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

This episode is for all graduate students and undergraduates who may be feeling stuck or losing motivation. I share a journaling exercise that will grant you permission to dream again, that is, to consider, without limits, what your ideal life looks like. The purpose of this exercise is to help you recenter yourself—your wants, needs, and desires— in your career and life trajectory. This exercise will also help you reflect and assess on how you’re currently spending your time and if it’s aligned with your values and what brings you joy.

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*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

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This week our special guest is Ana Ramirez who discusses the topic of taking a leave of absence as a survivor in grad school. Ana is a socio-cultural anthropology PhD student at UNC Chapel Hill. Her work focuses on Indigenous women, gender-based violence, trauma, community and families, and healing. Currently, she's taking a leave of absence, exploring different career paths, and hiking with friends and family.

In this episode we discuss: What is a leave of absence and some reasons why students may choose to take one. Her experience as a survivor of sexual assault and how she planned for her leave of absence. The costs and benefits of taking a leave in grad school. And advice to any student considering taking time off, a pause, or leave in their studies.

You can connect with Ana on LinkedIn.

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To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ 

*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

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For this week's solo episode, I introduce you to the ABC method of productivity. This method of productivity involves taking a look at your to-do list and marking tasks based on priority (A, B, and C) and then working on tasks accordingly. I've modified this method to include my energy levels and the time of day I work best. A time is my most focused and energetic time, B time is less focused and less energy, and C time is even less focus or energy. I like to align my A tasks with my A time to get the most important or urgent tasks done in my day. There are some days that I have even less time than others and so consistently prioritizing and considering my energy levels helps me stay consistent with my workload. 

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Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit 

To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ 

*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

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This week our special guest is Liu Miao who discusses the topic of disability and academia. Liu is a PhD student in human development and family sciences and is passionate about research on positive youth development, cross-cultural studies, immigrant youth, as well as fostering and adoption.

In this episode we discuss: How she got involved with content creation as a means of making knowledge accessible to the wider public. Her experience as someone with a physical disability attending graduate school and experiencing issues of injustice and inaccessibility. How the pandemic, Zoom education, and access to recorded lectures, in some cases has helped individuals with disabilities access education. The value and assets that disabled students bring to the table in academic spaces. And advice for disabled students who are or will be applying to graduate school.

You can connect with Liu on Instagram by following @awordwithliumiao

Follow me on your favorite social media platforms: Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter

Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development

Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit 

To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ 

*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you currently working on a big project like a senior thesis, a dissertation, or even a book manuscript? Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or disorganized when it comes to managing the workload? Are you interested in learning about how to set up a work system to better manage your project and time? If so, then tune in to this episode where I offer project management strategies related to how to set up a filing, task-management, and calendaring system that works for you. If you want to tackle a major project this summer and need assistance on consistently making progress to meet your long-term goals, it’s all about project management and setting up systems to hold yourself accountable and get things done.

Follow me on your favorite social media platforms: Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter

Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development

Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit 

To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ 

*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week our special guest is Jeffrey Merino who discusses the process of pursuing a master of library science and a career as a bilingual school librarian. Jeffrey has experience as a bilingual school librarian for a Kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school. He has also taught in the classroom as a dual language educator.

In this episode we discuss: How an undergrad job as a research data collector led to him working in elementary schools and switching his major to elementary education. The need for more bilingual school librarians, male librarians, and queer librarians. The benefits and challenges of being a school librarian and the many skills that librarians learn related to research, technology, and leadership. And advice on how to find library science programs and the wide range of careers you can pursue with that degree. 

You can connect with Jeffrey on Twitter (@jmerinoedu) and Instagram (@makingthesebookstacks).

Follow me on your favorite social media platforms: Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter

Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development

Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit 

To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ 

*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this solo episode, I discuss the topic of classism in academia. I begin by defining classism and institutional classism. I then share examples of institutional classism in college and grad school. I discuss the intersections of classism, pay inequities and stagnation, and the great resignation in higher education. And I end the episode by sharing specific suggestions for how to take action towards fighting classism within and outside academia. 

Follow me on your favorite social media platforms: Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter

Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development

Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit 

To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ 

*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week our special guest is Samantha Gonzalez who talks to us about her process of navigating imposter syndrome as a high achieving first-gen grad student. Samantha is a Program Coordinator for a First-Gen Summer Bridge Program for incoming college freshmen at a local college in Las Vegas, Nevada and has a Master’s Degree in Education from John Hopkins University.

In this episode we discuss: Her undergrad experience at UCLA and how she dealt with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and anxiety. How imposter syndrome is complex, multilayered, and also affected by a lack of belonging and being in spaces that don’t value your assets. How counterstories and reframing have helped her to combat imposter syndrome. And lastly, Samantha offers advice on what others can do to create or expand their support system if they too are navigating similar issues. 

You can connect with Samantha by email at [email protected]. 

Follow me on your favorite social media platforms: Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter

Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development

Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit 

To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ 

*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this solo episode, I discuss the topic of the secrets of successful nontraditional paths into graduate school. If you self-identify as a nontraditional student and are planning to apply to graduate school at some point in your career, then you won’t want to miss out this episode where I cover the following: What is a nontraditional student? What are common concerns and obstacles of nontraditional students?What are common traits that successful nontraditional students I’ve femtored have in common? And what advice I have to offer to nontraditional individuals who are applying to grad school this fall?

Follow me on your favorite social media platforms: Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter

Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development

Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit 

To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ 

*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week our special guest is Dr. Max Schneider who talks to us about the pros and cons of getting a master’s degree abroad. Dr. Max Schneider is an applied statistician who earned a master’s degree in Germany and recently got his PhD in Statistics from the University of Washington. In this episode we discuss: His childhood moving from Ukraine to California and his immigrant family experience. How an internship opportunity helped him secure a Master’s degree abroad. His challenges with culture shock, climate shock, language barriers, all while studying a new discipline and commuting to his campus in Potsdam, Germany. The benefits he gained from his experience and how it’s brought him back abroad and closer to his family. And he offers advice to anyone who is interested in pursuing a graduate degree abroad. 

You can connect with Dr. Max Schneider by following him on Twitter with the handle @mschneiderstats

Follow me on your favorite social media platforms: Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter

Sign up for my free email newsletter to learn more about grad school, sustainable productivity, and personal development

Get my free 15-page Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit 

To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ 

*The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.