The PhD Life Raft Podcast

It’s the final episode of the season!!   This episode focuses on Robert Romanyshyn’s book The Wounded Researcher: Research with Soul in Mind.  This text looks at the subconscious processes at play in the research  process - from how research is a vocation to dreams as a route to revelation.  It opens up an alternative approach to the PhD journey and offers a range of strategies for engaging with research material. Robert Romanyshyn was the first non-analyst elected as an Affiliate Member of The Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts based upon his scholarly contributions to Jungian psychology. A Fellow of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, he co-founded in 1972 an interdisciplinary program in existential-phenomenological psychology and literature at the University of Dallas. In 1991 he moved to Pacifica Graduate Institute to create an interdisciplinary doctoral program in clinical psychology with an emphasis on depth psychology. In this episode we explore how the PhD researcher is chosen by their topic. Robert explains the idea of ‘unfinished business’ within the research. We also talk about how doing a PhD is like falling in love!   Some further reading Robert suggests is:   Bachelard, G  Poetics of Reverie, London: Beacon Press, 1992   Goodchild, V Eros and Chaos, New York: Hays, 2004.   Romanyshyn, R The Wounded Researcher: Making a Place for Unconscious Factors in the Research Process (2010), The Humanistic Psychologist, 38 (4), 275-304.    You can connect with Robert via his website: RobertRomanyshyn.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  

Jessamy Gleeson currently works as a Senior Lecturer within the National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation (NIKERI) Institute at Deakin University. She has also worked at Monash University within the Art, Design, and Architecture department, and at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. Her PhD, from Swinburne University, was focused on contemporary forms of feminist activism within social media. Jessamy’s article Troubling/trouble in the academy: posttraumatic stress disorder and sexual abuse research. High Educ (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-021-00764-x is an autoethnographic exploration of the impact that research can have on the researcher.  In this episode we talk further about Jessamy’s own diagnosis of PTSD and reflect on how this was handled within the academy. Jessamy also highlights the vulnerability of PhD researchers and we talk more generally about processes such as the ethics committee and measures that might safeguard individual scholars. 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

I know that many people can relate to thinking “I’m not smart enough to finish this PhD”.  This inner critical voice can, in itself, be paralysing and feed into a downward spiral where lack of progress feeds self-doubt which leads to lack of progress which feeds self doubt and so on and so painful…   This week’s episode is a positivity pep-talk from Kaylie Zapanta a current doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California.  Kaylie has a background as an exercise coach and trainer and she is employing the motivational skills she uses with clients to support herself on her PhD journey.     In this episode we recognise the importance of mindset and explore learning how to learn and the growth mindset.   We talk about perfectionism and how to overcome perfectionist tendencies.   Kaylie also shares her top tip for other PhD researchers.   You can connect with Kaylie on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/kayliezapanta/?hl=en and on linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylie-zapanta/  

Ires Ghelien is a health care psychologist from Holland who draws on her own experience as a PhD researcher to help others navigate the PhD journey.  In this episode we dive into her story of burnout and what she discovered through recovery about doing the PhD her own way!   Ires talks about the importance of mindset and of approaching things as an experiment.   She also shares some thoughts about how to communicate effectively with your supervisor.   Ires emphasizes the importance of looking after yourself and encourages you to see yourself as a pro-athlete!   You can find out more about Ires here: www.hulpbijwetenschappelijkonderzoek.nl 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

Kaelyn Grace Apple is a second year combined PhD student in the Department of History and African American Studies at Yale.  One of her passions is demystifying academia and providing access routes to higher education and, as part of this work, she launched her own You Tube channel TheRedHeadAcademic.   In this episode we Kaelyn shares her story - from not wanting to go to college at all to wanting to get on to a PhD programme!   She talks about how she found support on You Tube that helped her develop the skills she needed and believe that she was smart enough.   Kaelyn emphasizes the importance of trusting your gut and doing what works for you.   We also address what exactly it is that PhD researchers do all day!!    You can find out more about Kaelyn and her work with Accepted Society here:  https://acceptedconsulting.com/ You can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ - a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey - https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft        

Amy Boyd, an educational leader, discusses strategies for managing the inner critic and overcoming perfectionism on the PhD journey. She emphasizes the importance of addressing the inner critic, reframing limiting beliefs, and adopting a positive mindset. Amy also explores the concept of 'interjects' and how tapping into the future 'Dr You' can help deal with the inner mean girl. The episode concludes with reflections on the PhD journey and expressing gratitude.

Sajni Haria is a research fellow scientist and entrepreneurial lead in a Chemistry research group at the University of Birmingham. She recently completed her PhD, where she designed and developed luminescent materials beneficial for targeted cancer therapy and enhanced diagnosis. Taking on multiple workstreams, with the added pressures of a PhD she found herself experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions throughout her PhD journey. In this episode we particularly focus on what she learnt about managing anxiety.   We talk about the importance of taking a break and how rest can help you to keep perspective.   We talk about finding well-being tools that support you - and Sajni shares some that she found particularly useful.     Sajni shares her top tip for looking at your project “top down”.   You can sign up for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ a useful weekly email with info to support your PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Dr Rachel Marsh has a PhD in satire and teaches in the Humanities with the Open University. She is also the lead academic for the Online Pre-PhD Programme with Oxford International. Rachel has previously worked at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Dundee, and the University of St Andrews, helping international students at all levels develop critical skill sets.   In this episode we discuss coming to the PhD later as part of a lifetime learning process and Rachel’s own experience of a ‘starter’ PhD. We then talk about Rachel’s work on creating a pre-PhD programme and the sort of preparation that may be useful before starting your thesis - both academic skills and wider well-being considerations. Rachel highlights the importance of trusting yourself and seeing your role as an expert in the field develop throughout the PhD process.   After the recording Rachel, with characteristic generosity of spirit, sent me some thoughts to add to these notes.  She says:   “I had noted in the podcast that I had started a PhD at one institution, but upon realising it wasn’t a good fit a downsized to an MPhil. I would like to take this opportunity to add that ‘a mis-matched fit’ between student and PhD programme in no way reflects poorly upon the institution. The search for the perfect PhD programme is a bit like dating. Someone might have a wonderful dating profile, tick all the boxes, but when you meet there’s just no chemistry. It doesn’t mean they’re a bad person; they’re just not the person for you. In fact, you may go on to be friends, or business partners, or you may even set them up with your friend. They just weren’t ‘the one’. That is finding a PhD programme. In fact, during my PhD to MPhil process I began working with the institution in various professional staff capacities, and these roles continued long after I graduated. I learned a lot from that institution – not just about the PhD process, but also about how Higher Education in the UK works. Moreover, to show that there were no hard feelings, I returned to teach international students as a lecturer. Therefore, with this in mind, I’d like to add the following additional advice – don’t turn your back on opportunities. Something that may not pan out for a Doctorate, may be just the right fit for something else”.   To find out more about the programme Rachel is developing contact Linda Sandberg at LSandberg@OxfordInternational.com. You can sign up for the weekly ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ and receive tips and support directly to your inbox!  Just click here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft  

This week’s guest is David Vincent, Emeritus Professor of Social History at the Open University where he was Pro Vice Chancellor from 2003 to 2010. He obtained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics from the University of York, and a PhD from Cambridge University.  In this episode we talk about David’s experience of the PhD and his decision to fire his original PhD supervisor!   David has published widely on modern British and European history, including studies of working-class autobiography, literacy and popular culture and we focus on his recent book on solitude as a springboard to consider the experience of loneliness on the PhD journey.     We think about how the transitional nature of the PhD experience can be a trigger for loneliness and the difference between loneliness and solitude.   We also discuss the challenges that some people face in finding their own space to study.   David talks about the importance of “keeping in motion” - which might literally mean taking your PhD for a walk! You can find David’s book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Solitude-David-Vincent/dp/1509536590/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OVU9458273JX&keywords=a+history+of+solitude&qid=1643032308&sprefix=a+history+of+solitude%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-1   And here is the link to The Cinnamon Trust whose work we discuss in the episode: https://cinnamon.org.uk/ You can sign up here to ‘Note from the Life Raft’ - a useful weekly email to support your PhD journey:  https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft  

This week’s episode is both inspirational and a cautionary tale.  Catherine Pope was awarded her PhD by the University of Sussex in 2014. She talks about her own PhD experience both in terms of how she utilised her professional project-management skills within her doctoral journey but also how her own health was compromised as she undertook studying alongside full-time work.   Catherine went straight into a Master’s programme having not been to university before.  She then went on to complete her PhD working weekends.  We talk about the challenges of that way of working and how to look after yourself along that journey.   We talk about setting up useful routines and what to do when you are having a bad day.   Catherine discusses her use of Focusmate to structure her routine:  https://www.focusmate.com/   We also talk about doing things your future self will thank you for and Catherine proposes the idea of the ‘Minimum Viable Thesis’.   You can find out more about Catherine’s work - including her books How to Finish Your PhD and How to Publish Your PhD here: www.phdprogress.com. Sign up to 'Notes from the Life Raft' and receive a weekly email with useful info to support you on the PhD journey: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft