The Aftergrad Podcast

In Part 2 of this conversation about the future, we close out the season with a special guest. Victoria’s younger sister, Elizabeth Ann Gilbert, joins us to talk about her postgrad plans after graduating from West Point a few months ago. Together, we reflect on the bittersweet emotions associated with finishing an undergraduate degree and contemplate the potential impacts of speculative futures in work, education, and society. We’ll be back for Season 3 in Fall 2023.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to The Aftergrad Newsletter via Substack.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.If you’re interested in playing Decode the Future or want to learn more about the game, check out the links and resources offered by Future Today Institute.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

It can be quite intimidating to think about the future, especially when there is so much uncertainty and rapid innovation in technology. But it’s a practice that helps us expand our imagination around what’s possible and prepare for the inevitable shifts in culture, work, and beyond. In thinking about potential possibilities for society and ourselves, we briefly discuss some speculative futures and introduce a game called Decode the Future that we’ll ultimately play in our next episode.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to The Aftergrad Newsletter via Substack.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.If you’re interested in playing Decode the Future or want to learn more about the game, check out the links and resources offered by Future Today Institute.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

A common characteristic of the postgrad moment is separation from friends. And in the era of social media, it can oftentimes feel as though we are totally alone in our emotions and experiences, even though we have immediate access to virtual spaces and online communities regardless of where we might be physically located in the world. Symptoms of loneliness and isolation are becoming more prevalent, especially among recent grads who are struggling to find their footing in careers and relationships. But is loneliness or isolation the same as solitude? If so, how can we begin to feel less alone? If not, what makes solitude unique and why should we be comfortable with this condition in the first place? In thinking about the ways in which people promote mental health on the internet, we contemplate the relevance of community and postgrad collaboration, ultimately advocating for a culture of healing together rather than struggling quietly in depression, disconnection, or self-pity.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to UNLEARN, The Aftergrad Newsletter.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.In this episode, we reference “No Good Alone” by Rayne Fisher-Quann and “Solitude and Loneliness” by William Deresiewicz. Robert also wrote an essay titled “The Enduring Strength of Postgrad Partnership” in which he reflects on aspects of his postgrad journey thus far and elaborates on the importance of communicating with fellow recent grads when navigating the transition from academic institution to adulthood.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

Sacrifice, in a figurative sense, is the act of giving up something in order to pursue an alternative. It's a practice we're all familiar with in one way or another. But what is lost when we make a sacrifice – either for ourselves or for the sake of others? What do we gain in exchange for these offerings of time, energy, and attention? From an economic standpoint, we can quantify the opportunity cost of our decisions, asking the question of whether or not the choices we make are financially sound or helpful in how they push us closer to our higher selves. However, is it worthwhile to engage in these calculations when living under a system where time and money are inextricably linked? Are we too little, too late to think up new ways of resetting our minds and disconnecting from the socially constructed idea of time? Let’s think about how we can create our own timing and move to the beat of our internal clocks.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to The Aftergrad Newsletter via Substack.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

NYT bestselling author Kelly Williams Brown joins Robert and Victoria to chat about her book Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps, how she navigated the early stages of her career, and offers tips on staying resilient when life doesn't go according to plan.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to The Aftergrad Newsletter via Substack.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

This is a continuation of our previous episode. Listen to “Many Lives in this Life” before tuning into this conversation where we interrogate the meanings of hard/soft life and ask the question of whether or not we’re able to experience both simultaneously. Is a soft life costly? Is a hard life necessary? In the end, we arrive at a verdict on the popular Gen Z TikTok trend, Lucky Girl Syndrome. How does it work? Can we benefit from this type of manifestation? Let’s chat.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to The Aftergrad Newsletter via Substack.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

How many lives do you want to live in this lifetime? How do we find meaning in the day-to-day? Do you believe in reincarnation? These are some of the big “what if” questions we tackle in this episode with the help of psychology research conducted by American psychiatrist, hypnotherapist, and bestselling author Brian Weiss. Published in 1988, his book Many Lives, Many Masters explains how Weiss cured the past-life traumas of one of his clients by using past-life therapy. We explore how remembering our past lives can have a transformative impact on the multiple lives we hope to navigate in the future.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to Unlearn, a monthly newsletter written and curated by Robert and Victoria.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

Happy New Year, Aftergrads! We’re kicking off the year with a conversation about meritocracy, networking, and side hustles while also sharing some of our predictions for the future of work. In 2022, it was quiet quitting. In 2023, it’s quiet hiring that will dominate headlines and impact how companies manage or mismanage their human capital. In response to these trends, we think there’s an opportunity to do the bare maximum.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to The Aftergrad Newsletter via Substack.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

A month ago, we traveled to Austin, Texas as attendees of AfroTech, an annual conference hosted by Blavity, Inc attracting 25,000 black tech professionals who share insight on how they’re growing their business and leveraging innovation to make an impact in education, consulting, finance, and other industries. During our visit, we were notified via email that we were not selected as the winner of The Great Unshackling Video Contest, an online competition hosted by Unshackled Wines who was sponsoring an individual or business with $75,000 to pursue their passion and break free from the day-to-day grind. After being selected as a top 5 finalist, we were beyond excited. And even though it didn’t turn out how we hoped, we’re so grateful for the experience. In light of this news, we have some updates to share with you, including that we’re no longer living in the same city under the same roof in Dallas, Texas.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to UNLEARN, The Aftergrad Newsletter.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the right words to express exactly what you need and how you’re feeling. We’re currently struggling with this challenge in our own lives and personal careers. In this moment, it certainly helps that we were gifted tickets to an industry conference in Austin, Texas. We talk about what we hope to learn and how we plan to pull up. Stay tuned for next week's episode where we’ll be reflecting on our experience attending this event.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to The Aftergrad Newsletter via Substack.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

The desire to be perfect can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can motivate us to work hard and achieve our own definition of success. On the other hand, it can lead to unrealistic expectations and unhealthy comparisons when pursuing goals or planning for the future. How do we balance the pressure to be perfect with the need to be flexible, adaptable, and resilient? When is it acceptable to prioritize perfection, and in some cases — imperfection? We work through a few perspectives in today’s episode.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to UNLEARN, The Aftergrad Newsletter.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

Hey Aftergrads. Here’s an update on how our summer went. We talk about what we did as well as some of the victories, challenges, and milestones we faced.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to The Aftergrad Newsletter via Substack.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

Welcome to Season 2 of The Aftergrad Podcast, a biweekly show hosted by recent graduates Robert Cain and Victoria Gilbert. After a restful and relaxing summer break, we’re finally back to continue sharing aspects of our postgrad journey and talking about the challenges and societal expectations with navigating adulthood, transitioning into the workforce, and building a successful career. New episodes drop on October 21.This is The Aftergrad Podcast. A community for aspiring adults attempting at life. Join Us.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to The Aftergrad Newsletter via Substack.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post.Music produced by ALYSS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

This is it! Our Season 1 finale is here! We made it! YOU made it! So much has happened since we left our homes and moved to DC. After graduating from college in May 2021, we experienced a wide range of emotions. One of those emotions was fear, among others like joy, sadness, and regret. In this finale episode, we reflect on our shifts in perspective and the many ways in which we addressed our postgrad fears during our freshman year as aftergrads in the school of life. To say the least, we learned A LOT about ourselves and the desires we have for the future. Most importantly, we recognized that there’s really nothing to be afraid of. We are strong. We are worthy. We are aftergrads trying to find clarity and security… and we’re happy to say, we found a little.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to UNLEARN, The Aftergrad Newsletter.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

For the penultimate episode of Season 1 of The Aftergrad Podcast, we wanted to reflect on our personal relationship with each other as well as think about the strangers that have entered our lives and made us better and stronger. We play a game called We’re Not Really Strangers to see how much we’ve learned from and about one another by living and working together for the past year. Often times, when we meet someone, it can be difficult and nearly impossible to know exactly what role they will play in our story. It’s only later in life when we realize the purpose behind why we met in the first place. This is certainly the case with us. And maybe, just maybe, it applies to you too.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. View the visual podcast on YouTube. Subscribe to UNLEARN, a monthly newsletter written and curated by Robert and Victoria.Got a crazy confession about adulting? Looking for advice on navigating postgrad life? Let Robert and Victoria offer you their two cents. Submit your stories, questions, or dilemmas via our Dear Aftergrad Submission Form for a chance to have them featured in a future episode or newsletter. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or comment on this post. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

Congratulations are in order for the Class of 2022! Not only did you manage to graduate and collect your diploma, but also you overcame the challenges of learning in a remote, isolated environment. This achievement should not be celebrated lightly. You earned it! Welcome to life, aftergrad! Now is the time to relish in the victory, and as we transition into summer, it is also an opportunity to rest, reset, and recalibrate. You might be wondering: how does summer hit different when you’re a student in school versus an aftergrad living life? How can we maximize our time and create more time within our busy schedules? For us, there’s no one-size-fits-all model, but it helps to stay consistent and strive for balance across all areas of our life.Post Thoughts: Why We Need to Let Go of the Side Hustle by Eve LivingstonFollow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. Tune into the visual podcast on YouTube.Share your questions or life situations that pertain to being an aftergrad by completing our Aftergrad Case Study Submission Form for a chance to be featured in our episodes. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or send us a voice note on Anchor. Click our “Asks” highlight on IG and answer the polls to share more feedback with us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

The global economy is in complete and utter shambles. As prices across multiple industries continue to rise and employee salaries remain the same, our value is declining. While this market activity poses a challenge for aftergrads, it also presents us with an opportunity to advocate for our worth by paying close attention to the ways in which our society is recalibrating. No more being happy or grateful to be here. No more accepting experience or exposure as forms of payment. We can demand the realities we wish to see for our industries, so let’s abandon fear and shame to claim our spot in the future of work and business.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. Tune into the visual podcast on YouTube.Share your questions or life situations that pertain to being an aftergrad by completing our Aftergrad Case Study Submission Form for a chance to be featured in our episodes. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or send us a voice note on Anchor. Click our “Asks” highlight on IG and answer the polls to share more feedback with us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

As we pursue our goals, there will be people who challenge the visions we see for ourselves, suggesting we are not capable of achieving them or invalidating our future reality. They might even say our dreams and aspirations are silly delusions. In the face of this skepticism, it is important to remain confident and understand the power of being delusional. What does it mean to be delusional, and how can we leverage this mindset to trailblaze our own path? For young GenZers, it is about shamelessly and unapologetically walking in our truth, and this concept applies to any and everyone, regardless of age or generational background.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. Tune into the visual podcast on YouTube.Share your questions or life situations that pertain to being an aftergrad by completing our Aftergrad Case Study Submission Form for a chance to be featured in our episodes. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or send us a voice note on Anchor. Click our “Asks” highlight on IG and answer the polls to share more feedback with us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

The ROI of a college degree is decreasing as nationwide enrollment plunges, skill-based hiring reemerges as a popular recruiting practice, and students struggle to secure their first entry-level role in their desired industry. This begs the question: is a college education still worth the investment? Was it ever? Should we still feel pressured to attend a university if it means sustaining massive amounts of debt? Is college the only way to reach our goals? We address these concerns and many more in today's discussion. Be sure to listen until the end of the episode to catch a new segment we introduce featuring statements from a fellow aftergrad.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. Tune into the visual podcast on YouTube.Share your questions or life situations that pertain to being an aftergrad by completing our Aftergrad Case Study Submission Form for a chance to be featured in our episodes. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or send us a voice note on Anchor. Click our “Asks” highlight on IG and answer the polls to share more feedback with us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com

Mistakes are inevitable, but unforced errors are avoidable. How do we decrease our rate of unforced errors while learning from our past screw-ups? Should we really be afraid of failure? Is it our fault, or does the world owe us something? In this episode, your fellow aftergrads speak on the importance of accepting our mistakes and the power of moving on from failure and setback.Follow The Aftergrad Podcast on Instagram. Tune into the visual podcast on YouTube.Share your questions or life situations that pertain to being an aftergrad by completing our Aftergrad Case Study Submission Form for a chance to be featured in our episodes. You can also DM us on Instagram, write us an email at theaftergradpodcast@gmail.com, or send us a voice note on Anchor. Click our “Asks” highlight on IG and answer the polls to share more feedback with us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaftergradpodcast.substack.com