The Grad School Femtoring Podcast

10/09/2025

Universities are more unstable than ever and it’s not just impacting grad school admissions.

Across the country, departments are pausing applications or they’re only taking students who come with their own funding.

And for current grad students, the instability doesn’t stop once you’re in.

Fellowship opportunities are shrinking.

Funding offices that normally guide students are overwhelmed.

One week, a fellowship is available. The next week, it’s gone.

This constant uncertainty isn’t just frustrating, it’s unsustainable for grad students who already juggle low pay, heavy workloads, and so many systemic barriers.

So if you’re a grad student applying for fellowships, what can you do?

Remember that you still have options.

-Explore teaching assistantships
-Look for campus employment (advising roles, research support, student services)
-Consider tapping into interdisciplinary or departmental grants
-And don’t overlook other external funding opportunities (local nonprofits, professional orgs, work benefits, etc)

Your path to securing funding may look more nonlinear this year but don’t give up because that’s what this administration is trying to have us do.

The challenge for us as educators, advisors, and femtors is clear; we need to prepare the students we work with to not just to apply to things, but to adapt because resilience and resourcefulness are now core parts of surviving grad school and this world.

19/08/2025

27/06/2025

Not every space deserves 100% of you. And not everyone earns access to all parts of your story.

In my latest episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I’m joined by Rhonda Kahn of , a speaker, coach, and consultant who helps leaders and teams amplify their unique voices and who reminds us of this important message.

Together, we touched on why intentional communication is often more powerful (and in some cases, safer) than the push for authenticity in all settings. And how to own your story without overexposing yourself in spaces that haven’t earned your trust.

🎧 Listen now: gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast

[ID: In this short clip, Rhonda— a Black American woman with brown skin and shoulder length curly hair— shares why not every place deserves all of you, and how to communicate with purpose.]

24/06/2025

What if you’re a mid-career professional who went back to grad school and now you’re questioning everything, including whether this program is right for you?

One of my recent coaching clients found themselves in that exact position of feeling unsure whether to stay in their current doctoral program, switch to a more research-intensive path, or pivot entirely.

They are managing chronic health concerns, navigating structural barriers, and dealing with uncertainty about the long-term return on investment of their degree.

In our first session, we co-created a customized coaching plan focused on sustainable decision-making, including:

-Implementing a six-session structure rooted in sustainable productivity

-Incorporating tools for values alignment and ROI analysis

-Identifying career alternatives based on their values, circumstances, skills, and interests, both within and outside academia

-Clarifying non-negotiables, like healthcare access, location, and work-life “balance” (aka time for family)

By centering our work in timeline planning, energy management, and self-advocacy, we’re building toward a decision that honors their life, circumstances, and the possibilities that come with both.

If you’re navigating a major academic or career transition, know that clarity is possible and you don’t have to sacrifice it all to get there.

[ID: Screenshot of Linkedin post with caption shared above.]

17/04/2025

To my autistic and neurodivergent community. I’m thinking of you and holding space for you.

This week has been especially heavy. The noise, the harmful narratives, the violence. It’s impacted so many of us.

And I’ll admit, I’ve been quiet. Not because I’m disengaged, but because I’ve needed to pause, reflect, and care for my mental health.

Yesterday, I had a coaching session with a grad student client. As we were wrapping up, the conversation shifted ... and she broke down in tears, voicing her fears for her autistic teen’s future.

I got teary-eyed too. Not out of helplessness, but recognition.

Because I share those fears.

I think about my own children. I wonder if I’m doing enough. I question if I’m doing it right, how I’m educating them, how I’m raising them.

But after some reflection, what I saw was this:

Two neurodivergent mamas, both deeply committed to creating futures where our children, and we too, get to live full, meaningful lives.

We’re advocating. We’re dreaming. We’re showing up.

Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s quiet.

To my autistic folks feeling heavy, unseen, unheard or struggling with your mental health this week especially, you’re not alone. You have community. And you are worthy. We are worthy. Just as we are.

[ID: Three screenshots of a LinkedIn post with text shared above.]

04/04/2025

Applying to grad school in 2025? Here are some of the takeaways from my jam packed episode 314 of The Grad School Femtoring Podcast to help you navigate the process.

Start Early: Research programs, reach out to faculty, and explore funding opportunities before applications open.

Strong Applications Require Strategy: Focus on fit, not just rankings. Tailor your materials to each program.

Letters of Recommendation Matter: Ask early, provide context, and follow up respectfully.

Funding is Key: Look into fellowships, assistantships, and external grants to avoid unnecessary debt.

Self-Care is Essential: The application process is a marathon, not a sprint. Set realistic goals based on your capacity and take breaks.

For a full breakdown of the grad school application timeline and insider tips, listen to episode 314, titled “Your 2025 Graduate School Application Guide: From Timeline to Acceptance,” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or gradschoolfemtoring[dot]com[slash]podcast

24/03/2025

If you’re leading a grad prep or student success program, I understand the challenges you’re facing right now:

More students are considering gap years.

They’re questioning the ROI of grad school.

Budgets are shrinking.

Mental health struggles are rising.

Students are juggling school, finances, and family responsibilities.

And no one knows exactly what the future of higher ed policy will bring.

I see you. I hear these concerns every day.

I also know that no single program can do everything. That’s where I come in.

Do your students need a boost in their well-being? I have a workshop for that.

Do they struggle with email etiquette and professional communication? I teach that.

Do they need help planning and organizing their workload? I can help and make it fun!

Do they need support with grad school or fellowship essays? That’s my bread and butter.

I work alongside program directors to fill the gaps, providing the critical skills and support that help students not only stay on track but succeed.

If this sounds like what your students need, let’s connect.

21/03/2025

Time blocking doesn’t work for everyone, especially those of us juggling multiple responsibilities with fluctuating energy levels.

In my latest Grad School Femtoring podcast episode, I share flexible alternatives based on my experience coaching grad students and professionals. They include:

-Three Things Method: Focus on just 3 priorities daily instead of overwhelming lists

-Rituals over Routines: Create flexible rhythms instead of rigid schedules

-Entrepreneurial Time System: Designate focus days, buffer days, and free days

As someone who once felt like a failure because I couldn’t stick to using a planner or following traditional time-management advice, I’ve learned these strategies through reading, research, and lots of trial and error.

Which alternative sounds most helpful for your workflow? Or what other time-management system currently works best for you?

Listen to episode 312 to gain five more strategies!

20/03/2025

Most people will tell you what to do and expect you to get it. I prefer to show you how to do it instead.

When I work with grad school applicants and professionals looking to optimize their productivity, I don’t just offer advice, I share my screen, break down strategies in real time, and walk you through exactly how to implement them.

Because seeing is different from hearing which is different from doing.

For grad applicants, I don’t just say “write a compelling statement,” “tell your story,” or “show, don’t tell.” I walk you through how to outline and structure it, and offer live feedback on what works (and what doesn’t), and help you learn how to tailor your essays so that your story matches the program’s mission. I even share sample statements so you can see these strategies in action.

For productivity coaching clients, I don’t just suggest a productivity method or tool; I share several of them and have you select which one might work for you. From there, I demonstrate how to integrate it into your workflow or schedule in a way that fits your life and work.

I do this because information alone isn’t enough. Trust me, if it were enough I would be out of a job when I’ve already shared 300+ podcast episodes with strategies to do this all on your own.

Understanding how to implement strategies, in a way that works for your identity, circumstances, and brain, is the key to creating real, lasting results.

If you’ve been struggling with grad applications or productivity challenges, let’s work together. I’ll make sure you don’t just know what to do, you’ll also learn HOW to make it happen.

15/03/2025

Chronic illness takes so much. But today, I want to honor both the grief and the gratitude.

Long COVID Awareness Day is today, and I, too, have Long COVID. I experience daily pain. I still grieve the non-disabled person I once was.

I grieve:
Being able to do theater and stand for hours without fainting.
Traveling for days and disrupting my routine without flaring up.
Eating and drinking without worrying how my body will react.
My old therapist (may she rest in power) who deeply understood the rage and sorrow of wishing for just one pain-free day.

This week, I’ve felt better than I have this year. After a tough start to 2025 with getting sick in January, then flaring all of February, I finally have had a decent baseline week. And yet, “better” still meant multi-hour migraine attacks, neuropathy pain, stomach aches, and feeling unsafe in my body.

But I’m also grateful.

I have a somatic therapist helping me find new ways to feel safe in my body.

I can still work, less than before, but more efficiently.

And this week, someone from high school sent me these photos of my theater days. It brought me to tears. It reminded me of joy. There’s still so much joy to experience.

If you live with chronic illness, I see you. If you know someone who does, remind them they are not alone. And if you’re new to this conversation, Long COVID and living with chronic illnesses deserve awareness because millions of us are still here, still adapting, still finding ways to live. And you could learn a thing or two about us about adaptability, especially right now when the whole world is falling apart.

[ID: Images of high schooler Yvette in three theater productions. Image one she’s wearing a dress and tiara and holding flowers while standing next to her mom wearing a green shirt and matching accessories. Image two she’s Rosalind in Shakespeare’s As You Like it but she’s also disguised as Ganymede and caressing the face of Celia. Image three she’s in a dressing room putting on make up with several temporary tattoos on her body.]

12/03/2025

One thing that really pi**es me off is …

witnessing brilliant scholars and professionals put themselves down, shame themselves, and feel like they’re not good enough, especially when they’re rejecting the very strategies and systems that actually work for them just because they look different from those around them.

I get it. I’ve been there. In grad school and in my 9-5 jobs in higher ed, I was afraid to trust my gut. I thought I had to do things the “right” way, meaning the way my peers and colleagues were doing them even when it drained me, slowed me down, and made me miserable.

It wasn’t until I finally gave myself permission to accommodate myself and seek the support I needed that I started to make real progress. And yes, that included hiring a dissertation editor and a job application consultant. Asking for help didn’t make me less capable, but rather, it made me more effective.

If you’re stuck in self-doubt, questioning whether you’re “doing this right,” or feeling like you should be able to figure it all out on your own, I want you to know that you don’t have to struggle to work and keep proving your worth.

What if, instead of resisting, you leaned into the tools, strategies, and supports that actually help you thrive?

If you’re ready to stop fighting against yourself and start making sustainable progress, I offer 1:1 coaching for first-gen grad students and professionals. Together, we’ll co-create a plan and system that works for you.

DM me or book a consultation to get started! And before you worry about costs, check out this guide on how to tap into professional development funds to cover coaching services: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/how-to-secure-professional-development-funding/

05/03/2025

Did you know that it’s not just college and grad students who benefit from my workshops? Staff and faculty participants regularly implement my productivity and wellbeing strategies in their own work. 

I’ve even had directors of programs later reach out to me to hire me for productivity coaching services after they learned more about my sustainable productivity coaching framework and strategies.

If you’re interested in workshops or professional development support tailored to your needs, please reach out.