Becoming Black Scholarly Podcast

Identity before degrees
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Becoming Black Scholarly is a guided journey into the heart of Black scholarship. Through honest conversations, cultural grounding, and identity-centered reflection, host LaFredrick helps listeners understand the deeper work required to step into scholarly life. This podcast is for those who feel called to something greater — a degree, a purpose, a legacy. If you’re becoming, you belong here. becomingblackscholarly.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Jul 24

    Episode 3: Becoming Before Belonging

    Episode 3: Becoming Before Belonging Why Identity Matters Before Enrollment When most people think about preparing for doctoral education, they think about applications, admissions, funding, and choosing the right program. But what if those aren't the first questions we should be asking? What if the most important preparation happens long before an acceptance letter ever arrives? In this episode of Becoming Black Scholarly, I explore why identity is the true foundation of the scholarly journey. Before enrollment, before orientation, and before anyone calls you "Doctor," your scholarly identity is already taking shape—in the questions you keep asking, the books that change you, and the quiet work of becoming that often goes unnoticed. Together, we'll reflect on: * Why identity comes before acceptance * How identity shapes the way we experience academic institutions * Why alignment matters more than prestige * How lived experience influences the questions we carry into research * The difference between growth and erasure * Why belonging isn't permission—it's alignment Whether you're considering graduate school, preparing for a doctorate, or simply becoming more intentional about your own learning journey, this conversation is an invitation to pause before the application and ask a deeper question: Who are you becoming before the acceptance letter arrives? Because I don't believe enrollment creates a scholar. I believe it simply makes visible a process of becoming that has often been unfolding quietly for years. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Becoming Black Scholarly at becomingblackscholarly.substack.com/subscribe

  2. Jul 7

    Episode 2: What is Doctoral Pre-work?

    The work before the work is often the part we rush past — especially when we’re eager to step into a doctoral journey with purpose and momentum. Episode 2 digs into that quiet, foundational stretch of time before coursework begins, when identity, intention, and preparation start to take shape. In this conversation, I’m unpacking what doctoral pre‑work really looks like: the mindset shifts, the early habits, the grounding questions, and the clarity-building practices that help you enter your program as a scholar, not just a student. This isn’t about being perfect or “ready.” It’s about being intentional. Whether you’re weeks away from starting your Ed.D., considering a doctoral path, or simply exploring what it means to become more scholarly in your everyday life, this episode offers a framework for approaching the journey with steadiness, structure, and self-awareness. Foundations. Preparation. Purpose. The work before the work. Get full access to Becoming Black Scholarly at becomingblackscholarly.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Jun 19

    What Is Becoming Black Scholarly?

    This episode introduces the entire ecosystem — the philosophy, the mission, and the cultural grounding behind Becoming Black Scholarly. You explain why this platform exists, who it’s for, and what it means to “become” before you ever enroll. It sets the tone: identity first, degrees second. Get full access to Becoming Black Scholarly at becomingblackscholarly.substack.com/subscribe

    What Is Becoming Black Scholarly?
  • 3 Episodes

About

Becoming Black Scholarly is a guided journey into the heart of Black scholarship. Through honest conversations, cultural grounding, and identity-centered reflection, host LaFredrick helps listeners understand the deeper work required to step into scholarly life. This podcast is for those who feel called to something greater — a degree, a purpose, a legacy. If you’re becoming, you belong here. becomingblackscholarly.substack.com

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