This week's episode hits close to home — literally. I'm catching up with my younger brother Matthew Ng and his partner Ann Schlotzhauer, both assistant professors of psychological science at Missouri S&T. We dig into what high school actually shaped us, what we'd tell our past selves, the psychology of how we define growth, and why there's no such thing as finishing your work. Oh, and we learn why St. Louis has a low area code.

In this episode, Peter catches up with Peyton Stanley — a former student who skipped 8th grade, started college at 16, and had her first semester derailed by a car accident that totaled her car and landed her in physical therapy. Rather than stay at a school that didn't feel right, she made a bold call: transfer mid-year to Gainesville, sign a lease sight-unseen off Facebook Marketplace, and start fresh.

Payton and Peter talk about what it was like being the youngest kid in the room for most of high school, how finding a real friend group her senior year changed everything, and why getting an OCD diagnosis in 2026 felt less like a label and more like a key that finally unlocked something.

She's now studying APK at Santa Fe with her eyes on PT school — and along the way, she's picked up a philosophy that's hard to argue with: your 5-year plan can change in half a second. Make the decision anyway.

Catching Up — where conversations don't end when the bell rings.

Join The catchiNG up Podcast as host, Peter Ng, reconnects with Carter Benson, a former student turned fellow traveler on the path of personal growth. Listen in for real stories about education, mentorship, resilience, and finding purpose after school. Whether you’re an educator, former student, or just love authentic conversations, this episode reminds you why catching up matters.