The FGLI Podcast

The FGLI Podcast

Hello! We are the FGLI Podcast! Through conversations with first-gen low-income alumni and current students, we hope to highlight and celebrate different FGLI narratives and promote discourse around the challenges of being FGLI.

  1. Jan 23

    Beyond the Checklist: Finding Our Way as FGLI in Medicine

    Drs. Anitra Persaud and Shannon Shipley, who are residents at Penn Medicine and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, respectively, share their journey into medicine as first-gen, low-income. Join us for an insightful conversation about how they found their way, built a close-knit community for FGLI students at Penn, and offer heartfelt advice on pursuing medicine authentically as the first in your family. Hosts: Emily, Peter Enjoy this episode? Follow us on Spotify and Instagram @fglipodcast to stay up to date on our latest releases!

    32 min

  2. 05/02/2025

    Redefining the College Experience: How FGLI Student Leaders Shape Elite Institutions

    What role do FGLI student leaders play at elite institutions—and how can colleges better support them? In this episode, Peter and Lin discuss these questions and more with Dr. Ileana Casellas-Katz, who is the Director for Diversity and Inclusion at NYU School of Law. Dr. Casellas-Katz shares insights from her research on how FGLI leaders bring nuance to the predominant college culture, and create spaces of belonging on campus. Whether you're a FGLI student leader yourself or want to better support your FGLI peers, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss!  Guest: Ileana Casellas-Katz, Ed.D.Ileana Casellas-Katz serves as the Director for Diversity and Inclusion at NYU School of Law. Prior to joining NYU Law, she served as the Associate Director of Multicultural Affairs and Community Outreach at Columbia University where she led programming, training and mentoring initiatives with a focus on supporting first-generation and lower-income students. Casellas-Katz was previously a fellow in the Office for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Harvard University and began her career at the Posse Foundation, a national college access organization, where she directed the foundation’s STEM and Veterans programs. Casellas-Katz received a B.A. in American Studies from Tufts University, an Ed.M. in Higher Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and has recently received her doctorate Higher Education Administration at NYU Steinhardt. Hosts: Lin and Peter Enjoy this episode? Follow us on Spotify and Instagram @fglipodcast to stay up to date on our latest releases!

    54 min

  3. 04/18/2025

    Not All Healers Wear White Coats: Reimagining Impact Through Bioengineering

    In this episode, Peter has a candid conversation with Reem Azar about the pivot points in her career path, departing from her initial aspirations to be a neurologist to discover her passion in bioengineering. Working in Dr. Michelle Johnson’s Rehabilitation Robotics Lab, Reem explains her decision to return to academia and pursue a PhD, studying the way robotics can interface with neuroscience to develop better personalized therapies. Reem also describes how her family reacted to her career shifts, being a first-generation immigrant from Syria. We finish the conversation with Reem’s advice on how to determine if a lab is good for you and her recommendations about how to get the most from your research position. Host: Peter Guest: Reem Azar Guest Bio: Reem is a 3rd year PhD student in the Rehabilitation Robotics Lab. Her focus is mainly on understanding the structure-function relationship to guide future robotic-assisted therapy in stroke patients. She is a Syrian immigrant who moved to the US when she was 5 years old, and her experience guides her career and life decisions. She is an advocate for all FGLI and under represented students! Instagram: @fglipodcast Email: ⁠thefglipodcast@gmail.com⁠

    57 min

  4. 04/04/2025

    From First-Gen Student to Penn First Plus: Navigating University Resources and Difficult Conversations

    In this episode, Joanne and Khaliun sit down with Dr. Marc Lo, the inaugural Executive Director of Penn First Plus, to discuss the future of first-generation and limited-income (FGLI) programs at Penn and beyond. Drawing from his personal experiences as a FGLI student during undergraduate and graduate school, Marc shares his understanding of challenges such as imposter syndrome, family pressures, and the sense of not belonging. He also offers insights on how such experiences extend beyond college and emphasizes the role of mental health and student resources in higher education. Guest: Marc Lo, PhD Guest Bio: Marc is the inaugural Executive Director of Penn First Plus the University of Pennsylvania's Hub for first-gen and/or limited-income undergraduates. He was the first person in his family to complete a bachelor's degree, studying Organizational Communication at Northeastern University. Marc's love of the college experience inspired his choice to work with students, and he subsequently earned his Masters and Doctorate in Higher Education at New York University. In his spare time, Marc is outside with his camera and his dog, or inside baking and listening to CDs (because they are better than streaming). Contact: lomarc@upenn.edu Hosts: Joanne, Khaliun Timestamps: (1:15) Hopes & Views for Penn First Plus (7:12) Penn’s Underrated Resources (11:23) Advice for Universities on FGLI Resources (13:27) The Penn First Plus Vision  (16:44) Battling Imposter Syndrome Post-College (19:00) You Belong (24:45) Post-Graduate Experience as FGLI (28:00) When Should You Worry About Graduate School & Beyond? (30:52) Do You See Yourself In Your Students? (32:57) Reminiscing Undergrad & Grad School (35:48) Finding Mentors & Advisors (43:30) Advice for Students (45:44) What Have You Learned Before? (47:37) “Broke Student” Mentality (48:53) Concluding Remarks Instagram: @fglipodcast Email: ⁠thefglipodcast@gmail.com⁠  Penn Clubs: https://pennclubs.com/club/fgli-podcast

    50 min

  5. 03/14/2025

    Finding a Zest for Life Again: Balancing Obligations with Aspirations

    On this episode, we chat with Alaric Qin, who is a Penn alumni currently working in tech but has a passion for music and community building. Emily sits down with him to discuss the importance of maintaining a zest for life and exploring the nuances of being first generation low income and taking care of loved ones while bettering your own life.  Guest: Alaric Qin (Penn M&T’15) Alaric grew up in the SGV region of Southern California, where he stayed until he went to Penn to study engineering and business. He just moved to NYC to start a new chapter of life, explore a city, and feel something new! He’s motivated by a desire to listen and learn from the people around him, to find joy and provide joy for his friends and family, and his pursuit of personal passions that include rock climbing, making music, DJing, and building community connections. Host: Emily Instagram: @fglipodcast Email:⁠ thefglipodcast@gmail.com⁠  Penn Clubs: https://pennclubs.com/club/fgli-podcast

    36 min

  6. 03/03/2025

    First to Say “You Can Too”: Finding Success with Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Collaboration

    In this episode, Peter sits down with Dr. Michelle J. Johnson to explore her engineering journey, highlighting the various fields that sparked her interest before finding her true passion at the intersection of rehabilitation and robotics. Dr. Johnson shares insightful reflections on the key resources that guided her along the way, emphasizing the vital role that mentors, sponsors, and collaborators play in navigating a successful career in this dynamic field. Guest: Dr. Michelle J. Johnson, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Dr. Michelle J. Johnson is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania and is an Associate Professor in Bioengineering. She is the Director of Rehabilitation Robotics Lab at the Perelman School of Medicine, which is affiliated with Penn’s GRASP Lab. Her research focuses on using robotics to understand upper extremity dysfunction and recovery after brain injury. Listen to Dr. Johnson's TED Talk! Hosts: Peter Instagram: @fglipodcast Email:⁠ thefglipodcast@gmail.com⁠  Penn Clubs: https://pennclubs.com/club/fgli-podcast

    1h 2m

  7. 02/14/2025

    How We Were Raised: The Influence of a FGLI Upbringing on Our Decisions and Success

    In this episode, we sit down with Richard Patti, a PhD candidate in Sociology and Demography at UPenn. From reflecting on moving out of upstate New York to mustering the courage to go to office hours, we uncover the small details and moments that made us realize we were first-generation low-income. We also discuss large sociological patterns that have an influence on one’s life trajectory.  Guest:Richard Patti, PhD Candidate in Sociology and Demography at the University of Pennsylvania Richard is originally from Buffalo, NY and is the oldest of 7 children. He is currently a PhD candidate in Sociology and Demography at the University of Pennsylvania, researching social determinants of health and aging trajectories. In his free time, he enjoys running, watching football (Go Bills), and playing cards. Hosts: Emily and Nicolle Instagram:@fglipodcast Email:⁠thefglipodcast@gmail.com⁠  Penn Clubs: https://pennclubs.com/club/fgli-podcast

    1h 12m

  8. 02/07/2025

    Sharing Our QuestBridge Story: Reflecting on Our Experiences, Advice, and What Matching Meant for Us

    In this episode, we go full circle as we look at the beginnings and end of the QuestBridge journey with two incoming Penn freshmen, Ashley and Stephania, and a graduating senior, Sierra, all of whom matched to Penn. Starting off, our guests discuss the QuestBridge application process, reflect on how it felt when they got matched, and provide some advice for prospective applicants. They also touch on what it means for them to be first-generation low-income students, and what to expect going into Penn.  Guests: Stephania Salvador is from Santa Ana, California. She is an incoming freshman at the Wharton School and hopes to become a successful Real Estate Lawyer. In her free time, she likes hanging out with friends and trying new foods! Stephania can’t wait for these next four years!  Ashley Cueva is from Queens, New York and is planning to study English with a focus on political journalism. She loves photography and have curated 2 entire film albums of my past 3 years. She can't wait to capture life at Penn on film! Sierra Houegban is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She will be graduating with a major in Sociology and minor in French and Francophone Studies. Speakers:Emily Chu (C’25), Sierra Houegban (C'25), Ashley Cueva (C'29), Stephania Salvador (W'29) Instagram:@fglipodcast Email:⁠thefglipodcast@gmail.com⁠  Penn Clubs: https://pennclubs.com/club/fgli-podcast

    48 min
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About

Hello! We are the FGLI Podcast! Through conversations with first-gen low-income alumni and current students, we hope to highlight and celebrate different FGLI narratives and promote discourse around the challenges of being FGLI.

Information

  • Creator
    The FGLI Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The FGLI Podcast
  • Show Website
    The FGLI Podcast