Blk + In Grad School

In the final part of the mini-series FLOWERS, learn about the remarkable journey of Brandon Taylor, an American writer whose path took unexpected turns from biochemistry to the bestseller lists. From his days at Auburn University Montgomery to his pursuit of graduate degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Iowa, Taylor's story is one of resilience and reinvention.Tune in and explore the intersections of science and art in Taylor's work, and delve into the themes that resonate deeply in his writing. From academia to the literary scene, Brandon Taylor's journey is a testament to the power of following one's passion. Don't miss out on this captivating episode.

In the next episode of the FLOWERS mini-series, we give flowers to Isabel Wilkerson. Inspired by Ava DuVernay's latest film, "Origin," I discovered the compelling narrative of Wilkerson's life and work. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal, Wilkerson's storytelling prowess illuminates the human condition and our nation's history like no other. From past to present, Wilkerson's voice resonates, offering wisdom for our current era. Listen in and be inspired by the brilliance of Isabel Wilkerson.

In the second installation of the mini-series FLOWERS. In this episode, we give flowers to designer, artist, and educator Curry J. Hackett. He is a Virginia native gaining global recognition for his work which braids Black aesthetics, kinship with nature, and pop culture into surreal scenes of Black Joy.Listen and learn more about an up-and-coming powerhouse in art and architecture.

This episode is part one of a mini-series, FLOWERS: An Ode to Modern Black ScholarsExplore the captivating work of Professor Tressie McMillan Cottom, a renowned cultural critic, sociologist, and award-winning writer. Her insights challenge conventional wisdom and reshape our understanding of society. Allanté uncovers the breadth and depth of her intellectual contributions; from dissecting societal norms to redefining the discourse on contemporary issues her work transcends boundaries and offers new perspectives on the world around us. Cottom's unique voice in today's cultural landscape offers thought-provoking ideas and powerful narratives that challenge the status quo through academic research that inspires change, her impact resonates far and wide.Don't miss out on this opportunity to be inspired by the story of one of today's most influential voices. Listen now!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW!This is a very special episode of the podcast, where Allanté is celebrating her 34th birthday and the first anniversary of defending her dissertation (aka her Doctorversary). She shares with you 34 reflections on the past year, both personal and professional, that have helped shape her into Dr. Whitmore.Reflecting on the past year has been a great opportunity to recognize the progress she's made, the challenges overcome, and the lessons learned. She shares the hard-won lessons learned on a personal level, like the learned importance of self-care, and the value of taking time for self. Further, she's recognized the need to be surrounded by positive, supportive people who believe in you and your abilities. Throughout this episode, hear the highs and lows of the past year and how they've impacted her both professionally and personally. From the excitement of defending the dissertation to the challenges of adjusting to post-grad life, this episode is a candid and honest look at her experiences over the past year.Listen in and reflect with Allanté on the past year and celebrating her 34th birthday and the one-year anniversary of defending her dissertation.***MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT***The Grad School Success Summit is back! You can learn more and sign up at gradschoolsummit.com

In this week's episode, Maximizing Your Professional Network in Grad School, I share my insights and some tips on how to build meaningful professional relationships during your graduate school journey. You'll hear:Why professional relationships are importantWhere to go to meet your professional people (in person and virtually)How to follow up with them after the initial connection.Resources Mentioned During The Episode: **Nurture Your Network** - Download Here Community Series on Instagram: Part 1| How I made my very first friend in Grad SchoolPart 2 | Building Your Grad School Community Online!Part 3 | Making Friends in Your Department/CohortPart 4 | Making Friends in Your City

In this episode, hear from Angela Crumdy, Ph.D., a Provost Postdoctoral Fellow who is currently researching the social lives of Black women primary school teachers in Latin America and the United States. Angela is also the creator behind the Instagram page, Grad Girl Wellness. We discuss wellness barriers you may encounter on your grad school journey as well as the coping mechanisms and strategies you can employ to maintain your well-being. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in education, the intersection of race and gender, and taking care of your mental, physical and emotional self in grad school. So, sit back, relax, and join us as we explore the world of wellness with Dr. Crumdy.Follow Dr. Angela Crumdy on Instagram, @gradgirlwellness, for more tips and insights on wellness.Want to take control of your wellness as a graduate student? Download Check Yourself, a self-reflection journal page, and start tracking your progress today! Visit blkingradschool.gumroad.com/l/checkyourself and download the journal page.

Happy 2023! On this new episode listen to Allante's reflections on life in 2022 and life after grad school. Big thanks to Tyler The Creator for this week's musical inspiration--hear what song (is it really a song?) is selected for the Lesson From The Trap. If you are also in a reflective mood for the New Year, follow along and fill out these three questions on this journal page created for grad students. Link: https://blkingradschool.gumroad.com/l/checkyourself

Happy [Early] Valentine's Day! Blk + in Grad School is returning with the grad school love story. Meet Dr. & Dr. Grimes two love-birds who met in graduate school. In this week's episode, they share their paths to the doctorate degree and then to each other. It's a love story like no other as they managed to both finish and defend their dissertations, wed, and secure jobs (at the same university!) all in one year's span. A testament to love on this day that is all about L-O-V-E!Check out the updated Blk + in Grad School website at blkingradschool.comFollow on Instagram and Twitter @blkingradschool

Meet Latoya! She’s a mom, manuscript editor, and recently finished her MA in Humanities. In 2020, she retired from the military then started her graduate program. Juggling her own classes, homeschooling, and her business Latoya realized she needed more support to get to and through her grad school journey. She joined The Scholar Circle (TSC) in 2021 and in this episode she shares her experience inside our coworking community. Listen in to learn about her work and how the TSC community helped her get through the good and the bad days of completing her degree!Want to give The Scholar Circle a try? Sign up for a free coworking session here.

It's NOT a rewind! Took a small break from writing my dissertation to bring this episode. Press play for a Lesson From The Trap, a quick update on my life and of course what's been working for me as I write for my life! If you're noticing that you're experiencing dips in motivation that are impeding your progress, definitely give this episode a listen. Listen in and if you're up for it -- sign up here.

This episode gets straight to the point by digging deep into a problem we all face at one point or another in our grad school journey - writer’s block. It doesn’t matter if you love writing or hate it; writer’s block will come kicking in your door and live in your brain rent-free for as long as it wants.Enter Dr. Lacy, founder of Qual Sisters. Qual Sisters is a writing and coaching platform developed to help you create and finish your dissertation. Through structured guides, accountability coaching, and consistent writing practices, Dr. Lacy will help you overcome the writer’s block that’s getting in the way of your success.As a quick credentials recap, Dr. Lacy went to Elmhurst College for undergrad, Illinois State University for her Masters and the University of Georgia for her Ph.D. In this episode, you’ll hear how she struggled with writing as a first-year Ph.D. student and gain some skills to help you write more productive, more often.

*SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT*You're invited to join Allanté for a special conversation to help prospective grad students Settle the Score! She is continuing the conversation to help empower and support you in fulfilling your goal of getting to grad school. Join Allanté along with a panel of her peers for this session hosted by the GRE®. They will be sharing tips and best practices on how to prepare a strong graduate school application. Register for free today to join the conversation on Thursday, November 19th from 12-1 PM EST.  Link broken? You can copy + paste this link into your web browser: http://bit.ly/3bAIMV6This week's episode:Let’s talk credentials. If you’re finishing up your graduate school application, you need to take agood look at what you put together. Will the admissions council know what you’re bringing to thetable? This week’s episode gives you the ingredients for creating and submitting a strongapplication. From having a well-put-together curriculum vitae to taking the admissions council ona journey through your research and experience, Allante’ lists exactly what you need to stand upand stand out amongst your competition. Take notes when listening in for this recipe of success,we all know how missing one step can completely ruin the perfect meal. Don’t have time to writeit down because you’re always on the go like Allante’? Sign up for her seven-day e-mailcourse, “Get to Grad School,” (hyperlink) which covers credentials as well.This week’s episode also answers a question from a Twitter follower who asked for tips on dealing with people who are, to be frank, annoying! Allante shares her admittedly passive approach--listen to find out what it is!This week’s Lesson’s from the Trap come from an oldie but goodie “Lose My Mind,” by DMX.Channel your inner gangster on your noise-canceling headphones when everyone - yourteachers, peers, family members, significant other, whoever gets on your very last nerve.

In honor of Insecure's #SeasonByeve this week's rewind comes from the archives way back in 2018 when Blk + in Grad School collaborated with WokeSTEM for “Hella Intersections: The Digital Insecure Kickback”. This isn't your typical Insecure chat. It was a really dope, really big kickback talking about INSECURE...and not just the #basic stuff, but the intersectionality of the narratives that the show powerfully brings to life. No spoilers here!

*IT'S A REWIND*Meet Alana, a social worker that balanced her coursework and full-time work while in grad school with very intentional self-care. During a conversation inside Blk + in Grad School's private community, The Scholar Circle, Alana brought up the topic of rest and how it differs from restoration. In this week's episode, we dive into these two different types of self-care and practices you can implement in your self-care routine. Can you talk about a mind-blowing moment?

This episode is formally called Emotional Rollercoaster because sometimes grad school can leave you feeling like a Mr. Krab’s meme.In Allanté's journey, November definitely had some twists and turns, and with it came a range of emotions. In this episode, she shares an update about everything that has gone down, from a guilt-free personal trip to the internal struggle of combating negative self-talk. There were more than thug tears shed on campus in November by Allanté and this episode explores how to handle emotional responses in professional settings and how to create an ICE (in case of emergency) tribe to help you through when your own mind is only serving up negativity.

"I know there's always rooting before blossoming." - Tracy G. This affirmation is a whole word, which inspired this week's episode on setting your goals. If you're a scholar, rooting is the planning and blossoming is the goal achieved. That goal could be a paper, a research project, building your network, etc. Setting a goal in our heads may be as easy as writing that goal down however the process of actualizing the goal can be frustrating and confusing without some careful considerations taken into account. This week Allanté shares three critical pieces to set goals so that you'll actually accomplish them, not just set and forget. You can download the free goal setting workbook at https://www.blkingradschool.com/goal-oriented

Moving to a new city can be hard, so is finding a place with all your personal comforts. Don’t worry though, Allanté’s got your back! Preparation is your friend so the first step is getting ahead of the curve and really understanding your needs and wants. Listen in this week for the 6 critical steps to success as you prepare to step forward into your new city. If you want advice and insight into finding a place (within your budget), making new friends in your city, or getting ready to start a program, you’ll get what you need this week.   Lesson From The Trap: Never Recover - Lil Baby ft. Gunna & Drake   “Look at my story man, no one can write it. Now I see a million I don’t even get excited.”   P.S. --check out Episode 70: Making that Graduate Stipend Stretch for an in depth analysis of how to stack your coins and let your money work for you the looong way.**

If you’re used to using social media solely for your personal enjoyment with memes, quotes and the like, it’s a different ballgame when it comes to using it as a rising thought leader (that’s you!). This episode explores some of the ways you can navigate the Twitterverse, with some practical tips on handling clapbacks and finding your community. Listen in for advice to find your people--fellow grad students, faculty and researchers in your field and beyond. Learn some best practices or easy ways to engage when you’re just getting started with your professional Twitter.  

Issa Rewind! Enjoy a quick update from Allanté and a list of communities to support you along your journey. Grad School doesn’t usually come with a course on how to navigate all the things that come along with it. These things are often described as the “hidden curriculum” — things you’re just expected to know or somehow learn on your own—or else. Sometimes these topics are addressed briefly during orientation, sometimes it does not. Why does it feel like, sometimes, we’re all we’ve got? And we’re kinda new here, but we ARE here. So who exactly am I talking about when I say we? The many communities that have come into fruition over the years to serve graduate students beyond graduate school. This week I share the organizations I’m in as well as many that I admire! The many communities that have come into fruition over the years to serve graduate students beyond graduate school. This week I share the organizations I’m in as well as many that I admire! If you looking for your people within the academic space you might find them in this episode. In this episode I mention a bunch of communities to consider joining. Get the full list at blkingradschool.com/podcast/121 Just two more weeks to join The Scholar Circle until next year! Get more information at blkingradschool.com/jointsc