In today’s episode, Jordan Rembrecht interviews Christa Brennan, Program Director for Respiratory Care at College of DuPage. Christa shares her 20 years of experience in the field, including work in neonatal and pediatric care, and discusses the diverse career paths available in respiratory therapy—from critical care and acute care to roles in rehab facilities, physician offices, and home health. The conversation also highlights the skills students gain through COD’s program, such as critical thinking, communication, and professionalism, and the hands-on training offered through labs and clinical rotations. After listening to this episode, we hope you have a better understanding of the respiratory care profession and how COD prepares students for success in this dynamic healthcare field.

View the College of DuPage Respiratory Care program
Contact the Respiratory Care program or Christa Brennan directly by emailing brennanc221@cod.edu

Full episode transcript can be found on the episode page. Below is a general timestamp summary.

00 – 01:17 | Introductions
Jordan welcomes listeners and introduces Christa Brennan, Program Director for Respiratory Care at College of DuPage. Christa shares her background, including 20 years as a respiratory therapist and experience in neonatal/pediatric care, transport teams, project management, and teaching.

02:18 – 06:58 | Career Paths in Respiratory Care
Christa explains the variety of roles available in respiratory care—from critical care and ICUs to acute care, rehab facilities, physician offices, pharmaceutical companies, and home health. She emphasizes flexibility and opportunities for specialization after gaining experience.

07:22 – 11:30 | Skills and Competencies
Discussion shifts to essential skills for success: communication, critical thinking, professionalism, and teamwork. Christa highlights how the program reinforces these competencies to meet employer expectations.

12:10 – 16:43 | Program Structure and Clinical Rotations
Christa outlines the program’s unique structure, including lectures, labs, tutoring, and diverse clinical rotations in medical floors, ICUs, emergency departments, and specialized units like neonatal and pulmonary labs.

17:11 – 21:48 | Preparing for Success
Advice for students includes leveraging resources, practicing teamwork, managing stress in high-pressure situations, and being receptive to feedback for professional growth.

23:08 – 24:47 | How to Learn More
Christa shares how prospective students can access program details and advising sessions through the College of DuPage website.

Listeners in the College of DuPage community can visit our website. All other listeners are encouraged to view the resources of their local community college, WIOA training programs, or other local support centers.

Send us YOUR Listener Questions at careerpodcast@cod.edu

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn @codcareercenter

In today’s episode, Rebecca Harrington interviews Jason Floren. Jason is a professor of Human Services at College of DuPage. In the interview, they discuss the diverse career paths within human services, the skills students gain through COD’s program, and the importance of internships and volunteer experiences. After listening to this episode, we hope you have a better understanding of how a career in human services can provide meaningful opportunities to help others and make a positive impact in your community.

View the College of DuPage Human Services program
Contact the Human Services program or Jason Floren directly by emailing florin@cod.edu

Full episode transcript can be found on the episode page. Below is a general timestamp summary.

00:00 – 01:00 | Welcome & Episode Overview
Rebecca Harrington introduces the Career Ready Podcast and today’s focus on exploring careers in human services.

01:00 – 03:00 | Meet Jason Floren
Rebecca welcomes Jason Floren, professor of Human Services at College of DuPage. Jason shares his background, career journey, and passion for helping others.

03:00 – 06:00 | Understanding Human Services
Jason explains what human services encompasses, comparing it to a blend of psychology, sociology, and social work. He outlines educational pathways from associate to master’s degrees and related career roles.

06:00 – 09:00 | Skills & Program Highlights
Discussion centers on key skills students gain, including self-awareness, empathy, communication, and ethical practices. Jason emphasizes internships and real-world experience as program strengths.

09:00 – 12:00 | Volunteer Work & Field Experience
Jason describes service learning and volunteer opportunities as essential for networking and understanding community needs. He details partnerships with local agencies for internships.

12:00 – 14:00 | Continuing Education & Career Growth
Rebecca and Jason discuss stackable credentials and COD’s 3+1 partnership with National Louis University, making advanced degrees more affordable and accessible.

14:00 – 17:00 | Final Advice & Resources
Jason encourages students to explore different populations, volunteer early, and leverage COD resources. He shares how listeners can learn more about the program.

Listeners in the College of DuPage community can visit our website. All other listeners are encouraged to view the resources of their local community college, WIOA training programs, or other local support centers.

Send us YOUR Listener Questions at careerpodcast@cod.edu

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn @codcareercenter

In today’s episode, Pierre Michiels interviews Joe Aranki. Joe Aranki is the Automotive Program Coordinator and professor at College of DuPage with over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. In the interview, Joe shares his journey from technician to educator, discusses the evolution of modern vehicles, the skills taught in COD’s automotive program, and how students can prepare for careers in this high-demand field. After listening to this episode, we hope you have a better understanding of career paths and opportunities in the automotive industry.

View the College of DuPage Automotive program
Contact the Automotive program or Joe Aranki directly by emailing arankij@cod.edu

Full episode transcript can be found on the episode page. Below is a general timestamp summary.

00:00:00 – 00:00:30 | Introduction & Guest Welcome

Host Pierre Michiels introduces the episode and welcomes Joe Aranki, Automotive Program Coordinator and professor at College of DuPage.

00:00:30 – 00:01:09 | Joe’s Background & Career Path

Joe shares his journey from growing up fixing cars with his father to attending trade school, opening his own shop, and transitioning into teaching.

00:01:09 – 00:02:27 | Overview of COD Automotive Program

Discussion of program goals: teaching students to diagnose and repair modern vehicles, articulation agreements for advanced degrees, and career opportunities.

00:02:27 – 00:03:59 | Staying Current with Technology

Joe explains how COD invests in the latest tools and vehicles, ensuring students learn cutting-edge systems and instructors maintain ongoing training.

00:03:59 – 00:06:01 | Skills Beyond Technical Knowledge

Conversation shifts to soft skills like time management, efficiency, and teamwork, which are critical for success in the automotive industry.

00:06:01 – 00:07:00 | Exploring the Field & Getting Started

Advice for aspiring professionals: take introductory classes, seek mentorship, and gain exposure through entry-level roles or networking.

00:07:00 – 00:09:27 | Preparing Students for Industry

Joe highlights how the program teaches problem-solving and system-level understanding rather than memorization, fostering adaptability and technology agility.

00:09:27 – End | Final Advice & Resources

Joe emphasizes the importance of passion, networking, and early experience. He shares resources for learning more about COD’s automotive program and offers personal support.

Listeners in the College of DuPage community can visit our website. All other listeners are encouraged to view the resources of their local community college, WIOA training programs, or other local support centers.

Send us YOUR Listener Questions at careerpodcast@cod.edu

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn @codcareercenter