Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

Think political‑science passages are “easy newspaper reads”? 📰 Think again. In this week’s workshop Jack and Molly tackle a real EU‑enlargement passage—packed with dates, diplomats, and hidden tone shifts—to show you how to:- Spot the author’s true stance (even when it’s buried in polite prose)- Use contrast words (“but,” “yet,” “however”) to zero‑in on high‑yield sentences- Separate neutral background facts from testable opinions- Track tone (“impatient, slightly exasperated”) without getting lost in details- Build a concise main‑idea statement you can lean on for every questionRead the passage first: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/eu-enlargementWant to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep

Ready to move beyond glycolysis? In Episode 26 of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly guide you through the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (PDC) and the Citric Acid (TCA) Cycle—two of the highest‑yield pathways the MCAT loves to test.What we cover- Where it all happens – cytoplasm vs. mitochondrial matrix- PDC outputs & regulation – 2 Acetyl‑CoA, 2 NADH, 2 CO₂ and the key activators/inhibitors that flip the complex on or off- Real‑world connections – how arsenic poisoning and Wernicke‑Korsakoff syndrome derail PDC function- TCA Cycle essentials – step‑by‑step walk‑through, enzyme mnemonics (“Can I Keep Selling Shells…”) and the must‑know Big 3 regulators- High‑yield nuggets – why Succinate Dehydrogenase pulls double duty as ETC Complex II, Ca²⁺ activation during muscle contraction, plus glucogenic vs. ketogenic amino acid entry pointsBy the end, you’ll know the exact products (NADH, FADH₂, GTP, CO₂), how to spot test‑maker tricks, and which regulatory enzymes to memorize for test day.👉 Next up: Electron Transport Chain & Oxidative Phosphorylation—subscribe so you don’t miss Part 3 of our Metabolism series!Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep

In this Jack Westin CARS Reading Skills Workshop, Jack and Molly tackle a lyrical passage pulled from Lewis’s fantasy classic and show you how to keep your critical-reasoning compass steady when the prose turns mythical. Watch them read in real time, map each paragraph’s purpose, and convert rich imagery into clear MCAT takeaways.In this session you’ll learn how to- Separate story from stance – spot the author’s underlying argument beneath allegory and nostalgia.- Decode symbolism quickly – translate lions, wardrobes, and eternal winters into testable main ideas.- Control pacing – keep long descriptive sentences from eating up precious minutes.- Anticipate question traps – apply “tone vs. fact” and “extreme language” filters before answer choices appear.Get the most out of itRead first: Grab the free daily passage “Lewis’s Narnia” on https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/lewiss-narniaWant to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep

In this week’s Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly pull glycolysis out of the rote-memorization zone and rebuild it as a story you can see, explain—and defend—on test day. Starting with the big-picture difference between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, they zoom into the 10 classic steps, spotlight why hexokinase and especially PFK-1 are the pathway’s “no-turning-back” moments, and finish with the hormonal signals that flip glycolysis on or off in real life. Along the way they debunk lactic-acid myths, link fasting physiology to MCAT passages, and hand you regulation mnemonics that actually stick.Key takeaways at a glance- Net yield, location & oxygen: Cytoplasmic pathway that nets 2 ATP, 2 NADH, 2 pyruvate—no O₂ required.- Energy investment vs. payoff: Why you spend 2 ATP up front and gain 4 later (+2 net).- Regulation checkpoints: Steps 1, 3 & 10 are irreversible; PFK-1 is the commitment step; ATP inhibits, ADP/AMP activate.- Hormonal control: Insulin (via PFK-2) ramps glycolysis up; glucagon turns it down—crucial in fed vs. fasting states.- Clinical & exam links: Cori cycle, muscle soreness myth, and how enzymes like hexokinase signal MCAT question writers.Next episode: PDH complex, electron-transport chain, and oxidative phosphorylation—subscribe so you’re ready for the hand-off from glycolysis to ATP powerhouse.Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep

In this episode we slow-walk a brand-new Psych/Soc passage—“Aging Brain” showing you, sentence-by-sentence, how top scorers:- Decode unfamiliar social-science jargon without getting stuck- Spot author attitude and trap wording that hide inside “friendly” topics- Build quick mental maps that link each paragraph back to the central thesis- Translate real-world quotes (yes, even a Henry Ford cameo) into testable MCAT questions- Turn every practice passage into timed, active-reading reps you can repeat on exam day👉 Read first: grab the free “Aging Brain” passage in official style format here https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/aging-brainWant to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep

In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly turn the intimidating world of enzyme kinetics into a step-by-step masterclass you can use on your very next practice exam.What you’ll learn- The real meaning of a Michaelis-Menten hyperbolic curve—and why enzyme concentration must stay fixed- How to picture Vmax, kcat, Km, and catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) without memorizing charts- Rapid hacks for reading a Lineweaver-Burk plot (1/Vmax on the Y-intercept, –1/Km on the X)- Competitive vs. uncompetitive vs. mixed vs. non-competitive inhibition—how each one shifts Vmax, Km and the double-reciprocal graph- Mike & Molly’s test-day mnemonics (👀 “Uncompetitive Inhibitors Unify” ) that keep the rules straight under pressure- Why all allosteric inhibitors must drop Vmax (and how the MCAT likes to hide that clue)Whether you’re baffled by the math or tripped up by the terminology, this episode gives you a clear mental framework plus concrete MCAT angles—no more hand-waving.Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep

Struggling to keep all the rate-law rules and enzyme facts straight? In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly break down exactly what the AAMC expects you to know—no fluff, just high-yield kinetics you’ll see on Test Day.What we cover in Part 1* Big-picture difference between K (equilibrium) vs k (rate)* The Arrhenius equation & how Ea and T really control reaction speed* How to recognize zeroth, first & second-order rate laws in passages* Why the rate-determining step rules every multi-step mechanism* How enzymes lower activation energy, plus active site basics* Essential vocab: apoenzyme → holoenzyme, cofactors vs coenzymes* The Induced-Fit Model (forget “lock-and-key” oversimplifications)* Fast recall with the LIL HOT enzyme-classification mnemonicBy the end you’ll be able to:✅ Write and manipulate rate laws with confidence✅ Predict how temp or catalysts shift reaction speed✅ Decode enzyme names on the fly and spot catalytic tricks the MCAT lovesNext up in Part 2: Michaelis–Menten kinetics, Km/Vmax shortcuts, and inhibitor patterns—so make sure you’re subscribed and turn on notifications!Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep

In this episode, Molly and Jack dive into a refreshingly relatable CARS passage—this time, it's all about architecture and the city of Las Vegas. 🏙️Learn how to tackle neutral passages, stay engaged with real-world context, and apply the power of visualization—a core strategy we emphasize in our CARS skills workshop.Whether you're prepping for test day or just want to sharpen your reading comprehension, this episode is packed with practical tips and real-time breakdowns to help you think like the MCAT.Link to full passage: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/mapping-las-vegasWant to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep

Dive into the captivating world of thermodynamics and electrochemistry! Discover the intriguing concepts of Gibbs Free Energy and reduction potentials. Learn about redox reactions, spontaneity, and how electrochemical cells operate. Delve into real MCAT examples, like the electron transport chain and the significance of enthalpy and entropy. Gain insights on balancing half-reactions, predicting redox outcomes, and the crucial role of salt bridges in batteries. This engaging discussion is perfect for mastering key science concepts!

Welcome back to the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast – CARS Reading Skills Workshop edition! In this episode, your hosts Jack and Molly tackle a passage that’s deceptively simple yet rich in critical reasoning practice: “Turns”🎨 While the topic may sound like a snooze, this passage is the perfect test of your ability to stay focused on something totally unfamiliar—a challenge many MCAT students struggle with in the CARS section.📚 Here’s what you’ll get out of this episode:- Why “Turns” is one of our favorite practice passages- How to navigate unfamiliar or niche topics without zoning out- What makes this passage surprisingly fun and mentally engaging- Specific strategies to apply during your next CARS practice session- How to think like the test-maker and stay one step aheadWhether you're struggling with attention, pacing, or reasoning through strange subjects, this workshop will show you how to read smarter—not harder.🔗 Ready to try this passage yourself? Download it here:👉 https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/turnsWant to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep