There are many variables that impact the doctoral and postdoctoral experience. One of these is undoubtedly location. Today's guest, Dr. Anna Hood, has unique insight into higher education both here in the US, and in the UK, having completed her Ph.D. at Washington University, and now working as a lecturer in psychology at the University of Manchester. During this conversation, she shares the story of how she came to pursue her doctorate in Psychological and Brain Sciences and finding community in a cohort of Black and Brown first-time doctoral students. We hear from Dr. Hood about her current research into the biophysical model of sickle cell disease, why she chose to apply to grad schools right out of the MARC program, and how the conferences she attended enriched her educational experience. We touch on what it was like to be a postgraduate student on the ground for Michael Brown, and how she came to start the Diversity Committee at the University of Manchester. Dr. Hood gets candid about procuring funding, applying for fellowships, and creating presentations, and shares her experience of being a graduate school advisor herself. She unpacks some of the differences between the UK and US experience, and leaves listeners with some powerful advice: get paid, find money, don't pay for graduate school!