Karen and Kel are back from their summer hiatus, and they talk re-entry. Re-entry, that is, to a shitshow academic year in a pandemic that, in the US, has been mismanaged to a degree that almost defies belief. Academics are coming back to campuses … [Read more...] about Episode 3:1 Coming Back from Isolation
Ep 2:40 Resisting the Culture of Overwork
An episode recorded pre-pandemic but even more relevant now. Karen and Kel talk resisting overwork, and recovering your joy. The key here is detachment from your work: neither misery nor joy; just a set of tasks. Put another way: it's what you do, … [Read more...] about Ep 2:40 Resisting the Culture of Overwork
Ep 2:39 Blk+In Grad School: Grad School Success Summit
We are delighted to bring back Allante Whitmore, PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at Carnegie Mellon, impresario behind the podcast and website Blk+In Grad School, and founder of the 4-years-running virtual Grad School Success Summit, coming up … [Read more...] about Ep 2:39 Blk+In Grad School: Grad School Success Summit
Ep. 2:38 This Summer: Be Kind To Yourself
Summer is imminent... but, are you even ready? How to even think about it after the trauma of the past year or more? Karen and Kel talk about lightening your load, taking things off your list, and keeping an eye on your BIG goal, which might be … [Read more...] about Ep. 2:38 This Summer: Be Kind To Yourself
Ep 2:37 “My Dissertation Is About” and Other Grant-Writing Mistakes
Grant-writing is a craft and it can be learned. The challenge is getting your head in the right space. Just like job applications, it's not about your hopes, dreams, wishes, and preoccupations. It's about marketing yourself in an intensely … [Read more...] about Ep 2:37 “My Dissertation Is About” and Other Grant-Writing Mistakes
Ep. 2:36 The Perils of Vocational Awe – An Interview with Fobazi Ettarh
We are delighted to host Fobazi Ettarh, who first created the term "Vocational Awe" and has written extensively on its threats to the health and well being of librarians in particular and those employed in "calling" fields in general. Vocational awe … [Read more...] about Ep. 2:36 The Perils of Vocational Awe – An Interview with Fobazi Ettarh
Ep. 2:35 Work Won’t Love You Back – An Interview with Sarah Jaffe
We are delighted to host Sarah Jaffe, the author of the new book, Work Won't Love You Back: How Our Devotion to Our Work Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone (2021). Sarah's book talks about academics ("Proletarian Professionals") as one among … [Read more...] about Ep. 2:35 Work Won’t Love You Back – An Interview with Sarah Jaffe
Ep 2:34: How to Get Unstuck
If you've been wondering how to bring some semblance of productivity back to your life, this episode is for you. Karen and Kel introduce Kel's Unstuck: The Art of Productivity, a 12-module program that combines daily emails, coaching videos, … [Read more...] about Ep 2:34: How to Get Unstuck
Ep. 2:33: Selling Yourself
Self-promotion is a dirty word for academics but it shouldn't be. People won't invite you to be part of their scholarly community if they don't know who they are. And if you don't curate your digital profile then Google will do it for you--and you … [Read more...] about Ep. 2:33: Selling Yourself
Ep 2:32 The Problem With Passion – Interview with Dr. Erin Cech
Karen and Kel talk to Professor Erin Cech (Sociology, U of Michigan), the author of the forthcoming book, The Problem with Passion (U California Press, 2021), about why our national obsession with "following your passion" actually intensifies … [Read more...] about Ep 2:32 The Problem With Passion – Interview with Dr. Erin Cech