Voices of Academia

Emily King
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

*ON A BREAK* Researchers from around the world open up about their mental health within academia. They might laugh, cry, or say things you disagree with. But this is lived experience - not professional advice. It's to reduce stigma and help people feel less alone. Each month, PhD Candidate and host, Emily King, chats with a different guest and releases fortnightly episodes. First - the story of mental ill-health. Second - the tale of recovery, with coping strategies that might help you too! Join us as we talk about all the things you thought you had to hide! www.voicesofacademia.com

  1. 05/18/2022

    30. Trying to Feel Good Enough | Dr. Jennifer Paxton

    Dr. Jennifer Paxton acknowledges that her feelings of inadequacy had always been there but were amplified during the transition to motherhood. She opens up about an interaction with an empathetic colleague that shocked her into seeking support. TW/CW: Themes of suicidal ideation A Senior Lecturer in Anatomy, PI of a tissue engineering lab, wife and mother, Jennifer opened up in the last episode about parenting as an academic during COVID-19. This is the second part of her story.  If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast! Resources: Jennifer’s blog piece – ‘Return of the Mummy – the trials and triumphs of a life post maternity leave.’ Paxton Lab website Jennifer’s lecturing profile Helpful health and wellbeing books  Reasons to Stay Alive – Matt Haig  Notes on a Nervous Planet – Matt Haig Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!  Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Recorded: 10/09/2021. Sound: Theme music is “Mindset” by Ketsa; podcast edited by DanPatricksAudio.

    53 min

  2. 05/04/2022

    29. Parenting as an Academic during COVID-19 | Dr. Jennifer Paxton

    Senior Lecturer, PI, wife and mother, Dr. Jennifer Paxton, opened up about feelings of embarrassment, guilt, anger and acceptance in response to professional contacts seeing her home life in online meetings and lessons. She highlighted specific frustrations of being a parent in Academia. She also courageously opened up in the final 15 minutes about her decision making process for having a child. She, like many of us, was putting off major personal milestones because of the pressure of academia. If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast! Resources: - Jennifer’s blog piece – ‘Return of the Mummy – the trials and triumphs of a life post maternity leave.’ - Paxton Lab website - Jennifer’s lecturing profile - Helpful health and wellbeing books Reasons to Stay Alive – Matt Haig Notes on a Nervous Planet – Matt Haig Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!  Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Recorded: 10/09/2021. Sound: Theme music is “Mindset” by Ketsa; podcast edited by DanPatricksAudio.

    54 min

  3. 04/20/2022

    28. Preventative Care for PMDD | Elana Gloger

    5th year Health Psychology PhD Candidate and creator of the Dear Grad Student podcast, Elana Gloger, chats about maintaining wellness - creating space between where you’re at, and your tipping point to becoming unwell. She encourages leaning in to your unique needs and remembering that ‘you’re not other people.’ Elana opened up previously, in episode 27,  about how premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) impacted her life and PhD before it was well managed. CW: swearing, sexual references This episode touches on: -  Running through the woods, reality TV, and the desire to be a mother -  Alleviating fears of medication -  Accepting that seeking external help is not a weakness -  Impacts of unmanaged PMDD on a partner -  Common treatment options for PMDD -  Selecting an appropriate and affordable provider -  The annoying fact that exercise actually helps If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast! Resources: Dear Grad Student Podcast - Twitter: @deargradstudent - Instagram: @deargradstudentpod - Facebook: Dear Grad Student - Website: deargradstudent.com - Mental health podcast episodes: deargradstudent.com/mental-health PMDD resources - @iapmdglobal (twitter) and iapmd.org (website) provides evidence-based information about PMDD. - Tory Eisenlohr-Moul studies menstrual cycle effects on PMDD YouTube: ‘Your cycle in 3 minutes’ – contemporary dance interpretation of the impacts of the menstrual cycle App: Flo – for learning about and starting to track your menstrual cycle Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!  Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Recorded: 14/01/2022. Sound: Mindset by Ketsa

    1 hr

  4. 04/06/2022

    27. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and a PhD | Elana Gloger

    Emily chats with Elana Gloger, who opens up about how premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) impacted her life and PhD before it was well managed. TW/CW: Suicidal ideation, swearing This episode covers: - Elana’s favourite, I mean F-A-V-O-U-R-I-T-E video game, her childhood likeness to Angelica from the Rugrats, and being a child of divorce - A description of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual exacerbation (PME) - How Elana’s diagnosis of PMDD unfolded - An explanation of the menstrual cycle! - The moment Elana decided to get support for mismanaged PMDD - The potential future clash between PMDD medication, pregnancy, and applying for tenure track - The impact of unmanaged PMDD on Elana’s PhD - First steps to take if you think you might have PMDD If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast! Resources: - Dear Grad Student Podcast     - Twitter: @deargradstudent        - Instagram: @deargradstudentpod     - Facebook: Dear Grad Student     - Website: deargradstudent.com     - Mental health podcast episodes: deargradstudent.com/mental-health - PMDD resources     - @iapmdglobal (twitter) and iapmd.org (website) provides evidence-based information about PMDD.     - Tory Eisenlohr-Moul studies menstrual cycle effects on PMDD - YouTube: ‘Your cycle in 3 minutes’ – contemporary dance interpretation of the impacts of the menstrual cycle - App: Flo – for learning about and starting to track your menstrual cycle Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!  Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Interested in being interviewed? We’d love to hear from you. Please submit this brief form. Recorded: 14/01/2022. Sound: Mindset by Ketsa

    1h 4m

  5. 03/23/2022

    26. Challenging Intrusive Thoughts | Dr. Andy Fraass

    Emily chats with Dr. Andy Fraass, who opens up about support for anxiety that comes from his wife and daughters, improved sleep hygiene, and challenging intrusive thoughts. Andy opened up previously, in episode 25, about social anxiety, learning he couldn’t trust his own self-perception, and the impacts of academia on family life. This episode covers: -  Self-educating about indigenous cultures, science fantasy, and achieving the bucket list goals of professorship and family. -  Family support systems -  Meditation and improved sleep hygiene -  Methods of overcoming negative thought patterns -  The role parenting can play in encouraging self-care and self-management of symptoms -  The importance of supervisors being forgiving and understanding with students -  The surprising value in group therapy for those with social anxiety If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast! Resources: App: Calm – for improving health and happiness, and for sleep stories Andy’s blog about anxiety in academia Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!  Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Interested in being interviewed? We’d love to hear from you. Please submit this brief form. Recorded: 19/11/2021. Sound: Mindset by Ketsa

    49 min

  6. 03/09/2022

    25. Being Your Own Worst Critic | Dr. Andy Fraass

    Emily chats with Dr. Andy Fraass, who opens up about social anxiety, learning he couldn’t trust his own self-perception, and the impacts of academia on family life. This episode covers: The boy behind the family man, a career stemming from childhood media (Jurassic Park), and single-celled creatures that tell us about climate change and evolution Andy’s family history of mental illness, and academics The increased difficulty of hiding social anxiety with age, exacerbation of symptoms, and academic requirements for networking The tenure track interview that made Andy realise he couldn’t trust his perception of his own performance Post tenure-track openness about generalised and social anxiety disorders, and panic attacks The impacts of academic pressure on family life The mental health impacts of choosing to stay within an industry that can have significant detrimental effects on family If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast! Resources: App: Calm – for improving health and happiness Andy’s blog about anxiety in academia Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!  Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Interested in being interviewed? We’d love to hear from you. Please submit this brief form. You can find out more about Voices of Academia & other personal stories at @academicvoices or our website. Recorded: 19/11/2021. Sound: Mindset by Ketsa

    58 min

  7. 02/23/2022

    24. SPECIAL 1YR ANNIVERSARY EPISODE – How To Change The System That Sets Us Up To Fail | Andrea Hayward

    TW/CW: Bullying and abuse Emily chats with Andrea Hayward, a Project Manager for the CACTUS Communications ‘Joy and Stress Triggers: A global survey on mental health among researchers.’ They discuss open-ended answers from the survey, highlighting what institutions can do to ease work-related pressures, reduce barriers to seeking help, and encourage personal wellbeing of researchers. Andrea also opens up, for the first time, about experiences she had during her Masters, including being made to feel like she was never good enough. This episode covers: The purpose of CACTUS Communications and how the organisation became involved in the researcher mental health space How Andrea’s work on the CACTUS Mental Health Initiative has made her aware, for the first time, of the psychological experiences she had during her Masters, including being made to feel like she was never good enough The role of managing academia-induced stressors shouldn’t fall solely on the researcher Suggestions to reduce barriers to seeking help and support in academia What institutions can do to reduce work-related pressures and help encourage work-life balance and personal wellbeing of researchers Some initiatives that are assisting researcher mental health Different types of bullying Improving policies to feel valued, safe, and included in academia If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast! Resources: Activities under the CACTUS Mental Health initiative: The CACTUS Mental Health Survey reports Twitter: CACTUS Mental Health Initiative The CACTUS Mental Health Webinar series The CACTUS Mental Health Video series Researchers and Their Stories ‘R Voice’ – a private community forum for researchers to talk openly about what they’re going through Mental health Internationally Delivering Support (MINDS) conference page Academic mental health networks Dragonfly Mental Health workshops available for universities and institutes to provide concrete steps for improving researcher mental health PhD Balance TAE Consortium (Transforming Academic Ecosytems) Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!  Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Recorded: 12/11/2021. Sound: Mindset by Ketsa

    1h 36m
  8. 23. Medication and Social Media Support | Seda Battilani

    02/09/2022

    23. Medication and Social Media Support | Seda Battilani

    Emily chats with Seda Battilani, who opens up about juggling medication trials with work, disclosing medication use to a supervisor, and social media accounts for people with ADHD. Seda opened up previously, in episode 22, about anxiety disorder, and pursuing an ADHD diagnosis as an international student. This episode covers: YouTube obsessions, choosing someone to share a life with, and the desire to settle in one country long-term Juggling the impact of medication trials with work Disclosing medication use to a supervisor and asking for extensions Learning to cope better over time The importance of honest communication How ADHD can present Rejection sensitivity Social media accounts for people with ADHD If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast! Resources: Good places to start for ADHD Insta: @the_mini_adhd_coach TikTok: @connordewolfe Seda is available on Twitter and via email Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!  Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Interested in being interviewed? We’d love to hear from you. Please submit this brief form. You can find out more about Voices of Academia & other personal stories at @academicvoices or our website. Recorded: 07/09/2021. Sound: Mindset by Ketsa is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, available through Free Music Archive.

    59 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

*ON A BREAK* Researchers from around the world open up about their mental health within academia. They might laugh, cry, or say things you disagree with. But this is lived experience - not professional advice. It's to reduce stigma and help people feel less alone. Each month, PhD Candidate and host, Emily King, chats with a different guest and releases fortnightly episodes. First - the story of mental ill-health. Second - the tale of recovery, with coping strategies that might help you too! Join us as we talk about all the things you thought you had to hide! www.voicesofacademia.com

Information

  • Creator
    Emily King
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2022
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 508783
  • Show Website
    Voices of Academia