Grad School Confidential
9 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsPulling back the curtain on grad student life.
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Episodes
The Mother of All Episodes: On Parenting in Grad School
October 04, 2023 12:00 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MBIn this episode, two mothers tell us what it’s like to take on these daunting tasks at the same time. They share their feelings of guilt and recount moments of exhaustion. When they do get the help they need, we learn, it’s often from individuals who care, rather than from a system that isn’t really built to support them. Together, these stories help us all understand the experiences of graduate student parents a little bit better. And for all the parents out there, we hope it helps you ...
The Goldilocks Zone: On Balance in Grad School
April 14, 2023 02:40 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBPeople are always telling you to find work-life balance. It’s easy to say, but why is it so hard to do? In this episode, we explore the struggle that every grad student experiences: trying to find the right balance between spending time on academics and living the rest of their life. Several grad students, past and present, share their stories. They talk about the guilt of saying no, the anxiety of proving they belong and the mistakes they made along the way. They point to a sobering, bu...
The Goldilocks Zone
April 14, 2023 02:40 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBPeople are always telling you to find work-life balance. It’s easy to say, but why is it so hard to do? In this episode, we explore the struggle that every grad student experiences: trying to find the right balance between spending time on academics and living the rest of their life. Several grad students, past and present, share their stories. They talk about the guilt of saying no, the anxiety of proving they belong and the mistakes they made along the way. They point to a sobering, bu...
In the Shadow of Trauma
July 11, 2022 14:57 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBGrad school is challenging at the best of times. But students who have experienced past trauma may find it especially hard to cope. In this episode, we speak with two students who embarked on PhD programs while nursing personal wounds. One endured a terror attack in France; the other experienced years of domestic abuse. They share their struggles with academic life, and tell us how they came to understand and deal with their trauma. Please note: This episode contains content some listener...
“Like an Empty Shell”: Living with Depression in Grad School
September 20, 2021 15:01 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBDepression is more than just a feeling: it’s a mood disorder that can have devastating effects on our thoughts and behaviour. And it can be hard to detect in a high-pressure environment like grad school. In this episode, we speak with a grad student who experienced depression during her PhD program. She explains the onset of the condition, what it felt like, and how she reached out for help. Please note: This episode contains discussions of suicidal thoughts and other troubling subjects. I...
That Sinking Feeling: On Dealing with Criticism
May 03, 2021 20:32 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBPointed critiques may come with the territory in academic life, but that doesn't make them any easier to hear. Join us for a conversation with Hayley and Jenna — recent PhD graduates (and successful academics) who have faced and overcome tough feedback. They share their stories, and Kevin D. Haggerty, co-author of 57 Ways to Screw Up in Grad School, discusses the reasons that such criticism can hit hard. For more on this and other episodes of Grad School Confidential, visit our website:...
Hitting the Wall: On Burnout in Grad School
February 17, 2021 03:28 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBFeeling spent, exhausted, over-extended? If so, you’re not alone. Grad students trying to balance the demands of life with new academic challenges often find themselves contending with burnout. Join us for a conversation with Chantal, Katherine and Alle — grad students who know what the struggle is like. They share their stories, and we explore some useful remedies. For more on this and other episodes of Grad School Confidential, visit our website: uab.ca/gsc. Music credits: Licensed fro...
Scholars in a Dangerous Time: Loneliness, Isolation and COVID-19
December 14, 2020 19:22 - 19 minutes - 18 MBGrad studies are a lonely task at the best of times. Throw in a pandemic that keeps us away from friends and loved ones, and the days can be harder to navigate. Join us for a conversation with Leah and Rubio, grad students who have struggled with loneliness and isolation during this unprecedented year. For more on this and other episodes of Grad School Confidential, visit our website: uab.ca/gsc. Music credits: Licensed from soundstripe.com: "Shaken and Stirred" by Dreamland (theme song...
"Who Am I to Talk About Impostor Syndrome?"
November 05, 2020 19:57 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBDoes it sometimes feel like other grad students have it all together in the classroom and in the lab...while you don't have a clue what you're doing? You're not alone. Many grad students grapple with impostor syndrome, hard as it is to talk about. In this episode, we look closely at those feelings to figure out where they come from and how to overcome them. Along the way, we talk with Dylan, a student who learned a lot about himself after an epic bout with impostor syndrome. For more on...