The PhD Life Raft Podcast

Nicole Patrie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Safety and Justice Studies at MacEwan University, and a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta, specializing in Adult Education. Nicole has been involved in prison education at all levels: as a teacher, administrator, and now researcher, for over 15 years. Her research focus is on the role of education and learning in the criminal justice system. In this episode Nicole shares her own journey as a first generation PhD scholar. We talk about a range of challenges from practical resources to self-confidence. We discuss hidden support systems and the importance of accessing the help you need. Nicole encourages us all to ‘pay it forward’. Nicole ends with an encouraging mantra that every PhD researcher needs to remember! Contact details: website, email, social media https://nicolepatrie.weebly.com/ patrien2@macewan.ca @nicolepatrie.bsky.social @patrie_nicole (twitter) For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Vicky Laina is a learning scientist with a focus on educational technologies in mathematics teaching and learning. She designs and studies learning experiences where the use of technology can support epistemic transparency and collaborative thinking amongst youth, with the goal of helping students reimagine what doing mathematics can look and feel like. Vicky has lived, worked and studied in 5 different countries and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz, Austria. In this episode we explore the challenges and benefits of being an international PhD student. Vicky shares tips about the application process and funding options. She also opens up about the logistical problems of international study and how she navigated them. We reflect on the cultural differences that may impact on your work but also on how the experience of studying abroad can enrich your journey. You can make contact with Vicky here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasilikilaina/ For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Gina Holmes has worked both in industry and academia - with over two decades of experience in Higher Education. As well as her own research experience she has worked with dozens of doctoral candidates and hundreds (maybe more) of Master’s students, supporting them to complete theses they are proud of and which enable them to move on in their career. In this episode we discuss the relationship between the PhD researcher and the supervisor/supervisory team. We explore the issues that may arise and how you might navigate them in a way that supports both your research process and your own mental health. Gina shares advice about managing supervision meetings as well as inviting reflection on how the relationship between researcher and supervisor may evolve during the PhD journey. You can find out more about Gina and her work at www.drginaholmes.com Follow Gina on facebook or LinkedIn: www.facebook.com/drginaholmes and www.linkedin.com/in/drginaholmes For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Wafaa Aldhfairi is a PhD candidate at UNMC, specializing in pharmaceutical sciences with a master's degree in the field. She's also the creator of the "Pharma Weekly Digest," a newsletter that shares the latest pharmaceutical news, making industry updates accessible to all. In this episode we discuss the PhD journey, research and how substack can contribute! Wafaa shares her experiences of how she has used substack both to inform and disseminate her PhD research. We talk about the challenges of curating a newsletter alongside the PhD as well as the benefits of regular writing deadlines! We open up into a consideration of how to contribute to the wider research conversation. You can find Wafaa’s substack here: https://pharmaweeklydigest.substack.com/ For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Naomi finished her PhD in 2006, worked part-time and then full-time in commercial research and then re-entered academia as a Research Fellow at University College Cork, Ireland. She gained permanency in 2010 at the University of Plymouth, UK, but then decided to leave academia (again!) and started her entrepreneurial journey in 2019. She now runs Research Your Way Ltd, which provides bespoke research, evaluation and impact services to social purpose organisations. In this episode we explore ‘alt ac’ career paths for PhDs. Naomi encourages PhD holders to consider their skills and experience beyond academia, and suggests why their value may be higher in other sectors. She shares her personal journey and highlights some options for researchers who want to continue researching but work outside of a university setting. We end with a top tip on career planning. You can make contact with Naomi here: naomityrrell@researchyourway.com Career Development Newsletter (subscribepage.io) https://www.facebook.com/groups/altaccareersuk/ For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Amal Abuzeinab, PhD is an architect, advisor, and academic at De Montfort University (DMU), School of Art, Design, and Architecture (ADA). Prior to joining academia, Amal practiced both in Sudan and UK.Amal is the Institute Head of Research Students – Institute of Architecture. Her leadership is guided and informed by the principles and practices of flourishing human from Positive Psychology. Amal supervises and examines Postgraduate researchers (PGRs) since 2016 focusing on Architecture, Built Environment, and related disciplines. She served as the Co-Faculty Head of Research Students (FHRS) for the Faculty of Arts, Design, and Humanities between 2017-2020. In this episode Amal shares advice about disseminating your PhD findings. She offers a ‘laddered’ process which will help you to build your confidence in discussing your research. We also discuss how being strategic about your dissemination can help you to prepare for a successful viva. Amal finishes with a top tip from her perspective as a PhD examiner on how you can assure your examiners about the quality of your thesis. Amal has created a range of toolkits to enhance competence of both PGRs and supervisors - here are the links to two of them: Links to open toolkits: 7 principles for PhD completion.pdf (edgehill.ac.uk) Checklist to write for publications.pdf (edgehill.ac.uk) For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

If you are feeling paralysed by anxiety as to what your supervisor might think of your latest chapter or just doubting whether you are even capable of finishing the PhD at all then this is the episode for you! Mandy Lehto is a reknowned executive coach. After her doctorate she worked in investment banking and has also been a columnist for ‘Psychologies’ magazine as well as contributing to a number of other publications including ‘The Huffington Post and The Times. She now hosts “Enough the Podcast” alongside her private practice. In this episode Mandy draws on her research and shares her insights into the concept of ‘enoughness’ and how it can help avoid self-sabotage and stuckness. She emphasizes the importance of questioning negative self-talk and suggests practices to reduce emotional reactivity. In the episode we explore the fear and uncertainty of the doctoral process and how embracing the ‘boring basics’ can help to ground us. You can find Mandy here: WWW.MANDYLEHTO.COM Linked In - @mandylehto Instagram - Mandy Lehto Enough, the Podcast on Spotify & Apple Here are the details for The Curiosity Chronicle Sahil Bloom which Mandy mentions: https://sahilbloom.substack.com/ For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Piangfan Naksukpaiboon is currently an Early Stage Researcher and doctoral candidate in Medicine focusing on cancer genomics at the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's University Belfast on the SPaRK program which is a Horizon2020 funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral training programme. Her move to Norway was when she discovered that she has Asperger’s Syndrome. However, she never let it define who she is. In this episode Piangfun discusses her experiences as a neurodivergent scholar, including facing skepticism about her abilities. She discusses negotiating ableism in academia and her process of self-advocacy. Piangfun also shares how facing illness led to her passion for archery and how interests outside the PhD have helped her on the journey. We finish with a top tip about being honest with yourself and others. You can find Piangfan Naksukpaiboon here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piangfannaksukpaiboon/ You can find a transcript of this episode at thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Krysten Blackstone is a Lecturer in International and Military History at the University of Salford, where she has been since 2022. She is a social and military historian of Early America and her current work examines the morale of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. As a PhD student she worked on and was chair of the blog Pubs and Publications: The PhD Experience where she wrote a number of blog posts on similar topics. She also works on the book reviews team for the Journal of American Studies. In this episode Krysten shares her strategies for networking at academic conferences. We talk about feelings of anxiety and how you can ‘break the ice’ when meeting new people. We also discuss how to manage those awkward coffee breaks! Throughout our chat Krysten emphasizes the importance of approaching networking with a spirit of curiosity and generosity and how this can lead to meaningful connections and successful relationships. You can contact Krysten here: k.e.blackstone@salford.ac.uk @KEBlackstone on twitter krystenblackstone.com You can access the transcript for this episode here: thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Arun Ulahannan is an Assistant Professor at Coventry University, where he leads a range of user research and UX projects on transport accessibility, future transport, and gender inclusivity. He is passionate about creating and sharing knowledge that can inform and inspire policy, practice, and education in the transport sector and beyond. He also co-hosts the How to PhD podcast, a show that helps PhD candidates with the practical and essential skills they need for their academic journey. In this episode we discuss the challenge of comparing yourself to other PhD researchers. Arun discusses his own feelings of inadequacy and self doubt during his doctoral study. We explore how to cope when imposter syndrome strikes and why uncertainty might be a sign that you are a good researcher! Arun leaves us with a top tip about creating effective working relationships. You can find out more about Arun here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aruntu/ And can get more information about his podcast ‘How to PhD’ here: https://www.howtophd.show/ For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr Elizabeth Yardley graduated from Aston Business School in 2007 with a PhD exploring young parent’s experiences of stigma. She has worked in UK universities since then, teaching and researching a range of social science subjects including sociology, social policy and criminology. In 2021, she set up Degree Doctor to help overwhelmed PhD students experiencing a range of issues including perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Her resources not only help students with the how-to elements of a PhD but support them as they navigate the messy and magical emotions of the doctoral journey. In this episode we discuss the challenges of procrastination during a PhD journey - including fear of failure and criticism. We consider how procrastination can turn small tasks into massive ones, creating a vicious cycle of delay and emotional distress. Elizabeth offers some practical strategies for dealing with procrastination as well as highlighting the underlying issues that may be at play. She also emphasizes the importance of self compassion and leaves us with a game-changing top tip to help you keep your momentum going. You can find out more about Elizabeth’s work here: Degree Doctor YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DegreeDoctor Degree Doctor Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thedegreedoctor/ Degree Doctor Website https://www.thedegreedoctor.com/ Direct link to Procrastination First Aid Worksheet https://www.thedegreedoctor.com/procrastination-first-aid-opt-in Etsy Shop - PhD Planners and Study Guides https://theplanningprofessor.etsy.com (Use code PHDLIFERAFT33 for 33% off anything in the shop) For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Victoria has more than 10 years experience as a consultant medical herbalist and functional medicine practitioner and is also a trained wellness coach. In this episode Victoria reflects on her journey through her PhD and into her career as a research scientist where she struggled to manage a chronic health condition that left her in pain on a daily basis. She shares the changes she made that enabled her to improve her long term health and become pain free. We focus on the Solstice and seasonal practices that can promote well-being and provide rest and revitalization. Get ready for an episode that will ignite your journey! You can connect to Victoria here: Email:victoria@thelivingherb.com Web: www.naturalmenopausesolution.co.uk https://calendly.com/naturalmenopausesolution www.linkedin.com/victoria-wright-phd www.facebook.com/thelivingherb For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Allan Johnson is Associate Professor in English Literature & Associate Dean (Doctoral College), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Alongside this work he is also a mindfulness teacher and co-facilitator of The PhD Circle with Emma Brodzinski. In this episode Allan shares his own “fork in the road” experience that led hime into his research topic. Allan highlights the different phases within the doctorate and why some moments might feel more difficult than others. He discusses how Campbell’s model of the Hero(ine)’s journey might help with managing challenges and maintaining motivation on the transformative journey of undertaking a PhD. He finishes with a top tip that Star Wars fans will love! You can connect to Allan here: www.allankilnerjohnson.com https://www.instagram.com/allankilnerjohnson/ https://www.facebook.com/allankilnerjohnson https://twitter.com/thisisallan For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr Kathleen Vacek is an academic writing coach who researches lived experiences of doctoral writing and scholarly publishing. During the course of her PhD, she became a mother and left her full-time academic staff position. She was supported on this rocky journey by a doctoral writing group she formed with members of her program cohort. In this episode Kate shares how her group was formed and maintained and reflects on her experience of what worked and what was not so useful. She also offers some alternative models for doctoral writing groups and advice for those who would like to try this way of working. Here is the info on the Sarah Haas chapter Kate mentions in the chapter and the article she wrote with her colleagues on their experience Haas, Sarah. "Pick-N-Mix: A Typology of Writers’ Groups in Use." In Writing Groups for Doctoral Education and Beyond: Innovations in Practice and Theory, edited by Claire Aitchison and Cally Guerin, 30-48. London: Routledge, 2014. Kathleen Vacek, William J. Donohue, Amanda Gates, Alice Shu-Ju Lee & Shelah Simpson (2021) Seeking balance within personal writing ecologies: a collaborative autoethnography of a doctoral student writing group, Studies in Continuing Education, 43:1, 104-118, DOI: 10.1080/0158037X.2019.1703670 You can contact Kate here: kate@yourphdcompass.com yourphdcompass.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/compass-academic-coaching/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091276196636 https://www.instagram.com/yourphdcompass/ For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com

Amy Bonsall has completed her PhD at Leeds University. Her thesis was recognised as demonstrating exemplary research in the field of practice-led research in intercultural Shakespeare theatre performance. She is also the associate artistic director of Bilimankhwe arts and continues to direct professional, commercial theatre productions. Amy founded the Women in Academia Support Network #WIASN a group of 10,000 women academics from around the world. In this episode Amy shares the challenges that she faced during her PhD journey from caring for small children to physical ill health. She reflects on her feelings of overwhelm and her struggles with writer’s block. Amy discusses her decision to take a six-month break from her PhD and how she managed her time. Support from her ‘team’ was central to Amy’s successful completion and she talks about the organisation Women in Academia Support Network (WIASN) which she co-founded. You can find out more about WIASN here: https://www.wiasn.org/ You can connect with Amy on Twitter/X - @AmyBonsallPhD For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Denise Venturi is Ph.D. Candidate in International Law at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Her research focuses on the concept of vulnerability with reference to LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers and refugees. At present, she is a Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology (Halle-Saale, Germany). She has worked for UNHCR in various protection roles, with a focus on refugee status determination, capacity building, and law and policy analysis. She has been Asylum Liaison Officer with the UNHCR Liaison Office to the EU Asylum Agency and focal point on claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity with UNHCR Italy. With UNHCR, she has also worked on protection monitoring and reporting, as well as on advocacy and strategic litigation. In this episode we discuss the challenges that Denise has faced in engaging with her PhD while working full-time. She shares how her professional work led her into her PhD study and how the process of the PhD has served to develop her career. Denise outlines the difficulty of juggling full-time work with the UN and her PhD studies, leading to challenges in productivity. She talks about her experience of overwhelm and her decision to take some time out of the PhD in order to focus on her job and then taking a sabbatical from work to focus on her PhD! Denise’s top tip for others is around finding both practical and emotional support. For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Nicholas Dirks is President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences, one of the oldest scientific organizations in the United States. Previously, Nick served as Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley and Executive VP and Dean of the Faculty for Arts and Sciences at Columbia University. He is the author of eight books, including the forthcoming book, City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University. In this episode shares his own experience of the PhD and starting out on an academic career. Nicholas offers his perspective on the changing culture of academia and the particular challenges and opportunities that are in play. He then explores the idea of graduate education and alternative forms of knowledge production and dissemination. Nicholas emphasizes the importance of connecting graduate programs with pressing global issues, such as AI, climate change, and geopolitical tensions, in order to prepare doctoral candidates for meaningful contributions to the world beyond academia. We finish the episode with a top tip around writing and inspiration. You can connect with Nicholas here: Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickdirks Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-dirks-84a1ab149/ Website: https://www.nicholasbdirks.com/ For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Jen Polk did her PhD in History from the University of Toronto and went on to launch from Ph.D. to Life, a career coaching and speaking business. She specialises in graduate education and careers for doctoral degree holders. She’s also a guest speaker on university campuses and academic and professional conferences throughout North America and beyond. In this episode we focus on life after completing a PhD and the transition from academia to the professional world. Jen emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and offers some key questions to complete before embarking on a job search. We acknowledge the challenges of the current job market and Jen offers ideas to help navigate them. Jen highlights the importance of informational interviews and provides practical tips for setting them up. You can find out more about Jen’s work here: https://fromphdtolife.com/ For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr. Kate Massey-Chase is an academic, facilitator, activist, performer and writer. She’s a Lecturer at Plymouth Marjon University, where she’s leading a new MA in Arts, Health and Wellbeing. As a creative arts practitioner, she has worked across a range of educational and community settings, including delivering theatre-based and creative writing projects with young migrants, recovering addicts, prisoners and mental health service users. In this episode Kate shares her remarkable journey through the challenges of navigating a PhD while trying to start a family. CONTENT WARNING - This episode touches on issues including miscarriage and failed IVF cycles. Kate discusses how ‘firsts’ on the PhD and fertility journey happened simultaneously. She reflects on the struggles of managing the "messy middle" of the PhD journey while dealing with personal loss and fertility treatments but also shares how the PhD served as a creative outlet. Kate emphasizes the importance of trusting your instincts and being adaptable in the face of unexpected challenges and the significance of rest and self-care. The episode finishes with a top tip to help people keep moving forward. You can contact Kate here: email : kmassey-chase@marjon.ac.uk Socials: @KateMasseyChase This is the MA that Kate mentions in the episode: https://www.marjon.ac.uk/courses/arts-health-wellbeing-masters/ For more information about IVF: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf/ For support for the fertility journey: https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ https://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/ Instagram also has a fabulous fertility community #fertilityjourney #IVF #TTC For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Samir Morsli is a postdoctoral research associate in the Munoz-Espin lab at The University of Cambridge. His research focuses on the early stages of lung cancer initiation and progression, primarily involving zombie-like senescent cells. During his PhD Samir carried out an Internship and worked as part of the Public Engagement team at The Babraham Institute. In this episode Samir shares his experience of how he arranged and completed a mandatory internship during their PhD. He reflects on the valuable skills he gained from the internship and highlights the way in which the experience enabled him to gain a broader perspective on his research journey. Samir highlights the importance of timing for an internship and offers some advice on how to maximise the potential of the experience. You can contact Samir via email here: sjm312@cam.ac.uk Websites: https://www.munoz-espinlab.com/samir-morsli Social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samir-morsli-6184ba119/ / https://twitter.com/Smorsli For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft