Graduated and Grown

Graduated and Grown

By Arion McCulloughSociety & Culture
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Graduated and Grown episodes

  • New Year, Better Me: Building a Better You in 2025

    Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! In this episode, we’re kicking off the year with a conversation about growth, self-improvement, and realistic ways to become the best version of yourself. Forget “New Year, New Me” — we’re all about “New Year, Better Me.” I’m sharing tips, resources, and personal insights on how to strive for progress, not perfection, and how small, intentional steps can lead to big changes. From cultivating habits to prioritizing self-care, let’s set the tone for a fulfilling and thriving year ahead.


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    34 min
  • Friendships in Adulthood: How to Deepen Connections, Build Community, and Handle Conflict (with Danielle Bayard Jackson)

    Friendships in adulthood can be complicated, but they’re also deeply rewarding. In this episode, I sit down with Danielle Bayard Jackson, a friendship educator and women’s relational health expert, to explore what it takes to build stronger connections, foster community, and approach conflict with care. Danielle shares her insights on vulnerability, the “three keys” to lasting friendships, and practical advice for nurturing meaningful relationships in your twenties and beyond.

    Whether you’re looking to deepen your current friendships or better understand the role of community in your life, this episode is packed with wisdom and actionable tips. Don’t miss it!

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    55 min
  • There's Levels to This: Breaking Down Friendship Tiers in Your 20s

    Friendships in your 20s can feel messy, complicated, and ever-changing—but that’s okay. In this episode of Graduated and Grown, we’re diving into the concept of friendship tiers and breaking down what it means to have acquaintances, situational friends, close friends, and everything in between. Join me as I explore how to embrace the unique roles people play in our lives, reflect on the friendships that truly matter, and challenge the idea that everyone has to be ‘your person.’ Whether you’re building new connections or redefining old ones, this episode is for you!

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    24 min
  • The Power of Community, Navigating Loneliness & the 4 Pillars of Friendship

    In this episode of Graduated and Grown, we dive into the importance of building and maintaining meaningful friendships in adulthood. From navigating loneliness to understanding the 4 pillars of friendship—proximity, familiarity, similarity, and reciprocity—we explore what it takes to create lasting connections. I share personal stories about starting over in new cities, feeling lonely, learning how to nurture relationships intentionally, and finding community in your twenties. Whether you're feeling disconnected or just want to strengthen your circle, this episode is full of relatable insights and actionable advice to help you along the way 🌱✨


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    34 min
  • Navigating the Quarter-Life Crisis: Identity, Pressure, and Purpose (with Kamille Thompson, LMFT)

    What is the 'quarter-life crisis,' and how do we navigate it? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Kamille Thompson, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to break down the questions, transitions, and challenges that define this phase of life. From career uncertainty to relationship struggles and identity exploration, we discuss how to embrace the messiness and find clarity… enjoy!


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    1 hr 2 min
  • Trailer (2024 refresh)

    Graduated and Grown is a podcast that's all about navigating the challenges and joys of your twenties. From adulting to figure out personal growth (and everything else in between) each episode brings real stories and insights to help you along the way.

    1 min
  • Why I Took a 2-Year Break: Reintroducing Graduated & Grown + Life Updates

    Welcome back to Graduated and Grown! After a two-year hiatus (LOL), I’m kicking off Season 4 with fresh energy! In this episode, I share the journey behind the podcast — why I started, what’s happened since (think big life changes: new job, engagement, a move), and how these experiences have shaped me. Now, I’m shifting focus from just post-grad life to navigating the beauty and challenges of our twenties. Join me as we dive into all things adulting, growth, and finding joy in the process of being a young adult.

    Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graduatedandgrown/

    Podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@graduatedandgrown

    Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV2zJ39C666XRr-dqSIkDhw

    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arioniee/

    23 min
  • Finding a Job Post Grad, Working in News, & Graduating in a Pandemic with Juan Alejandro Olarte-Cortes
    It's one thing to just be a human during an exhausting pandemic... but being someone who still has to go to college AND find a job? That's a wholeee different experience. In today's episode, I had the chance to catch up with Juan Alejandro Olarte-Cortes, a recent graduate of Tulane University (May 2021), and discuss his experience being a college student during the pandemic, finding a journalism job in the midst of COVID, and how he's enjoying his first job post college. Enjoy this episode :)
    Juan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_olarte/
    ---- Don't forget to rate the podcast 5 stars AND follow the social media pages:  Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graduatedandgrown/
    Podcast Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/_WWG9nWV30c
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arioniee/
    My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ArionZhanesWorld
    1 hr 8 min
  • Work-Life Balance In Your 20s: Should I be working past 5pm?!
    Some people in their twenties are GRINDING, working crazy hours at work, moving up the ranks and are 100% focused on their career... but is it bad that I don't want that same experience? Yes, I want to grow my career and move up... but I really enjoy the work/life balance that I have right now and don't want that to change anytime soon. In today's episode, I talk about the definition of W/L balance, my experience with it, and tips for improving your own balance! As stated multiple times in the podcast, I understand that Work/Life balance looks different for everyone, and my balance probably doesn't look like yours! Some people in their twenties work really demanding jobs where it's basically required to work 50+ hours a week, I don't so I'm not able to talk about balancing from that perspective (if you know someone who I should talk to though... let me know). 
     
    ---- Don't forget to rate the podcast 5 stars AND follow the social media pages: 
    Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graduatedandgrown/
    Podcast Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/_WWG9nWV30c
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arioniee/
    My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoC8vh0-8HSHasIGeT8qrXQ
    27 min

About Graduated and Grown

From the publisher's feed

Graduated and Grown is a podcast that is focused on helping young adults, like myself, navigate life after graduation (whether that’s graduating from high school or college) and adjust to the world of…