The PhD Life Raft Podcast

Gilly McKeown, an autistic scholar, shares her journey and challenges of being neurodivergent in academia. She emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and finding community. The podcast discusses her transition from pursuing a Masters degree to focusing on autism and physical activity in her PhD. It also explores her experiences navigating academia, the challenges faced by women with late autism diagnoses, and tips for neurodivergent scholars. Additionally, it highlights the benefits of connecting with a support system as a PhD student.

This week’s episode is all about the importance of friends on the PhD journey!   Milensu Shanyinde is a PhD candidate at University College London.  Her research examines the complication of managing HIV in relation to Hepatitis C in persons seen for routine clinical care in Italy. She also works part time as a clinical trial statistician at Oxford University and was one of the team working on a nationwide study to find COVID-19 treatments.   Milensu talks about how her friends helped her in her decision to undertake a PhD.  She describes how connecting with people from a similar African background provided her with a strong support system to face the challenges of a PhD.   She talks about how, as a black woman, imposter syndrome has a particular cultural currency - particularly with the lack of black role models in academia.  Milensu shares how she has sought out a range of role models as part of her journey.  She also recommends connecting with a PhD buddy so that you have someone who you know is there for you through the ups and downs of the process.   The YouTuber Milensu references is Jennifer Kempson:  https://www.youtube.com/c/MamaFurFur   She also mentions The 5am Club by Robin Sharma: https://www.amazon.co.uk/5-AM-Club-Robin-Sharma/dp/0008312834/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1633275596&sr=8-1   You can connect with MIlensu here:  Email: milensu.shanyinde@gmail.com IG @milensu_k 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

We are kicking off the new season with the fabulous Devon Price!   Devon is a social psychologist, writer, activist, and professor at Loyola University of Chicago's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Devon has published widely including their book Laziness Does Not Exist which came out in 2020.   In this episode we reflect on Devon’s own experiences of graduate school and how the reality of that experience did not match expectations.   We then dive into what Devon calls “the laziness lie” - and how that relates to a culture of workaholism.   Devon unpacks the social construction of what is considered ‘productive’ and we consider how that relates to the experiences of PhD researchers and the problems it can cause.   We then explore some strategies for pushing back and how to orientate yourself in a way that minimises burnout.   You can find Devon’s book here: https://amzn.to/3umiq1X   You can connect with Devon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drdevonprice   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

It’s the final episode of Season 3!  It’s gone so quickly and I am so grateful to the wonderful guests who have made it so awesome!   And, talking of awesome guests, who better to create a big finish for this series than Melanie Smith?!   Dr Melanie Smith is Reader Emerita at Cardiff University School of Law and Politics and an independent expert and research consultant in the broad field of European constitutional and administrative law, with a specific focus on enforcement of EU law across a broad policy spectrum. Melanie has provided expert advice as an independent consultant to the European Parliament (JURI, LIBE and IMCO Committees) over the last 10 years on a variety of topics from centralised Commission enforcement of EU law, to the desirability of the Administrative Procedures Act, the effectiveness of member state enforcement activities and recently on the future Digital Services Act. She is also founder of Academic Coach, which is a coaching service that offers courses and 1-1 coaching for PhD students and faculty, and workshops for Universities on all aspects of the writing process.   In this episode Melanie talks about her journey out of banking and into academia and then out of academia and into consultancy and coaching!     Melanie describes how she worked with the European Commission and the European Parliament as part of her PhD research and how that contact developed into the role of expert advisor.   Melanie encourages PhD students to remember the value of your expertise outside of academia and the impact it can have in the ‘real world.   She also talks about her work as an academic coach and how important it is to receive good quality mentoring as part of your PhD journey.   Here are Melanie’s contact details: Websites /Social Media: www.academiccoach.info www.drmelaniesmith.org Twitter: @Drmelsmith & @AcademicCoach5 Facebook : @coachacademic   Keep in touch with all the info on special events at by signing up to ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ here  

Precarity is, unfortunately, a familiar experience for many PhD students - particularly in the strange times that we find ourselves in.  This week’s episode touches on both the precarity brought about by the pandemic but also the on-going precarious nature of employment within the Higher Education sector.   Bee talks about their own experience of the PhD process and the importance of assembling a team that support the work you are doing.    We explore researching during the pandemic and the challenges of undertaking a viva via MS Teams!     We also discuss Bee’s frustration with the precarity of working as a sessional lecturer which led them to their work with the union.     Bee outlines some of UCU’s current campaigns and how the union can support you if you are working within HE.   Here are links to further information: UCU membership FAQs: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/10509/Future-of-the-profession-free-membership-FAQs UCU pages on casualisation, including links to employment law commentary and campaigning resources: https://www.ucu.org.uk/socc_memberinfo UCU Report Second Class Academic Citizens: The dehumanising effects of casualisation in higher education (Megoran & Mason, 2020) https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/10681/second_class_academic_citizens/pdf/secondclassacademiccitizens UCU Guidance on requesting permanent contract: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/3567/Fixed-term-regulations-requesting-confirmation-of-permanence UCU Anti-Casualisation mailing list sign up (for members only): https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/5364/Login?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucu.org.uk%2Felists PGRs as staff, not studets: https://fundthefuture.org.uk/event/pgrs-as-staff-not-students/ #CoronaContract: https://coronacontract.org/ UCU Solidarity Movement: https://www.ucusolidaritymovement.org/ Pandemic PGRs Report: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/11396/Falling-Short-report-Pandemic-PGRs?list=7268 Here are Bee’s contact details: Website: www.beehughes.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeeHughes_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beehughes_art/     And here is the link to the association for Art History that we mention in the episode: https://forarthistory.org.uk/   You can sign up to Note from the Life Raft a weeklyish email with lots of information to inspire and support you on your PhD journey - just click here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

This week is all about how to survive your viva!   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 own experience of a PhD in Mathematics at the University of Liverpool and the importance of the support his supervisor gave him.     We then talk about his move into supporting PGRs as an independent researcher-developer.  Nathan has lots of encouraging thoughts to share - such as the reminder that, by the time you get to submission, you will be very skilled at facing difficult challenges.  He offers an hourly calculation which demonstrates how the odds are on your side to succeed!    He emphasises the importance of mindset and how being nervous is a positive sign of anticipation!   You can find Nathan on Twitter as @DrRyder and @VivaSurvivors.   His website is http://viva-survivors.com/   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

This week’s episode focuses on the experience of Sam Belfrage a full time PhD student at the University of Winchester, in the Faculty of Health and Well-being.  Sam identifies as a working class academic and first generation university student.  Her research is exploring community based interventions to improve health literacy, with a focus on parents of pre-school children.     Sam talks about the experience of coming from a family that didn’t really value education and how that impacted on her journey through A Levels and her degree.     Sam shares the message that failing at any point in your academic journey doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for it.   Sam’s story illustrates how work-based experience provided the foundation for her PhD project.   We talk about the importance of role models and Sam encourages others to reach out for help and seek a support network.  Sam has found the Association of Working Class Academics @AWCAcademics a really helpful resource.   Sam’s twitter handle is: @slhibberd      Would you like more?  Each week we send out ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ - you can sign up here and have a really useful email to support and inspire you on your PhD journey delivered right to your in-box:https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Productivity is an issue that PhD students often struggle with and this week’s episode offers lots of practical advice to help you through!    Dr Kate Litterer is a Productivity Coach, independent scholar, and author who lives outside Boston, Massachusetts in the U.S.  Kate received her MFA degree in Creative Writing and her Master's degree and Doctoral degree in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.     In this episode we talk about Kate’s journey through an MFA; into a PhD; and then on to developing her own coaching business.   Kate reflects on her work with “dissertators” (love that word!) and particularly focuses on how she helps people with goal setting.   She talks abouts how goals need to be both actionable and achievable and she outlines her own “Goldilocks” method for goal setting!   Kate emphasizes the importance of checking-in with yourself - especially your body - in terms of how you are feeling about the work you are doing and the magic of setting intentions.   We discuss productivity as a political issue and the importance of challenging work-a-holism culture.   We finish with Kate’s top tip of working with a ‘must do’ list rather than a ‘to do’ list.     You can contact Kate here: Website: thetendingyear.com Instagram: @thetendingyear     You can get your hands on her book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tend-Holistic-Guide-Intentional-Productivity/dp/1735802204   Don’t forget that you can sign up to receive “Notes from the Life Raft” a really useful email to support and inspire you on your PhD journey.  Just click here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft        

Elisa Webb describes herself as a student, teacher, writer - her debut novel Darkling Park was published with Patrician Press. In this week’s episode she shares her journey through building a successful career; through burnout and depression; and on into a Practice-based Southern Gothic Imaginative Writing PhD.     We talk about the experience of crisis/crossroads and how Elisa decided to make returning to study for a PhD a positive step forward.     We talk about being a first generation student going to university.   Elisa discusses the advantages and disadvantages of being a mature student and juggling caring responsibilities with researching.   She also shares some top tips to help with focus and clarifying your thinking.   You can find out more about Elisa’s work here:  https://contactanauthor.co.uk/author/869/elisa-webb   ---------------------------------- Do you want to Detox Your PhD?  Find out more about The PhD Life Raft course here:  https://emmab.kartra.com/page/detoxyourphd    

This week I talk to Professor Vernon Trafford about what a PhD examiner is looking for in your thesis.   Vernon Trafford is Professor Emeritus at Anglia Ruskin University, UK and Research Associate at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He has held visiting professorships in India, Scandinavia, Singapore, South Africa and consultancies for the British Council, OECD, UNICEF and the World Bank. His publications, conference presentations and workshops relate to the nature of doctorateness.    In this conversation Vernon talks about his own unconventional route into academia.   We then dive into the issue of examiner expectations of a thesis.  Vernon outlines 4 different stances which your examiner might take - they may be attending to the philosophical underpinnings of the entire piece of work; they may be looking at evidence of scholarship; they may be seeing to identify post-doctoral capability as a supervisor or researcher; and/or they may be looking for  maturity of understanding by candidates of what they've done.    We talk about the role of independent chairs within the Viva and why you shouldn’t listen to the viva horror stories!   Vernon outlines features that mean your thesis is more likely to pass and the importance of explaining what your research was about and what your “contribution to knowledge” is.   He also talks about the importance of smiling and if working towards making the viva as pleasurable activity as it can be.   You can find out more about Vernon’s work here: http://vernontrafford.com/   You can find his book Stepping Stones to Achieving Your Doctorate here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stepping-Stones-Achieving-your-Doctorate/dp/0335225438/ref=la_B0034PPLCA_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365518855&sr=1-1   ----------------------------------   Do you want to Detox Your PhD?  Find out more about The PhD Life Raft course here:  https://emmab.kartra.com/page/detoxyourphd