Self-Compassionate Professor

Randy Olson left his tenured professorship twenty-five years ago to attend film school in California. There, he learned how to use narrative to improve science communication and now, as he puts it, he runs "Randy Olson University," where he teaches scientists and others to communicate using the framework he has poured many years of work into, writing five books on the subject. The career transition he made was long and difficult, but as he explains, having fun and accepting "slow periods" when they emerge are key to resilience.  

Dr. Malik Boykin discusses the important role "self-authorization" has played in his career as both an academic and hip hop artist. That is, rather than allowing others to direct his path, he authorizes himself to do the things that are important to him: setting big career goals, prioritizing his mentorship and research, and being willing to change course if his academic career becomes nothing more than stress. In this conversation, Dr. Boykin explains how his music is heavily influenced by his academic work as well as how self-authorization helps him to find wellness and balance. Find him at https://www.malikstarx.com/.  

Interpersonal development coach, Thomas Gelmi, explains how cultivating a deep relationship to self is key to fostering safe working environments, connecting authentically to others, collaborating, as well as experiencing clarity, creativity, and peace. Whether you are trying to repair broken working relationships, feel healthier in your academic career, decide whether or not to leave academia, or make a career pivot, this episode offers helpful tools and inspiring advice.  

Dr. Liz Smith explains how women often discount their own potential to run for public office, the necessity for women to be surrounded by a supportive community when taking the leap into a political career, and the challenges of running a campaign. Liz also talks about being called to run for office and how, despite great risk and uncertainty, she summoned the courage to do so and won! Liz Smith now holds the Office of Gunnison County Commissioner in Colorado. This episode is full of hope. 

Dr. Shikta Das tells her story about transitioning from academia to industry. She talks about the challenge and importance of breaking free of social and cultural expectations as well as the necessity of acknowledging and acting on her own values so that she can leave a legacy she is proud of. 

Dr. Amani Said teaches us that doing the inner work of observing and changing our thoughts is key not only to finding peace, joy, and gratitude in the present, but also necessary for paving a dream career. She describes her own career transition journey, explaining that it was not until she became content in her present situation that she could begin to visualize her big career dreams. We discuss what it looks like to dream big as well as the fears that inevitably come with the dreams. We talk also about academics' general resistance to personal development and how research provides evidence to many of the ideas coaches use to help their clients. 

Dr. Mike Farmer discusses his search for workplace stability over the course of his career in industry and then in academia, where he first served as tenure-track faculty at a public university. More recently, he finds himself at a small private university where, as he explains, the university environment is more collaborative compared to the often competitive nature often found at larger public institutions. 

In this solo episode, I show you how to answer the first set of questions on the decision guide for tenure-track faculty (Find the guide at https://selfcompassionateprofessor.com.). In this episode, we go deep! I ask you to get really honest with yourself about what you like and dislike about your current academic work and because this question may challenge your identity and the culture(s) of which you are a part, it may feel deeply uncomfortable. Rather than being stuck in indecision though, moving through the discomfort is necessary so that you may find yourself on the other side, feeling both clear and confident about the career decisions that emerge in the process. 

Dr. Gertrude "Gee" Nonterah discusses her decision to leave academia as well as her entrepreneurial spirit. She explains how she has leveraged her scientific background and online marketing expertise to not only create opportunities for herself in the freelance world, but also more recently, find her dream job as a science writer. Gee offers advice to other academics who also want to build a personal brand and create content. Find her on LinkedIn or at GeeNonterah.com.

After two years unpaid leave from her position as a full tenured professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Dr. Cathy Mazak is about to finally exit the academy. Her once side hustle is now a thriving business where she earns much more money than she ever earned as a professor. In this episode, Cathy argues that academic work is actually more risky than entrepreneurship because at the university, your paycheck depends on the financial health of the university system. She also talks about the unique set of skills each of us has and that it doesn't matter what container we practice those skills in: university, nonprofit, government, own business, etc. Being a professor is not your identity, she explains. It's just the container in which you happen to offer your gifts to the world. Cathy also discusses the importance of self-trust in building a business and how for women, it's a challenge because we have been socialized to mistrust ourselves.