Relationship Rich Education Series | West Valley College

TEACH Center Podcast: Relationship Rich Education Series

Podcasts sections

Learn how to center human connection as the foundation of learning to drive student engagement, career readiness, and more joyful teaching.
Episode 1: Engagement and Mentorship

Learn about human connection as the foundational “engagement juice” for learning and how being a “mentor of the moment” can transform the student experience without increasing faculty workload.



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Episode 3: Today’s Students and Career Success

Explore how the pandemic magnified student loneliness and imposterism and learn why relational skills—like communicating across perspectives—are the ultimate career competencies in a modern workforce.



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Episode 2: The Power of Peer Friendships

Discover why peer-to-peer relationships are often the most impactful part of a course and learn strategies to design environments where students find "smart friends" to support their academic success.



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Episode 4: Longevity and Professional Joy

Examine findings from the Good Life Study on health and happiness and discover how building communities of practice with colleagues makes academic work more sustainable, meaningful, and joyful.



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Last Updated 6/16/26