Paul Tough

Writer & Speaker

Radio/Podcast Interviews

= Highly Recommended


Ontario Universities Call for More Funding

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article and the relevance of its findings to colleges and universities in Canada. The Current with Matt Galloway, CBC Radio, November 23, 2023. [Interview starts at 13:00.] [Another link here.]

When college is a waste of money

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article on the public radio program Think, hosted by Krys Boyd. September 27, 2023.

Why Americans Are Losing Faith in College

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article with Derek Thompson on the “Plain English” podcast. September 26, 2023.

The Kids Don’t Want to Go to College Anymore, and Why Would They?

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article with Gideon Lichfield on Wired Magazine’s “Have a Nice Future” podcast. September 20, 2023. [Another link is here.]

Is College Worth It?

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article on The Daily podcast, with host Michael Barbaro. September 20, 2023.

Higher Education Is in Trouble

Emily Bazelon and David Plotz discuss Paul Tough’s recent article in the New York Times Magazine, Slate Political Gabfest, September 7, 2023. (Starts at 30:00.)

More Americans questioning whether a college education is worth the high price tag

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article with Sasha-Ann Simons, host of “Reset,” WBEZ Radio (Chicago), September 6, 2023.

A Conversation with Paul Tough

Paul Tough discusses how college helps — and hinders — social mobility. With Fr. Steve Katsouros at the Come to Believe Network virtual retreat. November 8, 2022

The Future of Higher Education

Conversation with Paul LeBlanc, “The World As You’ll Know It” podcast, October 2020 [Also available here. Transcript here.]

The Nitty Grit-ty

Interview with Paula Poundstone, “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone,” October 13, 2020

Paul Tough, The Years That Matter Most

Interview with Ned Johnson, “PrepTalks” podcast, September 29, 2020

Sunday Read: A Speck in the Sea

Audio version of “A Speck in the Sea,” an article originally published in the New York Times Magazine in 2014 (with a new audio introduction by Paul Tough), August 9, 2020

How to close the education gap that’s only widened since COVID-19

Madeleine Brand, “Press Play,” KCRW (Los Angeles), July 31, 2020

The Unfair Coach

“Against the Rules with Michael Lewis,” June 9, 2020 [interview starts at 31:00]

Money and College Admissions (with Paul Tough)

“Crazy Money with Paul Ollinger,” May 25, 2020

The Dark Side of College: Testing, Admissions, and Inequality

“Talking To Teens: Expert Tips for Parenting Teenagers,” May 24, 2020

As COVID-19 makes college uncertain in the fall, students consider taking a year off

“Press Play with Madeleine Brand,” KCRW (Los Angeles), May 4, 2020

Can College Create Equitable Societies? A conversation with Paul Tough

Interview with Petal Modeste, “Parenting for the Future” podcast, March 17, 2020

The Complicated Math That Undermines Free College

“Think” with Kris Boyd, KERA (Dallas), March 6, 2020 (interview starts at 15:00)

Article Club: “Getting an A”

Interview with Mark Isero for Article Club’s discussion of Chapter Eight of “The Years That Matter Most,” February 17, 2020

What Do We Get When We Pay for School?

Interview with Ashley C. Ford, “Fortune Favors the Bold,” February 2020 [Interview begins at 12:30]

Paul Tough on How the College Admissions System Preserves Our Nation’s Economic and Social Disparities

Interview with Al Franken, “The Al Franken Podcast,” January 19, 2020

How College Makes or Breaks Us

Interview on the Arik Korman Show, January 2020

“The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes Or Breaks Us” By Paul Tough

Interview with Joe Donahue, “The Roundtable,” WAMC Northeast Public Radio, December 30, 2019

Paul Tough on How College Makes Us or Breaks Us

“Making a Killing with Bethany McLean” podcast, December 30, 2019

How Children Succeed (with Paul Tough)

Podcast: Good Kids: How Not to Raise an A**hole, December 2019

The Usefulness of Higher Education

Interview with Brian Southwell, “The Measure of Everyday Life,” WNCU (North Carolina), December 10, 2019

How College Makes or Breaks Us

Interview with Susan Borison and Stephanie Silverman, “Your Teen with Sue and Steph” podcast, November 26, 2019

Interview: Author Paul Tough on the Complex World of College Admissions

Jim O’Neill, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s “Shaped” podcast, November 25, 2019

Paul Tough on What Boys Need to Know about College

Interview with Jennifer Fink and Janet Allison, “On Boys” podcast, November 21, 2019

Conversation with author and journalist Paul Tough

Interview with Alan Flurry, “Unscripted” podcast, November 6, 2019

EdNext Podcast: Paul Tough and The Years That Matter Most

Interview with Marty West, EdNext podcast, November 6, 2019

Paul Tough On ‘How College Makes Or Breaks Us’

Interview with Tiziana Dearing, “Radio Boston,” WBUR, November 4, 2019

Is college still a good springboard for social mobility?

MPR News with Kerri Miller, Minnesota Public Radio, October 28, 2019

Paul Tough – The Years That Matter Most

Interview with Blake McVey, “Book Talk,” WYPL (Memphis), October 26, 2019

How College Makes or Breaks Us: An Interview with Journalist and Author Paul Tough

Interview with Megan Dorsey and Gretchen Wegner, The College Prep Podcast, October 21, 2019

Author Paul Tough and Father Steve Katsouros: Low-income students feel a belonging at Arrupe College

Interview with John Williams, WGN Radio (Chicago), October 21, 2019

New Book Details How Higher Ed Is Failing Low-Income & First-Generation Students

Emily Files, “Lake Effect,” WUWM radio (Milwaukee), October 21, 2019

Is College Worth It?

Interview on the Charlie Brennan Show, KMOX Radio (St. Louis), October 10, 2019 [Interview starts at 12:00]

Does the College System Work for Everyone?

Interview with Mindy Todd, “The Point,” WCAI (Massachusetts), October 10, 2019

Figuring Out college with Paul Tough

The Chip Franklin Show, KGO (San Francisco), October 4, 2019

Paul Tough & Alia Wong: College

“Watching America with Dr. Alan Campbell,” October 3, 2019 [Interview starts at 28:00.]

Who Needs College?

Interview with Sally James on “In the Moment,” the Seattle Town Hall’s Insider podcast, October 3, 2019 [Another link here.]

Paul Tough on how college makes us or breaks us

Interview with Jan Black and Laura Owens, “Nobody Told Me” podcast, October 2, 2019

Paul Tough on ‘How College Makes or Breaks Us’

Interview with Michael Krasny, “Forum,” KQED San Francisco, October 2, 2019

Paul Tough on Why College Years ‘Matter Most’

Interview with Emily Richmond, EWA Radio, October 1, 2019

How College Makes or Breaks Us

Interview with Audrey Monke, Sunshine Parenting Podcast, September 2019

Paul Tough, “The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us”

Interview with Sara Goldrick-Rab, “After Words” (C-Span: Book TV), September 27, 2019

You Belong Here: What It Takes for Success in College

Marc G. Airhart, University of Texas College of Natural Sciences podcast, September 23, 2019

What Does The SAT Really Measure?

Interview with Krys Boyd, “Think,” KERA (Dallas), September 23, 2019

How College Makes Or Breaks Us

Interview with Doug Fabrizio, “RadioWest,” KUER Radio Salt Lake City, September 20. 2019

Paul Tough on the decisions that matter most in college

The John Williams Show, WGN Radio Chicago, September 18, 2019

Chicago’s Morning Answer

Interview with Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson, WIND Chicago, September 17, 2019

Journalist Paul Tough On His New Book ‘How College Makes Or Breaks Us’

Interview with Jennifer White, Morning Shift, WBEZ Chicago, September 17, 2019

Interview with DeRay Mckesson

Pod Save the People, September 17, 2019

Interview with Howard Blume (Part Two)

Deadline LA, KPFK FM, September 16, 2019

Paul Tough – The Years That Matter Most

Principal Center Radio, September 16, 2019

Interview with Author Paul Tough

The Neil Haley Show, September 16, 2019

How Young Americans Navigate the Tough Processes of College

“Mom Enough” with Marti & Erin Erickson, September 16, 2019

Paul Tough Interview on Trend Following Radio

Interview with Michael Covel, September 12, 2019

Slate Political Gabfest

Interview with Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson, September 12, 2019

College Admissions and Privilege

Radio Times, WHYY Radio Philadelphia, September 12, 2019

Book Talk interview

BTR Today, September 12, 2019

Paul Tough, The Years That Matter Most

Writers’ Voice with Francesca Rheannon, September 11, 2019

The Value Of College, Considered

Jefferson Exchange, Jefferson Public Radio, September 11, 2019

The Great College Dropout with Paul Tough

Intelligence for Your Life podcast, September 11, 2019

Longform Podcast #359: Paul Tough

Interview with Max Linsky, September 11, 2019

Paul Tough on How College Makes or Breaks Us

Interview with Gayle Allen, Curious Minds podcast, September 9, 2019

Who Is Higher Education Working For?

All of It with Alison Stewart, WNYC Radio, September 9, 2019

What Higher Education Means

Interview with Lisa Valentine Clark, The Lisa Show, September 9, 2019

The Staggering Weight of Student Debt

Panel discussion on “The 1A” on NPR (with Tressie McMillan Cottom and Michelle Singletary), September 9, 2019

Interview with Howard Blume (part one)

Deadline LA, KPFK FM, September 9, 2019

Conversation with Lisa Birnbach on her podcast

Lisa Birnbach’s Five Things That Make Life Better podcast, September 6, 2019

Social Mobility and The Years That Matter Most

“That Got Me Thinking,” with Ellie Newman, September 4, 2019

Author Paul Tough on the years that matter most

Silicon Valley Parenting, with Sarah Lai Stirland, September 3, 2019

Al Franken on Learning to Be a Politician

(Franken discusses How Children Succeed at 53:15.)
The Ezra Klein Show, June 20, 2017

Milwaukee Conference Aims to ‘Inform and Unite’

Kati Kokal, Lake Effect, WUWM (Milwaukee), June 15, 2017

Paul Tough on Children and Success

Interview with Cathy Lewis, HearSay, WHRV-FM (Norfolk, Virginia), February 23, 2017

Paul Tough: Kids Want Challenges and Connection

Positive Coaching Alliance podcast, September 2016

Paul Tough Interview

Michael Covel, Trend Following Radio, September 8, 2016

Paul Tough: Helping Children Succeed

Sam Seder, Majority Report podcast, August 25, 2016

Environments and Experiences that Promote Grit, Character, and Success

Marti & Erin Erickson, Mom Enough podcast, August 15, 2016

‘Helping Children Succeed’: Author Paul Tough Takes a Second Look at Success

Knowledge@Wharton, SiriusXM, July 26, 2016

How to Develop an Intrinsically Motivated Child

Ryan Hawk, The Learning Leader Show, July 25, 2016

Learning from Failure

Vinay Seshachellam, “They Don’t Teach That” podcast, July 10, 2016

PAUL TOUGH: Helping Children Succeed

Moe Abdou, 33 Voices podcast, July 5, 2016

Parenting Teens: Paul Tough on Helping Children Succeed

Pam Hardy, The Biggest Job’s Parenting Teens podcast, June 21, 2016

What Works to Help Low-Income Kids and Why

Armin Brott, Positive Parenting podcast, June 20, 2016

Education Guru Paul Tough On Helping Children Succeed

Jennifer White, Morning Shift, WBEZ (Chicago), June 17, 2016

Paul Tough on How Environments Can Help Children Build Curiosity and Grit

Mina Kim, KQED (San Francisco), June 10, 2016

Paul Tough on Helping Children Succeed in School and in Life

The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman, June 2, 2016

Can You Teach Students About Grit and Determination Without Talking About It?

Mitch Teich, “Lake Effect,” WUWM (Milwaukee), June 1, 2016

EdSurge Podcast Q&A With Paul Tough

Tony Wan, EdSurge, May 31, 2016

Paul Tough: Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why

Justin Baeder, Principal Center Radio, May 30, 2016

Paul Tough on Helping Children Succeed

Tom Vander Ark, Getting Smart Podcast, May 27, 2016

Helping Kids Overcome Adversity in the Classroom and at Home

The Leonard Lopate Show, WNYC, May 26, 2016

Can Non-Cognitive Skills Be Taught?

Marty West, EdNext podcast, May 25, 2016

Helping Children Succeed

Doug Fabrizio, RadioWest, KUER (Salt Lake City), May 25, 2016

Teaching The Intangibles: How To Ingrain ‘Grit’ In Students

Michel Martin, All Things Considered, NPR, May 22, 2016

Paul Tough on Helping Children Succeed

Matt Weber, Harvard EdCast, Harvard Graduate School of Education, May 19, 2016

How Important Is Grit?

“The Money Jar,” Junior Achievement Radio (Vancouver, Wash.), January 28, 2016

No Limits Interview with Paul Tough

WFYI (Indianapolis), November 20, 2014

Paul Tough on How Children Succeed

American RadioWorks, August 19, 2014

MPR Top Coast Festival: Paul Tough and Richard Louv on Children and Character

MPR News Presents, Minnesota Public Radio, June 9, 2014

Hacking Higher Ed

Radio Open Source, WBUR (Boston), May 22, 2014

Mom And Dad Are Fighting: The Two Kids in a Hot Car Edition

Slate Parenting Podcast, May 21, 2014

The Graduation Gap: Why Low Income Students Often Fare Poorly In College

Sam Baker, KERA (Dallas), May 21, 2014

Do We Really Have a Plan for At-Risk Kids?

“State of Opportunity,” Michigan Public Radio, April 17, 2014

Developing Character in Children

Mister Mom with David Marin, KSCO (Santa Cruz, California), December 8, 2013

Deutschlandradio Kultur Discussion

Deutschlandradio Kultur (Germany), November 29, 2013. [Not an interview; rather, a discussion in German between two radio hosts about “How Children Succeed.”]

Kids and Success

Information Radio with Marcy Markusa, CBC Radio Manitoba, October 15, 2013

Paul Tough at Aspen Ideas Festival (with James Bennet)

Minnesota Public Radio, August 8, 2013

Is America Still the Land of Opportunity?

“Tell Me More,” NPR, July 1, 2013

For Middle-Class Parents, Raising Children Becomes a Consumer Arms Race

Scott Tong, Marketplace, June 10, 2013

Paul Tough on How Children Succeed

The Hugh Hewitt Show, June 5, 2013

Author Paul Tough on How Children Succeed

Eric Alan, “Living Large”, KLCC Public Radio (Eugene, Oregon), April 26, 2013

Radio New Zealand Interview: How Children Succeed

Kathryn Ryan, “Nine to Noon,” Radio New Zealand, January 29, 2013 [Audio here.]

How Do You Learn Grit?

“Prospero,” the books podcast of the Economist magazine, January 22, 2013

Paul Tough on Faith Middleton

The Faith Middleton Show, January 18, 2013 [Segment begins at 33:10; audio here]

How Children Succeed: A Conversation with Author Paul Tough

Mom Enough podcast, January 14, 2013

Paul Tough on Reader’s Corner

Bob Kustra, Boise State Public Radio, January 4, 2013

A Scientific Argument for Character Education

“Lake Effect,” WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio, November 30, 2012

Focus Interview

Craig Cohen, “Focus,” WILL-AM, Illinois Public Media, October 30, 2012

Paul Tough on ‘How Children Succeed’

“Midday with Dan Rodricks,” WYPR Baltimore, October 30, 2012. (Note: Interview starts about 8 minutes in.)

Paul Tough and Jeff Nelson on How Children Succeed and OneGoal

The John Williams Show, WGN-AM Chicago, October 17, 2012

Paul Tough on ‘How Children Succeed’ Through Grit, Adversity

“The Daily Circuit,” Minnesota Public Radio, October 17, 2012

Advice Goddess Radio: How Children Succeed

Amy Alkon, Advice Goddess Radio, October 14, 2012

Paul Tough in Memphis to Talk about ‘How Children Succeed’

Eleanor Boudreau, Memphis Public Radio, October 9, 2012

Character Development in Education

The Regina Brett Show, WKSU Ohio Public Radio, September 22, 2012

Hidden Power of Character

American RadioWorks podcast with Emily Hanford, September 21, 2012

The Conversation with Paul Tough

“The Conversation” with Ross Reynolds, KUOW Seattle Public Radio, September 20, 2012

The Hidden Power of Character

ConsciousSHIFT with host Julie Ann Turner, Contact Talk Radio, September 19, 2012

Education Watch Podcast: Is Intelligence Really the Key to Success?

New America Foundation’s Education Watch Podcast, September 18, 2012

How Children Succeed and What Can You Learn From Them

“The Commutist” podcast, GigaOM, September 18, 2012

Paul Tough on How Children Succeed

EconTalk with host Russ Roberts, September 17, 2012

Office Hours with Daniel Pink

Daniel Pink’s “Office Hours” podcast, September 14, 2012

Eye on Books: Paul Tough

Bill Thompson’s “Eye on Books” podcast, September 14, 2012

Back to School

“This American Life,” Public Radio International, September 14, 2012

Wisconsin Public Radio interview

Veronica Rueckert, Wisconsin Public Radio, September 14, 2012

Can Schools Teach Character?

“The Afterword” podcast, Slate, September 13, 2012

Paul Tough examines how children do (and don’t) succeed

Brand and Martinez, KPCC Los Angeles, September 11, 2012

Anatomy of Success

The Family Anatomy podcast, September 10, 2012

Charlie Brennan Interview

The Charlie Brennan Show, KMOX News Radio St. Louis, September 10, 2012

Paul Tough on his new book “How Children Succeed”

“Afternoon Shift,” WBEZ Chicago, September 10, 2012

Paul Tough on “How Children Succeed”

RadioTimes, WHYY-FM Philadelphia. September 7, 2012

Paul Tough on Character

Bloomberg EDU Podcast, hosted by Jane Williams, September 7, 2012

RadioWest: How Children Succeed

RadioWest, KUER-FM Salt Lake City, September 6, 2012

Why (Some) Children Succeed

“Boston Public Radio,” WGBH public radio, Boston, September 5, 2012

Ed Next Book Club: Paul Tough on How Children Succeed

Education Next, September 5, 2012

Dallas Public Radio: How Children Succeed

“Think,” with Krys Boyd, KERA public radio, Dallas, September 4, 2012.

Paul Tough on How Children Succeed

The Leonard Lopate Show, WNYC New York Public Radio, September 4, 2012

‘Children Succeed’ With Character, Not Test Scores

“Morning Edition,” NPR, September 4, 2012

Can Kids Be Taught Persistence?

KQED Mind/Shift, July 12, 2012

Podcast Friday: Failure Equals Success

American RadioWorks Podcast, September 22, 2011

The State of the Education-Reform Movement

Kathleen Dunn, Wisconsin Public Radio, July 13, 2011

The Poverty Clinic

RadioWest, KUER Utah, March 22, 2011

Schools & Community

Think Out Loud, Oregon Public Broadcasting, September 22, 2010

Assessing Harlem Children’s Zone

The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC New York, February 8, 2010

Can the Harlem Children’s Zone Work in Baltimore?

Midday with Dan Rodricks, WYPR Baltimore, January 21, 2010

Harlem Children’s Zone

Dispatches, CBC Radio, March 9, 2009

Whatever It Takes

Journey Home, Santa Fe Public Radio, February 23, 2009

Has Barack Obama Split the Difference on Education Reform?

To The Point with Warren Olney, KCRW Santa Monica, December 19, 2008

Julia McEvoy Interview

Eight Forty-Eight, WBEZ Chicago, November 6, 2008

30 Issues: Education Policy

The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC New York, September 29, 2008

Going Big

This American Life, Public Radio International, September 25, 2008

Activist Aims High with Harlem Children’s Zone

Tell Me More with Michel Martin, NPR, September 24, 2008

Can Obama’s Education Chief Save the Nation’s Schools?

Warren Olney, “To The Point,” KCRW (Los Angeles), September 19, 2008