This is a podcast designed to inspire and highlight the stories of women of color in graduate school who are prioritizing their overall health and wellness as they pursue higher education.
Ep 46: Permission to Pivot: Navigating the Unexpected in Grad School
✨ What if your grad school journey doesn't go according to plan?
Maybe you've thought about changing programs. Taking a leave of absence. Starting over. Or maybe life forced you to make a pivot you never expected.
This week on the Grad Girl Wellness Podcast, I'm joined by Valisha Edwards, a PhD student in Integrated Life Sciences with a concentration in Forensic Toxicology. Before beginning her doctoral journey, Valisha built a career as a forensic scientist/criminalist—giving her a unique perspective on what it means to leave the working world and step back into life as a graduate student.
We discuss:
🌱 Navigating the shame and insecurity that can come with unexpected detours
📚 How to choose a graduate program and advisor that truly fit your goals and needs
✨ Finding your identity beyond your degree when the title of "student" is no longer yours
🔍 Why curiosity—not fear—can be your greatest guide during a season of change
Your path doesn't have to be linear to be meaningful. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is ask a different question, choose a different direction, or redefine what success looks like for you.
If you're in a season of uncertainty, this conversation is for you.
💬 Connect with the future Dr. Edwards on LinkedIn
#GradGirlWellness #GradSchool #GraduateStudent #PhDLife #MastersStudent #AcademicJourney #HigherEducation #WomenInAcademia #GradSchoolLife #AcademicWellness #CareerPivot #GraduateSchool #PersonalGrowth #StudentSuccess #MentalHealthMatters
21 Apr 2026
Becoming a Mom. Becoming a Doctor.
✨ On the heels of Black Maternal Health Week, this conversation is one you don’t want to miss.
We sat down with Dr. Michele Mayne 🎓—a newly minted PhD in Sociology (with a focus on medical sociology + community health & well-being)—who navigated the journey of unexpectedly becoming a mom during her doctoral program 🤱🏾📚
From challenges to triumphs, Dr. Mayne kept going… and her story is both real and inspiring 💫
In this episode, we dive into:
💭 How to decide if, when, and with whom to share your pregnancy
🧠 Strategies for navigating motherhood while staying on track academically
🌍 Building community as a woman of color and international student
🔥 Using motherhood as motivation—not limitation
🗂️ Creating structure while juggling coursework, teaching, adjuncting, and childcare
This episode is a powerful reminder that your path doesn’t have to look traditional to be successful 💪🏾✨ To get in touch with her, email dr.michelesmayne@gmail.com (mailto:dr.michelesmayne@gmail.com)
🎧 Tune in now + share with a grad girl who needs this! 💕
23 Mar 2026
Ep 44: The Science of Memory: How Grad Students Can Learn Better
Struggling to actually remember what you study? 🤯📚
On this episode of the Grad Girl Wellness Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Rachel Slaughter—an expert on how the brain learns and retains information 🧠✨
She breaks down practical, research-backed strategies you can start using right now:
🔑 Effective study techniques (chunking, highlighting, annotation, and more)
🧘🏾♀️ Why breaks + intentional reading are essential for brain recovery
🔗 How to make your reading relevant (so it actually sticks!)
📝 Test-taking strategies that help you show up with confidence and ease
If you’re tired of rereading the same page over and over, this episode is for YOU 💡
Learn more about her work at drrachelslaughter.com and follow her across social media for more gems 💻🌱
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
29
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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