kˈæplən ɡɹˈuː ˌʌp ɪn skˈoʊki, ˌɪlənˈɔɪ ænd ɪz ɐ ɡɹˈædʒuːət ʌv hˈæmlaɪn jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ɪn sənt. pˈɔːl, mˌɪnɪsˈoʊɾə, wˌɛɹ hiː ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ bˈætʃəlɚz dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ.
Kaplan grew up in Skokie, Illinois and is a graduate of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he received a bachelor's degree in English.