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

In this episode, I cover the topic of how to captivate any audience by discussing the importance of creating compelling hooks in various forms of communication, including essays, speeches, social media, and course creation. I discuss what hooks are as well as how and why they help you engage audiences and captivate their attention in impactful ways.  Order my new co-authored book by going to  ⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I share all the juicy details about what I wish I knew about publishing a book with an academic press without an academic job. This has been a highly requested topic and therefore, I offer detailed advice on the realities of book publishing, including financial considerations, the importance of marketing, and the gatekeeping nature of the publi...

In this episode, I reflect on the launch of my co-authored book, Is Grad School for Me?, and share my experiences and gratitude for the support received. I mention the messages of congratulations we received, the successful book launch event, and earning the number one spot as a new release in the Graduate School Guides category on Amazon. Thank you for your ongoing support and please feel free to...

In this episode, our guest, Julio Salas' shares with us his inspiring journey of going from pre-med to a PhD in sociology, including key insights and advice for BIPOC students navigating academia.  Julio is a Chancellor's Fellow and first-year Sociology PhD student at the University of California, Berkeley.  Centering immigrant families, his research interests lie at the nexus of immigration, race...

On this episode I share my excitement about the upcoming publication of my co-authored book Is Grad School for Me? Demystifying the Application Process for First-Gen BIPOC Students. I also invite my podcast listeners to join us for a virtual book launch party on April 16 at 1pm PST. If you want to join us, you’ll get to hear us, Miroslava Chavez-Garcia and I, talk about the book's creation, share...

To celebrate the 250th episode milestone, I recorded an episode on the topic of choosing your hard in your career and life. I share what’s been coming up for me in the conversations I’ve been having behind closed doors with undergrads, graduate students, faculty, higher ed staff, and working professionals outside of academia. I highlight common struggles that we’re all facing and why it’s importan...

In this episode, I discuss the differences between coaching, consulting, mentoring, and therapy. I address the significance of these distinctions for those seeking support in their personal and professional lives. I also talk about where my work fits (and doesn't) in within these roles. If you’ve ever felt confused or found yourself conflating these titles, please consider listening to this entire...

Today’s episode features my guest, Dr. Miroslava Chavez-Garcia who discusses the topic of writing and publishing academic articles. Dr. Miroslava is Professor of History and Faculty Director of the McNair Scholars Program at UCSB.  She’s published three books, including her most recent work, Migrant Longing: Letter Writing across the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, a slice in the life of her family histo...

In this episode I share insights on advocating for clear structure and communication in your PhD program, offering three key pieces of actionable advice for navigating challenges and ensuring effective communication with advisors and committee members. Preorder my forthcoming book by going to  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠isgradschoolforme.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boo...

In this episode, we cover the subjects of neurodivergence and nervous system regulation. Our guest, Pam Covarrubias is a coach, speaker, podcaster, and recovering procrastinator. Grounded in liberation principles, she employs trauma-informed practices that nurture her clients' nervous systems. Pam is also the host of the globally acclaimed podcast, Cafe con Pam, where she shares candid, thought-pr...

In this episode, I discuss the significance of designing your own ideal schedule and how this exercise can help you get closer to living a more sustainable and values-aligned life. I also share recent personal circumstances that prompted me to create my own ideal schedule and how my schedule relies on energy management and pacing all while maintaining my personal and professional priorities. I enc...

In this episode, I discuss the tricky topic of how to approach sharing deeply personal experiences, and even traumas, in graduate school application essays. I focus on the concept of “trauma dumping” and offer guidance on how to share impactful experiences without causing harm to oneself or others, emphasizing that trauma doesn’t need to be disclosed to write a compelling and powerful application...

In this episode, I introduce you to the concept of the arrival fallacy, explaining how the pursuit of future milestones can prevent you from experiencing present moments of happiness. I stress the importance of experiencing joy and satisfaction throughout your academic, career, and life journey, not just when achieving goals. To learn more, check out the following books: Happier : Learn the Secret...

In this episode, our guest, Cynthia Pong, joins us for a discussion on redefining leadership and building your career insurance for women of color.  Cynthia Pong, JD, is an award-winning career and leadership coach, speaker, and author of Don't Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color.  An NYU-trained lawyer turned career coach, she founded her company, Embrace Change, to help...

In this episode, I share invaluable insights on identifying and leaning into your strengths for greater confidence and success, particularly for first-gen BIPOCs in grad school and beyond. I also share a recent personal challenge involving a sudden illness before a speaking engagement and how I navigated this by focusing on my strengths and sustainable productivity practices. Preorder my forthcomi...

In this episode, I offer a sneak peek into my co-authored book “Is Grad School for Me?: Demystifying the Application Process for First Gen BIPOC Students.” I read the first few pages of the book, giving listeners an in-depth overview of the co-author’s grad admissions stories, the chapter topics, and what kind of advice you can expect to receive when reading the book.  Preorder my forthcoming book...

In this episode, I share comprehensive advice on navigating informational interviews for first-gen students. I break it down into steps beginning from identifying professionals to interview, to conducting the actual interview, and then the very important follow-up. I emphasize finding common ground with the professional you interview, asking the right questions and maintaining future contact with...

In this episode, I discusses what executive functioning skills are and how factors like sleep, nutrition, stress levels, menstrual cycle, and illnesses impact our ability to get things done. I also discuss the intersection between neurodivergence and executive functioning, the role that diagnosis plays in understanding neurodivergence, and how to seek help if you find yourself experiencing executi...

In this episode, I discuss the concept of time blocking, explaining what it is and how it can improve productivity and prevent burnout. I shares examples and tips for effective time blocking, including prioritizing tasks and aligning them with energy levels. I also acknowledge that this approach might not work for everyone and share alternative approaches for those who prefer more flexibility in t...

On today’s episode, Pooja Kothari, Esq. dives into the tricky subject of how to identify and respond to micro aggressions and unconscious biases. Pooja spent 7 years as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Practice in Brooklyn trying numerous felony and misdemeanor cases. She is the founder of Boundless Awareness, LLC—a consulting firm that develops customized unconscious b...

This episode is for grad school applicants who have been asked to write  your own letter of recommendation. This situation sometimes comes up when a student asks a professor for a recommendation letter and the professor may be too busy or prefers to save time by asking you to write the first draft for them. Strategies to write these letters include reaching out to mentors for strong letter templat...

In this collaborative podcast episode, I share a recording of a recent LinkedIn live I was part of where Pooja Kothari, founder of Boundless Awareness, interviewed me on the topic of everyday equity. I share my personal experiences and strategies related to increasing equity in my work and personal life. We also both stress the necessity of self-education in the journey of anti-oppression and the...

In this episode, I dive deeper into the process of my speaking services meant for first-gen BIPOC students and professionals. I shed light on my professional experience and speaking style, emphasizing how I deliver holistic, tailored, and engaging services. Additionally, I also discuss my flexibility with budgets to ensure my clients get the most value out of their allotted speaker funding. Send t...

On today’s episode, Jasmine Marie Mageno “JT” Torres shares her insights on how to decolonize femtorship. JT brings 15 years of student support service experience and most recently 8 years of work in the TRIO community. Jasmine has completed her doctoral coursework and is preparing for a study to better understand the identity development of indigenous CHamoru students attending college. JT receiv...

In this episode, I discuss the importance of having an online presence for professional success. I share advice for students on creating a LinkedIn account to help you with networking, finding alumni of grad programs you’re interested in, and finding relevant job opportunities. While you can network across many social media platforms, I’m especially fond of LinkedIn due to its search features that...