The PhD Life Raft Podcast

Dr Kaisa Pankakoski is a writer, researcher, translator, and multilingualism consultant. For her PhD at Cardiff University she looked at multilingual families’ language ideologies, strategies, and experiences in Finland and Wales. During the course of her PhD, she gained grants from eleven different funding bodies in her two home countries to complete the thesis. In this episode Kaisa reflects on the turning point when she decided to return to academia and focus on researching multilingual families.  She discusses her research journey over eight years and the range of activities she took part in over that time.   In the discussion of caregiving alongside the PhD Kaisa emphasizes the emotional and mental toll of special needs parenting, including the constant worry and caregiving responsibilities. She  emphasizes the importance of taking breaks, avoiding overworking, and prioritizing self-care.  Kaisa mentions the value of attending retreats to create a space for relaxation and creativity. Kaisa offers some top tips and a range of resources including:   Blog posts Self-care during PhD https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/doctoral-academy-blog/10-self-care-tips-for-the-phd/  Writing retreat https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/doctoral-academy-blog/should-you-go-on-a-writing-retreat/?preview=true  Words of wisdom, two blog posts, altogether 40 top tips! https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/doctoral-academy-blog/words-of-wisdom-for-new-postgraduate-researchers-part-one-2/  https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/doctoral-academy-blog/words-of-wisdom-for-new-postgraduate-research-students-part-two/    Facebook groups:  Bridging the Gap Community Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/410364763121879  PhD and Early Career Researcher Parents  https://www.facebook.com/groups/776957585681408    Apps: Forest App: https://www.forestapp.cc/   We also mention the Rowena Murray podcast episode:  https://thephdliferaft.libsyn.com/rowena-murray   You can contact Kaisa here:  https://twitter.com/kaisapan https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaisapankakoski/ 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    

Rachel Campbell completed her PhD in visual culture, celebrity studies, and musicology. Her thesis, 'The image of musical celebrity in the Nineteenth Century' considers the way visual representations of musicians influenced how they were seen as celebrities through analysis of oil portraits, busts, prints and other ephemera. She also holds a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) and is a professional musician and has been a music teacher for nearly 20 years. She has three children who play 8 musical instruments between them, and so in her spare time you can find her playing D&D (her current character is a Paladin called Florence Lightbringer) to try to escape the noise. In this episode Rachel shares her unique journey into academia, having started her university education later in life after having children.  Rachel discusses the initial motivations for pursuing a doctorate and how she navigated through the tough times and challenges during her PhD journey. Rachel opens up about significant life events that occurred during her PhD, including her mother's battle with breast cancer and the end of her marriage.  She talks about the importance of recognizing when you need a break and taking that time to prioritize personal well-being.  Rachel emphasizes the need for self-compassion and modeling positive behaviors, especially for children, while pursuing a PhD. Rachel shares her ‘happy ending’ and the fulfillment she finds in her current role and encourages other PhD researchers to “back themselves” as their undertake their doctoral journey.   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  

Professor Laurajane Smith completed her PhD part-time between 1990 and 1996 while working as a full time teaching and research academic at both Charles Sturt University and the University of New South Wales. She is currently Director of the Centre of Heritage and Museum Studies, Research School of Humanities and the Arts, the Australian National University. She is also a fellow of the Society for the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. In 2010-12, she worked to establish the Association of Critical Heritage Studies; she is editor of the International Journal of Heritage Studies and is co-general editor with Dr Gönül Bozoğlu of Routledge’s Key Issues in Cultural Heritage. Her books include Uses of Heritage (2006) and Emotional Heritage (2021), and she has edited numerous collections most notably Intangible Heritage (2009) and Safeguarding Intangible Heritage (2019), both with Natsuko Akagawa, and Emotion, Affective Practices, and the Past in the Present (2018, with Margret Wetherell and Gary Campbell) and Heritage, Labour and the Working Class (2011, with Paul A. Shackel and Gary Campbell).   In this podcast episode, recorded at the South West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership Summer Festival, we discuss the challenges of pursuing a PhD when there are differences in approach and perspectives between the student and the supervisor.    Laurajane shares her personal journey into the PhD and the tensions she faced in the 1980s while exploring indigenous and archaeological relationships.   We explore the importance of engaging in critical debate, developing supportive peer networks, and believing in one's own research.    We also reflect on the significance of self-reflection and being open to constructive criticism.    Short Coda from Laurajane:   “In 1996 my PhD was finally turned into a book (after having 2 children in between times):  Smith, L. (2004). Archaeological theory and the politics of cultural heritage with Routledge. The text was well received and currently has over 770 citations…so yes, when I was being told and yelled at by senior male academics that I had it ‘wrong’ in the end it was because I did have something to say.”           If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ here:  https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr Chrissi McCarthy is the founder and Managing Director of Constructing Equality. Over the past decade and a half, she has formulated and implemented research-based methodologies to bolster equality within diverse organisations. Her client portfolio spans prestigious institutions including the National Health Service and Bristol City Council.  Chrissi’s PhD explored equality, fairness and inclusion and fed directly into her work with Constructing Equality.   In this episode Chrissi shares a very honest account of her PhD journey and the challenges she faced along the way.   Chrissi comes from a non-traditional academic background and she acknowledges how important the support of mentors has been for her studies.   Chrissi explains the mindset shift that she underwent - realizing that the PhD is about learning rather than having all the answers - and the possibilities that opened up for her.   We discuss taking an interruption of studies and Chrissi talks about her own experience - including feeling like a failure - and the way in which the break allowed her to return to the PhD in full force!   We finish with reflecting on the importance of acknowledging vulnerability on the Phd journey.   You can find out more about Chrissi’s work here:  https://www.constructingequality.co.uk/ If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ here:  https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Rose Aslan, a former tenured Professor of Religious Studies, reflects on her PhD experience and shares what she would do differently. She discusses setting compassionate boundaries, prioritizing well-being, and seeking support during the PhD journey. Rose encourages researchers to say no to situations that don't serve them and emphasizes the importance of grounding to ease anxiety. Find out more about Rose's work on https://compassionflow.com/

Dr Eve Grubin is the author of Morning Prayer (Sheep Meadow Press), The House of Our First Loving (Rack Press) and Grief Dialogue (Rack Press). She is a lecturer at NYU in London and a tutor at the Poetry School. Eve received an AHRC / TECHNE  scholarship to write her PhD thesis (Kingston University): ‘Boat of Letters and the Poetics of Reticence: A Creative and Critical Thesis’.    In this episode Eve reflects on how, as a professional poet, she came to mastering academic writing within her PhD.  She talks about how, even though she was confident as a writer, she experienced challenges to developing her voice within her doctorate and shares some advice for those facing similar struggles.   Eve shares how understanding of the work of the thesis as contributing to a wider conversation within the scholarly community helped her to shift her perspective.   We also discuss the elegance of a well-crafted footnote!   The episode finishes with a top tip about the importance of identity.   You can find out more about Eve’s work here:  https://evegrubin.com/ If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ here:  https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft  

Dr Inès Amami holds a PhD from Sorbonne Nouvelle University in French literature and civilization.  Her research is about the representation of the West and the Muslim world in the Encyclopédie de Diderot (18th century).   Ines is also a political activist in the field of women’s rights and fights against all kinds of violence.  She is a single mother of an 11 year old daughter.     In this episode we talk about the challenges that Ines has faced over the course of her PhD journey which started in 2004 - including periods of illness and a toxic boss.     We focus on Ines’ experience of being a single parent on the PhD journey and the discoveries she has made along the way.   Ines shares the tools that helped her stay on track during her doctorate.   We discuss mum guilt and how lowering your standards can be the key to success!   Ines stresses the importance of self care as a foundation for single parenthood.   We finish with a top tip around asking for help.   You can contact Ines on twitter here: @inesParisFr If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ here:  https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

It’s the 100th episode of The PhD Life Raft Podcast! Fleur Farish-Edwards - a gorgeous member of the PhD Life Raft community - is leading the celebrations with a reflection on the way in which the podcast has been party of her PhD journey. Fleur is an experienced counsellor and supervisor, and along with her wife, facilitates creative workshops as “Two Birds Therapy”. Fleur is also a university lecturer in counselling and is currently working on a professional doctorate, researching the life-long impact of adoption on adult adoptees.  In this episode we talk about the emotional process of the PhD journey.  Fleur also shares the story of her interruption from PhD studies. We talk about feeling like you belong in academia and the podcast as a means to join in the conversation. Fleur also shares her PhD Life Raft Bingo practice!! We finish with a top tip about when to say “yes” and when to say “no”. You can find out more about Fleur’s work here: https://www.facebook.com/twobirdstherapy https://www.linkedin.com/in/fleur-farish-edwards-171650235     The PhD 12 Week Sprint programme that Fleur mentions will be running again in September 2023.  If you would like more information you can email me: emmabrodzinski@gmail.com   Don’t forget you are very welcome to join us for the ‘Month of Mondays’ which is running throughout June 2023.  You can find out more here:  https://emmab.kartra.com/page/monthofmondays  

Yulia Karpova is undertaking her second PhD!  Yes, for her, once though the journey just wasn’t enough!  In this week’s episode we talk about how things are different the second time around.   Yulia is currently studying at the University of Southern Denmark. She also holds a PhD in History (2015) from Central European University. From 2016-18, she held a Maria Sklodowska Curie postdoc at Aarhus University and, from 2021–2022 she was a postdoc in the project ‘Exhibiting across the Iron Curtain’ at the University of Copenhagen.    In this episode we talk about the influence of Yulia’s mentors - including her Mother and her first PhD supervisor.   Yulia shares the story of her academic career so far and how looking for postdoctoral work led her to apply for a second doctorate.   She talks about the key things that she has learnt that she needs to put in place for successful PhD research.     We finish with a top tip particularly relevant to those who are thinking about undertaking their PhD overseas.   You can find out more about Yulia’s work here: https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/en/persons/yukar If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ here:  https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Kate Henry  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 focus on an upcoming event ‘A Month of Mondays’ - which is designed to help PhD researchers plan for a productive Summer.   We talk about getting ready for the summer and Kate touches on many of the issues that come up for doctoral candidates over the season.  She addresses how to plan effectively, making the best use of your personal resources.  She talks about how you can make goals actionable and achievable and how to maintain motivation.   We also discuss the importance of rest and how to manage the rhythm of your work across the summer.     Kate leaves us with a top tip around identifying priorities.   You can find out more about Kate’s work here: Website: thetendingyear.com Instagram: @thetendingyear     You can find my previous interview with Kate here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/goal-setting-for-phd-students-with-kate-litterer/id1537420258?i=1000526248880   You can save your seat for the ‘Month of Mondays’ here for free:  https://emmab.kartra.com/page/monthofmondays