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

This week I interview Dra. Mayra Gaona who discusses the topic of how she became a doctora and first-gen professional. Mayra Gaona is a school psychologist. She received her PhD in School Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. She is currently completing a postdoctoral experience in a hospital/university setting in the Chicagoland area. She is also serving as an adjunct professor. Her research...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I interview Ariana Brown who discusses the topic of sustainable writing and multimodal pedagogies. Ariana Brown is a queer Black Mexican American writer based in Houston, TX. The author of the poetry collections We Are Owed. and Sana Sana, Ariana’s work investigates queer Black personhood in Mexican American spaces, loneliness, and care. She ho...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I interview the interviewer. I get to talk to Fanny Julissa García about oral history and documenting immigrant narratives. Fanny is an award-winning Honduran American oral historian contributing work to Central American Studies. She has been active in immigration justice as a translator, legal assistant and advocate. In 2022, she received a Na...

In this episode, Dra. Yvette goes over the basics of applying to graduate school. In an effort to demystify the process for prospective applicants, she goes over the typical application materials required, necessary steps to apply, and offers a suggested timeline for when to complete each step of the process. Sign up⁠  for my group coaching program to learn the foundations of sustainable productiv...

In this solo episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, you'll hear my mid-year review as it relates to my life and business. I take a look back at my annual goals and vision board for 2023 and reveal where I'm at now. On the personal side, I discuss my recent move back to the US from Portugal, my decision to homeschool once again, and how I'm navigating my chronic illnesses. On the professiona...

In this milestone episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I share more about my podcasting journey and the positive impact that this podcast has had on first-generation BIPOC students after releasing 200 episodes.  I share more about how the podcast has developed and grown to become a top rated and globally shared resource. I share examples of feedback and messages of gratitude I’ve received...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I interview Dr. Lauren Yang who discusses the topic of navigating bipolar disorder in higher education. Dr. Lauren Yang is a clinical psychologist in the Bay Area, CA. Currently, she is completing her postdoctoral residency at Kaiser Permanente. Her professional interests include bipolar and other mood disorders, young adult concerns,, AANHPI m...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I cover the topic of active reading strategies in graduate school. I specifically share three ways to start active reading today. They are: reading out of order and instead in a strategic order, developing a list of reading questions to pull critical information you need from your texts, and to identify your learning style to understand how you...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I interview Dra. Melissa Abeyta who discusses the topic of motherhood and cultura in graduate school. Dra. Melissa is a mother, a partner, daughter and first-generation scholar. Her impact on the field of higher education has been demonstrated through all avenues of her scholarly identity, through research, writing, and/or practice. Her scholar...

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I interview Rony Eduardo Castellanos Raymundo, who shares their insights on nurturing queer, nonbinary, Central American, and undocumented students. Rony is a queer/nonbinary, Central American, formerly undocumented, and higher education professional. Through mentors, teachers, professors and the love from their community, they have not only ea...

In this episode, I cover the topic of key reasons why many first-gen Latinas struggle with self-care. I introduce five sociocultural concepts that may be impacting your ability to care for yourself. They include marianismo, familismo, imposter phenomenon, microaggressions, and cultural straddling. By understanding how these challenges may be directly or indirectly impacting you, you can develop pe...

This week, we have two guests, Dr. Magdalena Barrera and Dr. Genevieve Negron Gonzalez who share their experience in academia and discuss their new co-authored book, The Latinx Guide to Grad School.  Dr. Magdalena Barrera is an author, educator, and university leader with 18 years of experience in higher education. A former first-generation college student, she is an expert in diversity, equity, a...

In this week’s episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I share effective pacing and prioritization techniques to prevent burnout. I open up about my chronic illness experience and how it has taught me the importance of pacing and prioritizing my workload.  One strategy I share is the concept of energy management, as a form of time-management, which has been a game changer for me. Overall, I...

This week, our guest, Dra. Luna Muñoz, offers a discussion of harnessing intergenerational power for career success. Dra. Luna was a lecturer in higher education earning national prizes and has 100+ publications including opinions on higher education. She now helps mid-career academics to get clarity on career moves while taking a radical compassionate approach. She is also an associate coach for...

In this episode, I discuss the common issue of institutional neglect and shame among first-generation graduate students. I share some observations I’ve made about neglect among my clients and femtees as an academic coach working primarily with first-gen students and early career professionals. Some forms of institutional neglect include: lack of mentorship, inadequate funding, isolation, and micro...

This week, our guest, Diana Valdivia, founder of First Gen And, returns to the show to share her experiences as a newly disabled first-generation immigrant.  Diana is an immigrant woman of color whose immigration status is undocumented. Her experiences have led to organizing within immigrant rights and higher education. She recently retired from Student Affairs with her most recent role as the Dir...

This week our special guest is Victoria Bracamonte who talks about disability, education, and inclusion for first-gen students. Victoria has a bachelor’s degree in English Language Arts, Secondary Education as well as a Master’s degree in Education. Her current research focuses on evaluating how the use of Assistive Technology devices throughout academic curriculum, grant students the opportunity...

In this solo episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I discuss six strategies to deal with a toxic advisor and make progress in your program. I know from experience just how hard it is to be in this situation and sadly, I’ve encountered far too many students and clients who have also struggled with a difficult, neglectful, or otherwise unsupportive advisor. Here are some options for what you...

This week our special guest is Izzie Chea who shares her insights and experience on how to embrace your neurodivergence. Izzie is a Dominican-Mexican-American creative, educator, storyteller, and mental health advocate. After a late diagnosis of ADHD at age 35, she took her content creation talent to Instagram, where she has experienced tremendous growth. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree...

This week our special guest is Marisol Jiménez, co-founder of Academic Amigas, who discusses the topic of managing doubt in grad school. Marisol is a first generation college student and daughter of immigrants. Her instagram page, Academic Amigas, focuses on providing free and accessible resources for women of color. Her research highlights the experiences of Latinx immigrant families and their ex...

This week our special guest is Alma Lopez who shares her experience attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as a first-gen child of immigrants. Alma is a Sociology PhD student at University of Nevada in Las Vegas. She has a Masters degree in sociology from Minnesota State University Menkeito and a bachelor's degree in psychology. She also has certif...

In this episode, I share several tips for fostering joy in grad school. I’ll admit that I used to think that joy was a privilege that could only be afforded by people unlike me, those who did not grow up experiencing childhood trauma, mental health issues, financial insecurity, and other adverse experiences. I share what I’ve learned through my own personal development journey for how to make room...

This week our special guest is Aaliyah J. Deggs who discusses the topic of navigating unspoken rules as a first-gen professional. Aaliyah is a first-generation professional from Kansas City, Missouri. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, she earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education with a graduate certificate in Am...

The episode discusses some pros and cons of using Chat GPT in grad school. Chat GPT is an AI chat box tool that has caused a stir among many academics for its potential to transform teaching and how we learn both in helpful and harmful ways. I share what I’ve learned from using it over the last months. Some of the pros include its ability to simplify tasks related to generating ideas, summarizing...

This week our special guest is Rita-Soledad (@wealthparatodos) who discusses the topic of how BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ gente can self-care themselves to financial independence. Soledad is a queer Mexican-American former math teacher turned personal finance educator and financial coach studying to become a Certified Financial Planner. As the CEO of Wealth Para Todos LLC, Soledad is determined to ma...