Self-Compassionate Professor

In her third appearance on the podcast over a five-year period, Dr. Melanie Peffer tells us about the gifts of the “inverse academic career trajectory” where she moved from tenure-track faculty, to lecturer, and again to adjunct. While from a traditional academic perspective, she explains, this may look like an unsuccessful career. Yet, as her business has grown, she has found great success in entirely unexpected ways:We discuss her new biology textbook coming out in January 2026, her work as a consultant and freelance writer, as well as her love for teaching. She explains that her unconventional career trajectory allows her to set her own benchmarks for success, enjoy her work, take care of and spend time with her family, enjoy her hobbies, and tend to her values and calling. She also discusses identifying with the term, “neuro-spicy,” explaining that while it has its challenges, her unique brain allows her to make observations and connections helpful to carving out her own unique career path. Find Melanie at https://www.biologyeverywhere.com/

Tyler Martin shows that despite institutional demands and limitations placed on higher ed faculty, it is still possible for faculty to feel grounded in purpose, clear about personal values, and strong in their own sense of agency. He argues that as we allow ourselves to experience the tensions we all feel in relationship to our institutions as well as express and co-witness these challenges in community, we can begin to peel back the layers that keep us behaving outside of our integrity. And in this “apprenticeship within conversation,” we find both small and big ways to inch our way back to ourselves. This practice, as Tyler points out, is ongoing and ever-evolving, requiring great commitment to self, community, and society. Find Tyler at https://goodpainco.com/goodpain-podcast/. 

Professor of Higher Education, Kevin McClure, talks about his research and writing of the book, The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace after the Great Resignation. A caring university, he explains, prioritizes employees’ experiences, implements humanizing policies and practice, commits to growth and compensation, empowers rights and voice, and realizes equity and belonging. While Kevin explains that the caring university is only a vision, he emphasizes that bits and pieces of this vision live successfully inside the reality of many institutions. In this conversation, Kevin and I talk about his own commitment to care at his own university (as well as the challenges), the “fire” he felt while researching and writing for the book, the interplay between systemic change and individual commitment, and what “the work” of care actually looks like on a daily basis, in his own experience. 

Happy Equinox! In this episode, as part of this seasonal celebration, I invite you to go inward and take inventory of your own attachments: how attachment to work (or anything else!) plays out in your life and the ways it may be negatively impacting you and those around you. Namely, I explore the problem of "insecure attachment to work and life" and juxtapose that to "secure attachment to work and life." Through stories and examples, I show what it means to engage with the flow of life and I offer a helpful practice for doing so--a practice, if taken seriously, will result in a calmer and more joyful existence generally.

Dr. Erica McIntyre, an ADHD and organizational coach, is on a mission to support neurodivergent academics. She shares her experiences as an ADHD'er in academia and offers insights into how institutions can better support neurodivergent faculty. Erica emphasizes the importance of inclusive environments that benefit all academics, discusses the need for community support, and highlights small actions that can spark larger systemic changes. Her journey showcases the transformational power of understanding ADHD and fostering supportive systems.

Dr. Lennart Nacke, a full professor at the University of Waterloo specializing in human-computer interaction and AI, shares his journey from a challenging PhD to an inspiring postdoc and a fulfilling tenure-track career. He emphasizes building resilience and a supportive research culture while discussing the need for academics to embrace public communication and branding. Lennart also explores shifts in mindset from prestige to service, and offers practical tips for aspiring solopreneurs, highlighting the importance of aligning passion with real-world needs.

Dr. Jen Harrison explains how current higher ed systems often undermine the wellbeing of both graduate students and dissertation supervisors, leaving both feeling unsupported. Jen offers suggestions to faculty supervisors about how to better support themselves and their students: -Set expectations for the what, when, how, and why of communication with your students.-Offer students clear how-to guidelines and templates so they are able to see examples of good research and are clear about expectations. -Make space for students to bring their own unique work style to their research and writing.-Be willing to work with students' unique life circumstances. -Notice and feel when you are rushing your advising conversations, try sinking into a listening stance, and engage in genuine dialogue. --Email Dr. Jen Harrison at jen@readwriteperfect.com.

In this nourishing conversation with therapeutic coach, Henny Flynn, we discuss navigating difficult seasons in career and life, the importance of trusting one's own body, and the healing nature of movement and the natural world. Find Henny Flynn at https://hennyflynn.co.uk/ or on Instagram.

If you are feeling blah in your work, this episode is for you! As we welcome the new season, I invite you to pause so that you can actually FEEL yourself and your relationship to the people and things around you. I build on the concept of a “pausing practice,” which I introduced in Episode 200, where I define pausing as “intentionally doing nothing in particular and letting go of the sense that time is always fixed to an agenda.” I also introduce two other steps to pausing: trusting career wellness and building connections to those places in your work (and life) where you feel disconnected. Happy Solstice! I’m sending a wish that you pause in this seasonal transition. 

Dr. Jennifer Costanza shares her journey from perfectionism, imposter syndrome, intense stress, and difficulty healing to feeling an overall sense of mental and physical well-being. She explains the importance of knowing your body’s stress response and emphasizes how making time to focus on your physical and mental health—finding ways to feel grounded, getting quality sleep, finding joy, etc.—makes you better at your job. Find Jennifer Costanza at https://www.rooted.life/ or @rooted.life on Instagram.