be a scholar AND a human

Join us today!

have you ever felt like the only person who didn’t know the secret of grad school?

people are really good at telling you what you should produce during grad school (publish or perish!) but no one really talks about how you do that? much less how you do the work of scholarship and also still have a life?

one place that does talk about is the Thrive PhD community.

i made the community because it’s hard to teach yourself how to be a grad student.

grad students are busy. it’s like having three full time jobs (student, researcher, teacher) at once, and unlike other phases of education, people assume that you know how to do everything by the time you get there. the community is open 24.7.365 because you need to be able to learn on your own schedule, from wherever you are, and for less than the price of a very fancy coffee a month.

I think of the Thrive community as a better, healthier social media, one where I actually make connections and get to support and be supported by others. It's more welcoming than I can get across, and it's been an absolute lifeline during the pandemic.

what do you get? 

unlike groups organized by grad students, for grad students, i’m a professional! and i take my role as the community steward seriously. i do the work of organizing, managing, and keeping the community going so that you can just show up and take part in the ways that support you. and you get all the benefits of my experience as a coach, coming through in resources like:

  • a library of resources, actitivites, and strategies so you can learn how to be a scholar and a human in a way that works for you

  • access to a coach (me!) so you can get direct experience and mentoring from someone who has been there herself, and supported hundreds of grad students around the world since then

  • work togethers, coaching calls, and special events so you can add a little structure to your day, feel less isolated, and get your questions about grad school answered

  • a podcast feed so that you can listen to community content away from your screen (don’t we all need that?)

  • a network NOT connected to social media (where you can control your display name, location, and more) so that you can show up authentically in a space away from your institution, colleagues, and advisor

Katy is not only incredibly kind, but she also really "gets" what this PhD journey is like, and she's able to provide support and recommend things to try at all stages along the way. - Dr. Kristina Lewis

in our community we have….

  • neurodivergent scholars feeling empowered to ignore advice that doesn’t work for their brain and find tools and strategies that do
  • part time PhD students finding ways to set reasonable expectations and make progress without huge push/crash cycles
  • first generation scholars having a space to ask questions about how things work without judgment or shame
  • parents and other caretakers figuring out how and when to set (and revise) boundaries so they can show up for all of the important roles in their life
  • grad students feeling (or who are told that they are) behind finding ways to make progress even if their institutions and advisors aren’t supporting them in useful, helpful ways

what does it cost me?  

listen - i was a grad student on a stipend. i take your investment - money and time - seriously! 

the community is $5/month USD - and you manage your own billing so you can come and go as you please, no questions asked! you can also save if you already know that this is for you, and sign up for a whole year at once. 

time-wise - the community is flexible! there are people who spend a few hours a day, working together, some who drop in a few times a week to check in and post about their progress, and some that read and watch everything and don't post as much. you get to decide (and adjust!) your participation level according to your needs at the moment - no pressure or deadlines of things you MUST do, but plenty of options for things you COULD experiment with, try, or join.


It has been a game changer for me. Especially in these covid times, where we are lacking so much of the in-person interactions we used to have at the university. I am also a student on a budget and I think that I get plenty for my buck! - Yolanda, Chile

you got questions, i got answers!

who can join?

grad students - anywhere around the world, in any discipline! we have caretakers, full time students, part time students, students on leave, students about to start, and all sorts of other groups and identities, too. most of the content is geared towards those in PhD programs, but many people have found it useful during their masters programs as well. if you are a recent grad, a post doc, or precariously employed, or otherwise not described here, reach out over email and we’ll see if you are a good fit for the network.

how private can i be?

as private as you’d like! the community is run on a platform called Mighty Networks, which is not tied to any social media site, nor does it require an .edu address. we have many people in the network who do not use their full, or even their real names, or are otherwise private about where they’re located, what program they’re in, or what their research is. you set your own username, location information, and profile images (should you choose one) on the site, and i’m always happy to help consult with you if you have specific concerns.

how often do i hear from you, the coach?

most days!!! I do try and take weekends off to practice the sustainability i preach, but i love hanging out in the network. i host a one hour work together most week days, and often am popping in and out throughout the rest of the day too. plus i host our weekly coaching calls, and am posting new content and material all the time.

can i come and go? 

yes! unlike previous versions of the community, we now have open enrollment. sign up anytime, cancel anytime - and you handle it all through your account with no emails or forms needed. memberships can be paid for with a monthly subscription, or you can sign up for a year in advance and get two months free! join for a few months, take time off when you need, or hang out for the long haul - you control it.

what kind of a time commitment is this?

as much or as little as you want it to be! i have some people who are in the network every day doing work togethers, and others who log on to read the curriculum when they need it.  our motto is “welcome back” - whether it’s been a day or a few months, we’re always happy to see you, and trust that you’re using what you need, when you need it.  

my whole approach to work - academic and otherwise - has shifted since working with Katy and being in the Thrive Community. my energy has shifted away from frazzled, stressed, and feeling endlessly behind with work towards being more compassionate to my whole self, knowing that i'm better able to show up for my work and my people when i'm taking care of myself.  - jess k.


if that sounds good to you - we can't wait to meet you, and cheer you on as you do your scholar stuff AND your human! choose your plan below and come on in! and if you have questions, please reach out!


about katy

i felt so lonely as a grad student - everyone knew how to do everything, so i was stuck googling “tenure” at home, trying to catch up. things changed when i started joining online spaces where i could be open about how hard i found it to be a grad student and a human, and the community is the first thing i made as a business owner. it’s that important to me. Thrive PhD started in 2017 and has touched thousands of people all around the world in all kinds of fields. read more about my background and mission here. when i’m not at my desk, you can find me gardening, hiking, reading on my porch, or taking a nap with one of my cats.