PhD Lounge

Luis Maia de Freitas

Late-night podcast where I speak with PhDs about their research subjects, their decision on studying it and its importance throughout academic life. A podcast of entertainment and education, whose aim is to approach students and graduates who want to go through their future careers inside or outside of academia with a PhD and for those who are on a moment of uncertainty in continuing their studies further, as if we are having a drink and talk about PhD culture at a lounge on a late-night summer. https://www.phdlounge.co.uk@phdlmfluismaia@phdlounge.co.uk Thank you for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!

  1. 24 Jun

    Solo Session: The only Footballer to play a World Cup and hold a PhD

    Thank you for tuning in to PhD Lounge, you'll become a Doctor of Philosophy by immersing yourself into the latest topics of the PhD Universe Students and Graduates! As the World Cup 2026 is underway, did you know there is only one professional footballer who played a World Cup and obtained a PhD? I introduce to you Turid Knaak, PhD, a former German professional footballer who had 16 caps* for Germany's female national team and played the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, and top tier clubs such as Arsenal, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Atlético Madrid and VfL Wolfsburg where she retired from professional football in 2022. What is also brilliant along her footballing career is that she obtained a PhD at the University of Köln in Children's Special Needs Education in 2021 while still playing for Atlético Madrid. Her dissertation research was about the complex learning of basic text production for years 3 and 7 pupils, exploring learning and diagnostic methods and exercises including spelling, oral lexicon and multi-component storytelling to argue the advantages and limitations in the improvement of school marks in pupils' vocabulary, knowledge of the grammar and high quality written language. Dr Turid Knaak currently works as a football pundit, commentator and tactical expert for DAZN and Sky, and as football analyst at IMPECT. Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! *2:36: Apologies for my mistake on the video as I noticed on her football profile that she had 16 caps for Germany and not 15 after editing this session. Bibliography: bravery.reports. (2021, August 19). Profi Fußballerin Turid Knaak über ihre Karriere in der Bundesliga und der Nationalmannschaft. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnx7ciUqMdI Doeker, E. (2021, June 11). Turid Knaak: A Doctor who scores goals. Football Engine. https://www.footballengine.net/post/turid-knaak-a-doctor-who-scores-goals Knaak, T. (2021). Bedeutung und Förderung grundlegender Schreibkompetenzen bei Schülerinnen und Schülern mit Lernschwierigkeiten (doctoral dissertation). University of Köln. https://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/51599/1/Dissertation%20Knaak.pdf Strohschein, J. (2019, May 17). Knaak: “Very few women can live off football.” dw.com. https://www.dw.com/en/turid-knaak-very-few-women-can-live-off-football/a-48782166 Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.uk Email: luismaia@phdlounge.co.uk Buzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/support Instagram: @phdlmf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast

    Solo Session: The only Footballer to play a World Cup and hold a PhD
  2. 17 Jun

    Late-Night Talk: Ersin Hussein, PhD. A PhD Can Change Your Life Without Promising A Job

    Thank you for tuning in to PhD Lounge, you'll become a Doctor of Philosophy by immersing yourself into the latest topics of the PhD Universe Students and Graduates! Ersin Hussein, PhD, is an ancient historian whose work centres on the history and material culture of ancient Cyprus, with a particular emphasis on questions of identity and heritage. A consistent thread throughout her scholarship is the study of Cyprus as both a real and imagined space, shaped by historical narratives, artistic responses, and museological practices. Ersin’s interests also extend to the historiography and display of Cypriot artefacts, and the reception of Cyprus in visual art, contributing to broader debates around cultural heritage and the politics of representation. Monograph: Revaluing Roman Cyprus: Local Identity on an Island in Antiquity. Ersin is co-founder and co-director of two interdisciplinary research networks. OLCAP (Object and Landscape Centred Approaches to the Past). Teaching Ancient Cyprus Network Outreach work: Romans in Focus educational video series for the Cambridge Schools Classics Project. Ancient History conversations on London Greek Radio and From Root to Vine Podcast Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.uk Email: luismaia@phdlounge.co.uk Buzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/support Instagram: @phdlmf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast

    Late-Night Talk: Ersin Hussein, PhD. A PhD Can Change Your Life Without Promising A Job
  3. 10 Jun

    Solo Session: Bridging Humanities and STEM PhDs

    Thank you for tuning in to PhD Lounge, you'll become a Doctor of Philosophy by immersing yourself into the latest topics of the PhD Universe Students and Graduates! Among stereotypes, historical divisions and practical differences, Humanities and STEM deeply bridge gaps in the PhD universe! If you haven't thought about what similarities PhDs in Humanities and STEM bring to the table, then this late-night talk is for you. An honest talk of two long-standing and "bittersweet" research areas that share their knowledge between each other. We discuss the following: Funding;Transferrable skilset;Interdisciplinary research methodologies.If you want a clearer, kinder way to think about doctoral study, this conversation gives you language you can actually use, plus examples you can share with supervisors, friends, and future employers. Where do you see humanities and STEM meeting in real life? Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! Bibliography: Freedman, D. (2025, April 25). Bridging the divide: the intersection of STEM and the humanities. Duke Trinity College of Arts and Sciences Department of English. https://english.duke.edu/news/bridging-divide-intersection-stem-and-humanitiesGhosh, R. (2022). The degree value of Arts, Humanities and Social Science (AHSS) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for Elite Professional Service (EPS) firms. In Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford). https://doi.org/10.5287/ora-eo2b2v5q6Hastings Woodhouse, S. (2024, May 2). Arts & Humanities vs STEM PhD Applications – What’s the difference? Find a PhD. Retrieved May 28, 2026, from https://www.findaphd.com/blog/11395/arts-and-humanities-vs-stem-phd-applications-whats-the-differenceLabodda, A., & Labodda, A. (2025, May 16). The STEM/Humanities Divide and Student Defeatism | Blog of the APA. American Philosophical Association. https://blog.apaonline.org/2025/05/12/the-stem-humanities-divide-and-student-defeatism/Oras, E., De Groot, J., & Björkstén, U. (2025). The “biomolecular humanities”? New challenges and perspectives. iScience, 28(2), 111679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111679Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.uk Email: luismaia@phdlounge.co.uk Buzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/support Instagram: @phdlmf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast

    Solo Session: Bridging Humanities and STEM PhDs
  4. 3 Jun

    Solo Session: How your PhD Changes Each Year?

    Thank you for tuning in to PhD Lounge, you'll become a Doctor of Philosophy by immersing yourself into the latest topics of the PhD Universe Students and Graduates! Your PhD can feel like one long stretch of work, but the truth is that each year demands a different kind of focus. In this late-night solo session, we explore how each year of your PhD changes. 1st year: First supervisor meetings, literature review, early chapter drafts, research methodologies, research training and probation. 2nd year: Case studies, reviews, recent publications add-ons, demanding supervision feedback, first conferences. 3rd year: Write-up year, dissertation submission and viva voce preparation. 4th year: Optional year if you haven't gather everything yet! Whether you're starting out, midway through, or staring down the viva, this gives you a clear map of what to expect and how to pace yourself. Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! Bibliography: Higginbotham, D. (2026, May 21). What is a PhD? https://www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/phd-study/what-is-a-phd/Tippett, J. (2025, April 24). What is a PhD? Find a PhD. Retrieved May 24, 2026, from https://www.findaphd.com/guides/what-is-a-phdUNESCO launches report on higher education trends. (n.d.). University World News. https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20260513111529544Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.uk Email: luismaia@phdlounge.co.uk Buzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/support Instagram: @phdlmf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast

    Solo Session: How your PhD Changes Each Year?
  5. 13 May

    Solo Session: Networking in PhD: The Most Valuable Skill

    Thank you for tuning in to PhD Lounge, you'll become a Doctor of Philosophy by immersing yourself into the latest topics of the PhD Universe Students and Graduates! Networking can feel like a mysterious academic superpower: everyone tells you to do it during your PhD, but nobody explains how to do it without feeling awkward, uncomfortable and time-consuming. In this late-night talk, we unpack why networking is one of the most valuable skills you can build throughout and after your PhD, through three PVP insights. —> Purpose —> Value —> Patience Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure! Bibliography Bozward. D. (2025, September 24). Networking for PhDs: Building connections inside and outside academia. Dr David Bozward. https://david.bozward.com/2024/11/networking-for-phds-building-connections-inside-and-outside-academia/ Cao. V. (2020, September 13). PhDs’ greatest weakness: not networking. Free the PhD. https://www.freethephd.com/2020/08/20/phds-greatest-weakness-not-networking/ Childs. K. (2024, November 4). Researcher Development University of Glasgow.  Building your academic network: Why it’s never too early to start (Katharine Childs) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf2TVQ65w0c Moser. T. (2025, July 15). Why Networking Matters: A Comprehensive Guide for PhD Success. alchemist-tribune.academicrenegade.news. https://alchemist-tribune.academicrenegade.news/article/why-networking-matters-a-comprehensive-guide-for-phd-success Nagy, H. (2026, March 23). PhD networking. career-advice.jobs.ac.uk. https://career-advice.jobs.ac.uk/phd-studentship/phd-networking/ Support the show Website: https://www.phdlounge.co.uk Email: luismaia@phdlounge.co.uk Buzzsprout subscription - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1808542/support Instagram: @phdlmf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismaia94/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/phdloungepodcast

    Solo Session: Networking in PhD: The Most Valuable Skill

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Late-night podcast where I speak with PhDs about their research subjects, their decision on studying it and its importance throughout academic life. A podcast of entertainment and education, whose aim is to approach students and graduates who want to go through their future careers inside or outside of academia with a PhD and for those who are on a moment of uncertainty in continuing their studies further, as if we are having a drink and talk about PhD culture at a lounge on a late-night summer. https://www.phdlounge.co.uk@phdlmfluismaia@phdlounge.co.uk Thank you for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!