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 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 stress can make executive functioning more difficult, how to identify what is essential during challenging periods, and ways to reduce cognitive load without sacrificing your long-term wellbeing. I also share practical strategies for adjusting expectations, creating support systems, and approaching productivity with greater compassion so that you can sustain yourself through difficult seasons.

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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 who they are and how they want to live.

We explore how academia, like many professional spaces, can shape people into prioritizing external validation over internal alignment, and how signs like dread, resentment, perfectionism, burnout, and comparison often point toward deeper values misalignment. Dr. Wang shares how she transitioned from a tenured professor to a coach supporting scholars with writing, publishing, and career decisions rooted in values-alignment. We also discuss how graduate students can approach career exploration more intentionally, how to identify your internal compass, and how to write for real readers instead of only writing for gatekeepers.

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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 functioning skills, perfectionism, cognitive overload, systemic pressures, and being in survival-mode all shape our ability to maintain consistency over time. I also share sustainable productivity strategies that can help reduce overwhelm, support emotional resilience, and create more compassionate systems for pursuing meaningful goals. 

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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 pressure many first-gen students face to “do everything right” in order to succeed. Together, we unpack the emotional and structural realities that shape non-linear journeys and why so many students feel forced into survival mode while trying to pursue their goals.

In our conversation, we discuss the financial and emotional realities of working through grad school and the importance of building supportive communities that sustain us through uncertainty and transition. Bianca also reflects on her experience working in public health, job loss despite years of dedication and advancement, and eventually stepping into entrepreneurship. This episode is ultimately about giving yourself permission to move at your own pace, redefining success, and creating a life that aligns with your values.

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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 coaching clients and my own experiences navigating intensive revisions, I share approaches that can help you create a more sustainable and personalized process for moving your work forward.

I discuss how to assess your available time, energy, and capacity before setting revision goals, and I break down different ways to structure your work sessions depending on your deadlines and cognitive load. I also explore how to prioritize essential revisions and create more flexible systems that support progress without pushing yourself into burnout. The goal is to identify strategies that align with your circumstances, workload, and wellbeing.

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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 draw from patterns I consistently see in my coaching work to name and validate these experiences.

I walk through how grief, guilt, and shame show up in graduate school, particularly for first-generation, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and chronically ill students navigating the hidden curriculum and systemic barriers. I introduce practical ways to process these emotions while still staying connected to your goals, including redefining progress, separating capacity from identity, and building supportive systems.

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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 relational approach to giving credit. We also discuss how to navigate citation in informal spaces like social media, what accountability and repair can look like when we miss something, and how thoughtful acknowledgment practices can support long-term sustainability, visibility, and impact in your work.

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Learn more about Dr. Miroslava Chávez-García at:  https://history.ucsb.edu/faculty/mchavezgarcia/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/miroslava-chavez-garcia-048746292/?isSelfProfile=true

Learn more about Dr. Alexandra Minna Stern at: https://minnastern.com

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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 academia.

I break down what it actually looks like to be supported in graduate school by outlining both foundational advisor needs and additional forms of support that can strengthen your experience and long-term career trajectory. I also share how these needs directly impact your ability to make progress, maintain momentum, and complete your program.

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Audio and transcript edited by Yessi Sanchez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yessisanchez/

This podcast is a proud member of the Genuina Media network.

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

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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 you through how financial pressure can show up as overworking, avoidance, difficulty focusing, and delaying both money-related and high-stakes academic or career tasks. I also share practical ways to move out of these patterns by building more grounded and sustainable approaches to your work.

In this episode, you will learn:

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Audio and transcript edited by Yessi Sanchez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yessisanchez/

This podcast is a proud member of the Genuina Media network.

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

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

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 through why urgency and overwork can become the default and share practical ways to step out of constant crisis mode by building work rhythms that align with your capacity.

In this episode, you will learn:

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Audio and transcript edited by Yessi Sanchez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yessisanchez/

This podcast is a proud member of the Genuina Media network.

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

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