Grad School Femtoring: Inclusive Grad School Stories, Personal Development, and Productivity Tips for First-Gen BIPOCs

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I explore why so many of us feel stuck even when we're working incredibly hard toward our goals. If you've ever assumed that you simply need to try harder, better time management, or another productivity tool, this episode is for you. Drawing from patterns I've observed through coaching grad students, working professionals, and career changers,...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I reflect on what disability culture has taught me about building a meaningful life through uncertainty while navigating one of the most difficult seasons my family has experienced. Drawing from my lived experience as a parent, caregiver, coach, and someone with chronic illnesses and neurodivergence, I explore how disability culture offers powe...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring podcast, I sit down with my friend returning guest Camila Lacques-Zapién, a coach who supports academics, creatives, professionals, and leaders. Together, we explore what compassionate accountability really means and why so many first-generation, BIPOC, and community-centered individuals have learned to associate accountability with pressure, shame, or...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I discuss one of the most significant recent changes to graduate education financing: the end of Graduate PLUS loans and what this means for prospective and current graduate students. Drawing from years of experience supporting first-generation and BIPOC students through graduate admissions and funding decisions, I explain how this policy chang...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I reflect on reaching 100K podcast downloads during one of the hardest seasons of my life as a parent and what that unexpected milestone taught me about consistency, progress, and success. Through my own lived experience and the patterns I see in coaching first-generation, BIPOC, and historically excluded students and professionals, I explore w...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I offer a more personal take on what sustainable productivity can look like during high-stress seasons. Drawing from my own experience navigating ongoing medical challenges within my family, I explore how stress, caregiving responsibilities, uncertainty, and limited capacity can affect our ability to function day to day. I discuss why chronic s...

In this episode of the The Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I talk with Dr. Leslie Wang about writing authentically, values misalignment in academia, and choosing a career path that feels aligned with your long-term wellbeing. This episode is for anyone who feels exhausted by the pressure to constantly perform, produce, and prove themselves while questioning whether their current path still reflects...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I unpack why so many high achievers struggle with follow-through, even when they are so incredibly committed to their goals. Drawing from patterns I regularly see in coaching and consulting sessions, I explore why follow-through is far more complex than simply “trying harder” or becoming more disciplined and focused.  I discuss how executive fu...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I speak with Bianca Alba about the realities of taking a non-linear path through graduate school, career transitions, and life as a first-generation working-class Latina. Bianca shares her experience working multiple jobs while completing her master’s degree, navigating higher education without a financial safety net, and confronting the pressu...

In episode 371 of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I walk through six practical strategies for managing academic writing revisions without spiraling into overwhelm. If you’re working on a manuscript, dissertation, proposal, or another long-term writing project and feeling behind, scattered, or emotionally exhausted, this episode is for you. Drawing from recent conversations with my one-on-one co...

In episode 370 of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I talk about what it means to experience grief, guilt, and shame in grad school, especially when your journey does not match what you originally imagined. This episode is for graduate students who feel disconnected from their expectations, are navigating unexpected challenges, or are carrying emotional weight tied to their academic experience. I...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I explore the politics of citation and why crediting others matters in academia and beyond, alongside Dr. Miroslava Chávez-García and Dr. Alexandra Minna Stern. We unpack how citation functions as a form of power, how it connects to mentorship and collaboration, and how today’s academic and political landscape requires a more intentional and re...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I walk you through how to identify your advisor needs as a graduate student, whether you are choosing an advisor in your first year or realizing you need to make a change. This episode is inspired by patterns I see across my clients, where many students feel pressure to settle for less support than they need due to what has been normalized in a...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I talk about how financial stress can shape your productivity by affecting your sense of safety, stability, and decision-making. Drawing inspiration from The Trauma of Money by Chantel Chapman (with the caveat that I’m not a therapist or financial counselor), I translate these ideas into what they can look like in your day-to-day work. I walk y...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I talk about how rising costs, job insecurity, and increased workloads can keep you stuck in exhausting, crisis-driven productivity cycles. This is especially relevant if you are navigating fluctuating energy, caregiving, chronic illness, neurodivergence, executive functioning challenges, or if you are first-generation in your field. I walk you...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring podcast, I reflect on how many of the grad students I once coached are now working professionals in various leadership roles, and how our conversations have shifted toward career and leadership development, especially how to advance in their career without burning out. I connect sustainable leadership to boundary setting. I explain why boundaries are es...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring podcast, I talk with first-generation college graduate and seasoned Bay Area admissions consultant, Erica Hernandez, about financial aid for first-gen students and their families. Erica shares how growing up in the Bay Area with limited guidance shaped her work helping families ask better questions about financial aid beyond just income, including facto...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring podcast, I reveal five truths about grad school admissions no one tells you. First, being qualified isn’t enough. Second, who you know matters. Third, your application story must be strategic. Fourth, “fit” can reflect institutional culture and pressure to assimilate. Fifth, rejection is often driven by factors outside of your control. Tune in to hear m...

In this client spotlight, I speak with Dr. Jeanette Villanueva Padilla about her journey from completing her master’s degree to earning her doctorate while parenting, working full time in higher education, and navigating uncertainty along the way. She describes that season of life as a “kaleidoscope” and reflects on how coaching supported her in clarifying priorities, managing time and energy, bui...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring podcast, I walk you through exactly how to secure affordable graduate school housing. I share when you should start searching and why it’s earlier than you may think. I also outline three main housing options to compare from and offer strategies like asking current grad students about options and searching for university-affiliated rental lists. I empha...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring podcast, I talk about confidence building for first-gen professionals. I share why confidence can sometimes feel harder for first-gen professionals. I then offer strategies to strengthen confidence over time. And I close with reflective prompts to remind you that confidence is a skill that fluctuates with changing conditions and that can be rebuilt over...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring podcast, I talk with Dr. Gertrude Nonterah, founder of Bold PhD Consulting, about career design for PhDs and the challenges and opportunities for PhDs considering careers outside academia. Dr. Gertrude shares her own journey from academia to science communications and offers practical advice on career development, networking, and leveraging your PhD ski...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring podcast, I guide you through how to manage and complete an incomplete in grad school. I explain what an incomplete means and discuss various circumstances that might lead to receiving one, such as health issues, family emergencies, or academic overload. I share strategies for overcoming the psychological toll of an incomplete, including reducing other o...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring podcast, I share insights for grad students, academics, and other writers feeling overwhelmed by manuscript revisions, whether you’re working on a dissertation, prospectus, or course paper. Drawing from recent coaching topics, I introduce six different strategies to set daily milestones and effectively manage revisions. I cover assessing available time...

In this replay episode, I share my personal experience of turning down my dream master's program due to funding issues and provide comprehensive guidance on securing funding for master's programs. From internal scholarships within your department to external fellowships and creative freelance opportunities, I cover various strategies to make your graduate education financially manageable. Addition...