College After Career Podcast

College After Career Podcast •

Matt Pierce Matt Pierce

EPISODE 1: THE PILOT

What happens when you finish one career and decide to start over on purpose? In this pilot episode of College After Career, I introduce the story behind the podcast and why I chose to return to higher education after building a career in photojournalism, Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and human-centered analysis. This is not a motivational highlight reel. It is a real second act. The identity shift, the discipline, the learning curve, and the challenge of developing a serious academic voice in the AI era, where information is everywhere but thinking is not automatic.

What happens when you finish one career and decide to start over on purpose? In this pilot episode of College After Career, I introduce the story behind the podcast and why I chose to return to higher education after building a career in photojournalism, Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and human-centered analysis. This is not a motivational highlight reel. It is a real second act. The identity shift, the discipline, the learning curve, and the challenge of developing a serious academic voice in the AI era, where information is everywhere but thinking is not automatic.

You will hear what this podcast will cover, what I am trying to learn, and how I plan to turn experience into understanding. If you are over 40, returning to school, changing careers, or simply trying to build a sharper mind and a more intentional life, you are in the right place.

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