people like us did things like this together.

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enJuly 01, 2020

Pivot

In today’s episode we’re talking about about some big changes at the Intentional Academy. This is a behind the scenes look at what it’s like for Justin and I to try and figure out how to build an impactful movement - and navigate the complexity of trying to start a business around an idea.

Join us in the Intentional Academy Community, for free: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/community

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enJune 24, 2020

12. How can I be more productive at work?

The professional world looks dramatically different from the classroom. As students we grow accustomed to weekly due dates, and very rarely give our attention to anything with a longer timeline. Sure, there are semester projects, but even on these larger tasks the majority of our efforts take place within a week of the due date. Meanwhile, the working world asks us to balance priorities with a wide range of timelines.

Here’s what you can expect today:

Ways to balance projects, repetitive tasks, and fire-fighting to make meaningful contributions to your organization
How to ask your supervisor for help balancing your workload
The secret to getting more done at work (that isn’t actually a secret): love what you do.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Intentional Community.

If you’d like to turn this podcast into a dialog, and be connected to like-minded learners, then you should visit IntentionalAcademy.com/12 for instructions on how to join for free. It’s time that people like us did things like this together.

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enJune 17, 2020

11. You deserve to be picky about where you work

What if the real reason people have such a hard time finding jobs is that they aren’t picky enough?

You deserve to love your job. But the fear of not being chosen forces many of us to the middle of the road, trying desperately to be a “good candidate” for every position. Maybe that’s the problem.

Here’s what you can expect today:

Permission to be picky, and hold out for your dream.
A list of common reasons people settle - and how to change your thinking.
An introduction to personal branding - the strategy that will give you power over your career.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: The Intentional Academy Community https://www.intentionalacademy.com/community

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enJune 11, 2020

How to Budget for June 2020

Bonus Episode! A new month, a new budget. We used to hate budgeting, it feels so restrictive. Let us show you how to turn that around by giving yourself permission to ENJOY your money. We’ll also talk about specific tips for this month, with everything that’s going on in the world.

Bonus episodes aren’t announced. We don’t share them all over the internet. These are just for you, our subscribers. Thanks for being here!

Resources mentioned in this episode: The FREE Intentional Academy Community. Visit https://www.intentionalacademy.com/community to join us. We’d love to help you get your budget worked out!

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enJune 05, 2020

10. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

“What are your strengths and weaknesses?” This is such a difficult interview question. What do you say that presents you as a candidate they can't wait to work with?

Here’s what you can expect today:

Identify your strengths - what makes you unique from all of the people you’re in class with?
Identify your growth areas - finally find an answer to the most intimidating interview question out there
Learn how to come across confident and give them a chance to show you how their organization will support your career.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Intentional Academy Community

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enJune 03, 2020

9. How do you pay your student loans?

Navigating student loans feels complicated. Today’s episode will clear up the most common points of confusion and leave you feeling ready to tackle your financial commitments with confidence.

Here’s what you can expect today:

Who do you actually owe money to?
What will your bill amount be?
How do you choose a repayment plan?
Should you consolidate?
How long does it take to pay off student loans?

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Intentional Academy Community: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/community
Federal Student Loan Simulator: https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enMay 27, 2020

8. I’ve been asked to start my new position remotely.

Working remotely brings a whole host of challenges. In this conversation, Tony, Justin, and special guest Melony Breeze dig into how to make the most of your remote work - whether you’re an intern, new hire, or seasoned pro.

Here’s what you can expect today:

How to prioritize your day
How to build effective work relationships from a distance
How to handle work-life balance when everything seems jumbled together

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Bypass the Machine: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/bypass-the-machine-lite
The Ultimate Career Builder’s Starter Kit: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/careerbuilder
MelonyBreeze.com: https://melonybreeze.com

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enMay 20, 2020

7. I have an offer but my start date got delayed.

In today’s episode, Justin and I answer a question from our subscribers. With the economy paused, hiring freezes at many organizations, many start dates are getting pushed back. This is causing stress around logistics, income, and timing. Whether you’re a full-time hire or an intern, we’re digging into what you can do right now to make the most of all of this.

Resources mentioned in this episode: The Ultimate Career Builder’s Starter Kit: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/careerbuilder

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enMay 13, 2020

Graduation 2020

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!!! This is a special bonus episode. If you came looking for a point, you’ll probably find one. But we didn’t set out to make it. No pitch. No 5-step plan. It’s just a chance for us to take a few minutes to celebrate the accomplishment of everyone who has achieved one of their biggest life goals this month.

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enMay 09, 2020

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6. How many hours should I study for a final exam?

Studying for exams takes strategy. This episode shows you how to make the most of the time you spend getting ready for exams as we answer your question: How many hours should I study for a final exam?

In today’s episode, Justin and I talk strategy - how you should prep for finals to get great grades while experiencing less stress. It all comes down to the differences between learning and studying. Once you know this difference, you’ll be able to decide how long you should spend on each class to get the exam results you’re after.

We’ll show you three considerations to answer the question “how long should I spend on this?” Lastly, we pick on professors a bit and challenge them to give our students a better experience.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Ultimate Career Builder’s Starter Kit: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/careerbuilder

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enMay 06, 2020

How to Budget for May 2020

Bonus episodes aren’t announced. We don’t share them all over the internet. These are just for you, our subscribers. Thanks for being here!

Resources mentioned in this episode: The FREE Intentional Academy Community. Visit https://www.intentionalacademy.com/community to join us. We’d love to help you get your budget worked out!

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enMay 02, 2020

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5. What is the best way to study for a final exam?

Stop wasting time staring at your notes for hours. With final exams are just around the corner, we’re answering your question: what’s the best way to study?

Here’s what you can expect today:

The hardest part about learning is defining what it means to know something. How do you know when you’re ready for the exam? We’ll show you how to answer that using a tool called Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning. It gives you the framework you need to know what it is that you know… and what you don’t.

We’ll show you how to use this tool to get the most out of your precious study time by focusing on what matters most. You’ll also build confidence as you realize that you probably know more than you think you do.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Ultimate Career Builder’s Starter Kit: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/careerbuilder

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enApril 29, 2020

5. What is the best way to study for a final exam?

Stop wasting time staring at your notes for hours. With final exams are just around the corner, we’re answering your question: what’s the best way to study?

Here’s what you can expect today:

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Ultimate Career Builder’s Starter Kit: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/careerbuilder

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enApril 29, 2020

4. Build a Foundation for Financial Freedom

Welcome to The Intentional Academy Podcast.

Money is one of the biggest concerns for college students and early-career professionals, and with good reason: they usually don’t have much of it! Today’s episode teaches you actions you can be taking to grow what you do have into something much bigger.

Here’s what you can expect today:

The problem with money is that people love to hide behind numbers. But building a prosperous life isn’t about the numbers - it’s about your behavior and values. Want financial independence? Lay the foundation with these three actions you should consider taking right now.

In this episode, we’ll talk about: three attitudes our culture has towards money that need adjusting. Then we’ll share three keys to financial freedom - things you can get started on right now to feel more control.

We’ll also be introducing your co-host, Justin Thomas! He’ll share his own financial journey and give you a view of the future - what’s it really like just after graduation and how can you set yourself up for success?

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Bypass the Machine Lite: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/lite2020
The Ultimate Career Builder’s Starter Kit: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/careerbuilder

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enApril 22, 2020

3. Why Online Job Applications Fail, and What to Do About It

Applying online is difficult during the best of times. But at a time where the majority of people are working remotely, money is tight, jobs are being lost, and many organizations have implemented a hiring freeze, what can you do to get professionals’ attention and advance your career?

Here’s what you can expect today:

Whether you’re on the market right now or not, big things are happening in the world and there is an opportunity for all of us. The entire professional world is working remotely while we isolate to stay safe.

The professional world is at home, glued to their screens. You’ve never had a better opportunity to get their attention.

In this episode, we’ll talk about:

The issues with online job applications - problems that are always present, but this current situation compounds. Then we’ll give you three practical actions you can take right now to skip the rat race of applying to job after job and instead connect with engaged professionals with hiring authority.

Hiring freeze or not, lockdown or not, they’re going to know your name - and they’re going to think of you when the time is right.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Ultimate Career Builder’s Starter Kit: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/careerbuilder
A sample from one our the students in our course, Bypass the Machine: https://melonybreeze.com
Bypass the Machine LITE workshop - build your professional presence online: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/bypass-the-machine-lite

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enApril 15, 2020

2. Four Essential Systems To Regain Control of Your Time

At a time where we are stressed to the limit, these four essential systems will empower you to take focused action and feel a sense of peace.

Here’s what you can expect today:

At the time of this recording, the entire world is on lockdown in response to the coronavirus. We’re stressed, trying desperately to find a way to keep the world working. But there’s also an opportunity to reevaluate our commitments, reevaluate our approaches to life. For the first time in longer than I can remember, the momentum of our lives has been broken - use this as permission to pause, reflect, and grow.

We’ll start by exploring what it looks like to live without intention, and what it looks like to live on purpose. There’s a key conclusion, my friend:

The way you spend your time is a measure of what you really value.

I hope we all find ways to spend our time on the things that truly matter to us. Here are the 4 essential systems without which, I am completely lost. When they’re working for me, I feel a sense of power and focus - and the ability to truly enjoy all that this world has to offer.

The Morning Routine
The Time Budget
The Ideal Week
The To-do List

This episode will help you get started using each system so that you can stop drifting and start spending your time on the things that matter most. You got this!!!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The FREE Intentional Academy Community: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/community/

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enApril 08, 2020

1. Reclaiming Control of Your Time, Money, and Career

Welcome to The Intentional Academy Podcast.

This is the first-ever episode! This has been a dream and a goal of ours for a long time now, and I’m thrilled to finally be bringing it to life!

About this podcast:

As you might already know, I’ve been focused on teaching students and early-career professionals how to live their best lives for a few years. Time. Career. Money. Three aspects of life that can either give us freedom to enjoy all that this world has to offer - or trap us in a life that we long to escape. It is so easy to find ourselves going with the flow, only to discover that “conventional wisdom” has let us down.

I don’t want that for you! So this podcast is going to be pretty real. I'm going to share success stories. I’ll share struggles and failures too. We’re going to pick at this until we figure out how to get you where you want to be:

Find time for what matters most
Identify and launch your dream career
Build a prosperous future

Here’s what you can expect today:

The beginning. Three stories of times that I hit rock bottom. Three times I found myself facing a wakeup call.

How poor time management almost cost me the most important relationship in my life.
How massive debt payments almost doomed me to a life of just trying to make ends meet.
How a faceless system almost forced me to choose between unemployment and my dream career.

Don’t worry, that’s not where these stories end (or this would be the worst show ever). I’ll also share how I turned things around. How I went from working 14 hour days to being home for dinner and actually getting more done. How my wife and I paid off over $95,000 in debt in just two and half years while continuing to live a fulfilling life. How I landed my dream job when all of the odds were stacked against me.

As you listen, I hope you’ll realize the truth: this isn’t a show about me. It’s a show about us. You and me. See, we all struggle with time, money, and career. We all find ourselves waking up to the realization that we’re not where we want to be, and we all look to transform during difficult times in our lives.

I have to give you a disclaimer. If you continue listening to this episode, you’re going to face a challenge. You’re going to find yourself confronted with a decision: change, or continue doing more of the same. Build the life you want most, or let the days continue to drift by on a journey to nowhere.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The FREE Intentional Academy Community: https://www.intentionalacademy.com/community/

The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

enApril 01, 2020

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The Intentional Academy Podcast with Tony Ferrar

People also ask

Episodes (18)

13. Is it smart to pay off student loans early?

Pivot

12. How can I be more productive at work?

11. You deserve to be picky about where you work

How to Budget for June 2020

10. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

9. How do you pay your student loans?

8. I’ve been asked to start my new position remotely.

7. I have an offer but my start date got delayed.

Graduation 2020

6. How many hours should I study for a final exam?

How to Budget for May 2020

5. What is the best way to study for a final exam?

5. What is the best way to study for a final exam?

4. Build a Foundation for Financial Freedom

3. Why Online Job Applications Fail, and What to Do About It

2. Four Essential Systems To Regain Control of Your Time

1. Reclaiming Control of Your Time, Money, and Career