The PhD Life Raft Podcast

Elizabeth Pritchard is the Co-founder and Director of WALT Institute typically working with institutes, health services and universities. Elizabeth is also a research fellow in Public Health at Monash University. This episode recognises stress as a common experience on the PhD journey. Elizabeth differentiates between the different types of stress - eustress and distress - and posits that stress can be a useful motivator and performance enhancer. We talk about how to stop stress from overwhelming you and ways to keep moving forward. We end with a top tip about attending to your own rhythms. You can contact Elizabeth here: Email: [email protected] Website: Waltinstitute.com WALT Institute LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethchristinewaltinstitute Elizabeth Pritchard LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-elizabeth-pritchard Elizabeth Pritchard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrElizabethP Elizabeth Pritchard Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrEKPritchard If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Natasha is a researcher, facilitator, and theatre-maker. Her PhD research, specializing in applied theatre approaches to Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. In this episode we discuss how Natasha has turned her research into a business. Natasha shares her journey into the PhD and how she drew on her practical experience with a Theatre Company to shape the scope of her project. We talk about how her work developed - even in the shadow of the pandemic - and how it led to the delivery of workshops and performances which, in turn, has now become 'Running at Walls' a company specializing in consent education through creative methodology. Natasha touches on the challenges of learning about the mechanics of running a business alongside her research work but also shares how the business has helped her PhD and vice versa. We finish with a top tip on how to use your research skills to start your own enterprise. You can contact Natasha here: [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/runningatwalls/ https://twitter.com/RunningAtWalls https://www.runningatwalls.com/ You can find out more about the School for Social Entrepreneurs that Natasha mentions here: https://www.the-sse.org/

Graham Green is currently working towards his Ph.D. at the University of Southern Queensland. He has a background in the education, management and aviation sectors and holds a Masters Degree in Aviation Management from the University of New South Wales. He is an active member of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators as well as a member of the Australian Society of Air Safety Investigators. He is also dad to 3 year old Luke! In this episode we talk about scheduling work around a little person. Graham talks about the changes he has had to make to his routine in order to be able to undertake his research and how he fits in paid work alongside everything else! He shares tips on how to capture PhD related thoughts that emerge while you are engaged in caring responsibilities and how to make consistent progress. You can contact Graham here: https://graham.green If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Nathan Ryder runs skills training for PhD students with a signature course entitled 'Viva Survivor' and daily blog of viva prep help. In this episode Nathan talks about his new book 'Keep Going 'which is full of advice for the PhD journey and we focus in particularly on preparing for the PhD viva. Nathan shares thoughts on how to fit in viva preparation around the many other things that you might be doing in the period between submission and examination. We discuss the benefits of rehearsing before the day of your viva. Nathan also gives advice on the best way to annotate your thesis as part of the preparation process and how to create your own 'special edition'. You can find Nathan on Twitter as @DrRyder and @VivaSurvivors. His website is http://viva-survivors.com/ and gives details on how you can purchase the book. His podcast can be found here: http://viva-survivors.com/category/podcast/ The author Nathan mentions in the episode is Seth Godin - he is fabulous and his own great daily blog - you can subscribe here: https://www.sethgodin.com/ While you are signing up to things you could treat yourself to 'Notes from the Life Raft' which comes out weekly-ish. You can join us here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr Kate Mukungu is Chief Executive of Riverside Community Health Project in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. In September 2022 Kate completed her part time doctorate at Northumbria University researching women's human rights activism relations in post conflict contexts. As well as being the source of great richness to Kate, the dual interest of working in the voluntary and community sector and conducting research carries some frustration, due to difficulty of pursuing both fully at the same time. For five years during her doctorate Kate crossed over into academia and became a full time academic, lecturing in Social Sciences before returning to the community sector. In this episode we talk about undertaking a doctorate when already living a full and committed life in terms of career, family etc. Spoiler alert - it can be done! Kate explains about how she used her professional experience in the workplace to project-manage the PhD and shares a genius tip of a whatsapp group of one to help with productivity! Kate talks about the importance of 'finding your people' and how reaching out to other people helped and joining networks helped her get to the finish line. She talks about the importance of people who will be there to celebrate successes as well as support you when you are struggling. Finally Kate reflects on periods where she interrupted her studies as productive and useful parts of the process - as well as the dangers of "running on empty". You can find out more about Kate's work here: https://www.riversidechp.co.uk/ If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Milly Mulcahey is a second-year PhD student in the Center for Indigenous and Settler Colonial Studies at the University of Kent. Milly has worked actively with Indigenous educators since her undergraduate degree in Social Anthropology at the LSE and through a Master's by Research at Durham University. She is a neurodivergent researcher passionate about improving accessibility within academia and is seeking that elusive work-life balance. In this episode we talk about managing the festive season as a PhD researcher. We talk about taking breaks and setting up systems to support yourself to be 'out of office'. Milly gives a reminder to tailor your rest so that it suits you! She also gives some great advice on how to maintain momentum and ramp yourself back into work after the holidays! This is the final podcast of the season! Wishing you a wonderful festive season and see you in January! If you would like to start the year strong you can join us for The PhD Life Raft Plan-a-thon which will run from 9th - 13th January. You can find out more here: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/plan-a-thon

Iain Jackson is an architect and historian at the Liverpool School of Architecture. His research is mainly focused on 20thC architecture in 'the tropics'. Iain is currently PI on a Leverhulme Trust funded project to research the buildings of the United Africa Company. He supervises 8 PhD students and has examined PhDs in Europe, Asia, and Australia. In this episode we talk about the importance of project management for the PhD. Iain suggests ways of breaking down the project into manageable chunks and for developing the 'narrative arc' of the thesis. He also talks about the importance of planning and shares a top tip about focused working. Here is the link to the template Iain has developed: https://iainjackson.gumroad.com/l/PhDNotionTemplate Many apologies, when we recorded the interview I thought that Iain was offering the template for free but he is making a small charge. You can, however, access Notion for free here: https://www.notion.so/product?fredir=1 Here is the link to the Rock Garden that we discuss in the episode: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nek-chand-saini If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Katrina McChesney is a senior lecturer in education at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Her research focuses on adult education, including doctoral education and supervision. She is currently co-leading the #DistanceDoctorates project which seeks to support, raise awareness of, and advocate for candidates who undertake doctoral research off-campus. In this episode we talk about Katrina's own experience of undertaking distanced doctoral study - whilst working, having a baby and moving house 11 times! Katrina then shares the research she has been conducting in the area and the key issues around distance doctorates - both the positive aspects and the challenges. We finish with exploring the importance of community and how to build that when you are away from the campus community. You can find out more about Katrina's work here: https://doctoralresearchbydistance.wordpress.com/ If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Leanne Sobel is a Strategic Design Consultant and Researcher. She has a background in communication design and strategy and is passionate about the opportunities for design in business. Leanne is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, investigating the role of design in strategy. Leanne brings a wealth of experience to her practice, having worked on public and private sector projects in roles spanning design, strategy, management, research, and education. In this episode we talk about Leanne's route into study and her transition from work into the PhD. Leanne shares her intense experience of starting her doctoral journey with small children during a pandemic! She talks about the techniques and routines that have helped her navigate the challenges she has faced. Leanne reminds us to not set the bar unrealistically high and the importance of reflecting on what is and isn't working for you. Most of all Leanne wanted people to know that, if you are negotiating the PhD whilst caring for others, you are not alone. The book Leanne mentions is: 'Burnout: Solve Your Stress Cycle' by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. You can contact Leanne here: www.leannesobel.com If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr LaNysha Adams draws on her background in research to support others to empower themselves. In this episode she shares reflections on her educational journey - including why she didn't become an architect! We talk about the experience of her difficult PhD defense and what she did to support herself afterwards. LaNysha also outlines her idea of 'Me Power' - touching on the importance of community; identifying your strengths; expressing yourself and taking time to reflect. She also takes time to remind us that you are never alone on the PhD journey. You can find out more about LaNysha's work here: https://www.lanysha.com/ LaNysha is one of the speakers at The PhD Life Raft Symposium. You can join us from 7th - 11th November. Save your seat here: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/phdliferaftsummit

Jo Nadin is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Bristol University. She is also an award winning author with a background as a political speechwriter. In this episode Jo shares her experience of the PhD process - both the journey into it and the the challenges within it - from balancing working with researching to managing relationships. We talk about taking circuitous routes into academia. We talk about how undertaking a PhD may affect your relationship with your partner. And we reflect on how you change and grow during your doctorate. You can find out more about Jo and her work here: https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/jo-nadin A book Jo recommends on the creation of self is: 'The Self Illusion' by Bruce Hood. If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr Nicole Holt is a Lecturer in Public Health and Wellbeing for the School of Allied and Public Health Professions within the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care at Canterbury Christ Church University. She is currently involved in several research projects around spirituality and wellbeing. In this episode we discuss Nicole's experience of her PhD which explored the reported relationship between Spirituality and Public Health in those who identify as Spiritual but not Religious. Nicole talks about her experience as a first generation HE student and the challenges of finding her place within the academy. She reflects on the general challenges of working while studying and the particular challenges of having 5 different supervisors. She details the support she received from her dyslexia tutor and the importance of that continuity. We also touch on the difficult experience of her viva and what happens when things don't go as planned. You can contact Nicole here: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/medicine-health-and-social-care/allied-health-professions-public-health/staff/Profile.aspx?staff=974f76455d9e505c If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Professor Brian Lobel is a performer, teacher and curator. He has shown work internationally in a range of contexts, from Harvard Medical School to the Sydney Opera House. Brian has received commissions and grants from Jerwood, UMS (Ann Arbor), the British Council and Arts Council England, among others. He is a Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Fellow and the co-founder of The Sick of the Fringe. I met Brian as his PhD examiner and, in this episode, we talk about Brian's experience as an accidental PhD student and his reflections on the process. Brian shares the challenges and benefits of undertaking a self-funded PhD. We explore how to make teaching part of your research process. We finish with Brian's top tips for presenting your work at a conference. You can find out more about Brian's work here: https://www.blobelwarming.com/ If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr. Jenny Mak is a writer and educator. Her work has been published in Entropy magazine, Read Me Anthology, and shortlisted in the 2012 InkTears Short Story Competition. Her PhD, from the University of Warwick, focused on embodied experiences of globalisation in contemporary world literature. She has taught English Literature and Creative Writing at LASALLE College of the Arts, Nanyang Technological University, and University of Warwick. In this episode we touch on a range of issues - from how PhD research can fuel creative work to learning to write within the PhD process - but we focus on how to manage perfectionist tendencies. We reflect on the urge to craft the perfect sentence/paragraph/chapter. We talk about why it is better to think in terms of milestones rather than deadlines. Jenny offers us her thoughts on how to break out of the perfectionism loop. We finish with a top tip that centres on community. You can contact Jenny here: Website: www.jennywhmak.com Twitter & Instagram: @jennywhmak If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

After her experience in graduate school Tonya Vetter set up The Dissertation Doctors to help others through. In this episode Tonya outlines what she calls "pursuing your PhD from the inside" - thinking about what you care about and who you want to serve with the work. We also talk about overcoming fear and shame within the doctorate and re-writing the story. We finish with a top tip for motivating yourself to keep moving forward. You can find out more about Tonya's work here: https://www.dissertationdr.us/ If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Jenn McClearen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radio, Television and Film at the University of Texas at Austin. In this episode she talks about how she has drawn on her martial arts practice to enrich her work as a researcher. Jenn reflects on her own feelings of failure in graduate school and how she worked to become less fearful about writing. She talks about how she applied her experience of training in martial arts to her PhD process and opened up to a different way of learning. Jenn explains the power of "beginner's mind" and we finish with a reminder about the importance of self kindness. You can access Jenn's 'Publish Not Perish' newsletter here: https://publishnotperish.substack.com/ Jenn's website is here: jennifermcclearen.com If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Brittney Johnson is an Educational Leadership, Administration & Policy Doctoral Student. She also works full-time as a teacher. In this episode we talk about managing energy and identifying priorities on the PhD journey. Brittney talks about the necessity of working in order to fund her doctoral studies and the challenges but also benefits of that situation. She reflects on the moment she realized that she was letting her work consume her too much and how she looked to redress the balance. Brittney speaks about the importance of her support system - particularly her mum! - and the power of believing in yourself and doing what's best for you. You can find Brittney on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/brittneyxedu/ If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Welcome to Season Seven!!! We will be back into the usual swing next week but we are starting out with a bit of a special edition on the theme of 'new beginnings' in conversation with my friend and colleague Allan Kilner-Johnson. In this episode we talk about how to maximise the possibilities of a fresh start at the beginning of the academic year. For those going into a new phase of their PhD study Allan offers some advice on how to rekindle the flame of your research. For those at the beginning of their doctoral journey Allan highlights the importance of being a reflective thinker. Finally Allan offers a model for a daily ritual to support your research process. The books that Allan mentions are: 'Mating in Captivity' by Esther Perel and 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron. If you would like to join us for the Plan-a-thon you can find out more here: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/plan-a-thon

It's the last episode of the season! And it's about to get messy!! Jamie Pei obtained her PhD in Women's Studies from the University of York in 2021 and is now a PhD & life coach. She has a particular interest in helping PhD students to work with the 'messiness' of research, addressing both the unpredictability and uncertainties of research itself, and also the surrounding factors, challenges and wellbeing issues within the doctoral experience. For this reason, she calls herself The Messy Coach, and believes that there is always magic to be found in the mess! In this episode Jamie talks about her background as a journalist and her journey into and through the PhD - including a very tricky viva. We discuss separating your identity from the PhD as a means of keeping perspective. Jamie explores the benefits of letting go of 'perfect' and the need to control. She also offers a top tip on how to make messiness work for you. The book I mention in the episode is 'The Wounded Researcher' by Robert Romanyshyn. You can listen to my podcast episode with Robert here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wounded-researcher-with-robert-romanyshyn/id1537420258?i=1000554749343 You can contact Jamie here: Website: jamiepei.com Twitter: @verymessyjamie Instagram: @verymessyjamie PhD mailing list: jamiepei.com/mail Mailing list: jamiepei.com/phdmail If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey and information on The PhD Book Club you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr. Katy Peplin turned her difficulties in graduate school into a coaching business built around the idea that you can be a scholar and a human at the same time. In this episode Katy talks about the processes that she put in place to support herself and manage her anxiety on her PhD journey. We discuss uncovering the unwritten codes of academia - particularly as a first generation postgrad. We identify the challenges of negotiating being both a professional and a student in the department. Katy posits the power in claiming the position of the 'learner' and shares some tips on developing your intellectual curiosity. You can connect with Katy via her website: thrive-phd.com On socials at @ThrivePhD and email: [email protected] If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Katie Barclay is Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in the History of Emotions, and Head of Historical and Classical Studies, University of Adelaide. She writes widely in the area of gender, family life and the history of emotions. In this episode we discuss her recently published book Academic Emotions: Feeling the Institution. We talk about the heightened emotional register of academia and Katie explores the central place of passion. We also talk about the socialisation process that happens as part of the PhD and how you should expect it to be a transformational process. Katie reflects on how things may have changed post-pandemic and what the emotions of the academy may be like going forward. You can find out more about Katie's work here: @KatieEBarclay – twitter https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/katie.barclay If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Anna Clemens is an academic writing coach with a background in Chemistry and a experience as a science journalist. In this episode we talk about developing your work for publication. We talk about Anna's own difficult PhD experience which led to her requesting a change of supervisor. We also talk about her love of writing which was developed through her doctoral journey. Anna shares advice on how to edit your work so that it is suitable for a journal. We also discuss the process of identifying the right place to publish your material. We end with a top tip to support your writing practice. The website Anna mentions in the episode which gives details on the speed of the review process for different journals is this: https://scirev.org/ You can make contact with Anna here: Website: https://www.annaclemens.com/ Twitter: @scientistswrite If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Isabeau Iqbal focuses on working with "ambitious perfectionists" and in this week's episode she helps us unpick perfectionism and understand the elements which may be at play. We talk about 'analysis paralysis' and the experience of stuckness. Iabeau points out the positive elements of the perfectionist mindset and suggests ways to identify and build on your strengths. Finally, Isabeau shares a top tip about priorities and orientating yourself. Following-up the episode, Isabeau has suggested 4 assessments for knowing your strengths: VIA Character Strengths Survey https://www.viacharacter.org/ (free) Standout by Marcus Buckingham: https://www.marcusbuckingham.com/ (free at present) High5: https://high5test.com/ (free) CliftonStrengths Assessment (paid) https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx You can find out more about Isabeu's work here: Website: www.isabeauiqbal.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/isabeauiqbal The PhD Life Raft will be running a 5 Day 'Perfectionism Purge' Challenge 4th-8th July. You can sign-up to the waitlist here: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/perfectwaitlist

Selina Busby is a Principal Lecturer in Applied Theatre at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her research and practice focus on theatre that invites the possibility of change, both in contemporary plays and in participatory performance. She has published widely in the field and is a co-editor of Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre. In this episode we talk about Selina's experience of conducting research and writing up a thesis as a person with dyslexia. We talk about the aspects of neurodiversity that Selina sees as making her a stronger researcher. Selina talks about her resistance to - and then love of! - having a support worker. We reflect on strategies for writing and editing. Selina shares the idea of "cognitive justice". You can find out more about Selina's work here: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/staff-profiles/dr-selina-busby

Ana Pineda is a scientist and a certified yoga instructor. Those two passions are combined in her mindful approach to academic life; developed with more than 15 years of research experience at top European Institutions, such as Wageningen University and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology. In today's episode, Ana shares how she started applying her learning around calming the mind that she gained in her yoga training to the challenges of writing research papers. She has continued to explore a mindful approach to academic life with an emphasis on bringing awareness to the moment. Ana talks about becoming aware of the fear that may be holding you back and suggests some strategies to help you manage that fear. We discuss bringing mindfulness to academic writing and Ana offers advice on how to make writing feel more pleasurable and less like a punishment! You can find out more about Ana's work here: https://www.ifocusandwrite.com/ If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang was one of my first guests on the podcast. His book Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less is one that I regularly recommend to PhD researchers. Alex is a visiting scholar in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology at Stanford University. He is also the founder of Strategy and Rest, a consultancy advising companies on how to implement 4-day weeks. It's this consultancy work that is the focus of our conversation. In this episode we talk about the possibilities for working outside the academy as well as how to manage your work within academia. Alex shares insights about how to make productive use of your time and offers advice on how best to structure your day. We finish with Alex's tips on creating an effective life balance as a researcher. You can find out more about Alex's work here: https://www.strategy.rest/

Usman Sikander is originally from Pakistan and moved to the UK to do a PhD in Advanced Composites (aerospace engineering) at the University of Bristol. He is currently writing up his thesis and working as a Teaching Assistant (TA) and a Chief Resident (C/SR) within the university. In this episode Usman shares his top tips for surviving your PhD - particularly as an international student but the information is certainly applicable to lots of home students too! Usman talks about his experience of culture shock and how this relates to the embodied experience of learning. We talk about the importance of a social circle and how you might make new friends. Usman reflects on the importance of developing hobbies and activities outside his research. We talk about looking after yourself more generally - from cooking to finances. Usman finishes with a reminder about the PhD as a process - not only of intellectual development but personal development too! The books that Usman recommends are: 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear 'Can't Hurt Me' by David Goggins You can contact Usman here: Twitter: @usmansikander_1 Instagram: usmansikander_1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/usikander/ If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr Petra Boynton is an Agony Aunt and Social Psychologist. She specialises in International Health Research from a Critical Perspective. Her books include The Research Companion and Being Well in Academia.In this episode Petra begins by reflecting on her journey through her self-funded PhD. We then address the issue of bullying in academia. We talk about Petra's own experience of witnessing bullying in academia, as well as being bullied. We explore what to do if you are being bullied and Petra also shares advice for those who are aware that bullying is happening to someone else. If you have been affected by these issues you should check your university's Codes of Conduct and regulations, alongside ethical guidance. You might also want to join or form a union. You can find Petra's book is here: https://www.amazon.com/Being-Academia-Insider-Guides-Success/dp/0367186705/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20LC8NPQR93BH&keywords=petra+boynton&qid=1652043010&sprefix=petra+boynton%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1 You can sign up here to 'Notes From The Life Raft' - a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

A 2021 survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education found that almost 70% of US faculty members were experiencing a level of burnout. Stress and burnout are certainly very common in the academy and the pandemic has only made that worse. In this episode Nicole Janz, writer, scholar and coach, discusses her own experience of burnout within the university and what she learnt from it. We talk about symptoms and how to identify burnout. We talk about making space to check-in with yourself - and the importance of putting it in your calendar. Nicole suggests a process of reframing your story and gives a top tip around being kind to yourself. You can find out more and make contact with Nicole here: https://nicolejanz.com/ As part of the episode we reference the work of Rowena Murray. You can find her podcast episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/how-to-finish-your-thesis-with-rowena-murray/id1537420258?i=1000512099557 We also talk about Catherine Pope. Her podcast episode is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/managing-self-care-on-the-phd-journey-with-catherine-pope/id1537420258?i=1000548140262 Both Rowena and Catherine were part of the recent PhD Life Raft Summit and you can gain access to the replays of their live sessions - as well as Catherine's ecourses on 'How to Edit Your Own Academic Writing' and 'Preparing for Your Viva'; Rowena's article documenting her work; and lots of other resources - in the PhD Life Raft Summit bonus bundle. The bundle is available to purchase until Monday 9th May for £48 (the price will then increase to £99). You can find out more here: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/jxF199

After a life changing event with breast cancer, Annie French enrolled onto an Art foundation course and has never looked back. She discovered a passion for creativity and a love of research that is leading her into a PhD. Parallel to this, Annie's yoga practice has sustained her and help her deal with the stresses and challenges that has come her way.In this episode we talk about the particular benefits of yoga for PhD researchers. We discuss self-care; noticing patterns of behaviour and Annie offers a very simple 're-set' practice that you can do anywhere! Annie will be running a 'Yoga for the PhD' session as part of The PhD Life Raft Summit. You can save your seat for free here: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/phdliferaftsummit You can find out more about Annie's work here: https://www.healthylivingwithannie.co.uk/

This week's episode is a little bit different… As I look forward to welcoming you to The PhD Life Raft Summit (25th-29th April) I wanted to share a little bit about my story and why I do what I do… I talk about the passion to explore my subject which brought me back into academia and the challenges to my mental health that I experienced through my 5 years as a PhD student. I also stress the importance of community and the message that you are not alone which sits at the heart of my work and drives the whole summit project! To sign-up for the summit simply follow this link: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/phdliferaftsummit

It's the final episode of the season!! This episode focuses on Robert Romanyshyn's book The Wounded Researcher: Research with Soul in Mind. This text looks at the subconscious processes at play in the research process - from how research is a vocation to dreams as a route to revelation. It opens up an alternative approach to the PhD journey and offers a range of strategies for engaging with research material. Robert Romanyshyn was the first non-analyst elected as an Affiliate Member of The Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts based upon his scholarly contributions to Jungian psychology. A Fellow of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, he co-founded in 1972 an interdisciplinary program in existential-phenomenological psychology and literature at the University of Dallas. In 1991 he moved to Pacifica Graduate Institute to create an interdisciplinary doctoral program in clinical psychology with an emphasis on depth psychology. In this episode we explore how the PhD researcher is chosen by their topic. Robert explains the idea of 'unfinished business' within the research. We also talk about how doing a PhD is like falling in love! Some further reading Robert suggests is: Bachelard, G Poetics of Reverie, London: Beacon Press, 1992 Goodchild, V Eros and Chaos, New York: Hays, 2004. Romanyshyn, R The Wounded Researcher: Making a Place for Unconscious Factors in the Research Process (2010), The Humanistic Psychologist, 38 (4), 275-304. You can connect with Robert via his website: RobertRomanyshyn.com. If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Jessamy Gleeson currently works as a Senior Lecturer within the National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation (NIKERI) Institute at Deakin University. She has also worked at Monash University within the Art, Design, and Architecture department, and at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. Her PhD, from Swinburne University, was focused on contemporary forms of feminist activism within social media. Jessamy's article Troubling/trouble in the academy: posttraumatic stress disorder and sexual abuse research. High Educ (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-021-00764-x is an autoethnographic exploration of the impact that research can have on the researcher. In this episode we talk further about Jessamy's own diagnosis of PTSD and reflect on how this was handled within the academy. Jessamy also highlights the vulnerability of PhD researchers and we talk more generally about processes such as the ethics committee and measures that might safeguard individual scholars. If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

I know that many people can relate to thinking "I'm not smart enough to finish this PhD". This inner critical voice can, in itself, be paralysing and feed into a downward spiral where lack of progress feeds self-doubt which leads to lack of progress which feeds self doubt and so on and so painful… This week's episode is a positivity pep-talk from Kaylie Zapanta a current doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California. Kaylie has a background as an exercise coach and trainer and she is employing the motivational skills she uses with clients to support herself on her PhD journey. In this episode we recognise the importance of mindset and explore learning how to learn and the growth mindset. We talk about perfectionism and how to overcome perfectionist tendencies. Kaylie also shares her top tip for other PhD researchers. You can connect with Kaylie on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/kayliezapanta/?hl=en and on linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylie-zapanta/

Ires Ghelien is a health care psychologist from Holland who draws on her own experience as a PhD researcher to help others navigate the PhD journey. In this episode we dive into her story of burnout and what she discovered through recovery about doing the PhD her own way! Ires talks about the importance of mindset and of approaching things as an experiment. She also shares some thoughts about how to communicate effectively with your supervisor. Ires emphasizes the importance of looking after yourself and encourages you to see yourself as a pro-athlete! You can find out more about Ires here: www.hulpbijwetenschappelijkonderzoek.nl If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Kaelyn Grace Apple is a second year combined PhD student in the Department of History and African American Studies at Yale. One of her passions is demystifying academia and providing access routes to higher education and, as part of this work, she launched her own You Tube channel TheRedHeadAcademic. In this episode we Kaelyn shares her story - from not wanting to go to college at all to wanting to get on to a PhD programme! She talks about how she found support on You Tube that helped her develop the skills she needed and believe that she was smart enough. Kaelyn emphasizes the importance of trusting your gut and doing what works for you. We also address what exactly it is that PhD researchers do all day!! You can find out more about Kaelyn and her work with Accepted Society here: https://acceptedconsulting.com/ You can sign up here for 'Notes from the Life Raft' - a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey - https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

We all have that inner critical voice and this week's guest is going to help us deal with it! Amy Boyd was a K-12 educational leader who wrote her dissertation part-time while working. The challenges she experienced on her own journey led to her working to support other women in their doctoral studies. In this episode we talk about perfectionist tendencies and how to overcome them. We explore how the PhD journey can transform the person you are. We also think about how tapping into the future "Dr You" can help deal with what Amy calls the "inner mean girl"!You can find out more about Amy's work here: https://www.writethedamndissertation.com/ You can sign up to regular love notes from the Life Raft here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Sajni Haria is a research fellow scientist and entrepreneurial lead in a Chemistry research group at the University of Birmingham. She recently completed her PhD, where she designed and developed luminescent materials beneficial for targeted cancer therapy and enhanced diagnosis. Taking on multiple workstreams, with the added pressures of a PhD she found herself experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions throughout her PhD journey. In this episode we particularly focus on what she learnt about managing anxiety. We talk about the importance of taking a break and how rest can help you to keep perspective. We talk about finding well-being tools that support you - and Sajni shares some that she found particularly useful. Sajni shares her top tip for looking at your project "top down". You can sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' a useful weekly email with info to support your PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr Rachel Marsh has a PhD in satire and teaches in the Humanities with the Open University. She is also the lead academic for the Online Pre-PhD Programme with Oxford International. Rachel has previously worked at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Dundee, and the University of St Andrews, helping international students at all levels develop critical skill sets. In this episode we discuss coming to the PhD later as part of a lifetime learning process and Rachel's own experience of a 'starter' PhD. We then talk about Rachel's work on creating a pre-PhD programme and the sort of preparation that may be useful before starting your thesis - both academic skills and wider well-being considerations. Rachel highlights the importance of trusting yourself and seeing your role as an expert in the field develop throughout the PhD process. After the recording Rachel, with characteristic generosity of spirit, sent me some thoughts to add to these notes. She says: "I had noted in the podcast that I had started a PhD at one institution, but upon realising it wasn't a good fit a downsized to an MPhil. I would like to take this opportunity to add that 'a mis-matched fit' between student and PhD programme in no way reflects poorly upon the institution. The search for the perfect PhD programme is a bit like dating. Someone might have a wonderful dating profile, tick all the boxes, but when you meet there's just no chemistry. It doesn't mean they're a bad person; they're just not the person for you. In fact, you may go on to be friends, or business partners, or you may even set them up with your friend. They just weren't 'the one'. That is finding a PhD programme. In fact, during my PhD to MPhil process I began working with the institution in various professional staff capacities, and these roles continued long after I graduated. I learned a lot from that institution – not just about the PhD process, but also about how Higher Education in the UK works. Moreover, to show that there were no hard feelings, I returned to teach international students as a lecturer. Therefore, with this in mind, I'd like to add the following additional advice – don't turn your back on opportunities. Something that may not pan out for a Doctorate, may be just the right fit for something else". To find out more about the programme Rachel is developing contact Linda Sandberg at [email protected]. You can sign up for the weekly 'Notes from the Life Raft' and receive tips and support directly to your inbox! Just click here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

This week's guest is David Vincent, Emeritus Professor of Social History at the Open University where he was Pro Vice Chancellor from 2003 to 2010. He obtained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics from the University of York, and a PhD from Cambridge University. In this episode we talk about David's experience of the PhD and his decision to fire his original PhD supervisor! David has published widely on modern British and European history, including studies of working-class autobiography, literacy and popular culture and we focus on his recent book on solitude as a springboard to consider the experience of loneliness on the PhD journey. We think about how the transitional nature of the PhD experience can be a trigger for loneliness and the difference between loneliness and solitude. We also discuss the challenges that some people face in finding their own space to study. David talks about the importance of "keeping in motion" - which might literally mean taking your PhD for a walk! You can find David's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Solitude-David-Vincent/dp/1509536590/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OVU9458273JX&keywords=a+history+of+solitude&qid=1643032308&sprefix=a+history+of+solitude%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-1 And here is the link to The Cinnamon Trust whose work we discuss in the episode: https://cinnamon.org.uk/ You can sign up here to 'Note from the Life Raft' - a useful weekly email to support your PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

This week's episode is both inspirational and a cautionary tale. Catherine Pope was awarded her PhD by the University of Sussex in 2014. She talks about her own PhD experience both in terms of how she utilised her professional project-management skills within her doctoral journey but also how her own health was compromised as she undertook studying alongside full-time work. Catherine went straight into a Master's programme having not been to university before. She then went on to complete her PhD working weekends. We talk about the challenges of that way of working and how to look after yourself along that journey. We talk about setting up useful routines and what to do when you are having a bad day. Catherine discusses her use of Focusmate to structure her routine: https://www.focusmate.com/ We also talk about doing things your future self will thank you for and Catherine proposes the idea of the 'Minimum Viable Thesis'. You can find out more about Catherine's work - including her books How to Finish Your PhD and How to Publish Your PhD here: www.phdprogress.com. Sign up to 'Notes from the Life Raft' and receive a weekly email with useful info to support you on the PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Welcome to Season Five!! What better way to start than with ABBA?! This week's guest Shanika Ranasinghe is a fourth-year part-time ethnomusicology PhD student in the Department of Music – Royal Holloway, University of London. Her thesis constitutes an ethnographic study of twenty-first century ABBA fandom. In this episode we discuss how ABBA's recent reform led Shanika to re-think her PhD topic and how she managed that shift. We also talk about the media interest that Shanika's work has attracted - she has recently appeared on Swedish and British national TV, as well as UK, Australian, and New Zealand radio. You can find The Conversation article that Shanika references in the interview here: https://theconversation.com/abba-who-actually-likes-them-167401 . As we discuss, The Conversation can be a really useful platform for disseminating research material and often gets picked up by journalists. Shanika shares top tips about maintaining your integrity as well as the importance of community. Support The PhD Podcast on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/thephdliferaft

In the great tradition of British TV we are re-running our Christmas special! This episode has not one, but two guests! Chloé Bradwell is a Drama practitioner and SWW DTP funded PhD candidate at the University of Exeter and Aberystwyth University and Rachel Hopkin is a full-time, TECHNE funded PhD in the Media Arts department at Royal Holloway. Like Chloé she has returned to study after experience in industry and has worked with two of the largest theatrical agencies in the UK. In this seasonal episode we think about how to handle the holidays as a PhD student…. We talk about guilt; we talk about exhaustion; but we also talk about how to make the most of what this period may offer. Rachel is looking forward to a change in pace after a pressurised first term and Chloe's plans for the holidays are built around spending time with her daughter. We talk about how rest can be a productive activity and Rachel also shares some tips on how to build a support network – even if you are an introvert! The PhD Life Raft will be back with a new season on 11th January 2022 but, in the meantime you are very welcome to join Emma for two special events. The PhD Year Review takes place on 21st December - you can find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/review-of-the-year-for-phd-researchers-tickets-180825422707 Or you might want to kick-start 2022 with The PhD Plan-a-thon - you can save your seat here: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/plan-a-thon Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year!

This week we are welcoming back the marvellous Allan Kilner-Johnson! Allan is mindfulness meditation teacher alongside his work as a Senior Lecturer in English Literature and Associate Dean of Postgraduate Research at the University of Surrey. Allan talks us through the importance of the process of review within his own academic life. We talk about how academia can be very forward-focused and how a lot can be gained from taking stock of the previous work and experience. Allan draws on Kolb's experiential learning model to illustrate how review sits within a productive work cycle. We talk about how it can be important to create moments of reflection for yourself within the PhD journey and how this time of year can be a particularly useful moment to look back at the past year in order to prepare yourself for the year ahead. Allan and I are co-facilitating a review of the year for PhD researchers on 21st December. This will be an online event supported by a bespoke workbook. You can find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/180825422707 You can connect to Allan here: www.allankilnerjohnson.com https://www.instagram.com/allankilnerjohnson/ https://www.facebook.com/allankilnerjohnson https://twitter.com/thisisallan Here are the links to the publications mentioned in the episode: Daily Greatness Journal: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daily-Greatness-Journal-Minimalist-Productive/dp/B08VBH5MLZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=XDES0HRB3LSW&keywords=the+daily+greatness+journal&qid=1638796471&sprefix=the+daily+greatness+%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-3 Legend Planner: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=legend+planner&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 6 Minute Journal: https://www.amazon.co.uk/6-Minute-Success-Journal-Motivation-Mindfulness/dp/B08HZBTK2Q/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=6%2Bminute%2Bjournal&qid=1638796535&sr=8-6&th=1 Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodbye-2021-Hello-2022-Design/dp/1911682156/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1LKKKO8Y4VDH8&keywords=hello+2022&qid=1638796617&sprefix=hello+2022%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-3

This week's episode focuses on 'finding your voice' - both in terms of having confidence to speak about your work but also the process of discovering a way of writing about your research ideas. Our guest is Rebecca McCutcheon, a director and practice-led researcher, working across site-based practice, feminist performance and feminist theatre history. Becs talks about her own journey into the PhD through her creative practice and the experience of being pregnant whilst undertaking her doctoral research. She discusses the importance of the team of people who supported her through her PhD. Becs describes the challenges of finding her own distinct academic voice and the advice that her supervisor gave her which helped to take her forward. Becs also shares her advice about how to begin sharing your work publicly. You can find out more about Becs' work here: https://pure.royalholloway.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/rebecca-mccutcheon(84c0dadc-dfa4-4449-a076-6bc3a7afd4cb).html Sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' - a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

This week's guest is Alison Miller AKA The Dissertation Coach. Alison created 'The Academic Writers' Space' to provide structure and support doctoral students and academics and then, in 2000, she developed this work through The Dissertation Coach which provides programmes and specialist coaching for researchers. In this episode Alison talks about her own experience of imposter syndrome during her doctoral studies and how she developed structures to support her own mental well-being. Alison talks about her 'project management' approach to the PhD and how she built an infrastructure for engaged and meaningful productivity. We talk about the importance of both internal and external tracking as a means to keep yourself on-course. We also reflect on how clarity can be the antidote to procrastination. Alison introduces what she terms "environmental alignment" as a means to set yourself up for success. We finish with the invitation to work with the version of you that showed up to work! You can find out more about Alison's work here: https://www.thedissertationcoach.com/ You can find Alison's book 'Finish Your Dissertation Once and for All! How to Overcome Psychological Barriers, Get Results and Move on with Your Life here: https://amzn.to/3nFmfx8 Sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' - a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

This week we are talking to Lisa Munro who specialises in helping academic writers through writing retreats, workshops, coaching, and editing. Lisa talks about her journey into and through her PhD. She also discusses how this led to her current work and business. We discuss how to avoid the shame and fear that writing can bring up and to look to cultivate joyful writing practices instead. Lisa talks about the power of writing with others and about her 'shut up and write' sessions. She also reflects on the importance of celebrating achievements. Lisa's top tip is to see writing as a practice rather than an event and suggests strategies fo development. You can find out more about Lisa's work here: website: lisamunro.net (under construction for a month or so more for a relaunch) Twitter: twitter.com/llmunro Sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' - a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

This week's guest is the fabulous Tara Brabazon. Tara is the dean of graduate research and professor of cultural studies at Flinders University, Australia; a fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce; and director of the Popular Culture Collective. Tara has a fabulous YouTube channel with a wealth of advice for postgraduate researchers covering a whole range of topics (https://www.youtube.com/user/TaraBrabazon) In this episode we talk about procrastination. Tara talks about her own experience of poor supervision as a graduate student and how she applied the lessons she learnt from that experience. We talk about motivation and how to use time orientation and task orientation to break the PhD down into manageable chunks. Tara identifies the links between procrastination and perfectionism and stresses the importance of taking action. We finish with Tara's challenge to try and get up an hour earlier and use that time for PhD work. Let us know how that works for you! You can find out more about Tara's work here: https://brabazon.net/ You can sign up for 'Note for the Life Raft' - a weekly email with helpful info to support your PhD journey here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr Sarita Robinson (aka Dr Survival®) has spent the last 20 years researching how people respond to life-threatening situations. Using a psychobiological approach, Sarita has explored human behaviour in relation to preparedness, cognitive and physiological responses during stressful events, and recovery from trauma. In this episode Sarita applies what she has learnt from her survival research to help navigate the stresses of the PhD. We talk about how a near fatal experience was the catalyst for Sarita's own PhD journey. We talk about the stressful nature of the PhD and how it is important to gather the right resources to support yourself. Sarita talks about the importance of support and the experience of 'trauma bonding' - where people in extreme situations form very strong connections - and how this can happen on the PhD journey. Sarita also challenges the conventional understanding of what it means to be resilient within your doctoral study and suggests that sometimes you need to make changes to a toxic environment rather than just enduring it. You can find out more about Sarita's work here: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/academics/sarita-robinson drsurvival – The psychology of survival Email - [email protected] The doors to The PhD Detox with Dr Emma Brodzinski are closing! 6 weeks to de-toxify your PhD journey… You can find out more here: https://emmab.kartra.com/page/detoxyourphd

This week's guest is Dr Juliane Borchert, an experimental physicist, occasional poet, and gardening enthusiast! She studied in Berlin, Halle (Saale), Groningen, and Oxford. She was awarded a DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Oxford and is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge and AMOLF institute in Amsterdam. Her research focuses on novel materials for use in solar cells and LEDs. She is active in several initiatives to make physics more inclusive and equitable, including 'TIGERS - The Inclusion Group for Equity in Research in STEMM'. Juliane shares her experience of moving to the UK to take up a PhD position at Oxford and the challenges of negotiating new university systems and cultural contexts. She also talks about the ups and downs of collaborative working within a research group - including the tricky issue of publication credits. Juliane's top tip is to draw on the expertise of others rather than looking to reinvent the wheel for yourself. Juliane is on twitter @PV_Physicist Sign up for 'Notes from the Life Raft' - a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft