Exchanges Discourse: Early Career Researcher Publishing Advice, Insight & Inspiration

Dr Gareth J Johnson

Since 2020, The Exchanges Discourse podcast has been an informal yet insightful companion to the Exchanges journal, bringing researchers together to share their work, publishing experiences, and academic journeys. Through lively conversations with past authors, editors, and expert guests, we explore the realities of scholarly life—offering practical advice, interdisciplinary inspiration, and a welcoming space for discussion. Whether you’re an early career researcher or a seasoned academic, join us for thought-provoking insights and engaging dialogue.

  1. One More Time With Feeling: Reflections & revelations on seven long years in the editorial hot-seat

    28 AOÛT

    One More Time With Feeling: Reflections & revelations on seven long years in the editorial hot-seat

    It’s our 75thepisode, and to celebrate we flip the tables and put long time host, and departing Editor-in-Chief, Dr Gaz ‘Gareth’ J Johnson (University of Warwick) into the guest role. In this extended conversation, led by Dr Fiona Fisher (Associate Director, Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick) we delve into the rich and storied history of Gareth’s time working on the journal. The conversation ranges from what attracted him to it in the first place, through the evolution of a unique and human-centric managerial style through to the broader aspects of the Chief Editor’s activities. Along the way we learn some home truths about what really goes on in an everyday context for a chief editor, some of the challenges he’s experienced and reveal what he thought were the triumphs of his editorial reign. There’s also a chance to hear more about those ambitions which weren’t met, and what might have worked better with the benefit of hindsight. In keeping with tradition, we close with advice to editors generally, and specifically for his successor to the Chief Editor role. As such, this episode is the perfect listen for anyone wanting to get more involved in editorship, wants to understand the life of a leading editor or simply who would love to discover more of the story behind the pages of Exchanges. Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit:http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/ Episode Index 00:00– Opening 00:30– Introductions 02:26– Initial appointment & early changes 08:00– Aligning with the IAS, open-access & embracing inclusivity 11:58– Engendering a positive publishing research culture 14:30– An editor’s life experiences 18:50– Exploring interdisciplinarity 22:08– Opening the publication ‘black box’ 28:11– Title evolution & growth 33:10– Secret origins of special issues 40:26– Triumphs & highlights 43:52– The roads not taken 47:25– Embracing non-anglophone authors 51:38– Professionalisation & the Editorial Board 56:58– Advice for future editors 66:56– Impressions, feelings & the future 72:02– Closing thoughts & moments of amusement 74:20– Outro

    1 h 16 min
  2. Musicality, Practice, Research & Interdisciplinary Tensions: More insights into interdisciplinarity & labour

    5 AOÛT

    Musicality, Practice, Research & Interdisciplinary Tensions: More insights into interdisciplinarity & labour

    In a follow up to our last episode, I am joined in conversation by Una MacGlone (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, UK), the sixth contributor to the Exchanges paper The Labour of Thought: Reflections on Interdisciplinarity in Practice. As she was unable to join us for the previous recording with her colleagues, I was delighted she could make time for the podcast on another day. As an amplification of our previous episode’s discussions, Una and myself further explore the inspirations for the joint paper, which offered a multiplicity of views on being an interdisciplinary scholar. We especially explore the extant tensions which must be addressed by researchers seeking to become interdisciplinarians. In this way, Una’s insights resonate strongly with her colleagues, while revealing how her unique perspectives as both musician and musical scholar have aided her in tackling some of the ‘interdisciplinary tensions’ which challenge new entrants to this field. As our conversation continues we turn to discussions of lived publishing challenges, and routes to overcoming them not simply as an author but also as a reviewer contributor too. Touching on what Dr Corey Mwamba highlights as the importance of ‘rigor and care’ in this field, we explore the effective practice of peer-review from both an authorial and reviewer perspective. We also have a discussion concerning how networking can provide a supporting armature to the publishing scholar, even when some approaches may take us out of our personal comfort zones. To read the article which inspired our conversation visit:https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i2.1839 Orto see Una’s other publications visit:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Una-Macglone Orto find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/ Episode Index 00:00– Opening 00:40 – Introductions 03:02– Intersections of Practice & Research 07:26– Paper Insights 11:26– Leveraging Interdisciplinary Tensions 15:18– Resonance, Authenticity & Labour 19:04– Biographical Publishing Experiences 22:28– Dealing With Reviewer Feedback 26:48– Emotional Labour & Peer Review 33:40– Publishing & Networking Advice 39:42– Outro

    40 min
  3. Telling Interdisciplinary Stories: Lived lessons in research, writing, and making yourself heard.

    23 JUIL.

    Telling Interdisciplinary Stories: Lived lessons in research, writing, and making yourself heard.

    In this special panel edition of The Exchanges Discourse podcast, I welcome five past journal contributors - Abiodun Egbetokun, Ed McKeon, Denis Newman-Griffis, Claire Sedgwick, and Aikaterini Tavoulari - for a lively and reflective conversation on their recent Exchanges article, The Labour of Thought: Reflections on Interdisciplinarity in Practice. Together, we unpack the collaborative journey behind their interdisciplinary work: from the initial spark of inspiration to the challenges of navigating diverse academic traditions and the necessary labour to achieve your goals. Each guest shares personal insights into the interdisciplinary research, writing and publishing process, especially from an early career perspective, and highlights how their unique disciplinary voices shaped the final piece. We also delve into the broader themes of academic authorship – making yourself heard, negotiating interdisciplinary tensions, and building a research narrative that feels both authentic and impactful. The episode closes as always with valuable, first-hand advice for emerging researchers preparing their earliest publications, much of which resonates with the wider episode discussions. Whether you’re exploring interdisciplinary collaboration for the first time or looking to refine your academic voice, this episode offers a wealth of inspiration, experience, and encouragement. To read the article which inspired our conversation visit: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i2.1839 Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/ Episode Index 00:00 – Opening 00:32 – Introductions 06:42 – Opening & exploring the paper 19:16 – Inspirations, provocations & next steps 29:06 – Lived publishing & editorial experiences 46:00 – Advice to academic authors 60:12 – Outro

    1 h 1 min
  4. Opening the Monograph Door: How Copim is making open access books more of a reality

    8 MAI

    Opening the Monograph Door: How Copim is making open access books more of a reality

    In this episode I reunite with Kevin Sanders (Open Access Engagement Lead, Copim/Open Book Collective) to talk about his work in the realm of making open access monographs more of a reality. We explore how Copim (Community-led Open Publication Infrastructures for Monographs) originated via the Radical Open Access conference of 2018, and how it has gone on to a pivotal force for change within open scholarly communications for books. Along the way we contrast the evolving open journals scene over the past couple of decades with that of monographs today, examining how some policies and practices might resonate despite some considerable differences between these communication mechanisms. We touch on the reaction from institutions and individual academics, while Kevin explains some of the unique challenges facing a greater uptake of open access monograph publication. We close with some suggestions and advice for academics and authors wanting to explore them more for themselves. You can explore more about the Copim here: https://www.copim.ac.uk/ Or the Open Book Collective here:https://openbookcollective.org/ Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/ Episode Index 00:00 – Opening 00:32 – Introductions 03:59 – What is COPIM & the Open Book Collective? 05:56 – Typical Day in the Life of Open Monographs 07:34 – Open Access Monograph Challenges 19:26 – Academic Reactions & Shifts in the Open Landscape 27:38 – What Can I Do? Advice for would be monograph authors 32:46 – Key Points & Messages 36:58 – Outro

    37 min
  5. Blazing an Open-Access Monograph Trail: Exploring the early career Trailblazers programme

    17 AVR.

    Blazing an Open-Access Monograph Trail: Exploring the early career Trailblazers programme

    In our latest episode I talk with Andrew Barker (University Librarian, University of Lancaster) about an open access monograph (book) publishing programme he’s spearheaded: Trailblazers. We discuss how the support of Liverpool University Press alongside collaboration with an increasing range of partner institutions has been vital in enabling the programme. We explore how Trailblazers works intimately with early career authors, supporting them as they publish their open-access books through the press. We move on to discuss the challenges of overcoming the inertia from centuries of ‘standard practice’ in publishing as well as considering the many successes and lessons which have emerged from Trailblazer’s activities over its first two years of operations. We conclude by looking at how others can get involved and conclude with a general debate over the personal responsibility and individual tenacity required to achieve authentic publishing cultural change. You can explore more about the Trailblazers programme here: https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/pages/trailblazers Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchangesresearch journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/ Episode Index 00:00 – Opening 00:42 – Introductions 02:44 – Understanding Trailblazers 07:36 – Facing Challenges 12:00 – Celebrating the Successes 16:32 – Unexpected Lessons & Outcomes 22:06 – Advice to Others 24:54 – Raising Awareness & Promoting the Programme 28:53 – Outro

    30 min
  6. Becoming an Inspired Interdisciplinarian: Sarah Golding discusses invaluable developmental experiences

    18 FÉVR.

    Becoming an Inspired Interdisciplinarian: Sarah Golding discusses invaluable developmental experiences

    For our second episode of 2025, I’m in conversation withauthor and health psychologist Sarah Golding (Surrey,UK). Alongside discussing her career and research activities, we focus in on an exploration of her recent article An Early Career Perspective on the Value of Interdisciplinary Training Networks, published in Exchanges (Vol 12.1). In particular, Sarah reveals how participating in an interdisciplinarytraining scheme, exposed her to a range of invaluable experiences, site visits and invaluable conversations with colleagues across the disciplines. Given her current work dealing with ‘grand environmental challenges’, requires cross and trans-disciplinary approaches, she expounds on how participating in such a programme helped initiate and inspire exactly these sorts of working and research practices.Along the way, we also talk over Sarah’s publication experiences – good, bad and indifferent – and she’s learned from these to become a better, more confident and successful academic writer. As always, she offers her tips for early career researchers looking to publish their earliest articles. To read Sarah’s original article visit: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i1.1595 Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchangesresearch journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/ Episode Index 00:00 – Opening 00:36 – Introductions 04:32 – Paper explorations & interdisciplinary challenges 18:06 – Key messages and outcomes 24:42 – Experiences with publishing, and author advice 38:52 – Outro

    40 min
  7. Getting a bit Theoryish: Discussing the popular & exciting academic podcast

    29 JANV.

    Getting a bit Theoryish: Discussing the popular & exciting academic podcast

    For our first podcast of 2025, I talk with the hosts of the incredibly successful academic podcast Theoryish – Hannah Ayres and Paola Medina-Gonzalez (University of Warwick). In a lively exchange, they tell me how their academic thirst for knowledge acted as the instigation for an ongoing discussion series looking at books, researchers and theory from an enthused early career perspective. Along the way they offer some insights into the changing academic discourse and publication sphere, and we consider the part podcasting can play in this evolving field and within an academic career. Throughout, Paola and Hannah also graciously offer a range of tips and inspirations to other aspiring academics and research students looking to create and capture their own conversations within the podcast format. To listen to the Theoryish podcast visit: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qDMP6AuodFB7KLcdvXz9e Or to find out more about publishing with the Exchanges research journal visit: http://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/ Episode Index 00:00 – Opening 00:44 – Introductions 01:56 – What is Theoryish? 05:00 – A Podcasting Vision 10:16 – Listener Demographics 15:24 – Inspirations, Planning & Strategy 18:37 – Relistening Reflections 21:16 – Challenges & Theoryish Evolution 29:08 – Tips for Academic Podcasters 34:06 – Outro

    35 min
  8. Public Engagement, Philosophy & Musical Expressions: In Conversation with Giulia Lorenzi⁠

    11/12/2024

    Public Engagement, Philosophy & Musical Expressions: In Conversation with Giulia Lorenzi⁠

    In our last podcast of the year, we talk with recent Exchanges author Giulia Lorenzi (University of Warwick). We talk through her career as a philosopher and musical scholar, with particular attention to her paper on public engagement with academic research. In her paper, ‘Musical Reflections’: An experience with public engagement, Giulia explores the challenges and inspirations which arise when scholars seek to engage disparate members of the public with academic research and discourse. Citing the amazingly positive experience, she explains how it reinvigorated the joy of research for her, and how she wishes more academics could experience such encounters. We also chat about her publishing experiences with other journals, and especially the impact that editor and reviewer comments can have on authors – for better or for worse. As always, we close out our discussions with some advice for other newer authors in the early career and post graduate researcher community too. You can read Giulia’s  article here: https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i1.1522 Or for more on publishing with Exchanges, see our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online guide for authors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timecodes 00:00 – Start 00:44 – Introductions 03:18 – Discussing the paper 10:40 – Public engagement challenges 16:40 – Key messages from engagement 18:35 – Future research publications 20:12 – Academic publishing experiences 26:02 – Advice to early career authors 30:44 – Outro (end)

    32 min
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Since 2020, The Exchanges Discourse podcast has been an informal yet insightful companion to the Exchanges journal, bringing researchers together to share their work, publishing experiences, and academic journeys. Through lively conversations with past authors, editors, and expert guests, we explore the realities of scholarly life—offering practical advice, interdisciplinary inspiration, and a welcoming space for discussion. Whether you’re an early career researcher or a seasoned academic, join us for thought-provoking insights and engaging dialogue.

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