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'…

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 h…

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…

This episode is part one of a mini-series, FLOWERS: An Ode to Modern Black Scholars Explore 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 i…

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 pa…

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 important Where to go to meet your professional people (in person and virtually) How to follow up wi…

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 journ…

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 …

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 dissertation…

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 202…

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 lis…

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. Qua…

*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 shar…

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 th…

*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 thes…

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 t…

"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 …

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 yo…

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. Li…

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. …

**LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. This episode is a long one and unlike my other episodes, but I promise it’s a good one and you won’t regret listening!** Our Grad School Success Summit live episode gets realer than real with my featured guest and homegirl, Kalyn. Kalyn is a digital media scholar with a B.A. in English from Old Dominion University …

The 4th Annual Grad School Success Summit is happening now, but don’t fret, you can still register to attend! It’s a FREE networking event created for grad students of all disciplines to get the tools and resources to help them flourish on their journeys! The third episode of the mini-series takes us to the 2019 Grad School Success Summit with Dr. …

We’re less than a week away from the 4th Annual Grad School Success Summit. Are you registered yet? The second episode of our mini-series takes us back to 2018 when I hosted the first Grad School Success Summit. (Shoutout to my OG listeners who remember my early days!) Dr. Autumn, who was in the second year of her doctoral program at the time, pres…

To kick off the 4th Annual Grad School Success Summit, I’m starting a three-part mini-series that recaps our most popular episodes and gives you a preview of what you can expect in this year’s amazing session line-up. This first episode gets straight to the point by digging deep into a problem we all face at one point or another in our grad school …

Meet Dr. Ijeoma, a public health historian that doubles as a lifestyle blogger and entrepreneur! Dr. Ijeoma holds a Ph.D. in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University and spends her time researching the medial construction of diseases, running her lifestyle blog, Ijeoma Kola, and mentoring Black women pursuing doctoral degrees as the founder a…

This HBCU grad and advocate is changing the narrative of HBCUs one student at a time. Meet Kendra, a second-year Ph.D. candidate at Jackson State University pursuing a degree in Urban Higher Education. Kendra has served in various capacities at HBCUs including North Carolina Central, Wilberforce University and Livingstone College. She currently ser…

If you find yourself experiencing setbacks that are making you rethink or pivot your grad school journey, this episode is for you. Meet Kim Ford, a media entrepreneur with over a decade of experience. Kim is a TV host, freelance writer, speaker, author of her self-published book “It’s Never Too Late”, a blogger on her website, iamKimFord.com, and a…

You’re getting the education you need, but do you have the experience to land the job you want after grad school? Will you end up with multiple degrees in one field, but end up on a career track that has absolutely nothing to do with what you studied? If you answered yes to either or both of these questions, this episode is definitely for you! Meet…

This episode is the episode we KNOW we needed but didn’t know we needed! Let me introduce you to Lauryn! A four-time Olympic athlete, Lauryn is now a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a Student Loan Advisor at Student Loan Planner , the owner of the financial firm, Worth Winning, AND a host of the Worth Listening podcast! You may be wondering how …

Ya girl is a new big age, thirty-two! I asked folks on Insta what they want to know and quite a few questions rolled in! So this week I tried to answer every question I received about grad school, the future of the podcast, and even my go-to beauty hacks. I share some major podcast news (gotta listen until the end!) Don't forget to register for the…

Meet Rarosue, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Florida! In this week’s episode, we talk about Rarosue’s passion for Global sustainability and her plans to help convert everyday waste to energy. Rarosue finished her undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering in her hometown, Nigeria. After gradu…

Online school is nothing new, people like Keri have been completing degree virtually well before the pandemic. She's a senior budget analyst for the Internal Revenue Service that started her educational journey in pharmacy before deciding to pursue psychology while at Howard University. We talk about her experience earning her MBA online from Champ…

This episode is super special because I get to introduce you all to my sister, my soror, and my dear friend, Makenzie. An International Program Manager at Microsoft, Makenzie is a North Carolina A&T double alum with a B.S. in Biological Engineering, and an M.S. in Technology Management with an emphasis in Operations and Manufacturing Systems. We di…

Navigating academia, science, and everything that’s going on in the world around us as a Black woman can be a lot to handle. This week, I had an honest conversation with my internet friend, Jazmine I. Benjamin, about the two different hats Black female scientists wear. Jazmine is a fourth-year Ph.D. student who is pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical sci…

Do you love supporting Black businesses? Of course you do! On this week’s episode I had the pleasure of chatting with Marshay, the CEO and founder of Buzzoms, a clothing company designed to support a life that all women want - the ability to wear clothes that support you no matter the size. Marshay recently obtained her MBA from Columbia Business S…

If you’re a first-gen college grad this episode is especially for you! In this week’s episode, I talk with Dr. Eve, a first-gen college grad inspiring, empowering, and promoting personal transformation and entrepreneurial development through her business and podcast, The First-Gen Lounge. A native of Charlotte N.C, Dr. Eve received her Ph.D. in Hig…

Dr. Nehemiah Mabry, PE is a Structural Engineer, STEM Educator, and Entrepreneur. He's the brilliant mind behind STEMedia, a multimedia company that provides technical and creative content for the STEM/STEAM community. His experience includes over 8 years of research at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and currently works as a Bridge Design E…

This week listen in on my convo with Amonté, a third-year Ph.D. student studying Forestry Resource and Conservation at the University of Florida. Amonté shares a story unlike any other on the podcast, mostly because his original life plan didn’t include a career in academia, but football. But after getting his GED, a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Busi…

A journalist by trade, Jalisa, aka Jae left a career in radio when she decided to move to Atlanta and earn her Ph.D. She is a third-year doctoral student at Clark Atlanta University, where she is studying Humanities with a double concentration in African American Studies and Political Science. Her research focus is Digital Discourse Surrounding Sex…

Marquis is an advisor and program coordinator at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, writer, and host of @detroitworldwidepodcast. His journey started as a freshman conditionally accepted to Wayne State University. He says he bloomed where he was planted, serving students as a peer mentor which inspired his career path to serve minoritized, f…

Quianna grad school journey started in a centerpiece of Black American culture, the shop! A hairstylist turned social worker, she was always finding resources to help her clients. When she decided to go back to school in 2006 to finish her Bachelor's degree, she then realized that social work was the career that would allow her to amplify and empow…

Nicole (@_nicoleblah) is working on her PsyD in Clinical Psychology at Mercer University where her research focus is black women's wellness and perinatal mental health. We talked about her path to psychology from another path and really demystify the clinical psychology education process --which at her university is different from the usual researc…

When Bianca (@bjesus89) went away to college with aspirations to teach, but when she realized K-12 wasn't for her she pivoted to Higher Ed and hasn't looked back since. Her career moved her to Pittsburgh back in 2017, and she decided after 7.5 years in the profession to pursue an Ed.D. Bianca is now in her second year of her Ed.D. at the University…

Sam is one of my Detroit homies. We met about 7 years ago (gasp!) after he accepted a job at General Motors where he's moved up to Reporting Analyst. He finished up an MBA in Information Systems and Global Supply Chain and is now a second Master's in Marketing Business Analytics. We discuss his work-life balance -- because let me tell you, Sam live…

Adebukola Ajao (IG @baddisparateyouth) is a graduate student at Northeastern University set to finish her Master’s in Digital Media this month! She was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Fellow which fully funds her studies in exchange for work in her community. It doesn’t stop there though, Adebukola works full time as a program advisor at a l…

The letter of recommendation can be a great tool in telling your story in a graduate school or fellowship application. You want to include a skill/character they could speak to. Providing what you want each recommender to speak on (and the angle they address the skill/character) can assist them with crafting their letters. Professors are super busy…

Are you or someone you know heading to grad school? Hopefully, you or they know how important funding is for grad school. Some schools are great about funding, others are..not so much. Either way, securing funding is very important. I hosted a webinar a while back covering a bunch of strategies I've used and taught about funding. Graduate school ca…

Nowadays, it can sometimes feel like an undergraduate degree is not enough anymore and that you need a graduate degree if you want a decent job. Or you may feel like you need a break and may get burnout from so much school. These are two of many legitimate concerns that you need to explore for mapping out your educational journey for this round of …

Sit and relax as you listen to Aya share her thoughts on diversity in academia and strategies that universities can implement to truly embrace and embody diversity. Aya Waller-Bay is a sociology Ph.D. student at University of Michigan examining the identity narration of black students in the application process. On this episode Aya and I discuss th…

When Indira finished high school in the U.S. Virgin Islands, she was not planning to attend college and now is an emerging thought leader in brain health disparities across race and ethnicity. She is currently a postdoctoral research scientist at the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University Medic…